Features

Stephen Roberts recalls a Hampshire branch line that was first proposed for closure nearly 100 years ago. The Hurn Branch: Lost but still remembered ‘West Country’ Pacific No. 34104 Bere Alston approaches Christchurch with the remains of the Hurn branch disappearing to the left. The stub continued for less than a mile. The building behind…

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Professor Dennis Wilcock provides a progress report on the exciting scheme to build bridge for the Great Central Railway over the Midland Main Line at Loughborough. A LONG-CHERISHED DREAM TURNING INTO REALITY An artist’s impression of the new bridge from the Loughborough Midland platform. FJD CONSULTING Back in the dark days of railway closures in…

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The London Transport Museum has launched a new series of Hidden London tours featuring disused Tube stations. Chris Milner visited Down Street station, a location that became a bomb-proof bunker and was used by wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill. CHURCHILL’S SECRET STATION On the walls in the unused passageways at London Euston are remnants of…

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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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