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

HEADLINE NEWS

Chiltern completes Class 68 changeover as Mk.3s retired • The six Vossloh-built locomotives that have handled Chiltern Railways’ loco-hauled services since 2014 have now been replaced with the much larger fleet taken over from TransPennine Express.

Last Class 455s are stopped • Final sets are removed from traffic by South Western Railway

Final Chiltern Railways Mk.3 coaches placed into storage at Burton

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

GBRf axes Whitemoor ‘08s’ • The RSS locos have been removed from March following the deployment of Class 69s as ‘super shunters’

Class 466 ‘Networker’ saved • Last-built two-car Networker is donated to the East Kent Railway Trust

PRESERVATION PICTORIAL

TIME TRAVELLER • Steven Knight takes the time machine into the archives

Colas sends final KFA log carriers for scrap • Converted for timber haulage from the famed VTG/Tiphook bogie vans, the last remaining KFAs have been rounded up for disposal at Cardiff Docks.

New ‘N’ gauge ‘Choppers’

Heljan acquired by Accurascale

Announcements and arrivals

West Highland viaducts • Two iconic scenes on the West Highland Line are modelled by Tony Gillanders in ‘N’ gauge.

A perfect ‘Peak’ in ‘N’? • A Class 45 and Class 46 were the logical onward development of the Rapido Trains Class 44. What is our verdict on its petite ‘Peak’?

Freightliner FSA and FTA container flats • More support for ‘N’ gauge intermodal modelling arrives in the form of a common Freightliner wagon type.

Crewe Class 56 by Cavalex • A second batch of the highly functional Cavalex Models Class 56 has been delivered to modellers in recent months. We take a BREL Crewe locomotive out for a spin on the layout this time round.

North Eastern coal hoppers in ‘N’

Platform building hints and tips • In the second part of our bespoke platform building article, fitting the tops and edging ready for painting and finishing is the next step

Diesels on the Settle and Carlisle • The famed Settle and Carlisle line, one of the country’s most scenic rail routes, celebrates its 150th anniversary on May 1. Andy Flowers looks at its history and the use of diesel traction on this famed line

A Labour of Love Restoring Class 03 No. 03179 • Last month the father and son team of Andy and Dale West collected the Heritage Railway Association’s prestigious ‘Locomotive’ award for the stunning nine-year restoration of Class 03 shunter No. 03179. Andy tells the story of the locomotive and its restoration.

Curve of Unintended Outcome • There is a severe curve on the East Coast Main Line at the Northumberland town of Morpeth which became infamous following two railway accidents within 15 years. Fraser Pithie recalls the tragic events in May 1969 and June 1984, and the impact they had on the safer operation of the UK’s railway network.

Location for new DART depot in Greater Dublin and extension of electric...