Due to various changes in the magazine marketplace, it has been decided to make TRACTION bi-monthly (some will remember this is as it was when first released), starting from the January issue, which will now be January/February 2011. The good, indeed, excellent news is that issue size will be back to 72 pages and the magazine will be on sale longer, meaning it will be easier to find. The other brilliant news is that we’ve been authorised to produce a number of ‘specials’ throughout the year, on many topics, by various authors, which will have a similar ‘feel’ to the current Annual and will also have approximately 100 pages. Look for TRACTION Special No.1 in the shops in March - or you can buy one at the London Festival of Railway Modelling, held at Alexandra Palace 26-27 March 2011. While on the subject of the Annual, the new 2010/2011 issue should be on sale by the time you read this - look out for it - plenty of pages of the content you love for less than the price of two magazines. TRACTION subscribers will have received theirs automatically in the post with this issue. Moving on to this issue, don’t forget to enter the diesel driving day competition on the Spa Valley Railway on page 19. The railway pride themselves in being friendly and approachable, so you’ll have a great day if you win! Also Ken Carr from Visions International has agreed to offer his latest Carry on Clagging 5 DVD plus the Carry on Clagging Preserved Traction 2010 book to TRACTION readers for the bargain price of £21.95, saving £4.95! For more details see page 7. It only remains for me to recommend taking a subscription - see the offer below or on page 50.

Class 40 40 028 and Class 25 25 021 run through Stockport with southbound BOC tanks. It is likely that the locomotives were working in multiple using their Blue Star multiple working capacity. www.railphotoprints.co.uk

Publisher: John Greenwood Tel: 01778 391116 Editor: Richard Wilson Tel: 01778 392455 E-mail: richardw@warnersgroup.co.uk Fax: 01778 425437 Editorial Secretary: Jean Waterfall Tel: 01778 392073 E-mail: jeanw@warnersgroup.co.uk Design: Head of Design: Jayne Thorpe Editorial Design: Ryan Housden Ad Design: Sarah Machin Brand Manager: Nilla Short Tel: 01778 392057 E-mail: nillas@warnersgroup.co.uk

Advertising: Bev Francis Tel: 01778 392005 email: bevf@warnersgroup.co.uk Jane Cottam Tel: 01778 395002 email: janec@warnersgroup.co.uk Patrick Raphael Sisko Tel: 01778 391114 E-mail: patsisko@warnersgroup.co.uk Production Secretary: Pat Price Tel: 01778 391115 E-mail: patp@warnersgroup.co.uk Back Issues and 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 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.

The perfect Christmas gift

Only

£14.99

ayearby DirectDebit

Cover: Wednesbury Town, September 10, 1981 – 20 161 arrives with a trip from Bescot. Considering less than 18 months have passed since the photo at the bottom of page 37, rationalisation has made an impact!

2 TRACTION T194

We’re always looking for contributions to make TRACTION an even better read. If you can write about your experiences or history of the days before the railways became sanitised, or have some photographs of the period, whether black & white or colour, we’d love to hear from you! We can accept photos in all formats, from transparencies to digital media, though if emailing, please initially send small images. Send to: The Editor, Traction Magazine, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne PE10 9PH. See page 50 for full subsciption details or call 01778 392012

FREETRACTIONAnnual

2011/12 worth£5.95 5 News and heritage update

New event for the West Somerset Railway and end of the ‘floodexs’ 8 D&E decades

Another step back in time 11 All line 1985

Parrot embarked on a extensive tour to capture Brush 4s -more next month 19 Diesel driving competition

Your chance to win a day driving a diesel on the Spa Valley Railway 21 The career of a true railwayman

The second part of Brian Penney’s recollections covering the period from the 1970s to the present.

25 Class 47 update

Parrot’s back again, this time looking at the current Class 47 fleet. 28 Victorious November fifth

Something different to remember, remember, from David Mitchell 31 Gallery

This month there’s a selection of photographs from Mike Ball 35 Black Country freight

Steve Burdett brings us freight workings from this industrial heartland 39 Mixed doubles

In the first of a series, John Chalcraft of Rail Photoprints gives a selection of mixed diesel hydraulic haulage

46 TPO

Your emails and letters published 48 Reviews

The latest books and DVDs 49 Modelling news

What’s new in 7mm from Heljan, Just Like the Real Thing and Radley Models, plus what’s appearing at the Warley show 51 Bachmann Class 105 Cravens

In-depth review of Bachmann’s latest diesel multiple unit by Rob Davey 54 Rattling along

Paul Nash provides some prototype photographs of the Class 105 Cravens units for comparison with the model

December 2010 3