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

Return for LSL locos

NEWS ROUND-UP

‘Flex’ units enter service in South Wales • The first of the bi-mode EMU conversions are now carrying passengers in South Wales, while other operators are stepping up their preparations.

SHED TALK

Network Rail details new fleet • A full breakdown of NR’s deal with GBRf, Wascosa and Greenbrier-Astra Rail to provide almost 600 new infrastructure wagons, including new FEA and MLA derivatives.

DEVELOPMENTS

More HSTs delivered to ScotRail • Release of ‘Inter7City’ set from Wabtec nears completion.

IN BRIEF

SHED TALK

ETL buys more ex-Greater Anglia Mk.3s

Locomotive Services movements

Shunters on the move • RSS organised a chain of moves around the country swapping shunters in and out of traffic.

NEWS ROUND-UP

Two down at Whitemoor

Class 69 highlight for GBRf charity tour • GB Railfreight’s ‘new’ Class 69 is to make its public debut on a charity marathon in spring 2021 raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK.

IN BRIEF

‘Scots Grey’ to make July debut with Saphos Trains

IN BRIEF

125 Group acquires second HST power car • Porterbrook releases HST for preservation.

4-SUB gains permanent home at Margate

COACH NEWS

Class 117 DMUs on the move

IN BRIEF

NORTHERN IRELAND RAILWAYS (NIR)

Dublin resignalling completed • Upgraded system allows a higher frequency service to run.

Track monitoring Sperry Train kept busy through the late autumn period

IRISH RAIL / IARNROD EIREANN

CAMERA PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY

RAIL EXPRESS

Swansong of the ‘483s’ • With the Island Line’s veteran Class 483 EMUs counting down to their withdrawal on January 3, Christopher Westcott talks to two drivers who have operated the trains on London Underground and the Isle of Wight.

The UK’s first GM locos • Five years before the first General Motors Class 59 was unloaded onto English metals at Southampton Docks, Northern Ireland Railways took delivery of two 111 Class locomotives from the same US-based locomotive manufacturer.

0 to 60! Just how nimble are today’s locos and units, and what’s the quickest off the mark? • After a break due to coronavirus restrictions, our 0-60mph performance trials return with Neville Hill riding the Norwich line on a new Stadler-built Greater Anglia Class 745/1.

TIME TRAVELLER

LETTERS & REVIEWS

Rapido Trains enters UK market

ACCURASCALE MDO/MDA ANNOUNCED

Cavalex PHA liveries revealed

Revolution ‘N’ IIA-D biomass hoppers

D6700 joins the National Collection in Miniature range

‘OO’ Class 104 from Heljan

Budget BR blue GUVs • Lima and Hornby ‘OO’ gauge Mk.1 General Utility Van models are basic, but enjoy some excellent detailing and is useful rebuilding and repainting material.

WORKBENCH ESSENTIALS

COMPONENTS AND MATERIALS

The BSC PTA family

Accurascale iron ore tipplers • British Steel Corporation (BSC) PTA wagons were originally...