railway archive article

From the 1973 archive: The secret operation that brought Flying Scotsman home

by

Mark Lancaster

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29th July 2026

A year after hopes for an American future began to fade, No. 4472 Flying Scotsman faced the possibility of sale to satisfy creditors. This first-person account from the August 1973 issue of The Railway Magazine describes the rescue operation, its concealed movement to Oakland and the locomotive’s return to Britain. Hopes begin to fade ABOUT…
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From the archive: The pitfalls of recording railway history – as examined in 1979

by

Mark Lancaster

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13th July 2026

E. D. Hamer examines some of the pitfalls involved in investigating and recording railway history. Drawing on his study of Rhodesia Railways, he considers conflicting recollections, incomplete company records, photographs and the importance of presenting history accurately and readably. Investigating railway history E. D. HAMER EXAMINES SOME OF THE PITFALLS OF RECORDING PAST EVENTS ONE…
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Archive: The Maldon Branch in 1959

by

Mark Lancaster

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9th July 2026

From the December 1959 issue of The Railway Magazine, P. J. Norris looks at The Maldon Branch, including Maldon East & Heybridge, Wickham Bishops Station, Langford & Ulting Station and Maldon Station. The article records the branch’s passenger services, goods traffic, station buildings and operating details as they stood at the time. ONE of the…
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