Readers ’ Platform

A big year ahead

Representing almost 100 years of change on the

Flying Scotsman ready for its 2023 centenary celebrations

The NRM has launched a year-long programme of events to celebrate 100 years of ‘A3’ Pacific No. 60103 Flying Scotsman, which left Doncaster Works in February 1923.

Boost for Bideford rail plan

A GRANT of £6500 from Great Western Railway’s

Deadline set for infill removal

NATIONAL Highways (NH) has been given an October

Derailed freight closes two key routes

Pointwork ripped up and cement wagon lands in river near Carlisle.

Crimean rail link damaged

Bridges used to supply Russian troops is hit by explosions.

Talyllyn awarded £110,000 National Lottery development grant

THE Talyllyn Railway (TR), the world’s first preserved

Green light given for Greenford trial

Vivarail’s battery-powered No. 230001 was shown off to

The more things change…

The prime minister may have changed (again), but rail’s problems stay the same with strikes to be resolved, the future of the GBR project to be decided, and decisions to be made about fare rises against a backdrop of high inflation.

Class 196 DMUs enter service

West Midlands Trains’ Class 170 replacements start work on the Birmingham to Shrewsbury route.

Hope of ‘Darlington-Dales’ plan progress by year end

Through Weardale services, a light-rail link to Crook and a new suburban station for Darlington are all included in proposals to the DfT.

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS OF ‘OUR LOCO’ FOR A CHANCE TO WIN CASH PRIZES!

TO celebrate our 125th anniversary year, we are

SIDELINES

Scottish Sleeper contract cancelled THE Scottish Government has

Railways in Parliament

Coal on demand HERITAGE railways, worried that sourcing

SIDELINES

Your reports and pictures are most welcome. Highly competitive rates are paid, especially if exclusive to The RM.

‘Significant moment ’ for HS2 as London tunnelling begins

First machine starts the fivemile underground journey from West Ruislip towards Greenford.

Florence and Cecilia are four miles in on Chiltern dig

THE pair of machines boring HS2’s 10-mile tunnel

10 MINUTES 10 QUESTIONS

Steven Knight’s latest industry interview puts recently-retired Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster under the spotlight.

Chistmas Gifts that last all years!

When the Queen prevented a shed visit

IT WAS one day back in 1961, when

Readers ’ Platform

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Protecting the railways

WHILST admiring the photograph of Clun Castle in

Stirling No. 1 special

I WAS very interested to read about GNR

PRINCE RUPERT

NAMEPLATE REUNION: In the June issue of The

CrossCountry ‘Deltic’ recalled

HAVING just read David Russell’s very interesting article

FROM THE RAILWAY MAGAZINE ARCHIVES

100 YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 1922 Underground extension A

The RCTS: Then and now

FOR the pre-Grouping railways, horse racing was big

Meetings

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Panorama

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Reviews

BIRMINGHAM AND WEST MIDLANDS RAILWAY ATLAS – SECOND EDITION

Model show ’s return

After three years of cancellations due to the Covid pandemic, the popular Warley model railway show returns to the NEC later this month.

Prize crossword

■ Puzzle compiled by WILL ADAMS

ALL’S NOT RIGHT ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT

A year after the Island Line’s much-delayed reopening with new trains and upgraded infrastructure, its passengers still await the promised four-car trains, 30-minute service frequency and reliable connections with mainland ferries, as Phil Marsh discovers.

Reinventing Rigby Road

Plans are being developed for a £12 million transformation of the building that is home to Blackpool’s heritage tram f leet. Graeme Pickering takes a look at the history of the town’s tramway and the proposals for a Blackpool Tramtown visitor attraction.

In the footsteps of Colonel Cobb

John Heaton FCILT details a recently rediscovered account from 1934 of a journey from Rye to Glasgow via the West Coast Main Line, and then compares it to the equivalent modern day trip.

ON SHED AT LLAN

Gareth Evans visits the Llangollen Railway’s motive power depot and learns about the latest developments with the facilities and the f leet of steam and diesel locomotives.

Expansion for HRA awards

New categories to further boost prestigious industry awards scheme.

Tackling tough times

“A ‘value for money’ purchase is not a price-based decision but the purchaser’s perception of the value they’re getting for the money spent,” says Severn Valley Railway managing director Helen Smith.

GCR replaces another bridge

Latest phase of the Great Central Railway reunification project gets underway in Loughborough.

On course for brake van rides at Fimber

Restored British Railways van to help transform Yorkshire Wolds Railway visitor experience.

Lambton locos reunited on moors

Worth Valley ‘Taffy tank’ operates with former Philadelphia shedmate No.29.

Steam Portfolio

STANDARDS AT NIGHT: Bluebell Railway residents Standard 5

New-build Falcon in steam

Latest Corris Railway loco unveiled at Alan Keef Ltd open day.

Talyllyn to be outshopped in GER blue livery

Railway members back new colour scheme for locomotive No. 1

Poole Park Railway reopens

The saga of revamping the Dorset line continues as its supplier has ‘closed’.

Rapid work undertaken to make No.10 watertight

Restoration team takes to scaffolding to ensure a leak-free roof.

Restoration of KESR’s GWR railcar is back on track

GWR single-car diesel railbus No. 20 has been given a financial boost to complete its restoration, which has been ongoing at Tenterden for 25 years.

Class 50 Alliance celebrates 30 years of operation

All available operational Class 50s on the SVR

Classic Traction Portfolio

BODMIN HOODS, RIDING THROUGH THE GLEN: Superb autumn

Challenging year ahead expec ted for charters

Railtour promoters face no shortage of headwinds.

Brunel’s historic Bath balustrade wall secured

Safety improvements completed on wall and footbridge at Sydney Gardens.

Dawson acquires rail-linked neighbour to boost capacity

Port of Middlesbrough owner takes over dry bulk handling terminal as part of strategic investment plans.

Preparations for ‘going live’ on Newhaven extension

Overhead lines on £207 million Edinburgh Trams network expansion due to be energised for testing and commissioning in the coming weeks.

Research role set for remaining Class 360/2s

EMUs to move from storage at MoD Bicester for test track use in South Wales.

Giving a welcome lift to heav y EMU overhauls

Mobile jacks supplied to raise five-car trains at Selhurst depot.

WAGON REPORT

GREENBRIER Europe’s JNA-T (Ealnos) bogie box open is

Stock Update

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The 2022 leafbusters!

The seasonal railhead treatment trains are back in full swing again, clearing the lines of fallen leaf mulch, and bringing traction old and new to large parts of the network.

Olive-based coal alternative trialled by Stradbally

Carbon neutral biofuel deemed a success, producing a clean exhaust and very little ash.

InnoTrans showcases ‘green’ power

Shift away from diesel all-too evident with battery and hydrogen to the fore at rail industry trade show in Berlin.