Features

Readers of The RM wishing to see British-designed electric locomotives could go to Willesden, Crewe, or even Ipswich, but the stations in the Polish cities of Warsaw, Gdansk, Krakow and Katowice may all have more to see. Chris West tells an interesting story with several unusual twists. British Locomotives, Polish Electrification and the Cold War…

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John Cameron is that rarest of men… one who has risen to the top not only in the world of preservation but in the professional rail industry, too. Not only does he own two of Britain’s best-known steam locomotives – Union of South Africa and The Great Marquess – but he has been chairman of…

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Having analysed steam locomotive performance on the Welsh Marches line last month, Keith Farr puts diesel locomotives and DMUs in the spotlight on this testing North & West route. PROGRESS IN THE MARCHES Hauling the Welsh Assembly Government-sponsored Cardiff Central to Holyhead express on June 30, 2015 is Class 67 No. 67002. It is passing…

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Ray Stenning of transport design studio Best Impressions cut his teeth with involvement in the bus and coach industry, but he can claim an impressive CV in railway design and branding. Steven Knight speaks to Ray and finds out what motivates him, what sparked his creative flair, and what he thinks of today’s railway design.…

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A CELEBRATION of 40 years of the InterCity 125 high-speed train was marked with an open day at St Philips Marsh depot, Bristol, on May 2. HST LINE-UP MARKS 40TH ANNIVERSARY Basking in the end-of-the-day sun, from left, power cars No. 43172, 43423, 43013, 43300, 43048 and 43187. DUNCAN LANGTREE The event, which attracted more…

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With its origins stretching back as far as 1959, the Chasewater Railway has come a very long way in almost six decades. From a low point in the early 1980s when the railway effectively closed, it has bounced back with a vengeance, to the point where its volunteers’ efforts have received royal recognition. Gary Boyd-Hope…

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Cliff Thomas tells the story of the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway. An unusual Lazarus Line… it has been rebuilt in a completely new location! Same railway – different location How things are now: Rebuilt Motor Rail Wilton with ex-Ashover carriage No. 2, repainted into deep red livery, stands at the recently extended and disabled-adapted Walls…

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Behind every railway event there is a PR team praying nothing goes wrong on the big day. With the recent 30th anniversary celebration of British Rail’s most successful sector, Network SouthEast, Dennis Lovett explains the lead up to that launch back in 1986. Network SouthEast anniversary: Tales from the launchpad High-profile launch events for the…

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After an extended commissioning period, rebuilt Class 73/9s are taking over Caledonian Sleeper portions in Scotland. John Heaton FCILT samples the performance of these locos with a trip over the testing Highland Main Line. Electro-diesels invade the Highlands With engineering work on three weekends in February 2016, the SERCO-operated Caledonian Sleeper trains to Fort William…

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John Cameron has risen to the top not only in the world of preservation, but in the professional rail industry, too. In this concluding part of his life story, the owner of Union of South Africa and The Great Marquess tells The RM how he rose from humble enthusiast to become chairman of ScotRail and…

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