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

DCR unveils overhauled maroon Class 60 to celebrate S&C 150

Alstom to build 29 Adessia BEMUs at Derby for Transpennine Express

IN BRIEF

SVR runs trial commuter DMU service from Bewdley

Class 50s visit Edinburgh on charity charter in busy month for the type

Competition! Win six tickets on an SVR Santa Steam Special!

Another order for Class 99s for ‘sleeper’ work on the horizon?

56s returned to use as RHTTs prepare to start

Comforting news for GTR commuters as new seats to replace ‘Ironing boards’ for Class 700s

ScotRail shortlists five manufacturers to build new trains

Community bid launched to secure 58048 for preservation

TfW 158s could be set for a new home with GWR?

First Great Northern passenger train uses ECTS

Europhoenix starts operations using its first 60

Pictorial

The Rumour Mill

And the news you probably haven’t heard yet…

Coaching Stock News

Shunter News

Unit News

Names

Unit Focus

Wagon News

Liveries

Bluebell celebrates 40 years of NSE with eight-strong diesel gala line up

IN BRIEF

Class 02 sold for preservation

Class 507 EMU moves… with battery power!

After over two years under repair, 50026 returns to use

Visting Class 20 and 33 star at GCR diesel gala

Class 40 owner appeals to old shareholders

McLaren Class 47 being worked on

SVR confirms its winter diesel day

WSR celebrates its ‘diesels at 65’ with three-day event

Class 20 offered for sale

Swanage wants a diesel for a year-long hire

GCR adds extra diesel weekend

November date for SDR diesel gala confirmed

Class 60s: past and present • A fleet of 100 Class 60s was built between 1989 and 1992 for Trainload Freight, and all passed into EWS ownership. While most remain intact, only a handful are actually in traffic. Pip Dunn looks back their history, the recent developments and what could be the future for the 97 survivors.

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

PICTORIAL

New Charter Alliance is a positive step

Pools in the shadow freight era • In Part Two of our look at the history of pool codes and sectors, Pip Dunn details the major changes to the loco fleet in the 1990s, including the Departmental fleet split in 1992 followed by the creation of the Shadow Freight companies in 1994

THE CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT LASTS ALL YEAR! • BUY A MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL

John Whiteley remembers… Class 37s on the West Highland lines • Class 37/4s were introduced in the West Highlands in 1985 and were the mainstay traction on the lines for freight and passenger for just five years before Sprinters took over the passenger diagrams. Retained for freight and the ‘sleeper’ they finally lost their regular turns in 2006, but have been occasional visitors ever since.

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

Mk. 2s go west • A new batch of Mk. 2b/c coaches has been released by Accurascale, bringing not only new variants but also further livery options. Most notably, this includes the South Wales &...