New issue: RE158 July 2009

RE158: Decision time for DRS over Class 20s
Inside the July issue:

• News: DB Schenker wins a five-year contract to operate services for the Royal Mail, taking over from First GBRf. Direct Rail Services sends its Class 20 fleet to Eastleigh Works for assessment, but how many will get overhauls? Colas Rail begins Dollands Moor to Hams Hall container service. South Central remains Southern as Govia retains franchise. Past-Time Rail goes ‘bust’. New freight terminal opens in Telford. Government reorganises London & Continental.
• News extra: 20 British locomotives are in action in Spain on high-speed work, find out more here.
• Feature: Popular with enthusiasts and photographers the original Direct Rail Services colour scheme is being rapidly replaces with the ‘compass’ image introduced with the Class 66/4s. In the latest installment of our popular Retrospectrum series, Simon Bendall gives a history of the livery and a full run-down of the locomotives which carried it.
• Nostalgia: Two decades ago, British Rail accepted the first Class 60 Type 5 at a handover ceremony at Brush, Loughborough. Plus the railway, current affairs and pop music news from 10, 20, 30, 40 & 50 years ago.

• Preservation: The Mid-Hants Diesel Gala – the first in four years – flops but the organising team promises to listen to enthusiast feedback. The Plym Valley is the new home for No. 50017 Royal Oak, while there is a listing of all the latest Class 50 news, including happenings with Nos. 50008 Thunderer, 50026 Indomitable, 50049 Defiance and several others.
• Columns: Your favourite in-depth monthly reading – Railtours, Traction & Rolling Stock, Unitary Authority, Irish Angle, complete with superb supporting photography. Some columns feature expanded pictorial coverage.
• Modelling: Reviewed is the much anticipated Bachmann Class 150 ‘Sprinter’ DMU, while there is a run down of the latest new products, which includes a surprise brand new 4mm scale Mk. 3b Driving Van Trailer from Hornby, which will be released in September this year! Plus, we present a selection of images of new models on display and some of the layouts that attended the recent DEMU Showcase Event at the beginning of June.

New issue: RE157 June 2009

RE157: Advenza receives its first Class 66
Inside the June issue:

• News: Advenza Freight’s first Class 66/8 leaves Glasgow Works, National Express admits that its East Coast main line franchise is unsustainable, while we publish the first pictures of General Electric’s new ‘Powerhaul’ locomotive for Freightliner. Direct Rail Services snatches the Yarmouth and Lowestoft ‘drags’ from Cotswold Rail. First GBRf secures Whitemoor Yard extension. Network Rail electrification report again highlights Great Western and Midland main lines for wiring up.
• Feature: We present the first part of David Rapson’s feature on diesel-hauled passenger train on the North Wales coast line, which looks at the 1950s-80s period. Incredibly, it’s been 50 years since the first diesel locomotives took over on these famous services from Chester to Holyhead.
• Nostalgia: Two decades ago, ARC followed Foster Yeoman’s lead by ordering General Motors Class 59 locomotives, while Yeoman itself was about to recieve its fifth Type 5. Plus the railway, current affairs and pop music news from 10, 20, 30, 40 & 50 years ago.

• Columns: Your favourite in-depth monthly reading – Railtours, Preservation, Traction & Rolling Stock, Unitary Authority, Irish Angle, complete with superb supporting photography. Some columns feature expanded pictorial coverage.
• Modelling: The Wath arm of the Woodhead route is the subject for our main layout feature, as we visit Alan Whitehouse’s 2mm Finescale Mini-MSW. There is a review of Dapol’s ‘N’ gauge Class 156, which shows some impressive features that we’d like to see more of in 4mm scale, while the Barrowmore Group shows off the latest developments to its ‘P4′ Mostyn layout, including the first image of the extended layout set up in the clubrooms.

New issue: RE156 May 2009

RE156: Comeback Kids
Inside the May issue:

• News: DB Schenker returns Class 37s to action on railtour and freight work, including a long stored Class 37/5. Eurostar Class 373 fleet is to get a new livery as part of refurbishment contract, Class 92s are to be readied for freight workings over the High Speed 1 Channel Tunnel rail link and Bombardier is confirmed as supplier for a new Stansted Express EMU build. On the preservation front, a NRM supported group is to restore Deltic No. 55002 King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry to service with a possible main line return.

• Feature: Our popular Retrospectrum feature returns with a look back at Railfreight Distribution’s ‘European’ colour scheme introduced in 1993. Seven pages of stunning images support a full history and locomotive listing. Class 47s, which are best remembered for their paired operation on Channel Tunnel feeder freights, feature prominently and include many Tinsley depot favourites.

