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

New Hitachi trains will drive First Group’s open access expansion • £500 million deal secures jobs in Newton Aycliffe

Elizabeth Line stations are Britain’s busiest

Fatal Talerddig collision: automatic sanders blocked

UK’s first tri-mode fleet launched by Transport for Wales • Chris Milner takes a trip to Cardiff for the launch of a fleet of Stadler tri-mode multiple units, of which there are high expectations.

90040 debuts for new owner Freightliner • Acquired earlier this year, the first of two former DB Cargo Class 90s is reactivated

GWR takes delivery of its first Class 175 • Class 175 arrives at Laira for staff familiarisation

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

WCR reactivates former Riviera Trains ‘air cons’ • Mk.2s which have not seen use for several years are returned to service

Mid-Norfolk Railway acquires two former East Anglian Class 47s • Lack of volunteers prompts sale of Stratford 47 Group fleet.

Beilhack snowploughs return

Heljan’s ‘O’ gauge progress

Hornby completes its GNER HST

Late-life ‘Ped’ in ‘OO’ • A late-condition Class 31/4 is one of the first of a new range of ‘OO’ gauge Class 31 models to be released by Accurascale.

Loco-hauled classic in ‘O’ gauge • Heljan’s new Mk.2 and Mk.2a coaches in ‘O’ gauge recall the age of locomotive-hauled trains from the BR blue era onwards. Rail Express Modeller examines them closely for detail and accuracy.

Clark Railworks Diagram 242/2 ‘Lowmac’ • ‘Lowmac EP’ wagons to LNER Diagram 173 and BR Diagram 242/2 are all the rage at the moment. The second new model to appear, produced by Clark Railworks, is the subject of this review.

‘TT:120’ IFA intermodal wagons

On Track Plant: Plasser 12-ton crane

Ying, Ying! Testing the Hornby TXS Class 66.

Any takers for TransPennine Class 185s? • Class 185 ‘Desiro’ units have nearly 20 years of service under their belts. Rail Express Modeller asks why a ready-to-run model of this distinctive train remains to be produced in any scale.

Diesel gala pictorial • A selection of images from the recent diesel galas held during November at the South Devon and East Lancashire Railways.

Shirebrook • Completed in 1965 under BR’s Modernisation Plan as a new-build ‘running shed’ to provide traction for the Nottingham coalfield, Shirebrook TMD’s existence turned out to be a little over 30 years, as Robin Stewart-Smith recalls.

RHTT pictorial • With the Rail Head Treatment Train season well under way, here’s a selection of images of recent operations.

Hourly ‘Enterprise’ service starts

Former ARC and Yeoman hopper withdrawals accelerate • Having made inroads into the Mendip Rail fleet of JHAs operated out of Merehead, another iconic early 1990s hopper design is being eradicated, with the first bulk delivery of Powell Duffryn Standard JHAs to the scrapman.

Class 08e hauls 1000 tonne stone trains in Whatley Quarry trial

Belmond to...