PART ONE

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

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

One of the features of the Severn Valley’s Autumn Galas is overnight running. The chance to see steam operating after dark draws many enthusiasts to the event. But what is involved behind the scenes in making this unique gala feature a reality? GARY ESSEX talks to some of the SVR volunteers involved in the event.

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.

The growth in the ‘fleet’ of preserved ex-main line loco seems to have slowed down in recent years due to a number of factors: fewer locos becoming available, a possible saturation of the fleet, and d