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

SubScriptionS For all subscription enquiries: Tel: 01778 392012 Fax: 01778 421706 Email: subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk 1 year - £19.99 6-monthly DD - £9.99 You can now manage your subscription online at www.atlanticpublishers.com back iSSueS Tel: 01778 391180 A full list of available Back Issues appears on our website: www.traction.co.uk

All rights reserved. Material is only accepted on the understanding that there are no copyright restrictions. Although every care will be taken, all materials submitted are at the owner’s risk and Atlantic Publishers cannot be held responsible for loss or damage however caused. Copyright on all materials in this magazine remains vested in the Authors and Atlantic Publishers. Reproduction of the whole or any part is forbidden without the relevant permissions. Atlantic Publishers and the Editor cannot be held responsible for any error that might occur in text or advertisements. Reliance placed upon the contents of the magazine is entirely at the reader’s own risk.

©atlantic publishers Ltd. 2011 Contents

186 special trains in one Day!

The Editor reports on one of the largest events British Rail ever had to organise

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Mixed Doubles A final look at the period from privatisation to the present day by John Chalcraft

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All Points north Memories of a summer 1981 tour of Scotland by Steve Morris

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Cover A late afternoon view of 47 442 standing in one of the south end bay platforms at York at the head of a train to Liverpool on the 19th February 1981. Stephen Rabone

TRACTION, ISSN 1354-2680 is published bi-monthly by Atlantic Publishers.

next Issue JUL/AUG 198 on sale 1st JUN 2011

Class 31 – End of 2011 review _Page 26

Class 31 end of 2010 review Dafydd Whyles brings us this review of the remaining locomotives in the Class 31 fleet, and covers the final three months of 2010

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news

Current mainline and heritage traction developments

Reviews

The latest books and DVDs the First Five Colin Boocock explains the background and history of the pioneering LMS and Southern designs for prototype diesel electrics.

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Summer in North Wales _Page 40

www.atlanticpublishers.com

Publisher: Trevor Ridley editor: Stephen Rabone

Design & Production: Juliet Arthur southern Heavy Freight Keith Dungate takes his camera south of the Thames

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Kenyon Junction Reminiscences of the 70s and 80s at a very historic location by Jeff Nicholls

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Advertising: Bev Francis – Tel: 01778 392055 Jane Cottam – Tel: 01778 395002

A Deltic goes on Holiday Brian Hicks photographed D9000

Distribution: News Trade, Warners Distribution – Tel: 01778 392417 Model Trade, Warners Trade Sales – Tel: 01778 392404

Printed by: Warners Midlands plc working summer trains summer in north Wales

A photographic feature

Contributions to tRACtIon We are always interested in receiving contributions for TRACTION to allow us to make the magazine even more interesting. If you can write about your experiences as a member of the railway’s staff, or as an enthusiast, we’d really like to hear from you. We need interesting articles on any subject related to the diesel and electric traction, as well as features for those interested in model railways. Text can be in hand-written, typed or digital formats. We can accept photographs in colour or black and white, and in any format; prints, negatives, slides or digital. If sending photographs by email please send low resolution images initially.

by Michael Munro

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tPo

Your letters and photos to the editor tRACton MoDeLLInG

Gorton Glory A layout showcase for EM1 and EM2 locomotives by Paul Lunn topside Locomotive rooftop details by Paul Lunn

Keep taking the tabloids July 1988 saw the end of bulk transport of newspapers by rail. Chris Gwilliam was there to witness it. The editor looks at how to represent newspaper traffic on your layout.

www.traction.co.uk

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