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.

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Railways Illustrated

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Aureol to be sold – and main line beckons

Celebration livery for industrial Class 08

GWR fast-charge Class 230 battery success

DB Cargo moves Class 66s in and out of ‘strategic’ store

Inspiration train launched to the public

Final Class 69 nearly ready for entry into traffic

Funding confirmed for Rail Network enhancement pipeline schemes

GBRf Class 66 has ETCS digital signalling fitted

Belmond’s luxury Britannic Explorer starts running

Open Access blows for WCML operators

Swietelsky returns 37419 to its fleet

Stored coaches removed from Long Marston

Railbus returns from Ireland

Game over for Royal Train

Freightliner adds two 90s to its fleet

Diesel worksplate sells for record £14,500

IN BRIEF

Class 101 for North Norfolk Railway

Various fates for preserved coaches

GBRf officially launches its new Class 99 • In June, the first two of GBRf’s brand-new Stadler bi-mode Class 99 locomotives arrived in the UK. Railways Illustrated has been to see them.

The rumour mill

The news you probably haven’t heard yet…

Coaching Stock News

Liveries

Multiple Unit News

Unit Focus

Shunter News

Names

Wagon News

CFPS faces large bills to return its locos to traffic

50007 returns to use after unplanned turbo swap

Retro two-tone look for Lancs Class 24

WesternLady: condition not as bad as first feared

Class 31 overhaul paused at Ruddington

Busy time ahead for the Deltic Preservation Society

SVR reopens through to Bridgnorth after landslip

Class 56 follows main line maintenance plan

Valley 14 for GCR gala visit

Main line 33 hired for crane move

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

What did the diesels ever do for us? • This year we celebrate 200 years of the first passenger railway from Stockton to Darlington, and the headline event is The Greatest Gathering show at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane. Pip Dunn looks at the modern traction exhibits and assesses their role in the railways.

MISSED A COPY?

Living Life in the Past Lane • Chris Gee looks back at the many different electric locos types that left an impression on him, from catching the last days of the Class 76s being active from Reddish Depot, to the Class 91s still hanging on to duties on the ECML

GALA PICTORIAL

To Kyle in style • The SRPS and LSL ran a groundbreaking charter to take Class 20s to Kyle of Lochalsh for the first time ever on a passenger train. Pip Dunn joined this momentous trip.

Too much, too sun? Specials suffer in the heat

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Scots move the black stuff • In the second and final part of his look back at Scottish coal trains, Robin Ralston concentrates on the shadow freight and privatised era, and the classic traction still used on these trains.

Paul Shannon • 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.

Kings of coal • Another significant design in the BR wagon fleet has been added to...