Rail (Enthusiast) Magazine - No.257 Jul 1995

Rail (Enthusiast) July 1995. Issue No.257

- Front Cover:  Top:  Two West Coast services, powered by Class 90s Nos.90002 and 90011, meet at Stafford on March 24. Lower: RAIL is sponsoring the Class 37 haulage of the Birmingham-Ramsgate on August 12 - could No.37275 be the motive power for the day?

- News:  British Rail declares a profit, but are its accounts indecipherable or incomparable? rail unions split over industrial action; ten people injured in two train smashes at Largs and Liverpool Lime Street stations; new depots and trains for Royal Mail; cable fire turns signals to red at Birmingham New Street; the campaign to upgrade the West Coast Main Line continues, objections raised to minimum Midland Main Line service levels and Cabinet reshuffles results in a new Transport Secretary.

- and...  Join the RAIL team on a day out to Ramsgate, with Class 37 'Growler' power from Birmingham - full details on page 12.

- Rail Images:  A photograph from Dave McAlone in our best of railway photography feature.

- We Did It!  With the help of modeller Larry Goddard, RAIL influenced the final choice of livery for Regional Railway Central's Class 156 units.

- Around the Regions:  Railway news from all corners of Britain, including a new station for Yarm and the renovation of the former locomotive shed at Tunbridge Wells West, compiled by Howard Johnston.

- Off the Rails:  Our monthly review of madness from the media.

- Main Line Points:  More money-saving offers - including discounted videos and models - from RAIL's coupon collection scheme, run in conjunction with our sister magazines, Steam Railway and Steam World.

- The Sulzer Revolution:  The Derby Type 4s and the prototype locomotive D0260 Lion are profiled by Euslin Bruce in the third part of his review of The Sulzer Decade.

- Preservation:  Howard Johnston provides all the latest news from the world of modern traction preservation. Wirral Council to dispose of two 1938 EMU vehicles; 1970s-style parcel train to be recreated at the Midland Railway Centre.

- Bonjour, Voici Coquelles:  Barrie Hughes reports from Eurotunnel's Coquelles depot, where 53 Channel Tunnel locomotives are maintained.

- Letters:  Another view on the removal of Class 60 names; dismay at Greater Manchester PTE's decision to cease funding local rail services and preservation for the future are just some of the topics in this issue's postbag.

- All Change at Crewe:  Philip Hawkin's latest painting, commissioned in connection with next month's Crewe Railfair, shows a Class 40 and an LMS 'Pacific' at Crewe circa 1961.

- Talking Freight:  Paul Shannon reviews Channel Tunnel freight, one year after the first revenue-earning traffic started.

- Traction News:  The latest traction news and the best in traction photography, along with the regular Locomotive Level 5, Irish Scene, Namings and Stock Changes coverage.

- Rolling Stock News:  Roger Butcher focuses on Crofton Track Services depot in his Track Machines & Engineering column, while David Russell has the latest multiple unit and carriage news.

- Crewe Rail Fair:  RAIL's preview of the two-day traction extravaganza, which is taking place at Basford Hall yard on August 27 and 28.

- RAILFile News:  The Government reaffirms its commitment to railfreight and British firms aid development of new German trains. Philip Sutton reports on a recent freight conference, considering the changes being brought about by privatisation.

- Outlook:  RAILFile's comment on the railway business scene considers the challenges of contract maintenance.

- Keeping Track:  A focus on the track machine and infrastructure maintenance businesses.

- ModelRAIL News:  All the latest Model and accessory releases.

- Happy Days:  Neil Phillips describes his 'OO' gauge layout modelled on a Cornish branch line.

- Exhibition Diary:  ModelRAIL's roundup of the exhibition scene.

- Lineside Look:  John Emerson's hints and tips for modellers.