Rail (Enthusiast) Magazine - No.269 Jan 1996

Rail (Enthusiast) January 1996. Issue No.269

- Front Cover:  Class 47 No.47283 Johnnie Walker heads north past Otford with the 1652 Dover Town - Arpley Speedlink on May 8 1989. This issue features a profile of Class 47 liveries.

- Comment:  Nigel Harris comments on passenger franchising.

- News:  Major upset for Government's privatisation plans as Franchising Director found by court not to have followed minimum service level instructions, Pete Waterman becomes disillusioned and Waterman Railways stock badly damaged in a derailment outside Euston.

- Wolmar:  Christian Wolmar, the Independent's transport columnist reports on the Appeal Court's important ruling that the Franchising Director must have a rethink over minimum levels of service, plus where has the missing £700m of subsidy gone?

- CrossCountry's Race to the Top:  Once the Cinderella of the six InterCity businesses, CrossCountry is now a vibrant go-ahead concern. Steven Knight reports.

- Preservation:  Howard Johnston brings you the preservation news first - Mid-Norfolk Railway receives council grant of £25,000, NRM's Class 20 D8000's wiring tangle delays startup and a two-car DMU for £1!

- In the Res Corner...Wisconsin Central:  The Americans have arrived! This progressive freight company is now the owner of Rail express systems. Nigel Harris provides an insight into this newcomer to Britain's railways.

- Open Access:  You write, we print! This issue contains letters on train recovery times, an operating nightmare at Crewe, and why not cut down trees to save wheel slipping?

- Rail Blue:  It's time to wallow in nostalgia from the 1970s and 80s. Guest photographer is North Wales coast-based Larry Goddard, reflected in his choice of long-gone scenes.

- A Profitable Railway: They Believed it Could Happen! 1955 was a watershed in the evolution of Britain's railways - the year the Modernisation Plan was published. Howard Johnston celebratesw the 40th anniversary by looking in retrospect at whether or not the Plan was sensibly implemented.

- Waterman's Ixion - On Song for '96:  Pete Waterman's Cloas 46 has been in main line preserved status for one year - at large expense. Howard Johnston and Tony Mosley report on an eventful year for the veteran machine.

- Coats of Many Colours:  Since corporate blue went out of fashion, there has been an explosion in locomotive colour schemes. Mel Holley and Phil Sutton review current liveries on Class 47 locomotives.

- All Points East:  David Allen talks to Railtrack East Anglia about its large area which extends from rural Norfolk to London, including the North London lines.

- 1995 Traction Review:  In true traditional style, David Rapson presents the A-Z of the traction year, backed up with some memorable pictures. Res Class 86s on the ECML, 'EDs' helping out with DEMU crisis, Transrail's 'Cream T' railtour, the end of Class 37s on the 'Silver Bullets', National Power's five new Class 59/2s - what a year and it's all here!

- Rolling Stock News:  David Russell reviews 1995 - Class 325 debut, EPBs end after a 43-year life, DEMUs reformed for Kent line and the last five 'bubble' cars condemned. These and many more memorable stories are recalled.

- Main Line Points:  Collect your coupons from the stable of RAIL, Steam World and Steam Railway magazines and you can save pounds off goods and services.

- RAILFile Insider:  'Insider' turns his attention to Eurostar and how improved marketing will be essential when the regional services north of London start.

- The Making of the Manchester Metro:  Now nearly four years old, Manchester's new tram system is winning many supporters. Tony Miles looks at how the engineers cope with day to day running and how they are planning ahead.

- Practical Privatising:  Wesley Paxton shares the widely-held view that BR privatisation is a shambles. He blames the lack of a level playing field and comes up with a few suggestions.

- Classified Advertising:  Don't turn the page over! Some great bargains to be had here. There's everything ranging from computer games to railtours.

-  Stop and Examine:  If you like the classic Night Mail by WH Auden, you may care to chuckle - or despair - at today's Night Mail and what it carries - brought to you by Rabbi Walter Rothschild.