Issue 233

ISSUE 233
September 22 – October 19, 2017

Headline News 6
After decades of deliberation,
the bridge over the main line at
Loughborough to link the Two Great
Central railways is installed within
two hours; Lottery gives Tyseley
£90k to boost engineering; National
Railway Museum buys hero driver’s
George Cross for £60k and new Lyn all
set for Lynton & Barnstaple debut.

Headline News 6
After decades of deliberation,
the bridge over the main line at
Loughborough to link the Two Great
Central railways is installed within
two hours; Lottery gives Tyseley
£90k to boost engineering; National
Railway Museum buys hero driver’s
George Cross for £60k and new Lyn all
set for Lynton & Barnstaple debut.

Main Line News 56
April date set for A1 Pacific Tornado’s
first passenger-carrying East Coast
Main Line 90mph run; potential for
more steam to Stratford-upon-Avon;
Oliver Cromwell returns and the
Railway Touring Company runs
to Hindlow.

With Full Regulator 62
Don Benn reports on the
performances of Clan Line
on the ‘Torbay Express’.

Regulars

Subscribe today 31
Centre 54
Tornado from the air in Norfolk by
Mike Page.
Main Line Itinerary 66
Steam and heritage diesel railtours.
Railwayana 68
Geoff Courtney’s regular column.
Platform 90
Where your views matter most.
Up & Running 94
Guide to railways running in the autumn.
The Month Ahead 106

Features

North Eastern Steam Farewell
The final 18 months leading to the end of BR steam operation in the
North East saw many last steam workings. Maurice Burns recalls his
memories of that time and the efforts of many other enthusiasts to
clean up some of the worn out old engines to see steam go out in style.

Still growling on:
Modern traction preservation
There is no doubt that diesels are an
integral part of railway preservation
but this was not always the case.
Brian Sharpe delves into the
increasingly complex world of British
main line diesel preservation.

Didcot’s LNER 76 double act!
Flying Scotsman’s first appearance
at Didcot Railway Centre since 2005
and a guest appearance by another
Gresley masterpiece, A4 No. 60009
Union of South Africa, brought in
6000 visitors over the August bank
holiday weekend, writes Robin Jones.

The last day of  North Blyth steam
Fifty years ago, steam was in retreat
and North East England witnessed
the end of the steam era on Saturday
September 9, 1967. One of the sheds
closed to steam on that day was
North Blyth. Trevor Gregg describes
the history of the depot and recalls
the very last steam working.

Old Oak Common:
The superb grand finale
A legendary name amongst railway
historians and enthusiasts, Old Oak
Common shed signed offwith its
last-ever open day on September
2, when locomotives and traction
units past, present and future came
together to pay tribute to 111 proud
years of history, in a showpiece event
organised by the modern-day Great
Western Railway, writes Robin Jones.