Features
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Archive: “The Leicesters” – From The Railway Magazine, March 1959
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The following article is reproduced verbatim from the March 1959 issue of The Railway Magazine. It details the working of the “Leicesters” services over the former Midland & Great Northern Joint line, including locomotive allocations, operations and a notable 1958 run. THE almost complete closure as from midnight on February 28 of the Midland &…
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Community mural brings a splash of colour to Doncaster Lock
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Volunteers have completed a vibrant mural at Doncaster Lock to celebrate the city’s heritage and encourage more boaters to experience this part of the waterway network. Creation of the mural CREATED by local artist Kate Rhodes, with assistance from volunteer lock keeper and ex-boater Jan Miller, the mural – measuring more than 10 metres long…
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January 1977: D.E. Canning, Signalman and Photographer, seeks snow & sun in Scotland
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From the January 1977 archive, this first-hand account follows a winter rail journey over the Highland Main Line, travelling on the “Royal Highlander” and “Clansman” amid snow, summit climbs and Class 40 and Class 47 haulage. Living in Southern England and planning the trip LIVING in a sheltered part of Southern England where snow is…
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The Isle of Wight (Newport Junction) Railway – an archive article from October 1959
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This article from the October 1959 issue of The Railway Magazine examines the history of the Isle of Wight (Newport Junction) Railway, drawing on contemporary records and board minutes to trace its development, financial difficulties, and eventual incorporation into the Isle of Wight Central Railway. The account follows the railway from its promotion in the…
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Dapol launches special UK-produced World Book Day wagons for March
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Model railway manufacturer Dapol is marking World Book Day 2026 with a range of specially liveried UK-produced wagons, supporting reading-for-fun charity efforts with every sale. Dapol has announced a new range of UK-produced wagons to coincide with World Book Day, which takes place on 5 March 2026. The charity-linked models will be available in both…
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Recent restoration round-up around the country
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A recent round-up of restoration projects as seen in Railways Illustrated Magazine, compiled by Pip Dunn. 03145 – Moreton Park: In September, the reduced-height 03 received a layer of polish from the top down to give it some protection during the winter. Some rust spots on the cab end and sides were treated and a…
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Tunbridge Wells West as a Railway Centre (January 1956)
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An extract from the January 1956 issue of The Railway Magazine describing passenger and goods services, station layouts, motive power, and traffic patterns centred on Tunbridge Wells West. The article records contemporary operations, routes, rolling stock, and infrastructure as they stood in the mid-1950s. IN the Tunbridge Wells area of the Southern Region of British…
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Potters Bar Rebuilt: A 1956 Account of Main Line Reconstruction and Station Modernisation
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First published in the January 1956 issue of The Railway Magazine, this article documents the reconstruction of Potters Bar Station and the quadruplication of the East Coast main line through the site. Reproduced here as a historical retrospective, it offers a contemporary account of the engineering, architectural design and passenger facilities introduced as part of…
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Remembering British Rail’s Class 03 Shunters
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Small, characterful and often overlooked, British Rail’s Class 03 shunters played a vital role across the network, quietly breaking up the visual and operational monotony of the more numerous Class 08s. Though diminutive in stature, the 03s proved themselves to be remarkably capable machines and became a familiar sight in yards, docks and stations across…
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Transformation at Sunderland: How a Modern Station Took Shape in 1966
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Sixty years ago, Sunderland was in the midst of one of the most significant railway redevelopments in its history, as British Railways’ North Eastern Region completed a major modernisation of Sunderland Central Station. An article published in the January 1966 issue of The Railway Magazine detailed how decades of incremental change culminated in the opening…
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