Traction Magazine Sep-Oct 2022 Back Issue

This special issue of TRACTION focuses largely, but not exclusively, on the rail freight scene. We start with the long standing Greater Manchester Council’s ‘Binliner’ containerised refuse trains which have now been operating for just over forty years. We conclude the account of the T42 trip freight workings in the West Midlands, looking at the period before its demise in the mid 1990s. A former BR manager, reveals some of the loco hauled workings that he was involved with in the Medway area, which was usually dominated by electric multiple units. We have selected a variety of photos of freight workings on the scenic Highland lines between Perth and Georgemas Junction. For industrial enthusiasts we have another selection of industrial locomotives, this time from the Leeds based firm of John Fowler & Co.
Renowned for its heavy freight traffic, the line between Severn Tunnel Junction and Cardiff in the 1980s had a considerable variety of locos types and traffic. Another busy line that still carries much freight is the line between Chesterfield and Rotherham and we see freight on the “Old Road” during the 1970s and 1980s. Moving north to Scotland, there is a feature about Ayrshire with particular emphasis on coal and iron ore traffic.
Returning to the passenger scene, we look at the final years of Cross Country loco haulage. It is hard to believe that it is now two decades since the ‘Voyagers’ replaced Class 47s and 86s on these trains. Finally, we visit East Anglia in 1985 to witness the mixture of loco hauled and multiple unit operation at that time.
In TRACTION MODELLING the featured layout is the superb N Gauge Titheridge Junction layout which is set in the West Country in BR Blue days.