Rail Express

RAIL EXPRESS is Britain's favourite modern rail enthusiast title. Undoubtedly the best for modern traction photography, the magazine keeps readers informed and entertained with undiluted coverage of Britain's railways in the diesel and electric era. First produced in 1996, RE has set a new standard for the hobby, with a clean design, high quality paper and the best reproduction. January 2008 saw the magazine relaunched in an innovative 'supersize' format, showing off the ground-breaking contents to the best advantage. Every issue includes news and analysis covering the present day railway scene, plus the latest preservation developments. Also inside: RAIL EXPRESS Modeler - Diesel & Electric era modeling magazine

Rail Express

Shadow Great British Railways formally created by Labour

Drax Railtours raise £35,000 for charity

Scotland plans to replace HST fleet

Grand Central plans new train fleet

Four more Class 90s scrapped at Middlewich • Fleet of Crewe-built electrics reduced again as more are disposed of at Sandbach Commercial Dismantlers Ltd site.

Class 150 and ‘465’ sent for scrap • ‘Sprinter’ and ‘Networker’ cars sent for disposal.

Romic buys more HST Mk.3s • Former CrossCountry stock acquired from Porterbrook.

Snow-fighting equipment moves to Eastriggs • Network Rail transfers its Cumbria and Scottish snowploughs and Snow and Ice Treatment Train to former MoD base near Carlisle.

GB Railfreight receives first Celsa Zephir • The first new Porterbrookowned road/rail shunter has arrived at Cardiff Tidal.

Powerscene • Our authoritative class-by-class review of newsworthy locomotive workings.

Class 89 moves to Crewe • Return of ‘The Badger’ moves a step closer.

Strategic Rail Review published • Billions set to be spent on Irish railways by 2050.

‘Peak’ power set to return to Trans-Pennine route in November • Locomotive Services is returning a Class 45/1 to the Liverpool-Newcastle route later this year.

Class 153 and Class 155 unveiled by Heljan

Weekend Class 56 • Taking scalpels and sharp modelling tools to the new Cavalex Class 56 seems sacrilegious, but that is exactly what we have done, over a weekend.

Attractive ‘Tractors’ Heljan’s new Class 37/0 reviewed • The revamped Heljan ‘O’ gauge Class 37 released this summer corrects the errors present in past models. Will this attractive model of an evergreen English Electric favourite turn heads?

The CIÉ/ Bulleid flat wagon • Support in 4mm scale for modellers of the Irish scene continues with the CIÉ/Bulleid LB flat wagons of 1958 vintage.

Anchor mount tank wagon mini-review

‘TT:120’ Mk.2f coaches • Hornby rolls out more of its brand-new ‘TT:120’ range, with Mk.2f coaches closely following the new Mk.3 HST trailers. Four coaches were available for review including TSO and FO vehicles.

IÉ orange and black Mk.2s • Re-creating iconic 1990s Irish locomotive-hauled trains in 4mm scale is now possible with IRM’s Iarnród Éireann Mk.2b/c coaches.

Propelling Control Vehicles (PCV)

Britain’s UK train fleet developments • Richard Clinnick rounds-up the recent happenings with rolling stock on the national network.

Class 69s and their coats of many colours • Richard Clinnick rounds-up the Class 69 liveries, with more ‘one-offs’ expected.

West End Girl… • Christopher Westcott talks exclusively to Elizabeth McKay, who took over as London Transport Museum director and CEO last year. What are her plans for the museum, and what does the future hold for London’s railway heritage?

Scholma locomotives sold at auction • RSS buys 14 locomotives from Transport for London.

REVIEWS