Backtrack

Backtrack, Britain's Leading Historical Railway Journal, covers all aspects of railway history from its earliest days through to more recent events up to around ten years before now including, early railway history from the 'pre-Stephenson' era, steam, diesel and electric locomotive history, railway company history, railway carriages and wagons, railway stations, railway ships, hotels & road vehicles, railway economic and social history, railway publicity and advertising. Backtrack's contributors include many of today's leading railway history writers. From the beginning the magazine has maintained a reputation for its production values and each issue contains a wealth of photographs reproduced to the highest standards, including a generous selection of historic colour. Published monthly, Backtrack is THE magazine for all who are interested in British railway history.

Editorial • Peak Practice

Backtrack

THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE • Who amongst us has not stood by a locomotive cab and hoped to be invited to step on board, never mind be given the opportunity to have a ride on the footplate? DICK RILEY had that good fortune!

VALVES AND PISTONS • The recollections of a North Eastern locomotive fitter during the 1950s as told to PAUL JOYCE

THE 1888 DERAILMENT NEAR PORTRACK VIADUCT • Portrack Viaduct, situated on the Glasgow & South Western Railway main line approximately 5 miles north of Dumfries and 1½ miles north and 2¾ miles south of Holywood and Auldgirth stations respectively, was the location of the first crossing of the railway over the River Nith, the flow being from west to east, since the infant river came into proximity with the railway at New Cumnock, some 32 miles to the north. The original Portrack Viaduct of timber construction, dating from 1849, was replaced in 1875 by a 650ft long low-slung wrought iron girder construction of ten spans, this in turn being replaced in 2004.

BUXTON AND BEECHING • Former railwayman WILLIAM WALKER reflects on events at a time of upheaval following the ‘Beeching Report’.

A CLOSE-RUN THING THE LONDON PASSENGER TRANSPORT BOARD PART TWO: SAVING THE BILL • NIALL DEVITT explains how the creation of ‘London Transport’ was eventually achieved – 90 years ago.

ASHCHURCH - FOR TEWKESBURY

VIA THE PEAK FOREST ROUTE • The withdrawal of passenger services over much of the former Midland Railway’s Peak Forest main line between Chinley and Matlock in 1968 was one of the more surprising closures of that period. As an article elsewhere this month relates, it followed the hard-won reprieving of the London & North Western route to Buxton via Disley. The condition of Dove Holes Tunnel was cited in justifying closure, but in fact it has remained in use to this day as the section between Chinley, Great Rocks, Tunstead and Buxton was retained for limestone traffic from the quarries on the Peak route. These photographs were taken by GAVIN MORRISON.

OPEN HOUSE AT DERBY

STOCKPORT VIADUCTS IN THE NEWS

MORETONHAMPSTEAD AND THE EIGN VALLEY RAILWAY PART TWO

JSG's SCOTTISH ODYSSEYS • A selection of that nationwide photographer JOHN SPENCER GILK’S findings on his travels to secondary locations in Scotland.

NAMES FOR THE NEW ERA

THE NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY MUSEUM AT TYWYN

JOHN MOORE OF THE DUNDEE & ARBROATH RAILWAY

Readers'Forum • Letters intended for publication should ideally add extra detail to our articles (or offer corrections of course!) and not be too long, consistent with the detail they offer. As always, we are sorry that space and time prevent us from printing them all or sending personal replies. ED.

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