19 Jan 2012 - Issue 159
Features
38 THE WRONG KIND OF SNOW
Increasingly when the weather turns bad, train services are badly affected and the excuses start being made. It was not like this in BR steam days of course. Maurice Burns dips into the archives and presents a selection of pictures taken while the snow was falling.
49 EVENTS GUIDE
The complete Heritage Railway guide to special events at preserved lines and museum centres for 2012, in chronological order, concentrating on those of interest to the enthusiast, plus Thomas and similar events.
70 FLYING SCOTSMAN – BACK TO THE FUTURE
Gresley’s A3 Pacific Flying Scotsman still makes the news, even though not currently in working order. As the cost of its overhaul under current owner the National Railway Museum prepares to hit an astonishing £2.6 million, Gavin Morrison presents views of the engine in its last days of BR service and of the very different engine in its early years of preservation.
74 WHAT’S LEFT OF THE GREAT NORTH OF SCOTLAND
The railway map of Scotland is well-known to most enthusiasts, but confusion can arise regarding the Great North of Scotland Railway main line from Aberdeen towards Inverness. Brian Sharpe looks at the small Scottish railway, whose system was decimated by Beeching, but of which a remarkable amount remains to be seen.
82 RAILTOURERS GUIDE
Advertising feature: choice tours for 2012.
Regulars
6 HEADLINE NEWS
Princes Charles to relaunch green Britannia at Wakefield Kirkgate station on January 24; shock purchase brings Pitchford Hall and GWR large prairie to rebuilt Epping Ongar Railway; Tornado to run to North Norfolk Railway; heritage railways defy recession to break passenger records, Duchess of Sutherland steams in green and talks continue over Roland Kennington ban.
10 NEWS
Weardale Railway scraps all community services; Car falls off bridge in front of Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway steam train; Manchester United nameplate genuine, says auction house in about-turn; Quarry Hunslet Alice invited to steam in Jersey for rail revival plan; Betton Grange: wheels on by spring; Lottery funding back on after Olympic Games end; Welshpool told to find £100,000 for level crossing barriers; new name for Rutland Railway Museum at Easter reopening: Nene Valley manager quits; new Aussie Pacific boiler “not fit for purpose”; plan to build home for pre-Grouping GCR train; shunter and cranes among National Railway Museum artefacts clear-out, AND appeal to restore Settle & Carlisle stationmaster’s house.
54 CENTRE
Is it daylight or not? A dramatically lit view of Bolton Abbey station by Andrew Rapacz takes centre stage this month.
61 MAIN LINE NEWS
First tours announced for green Duchess, Mayflower for main line, pre-Christmas blues for New Zealand, RTC spring programme, King out of gauge again, Gresley back in the spring, and a review of main line heritage modern traction in 2011
68 MAIN LINE ITINERARY
Brian Sharpe’s definitive guide to steam and heritage modern traction railtours for the coming month.
80 RAILWAYANA
Geoff Courtney reports on the latest prices from the auction scene and previews what is coming up for sale.
94 PLATFORM
The pages where your views matter most, including continued controversy over the definition of casualty figures for the reliability of preserved steam.
96 SCALE HERITAGE RAILWAY
Three classes of Great Western heavy freight tank engines are added to the Hornby catalogue, plus a Thompson O1 and Britannia with the Royal Train.
100 UP & RUNNING
Brian Sharpe’s complete listing of museums and operational heritage lines.
106 NEXT ISSUE
Next issue out 16 Feb 2012
