Railways Illustrated

The best coverage of today's railway scene. Each issue of Railways Illustrated offers a comprehensive round-up of the latest news and topical events from the UK across the present-day railway, including heritage traction in operation on the main lines. Railways Illustrated reflects the energy and vitality of the present-day railway scene.

Welcome

Railways Illustrated

Freightliner to commemorate 40 years of Class 59s with Foster Yeoman repaint?

67003: First of its type to head to scrapyard

More HSTs for export

Busy week for 45 with Pancras visit and Royal Artillery rededication

SWR to keep Class 455s for up to five more years

IN BRIEF

GBRf takes delivery of first two Class 99s

Class 66 change for Britannic Explorer duties

Lumo looks for 222s, but 810s ‘delayed’

Class 93 route clearance is expanded

Inspiration train tour dates announced

BLS announces Cappagh track and traction tour

Romic to keep its Class 20s

Class 37 helps out GBRf for Scottish sleepers

FirstGroup plans Hereford to Paddington trains

Coaching Stock News

Shunter News

Unit News

Unit Focus

Liveries

Naming Update

Wagon News

Royal look for GCR Class 27

Progress made on SVR embankment repairs

New main line 201 coach

‘Bubble’ returns home

Historic Railbus moves to Wales from Ireland

Good support for the many June diesel galas

DPS to take on 55021 cab restoration project

Nemesis’ ‘shove’ 47 to return to main line?

No Tulyar for Great Central gala says DPS

More locos announced for summer diesel galas

More exhibits announced for Greatest Gathering in Derby

SDR Shillingstone heritage site has great plans

What’s happening to… • Our monthly round-up of restoration projects around the country, compiled by Pip Dunn.

Was this the modern world? • In 1955, British Railways published its Modernisation Plan to upgrade all aspects of the nation’s railways. Fleet, stations, freight and passenger trains were all included in a £1.24 billion plan that offered lots of hope. Most of it was very sensible, but it did have a few flaws… Pip Dunn trawls through the original document to see what was planned seven decades ago.

How can you get more passengers?

GALA PICTORIAL

Number not recognised… • The switch to TOPS numbers in the early 1970s was, overall, mostly straightforward, but there were a few locos that were allocated numbers – and changes affected them before they were physically applied. Pip Dunn rounds up those numbers that could have been applied but weren’t.

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Living Life in the Past Lane • In this issue, Chris Gee recalls his early visits to Scotland in the 1980s and developing a passion for the small BRCW Sulzer Type 2s of Classes 26 and 27, which inspired him to recreate a mid-1970s Far North line pick-up freight with preserved 26038.

King Coal north of the border • Scottish photographer Robin Ralston delves into his archive to present the first of two collections of images of coal trains in Scotland. This part will look mostly at the BR era when Class 20s, 26s and 37s reigned supreme, moving the ‘black gold’ from colliery to power stations.

Bernard Mills • In each issue of Railways Illustrated, we ask a photographer to select their 10 favourite rail-related images and tell us the reasons why they believe these photos stand out from the crowd.

Hoover heaven • Following on from previous English Electric icons, Accurascale has now tackled another of the manufacturer’s most revered designs, releasing the Class 50 in OO gauge. Simon Bendall takes a look at the...