Time for change?

A WEEK before this issue went to press,

OUR WRITING TEAM

GARETH EVANS Deputy editor CHRIS MILNER Contributing editor

The RAILWAY Magazinehe RAILWAY Magazine

SVR LOCO FEST IS A HIT The Severn

General election could have immediate impact on rail policy

The Labour Party is widely predicted to be in power after the July 4 election, so what are its plans for our rail network?

Three operators announce train procurement intentions

Five manufacturers are shortlisted by Southeastern, while Eurostar and Northern plan sizeable orders.

THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS’ VIEW

IN England, the Liberal Democrats are the third

Betton Grange pulls the crowds at Cotswold gala

No. 6880 passes Hayles Abbey Halt hauling its

Virgin Trains propose West Coast comeback

As the former West Coast Main Line franchisee applies for paths as an open access operator, FirstGroup announces a plan to bring Lumo to the route.

GAS TANK LEAK SHUTS DOWN INVERNESS

A gas tanker on May 14’s 4H47/04.43

Grand Central seeks more train paths and station stops

ARRIVA-OWNED open access operator Grand Central has applied

SIDELINES

Darjeeling loco boiler FOLLOWING the decision to have

SIDELINES

Former LNER vessel is national flagship PS WAVERLEY,

Belfast Great Victoria Street closes after 185 years

Historic GNR station closed ahead of its replacement opening later this year.

HEMERDON STALL

An attempt on May 11 to re-create

Community rail projects celebrated

‘MORE Than a Railway’was the theme for this

Landslip watch

THE line between Knottingley and Pontefract Monkhill reopened

Locomotion doubles in size

‘New Hall’ building opens as home to 47 rail vehicles.

The Gaunless Bridge

The 1823-built Gaunless Bridge, newly restored and installed

Leeds Central remembered

The former station’s wagon hoist has been converted into a compact museum.

Railways in Parliament Compiled

Strikes hit economy LIFE Peer Lord Bourne of

Curzon viaduct sections completed

THREE thousand seven hundred cubic metres of concrete

Second Wendover ‘deck slide’

THE second of the‘slides’ required to gradually move

More than half of all HS2 tunnelling completed

To date, 53% of the underground sections of route have been excavated, with Bromford Tunnel’s western portal being the latest development.

Building bridges to take roads under and over HS2

OVER the weekend of April 20-21, the 518ft

And the winners are…

After sifting through hundreds of images, leading to some tough debate amongst the judging panel, the winners have been chosen for the RCTS/Mortons Media Photographic Competition.

Preserving the past

The digital age makes it far simpler to take train photos than in the days of film. However, one major consideration for both analogue and digital images is how to preserve and pass on photographic collections for enjoyment by future generations. Chris Milner visits specialist photo library, The Transport Treasury, to find out more.

Maintaining interest

Gareth Evans visits Didcot Railway Centre and learns about the latest motive power developments at the Oxfordshire home of the Great Western Society.

A Baker’s dozen THE WEYMOUTH TRAMWAY

Marking 25 years since the last train ran to Weymouth Quay, John Baker presents a selection of shots taken on the town’s much-missed tramway.

The RAILWAY Magazine

WELCOME ABOARD THE BIGGEST RAILWAY COMMUNITY

The Earls of Powis

John Heaton FCILT heads to Mid-Wales for a cab ride on the narrow gauge Welshpool & Llanfair Railway.

Readers’ Platform

The all-line timetable MY first job after leaving

MEETINGS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5 Pennine Railway Society. Doncaster Town

From the archive

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

Britain’s leading Railway Society

The RCTS: then and now

PANORAMA

A showcase for the best in railway photography

TRACKR ECORD

MAKING THE GRADE: SR ‘West Country’ No. 34046

STEAM & HERITAGE

Swanage Railway maps out turnaround strategy Dorset-based heritage

Visiting tank engines delight

Colourful combination provides variety at Severn Valley Railway Spring Steam Gala.

