The RCTS: then and now

The 50 loco challenge

With viaducts like this one stretching to the

Island hopping, by train

Another surprising read this month is the incredible

Counting the spiralling costs

The Bluebell and Mid-Hants railways have implemented financial restraint measures, while the Severn Valley Railway announces plans for compulsory redundancies to save money.

Preserved ‘Bone’ to star at Severn Valley spring gala

Ed Stevenson’s No. 58023 will be making its

Greenford trial to go ahead after Vivarail collapse

GWR acquires assets to secure future of battery-powered Class 230 project.

SIDELINES

Cairngorm Mountain funicular reopens THE Cairngorm Mountain Railway,

SIDELINES

‘Prairie’ visit WATERMAN Railway Heritage Trust’s GWR‘Small Prairie’

First of new DLR trains unveiled

Introduction of new fleet set to be completed by 2026.

Future uncertain as Class 69 fleet withdrawn for modifications

GBRF’S re-engineered Class 69 fleet has been withdrawn

NRM ‘Western’ joins Didcot’s GWR line-up

REDEVELOPMENTS at the National Railway Museum (NRM), York

Battery ‘37’ ready to start work

Meteor Power has developed a battery conversion system for locomotives that offers a greener, cheaper and quieter solution for freight or ‘super shunter’ work.

Revenue growth is main goal in new Great British Railways plan

The Government has set out revised proposals for how a new Great British Railways organisation will oversee post-pandemic railway operations in England.

Transport Scotland aims to raise standards

Scotland’s five-year plan for rail calls for a

ARRIVA CALLS FOR OPEN ACCESS SUMMIT

ARRIVA Trains UK, which runs Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry,

ORR issues final warning to Avanti

NO punches have been pulled by the rail

SIDELINES

Your reports and pictures are most welcome. Highly

Ten-mile Chiltern tunnel passes halfway point

After 18 months of excavation, the tunnel boring machines are over five miles into their 10-mile underground journey.

First pier built for Curzon 3 viaduct in Birmingham

THE first of 30 piers has been completed

Foundations completed for longest viaduct

AFTER almost two years of work, the last

Railways in Parliament

Improving connections RACHAEL Maskell, the York Central MP,

10 MINUTES 10 QUESTIONS

This month it is the turn of Network Rail chairman Peter Hendy, officially known as The Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE, to face the tough questions from Steven Knight.

Readers’ Platform

■ LAST month’s front cover featured an image

1973 Dartmouth stay

No. 4472 arriving at Kingswear in summer 1973.

Remembering Peter

I WAS saddened to read of [former

Even more railway bears

I READ with interest the article about Hunslet

Dover Diesel

Further to the recent correspondence regarding Dover seafront

Readers’ Platform

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 Gravesend Railway Enthusiasts’ Society. Emmanuel

FROM THE RAILWAY MAGAZINE ARCHIVES

100 YEARS AGO MARCH 1923 Vincent Raven on

THE MIDLAND & SOUTH WESTERN JUNCTION RAILWAY

Images from the Transport Treasury Collection Compiled by

CLASS 777

Merseyside’s long-awaited arrival

The summer of ’62

1962 was a year of change that saw diesel traction begin to dominate over steam power, but there were still some great steam performances to be had, as John Heaton FCILT finds out.

By rail to sea!

Tom Ingall tells the extraordinary tale of how Florida’s Key West became one of the world’s most unlikely railroad termini.

Hanging by a thread

The future of the world’s oldest pier railway currently hangs in the balance as the Hampshire rail and ferry link between Hythe and Southampton seeks a new operator. Paul Stanford and Phil Marsh report.

The 50 loco challenge

Dave Richardson goes on the hunt to find out if there’s anywhere in Britain where you can still see 50 locomotive movements in one 12-hour spotting session.

Help preserve a rail legacy

VOLUNTEERS have been the lifeblood of the heritage

SIDELINES

Your reports and pictures are most welcome. Highly

Corwen canopy takes shape

Llangollen Railway hopes to open its new western terminus to the public by the second quarter of this year.

Bulleid progress at Bluebell

ON THE ROSTER: LBSCR ‘Terrier’ No. 72 Fenchurch

Another Barry wreck steams!

