The Railway Magazine

  • India used baskets to coal locos

    India used baskets to coal locos

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    THE interesting article on coaling towers opened with “In the beginning, the fuelling of steam was a simple affair. One or two men with shovels etc”. In India this continued until the end of steam in 1995.  The photo attached shows four men and their wicker baskets, adding coal to a ‘YG’ class at Darbanga…

  • Practice and Performance: City of Truro – Final, final thoughts?

    Practice and Performance: City of Truro – Final, final thoughts?

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    A Practice & Performance Extra article in The RM August 2015 threw new light on the location where Charles Rous-Marten claimed to have recorded a quarter mile in 8.8secs (effectively 102.3mph) by City of Truro with the ‘Ocean Mails’ special. In essence, the platelayers that caused a brake application appeared to have been at Bradford-on-Avon…

  • Hugh Le Fleming

    Hugh Le Fleming

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    Robert Humm reviews the life and work of a notable locomotive engineer, writer and artist. Despite the lack of any family technical background, and in the face of paternal disapproval, Hugh Le Fleming rose rapidly in the world of locomotive engineering. Eventually, indifferent health prevented him reaching the top of his profession and he devoted…

  • Building on the Broadway

    Building on the Broadway

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    The 12 months since the opening of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s extension to Broadway have seen numerous records broken, with the line continuing to reap the benefits of its connection with the picturesque Cotswolds village. Gary Boyd-Hope went along to find out how the railway has risen to the challenge, and what lessons have been…

  • Sentry at the Gate: How the North Warwickshire Line avoided closure

    Sentry at the Gate: How the North Warwickshire Line avoided closure

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    Fifty years ago this month, the Court of Appeal imposed an injunction on the British Railways Board which prevented them from withdrawing passenger services between Tyseley and Stratford-upon-Avon. Fraser Pithie tells the fascinating tale of how the actions of several campaigners thwarted BR’s closure ‘by stealth’ bid in 1969.  THREE years after the publication of…

  • Practice & Performance: Diversionary Tactics

    Practice & Performance: Diversionary Tactics

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    The recent closure of Whiteball Tunnel for three weeks has given John Heaton FCILT an opportunity to compare performances of HSTs and IETs over less familiar routes from Exeter.  THE former London & South Western Route to the west came into its own again for three weeks in February/March 2019.  What do you do on…

  • Battlefield Line secures first away visit for Wightwick Hall in autumn

    Battlefield Line secures first away visit for Wightwick Hall in autumn

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    No. 6989 Wightwick Hall will get its first real opportunity to ‘stretch its legs’ post-restoration this autumn.

  • Steam, diesel and electric on show at Long Rock open day

    Steam, diesel and electric on show at Long Rock open day

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    An open day at Long Rock depot, Penzance, was attended by several thousand visitors, who witnessed a wide array of motive power celebrating Cornwall’s railways. Proceeds from the event – held on April 13 and organised by GWR – will be donated to the RNLI Penlee lifeboat station, in nearby Newlyn.  The lifeboat theme was…

  • ‘Lizzie’ returns to main line following Carnforth boiler repairs

    ‘Lizzie’ returns to main line following Carnforth boiler repairs

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    Stanier ‘Princess Royal’ Pacific No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth is back and ready for a return to main line duties.

  • The coaling plant story: Towers of Strength

    The coaling plant story: Towers of Strength

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    The demolition of Immingham’s mechanical coaling plant last year has left Britain with just one example of these huge ferro-concrete monoliths.

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