Features

On September 6, 2015 the £300million Borders Railway opened to much acclaim. Since then the line has seldom been out of the headlines. A year on, Chris Milner talks to Campaign for Borders Rail (CBR) chairman Allan McLean – a former Virgin Trains press officer – to see if the first year’s expectations have matched…

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For three days in September, steam locomotives were given responsibility for heavy goods trains in Germany, including a 550-ton steel train bound for the French capital. Plandampf is alive again, but for how much longer? “Here I stand, I can do no other.” Those were the immortal, defiant words of Papal rebel Martin Luther, who…

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On November 8 this year the Class 313 EMUs will have been in service for 40 years. Originally designed for one short line, with unusual requirements, their versatility and durability has meant that they have all survived and have seen redeployment elsewhere, as Quentin Williamson explains. Although British Railways had greatly extended electric traction since…

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In its heyday, Tuxford boasted three stations and a locomotive works. In the first of a two-part feature, Robin Stewart-Smith charts the rise and fall of this forgotten railway town. The north Nottinghamshire village of Tuxford lies on the East Coast Main Line between Newark-on-Trent and Retford. Historically, it was a small market town in an…

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Marking the 50th anniversary of a non-stop ‘Western’ run from Paddington to Penzance, John Heaton FCILT travels on a Class 52 railtour that commemorates that 1966 achievement. Peering from the window of my local train as it approached Paddington station early one spring Saturday, I found ‘Western’ C-C Class 52 No. D1058 Western Nobleman picture-perfectly framed,…

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Driver experience courses are big business for heritage railways, and it provides the opportunity for men and women of all ages to drive steam or diesel locomotives in controlled conditions. Nicola Fox takes a look at the type of courses available as well as other railway experiences that might lead to someone becoming a volunteer.…

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John Hannavy takes a trip on one of France’s few preserved steam railways – and discovered it has a very interesting history. WHEN the Metropolitan Railway carried its first passengers underground in London in 1863, they travelled in open carriages – more like cattle trucks – and were hauled through the tunnels by steam locomotives. To…

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The best things in life are free, so the song says. In many cases that doesn’t apply to wi-fi on trains. The RM summarises the current situation. Most people on the move these days use a smartphone or tablet to keep in touch with the latest news and travel information, to catch up with friends…

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There are millions of combinations of rail fares in existence, and that is without taking Railcard discounts into consideration. So how do we know that we are getting the best deal. Steven Knight looks at how we can all ensure we are paying the right amount for our rail tickets. ONCE upon a time buying…

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In a Railway Magazine exclusive, Rob Gambrill tells how diligent research led to his purchase and repatriation of former Penrhyn Quarry 0-4-0ST Nesta. Without a doubt, one of the most amazing stories from the world of steam preservation is the export of numerous small British-built locomotives from the Welsh slate quarry lines. After the screening…

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