The Railway Magazine provides the latest news, Steam & Heritage, modern traction and reviews and our brand-new May issue is out now! This time… Free DVD! There’s a superb DVD worth £19.95 free with every print issue this month, featuring 75 minutes of footage filmed over the final 15 years of BR steam across England, Scotland and Wales. Don’t miss out! A new twist in the Jacobite saga The famous Jacobite steam workings have resumed, but seemingly not without a little nudge from a rival operator. The Champion returns! We were on board as the DTG’s ‘Western’ hauled its first main line ..read more

A memorial and dedication service honoured the life of LNER Railway Police Constable Robert Smith, who lost his life during an air raid in 1942. LNER, the British Transport Police (BTP) History Group, ‘Raids Over York’ heritage project, and Normandy veteran Ken Cooke joined together to commemorate the life of Robert Smith, who served at York Railway Station during World War Two. A memorial and dedication service took place at York Cemetery on April 29, where a wreath was laid at the site of a new headstone. LNER organised for the new headstone to be placed on the site of Smith’s previously un ..read more

Despite the rapid return to almost pre-Covid passenger numbers, 2023 saw several fleets of trains withdrawn and placed in store. Chris Milner casts an eye over the current rolling stock situation. This article first appeared in the February 2024 issue of The Railway Magazine. Keep up to date and never miss an issue with a subscription to The Railway Magazine. CrossCountry withdrew its HST fleet in September 2023 but has not replaced the lost seating capacity. On August 30, 2023, power car No. 43357 leads 1V50, the 06.06 Edinburgh-Plymouth train past Parson Street, Bristol, with No. 43303 at th ..read more

Locomotion has completed the movement of 46 vehicles into its new £8 million New Hall building at its site in Shildon. Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA Media Assignments This brings the County Durham museum’s total number of vehicles to 99,which the museum said is more than any other indoor display in Europe. The vehicles moved into the New Hall include steam locomotives, hand-powered track inspection machines, freight wagons, snow ploughs and an armoured vehicle on tracks. It took four weeks to fill New Hall in a complex operation. Sarah Price, head of the museum, said the new building is “magnifice ..read more

The Big Steam Adventure returns for a second series, joining John Sergeant, Peter Davison and Paul ‘Piglet’ Middleton as they travel the UK using only vehicles powered by steam. Piglet, John and Peter on side of Mini Foden 2Piglet, John Peter on shamrock Steam Launch The second series begins on Channel 5 at 8pm on Friday May 3. The trio made an epic trip from London to Scotland on the first series in 2023. This time the trio will explore the Lake District, The Highlands, Dorset and the Isle of Wight using only the power of steam, from luxurious steam trains to bone-shattering steam vans with n ..read more

The Labour Party will renationalise the railways if elected, says the shadow transport secretary. James Manning/PA Wire In an announcement at the Trainline headquarters in London, the shadow secretary Louise Haigh said that “today’s broken model simply doesn’t work”. Ms Haigh said a Labour government would expect to transfer the 10 remaining privately run rail networks to public ownership “well within the first term” by folding existing private passenger rail contracts into a new body as they expire. The shadow transport secretary said the UK deserves “to be proud” of its rail legacy, but that ..read more

Trevor Gregg looks at the history of the Wansbeck Valley Railway in rural Northumberland and recollects his journey, 57 years ago, on the ‘Wansbeck Piper’, the final train to travel over the route. On the afternoon of Sunday, October 2, 1966, an 11-coach train carrying over 600 passengers headed out of Newcastle Central Station hauled by two Ivatt 4MTs, Nos. 43000 and 43063, with the destination of the tiny Northumberland village of Woodburn. This was the ‘Wansbeck Piper’ railtour – the final train to run over what remained of the Wansbeck Valley Railway, the last remnants of the incursion int ..read more

Here are a few different places you can find the perfect Fathers’ Day gift for your train-loving dad, from model railway products to fascinating reads. TONY’S TRAINS Surprise dad with a Father’s Day Gift from Tony’s Trains of Rugby. A wide selection of OO, N & O gauge from all of the major manufacturers with a variety of new and used products to suit all eras and budgets. If in doubt why not go for a good old gift voucher and let him choose his own model! www.tonystrainsofrugby.com 01788 543442 CHESTER MODEL CENTRE Chester Model Centre is a true Tardis! Treat Dad to a day out exploring our ..read more

A Labour peer has called for toilets on Elizabeth line trains after an incident in December when passengers were held for hours without access to one. Lord Berkeley called for facilities to be installed on any new trains built at the Alstom factory in Derby. The rail manufacturer is in talks with the Government over potential new orders, with reports that new Elizabeth line trains could be requested. Lord Berkeley told the House of Lords: “In relation to the Alstom potential order from the Government for extra trains on the Elizabeth line, this is allegedly to cope with more passengers who wil ..read more

Millions across Britain will have access to new open access train services under new rail industry plans. David Parry/PA Wire The PA news agency reported that open access services on seven routes are currently being developed. Most trains in Britain are run by operators either owned or paid management fees by the UK, Scottish or Welsh governments. However, open access operators set their own fares, take on all revenue risk and receive no taxpayer-funded subsidies. The UK Government is also planning measures to encourage further proposals, despite concerns that open access services create addit ..read more