Rail (Enthusiast) Magazine - No.271 Feb 1996

Rail (Enthusiast) February 1996. Issue No.271

- Front Cover:  Class 37s Nos. 37899/889 position their train for unloading at Celtic Energy's Cwm Bargoed site, Wales, on July 16 1995.

- Comment:  Managing Editor Nigel Harris argues that selling the three trainload freight companies and Res to the Americans could have positive benefits - despite the short-term pain of job cuts.

- News:  Wisconsin Central preferred bidder for freight companies, 'Networker' fleet grounded by coupling problem, ScotRail and West Coast sell-off back on track, Regulator investigates Res, Wakefield Europort opens and Ashford International opens to passengers.

- Save our Railways:  Jonathan Bray explains how you can help your railway to be retained and even improved.

- Around the Regions:  Howard Johnston takes a look nationwide at stations near you, including rail facilities to be retained for Boston freight and moves are afoot to reinstate the track and services to Horwich.

- Wolmar:  Christian Wolmar reports on the extraordinary poor utilisation of drivers who drive only a fraction of their paid time.

- The 'American Way' for Britain:  In a RAIL exclusive, Nigel Harris interviews Ed Burkhardt, President of Wisconsin Central about his plans to run Rail express systems.

- Open Access:  A selection of letters on many subjects, such as making Eurostar more commercial and using the M20 for the route of the high-speed rail link.

- Preservation:  Class 50 Eagle has been bought and Brighton Museum sells up locomotives and stock. Howard Johnston brings you the top preservation stories.

- Teesside Steel:  Paul Shannon visits British Steel's Teesside complex, where molten metal is moved by BS shunters. He also lists Trainload's steel trains.

- Coats of Many Colours:  Mel Holley and Phil Sutton detail the many colourful liveries carried by the 'Cromptons', illustrated with outstanding graphics.

- Modernising the Railways -Part 3:  Howard Johnston continues his review of the 1955 Modernisation Plan and whether or not it was tempered with reality as untested locomotives were built in their hundreds.

- The D&E Years:  RAIL returns to the 1960s through the lens of Graham Bell, including views of an electric blue AL6, Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 and Birmingham RC&W railcar. Come back, all is forgiven!

- Locomotive Review:  All the news of rare workings, class by class, topped up with superb pictures, including Mainline's first blue Class 60!

- Stock Changes:  Has it moved depot or been condemned?  Find out here for all locomotives and stock. Plus there's some interesting departmental vehicles for sale if you are connected with the private railway scene.

- Stock News:  With coaching stock formations of Oxley depot, more privately owned stock registered and latest arrivals at MC Metals, David Russell updates the position. Also - what's in Works.

- Freight and Engineering:  Gloucester is worth a visit to see the variety of departmental stock. Don't miss Roger Butcher's authoritative guide  and a look back to 1964 when there were 73 locomotives on Horton Road shed!

- RAILFile Insider:  RAIL's well-connected man 'on the inside' looks at how Eurostar is missing out on business and the wider issues of increasing revenues.

- Stagecoach's SWT Franchise:  Mel Holley interviews Stagecoach director Brian Cox to see how his company will run the new franchise of South West Trains.

- A Railtour Charter?  Regulator John Swift has issued a consultative report on the charter business, following complaints from railtour promoters. Mel Holley asks: will it help solve the business' problems?

- Classified:  Have a surprise and find out some bargains in our extensive advertisement pages. There's almost everything for sale in this issue - you can even buy an industrial shunting locomotive!

- Stop and Examine:  Nigel Harris brings you a few chuckles as he takes a tongue-in-cheek look at our sometime bizarre railway system.