Mark Lancaster
-
RAILWAY ARCHIVES 1972: Quarter-mile siding laid in just one week at Invergordon
Posted
by
From the October 1972 issue of The Railway Magazine: A quarter-mile railway siding was laid in one week at Invergordon, with the project commissioned within three weeks of a meeting to discuss its feasibility. The development served the MK-Shand pipe-coating plant, marking a step forward in British Railways’ involvement with North Sea oil industry traffic.…
-
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Lottery-funded Hunslet Brookes No. 1 returns to passenger service in 2017
Posted
by
From the October 2017 issue of The Railway Magazine: The Middleton Railway’s Hunslet 0-6-0ST Brookes No. 1 made its post-overhaul passenger debut on August 28, following a Heritage Lottery-funded purchase and overhaul project lasting more than four years. The locomotive returned to service in a lined version of Hunslet’s standard green. The Middleton Railway’s Hunslet…
-
From the archive: How Western Region set a new world railway speed record in 1979
Posted
by
In the July 1979 issue of The Railway Magazine, O. S. Nock described an attempt by Western Region to set a world record for start-to-stop average speed by train. The run involved the 09.20 HST from Paddington on April 10, 1979, with the speed limits throughout to be strictly observed. NEW WORLD RECORD O. S.…
-
From the archive: 1264 – The B1 that would not die
Posted
by
In the October 1989 issue of The Railway Magazine, Thompson B1 Locomotive Trust Chairman Michael A. Cobley outlined the progress being made with No. 1264. Once written off as “the engine with the duff boiler”, the locomotive had endured withdrawal, Barry scrapyard and major boiler problems on its long road through preservation. Once written off…
-
From the archive: Class 90s recalled over braking fault in 1989
Posted
by
In the October 1989 issue of The Railway Magazine, all 30 new class 90 Intercity electric locomotives were reported as having been temporarily withdrawn by BR after a braking-system fault was found during routine maintenance. The report also covered rolling-stock safety concerns and separate derailments involving MkIII coaches and a London Underground Jubilee Line train.…
-
East Lancashire Railway volunteers win Community Hero Award
Posted
by
The East Lancashire Railway has won a Roch Valley Radio Community Hero Award in recognition of the work of its volunteers. The heritage railway was nominated for the award in recognition of the contribution made by its volunteers to the railway and the communities it serves. The Roch Valley Radio Community Hero Awards celebrate people,…
-
Northern Rock set for first-ever visit to Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
Posted
by
Absolutely — clean copy/paste version, no reference links: Northern Rock set for first-ever visit to Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway will welcome Northern Rock from the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway for the first time during its Autumn Gala Weekend on October 17-18, 2026. The locomotive will be the star…
-
From the archive: graffiti, ‘jumbo’ steam trains and £25 fares – railway concerns in 1989
Posted
by
From the September 1989 issue of The Railway Magazine, Peter Kelly considered the growing graffiti problem on the railway and the economics of main line steam excursions. The piece also looked at a proposed 488-seat train over the Settle & Carlisle line and the costs involved in operating steam-hauled services. Signs of the times PERHAPS…
-
Recreating the Past: Why Railway Photography Still Chases the Spirit of the 1980s
Posted
by
Railway photography has always been more than documentation. For many enthusiasts, it is about capturing a fleeting moment in time — preserving memories while also creating images that echo the atmosphere of a vanished railway era. In this reflective feature from Railways Illustrated (December 2025), photographer Chris Gee explores why recreating the look and feel…
-
Why does snow prevent rail services from running?
Posted
by
With parts of the country waking to snow outside their windows this morning, let’s look at how trains cope in snowy conditions, and what happens when they don’t.
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.
