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WITH the Government set to bring more of

OUR WRITING TEAM

GRAEME PICKERING Senior correspondent CHRIS MILNER News writer

The RAILWAY Magazine

FIELDS OF FIRE: A dramatic view of the

TRU brings a new platform and entrance for Mirfield

A view of Mirfield station, looking towards Huddersfield

Government backs development of more open access services

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has confirmed there is a continuing place for open access operations, and that applications are encouraged for new journey opportunities.

Grand Central orders new trains from Hitachi and aims to connect Newcastle and Brighton

North East to South Coast proposals follow confirmation of a £300 million deal with Hitachi for nine five-car tri-mode units to replace the open access operator’s existing fleet.

ASHFORD WORKS CONVERSION

A £200 million project is underway to convert

Tornado goes digital

FOLLOWING a successful main line test run between

SIDELINES

Fewer RHTT operators FEWER companies will be involved

Class 555s taken out of traffic after door issue

New trains withdrawn from service pending investigation.

END FOR ORION EMU

No. 319373, the former ROG/Orion High Speed Logistics

East West services to start ‘by the end of the year’

ALTHOUGH the 18-mile East West Rail route between

SIDELINES

NR boss to retire NETWORK Rail’s chief

Insurance cover to pay out for Severn Valley landslip

The heritage railway will still have to pay a significant excess payment.

DOUBLE ‘MANORS’

The Severn Valley Railway’s Easter Weekend Steam Gala

GBRf prepares to reinstate Port Talbot slab wagons

AS this issue of The RM went to

Tribute to pioneers will see trio of locos exhibited at Darlington

The original Locomotion No. 1 forms part of a Hopetown display celebrating railway pioneers alongside replicas of Richard Trevithick’s Penydarren and John Buddle and William Chapman’s Steam Elephant.

Robert Stephenson statue moves to Locomotion

HS2 Ltd, Network Rail and the Science Museum

‘AZUMA’ IN LIGHTS

A festival of events across the North East

SIDELINES

Middleton talks THE Middleton Railway in Leeds

DIARY

■ Ongoing to June 22 Hopetown Darlington Railway

Cross-Channel competition heats up

Several operators have announced plans to rival Eurostar services through the Channel Tunnel.

Railways in Parliament

More‘Voyagers’ NEWTON Abbot MP Martin Wrigley asked about

Creating some extra room to eliminate HS2’s sonic boom

Extensions completed to the southern portal of the Chiltern Tunnel, which will help dissipate micro pressure waves from high speed trains.

HS2 News

FINAL PIECES: C oncrete lining segments to complete

Then there were four

Dr Joseph Brennan brings our series covering Britain’s railway history into the 20th century, when the impact of the First World War saw railway amalgamation reach its most famous form as 120 separate companies were grouped into the ‘Big Four’.

Surfin’ Safari

Beach boys and surfer girls heading west from Paddington to Cornwall can get there quicker on the summer-dated 12.03 departure, which reaches Plymouth in under three hours after a nonstop run to Exeter, as John Heaton FCILT describes.

Torpedoed!

Four S160 Class locos were lost at sea in April 1943, while crossing the Atlantic to Britain as part of the war effort. Paul Bickerdyke tells the tale, and presents a first-hand account of the sinking from the captain of the cargo vessel torpedoed by a German submarine.

The first railway photo?

The development of railways and photography ran in parallel but, as Phil Marsh asks, does any reader know of an earlier shot than these?

The making of ‘Is Line Clear?’

FOLLOWING the review in the April issue of

Preservation heroes

I ENJOYED reading my former colleague Bob Gwynne’s

Time to name aloco after Dia Woodham

I AM sure most train readers will recognise

Not a Midland Hotel

ON page 19 of the April issue, Dr

Build more Mk.1s to secure the future of traditional operations

MAY I suggest that one of the leasing

MEETINGS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7 Pennine Railway Society. Doncaster

From the archive

100 YEARS AGO MAY 1925 Locomotive exchanges

The RCTS: then and now

Britain’s leading Railway Society

PANORAMA

A showcase for the best in railway photography

Merseyside and West Cheshire Railways 1965-1990

PICTURE-LED railway books are very common, but those

Backtracking around Plymouth, Laira, Lee Moor, Kingsbridge, Ashburton, Totnes & South Devon Railway

CHANGE over time is a key element to

Cameron’s Engines

MICHAEL Mather has edited a second volume of

The Railway Magazine binders and bound volumes

Binders High-quality binders to store your copies

The Long View: May

Hill climbing LICKEY: One of

CROSSWORD & NEXT MONTH

The NOSTALGIA Collection SILVER LINK PUBLISHING LTD •

MAKING THE GRADE

The 400mm telephoto lens exaggerates the changing gradient

Great Central operations reunite

A joint running day offered the first through tickets since 1969.

