Railways Illustrated

The best coverage of today's railway scene. Each issue of Railways Illustrated offers a comprehensive round-up of the latest news and topical events from the UK across the present-day railway, including heritage traction in operation on the main lines. Railways Illustrated reflects the energy and vitality of the present-day railway scene.

Welcome

Railways Illustrated

Soaring temperatures sees diesels replace steam as nationwide bans are enforced

Hot weather sees main line trains go diesel as well

DB Cargo’s owners put it up for sale

Unusual rescue missions for two different Type 5s

Two more Class 99s arrive in the UK

‘Eastfield’ 37 back in use after wheelset change

IN BRIEF

ORR approves Virgin’s Channel Tunnel plans

GBRf 66/7 finally gains its correct 66/6 number

Class 68s move to Colas for RHTT and Thunderbird work

Electrification work for Tweedbank line starts

Sold ex-DRS Class 57/3s collected by new owners

Nemesis Class 47 ready for main line return?

Class 385 fleet clocks up more than 62 million miles

GWR ‘working hard’ to make 175s fit for purpose as unions raise concerns

Class 31 swap for DFR

GB Class 60 replacement

Deltic returns to Barrow Hill

New look for EPH 60 as driver training starts

Barrow Hill expands with new purpose built depot and extra land acquisition

Heavy Haul Rail 70 returns, but another stored

Class 390 Pendolino visits Paddington for the first time

Two trains derail on consecutive very hot days

Class 89 fails on railtour debut, but will go again

The rumour mill

And the news you probably haven’t heard yet…

Unit News

Shunter News

Liveries

Coaching Stock News

Unit Focus

Names

Wagon News

Costs scupper SVR’s planned October ‘all Sulzer’ get together

Hymek returns to Somerset after a year away ‘on tour’

Class 27 makes Caledonian debut

IN BRIEF

GWR scores big with quadruple Sulzer first

Tulyar back in business; after 29 years under overhaul!

Last-built Class 20 star at GCR gala before repaint

Orange 20 stars at Ecclesbourne Valley gala

Nine-strong line up for East Lancs September gala

Progress Rail donates 56303 to 56 Group as spares donor

Class 60 and second Class 31 for Bluebell gala

Pooling the resources • In the mid-1980s, BR split its fleet into sectors and every loco was allocated to a specific pool. These had a bespoke four-letter code which told staff what traffic the loco was expected to be used on. Some pools were rigid, others more flexible. Pip Dunn looks back at the history of pools, their codes and what it meant for the locos allocated to them. Part 1: The pre-privatisation BR era

What’s happening to… • Our monthly round up of restoration projects around the country, compiled by Pip Dunn

PICTORIAL

The ORR finds something else to get it hot under the collar

Something just a little bit different • In the second part of our look at some of the more unusual locos to have run on the national network over the years, Pip Dunn recalls, amongst others, Class 73s with Cummins engines, Class 37s with Mirrlees and Ruston engines and a Class 40 with electric train supply…

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The heyday of the Class 31s • Often overlooked, but usually very dependable, the popular Brush Type 2s – later the Class 30/31s - outlived many of their Pilot Scheme compatriots. Using pictures from the Paul Roberston collection, the 31s are remembered hard at work in the east of England in the BR green and blue eras.

10 PICTURES • In each issue of Railways...