FEATURES

NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: A CURTAIN UP ON CENTURY THREE!
Steam traction entered its third century over the 2005 New Year Weekend, and it was the North Norfolk Railway that marked the event in a most spectacular style, as Brian Sharpe reports in words and pictures.

CHANGEOVER YEARS NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: EASTLEIGH: THE END IS NIGH
Another of Britain's great railway works will close at the end of 2005, its shocked staff were told in December. For it has been decreed that Eastleigh, once the beating heart of the London & South Western Railway system, has no place in the modern network, and its demise is set to deal a major blow to the town which grew up around it. Robin Jones and Cedric Johns look back at the illustrious history of Eastleigh Works, from where some of the finest Southern Railway locomotives and stock were turned out, from Lord Nelson to 'Thumper' DEMUs.

HERITAGE RAILWAY EVENTS GUIDE 2005
Our 16-page indispensable pull-out guide to all the big events at Britain's heritage lines and museums during 2005. It's oozing from start to finish with essential dates covering everything from steam galas to Thomas the Tank Engine events. Plan your weekends and holidays around it, keep it in your glove compartment can you afford to be without it?

NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: STEAMING BACK INTO SWINDON
While arguments rage about the need to install a live steam running line at Swindon's loss-making STEAM museum, one is being laid on the outskirts of the town. After 26 years of concentrating on its core infrastructure, the Swindon & Cricklade Railway is now pushing towards the hub of the GWR empire with a vengeance, with three-quarters-of-a-mile of its southern extension now laid. In the second of two special reports highlighting railway heritage at Brunel's great railway town, Geoff Courtney looks at the revived section of the Midland & South Western Junction Railway.

NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: SCOTSMAN: SHAREHOLDERS IN THE DARK
Flying Scotsman the engine was sold to the National Railway Museum for Ã