RIZE COMPETITION
Win one of five copies of Ian Allana€ s new Tyseley album!
HERITAGE RAILWAY SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY WELSH BRANCH LINE GALA & PHOTO CHARTER
Heritage Railway is sponsoring the Severn Valley Railwaya€ s big spring steam gala on March 15/16. Find out all about what is happening - and how to join our exclusive photo charter featuring GWR 0-6-2T
No. 5637 and Taff Vale Railway 0-6-2T
No. 85 on the day before!
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS:
30 glorious years!
Britaina€ s most popular heritage line, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, celebrates its 30th anniversary in May. Lifelong member Roger Melton looks back at how a typical New Generation line with industrial saddle tanks as its main motive power became a major tourist attraction with nearly 300,000-passengers a year.
News focus special:
A steam line for London!
As the Bluebell Railway prepares for eventual reconnection to the national network after more than 40 years, exciting new developments at its Sheffield Park headquarters following the acquisition of a derelict woodyard site are set to elevate it to new heights as a major heritage attraction for the Home Counties and beyond, as Robin Jones reports.
WHATa€ S LEFT OF....the Welsh valleys railways
As a precursor to the Welsh branch line-themed Heritage Railway Severn Valley Railway steam gala featuring Taff Vale Railway No. 85, Brian Sharpe carries out a major survey of what is left of the myriad of pre-Grouping railways that served the South Wales coalfield.
INDUSTRIAL SCENE:
Diesel Magnate a€ aged 16!
Cliff Thomas talks to 16-year old Andrew Briddon who already owns his own fleet of eight standard gauge locomotives!
THE CHANGEOVER YEARS: Beeching: butcher a€" or benefactor?
March 25 marks the 40th anniversary of the publication of BR chairman Dr. Richard Beechinga€ s report The Reshaping of British Railways, following which the national network was drastically pruned back with many rural branch lines notoriously closed and stopping services eliminated. In a special report, Robin Jones and Brian Sharpe look back at this pivotal point in railway history.
STEAMING IN AT THE DEEP END...OR ARE YOU?
Most readers will at some stage looked at miniature live steam operations and wondered if it was time for them to try their hand at building a line of their own in their back garden or local club. In a special feature, Jeremy Bull offers an introduction to the hobby - and removes much of the aura of mystique and fear of tackling expensive precision engineering that deters many would-be participants.
HEADLINE NEWS
Network Rail blocks main line link as Swanage bids for Ã