Heritage Railway Magazine, Issue 311

Features:
Autumn steam bonanza feast on the Valley! - The Severn Valley Railway's eagerly-awaited September autumn steam gala - which boasted four guest and five resident locomotives in action across a packed four-day weekend - proved a crowd-pulling, dazzling, all-action success, despite enduring some rough weather conditions. John Titlow reports in words and pictures.
Weaving that old Middleton magic - At what is believed to be the oldest continually operating railway in the world, Sally Clifford discovers how the past and present are helping to secure the Middleton Railway's future on a visit to the Leeds line's annual gala on September 17.
Flying Scotsman on tour - From Sussex to Strathspey, the A3's centenary year tour of heritage railways concluded with visits to two lines at almost complete polar opposite ends of the nation. Owen Hayward gave chase to follow No. 60103 on these two significant visits 450 miles apart.
Back with us, big time: The Golden Age - Seasoned linesider JohnTitlow shares his pictures and choices of the finest locations for autumn railway photography and offers advice on how best to capture action amid some truly dazzling, rich and colourful landscapes.
Wartime wonders: Hunslet's Austerities - Daniel Long casts his eye over the history of the ubiquitous wartime saddle tank locomotives.

Regulars:

Headline News:
- Moorsline announces oil-firing conversion for Dame Vera Lynn, while CEO Chris Price takes new job at Dorset tank museum
- West Somerset suspends services following flash flooding
- Bluebell Railway approves overhaul for Adams radial tank
- Lakeside Ivatt back by new year?

Model news:
- Surprise announcements and project updates abound from Rapido, plus new regional exclusives and commissions.

News:
- New-build Falcon arrives at Corris
- Restored T3 arrives at Swanage as October debut date approaches
- National Railway Museum unveils new-look plans for Station Hall
- Diesel rocks in to Mangapps with former pirate radio station identity
- Transitional livery'first'for newly-restored Llangollen pannier tank
- Heritage railways welcome visits by Prime Minister and rail minister
- KESR launches quarterly award to recognise its'heartbeat'volunteers
- £36k fine for Gwili Railway after volunteer falls from height

Main Line News:
- Britannia shatters crosshead during Steam Dreams'Sunset'tour
- Blue Peter passes hydraulic and steam boiler tests
- Rapid progress for Tornado's overhaul at two different sites

With Full Regulator - Don Benn looks at steam performance, both 'at home' with Nos. 35018 and 5239) and in Austria.
Main Line Itinerary - Autumn dates for steam and heritage diesel railtours
Railwayana - Geoff Courtney's regular column
Off the Shelf - Latest book and DVD releases
Up & Running - Your guide to running days and events in the upcoming weeks
The Month Ahead 

Contents Page photos
- Flying Scotsman crosses Imberhorne Viaduct on August 28
- Flying Scotsman emerges from a cutting in Kinchurdy Woods on the Strathspey Railway on September 16. The National Railway Museum in York has announced that the A3 will be on static display on the turntable in its Great Hall between October 21 and November 5. 
- GWR Castle 4-6-0 No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe storms through Dorridge with the last of the Vintage Trains' summer 'Shakespeare Express' trips from Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon on September 3. The last of these tours for the year will run on October 22. 

COVER: Now sporting unlined SR black livery with sunshine lettering, a scheme never applied to class members during their main line careers. West Country C4-6-2 No. 21027 Taw Valley starts offfrom Bewdley on September 15 during the Severn Valley Railway's autumn steam gala weekend, which saw up to nine locomotives in operation. See pages 48-53 for full coverage. JOH N TITLOW