EATURES

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME - Two turning facilities at either end of the line, far greater involvement with the main line and other groundbreaking developments have placed the West Somerset Railway at the forefront of the preservation movement, as general manager Paul Conibeare takes the magnificent progress made by his predecessor to even dizzier heights. Robin Jones asks a€ will the line begun by Brunel 150 years ago now become the best heritage railway of them all?

OLIVER CROMWELL: 40 YEARS OF PRESERVATION - In this second of a two-part study of Britannias past and present, David Ward tells Heritage Railway writer Geoff Courtney how No 70013 Oliver Cromwell came to be preserved in 1968 and given a safe bolthole at Bressingham Steam Museum.

THE COPLEY HILL PEPPERCORN A1S - With new-build A1 Tornado now a reality, Gavin Morrison turns the clock back to when A1s formed the staple motive power for expresses from Leeds to the capital.

THE RETURN OF THE PACIFICS - As the end of BR steam approached, and three more steam sheds closed, the railtour season got under way in March with Pacific power being seen in north-west England once again. Brian Sharpe continues the countdown to the end of steam.

MAIN LINE IN MINIATURE - Several generations of schoolboys and enthusiasts have been fascinated by the a€~worlda€ s smallest public railwaya€ , but how is the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway faring at more than 80 years old? Geoff Courtney went to find out.

WELSH HIGHLAND: THE HERITAGE TRAIN TAKES SHAPE - Rapid progress is being made in Porthmadog in assembling a train of original Welsh Highland Railway locomotives and carriages. It is an ambitious project, run by the Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog), the original WHR revivalists, and now guardians of WHR heritage. Mark Herbert, fundraiser for the heritage train project, reports on the story so far


REGULARS:
OPINION
HEADLINE NEWS - Sir Nigel Gresley gets main line ticket at last; fears sounded for Weardale and Dartmoor railways as ECT reviews operations; Bressingham sells star exhibit to finance Royal Scot rebuild; eight in steam for big Moorsline LNER gala; Royal Train a€~Black Fivea€ restoration plan for Barry and Green Arrowa€ s final schedule.
NEWS: THE WIDEST COVERAGE OF UK PRESERVATION - Outrage over dairy plans to flatten Brunel pump house; Tornado prepares for first movement in early April; Severn Valley reopening on track; Paignton offers a€~firsta€ engine for sale; new commuter trains plan for East Lancashire; demand for Bittern soars since debut; Porthmadog joint terminus may be delayed for a year; GWR prairie in Polish timetable debut; Euston Arch may be rebuilt; museum plans for Loughborough goods office and Pontyberem returns to Wales for restoration.
MORGAN - More outspoken views from the chairman of the Heritage Railway Association.
THE THIN RED LINE by David Wilcock - Steamy Affairs goes bust - but who is to blame? Greg Wilsona€ s plans at the Churnet Valley for his new a€~derelicta€ 8F, and Ruth Kellya€ s plans for London to Birmingham come under his scrutiny.
CENTREPIECE - Two Ivatt 2-6-2Ts power through Haworth, as captured by Andrew Bell.
MAIN LINE NEWS compiled by Cedric Johns - Steam Dreams to run first tour to use Minehead turntable; Kingfisher offers a€~last 37a€ trips and K1 jaunt to Boulby are among the many stories featured in our definitive round up.
MAIN LINE TOUR ITINERARY - Brian Sharpea€ s guide to steam and heritage modern traction tours.
PLATFORM - The pages where your views matter the most!
SUBSCRIBE TO HERITAGE RAILWAY! - Be the first to receive your copy of the top four-weekly preservation news magazine - now offering 108 quality pages per issue!
SCALE HERITAGE RAILWAY - Hornbya€ s eagerly awaited Flower tanks in BR and LMS liveries, and Class 37s in OO and N from Bachmann and Farish.
OFF THE SHELF - Latest book and DVD releases.
RAILWAYANA - Geoff Courtney with the latest reports from the auction scene.
UP AND RUNNING - Brian Sharpea€ s full listing of operational lines and museum venues.
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