Stephen rabone Editor tel: 07794 773697 e-mail: steverabone@hotmail.com editorial postal address: 120 Churchill Road, Middlesbrough TS6 9NS

Regular Contributors: colin boocock paul a. Lunn

Reading letters and articles submitted to TRACTION, one recurring theme is the sense of loss felt by many enthusiasts over the disappearance of much that was of interest to enthusiasts in the years since the beginning of the diesel and electric era. Gone, in most parts of the country, are locomotive hauled passenger trains, being replaced by a myriad of types of multiple units. Similarly, the mixed freight train is almost a memory, being replaced by container trains in many instances. Also disappeared are parcels trains, TPO mail trains, station pilots and the wide variety of locomotives seen in everyday traffic. Of course, the present day railway is in most places busy and full of interest to those prepared to have an open mind!

But suppose you yearn for the days of the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s and nothing else will do? Certainly, there are the preserved diesels on both the mainline and heritage lines. However, what do you do if you want to relive the days of electric locomotives at Carlisle in the 1980s, the subject of my article ‘Carlisle – The Night Shift’ in this edition of TRACTION? Maybe your interest lies ‘North of the Border’ on the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh line in the days of Class 24s, 26s and 37s. Possibly, you’re one of those enthusiasts who miss the days of slam door Southern Region electric multiple units. Then how do you set about recalling the excitement of those days?

One way is to amass photographs, read everything that’s been published and wallow in the nostalgia of your own observation notes made when you were younger. I’ve certainly been indulging in such an activity looking back at my diaries from the ‘70s and ‘80s. But this can only take you so far. Perhaps the answer lies in something more tangible and that, of course, could be model making. Whilst TRACTION is primarily a publication concerned with the full sized railway we have a very significant number of readers who are model railway enthusiasts as well, hence our section devoted to modelling Britain’s railways, TRACTION MODELLING.

For many, an interest in both the real railway and models goes hand in hand, but for other it doesn’t. So what I’m going to be saying now is aimed especially at those of you who perhaps aren’t ‘into’ models. In recent years the variety that we took for granted on the mainline has largely disappeared so the only way we can reclaim that in a more concrete form is through models. As a railway modeller myself I find it fascinating how, over the last few years, the quality and variety of diesel and electric model locomotives has improved. Railway modelling nostalgia isn’t just for steam enthusiasts any more. In 2012 there is hardly a class of diesel locomotive that isn’t available (or will shortly be available) in model form and even the number of electric locomotive models is catching up.

To make a list of what is available would take up most of this page but a glance through the advertising pages of TRACTION will give you an idea of the variety of models. Even if you haven’t space for a full layout what about a small scenic diorama with some of your favourite locomotives posed on it? I’m tempted to build the north end of Carlisle station to display my favourite electrics and diesels as though they’re working trains to Scotland. Another aspect of current day model railways, that will allow you to be transported back in time, is that it’s possible to have your locomotives fitted with digital sound. Now that’s something that will really take you back to the past!

As usual, we have a wide variety of articles in this issue. Martin Walker, the owner of Royal Scots Grey, tells us what is involved in keeping the locomotive running on the national network. J.Crosse concludes his review of 1962 with another collection of fascinating photographs, whilst Colin Boocock looks at the history of the Southern Region’s electric locomotives.

At the opposite end of the country ‘Ben Wyvis’ recounts the tale of a night on the Highland Main Line as second man on a Class 40. I conclude my article about Carlisle at night, this time looking at the situation in 1987 with Paul Marshall’s magnificent photographs complementing the text. Chris Cole’s feature on taking coal to Didcot Power Station reminds us of the days of Class 47s and 56s on heavy freight trains.

In TRACTION MODELLING Paul Lunn shows how to model Liverpool Lime Street in O Scale in a small space in his article ‘MicrO’. He also suggests that modellers could spend some time improving the detail in locomotive and DMU cabs. Finally, we’re pleased to present the 4mm scale layout ‘Slightly’ by Andrew Burke, who describes his layout in “Slightly like Saltley”. Happy reading and happy model making!

Railtours from a locomotive owner’s perspective: Part 1 _Page 12

Wherever ‘Deltic’ 55022 Royal Scots Grey goes on the main line it’s followed eagerly by enthusiasts in their thousands. But what does it take to keep such a machine working hard over fifty years after it was built. RSG’s owner

Martin Walker tells all.

1962 Review of the Year: Part 2 _Page 18

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