HISTORY was made at the East Somerset Railway

Tyseley Locomotive Works to celebrate ‘Castle’ centenary – and public tours return

THE centenary of the GWR‘Castle’Class is to be

SIDELINES

‘B12’ overhaul moves forward THE Midland & Great

Galas spring into action

New season offers a host of steam special events at a number of heritage lines across England.

Way forward agreed for Ruddington rail operations

THE wheels are in motion for public services

Final push to complete ‘T3’ for Swanage service this year

LSWR ‘T3’ No. 563 takes shape at the

‘Money Match March’ helps boost GCR reunification

THE Great Central Railway (GCR) plans to push

DIARY

Until March 24 Great Central Railway: Bridge Replacement

Full steam ahead for Goods Division

Bluebell Railway volunteers pull out the stops ahead of a revenue earning job for the heritage wagon fleet.

Future of ‘Austerity’ is secured

COMPILED BY IAN SMITH Your reports and pictures

Hawarden return edges closer

Foxfield Railway volunteers push on with locomotive overhaul and restoration projects.

May moves from Beamish to Quainton

PECKETT 0-4-0ST May (1370/1915) has been purchased for

DIARY

COMPILED BY CLIFF THOMAS → Your reports and

SIDELINES

■ GROUNDWORKS for a half-mile extension to the

Milestones reached on steam loco projects

NG15‘Kalahari’ could steam in North Wales this year – while Gowrie takes shape.

Two ‘new’ locos for Astley Green

BOGIE DIESEL DELIVERY: Alishan Forest Railway’s Mitsubishi diesel

New Perrygrove locomotive will enter service in April

Perrygrove Railway’s new 0-6-0ST, pictured at the end

STR seeks new future for Matheran loco No. 740

SOUTH Tynedale Railway (STR) is exploring options to

Large South African diesel loco on its way to Britain

MATT Dolby has purchased South African Railways (SAR)

Diesel Days at Talyllyn

DIESEL power will take centre stage at the

Further work for Westonzoyland resident steam loco

THE 2ft gauge vertical boiler steam loco originally

Tough going for Beamish restoration of Dundee Gasworks No. 2

OVERHAULING the chassis of Kerr, Stuart 0-4-0WT 721/1901

SIDELINES

■ WEST Lancashire Light Railway is taking delivery

Steam Portfolio

STEAMING TOWARDS THE SEASIDE: SR Bulleid Pacific No.

Trolleybus Museum installs a railway

COMPILED BY PETER NICHOLSON → Your reports and

Gearing up for the season

Eastleigh Lakeside line announces enthusiast events old and new.

SIDELINES

COMPILED BY GRAEME PICKERING → Your reports and

Making preparations for the beginning of spring

Major infrastructure work at Beamish and Seaton as tramways prepare to be busy with visitors once again.

No. 281 returned to original livery

FYLDE Transport Trust (FTT)- owned Blackpool No. 281

SIDELINES

COMPILED BY PETER NICHOLSON Your reports and pictures

Last-built Crewe loco for Museum of Scottish Railways

Class 91 recordbreaker is handed over for preservation at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway.

Historic third-rail EMU hopes for return to the main line

THE EPB Preservation Group has launched a project

Royal Deeside Railway receives an ex-Aberdeen Gasworks shunter

THE Bon Accord Locomotive Society, owner of former

Delivery of Class 315 to Cynheidre is delayed

Just one of the four Class 315 cars,

A new experience at NVR

BACK AFTER BRAKE UPGRADE: The Somerset & Dorset

Mixed traffic gala kicks off L&MMR season

THE rapidly developing Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway

‘Delayed’ HSTs arrive in Peterborough

TWO High-Speed Train power cars and three trailers

WSR gets its ‘Teddy Bear’ back from Kent

CLASS 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ No.D9526 returned to the

DIARY

March 4 Mid-Norfolk Railway mixed traction day 18/19

Class 40 will head Pathfinder’s special to mark 50th anniversary

COMPILED BY CHRIS MILNER Your reports and pictures

Main line for Earl of Mount Edgcumbe

GWR ‘Castle’ to make welcome return to Tyseley’s locomotive roster.

