Contents February 2012. No. 1,330. Vol 158. A journal of record since 1897

Headline News

On the cover

MAIN IMAGE: ‘Merchant Navy’ No. 35028 Clan Line – masquerading as 35017 Belgian Marine – joins the LSW main line at Byfleet & New Haw with a VSOE Surrey Hills luncheon train on December 3, 2011. See p70. PAUL BLOWFIELD

Freight back on Devon’s Heathfield branch - see page 9.

Alstom and Angel push for Pendolinos on GWML and ECML; Heathfield branch back in use for freight; DRS to operate workers trains; ‘Footballer’ nameplate sells for £35,000 after fake scare; Green light for Croxley Green project; Flying Scotsman will appear at Barrow Hill; Arriva Class 175 hits lorry on crossing.

INSET: The Toast of the ‘Wanderers’: Harry Cartwright, whose campaign got a Class 66 named. See p74. CHRIS MILNER

Track Record The Railway Magazine’s monthly news digest

76 Tr ac tion Upda te Sc ra pped , re pain te d, named or sold? Fu ll details her e.

Britannia on the WCML at Rugeley - see page 68.

58 Steam & Heritage P1 is computer modelled; New build B17 for MidNorfolk; Shannon restoration plan dropped. 68 Railtours Concern over York triangle removal plan; DRS and Riviera buy Rail Blue stock; Steam for Met ‘150’. 73 Traction & Stock Virgin prepares for winter; GBRf Class 92s approved for HS1; 56s sold for scrap; Football fan names loco.

78 Net wo rk £43m fo r Pe te rbor ough sta tion; Th ameslin k enhanc emen ts at Blackfria rs; New plans fo r We st Wa les . 80 Classic Tr ac tion ‘T eddy Be ar ’ fo r We st So merset; To p aw ar d fo r Elec tric Ra ilw ay Museum ; Dar tmoor Ty pe 4 unleash ed .

82 Narr ow Ga uge Ger trude on its tr av els; Sittingb ourne to re turn; Vi ct orian Ma nx wa gon re built; Do ro thea in st eam at 110 ye ars old .

84 Wo rld In te rr ail is 40; Sw iss loc os st olen; Emir ate s ex pansion .

86 Metr o Ed inbur gh tr ams fo r 2014 star t; So ftw ar e bugs hit Me tr olink ; Mo re Black pool tr ams arriv e.

88 Op er at ions Ne ws A ro und-up of new s fr om the tr ain and fr eigh t oper at ing co mpanies .

Regulars

11 Multiple Aspects 11 Railways in Parliament 12 Timetable Changes 30 Subscriptions Offer 38 Platform Your lively monthly letters page. 56 Meetings Details of railway society meetings near you. 93 Heritage Diary A comprehensive listing of dates when heritage railways and steam centres will be open this winter.

Norwegian locos heading for Teesside - see page 73.

94 100 Years Ago A look back to what Britain’s senior rail tile was reporting 20, 50 and 100 years ago. 97 Reader Services 98 Prize Crossword

The first heavy snow of the winter arrived in December. DRS Class 47 No. 47802 leads the ‘Northern Belle’ train past Fauldhouse on the Shotts line, (with No. 47832 on the rear) while working a Glasgow Central to Perth via Edinburgh dining train on December 17, 2011. STEVEN J. CROZIER

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14 Starts from ’The Cross’ In Practice & Performance, Keith Farr explains the challenges facing steam crews to get away from King’s Cross without slipping or stalling. 21 Rails in the Dales Andy Flowers puts the Wensleydale Railway, one of the fastest growing heritage lines, under the microscope. 26 The North Clyde Branches For the fourth of our Branch Line features, Chris Milner goes north of the border and visits the North Clyde branches to Milngavie, Balloch and Helensburgh.

32 Titled Trains of Britain - part 3 Presenting the third part of the exclusive series started in the November 2011 issue, covering Titled Trains from the ‘St Mungo’ to ‘Thanet Pullman Limited’. 40 Loco-hauled through the ages A nostalgic look by Mike Page at how Beccles has changed, even though loco-hauled specials have continued.

43 The Dorset Dazzlers Mike Arlett concludes his tale of the legendary Somerset & Dorset footplate crew of Donald Smith and Peter Beale. 49 Panorama A selection of some of the best railway images in our monthly showcase. 53 Railway Clearing House The Railway Clearing House was once a well-used term. David Monk-Steel explains its functions and how its work prevented disputes between railway companies.

SETTING THE PACE: Steam from ‘The Cross’ - p14

ON THE BONNY BANKS: Rails to Loch Lomond - p26 WHAT’S IN A NAME? Part three of our exclusive series - p32

February 2012 • The Railway Magazine • 5