Rail (Enthusiast) Magazine - No.244 Jan 1995

Rail (Enthusiast) January 1995. Issue No.244

Main features:

- Front Cover:  Class 33s Nos. 33048 and 33052 Ashford made a fine sight after being prepared by Stewarts Lane apprentices based at Hither Green in readiness for duty on Pathfinder tours' December 11 'Southern Serpent'. Andy Thomas photographed them at Tonbridge Yard the day after the special.

- News:  Dramatic pictures of waterlogged Class 314 units on Glasgow; Oil tanks derailed at Toton; Last trains from British Coal; Class 312s go into store; No open access before 1999; Great Eastern service changes planned; Higher costs could delay completion of Ivanhoe scheme; Class 33s to head Inverness special.

- Shooting the 'Bins':  Kim Fullbrook, who spent several bright summer evenings last year photographing the progress of the Northolt-Calvert containerised household waste train, otherwise referred to as the 'Bins', describes this interesting working.

- Going, Going, Gone!  Adrian Booth brings readers up to date with two hectic years of locomotive scrapping at Booth-Roe's Rotherham yard.

- Decline of the TEEs:  Brian Perren records the decline of the much-loved Trans Europe Express stock across the Channel, leading up to a total TGV take-over later this year.

- Preservation News:  30-year mystery of Class 40 Media nameplates resolved; Class 506 EMU finds home at Barrow Hill Roundhouse; More loco cabs reach Mel Thorley's garden; Class 26 No.26043 becomes southernmost class member.

- Last Days of the Roaring Forties:  It is now almost ten years since the Class 40 fleet was reduced to just example, D200. Larry Goddard's photographs pay tribute to this much-respected fleet.

- The Price of Progress:  Sixteen years separate Peter Hogarth's pictures taken at Oughty Bridge Station, west of Sheffield, on the former Woodhead route.

- Channel Tunnel News:  Barrie Hughes' regular Channel Tunnel coverage reports on a freight milestone, details of a forthcoming TV programme on Union Railways and explains the increased Eurostar timetable.

- Around the Regions:  With news collated by RAIL readers from around the country, Howard Johnston provides the latest run-down on what's happening  on your local railway.

- Railtour Preview:  Want to know what railtours are running and when? Howard Johnston has all the details in his regular railtour listing.

- In Winter's Icy Grip:  When caught in winter's icy grip, Britain's railways offer spectacular photographic opportunities for those bold enough to venture out - as Les Nixon's portfolio of pictures dramatically proves.

- RAIL Mail:  Land Cruise prices reflect service quality; Big support for chocolate and cream; Roads obsession is counter-productive; the HAA train that vanished - and in our Q & A section we give the real answer to colour light signal operation.

- Running Through the Points:  Peter Rayner takes BR to task on its fares policy, the ability to actually purchase a ticket and on the training of new drivers. In Inside View Steve Knigh asks if BR is taking officialdom a platform too far?

- News Extra:  Les Nixon's photos recall happier days at two Yorkshire stations whose closures have now been announced.

- Land Cruising in 1995:  Waterman Railways is to ditch the sleeping cars from its summer 1995 Land Cruise trains and use hotels for overnight accommodation. Steve Knight details the summer programme, along with the spring Special Trains Land Cruises, which will still use sleeping cars.

- The Waterman Fleet:  In the second part of his review of the Waterman Railways fleet, Howard Johnston details those vehicles which will be acquired with the Special Trains business on April 1.

- Traction News:  This section brings together the latest locomotive fleet news, locomotive level 5 data and Irish Scene, along with Jim Sheldon's review of BR's naming policy during 1994 and the latest 'All Change' details.

- Rolling Stock News:  Roger Butcher explains the ballast regulator situation, Bob Wallace brings his regular 'Wagons Roll' column, and the multiple units and coach news comes from David Russell.

- All Change Fleet Survey:  RAIL provides an end-of-year summary on BR's locomotive fleet,including a class-by-class and business breakdown.

- RAILFile News:  Government funds new rail schemes, including a new passenger service from Huddersfield to Halifax; Uproar over sleeper service cuts.

- Outlook:  This regular column considers the brighter prospects for rail investment.

- Roads v Rail:  The Big Debate:  Barrie Hughes examines the Transport Minister's response to several reports which have criticised the Government's bias to road building.

- Budget hits Rail Spend:  The effects of last year's budget on the money available for railway spending is analysed in a special RAIL file story.

- Subsidy Level Forces New Cuts:  Barrie Hughes examines OPRAF's first thoughts on the subsidy level available to Train Operating Units.