GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARWICKSHIRE RAILWAY: - the photographers' guide With the opening of the extension from Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse in early 2003, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire. Railway will be able to offer a 20-mile round trip for the first time and leapfrog into the 21 st century premier league of heritage lines. But already the 6'A-mile operational length which runs along the foot of the Cotswold scarp offers a dazzling array of photographic opportunities, as Paul Stratford explains.

THE ROYAL SCOTS: BRITAIN'S FINEST 4-6-Os? - With moves to restore both of the surviving LMS Royal Scot class 4-6-Os to the main line, David Jenkinson, former Head of Education and Research at the National Railway Museum in York and a member of the LMS Society, appraises the class which, astonishingly, was snubbed by the National Collection as part as preservation was concerned.

WHERE SOUTHERN MET WESTERN: A PANNIER RETURNS - Fifteen years after holding its inaugural open day, the Bodmin & Wenford Railway is celebrating another major milestone: the debut of the first main line steam locomotive to be bought by the heritage operation - a humble GWR pannier tank which was twice condemned as scrap! Now following its restoration at Bill Parker's workshop in the Forest of Dean, No. 4612 is not only revelling in having a branch line of its own for the first time in its history, but is set to spearhead its new owner's drive to expand to Wadebridge, as Robin Jones explains.

THE LOST ROUTE TO POPPYLAND - In 1959, railway staff and enthusiasts alike were stunned when BR closed most of the Midland & Great Northern Joint system, as it was the first time that a complete network had been axed. Following the successful campaign to raise Ã