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38 NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: TON UP FOR TODDINGTON!
With the fires from the big West Somerset gala hardly thrown out, the preservation world is gearing up for the next big event of 2006 a€ the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway centenary celebrations from 27 May to 4 June. The landmark event, the biggest in the linea€ s history, will also mark a quarter-century of revival under preservationists, who set out with the aim of linking Stratford-upon-Avon to Cheltenham by train again. GWR fireman Ian Crowder, its Press officer and former commercial director, takes us on a journey through the Cotswold railwaya€ s past, looking at what is now being achieved and where the line will head in years to come.

42 NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: WORKING THE BLUEBELL SPOIL TRAIN a€" BY STEAM
Former London Underground steam driver Kirk Martin took a busmana€ s holiday at the Bluebell Railway a€" helping to drive the train taking spoil from the Imberhorne Lane landfill site that blocks the linea€ s extension to East Grinstead. As the a€~steam onlya€ railway hires in diesel traction to take over the job, Kirk reminiscences about his Indian summer.

46 NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: NOW THATa€ S WHAT WE CALL A SPRING STEAM GALA!
The West Somerset Railwaya€ s a€~Somerset & Dorseta€ spring steam gala broke all records as it recreated the legendary trans-Mendip line in a way like never before. We present highlights from some of the countrya€ s top photographers.

60 NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: LAST PUSH FOR PORTHMADOG
One of the most exciting projects in the history of railway preservation is now under way in Snowdonia a€" the rebuilding of the last section of the Welsh Highland Railway. As a fresh appeal for extra rolling stock for the new line is issued, Barrie Hughes looks at the construction work well under way on the length between Rhyd Ddu and Porthmadog.

66 BRITAINa€ S MOST POPULAR HERITAGE LINE a€" WITH NO TRACK?
Completed in 1831, the Cromford & High Peak Railway was one of the first in Britain, and it lasted up to 1967, after which the tracks were torn up. Yet, apart from the track, much remained in place, and today, probably more people travel along the superbly maintained High Peak Trail than on many heritage railways. Brian Sharpe walks the line.

72 THE CHANGEOVER YEARS: CORBY: A DECADE OF CHANGE
Harringworth Viaduct remains the best-known structure on the Midland Railwaya€ s a€~slow linea€ across Northamptonshire, but not only has Corby lost almost all trace of the steel industry, its passenger train services also disappeared, despite an unsuccessful revival attempt. Fred Kerr recounts the fascinating story of steama€ s last days and the coming of the diesels in this part of the East Midlands.

78 OUT AND ABOUT
Spring is back again at last a€" and here is a mountain of steamy suggestions for days out at a€~must visita€ locations.

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5 HEADLINE NEWS
Fleetwood branch revival announced; fresh wave of optimism in wake of fears over Colne Valley sale; National Railway Museum unveils new York Eye wheel; First BR diesel for Bluebell Railway arrives and the funeral train which ran on a back garden miniature railway.

10 NEWS: THE WIDEST COVERAGE OF THE UK PRESERVATION SCENE
Steam and fireworks kick-start Brunel 200; broad gauge revival plan for Faringdon branch; Swansea Harbour steam resurrected at Chatham; signalbox boost for Telford Steam Railwaya€ s Severn Valley extension bid; Princess Anne to open Dean Foresta€ s Parkend terminus; Rhyl Miniature Railway museum plan in Ã