New issue: REX165 February 2010

RE165: The best pictures, the latest news
Inside the February 2010  issue:

• News: Chiltern Railways targets Oxford and plans Class 67-hauled trains to take over on key Birmingham services. East Coast Main Line timetable planners have a ‘Eureka’ moment with new clockface schedule, DfT looks to longer franchises, DB Schenker’s ‘Tesco Express’ starts with a bang as boss Keith Heller’s forthcoming retirement is commemorated with a new locomotive repaint. Failures and poor communication leave Eurostar passengers fuming, and HS2 route details leaked – madness as HS1 and Heathrow links unlikely to be included.
• News in pictures: Total whiteout as snow blankets the UK distrupting road, rail and air traffic. We publish the best images of the glorious sun and snow combinations presented to our contributing photographers.
• Feature: A by-product of the break up of British Rail under privatisation, Royal claret has been applied just one shunter and four main line locomotives in the last decade and a half. Our feature recalls the origins of the dedicated Royal Train fleet, which began with Res Class 47s and is now, controversially, provided by a German company with Spanish traction!
• Feature: Our traditional end of year summary looks back over a another busy year for the rail industry. 2009 was notable for a number of reasons. On the positive side the quantity of locomotive-hauled trains increased and a new diesel type arrived to challenge the domination of the Class 66s. This was balanced by the high profile failures of National Express and Advenza Freight, as well as DB Schenker’s plan to remove the Class 60s from traffic. Our look back includes some stunning photography.

• Railtours: This month our columnist takes a ride on a seasonal special organised by the Penistone Line Partnership, which took locals on a day out to a popular Christmas market at Skipton. Plus railtour listings for February.
• Preservation: ‘Deltic’ D9016 Gordon Highlander enters preservation for the third time. There are green repaints for two more Class 47s, but the sale of 56134 falls through after it is robbed by thieves at Healey Mills.
• Columns: Your favourite in-depth monthly reading –  Time Traveller, Messroom, Traction & Rolling Stock, Unitary Authority, Coaches, Wagons and Irish Angle, complete with superb supporting photography.
• Modelling: A special extended edition of our RAIL EXPRESS Modeller supplement has something for everyone, providing they enjoy wagons and multiple units! There is a detailed history of the ‘Presflos’ by a well known expert to go with our review of the new Bachmann model, while the Mostyn boys describe the construction of their incredible BRCW Class 104 DMUs. There are first pictures of the new Bachmann Class 03 and Hattons Class 14, while we look back over the modelling highs and lows of 2009. What was our favourite model of the year and which one will get the wooden spoon?

On sale via subscription and specialist distribution (Jan 28th) or from your local newsagent (Jan 30th).

New issue: RE164 January 2010

RE164: Is the end near for Class 60?
Inside the January 2010  issue:

• News: Government commits to North West electrification infills and considers ECML franchise shake up, National Express to lose c2c and East Anglia routes, DB Schenker cuts Class 60 fleet to just four locos, DRS and the DfT praised for Workington flood response, First GBRf takes over FGW Taunton diagram and a study promotes Old Oak Common as the new High Speed 2 terminus.
• News in pictures: GM Type 5s take over heavy Murco flow, Devon & Cornwall colours for another Class 31, Cambrian Class 37 bonanza and Railhead Treatment Train season comes to an end.
• Reviews: A strong month for new books and DVDs sees a bumper reviews page, covering publications on the ‘Warships’, ‘Grids’, SR/BR EMUs, LMS diesel shunters, departmental wagon stock and the year 2009 in review.
• Feature: In the follow up to its well-regarded ‘Book of the Deltics’, specialist publisher Irwell Press has moved onto the D600 and D800 ‘Warships’. We present a taster for the modern traction reference work using a selection of images from the publisher’s files.

• Columns: Your favourite in-depth monthly reading – Railtours, Preservation, Traction & Rolling Stock, Unitary Authority, Irish Angle, complete with superb supporting photography.
• Modelling: Extended coverage of the news from the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition at the NEC in November, along with latest product information from the major manufacturers. Bachmann to produce the General Electric Class 70, Heljan to make the BRCW Lion prototype and four early BR Railbuses, while Dapol announces more china clay wagons in a link up with Kernow. There are also reviews of the new Bachmann 4-CEP and retooled ‘intermediate’ Class 47, and Graham Farish’s Class 24. Finally, the Mostyn team’s big push sees 42 new DMU, coaching and freight stock added to the roster in time for the Wigan show!

