Contents Listing - Articles & Features in this issue
Back to Welshpool - R. L. Cartwright
Double heading with a difference - Photo feature
Swindon revisited - Chris Leigh
DVRA 1981 Photographic Competition - Photo feature
No 611 — Roanoke's finest - Eric Ellis
Hunslet No 3888 - Smithy Wood
Employees Loco Society
Debut of the 'Director' - Photo feature
The story of No6575 - Roger Williams
Steam photographer - Geoff Silcock - Photo feature
Rolling Stock Preservation Report - Paul Johnston
ARPS Briefing - J. M. Bairstow
Cover: 'N' 2-6-0 No 31874 at Ropley station, Mid-Hants Railway. One of the transparencies taken by Geoff Silcock who is our Steam Photographer in this issue of Trains Illustrated.
Article Snippets
BEING critical about railway preservationists is always to run the risk of violent abuse from armchair preservationists who are usually none too fussy about reading very carefully before penning their vitriolic missives. But certain subjects ought to be broached in the public interest. The simple question is, 'would you like to live next to a preserved railway/steam centre/whatever?' Certainly it would test most people's loyalty to the cause of railway preservation. Would you like to listen to boiler riveting late at night, locomotives being prepared on shed early in the morning, shunting late on Saturday night/early on a Sunday morning? Would you like cars parked along the narrow lane leading to your home on summer weekends when you would hope to enjoy your garden? Would you be enthused at the sight of a derelict locomotive/coach being shunted past your dining room window when you were entertaining visitors? These are some of the activities associated with railway preservation. Such is the public interest in our movement that preservationists appear to receive very little adverse comment on some of their extraordinary undertakings, However, goodwill can be easily exhausted and because railway preservation - has not only been successful, but has transformed the prospects of shopkeepers and the like in previously sleepy small towns, there is a feeling that 'might is right'. It was disturbing to hear from one official of a restored railway recently that local inhabitants who attempted to complain about heavy transport movements in their town (of which they are deservedly proud) would be told in words of one syllable 'which side their bread was buttered'. This doesn't sound like good neighbourliness. Noise, disturbance, car traffic, perhaps, but muscle flexing will not and should not be tolerated. Railway preservation has been the pursuit of the ordinary man, out to provide entertainment and enjoyment for others... in the public good. Don't spoil it!