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MAIN LINE NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: SHAP - THE CROWNING SUMMIT - Last steam over Shap? - The question is now inevitably asked every time a high-profile charter takes the legendary stretch of the West Coast Main Line through the Cumbrian Fells, in view of the fact that it is now being upgraded to handle Virgin Trainsa€ Pendolinos at 125mph. However, Network Rail says that there will be no ban on steam on the route a€ provided locomotive owners and train operators keep their houses in order, as Robin Jones explains.

WHATa€ S LEFT OF THE GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY?
The Great Central Railway is perhaps unique among Britaina€ s pre-Grouping railways in that such a large proportion of its main lines are now just abandoned trackbed or obliterated route mileage, making the preserved sections at Loughborough and Ruddington all the more historically important. Brian Sharpe looks into the heritage of Britaina€ s last trunk railway to be built before the new Channel Tunnel link.

CENTRE SPREAD
Trevor Lawa€ s panorama of LNER K1 2-6-0 No 62005 in vivid autumn colours on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway takes centre stage.

INDUSTRIAL SCENE NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: The rebirth of the Great Laxey Mines Tramway
The latest addition to our proud portfolio of heritage steam lines is one built to the very unusual 19in gauge a€" the Great Laxey Mines Railway in the Isle of Man. Not only that, it employs new-build versions of the linea€ s original Victorian locomotives, as David Lloyd-Jones and Mark Smithers explain.

THE CHANGEOVER YEARS: MASTER LOCO BUILDERa€Ã