Contents April 2011. No. 1,320. Vol 157. A journal of record since 1897

Headline News

On the cover

MAIN IMAGE: All line up and ready for the off are Neville Hill’s new look Class 08 shunters seen on February 3. From left, Nos. 08525, 08690, 08908 and 08950. Full story page 81. RICHARD GENNIS

Doncaster bound - Headline News, p10

Network Rail admits Potters Bar liability; Wartime black for ‘Scotsman’; Mistakes made over snow chaos; Cable theft second to terrorism; Public vote for ‘Duchess’ livery; Cover-up allegation over Elsenham; Foxfield suspended.

INSET: The NRM’s Stirling Single No. 1 matched with a GNR high-sided tender. See page 69. KEN HODGESON

Track Record The Railway Magazine’s monthly news digest

62 Steam & Heritage Records crowds for GCR gala; £250,000 raised for G/WR emergency fund; Cock o’ the North frames to be cut. 73 Railtours 2010 was busiest year for charters; Water columns for Appleby and Hellifield; Compass switch to West Coast. 78 Traction & Stock Fastline Classs 56s sold for preservation; Class 73 hired as ‘super shunter’; Class 70 visits Brush for repairs.

11-car Pendolino on test - Traction News, p79

84 Network Ticket gates at King’s Cross; Grand Central route changes. 86 Freight 88 Narrow Gauge Baldwin to visit Somme line; ‘Coffee pot’ festival brewing. 90 Miniature 92 Classic Traction 125 Group stores Valenta engines; ‘Deltic’ Golden Jubilee. 97 Metro 98 World Double deck trains for DB & SBB; Ooty loco retired. 100 Operations A round-up of news from the train and freight operating companies. 106 Stock Scrapped, sold, repainted or named? Full details here.

Regulars

12 Multiple Aspects 12 Railways in Parliament 24 Time Traveller 38 Subscriptions Ad 47 Readers’ Platform 55 Panorama Our monthly showcase of some of the best railway images. 108 Meetings Details of local railway society meetings near you. 109 Heritage Diary A comprehensive listing of steam centres and railways operating during March and April.

Ribblehead viaduct - Panorama, p55

110 100 Years Ago A look back to what Britain’s senior rail title was reporting 25, 50 and 100 years ago. 114 Prize Crossword 114 Where Is It?

Lynton & Barnstaple replica Lyd, in BR mixed traffic livery as No. 30190, heads south from Aberglaslyn Pass past Nantmor on February 10, 2011. DAVID WILCOCK

The Railway Magazine is the UK’s top-selling rail title! Subscribe today and save money on every issue Call 0844 411 1111 or see page 38 for our latest offers Features 14 The end of WSMR

With the demise of Wrexham & Shropshire, we ask whether there is a future for ‘minnows’ in open access operations. 18 The Storming Standard Fives

In part one of a two-part Practice & Performance, Keith Farr looks at a fleet of locos often overlooked by historians.

29 SouthEastern, Far Eastern

Paul Bickerdyke visits the Hitachi depot at Ashford, where maintenance benefits from both Japanese and British harmony. 34 On Parallel Lines

A new book featuring unseen photos of BR steam has just been published, and the cornucopia of images is previewed by The RM.

40 Ghost Trains

Mark Chatterton investigates the ‘ghost trains’ that appear in the National timetable creating a railway ‘twilight’ zone. 49 Back Burners Update

The response to the stationary boilers feature has resulted in a wealth of new information coming to light and is collated by Nick Pigott.

AS GOOD AS A BRITANNIA? Standard Fives analysed - p18

STEAM REMEMBERED: From the footplate - p34

RAILWAY’S TWILIGHT ZONE: Timetabled ghost trains - p40

April 2011 • The Railway Magazine • 5