TRACTION 215

[steverabone]

 

The latest edition of TRACTION magazine is now in the shops with the usual selection of articles that are likely to be of interest to those of you modelling railways in  the diesel and electric era. 

 

TRACTION 215 has two main themes running through it: electric motive power and the West Coast Main Line although, of course, we haven’t forgotten other topics.

 

In ‘THE NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY’S PIONEER ELECTRICS’ Colin Boocock researches the North Eastern Railway’s pioneering use of electric locomotives for hauling freight in the early part of the twentieth century.

 

Following an email from a reader, we decided to ask one of TRACTION’s regular authors, and Virgin Trains driver, Bob Dunn, to compare driving West Coast Main Line AC electric locomotives with today’s ‘Pendolinos’ and ‘Voyagers’. His article ‘FROM TAPCHANGER TO TILT’ is a fascinating account of how a driver’s job has changed.

 

During the discussions about this article the editor was delighted to receive an email entitled, “Would you like a cab ride?” What a question! So one day in March I spent an entire day with Bob and two other members of the Virgin Trains staff in the cabs of ‘Pendolinos’ and a ‘Voyager’. In ‘WOULD YOU LIKE A CAB RIDE?’ I’ve attempted to convey just what a demanding job being the driver is today. It certainly was in total contrast to my last experience of being ‘up front’ in the Republic of Ireland in the 1980s.

 

In ‘WARRINGTON IN THE 1980s’ Jeff Nicholls recalls his train watching days at this North West rail centre on the West Coast main Line, which was ‘a fascinating and very busy place’.

 

Gavin Morrison’s photograph feature ‘WEST COAST ELECTRICS’ is in complete contrast to today’s railway of high speed multiple unit trains and takes us back to the days when AC electric locomotives ruled the West Coast rails.

 

Turning to other matters, David Mitchell’s photograph feature ‘MENDIP '56s'’ recalls the days when Class 56s provided much of the power for the heavy Mendip stone trains, based around Westbury.

 

‘DELTIC – THE PROTOTYPE’ takes a brief look at the service life of this locomotive, now preserved by National Railway Museum and the subject of their latest model release.

 

Tom Heavyside describes his affection for ‘Western’ diesel hydraulics in ‘FOND MEMORIES OF THE ‘WESTERNS’, whilst heading north to Scotland ‘WEST HIGHLAND CLASS 27s’ highlights the days of these small but reliable locomotives in the days before they were replaced by the Class 37s.

 

There’s more serious main line diesel action in Jon Littlewood’s ‘LOCOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE: CHELTENHAM TO BIRMINGHAM’, which looks in considerable detail at the working of heavy locomotive hauled expresses on this line with its contrasting sections of high speed running and a demanding climb up the Lickey Incline.

 

Don’t forget that from this issue TRACTION reverts to monthly publication for the autumn, winter and spring period. The next issue is published on Friday 1st November.

 

 

 

[EddieB]

Bit slow off the mark there, Steve - I picked up my copy several days ago.

 

I can't resist old electrics!

[steverabone]

Bit slow off the mark there, Steve - I picked up my copy several days ago.

 

I can't resist old electrics!

 

Been too busy getting TRACTION 216 to press! 

[Suddaby]

Hi Steve,

 

The modelling section seems to have been dropped, is that a permanent change?

 

Enjoyed this edition, particularly the NER electrics, wonder what the ECML would have been like if they had gone ahead, and built a fleet of No 13's? Then how would things have developed?

 

Kevin

[steverabone]

Hi Steve,

 

The modelling section seems to have been dropped, is that a permanent change?

 

Enjoyed this edition, particularly the NER electrics, wonder what the ECML would have been like if they had gone ahead, and built a fleet of No 13's? Then how would things have developed?

 

Kevin

 

The separate modelling section has been dropped with the modelling content transferred to information panels within the articles where it is appropriate.For instance there is now much more detailed information about passenger train formations - see the WHR Class 27s and West Coast electrics articles.

 

We've had a lot of feedback that what most readers wanted was more "prototype information" on which to base modelling the diesel and electric eras so that is what has happened. By doing this we're able to use those extra 8 or so pages to include more photographs and feature articles. 

 

Stephen

[Mike W]

The separate modelling section has been dropped with the modelling content transferred to information panels within the articles where it is appropriate.For instance there is now much more detailed information about passenger train formations - see the WHR Class 27s and West Coast electrics articles.

 

We've had a lot of feedback that what most readers wanted was more "prototype information" on which to base modelling the diesel and electric eras so that is what has happened. By doing this we're able to use those extra 8 or so pages to include more photographs and feature articles. 

 

Stephen

 

Stephen,

 

This is a very good change - issue 215 is one of the best there has been for a while, in my opinion.