Mostly the Art and Practice of Postering Enginemen: After starting his career as a roster clerk at King's Lynn (Steam World, Jan/February issues) R.H.N. Hardy moved on to become shedmaster at Woodford Halse on the Great Central section. This month he recalls some of the larger-than-life characters he came to know during his time there

Brunei's Imperial Way: The great engineer of the London-Bristol railway still commands the esteem of GWR followers despite the current fashion to 'debunk' all heroes of the past. Through his artist's eye and his camera George Heiron provides a portrait of the finest work in England

Variety on the Draw-bar: A truly remarkable fleet of coaching stock, some of it extremely old, passed into BR at nationalisation. Michael Harris recalls with affection the varied carriage fleet of the steam era, the reasons for its survival and for its swift demise under Dr. Beeching

Wider View - Robinson '04/8' No. 63688: Big is beautiful and Kirt Pirt's superb transparency of a rebuilt Robinson 2-8-0 is certainly worthy of the Steam World centre-spread treatment

Platform: A railwayman's view of the 'privatisation' editorial, two enthusiasts' views of Oxiey and how to 'bunk' it, and more views from the lineside at Bourne End, are among this month's postbag of comment from readers.

Book Reviews: I The Editor takes his monthly browse through the recent releases from railway publishers, large and small, and watches a video or two in his spare time!

Signalboxes - The Southern: Following his successful series on signal gantries, Richard Fitzgibbons considers the diversity of signalboxes, large and small, which were the nerve centres of railway operation

Off-beat Steam Events on the Wirral: As steam retreated from the railways of England, to be concentrated in the norm-west, R.Thomson remembers the cameraderie which grew up in the final months of steam on the Wirral, with unofficial engine cleaning and the rostering of 'Crabs' for passenger turns

Devon & Somerset Journey" 2: Chris Gammell continues his Journey on the borders of Devon and Somerset by riding an 'M7' push-pull at Yeovil and sampling the Western equivalent on the 'Tiwy Bumper.'

The Crane Train - 2: What was BR doing ordering steam cranes after dieselisation had already commenced? Alan Earnshaw concludes his investigation into the final BR order for steam power.