Maunsell ‘Q’ takes shape

THE overhaul of Maunsell ‘Q’0-6-0 No. 541 for

Cheddleton’s ‘4F’ set to be restored

HOPES of returning‘4F’No. 44422 to steam at the

Forest Pannier restoration progresses

PRAIRIE MILESTONE: The project to return GWR ‘45XX’

SIDELINES

Barry coach departs A vintage carriage which has

SIDELINES

‘Can Pac ’ progress THE overhaul of the

Tenterden ‘Terriers’ could be back in action this year

Repairs progress at Rolvenden works.

Gresley carriages grounded on the Moors for 2024

THE LNER Coach Association (LNERCA) fleet of historic

A POWERFUL COMBINATION

The Churnet Valley’s May 4-6 Steam Gala saw

West Somerset steam gala on the up!

WR ‘Modified Hall’ No. 6990 Witherslack Hall passes

ELR seeks workshop and viaduct support

THE East Lancashire Railway is appealing to well-wishers

National Collection ‘Greyhound’ to be assessed for a return to steam

PLANS to return LSWR ‘T9’ No. 30120 to

Meat & two opens

Historic GWR wagons to be fit for the future at Didcot.

Doxford crane tank takes shape

Bahamas Locomotive Society volunteers progress overhaul of Southwick at Ingrow.

Hired ‘Austerity’ boosts Embsay steam fleet this season

TWO ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0STs are on the Embsay &

SIDELINES

Sir Berkeley stopped

Bahamas

The story of a steam locomotive

The Railway Magazine binders and bound volumes

Binders High-quality binders to store your copies of

CROSSWORD

The crossword winner and two runners-up can choose

Coming up next month...

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SIDELINES

Significant step forward in ‘Tamar’ restoration THE renovated

Vale of Rheidol officially opens new museum

Exhibits from ‘Collection X’ unveiled to the public for the first time in Aberystwyth.

Visiting locos perform at Ratty gala

Bassett Lowke (note the headboard!) 4-4-2 ‘Little Giant’

A RARE COMBINATION:

THE 15in gauge Bure Valley Railway celebrated the

Alishan diesel launched into W&LLR passenger service

ALISHAN Forest Railway’s Mitsubishi diesel locomotive No. DL-34

SINGLE LINES

■ RICHMOND Light Railway’s Decauville ‘Type 3’ 0-4-0T

DIARY

JUNE 7-8 Ffestiniog/Welsh Highland: Rail Ale 8 Apedale:

SIDE LINES

Away days for Sir Tom THRELKELD Railway &

French visitors from Kent operate in North Wales

Decauville duo boost varied roster at ‘friends’ event.

New battery locomotive for Bure Valley takes shape

DELIVERY of the new CB12 battery Co-Co locomotive

Apedale Field Railway circuit completion to boost events

THE Moseley Railway Trust joined the two ends

Battery loco testing at Ruislip Lido

A PROGRAMME of testing and crew training will

Lakeshore’s Mountaineer returns to public service

‘Pacific’ back in steam at South Marine Park in South Shields after a three-month overhaul.

STEAM PORTFOLIO

SPRINGTIME IN THE WOODS: Caledonian Railway Class

‘Rallying call’ from the Tramcar Sponsorship Organisation

Group appeals for new members to ensure it can continue to play a role in vehicle restoration.

SIDELINES

Mid-June start to Heaton Park operating season AN

SIDELINES

Private group proposal for ‘Gronk’ D3591 A GROUP

Former EPS ‘Shoebox’ makes EKR passenger debut

Having entered service on the East Kent Railway during April, No. 73130 was also turned out for duty for the 30th anniversary of the Channel Tunnel’s official opening.

Shunting well within the boundaries at Didcot

Having shunted Lowmac wagon No. 42193, Great Western

ALL SET FOR COTWOLD GALA:

AARON BROWNING BR Class 26 No. D5310 (26010)

New homes for former Southern Region units

ELECTRIC multiple unit No. 1497 has been moved

WENSLEYDALE SENTINEL:

ROB WILLIAMSON The ex-Hope Cement Works Sentinel

DIARY

June 6-8 West Somerset Summer: Diesel Festival 7Great

SIDELINES

Dales duties for D2084 CLASS 03 locomotive D2084

Cambrian develops operation of diesel fleet

Stock changes at Shropshire heritage line.

Further setback for Tornado’s return

Boiler-related issues delay Pacific’s overhaul completion.

