NEWS - In focus this month: news of an Australian investment company's interest in the Dart Valley Railway, plus details of the new 'school for steam' where anyone can drive.
GALLERY - As the sun begins to set on GWR 1 50, we take a pictorial look at some of the September highlights, including Clun Castle's historic crossing of the Tamar Bridge into Cornwall, and a weekend of steam on the Pembroke Coast line to Carmarthen.
THE HULL AND WHAT? - Much of the fascination of a closed railway is in trying to discover what it used to be like. Peter Millar illustrates the dismembered remains of the Hull & Barnsley Railway, and Martin Barker paints the word-picture, in this, the H&BR centenary year.
'MALLARD': NEARLY LATE FOR THE PARTY - Picture report on the reincarnation of Gresle-y s t26mph record breaker, for the National Railway Museum's 10th birthday celebrations.
WORLDWIDE REPORT - Overseas steam columnist David Thornhill reflects on the diminishing value of a British passport at a time when vintage steam is becoming increasingly difficult to get at.
2857 ON THE LOOSE - Featuring the remarkable events of September 10, when Churchward 2800 2-8-0 No.2857 ran its own goods train from Kidderminster to Newport, entertained the crowds, and ran back again, without even a hint of a hot box.
NIGHT FREIGHT - colour photospread by Alun Matthews.
102.3MPH - FACT OR FICTION? - Did the man who 'timed' City of Truro at 102.3mph miss out mileposts, and make a hash of his performance log? Did No.3440 really touch 102.3mph, or was it 92,3mph? Geoffrey Freeman Alien rakes over the bones of the legend.
MAILBAG - Do noisy, fidgetting children annoy you when you visit a private line? Should preserved railways hold 'Adults Only' steam days? Just one viewpoint of many, in this month's selection of readers' letters.
POSTED TO YORKSHIRE - Peter Hay thought he'd said goodbye to railways when he was conscripted into the Navy, but his posting to an on-shore base at Wetherby actually opened up new horizons. All he needed now was his camera, a bicycle and a set of golf irons
THE GLORIOUS YEARS - Guest photographer Neville Stead served his platform-end apprenticeship at Doncaster, and his appreciation of the LNER and its engines has never wilted, as this month's portfolio unashamedly shows.
TRAIN INFORMATION - Where to go for steam in the autumn? Look no further than this month's guide to private railway operation, main line running, society meetings. and advance notice of Santa steamings.
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PERMANENT WAY...and not-so-permanent way. Another glimpse of the railway as it used to be — and as it is today.