The railway has been shaped by its people -from the early pioneers, through waves of immigration and women in wartime, to today’s diverse leaders. TONY STREETER reports

Being too young to go to Shildon in 1975, my railway hobby started with the Liverpool and Manchester Rocket 150 celebrations in May 1980. I have lasting memories of visiting Rainhill for the cavalcade

Ninety years ago, the one-off LMS No. 6170 British Legion was officially named at Euston. Now, one of its nameplates has gone on public display at Ingrow on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. The ‘plate is part of an incredible and historic collection of locomotive memorabilia, the legacy of one man: Roger Bell.

Further to Dr Mike Esbester’s article “The Reign of the Railway” in the October issue, may I add another angle to the fascinating story of our railways and what they can tell us about family history –

PART ONE

1M86, the 09.35 Glasgow Central-St Pancras, was the famous Up Thames Clyde Express and ran via the Glasgow Sou’ Western route, then the Settle and Carlisle line to Leeds, and then took the Midland Mai