Contents May 2012. No. 1,333. Vol 158. A journal of record since 1897

Headline News

The new-look King’s Cross concourse. See page 7.

‘Pendolino’ tested on ECML; High-speed TGV parcels plan unveiled; Olympic flame extinguished for ‘Scotsman’; Former 4472 owner Alan Pegler dies; Penrhyn quarry trio to be repatriated; Government command paper outlined; NR fined £1million over Elsenham tragedy; King’s Cross western concourse opens.

On the cover

MAIN IMAGE: Having played host to a German ICE train in 2011, St Pancras International made its ‘TGV debut’ on March 21 when French postal set No. 951 arrived. The train was demonstrating the benefits of a planned high-speed parcels operation linking key European cities. Full story on page 6. CHRIS MILNER INSET 1: ‘Pendolino’ No. 390055 at York on March 13. D LANGTREE INSET 2: B12 No. 8572 has returned to steam at the North Norfolk Railway. CHRIS MILNER

has returned to steam

Track Record The Railway Magazine’s monthly news digest

Gala records broken at North Norfolk. See page 64.

64 Steam & Heritage Severn Valley launches £4million share bid; More steam for Railfest; East Grinstead target for end of summer. 74 Railtours Railfans spoilt for choice with ‘GB5’ tour; First through steam to Rowsley; Is 100mph running worth the risk? 80 Traction & Stock Conversion of Mk3 buffets to carriages begins; ‘Pendolino’ trailers arrive; Class 92s for Bulgaria?

87 Tr ac tion Upd at e Sc ra pped , sold or r epain te d? F ull details h er e. 88 Net wo rk Fr om G oogle str eet view t o sta tion view ; Ar chiv e images published b y Net wo rk R ail; E ur ostar c on tinues t o shine . 90 F re igh t Te sc o t o e xpand Wa les ser vic e; Da w M ill c ollier y t o close? 91 Narr ow G auge Fo rmer S outh A frican loc o un ve iled a t Shildon; C oal trials at Va le of R heidol; New diesel f or Isle of M an. 95 Metr o Me tr olink e xpansion d ela ye d; TfL r aises pena lt y far es . 96 Class ic Tr ac tion Me rsey side EMU secur ed; ‘T eddy B ear ’ back on tr ack . 100 Wo rld Tu nisian EMU s en te r ser vic e; F irst Russian ‘ De sir o’ shipped . 102 O per at ions Ne ws A r ound-up o f new s fr om tr ain and fr eigh t oper at ing co mpanies .

Regulars

14 Multiple Aspects 14 Railways in Parliament 38 Subscriptions Offer 40 Time Traveller More gems from The Railway Magazine archive. 51 Readers’ Platform The lively letters page on which YOU have your say. 53 Location, Location Our selected location this month is Barrow-upon-Soar. 58 Panorama This month, our photography showcase presents a ‘Rainbow Special’. 60 Reviews The pick of new books and DVDs.

Panorama ‘Rainbow Special’. Page 58.

108 Meetings Details of railway society meetings near you. 109 Heritage Diary A comprehensive listing of dates when heritage railways and steam centres will be open. 110 100 Years Ago A look back to what Britain’s senior rail tile was reporting 20, 50 and 100 years ago. 113 Reader Services 114 Prize Crossword and Where Is It?

Having been, during its preserved years, No. 60019 Bittern, No. 2509 Silver Link and No. 4492 Dominion of New Zealand, the LNER A4 has another fresh guise and has reverted to its authentic identity but in LNER garter blue as No. 4464 Bittern. On March 25, the new-look Pacific starts the 10.42 BridgnorthKidderminster service away from Bewdley during the Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Steam Gala. IAN DIXON

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16 Farewell Mr Flying Scotsman A tribute by the Editor to Alan Pegler OBE, who died on March 18 – a man who packed an astonishing amount into his life and to whom many thousands will forever be grateful.

20 A1 gets a Wimbledon service Phil Marsh reports on the visit to South West Trains’ Wimbledon depot by A1 No. 60163 Tornado for tyre-turning.

24 Redirected but still first class Paul Bickerdyke concludes his summary of the Class 67s, which have found a new niche as mixed traffic locos. 28 The Heyday of Camping Coaches Pete Kelly looks at the colourful history of camping coaches. Includes a long list of selected locations. 33 In search of ‘Absolute Right Time’ In Practice & Performance, John Heaton explains why there are two types of ‘right time’.

44 A Dream Come True The first locos to run along the Llangollen Railway’s new extension towards Corwen are expected to be Pacifics, as David Wilcock explains.

55 Well Off The Beaten Track John Bennett visits the somewhat mysterious island of Madagascar, where the railways still use Michelin rubber-tyred railbuses – so ‘off the beaten track’ can refer to a puncture too!

A TRIBUTE TO ALAN PEGLER: Obituary - p16

MIXED TRAFFIC ALLSORTS: Class 67 history - p24 RAILWAY HOLIDAYS: The Camping Coach Story - p28

May 2012 • The Railway Magazine • 5