Mark Lancaster

  • Evero’s over the Settle & Carlisle line

    Evero’s over the Settle & Carlisle line

    Posted

    by

    A report on Winter diversions for Avanti’s bi-mode trains, originally published in the February issue of Rail Express Magazine. For two weeks between January 1 to 14, the West Coast Main Line was closed for through traffic north of Preston to allow Network Rail to replace the life-expired Clifton Viaduct spanning the M6 motorway just…

  • All Aboard! National Tramway Museum Reopens with a Bold New Look on Saturday 14th March.

    All Aboard! National Tramway Museum Reopens with a Bold New Look on Saturday 14th March.

    Posted

    by

    This spring, one of Derbyshire’s most distinctive attractions is inviting visitors to rediscover it all over again. Formerly known as Crich Tramway Village, the newly refreshed National Tramway Museum reopens for the season on Saturday 14th March, unveiling a bold new identity designed to better reflect who we are. The refreshed brand also reflects a…

  • When Covid-19 Hit the Railways: The Railway Magazine Editorial, April 2020

    When Covid-19 Hit the Railways: The Railway Magazine Editorial, April 2020

    Posted

    by

    Written as the editorial introduction to the April 2020 issue of The Railway Magazine by Chris Milner, this piece reflects on the early impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the railway industry, heritage railways and wider society. It captures the uncertainty of the moment as rail services, events and preservation projects began to feel the…

  • Recent Restoration Round-up

    Recent Restoration Round-up

    Posted

    by

    This round-up of preservation engineering updates is drawn from a recent issue of Railways Illustrated edited by Pip Dunn. It summarises restoration, maintenance and operational work currently taking place on a wide range of preserved diesel locomotives at locations including Williton, Bury, Loughborough, Kidderminster, Bitton and Carnforth. The updates cover ongoing mechanical repairs, overhaul progress…

  • Archive: The arrival of the first Class 67 locomotive in the UK

    Archive: The arrival of the first Class 67 locomotive in the UK

    Posted

    by

    From the archives of The Railway Magazine, this verbatim report from 1999 records the arrival of the first Class 67 locomotive in the UK. The locomotive arrived at Newport on October 6 and was later moved for testing and commissioning ahead of the introduction of the new class. By Colin J. Marsden FOLLOWING on from…

  • Blue and Grey Beginnings: A First Encounter with the InterCity 125

    Blue and Grey Beginnings: A First Encounter with the InterCity 125

    Posted

    by

    Chris Gee recalls seeing his first High Speed Train on August 2, 1980, during a family journey to Newquay. This archive-style personal reflection charts his early impressions, later encounters, and a final farewell to the iconic InterCity 125 in its original blue and yellow livery. First Sight – August 2, 1980 The iconic HSTs were…

  • Horse Power for the Railways: The Impulsoria Proposal Revisited

    Horse Power for the Railways: The Impulsoria Proposal Revisited

    Posted

    by

    This archive extract from The Railway Magazine revisits the 1850 proposal for the Impulsoria, a system intended to apply animal power to railway working. Reproduced verbatim, it reflects contemporary thinking on conservation, cost, and alternative locomotive methods. Now that most of the civilised world is busily seeking ways of conserving energy, how about this? The…

  • “Blue Train” – February 1983 Archive Article from The Railway Magazine

    “Blue Train” – February 1983 Archive Article from The Railway Magazine

    Posted

    by

    D. M. RHIND WHETS YOUR APPETITE AND EMPTIES YOUR WALLET WITH A RIDE ON SOUTH AFRICA’S “BLUE TRAIN” IT’S 12 o’clock and the noon-day gun fires from Signal Hill, Cape Town, the tourists in Adderley Street say “Ooh” or “Aah,” and some of the more inexperienced pigeons in Greenmarket Square take to the air and…

  • ‘Enter Class 58’- Archive article from 1983

    ‘Enter Class 58’- Archive article from 1983

    Posted

    by

    From the February 1983 issue of The Railway Magazine, this report records the completion of the first of 35 Class “58” diesel-alternator locomotives at Doncaster Works. It details their design development, technical specification, testing programme and early performance figures. Order and Background ON December 9 at Doncaster Works, Philip Norman, Managing Director of British Rail…

  • Harrogate Gas Works Railway – from the archive

    Harrogate Gas Works Railway – from the archive

    Posted

    by

    Archive article from a 1969 issue of The Railway Magazine. This detailed account describes the Harrogate gas works railway, its construction, locomotives, operation and eventual closure. It includes technical specifications, gradients, rolling stock and historical context drawn from contemporary sources. Harrogate gas works railway, built because of road maintenance charges, eventually succumbed to cheaper road…


From the history of steam through to 21st century rail transport news, we have titles that cater for all rail enthusiasts. Covering diesels, modelling, steam and modern railways, check out our range of magazines and fantastic subscription offers.