On sale via subscription and specialist distribution (Dec 22nd) or from your local newsagent (Dec 23rd).

New issue: RE163 December 2009

RE163: ‘Renationalisation’ for East Coast franchise.
Inside the December  issue:

• News: National Express East Coast finally runs out of cash forcing the Government to take over prematurely. Freightliner’s first pair of Class 70 ‘PowerHaul’ locomotives arrive in the UK, the DfT and Network Rail disagree over which key main line to electrify first – the Midland or Great Western routes, Freightliner loses the Humber-Kingsbury oil flow.
• News special: Stobart Rail and DB Schenker/Euro Cargo Rail launch the Spain to UK ‘Fresh Express’ service, providing a speedy and environmentally friendlier alternative to road transport of fresh produce.
• Reviews: Our lead review takes a look at a a new book covering the weird and wonderful world of international train-ferry wagons.
• Feature: Customer liveries, like those applied on behalf of Bardon, Stobart Rail, Malcolm Logisitics, are nothing new. Thornaby TMD kick-started the trend with 37501 in 1987, repainting it in the light blue of British Steel, a massive user of BR’s Railfreight division. The colours of the company, since renamed Corus, have also adorned Classes 08, 20 & 60 as well. Simon Bendall tells the story in the latest instalment of our popular Retrospectrum series.

• 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 coverage such as a full shunter location listing.
• Modelling: Heljan announces another unsuccessful diesel class from the 1960s, the English Electric/Napier ‘Baby Deltic’ (Class 23) and shows off painted body samples of its forthcoming BTH Type 1 (Class 15), we review Dapol’s ‘N’ gauge Class 153 and ‘OO’ gauge MBA and MCA ‘Megaboxes’, there is a preview of our next limited edition – 37670 St Blazey T&RS Depot in DBS red – and Bachmann’s tasty looking JPA and MBA wagons, plus there is the final part ouf the epic detailing feature on late-Doncaster Class 56s, Nos. 56075 & 56102.

On sale at the Warley show (Nov 21st/22nd), via subscription (Nov 24th) or from your local newsagent (Nov 26th).

UK launch for Freightliner Class 70

After two years of design and construction, Freightliner’s new GE Powerhaul locos hit the UK.

Nos. 70001 & 70002 are the first examples of a brand new main line locomotive design to arrive in the UK for over a decade.

AT AN EVENT at Newport Docks, Gwent, today (November 8th, 2009), representatives from Freightliner and General Electric unveiled the first two ‘Powerhaul’ locomotives to arrive in the UK.

New issue: RE162 November 2009

RE162: British American reveals DCR Class 31.
Inside the November  issue:

• News: Re-engined Class 56s and rebuilt Class 08s planned by British American, Government plans sale of High Speed 1, St Pancras International and a stake in Eurostar to pay debt, West Coast loco-hauled to go daily, Taxman winds up Advenza Freight, DB Schenker gets ready for Stobart Rail traffic take over, railtour promoter Flamboyant Trains goes bust and ATOC pushes key electrification projects.
• News in pictures: Class 73s are in the news with Whitemoor’s large logo example, ‘Barbie’ blue 73213 and UKR/GBRf ‘ED’ powered railtours all being illustrated. Plus a round-up of the changes in the Railhead Treatment Train deployment, which this year has seen DB Schenker dominate and Colas Rail closed out completely.
• Reviews: Our lead review takes a look at a fantastically designed new ‘coffee table’ book. If only all publications looked this good!
• Feature: October 2009 is the 10th anniversary of the first trains under the Freightliner Heavy Haul brand. Paul Shannon describes ten glorious years of growth, which has seen the operator grow from no bulk traffic to a share of the cement, aggregates, petroleum, sand, potash and many other freight flows.

• 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 coverage such as a full shunter location listing.
• Modelling: The second part of the late-Doncaster Class 56 detailing feature sees 56075 and 56102 take shape thanks to the addition of some superb etches from Shawplan. We review the latest locomotive from Heljan, Hawker Siddeley HS4000 prototype Kestrel, and the latest release from Flangeway, Graham Farish and Bachmann. Plus the latest news and reviews and a preview of the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition at the NEC.

On sale at your local newsagent or via subscription (Nov 3rd).