‘4MT’ to head to North Norfolk

FOLLOWING agreement of a five-year lease deal, BR

SHAP STEAM BANKERS:

A stock move on April 4, from Carnforth

‘2MT’ confirmed for Kirkby Stephen bicentenary gala

THE Stainmore Railway Company has revealed the second

Bodmin gala is first since pandemic

Visiting locos and autocoach offer a true branchline feel.

Aln Valley appeal to build repair shed

ENGLAND’S most northerly standard gauge heritage line is

ROUGH SEAS:

G WR 4073 Class No. 5029 Nunney Castle

SEEING RED:

Standing out from the gloomy conditions, ex-LMS ‘Jinty’

SIDELINES

ELR vandal attack MORE than £5000 worth

Victorian elegance to lead line-up at Cotswold Festival of Steam

Impressive line-up celebrates Railway 200 anniversary year.

Prairie steams into service on the Nene Valley Railway

VISITORS to the Nene Valley Railway this year

IVATT FREIGHT

A guest loco at the Swanage Railway’s Spring Steam

SIDELINES

‘K1’ boiler test THE overhaul of the

SIDELINES

‘Middy’ extension approved for use THE Mid-Suffolk

DIARY

May 7 Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway: Behind Closed Doors

Second to last ‘9F’ readied for boiler lift at Aviemore

Restoration work is now under way after 60 years in store at various sites.

MASSIVE ATTACK:

‘A2’ No. 60532 Blue Peter was in fine

Gwili fulfils ambition to acquire a GWR Small Prairie

SIXTY years since the closure of the former

Two steam locomotives acquired by the Stephenson Railway Museum

Hawthorn Leslie-built Pony and Sentinel works No. 9559 are the recent arrivals on North Tyneside.

From Strathspey to WSR

Andrew Barclay 0-6-0ST Salmon being shunted at Boat

INDUSTRIAL STARS:

As well as the bigger locomotives at the

Spring spruce-up for GWR ‘Mink A’ and North London Railway coach

Ventilated 10-ton box van No. 95861 is due to go back on display this month at Beamish, while the former NLR vehicle has received green Highland Railway livery.

SIDELINES

The Countess overhaul in full swing THE

DIARY

Please check with railways before travelling to events.

Talyllyn Railway reworks its plans for Pendre

Deposit paid to secure site on industrial estate adjacent to the line for potential use in next few years.

Ffestiniog Railway gets ready to ‘Spiral into Chaos’!

THE latest special attraction to be announced by

FIRST STEAM OF THE SEASON:

Heatherslaw Light Railway’s 2-6-0T+T Bunty leaves Heatherslaw station

Bord na Mona Wagonmaster arrives at Steamworks

EX-BORD na Mona Hunslet Wagonmaster 0-4-0DM LM319 (works

Boston Lodge to build new boiler for Darjeeling B-class tank

Contract decision based on timescale and competitive price.

Much-travelled Simplex donated to Old Kiln LR

MOTOR Rail Simplex 7902/1939 Amey has been donated

EVENING TRIP:

The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway’s Hunslet 2-6-2T Russell

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch locos to make gala return to Bure Valley

THE Bure Valley Railway’s 35th Anniversary gala on

NEARLY FINISHED:

As anticipated last month, the extensive overhaul of

‘Kalahari’ completes gauging test through Aberglaslyn Pass

FOLLOWING completion of the rebuilding of the Ffestiniog

Baldwin ‘590’ back at Gelert’s Farm

THE Welsh Highland Heritage Railway’s (WHHR) ex-WDLR Baldwin

Another step forward in the restoration of Statfold’s Baldwin 10-12-D

‘WORKSHOP X’volunteers have completed restoration of the cab

SINGLE LINES

■ THE West of Fife Munitions Railway is

STEAM PORTFOLIO

1 LANCS & YORKS IN CUMBRIA Making

New owners for Eastleigh Lakeside Miniature Railway

John Kerr and Peter Bryant take the reins as founder Clive Upton retires.

TYNESIDE STEAM:

O n March 16, almost 11 months after

Consent required for Severn Beach plans

THE businessman behind plans for anew 10¼ inch

No. 173 to return to service after nearly a century out of traffic

Members of the Manchester Transport Museum Society have already begun work on restoring the 124-year-old tram at Heaton Park.

Merseyside trams join the collection at Crich

THREE electric trams which were previously based at

New season setback for ‘Bluebird’

THE National Tramway Museum says the commissioning of

Visitors galore confirmed for three spring diesel gala events

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Kent & East Sussex Railway, and Severn Valley Railway have all confirmed visiting engines for their forthcoming diesel galas.

Chinnor new home for Scottish ‘47/7’

THE Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway has announced

‘ED’ GOES BLUE:

English Electric electro-diesel No. 73129 has been repainted into

ScotRail repaint for LSL Class 47

EASTLEIGH-based Arlington Fleet Services has repainted Locomotive Services

CORNISH ‘08’ RETURNS TO TRAFFIC:

The Bodmin Railway’s No. 08444 is now up and

TWIN ‘PEAKS’:

Reunited after many years, Class 44 ‘Peaks’ Nos. 44004

Ashdown gets an outing at Shillingstone station

No. 1186 Ashdown in action at Shillingstone on

‘SKIPPER’ RETURNS TO TRAFFIC

Newly restored Class 142 No. 142023 has entered service

DIARY

Please check with railways before travelling to events.

