50 years of Drax

WHAT a weekend August 17/18 turned out to

Drax marks Golden Jubilee in style

Originally coal-fired, now fuelled by biomass, the North Yorkshire power station started generating electricity in 1974.

Government closes RYR fund

Restoring Your Railway money offered a pathway to line reopenings.

GWR expected to take on Class 175s

Ex-TfW Class 175 DMUs Nos. 175110+175011 pass March

ScotRail reintroduces peak fares after trial scheme ends

A PILOT scheme by ScotRail in which peak

SIDELINES

Return to Ruddington TRAINS are set to resume

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Scarborough plaque CENTRAL Tramway in Scarborough has become

CLASS 897 FOR LNER:

London North Eastern Railway has confirmed to The

ASLEF union recommends Government pay offer

Drivers offered a ‘no strings’ pay deal.

‘BADGER’ ON THE MOVE:

GRAHAM NUTTALL Locomotive Services’ Class 37 No. D6817

All-Island Rail Review aims high

€37 billion joint plan for the whole of Ireland includes new lines, track doubling, and more electrification.

Alstom to carry out £60m ‘Voyager’ refurbishment at Derby Works

New seats, tables, carpets and exterior repaint for CrossCountry’s Class 220 and 221 fleets.

Railways in Parliament

ORR under review LORD Bradshaw asked whether any

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Eight-month deck slide completed THE process of sliding

‘Complex’ 18-month bridge build completed

Created to take HS2 under the A452 near Balsall Common in the West Midlands, 7200 tonnes of concrete and 1800 tonnes of steel have been used in its construction.

Cantilever swings into action

IN what HS2 Ltd describes as a “UK

BRIDGE POSITIONED:

HS2 The 84-metre (nearly 92 yards) wide, 1600tonne

From rails to road

Nick Pigott visits a former Great Central Railway tunnel that has been repurposed as the world’s longest indoor vehicle test track.

‘Evero’ the optimist

John Heaton FCILT investigates how Avanti’s new ‘Evero’ units perform on the West Coast Main Line.

Postwar Talyllyn in colour

Dan Quine presents a remarkable set of colour images, taken in 1949, of the original Talyllyn Railway, two years before it was reborn as the world’s first volunteer-run heritage railway.

Feeding Drax

As overall winner in the 2024 RCTS/Mortons Media Photographic Competition, Eddie Holden was given a day’s cab ride on the Drax biomass circuit courtesy of DB Cargo, as Paul Chancellor reports.

‘Super D’ stripe mystery

A long-withdrawn ‘Super D’ was seen at Derby in September 1964 with a ‘not south of Crewe’ cab stripe – but how, and why?

Lost ‘Black Five’

HAVING read your No. 44781/‘Virgin Soldiers’ article (August

Saved by the All Line Timetable

RATHER belatedly, I’ve just been reading Joseph Brennan’s

Photographic archives

I READ the article about photo archives in

The last gasp for working standard gauge steam

THE working USA tank at Oskova (page 42,

Brazilian diesels

I WAS very interested to read the article

Weymouth Quay loose couplings

FURTHER to the letter from Clive Washbourne (August),

How many were going to St Ives?

AHOT summer’s day in Cornwall brought out the

Isle of Woe

ON September 7, I had planned to travel

New build loco brings back memories

IT is good to know that new build

Putting the record straight

■ THE two track diagrams accompanying the‘On the

M EETI NGS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Pennine Railway Society. Doncaster Town

From the archive

Subscribe and read previous issues at www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/archive 100

The RCTS: then and now

Britain’s leading Railway Society

PANORAMA

A showcase for the best in railway photography

Waterloo to the Atlantic Coast During the Diesel Era ( Part 2 Exeter to the Atlantic Coast)

THIS excellent book completes ex-railwayman Bernard Mills’ detailed

British Railways Diesel and Electric Locomotives

THIS is the latest contribution by Hugh Longworth

Trams and Recollections: Edinburgh 1956

FOLLOWING on from previous books covering the tramways

The Railway Magazine binders and bound volumes

Binders High-quality binders to store your copies of

The NOSTALGIA CollectionThe NOSTALGIA Collection

The crossword winner and two runners-up can choose books worth £50 and £25 respectively from the extensive Nostalgia Collection. Visit us at www.mortonsbooks.co.uk

Coming up next month...

THE first major plans are due to be

TRACK RECORD

‘FIFTY’ IN THE FRAME On August 10, Locomotive

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Electric van fleet TWO battery-electric light commercial road

Lottery grant to boost volunteers’ heritage skills

Toddington-based No. 2874 to be used as a training platform to preserve vital engineering knowledge.

GCR turnaround progresses: focus now on development

A PLAN to ensure the Great Central Railway

3850 is back in action at Toddington

COMING UP WITH THE GOODS Visiting for the

Oil firing conversion for Moors ‘S160’ this winter

AN operational steam locomotive at the North Yorkshire

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Steam at Oswestry LLANGOLLEN Railway’s Kitson 0-6-0ST Austin

Beachy Head handed over

Now Bluebell Railway Trust appeals to return flagship ‘P’ No. 323 to action.

