RES-liveried 47 734 + 47 770 approach Helsby on 1H44, 06:33 Bangor-Manchester Piccadilly on April 18, 2003. For more parcels colour, see page 10. MIKE BALL

It’s not often you get the chance to edit a magazine, especially one that has the long and well-regarded heritage that TRACTION possesses. This has only been brought about under the expert stewardship of its former editors, principally David Brown. Over the years, David has developed an excellent relationship with those who provide the superb material that appears within these covers and this will continue - do please keep the articles coming!

Talking of forthcoming items I’m delighted to announce that we’ve got a number of exciting changes ahead for your favourite magazine, starting in the April issue, which we all hope will make TRACTION an even better and more enjoyable read for your money. There will be more pages, giving space for new features, more news and more photos; but not forgetting there will also be more of the current type of features you’ve come to know and love, like railtour reminiscences, drivers’ tales, unusual workings and rare ‘cops’. The entire magazine will be given a ‘makeover’ by our expert designer Ryan - the new layout will allow us to make better use of the valuable historic material and photographs provided by both regular and new contributors. The whole magazine will be contained within a ‘new-look’ proper cover - the first time for this magazine - do look out for it in the shops!

TRACTION is a unique magazine - there’s nothing else like it in the marketplace something which I can’t emphasise enough. I want to appeal to all those who have a ‘soft spot’ for this period - that interesting time between the loss of steam on British Railways and the sanitised ‘unit-based’ railway of today - and are not readers - to give this magazine another look - it has been continuously providing the best in historical motive power for over 15 years and will continue to do so - you won’t see anything in here anywhere else - and it’s soon to be getting even better! What more reason do you need? Or why not take out a subscription? Take a look at the offer on page 32.

Contents

4 Working with Class 47s

The second part of Bob Dunn’s experiences working with the class 10 Parcels Trains in the ‘90s

Trains of multi-colours photographed by Mark Brammer 12 Enthusiast or Geek?

As a ‘taster’ for his new book, published by us, Roger Taylor looks at the ‘Platform Ender’ 15 A decade at Doncaster

More photographic gems from the Peter J Rose collection 21 Tracking the Twenties

Steve Rickett had a job to do 28 Last Highland fling

Al Pulford’s over the border 36 More Golden moments

Another holiday for Adrian Willats 40 Reviews

Post-Christmas prezzies! 42 TPO

Your letters and photographs 44 East Anglian daytime DRS hauled RHTTs 2009

A yearly task seen by Steve Goodrum 46 Variety on the steels

Peter Foster’s fenland findings 48 Traction Modelling

What’s new at Warley 54 Class 73 No. 72 207

A modeller’s view of the ‘ED’ from Paul Bason

● The TRACTION Annual 2009/2010 is still available at £5.95 from us. Tel: 01778 392012 or visit the website: www.traction.co.uk for your copy.

Publisher: John Greenwood Tel: 01778 391116 Editor: Richard Wilson Tel: 01778 391160 E-mail: richardw@warnersgroup.co.uk Fax: 01778 425437 Consulting Editor: David Brown (contact via the TRACTION office) Head of Design & Production: Jayne Thorpe Editorial Design: Ryan Housden Group Advertisement Manager: Patrick Raphael Sisko Tel: 01778 391114 E-mail: patsisko@warnersgroup.co.uk

Sales Executive: Jane Cottam Tel: 01778 395002 E-mail: janec@warnersgroup.co.uk Production Secretary: Pat Price 01778 391115 E-mail: patp@warnersgroup.co.uk Ad Design: Sarah Machin E-mail: sarahm2@warnersgroup.co.uk Editorial Secretary: Jean Waterfall Tel: 01778 392073 E-mail: jeanw@warnersgroup.co.uk Back Issues, Reader Offers: Tel: 01778 391180 A full list of available Back Issues appears on our website: www.traction.co.uk

Published by: Warners Group Publications plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH.

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Editor or Publisher. All material submitted to TRACTION, whether photographic or written, is sent at the owner’s risk. Although every care will be taken, the Publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage, however caused. A stamped, SAE should be enclosed with all submissions.

COVER: 37 401 runs around the stock of the Fort William-Euston at Stirling. The ‘Tractor’ took the train as far as Mossend yard where it combined with the Inverness portion; 81 002 took the train to Euston. January 22, 1989. AL PULFORD

THE MARCH ISSUE IS ON-SALE FEBRUARY 3 • PRICE £3.75 • TO SUBSCRIBE SEE PAGE 32

February 2010

www.traction.co.uk

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