SIDELINES

West Coast Railway ‘Tractors’ to take charge of

Colas ‘Grid’ off to English Riviera

The Class 56 will be in charge of

EAST WEST ‘THUMPER’:

Hastings Diesels ran a nine-car set to Milton

Green ‘Shed’ anticipated for May tour via East West line

FOLLOWING the popularity of UK Railtours’‘Thundering Shed’ tour

Change of traction for SRPS tours

THE Scottish Railway Preservation Society(SRPS) has changed the

WARREN PEACE:

LSL’s Midland Pullman set (with power cars Nos.

Steam haulage on ‘Jolly Fisherman’ from Skegness

THE Railway Touring Company’s busy steam schedule includes

Dates for ‘Dalesman’ and ‘Scarborough Spa Express’

DATES for the‘Dalesman’and ‘Scarborough Spa Express’steam services this

Freight operators meet Tata Steel’s changing needs in Wales

As GB Railfreight launches a new service transporting steel slabs to Port Talbot, DB Cargo introduces refurbished wagons on its trains which deliver to the works.

‘iWagon’ conversions under way at Clitheroe and Padeswood

FITTING of‘iWagon’technology to JPA wagons leased by Heidelberg

SIDELINES

London Gateway go-ahead DP WORLD has confirmed

SIDELINES

Temporary terminus progress INSTALLATION of the switch

Over 50 million Metrolink trips made using ‘tap and go’

Contactless is the most popular payment method for tram journeys in Greater Manchester.

JOB DONE:

T he two-year long, £5.3 million restoration of

More changes to Blackpool services

EFFECTIVE from April 6, Blackpool Transport’s latest tram

SIDELINES

Trains can now call again at Altnabrec

New designs for Liverpool Street redevelopment

Network Rail Property says its revised plans will respect the station’s Victorian features.

Wigston electrification completed under budget

ELECTRIFICATION of the Midland Main Line (MML) has

NR and GWR control functions merge

GREAT Western Railway (GWR) and Network Rail are

Funding secured for Hither Green accessibility upgrades

An illustration of the new footbridge which will

Stabilisation work completed on main line in Durham

A view of the worksite at Browney Curve

£9.9 million restoration of Keighley station completed

The restored station at Keighley from the platforms

Grand Union withdraws Wales to Scotland open access application

ASPIRING open access operator Grand Union has withdrawn

York’s water tower restoration is something to be trumpeted

YORK’S oldest surviving railway structure is set to

SIDELINES

Cumbrian Coast line to close for 23 days

SIDELINES

Hitachi continues Class 385 maintenance HITACHI will

GWR’s battery-powered Class 230 unit takes the high load

Test event involving 250 volunteers gathered energy consumption

‘TRACTOR’ MAKEOVER:

Following repainting into HNRC Swietelsky livery by UKRL

CrossCountry ready to introduce remaining Class 221s

CROSSCOUNTRY has confirmed to The RM that all

Caledonian Sleeper seeks interest from loco operators

On September 25, 2024, Caledonian Sleeper-liveried Class 73/9

POWER CARS FOR EXPORT:

R ail Adventure No. 43480 leads classmates Nos.

ST PANCRAS DEBUT:

In the early hours of March 28, nine-car

CULTURE CELEBRATION:

Northern Class 331 electric multiple unit No.331004 was

Wagon Report

DB Cargo UK’s latest BAA-Rsteel slab carriers are

STOCK UPDATE

Harry Needle has sold four of the five

The network’s notable moves

Windermere is a much-reduced terminus from its heyday.

No. 171 returns to the main line after an absence of 23 years

Slieve Gullion made an Easter Monday trial run, although problems with a big end bearing during the trip have required further workshop attention.

Consultation on €2.17 billion Luas light rail scheme

AN eight-week consultation was launched on April 14

RETRO‘2600’TO GALWAY:

TáilteTours operated the‘Eyre Lee Bird’railtour from Cork to

New platform opens at Cork’s Kent station

ATTENDED by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and EU Commissioner

CC65512 returns to the main line in France on public charter train

Successful outing for member of the diesel class that pioneered the railway use of the Sulzer 12LDA28 engine.

Trieste funicular tram route reopened after nine years

AFTER a near nine-year closure, the tram line

Diesel locomotive variety aplenty in Tunisia

The most modern locos in Tunisia are the

BACK IN V/LINE LIVERY:

Australian preservation group 707 Operations has restored 1952-built

Panama Canal Railway sold

THE railway beside the Panama Canal has been

New train ferries for NZ

AFTER several delays and much political argument, the