Railways at Work: the epitome of interpretation

VISITORS to the Great Central Railway on August

Rail infrastructure deal boosts Quainton public offering

OPERATIONS at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre (BRC) –

‘Grange’ steams along North Norfolk coast

NEW-BUILD GWR ‘Grange’ No. 6880 Betton Grange arrived

Severn Valley ‘grateful’ to well-wishers for Resilience Fund donations

THE Severn Valley Railway says it is delighted

Autumn steam gala round-up

■ THE Severn Valley Railway has announced two

DIARY

SEPTEMBER 6-8 Swanage: Classic & Steam Vehicle Show

Inaugural digital TWAO?

Mid-Suffolk Light Railway makes application for legal powers under streamlimed electronic process.

Scotsman stays longer at Shildon

No. 60103 Flying Scotsman is seen preparing to

Network Rail donation boosts Chinnor track project

THE final tranche of replacement track required for

SVR marks Kidderminster Town station 40th

In a recreation of Brian Troman’s 1984 shot

Standard 4 boiler funding milestone Loco skills for the future

MORE than two-fifths of the sum required to

New lease of life for old wagons

Chasewater Railway volunteers make tired goods vehicles fit for the future by re-creating wagons in tribute to the area’s past.

Industrials power Poppy Line

Saddle tanks provide backbone of North Norfolk Railway summer steam fleet.

STEAMING IN THE FIELD:

The annual Weeting Steam Engine Rally & Country

GAUGING FIRELESS FLEET:

The two fireless locomotives resident at the Sittingbourne

Brookfield back in action at Mangapps

THE engineering team at Mangapps Farm has recently

SINGLE LINES

■ TWO further guest locos were added to

Bagnall returns to steam with new name and livery

Sir George Newnes and Palmerston to star at L&BR gala.

FR electric Wickham trolley reaches Dduallt on test trip

FOLLOWING upgrades to the control and transmission systems

Appeal launched towards Threlkeld development

THRELKELD Quarry and Mining Museum has launched a

Bagnall gathering at Threlkeld – plus a ‘Quarry Hunslet’

THRELKELD Quarry and Mining Museum’s July 27/28 Annual

Visiting loco ‘first’ a success at Northumberland’s Heatherslaw LR

THE Heatherslaw Light Railway (HLR) said it is

New company takes over 1863 Mountaineer construction

CONSTRUCTION of the replica Ffestiniog Railway George England

Trains return to Ramsey Pier

RESTORATION of the pier at Ramsey, Isle of

Apedale tests Ffestiniog train

THE Apedale Valley Light Railway (AVLR) ran what

DIARY

SEPTEMBER 7-8 & 14-15 Crowle Peatland: Heritage Open

SINGLE LINES

■ THE July 13/14 Steam Gala at the

Building boasts links from the past to the present

Heritage structure relocated to Lincs Coast LR’s new terminus.

MANX MILESTONE:

Isle of Man Transport’s July 30-August 4 Manx

AMBERLEY VISITOR:

Richmond Light Railway’s Decauville ‘Type 3’ 0-4-0T 648/1912

Cleethorpes diesel locomotive naming reinforces town twinning

GUEST locomotives and a naming ceremony were among

New-build for Aln Valley Miniature Railway

Petrol-engined 0-4-0 has been constructed in response to growing passenger numbers on the 7.25 inch line in Northumberland.

BARNARDS EXMOOR GALA:

The 7.25 inch gauge Barnards Miniature Railway near

Kestrel passes tests

HAVING suffered a failure earlier in the year,

STEAM PORTFOLIO

1 PIT STOP: LMS ‘Jubilee’ No. 45596 Bahamas

SIDELINES

Shipley Glen evacuation PASSENGERS had to be evacuated

Newcastle tram No. 102 returns to service at Crich

After tentative steps, full duties resume in Derbyshire for the F-Class tram following a 24-year gap.

STAND-IN ROLE:

Trams from Blackpool Transport’s ‘B Fleet’ have seen

Dinosaurs provide further attraction for Seaton Tramway

SEATON Tramway expects the‘Last Day of the Dinosaurs’exhibition

‘Deltic’ diesels breathe into life!

Tulyar power units fired up – and Royal Highland Fusilier joins Great Central roster.

SPA VALLEY BONANZA:

Class 08 No. 08922 departs Eridge station with

NVR CELEBRATES COMMUTER TRAINS:

The Intercity 125 Group Class 43 HST power

New wheels follow repaint for Sarah Siddons

Repainted Metropolitan Railway No. 12 Sarah Siddons pictured

Bo’ness fleet duo edge closer to returning to traffic

PROGRESS has been made on preparations for the

SIDELINES

Class 142 debut? CLASS 142 ‘Pacer’ No. 142013

DIARY

SEPTEMBER 3-5 Spa Valley: Thumper 1317 Purple Timetable

Last-built Class 90 goes back on display after makeover

Crewe Heritage Centre praises “incredible” cosmetic restoration work carried out by its volunteers, supported by loco owner Freightliner.

