The Railway Magazine Archive
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From the archive: Richard Branson sets out his vision for Virgin Rail in 1997
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In the May 1997 issue of The Railway Magazine, Editor Nick Pigott interviewed Richard Branson about Virgin Rail, the West Coast and CrossCountry franchises, proposed new trains and the challenges facing the newly privatised railway. Branson also discussed railway investment, Railtrack and his childhood interest in trains. Original introduction THE NEW RAILWAY BARONS: Richard Branson…
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From the archive: Mid-Hants Railway celebrates 20 years with a packed 1993 gala
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n September 1993, The Railway Magazine reported on a successful Mid-Hants Railway gala marking 20 years of operation. The event featured visiting locomotives, intensive services and progress on projects across the railway. A capacity gala OVER the weekend of 3/4 July, the Mid-Hants Railway held a very successful gala event to celebrate 20 years of…
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From the archive: Swindon ‘Steam’ opens to the public
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We take a verbatim look back at when JOHN STRETTON was given an insight into Swindon’s new £11m railway museum. WEDNESDAY June 14, 2000 will become an important day in the history of Swindon and its railways. After many years, alternative suggestions, trials and tribulations along the way, this date was due to mark the…
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From the archive: Clan Line and the Golden Arrow – a marriage made in heaven
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Joan Jackson tells the story of the special relationship between the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society and the Venice-Simplon Orient Express. Sitting in my luxury seat on the Southampton boat train hauled by an immaculately-presented ‘Merchant Navy’, it is almost impossible to believe that 27 years ago a steam ban fell across the nation. For…
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From the archive: Gorton’s Giant – the largest Garratt in the world
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The Soviet railways’ search for greater freight capacity led to the ordering of a Beyer-Garratt locomotive from Britain. The resulting Ya-01 was described as the largest Garratt in the world and was tested in the Soviet Union during 1933. Robert Humm recounts… Gorton’s Giant THE LARGEST GARRATT IN THE WORLD Soviet railway recovery BY the…
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From the archive: Bill Hoole’s unforgettable “Tees-Tyne Pullman” run
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Commander W. J. Alcock recalls an exciting journey on the “Tees-Tyne Pullman”, driven by the late Bill Hoole. First published in the October 1979 issue of The Railway Magazine, the account describes a run from Kings Cross towards Darlington and Newcastle. TRIBUTE TO A MASTER COMMANDER W. J. ALCOCK, RN (RTD), DESCRIBES AN EXCITING RUN…
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Archive 1987: South Tynedale Railway volunteers prepare for a new season
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From a 1987 issue of The Railway Magazine, this archive extract records activity by South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society volunteers. It covers work at Alston, Gilderdale, locomotives, passenger figures, events and plans for the 1988 season. Volunteers and a turning point YEAR 1987 will be remembered by its regular volunteers as the most momentous in…
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Archive: Cornwall’s industrial steam survivors in 1975
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From the March 1975 issue of The Railway Magazine, this archive extract looks at industrial steam locomotives still present in Cornwall after the main-line railways of the county were fully dieselised in 1964. The article covers locations including Par Harbour, Falmouth Docks and Penlee Quarries. Cornwall after dieselisation WHEN the main-line railways of Cornwall were…
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From The Railway Magazine, December 1979: Bodmin returns to service on the Mid-Hants “Watercress” Line
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This verbatim article is taken from an old issue of The Railway Magazine and reports on a September 22 ceremony at Alresford Station. The extract covers the restored ex-Southern Railway express locomotive BR No. 34016, Bodmin, its renaming, return to service, and restoration background. Renaming at Alresford Station ON Saturday, September 22 (as reported on…
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Horse Power for the Railways: The Impulsoria Proposal Revisited
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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…
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