TRACTION 240

[steverabone]

Welcome to the July/ August edition of TRACTION which is published on Friday 2nd June.

 

In this issue Alex Fisher continues his popular series of articles about diesel depots with an in depth account of the history of ‘WIGAN SPRINGS BRANCH DIESEL DEPOT’.

 

G. P. Butler recalls the days of Class 37s and 47s in Railfreight Petroleum livery in ‘RAILFREIGHT PETROLEUM - STANLOW’ and goes into detail about the intriguing names that many of these locomotives carried.

 

Many enthusiasts go to incredible lengths in the pursuit of their interest but few can have undertaken what a fifteen year old Steve Randall did. One summer holiday he set off on a quest to photograph Class 50s and Western Region signal boxes on a ‘WEST OF ENGLAND BIKE TOUR’. Part one of his article is in this issue with part two following in TRACTION 241.

 

In the 1970s it was still possible to travel as a passenger on many of the mail, newspaper and parcels trains that criss-crossed the country at night. Haymarket 64B tells us about his adventures in ‘MAILS, NEWS AND PARCELS TRAINS ON THE EASTERN REGION’ with particular emphasis on the performance of the locomotives hauling the train.

 

Enthusiasts often have a rather romantic idea of life working on the fooplate but in ‘BRASS MONKEYS’, Bob Dunn describes how life in the cabs of diesel locomotives was often far from comfortable.

 

In his photo feature ‘THE WELSH MARCHES LINE IN VIEW’ Gavin Morrison returns with a selection of photographs of the varied trains that operated on this scenic route in the 1970s and 1980s.

 

After working on the Southern Region for some years Colin Boocock decided he needed to take new direction in his management career. He moved to the Western Region and in ‘DIVING INTO DEPOTS’ he tells how his task was to improve productivity in diesel maintenance depots.

 

Like many enthusiasts Andrew Turner took the opportunities that British Rail’s depot open days offered to experience what went on behind the scenes and relives one in ‘TOTON OPEN DAY, 9TH JUNE 1979’.

 

In this issue’s European feature Phil Barnes returns with a selection of his photographs taken in the 1980s and 1990s of ‘PORTUGAL’S FRENCH CONNECTION’. This time he is looking at two classes that were based on French designs.

 

In TRACTION MODELLING Jeff Nicholls tackles what many might think is an easy conversion; modifying a Class 26 into a Class 27. In his constructional article ‘27003 - AN O GAUGE CONVERSION FROM A Heljan CLASS 26’ he finds it’s not as simple as might be imagined.

 

For those of you who claim not to have room for a layout David Collett’s ‘BRIDGE STREET’ might change your mind. He has modelled a grimy shunting yard that reminds him of where he worked in the 1970s.

 

[blueeighties]

Hi Steve. I have recently seen an offer price of a tenner for a years subscription in one of the monthlies...but I'm buggered where I saw it, can you shed any light?

 

Cheers

 

Lee

[SteveCole]

Hi Steve. I have recently seen an offer price of a tenner for a years subscription in one of the monthlies...but I'm buggered where I saw it, can you shed any light?

 

Cheers

 

Lee

 

Here you go Lee. Click here.

[blueeighties]

Excellent, thank you very much. That's me re subscribed :-)

[fozzy280472]

"Brass monkeys" was a very enjoyable read...just the kind of article I like , some superb pictures of springs branch too .... a good magazine this month .