TRIP BACK IN TIME:

BR Class 20 No. D8001 (20001) hauls a

Another Scottish push-pull trip

LOCOMOTIVE Services Group is offering another weekend tour

Pathfinder gears up for Christmas excursions

Charter train promoter offers a quartet of special trains in the run up to the festive season.

‘CROMPTON’ HAULAGE:

Class 33 No. 33012 Lt Jenny Lewis RN

Seven-coach ‘Thumper’ excursion to visit Gloucester and Cheltenham

HASTINGS Diesels Limited has announced its fifth tour

‘TUG’ ON TOUR:

Rare motive power for the Brighton main line

Class 45 ‘Peak’ rostered to revisit old stomping ground

ANEW tour in the Locomotive Services Group’s InterCity

Rare opporunity to visit former Eastriggs MoD base

UK RAILTOURS (UKR) has secured a first ever

SIDELINES

Sold out in hours! THE Branch Line Society’s

RAILTOURS PORTFOLIO

1 THE ‘NORTH WEST WANDERER’: Intercity staged a

SIDELINES

Bumper first year for Marsh Barton… IN its

Northumberland Line reopening takes shape

Revised target of December 2024 set for start of passenger services.

Latest phase of MML electrification switched on

A NEW section of the Midland Main Line

Solution found in Altnabrec station access legal dispute

HAVING been closed since November 12, 2023, following

Refurbishment for Richmond

RICHMOND station is benefiting from a refresh as

Bridge fault closes canal

An aerial view of the unique sliding bridge

Escalator upgrade on Merseyside

NETWORK Rail is investing £12.5m to upgrade 14

Huddersfield roof restoration

The complex scaffolding needed to enable the roof

TROON BUILDING REOPENS:

THE £5m reconstruction of Troon station platform one

First ‘Beacon’ bridge opens

The new bridge at Garforth with its clear

£5.2m invested in Stephenson double-decker bridge upgrade

A YEAR-long project to strengthen the iconic High

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Barnes Bridge strengthened A SIX-day closure of the

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Heidelberg agrees iWagon deal HEIDELBERG Materials UK (formerly

GBRf launches five more trains per week for Stobart

Additional Felixstowe-Widnes workings are a response to ‘substantial demand’.

Drax’s golden milestone

MARKING the 50th anniversary of the opening of

SIDELINES

Landslip affects Metrolink services METROLINK services between Oldham

Faulty pantograph strips affect Tyne & Wear Metro services

The issue is the latest cause of reliability problems for the ageing Class 599 fleet and the first of their replacements are yet to be introduced.

Modifications considered for new Subway trains

GLASGOW Subway’s new 17-strong fleet of Stadler-built four-car

A TASTE OF HOME:

The ticket hall of Heathrow Terminal 4 Underground

GB Railfreight announces lease of Class 18 hybrid shunter fleet

The confirmed acquisition of four Clayton-built locomotives follows a trial launched in 2022 at Whitemoor Yard in Cambridgeshire.

OVERHEAD TESTING TRAIN FORMED:

August 3 saw the first run on the

Alstom to continue TPE Class 397 maintenance

TransPennine Express Class 397 ‘Nova 2’ unit No.

Overhauls for Scotrail Sprinters

ScotRail No. 156467, the second of the operator’s

Europhoenix ‘Syphons’

Reliveried in April this year into modified Rail

‘Azumas’ used in digital monitoring trials

Forward-facing CCTV will help to detect potential problems with infrastructure and lineside vegetation.

Second Class 93 arrives

THE second Rail Operations Group tri-mode Class 93

BATTERY TRIAL:

Class 802 TransPennine Express ‘Nova 1’ unit No.

Wagon Report

NETWORK Rail is moving away from a national

ANNIVERSARY REPAINT:

Another view of ‘golden’ Class 66 No. 66301

STOCK UPDATE

Transport for Wales-operated Class 231 ‘Flirt’ DMU No.

The network’s notable moves

Avanti West Coast The 9S44/06.16 London Euston to

Timetable gets green light

Kishoge station finally opens after a 15-year delay.

Green light for DART + West but new depot refused

AN Bord Pleanála has granted permission for the

Diamond Jubilee celebrations for Stradbally Steam Rally

Guinness Spencer 1ft 10in gauge loco No. 15

SIDELINES

New consultation for Metro North scheme A FRESH

Soviet loco variety in Kazakhstan

Away from the main line, a wide variety of older Soviet era locos remain in use on Kazakhstan’s railways.

New Hitachi units enter public service in Italy

ITALIAN national passenger operator Trenitalia has 58 multimode

Brightline expands high speed rail network in USA

AMERICAN private passenger company Brightline has started construction

California high speed line progresses

ALSTOM and Siemens have been shortlisted to supply