Rail (Enthusiast) Magazine - No.242 Dec 1994

Rail (Enthusiast) December 1994. Issue No.242

Main features:

- Front Cover:  Class 60 No.60020 Great Whernside is the subject of our seasonal front cover.

- News:  West Coast Main Line imrovement plan and high-speed run; Piccadilly Line's Heathrow extension applied for; Merseyrail's reliable electrics; design award for Waterloo International; BR sell-off timetable; Great Eastern service cuts; VAT on historic transport journeys; GEC wins LUL Northern Line contract.

- Not Just for Christmas...  A seasonal tale of strange goings-on near the site of a former West Coast Main Line goods yard.

- Last Days of the Dinosaurs:  Evan Green-Hughes looks back nostalgically to the last days of the 'Peaks'.

- Channel Tunnel News:  Barrie Hughes' regular update brings news of an encouraging build-up of HGVs using the Shuttle services, and Eurotunnels response to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link proposals.

- Rail Mail:  The danger of dimly-lit stations at night; more comments on 'Pacers'; frustration of Eurostar's third-rail crawl - but is the French system as good as it's painted? anorak image has to go.

- Around the Regions:  Howard Johnston's regular round-up includes news of a new station planned for Warrington Bank Quay and the relocation of Glasgow's High Street Station, a top award for Wemyss Bay Station and a £100m scheme to transform the approach to Cardiff Central.

- Running Through the Points:  Pete Rayner reflects on the role of the railways during the festive season, and treats us to an extract from his duty log of Christmas Day 1963.

- Preservation Progress:  Lion must move from North Yorkshire Moors Railway; 'Choppers' moved as Norfolk revival begins; two more Class 26 sale deals called off; help needed in Burma Star restoration; 'Red Shuttle' set secured; more EMUs in trouble.

- DMUs From Derby:  More than 1000 of what we now term heritage DMU vehicles were built at Derby Works between 1954 and 1963. Now, only four remain in BR service, David Russell looks at the classes which emerged during those years.

- A Winter's Tale:  The deep mid-winter presents railway photographers with some great opportunites - as our centre spread by Bryan Hicks reveals.

- Railtour Preview:  RAIL's unique monthly travel guide to the world of railtours and special trains.

- GroupFive Years of the Irish Traction:  Peter Jones tells the story of an able and enthusiastic group which has achieved a great deal for Irish diesel preservation in five short years.

- Traction News:  Despite all the computerisation of today's railways, wagons can still get 'lost', according to Bob Wallace in Wagons Roll; dynamic track stabilisers are on the menu in Roger Butcher's Departmental Developments. RAIL also brings you the latest  traction developments, including Namings, Multiple Matters, Works Report, Coaching Call, Irish Scene, Locomotive Level 5 notes, Stock For Sale and All Change.

- RailFile News

- Outlook:  The minefield of railway fares increases - or in several cases no changes at all - are examined in RailFile's comment column.

- New Commitments to the Privatised Railway:  A conference organised by 'The Economist' early in December gave those concerned with passenger railway privatisation policy the chance to respond to the sale of Railtrack - and it makes interesting reading.

- Britain's First New Line for a Century:  Barrie Hughes details the next stage in the establishment of the 67-mile long high-speed line from St.Pancras to the Channel Tunnel, due to open early in the next millenium.

- Crunch! - then call ABB:  Murray Brown reports on a new crash repair facility at ABB's Litchurch Works in Derby.