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

Passenger dies as two Class 158s collide on Cambrian Coast line

Chiltern Railways operates oldest fleet

First trains on East West Rail

Severn Valley Railway hub for High Speed Train power cars • Known for its association with Colas Rail Class 43s, more recently Great Western Railway, Network Rail and RailAdventure power cars have been outbased at the 16-mile heritage railway.

Freightliner looking at converting more redundant HHAs to MWAs • W H Davis has two potential new coal hopper conversion programmes under discussion, including another batch of box wagons based on reclaimed running and brake gear.

First London Northwestern Railway ‘350/2s’ returned to Porterbrook • The first three London Northwestern Railways ‘Desiros’ go into store, as remaining ‘730/0s’ enter traffic.

ERS acquires Vintage Trains Mk.2 ‘air cons’ • Five more coaches bound for Great Yarmouth.

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

‘Whistler’ stopped for generator repairs • Class 40 sidelined to prevent extensive damage

Trains finally start serving Belfast Grand Central station • New station opens as new timetable is introduced nationwide.

Battery ‘08e’ trialled at Whatley • Positive Traction’s rebuilt No. 08308 has been put through its paces at the Somerset quarry.

First Siemens Piccadilly Line 24 TS unit delivered • Brand-new nine-car train arrives from Europe following testing in Germany.

All-new D800-Class ‘Warship’ in ‘OO’

Northern Irish Hunslets revealed in ‘OO’

Classic Class 37/4

Heljan’s retooled ‘OO’ Class 26/1 • Another ‘MacRat’ returns to the Heljan range in a wide range of liveries and styles. 1970s ‘banger blue’ No. 26023 is given a thorough examination and test.

TTA triples from Hornby

Modelling a Gatwick Luggage Van Part 2: Painting InterCity livery • The GLV project has reached the bare brass and plastic stage. To bring it to life, InterCity livery is applied using a mix of acrylic and enamel paints.

Great ‘Goyle’ sound

Hornby 40t ballast hopper wagons • The return of ‘Seacow’ and ‘Sealion’ bogie ballast wagons to the Hornby range will be popular with D&E modellers.

YGH ‘Sealion’ ballast wagons

EFE Rail propels in its PCV • Coverage of NPCCS stock from the sector and Privatisation eras remains patchy at best, making the NAA Propelling Control Vehicle a welcome addition to the EFE Rail range.

Whatever happened to the HSTs? • With the decision by ScotRail to begin the process to replace its High Speed Trains, and the planned withdrawal of Castle sets next year, Richard Clinnick rounds up what happened to the HSTs in place when their first replacements, the Hitachi Class 80x fleets, entered traffic.

Superb Severn Valley gala • Richard Clinnick presents a series of images from the recent Severn Valley Railway diesel gala, which featured the return to action of a Class 58.

Hanson & Hall reveals tempting railtour dates for next year...