NEWS - Pressure on the NRM to release Mallard to the Australians, Vale of Rheidol tank No.8 Llywelyn hits car on unguarded crossing, how BR sees its Cambrian steam programme in 1988, plus the surprise entry into Severn Valley Railway traffic of Bulleid 'Pacific' No. 34027 Taw Valley.... these are just a few of the many stories in this month's news round-up.
TAKING UP THE LEGACY - North and Mid-Wales were in at the very beginning of railway preservation - South Wales has been something of a late starter. Deryck Lewis has been looking at the way standard gauge steam has been steadily re-emerging in the Valleys, post-NCB.
GALLERY - Photo-featuring some of this month's most captivating - and newsworthy - moments, including the return to steam of 7822 Foxcote Manor at Llangollen, 'King' and 'Castle' activity on the 'Carmarthen Express', and an insight into the 'MacCailin Mor' skulduggery at Fort William - all in colour!
CONFESSIONS OF A WORKS APPRENTICE - Former North Yorkshire Moors Railway shedmaster Les Warren remembers the men and the mood of Crewe Works in 1943 - the year he started there as a 17-year-old engineering apprentice; the first part of the final feature in our series 'Crewe - the steam years'.
WINDOW ON RESTORATION - A new regular spot in Steam Railway, in which your photographs help others to gauge the progress of restoration/renovation developments on lines and sidings in all corners of the country. This month's contributor: Mike Haddon.
TRIUMPHS AND TORMENTS - ten years of Mid-Hants Railway operation. Mick Roberts traces the fortunes of the Watercress Line in its quest to put back what BR took away- and identifies the 10 years 1977-1987 as an arduous obstacle course, on which there are still more hurdles to jump.
THE RAILWAY PAINTINGS OF ALAN FEARNLEY - It was only a question of time before someone published the collected works of top railway artist Alan Fearnley - and David & Charles do just that, at the end of this month. David Wilcock presents a unique preview of this superb book, which is being made available to SR readers at a pre-publication discount. See also page 42.
WORLDWIDE REPORT - Dieselisation and electrification marches on remorselessly - yes, even in 'safe' steam countries like Pakistan. David Thornhill highlights some of steam's last bastions, where, if you're ever going to see it, it's a case of now, or never again...
THE BIRTH AND REBIRTH OF 7F 53808 - It's been one of the most protracted locomotive restorations ever undertaken, and at one time there was even a prospect that Dai Woodham would claim the engine back - but in August this year, 'Barry scrapper' 53808 spoke in anger on the West Somerset Railway, finally putting the full stop to a saga which lasted nearly 18 years. John Baxter tells the story.
VIDEO REVIEW - Regular columnist Steve Le Cheminant picks his top 10 railway videos of 1987, and reviews a bumper crop of new releases produced specially for the Christmas market.
MAILBAG - Are ordinary enthusiasts being brain-washed by the ever-outstretched hand of preservation's 'good causes'? Are we succumbing to 'moral blackmail'? And have railtour regulars seriously misjudged what the average railway photographer contributes in any case? Your answers to some of these questions, on three pages.
THE GLORIOUS YEARS - The austere, un-versatile 'Box Brownie' camera was probably the biggest single cause of failed railway photographs in the post-war era. Frank Hornby had his share before jettisoning the offending beast, and opening up a new world with an Ensign Selfix. Here he presents a little of what came next...
TRAIN INFORMATION - See how they run: Train Information' offers a panopoly of factual data on steam running at railways and operating centres throughout the British Isles. All you have to do, is decide which to go to...
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