‘Last Chance’ excursion to traverse ‘rare’ freight lines

WITH changes afoot that will affect the accessibility

Alternative Class 37 for Vintage Trains tour

STEAMING THROUGH GLOUCESTERSHIRE: Masquerading as No. 45627 Sierra

Treasure Hunt

We’ve got some great prizes – superb models

Official launch of Varamis services

COMPILED BY GRAEME PICKERING Your reports and pictures

Freightliner extols HVO benefits

THE launch of a container service, inaugurated using

Setting out plans for Plumstead

DCRail secures long-term lease for yard on North Kent line and prepares site for aggregates traffic.

SIDELINES

COMPILED BY GRAEME PICKERING Your reports and pictures

West Midlands Metro depot site extension underway

£43million project will more than double capacity at Wednesbury for stabling the growing WMM tram fleet.

Farewell South Gosforth

HAVING been opened in October 1923 by the

Wearside route reopens after flood damage repaired

ALMOST eight weeks after the route was closed

Metro Portfolio

TOM MCATEE EYES DOWN FOR A FULL HOUSE:

Council in bid to increase ‘Lakes’ line capacity

COMPILED BY CHRIS MILNER Your reports and pictures

Midlands Connect outlines its Marches plans

Rail enhancement proposals to be put to UK Government as part of the Union Connectivity Review.

New footbridge is the first of its kind on Network Rail

A NEW footbridge, the first of its type,

Work gets underway on new Cameron Bridge station

CONSTRUCTION of the new station at Cameron Bridge

Inverness airport station opens

A NEW £15 million station to serve Inverness

Network Rail in talks over upgrade to telecoms

NETWORK Rail has begun exclusive discussions with a

Toilet refurb for Water-loo

A computer generated image of the refurbished male

Project to make Port Glasgow step-free

WORK on a £5 million project to improve

Cumbrian viaducts protected from water erosion

CONCERN over the foundations of three viaducts on

SIDELINES

Broken gas main disrupts services along Fife coast

Converted hydrogen trial train is no more

COMPILED BY GRAEME PICKERING Your reports and pictures

University helps to develop VR depot tool

EAST Midlands Railway (EMR) is working with the

‘Made in Wales’ fleet is officially launched

Llandudno station hosts inauguration event for CAF-built Class 197s.

Class 91s are sent for scrap

FIRST APPEARANCE: ScotRail ‘Highland Explorer’ units Nos. 153380

Two new Class 805s moved ahead of West Coast Main Line testing

The consist of GB Railfreight No. 56081 and

WAGON REPORT

PORTERBROOK Leasing expects deep-sea container traffic – currently

Traction Portfolio

FOOTEX-RUGGEX: With Newport Town football club at home

Operations

COMPILED BY ASHLEY BUTLIN Call: 01507 529589 email:

Stock Update

COMPILED BY ASHLEY BUTLIN Your reports and pictures

Táilte Tours announces Suir Lee Knot excursion

COMPILED BY HASSARD STACPOOLE Your reports and pictures

201 Class to visit Sligo on railtour for first time

THE Railway Preservation Society of Ireland has released

Network to be expanded

Minister confirms that All Island Rail Review will see lines reopened.

Navan passenger line expected to be delivered by 2036

On February 9, No. 22055 stands in M3

Derry line Phase 3 given go-ahead for delivery by July 2026

TRANSLINK has confirmed that funding for Phase 3

Underground link opens in New York

COMPILED BY KEITH FENDER Your reports and pictures

More ‘Griffins’ set for PKP IC

POLISH long-distance operator PKP IC has ordered 20

Electrification gathers pace on Indian Railways network

Governmentset targets are helping accelerate changes to traction and gauge.

North America’s Montana Rail Link to cease operation

MONTANA Rail Link (MRL), a regional freight railroad

Massive diversion in Australia

Hauling the diverted train – that was more

New EMU fleets enter public service in Czech Republic

TWO new EMU fleets entered traffic in the

€1 billion German contract for National Express

NATIONAL Express has won a 10-year extension of

120km/h automatic Metro opens to Istanbul airport

THE first section of a 69km-long, fully automated

Turkish network is badly damaged by earthquake

THE large earthquake which struck Turkey and neighbouring

INDEX TO VOLUME 168

January to December 2022