‘Western’ hydraulic proving popular

NOW firmly back on the main line,‘Western’hydraulic No.

PACIFIC IS PUT THROUGH ITS PACES:

BRAD JOYCE In BR blue but still to

Branch Line Society offers charity Glasgow track bash

BULLEID POWER: SR ‘West Country’ Pacific No. 34046

FIVE LOCOS, FOUR CARRIAGES:

KEITH FENDER Three different liveried Class 59s –

Sugar Loaf visit for LSL’s Intercity push-pull set

LOCOMOTIVE Services Group’s InterCity brand has announced two

SIDELINES

Glenfinnan Viaduct work underway A £3.4 million project

Designs are agreed for Leicester station revamp

Original façade of historic Grade II-listed building to be revealed as part of transformation plans.

Sinkhole disrupts Airdrie to Bathgate line train services

THE discovery of a sinkhole more than a

Ayr hotel demolition goes ahead after court hearing

THE demolition of the Station Hotel, Ayr, was

Progress on new Temple Meads entrance

A £23 million project to create an east

ACCESSIBILITY MILESTONE:

NETWORK RAIL Network Rail has successfully

Bridge delay on Leven Link

PLANS to install a new bridge for cyclists

Marston Vale line fares promotion extended

A SPECIAL ticket promotion launched to celebrate the

30000 staff complete mental health crisis training course

AS part of Mental Health Awareness Week, which

SIDELINES

Central Wales service cuts meeting planned FOLLOWING news

New owner develops plans for Coatbridge intermodal terminal

Russell Group expands its involvement in rail with the acquisition of the 39-acre site from Freightliner.

READY FOR DEPARTURE:

GBRF Token handover having taken place, GB

Maritime to operate West Midlands Interchange

THE developers of the £1 billion West Midlands

SIDELINES

Cullercoats footbridge reopens THE Victorian footbridge at Cullercoats

Date set for Blackpool extension opening

£23.4 million tram link serving the town’s North station should finally open to daily timetabled services on June 16.

Battery-powered test role for tram No. 16 in Black Country

Former Midland Metro T-69 tram No. 16 is

Modifications for TfW Class 230 units

TRANSPORT for Wales has told The RM it

Deal secures depot work

TYSELEY depot in Birmingham will continue to maintain,

The trailblazing red ‘Sheds’

First in class fitted with ETCS equipment, No. 66039 is prepared for dynamic testing and company’s first regeared Class 66/6 enters service.

IN RECOGNITION OF SERVICE:

GWR The Princess Royal and her husband Vice

POWER CARS LEAD BIOMASS RAKE:

JOHN SPARROW The Rail Adventure-operated Class 43 High

‘Choppers’ turned white and blue after acquisition by Balfour Beatty

CLASS 20 Nos. 20901 and 20905 have been

SIDELINES

Cross City line debut for ‘730’ EMUs WEST

Long Marston to be electrified

WITHIN weeks of the news (reported in April’s

Private sector finance ‘vital’ for realising GCRE

Research and development centre site in South Wales is ‘shovel ready’ but needs capital funding.

Wagon Report

ERMEWA’S rake of JNA-T box opens fitted with

STOCK UPDATE

LOCOMOTIVES Allocations 37407 KM/XSDP-LR/EPUK 37419 KM/XSDP-BH/HNRL 37422 KM/XSDP-BH/HNRL

The network’s notable moves

Avanti West Coast Observations of the new Class

Contractors commence Foynes line tracklaying

Route targeted for reopening by early 2026.

ORANGE ARROW RECORD RUN:

Iarnród Éireann repainted Class 2600 DMU No. 2601/2

New BEMU to start testing in September

The first BEMU was unveiled at Alstom’s factory

Eastern bloc electrics fading away

Withdrawal finally in sight for classic Czechoslovak locomotive designs.

Brush-built electric locos back in use in New Zealand

Kiwi Rail electric loco No EF 30192 seen

Rebuilt locos for Bulgarian narrow gauge

THE 760mm gauge (2ft 6ins), 125km long Rhodope

Brand new locomotives for Texas commuter trains

TEXAS commuter rail operator Trinity Railway Express (TRE),

Maglev railway for the Moon?

US SPACE agency NASA has revealed a scheme