Stephen rabone Editor tel: 07794 7736977 e-mail: steverabone@hotmail.com editorial postal address: 120 Churchill Road, Middlesbrough TS6 9NS

Welcome to the first edition of TRACTION published by Atlantic Publishers.

TRACTION has a long history of covering the green and blue periods of Britain’s railways, viewed from the point of view of the railway enthusiast interested in the “first generation” of locomotives and multiple units. It was an era of great interest and considerable change and one, which we at Atlantic feel deserves recording and studying in just as serious a way as the steam era.

Many of TRACTION’s readers grew up in this fascinating period, between the Modernisation Plan of the 1950s and the privatisation of British Rail. I was one of those enthusiasts who, whilst interested in the steam locomotives, which still appeared in my hometown of Keighley, didn’t turn my back on the new era.

I recognised that modernisation of the railways was to be embraced as an interest, rather than rejected. Perhaps nothing shows more clearly how I felt than my railway holiday in the summer of 1968. Instead of chasing frantically after steam locomotives in the North West during their final days of main line working, I headed south to travel on the recently electrified Bournemouth and Isle of Wight lines. Then it was off to South Wales and Devon to see the Western Region diesel hydraulics in action, before heading north to travel behind one of the brand new Class 50s. The following week I spent experiencing locomotives hard at work in the Highlands of Scotland. By the time I returned home main line steam had finished.

My fascination with the modern railway, its locomotives, multiple units and operation has continued to this day although, I have to admit, today’s railway lacks something of the excitement that those “green and blue days” possessed. But, perhaps, that is just a sign of increasing age!

Having established ‘my credentials’ as the new editor of TRACTION, how do I see the magazine developing? Above all the emphasis will remain on the period between the beginning of the modernisation of motive power on Britain’s railway and the introduction of the new generation of locomotives and multiple unit train, that have come to dominate Britain’s railway in the early 21st Century.

What we are determined to achieve is to ensure that TRACTION remains a highly respected publication, with well-written and thoughtful articles covering the complete spectrum of the interests of our readership. We will be looking at the motive power and operation of the railway from the experiences of former railwaymen, as well as the historian and railway enthusiast.

In this issue you will find a detailed look at one of the most demanding days that British Rail had to organise, that of the visit of Pope John Paul II to York, when almost two hundred extra trains ran to York from all over northern England. Colin Boocock looks at the fascinating history of the five prototype main line diesel electric locomotives. John Chalcraft concludes his ‘Mixed Doubles’ photograph feature, whilst Steve Morris takes us on a tour of the Highlands of Scotland in 1981. Over in the North West, Geoff Nicholls relates his train watching experiences at Kenyon Junction. Bringing us up to date Dafydd Whyles looks at the work done by the remaining Class 31s on the main line.

At Atlantic, we are also committed to using only the highest quality of illustrations. Obviously, most of the photographs used in TRACTION were taken in pre-digital days, many in black and white, but at Atlantic we are highly experienced in getting the best out of such material.

Clearly, within the pages of TRACTION, you will also continue to see modern day developments relating to the preservation of motive power, as well as its continued commercial use on the main line. There’s something of resurgence in the use of locomotives on mainline passenger trains, so we will cover this as well.

Turning now to the modelling section of TRACTION, we feel that this is a crucial part of the content of the magazine. We intend to develop this in a systematic way with content, which will be of interest, not just to railway modellers, but also those whose primary interest is the mainline railway. Paul Lunn’s article on the Woodhead line is just such a feature, with items of interest for both the railway enthusiast and the modeller. There’s also a look at the operation of newspaper trains, an ideal subject for something just a little different on the layout.

Finally, we’d like to hear what our readers want from TRACTION, so don’t hesitate to contact us with your ideas. Equally important is the contribution that you may be able to make in submitting material for publication. We’d welcome articles on any topic related to diesel and electric traction used on Britain’s railways as well as items of related modelling interest.

Welcome aboard!

2 TRACTION 197 May/June 2011

Keep Taking the Tabloids _Page 56

45 139 runs downhill from Standedge Tunnel at Mossley on the 24th August 1986 heading the 11:23 Hull and Leeds to Red Bank vans. John Hooson

Mixed Doubles _Page 16

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