• Nostalgia: Twenty years ago, the Settle & Carlisle line was saved after the government refused to give British Rail permission to axe the route following massive protests. Plus the railway, current affairs and pop music news from 10, 20, 30, 40 & 50 years ago.

• Columns: Not to be missed in-depth monthly reading – Railtours, Preservation, Traction & Rolling Stock, Unitary Authority, Irish Angle, complete with top supporting photography.

• Modelling: We take a scalpel to the best ‘OO’ gauge Class 47 currently available and, linking with our main feature, upgrade a couple of ViTrains models as well as giving them a repaint into RfD European colours. Heljan’s long awaitied Class 17 ‘Clayton’ model has hit the shops. The new Type 1 is given a close critical examination to see how it measures up with some interesting conclusions. Dapol’s ‘N’ gauge DVT is also given a look over along a with preview of the forthcoming Railex (Aylesbury) and expoEM (Bracknell) shows which feature plenty of diesel and electric era content.

New issue: RE155 April 2009

RE155: Wrexham & Shropshire cuts services!
Inside the April issue:

• News: Direct Rail Services announces its next Carlisle Kingmoor Open Day event, to be held later in 2009. Open access operator WSMR is forced to axe one service and truncate another as revenue suffers because of the downturn, meanwhile, Grand Central takes two ‘Adelante’ DMUs to increase the number of trains it runs. There are more details of Hitachi’s IEP ‘Super Express’, which will be produced in six variants. South West Trains is to replace its Lymington 3-CIG EMUs with Class 158 DMUs!
• Feature: The Trafford Park Estate Railway was a fascinating industrial route in Manchester which saw a renaissance between the late 1980s and 2000 as several major customers started using the line. Rail freight historian David Ratcliffe chronicles the latter story of the line, which was shunted mainly by ex-BR Class 08 machines.
• Nostalgia: Five decades ago, British Rail launched its new ‘Condor’ overnight freight service, which was infamously booked for two of the ‘Metrovick’ Co-Bo locomotives. Plus the railway, current affairs and pop music news from 10, 20, 30, 40 & 50 years ago.

• Competition: We have six pairs of tickets for the DRS Kingmoor open day to give away. The event will be held in the summer, but as ever the number of tickets available to the public is limited.
• Columns: Your favourite in-depth monthly reading – Railtours, Preservation, Traction & Rolling Stock, Unitary Authority, Irish Angle, complete with superb supporting photography. Some columns feature expanded pictorial coverage.
• Modelling: We visit Wheal Elizabeth, a 18.83mm/’P4′ Cornish china clay layout built by Andrew Ullyott for the Scalefour Society/DEMU D&E layout challenge. There are also reviews of the latest batch of Class 37s and 47s from Italian manufacturer ViTrains, while there is an official annoucement of RAIL EXPRESS’ next limited edition model, the Fastline Freight Class 66/3, based on the well regarded Bachmann ‘OO’ gauge model. A DCC sound option may also be produced if demand warrants it!

New issue: RE154 March 2009

RE154: IEP moves a step closer!
Inside the March issue:

• News: The Hitachi-led Agility Trains group is announced by the Department for Transport as the preferred bidder for the HST replacement Intercity Express Programme. DB Schenker U-turns on the Class 60 fleet in the face of the deepening recession – the whole fleet is to be axed as ‘non standard’! Europhoenix completes Class 86 demonstrator and first export locomotive. London Overground Phase 2 extension is given the go ahead. Branson and Bowker trade jibes over alleged ECML franchise problems.
• Feature: Our main feature this month is another of our detailed Retrospectrum features. The livery to come under the spotlight this issue is the final version of InterCity livery – Swallow – which was worn by diesels, electrics and the whole HST fleet. A full locomotive list is included along with stunning photographs of all the classes to carry the attractive scheme.
• Nostalgia: Two decades ago, the River Ness viaduct collapsed after heavy rains, stranding five Class 37/4 locomotives north of Inverness. Plus the railway, current affairs and pop music news from 10, 20, 30, 40 & 50 years ago.

• Competition: Railfilms expands its fleet of luxury Pullman style vehicles with a new Mk. 2 undergoing restoration for its new charter operation – and you can choose its name!
• Columns: Your favourite in-depth monthly reading – Railtours, Preservation, Traction & Rolling Stock, Unitary Authority, Irish Angle, complete with superb supporting photography. Some columns feature expanded pictorial coverage.
• Modelling: The fascinating mixed-up Sectorisation era of Parcels traffic is our main feature, including our popular train formations. Plus we reveal our next Special Edition locomotives offer. There are also reviews of the latest new diesel and electric era products from Hornby, Dapol and Bachmann, a simple detailing feature on Heljan’s ‘O’ gauge Class 37, and the latest modelling news.