Rail (Enthusiast) Magazine - No.272 Feb 1996

Rail (Enthusiast) February 1996. Issue No.272

- Front Cover:  With power car No.43016 at the head, a Great Western Paddington-Plymouth train makes its booked stop at Exeter St.Davids on October 19 1992.

- Comment:  Trauma, scandal, hopes and dreams---it's been a hectic start to 1996!

- News:  Great Western and South West Trains sell-off goes ahead but fraud inquiry stops LTS Rail sale; ScotRail train stopped by snowdrift; DRS starts operations using Class 20s; Railtrack publishes interim report; Short notice cancellation spikes railtour; Over 25 'Networkers' still grounded and Class 323 EMUs now in trouble.

- End of an Era at ABB York:  York Works threw open its doors to the public in a 'Closure with Pride' open weekend on January 26/27. RAIL was there to capture the last saddening images of this once busy Works.

- Save our Railways:  Privatisation protester Jonathan Bray provides ten good reasons to retain a publicly-owned Railtrack.

- Around the Regions:  Howard Johnston's regular tour of local news. Included is a picture of the first car-carrying train into the new Doncaster Railport.

- Wolmar:  After last issue's expose on drivwer efficiency the Independent's transport correspondent fields some replies and turns up the heat on managers.

- Preservation:  Half a 'Deltic' up for sale and a Class47 to be loaned for Midland Railway Centre gala are just two of the top stories to be found here.

- Reviews:  Products to come under the spotlight this issue include a Woodhead Route video, track plans from Quail and a book relating the history of the British Transport Police.

- Profits by the Wagonload:  Nigel Harris concludes his interview with Wisconsin Central president Ed Burkhardt with a look at the prospects for freight now that his company has been named preferred bidder for Loadhaul, Mainline and Transrail.

- Open Access:  The platform for your views. Subjects under discussion include dangerous goods through the Channel Tunnel and the use of secondhand trams.

- In Short, just what is Labour's Vision?  Why is Labour so reluctant to tell us what exactly it will do with Railtrack?  Nigel Harris went to Westminster to find out.

- Coats of Many Colours:  Philip Sutton and Mel Holley turn their attention to the Class 86 electrics for the next instalment of RAIL's colourful locomotive livery review.

- Exploring the World's Railways:  Graham Campion suggests there is no better way to see the world than by rail. He reviews the range of rail passes available offering discounted travel on national or regional railways.

- Excursion latest:  The latest railtour and charter train information includes news of a possible last run of the Class 71 plus a roundup of forthcoming specials.

- Modernising the Railways - Part 4:  In the conclusion of Howard Johnston's four-part analysis of the 1955 Modernisation Plan, he finds that despite the poorly-researched spending of millions of pounds, it wasn't a complete waste of money.

- Locomotive Review:  A class by class look at the latest locomotive movements on the railway, including news of more Class 90s on the East Coast route.

- Stock News:  David Russell brings you up-to-date with the latest multiple unitws and coach news including a listing of vehicles held in storage at Long Marston MoD site.

- Freight and Engineering:  Roger Butcher and Bob Wallace review the latest developments in the field of track machines and wagons including a look at the 'Starlifter' crane.

- RAILFile Insider:  'Insider' takes a look at interior refurbishment and catering and explains how they can have direct relation on passenger revenue.

- The New Crewe Works:  Murray Brown takes a detailed look at the activities of the Waterman Railways Workshops in Crewe.

- The Modern Metropolitan:  Adtranz is refurbishing over 400 London Underground vehicles at its Derby Litchurch Lane site. Murray Brown has the full story.

- Stock Changes:  The official record of locomotive reallocations, storages and condemnations.

- Classified:  A wide variety of products on offer plus a roundup of places to stay, eat and drink when visiting the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway's Spring Diesel Gala event.

- Stop and Examine:  The comment Franchise Director Roger Salmon will wish he had never made!