Traction

A celebration of classic diesel and electric locomotives. A bi-monthly publication that includes articles by drivers, railwaymen and enthusiasts. You’ll also find a Traction Modelling section. Most articles are UK-based but you can expect some from Europe.

Welcome

Traction

To Horwich and back • David Ratcliffe looks back to the days of local freight trains before the demise of Speedlink.

Northern Ireland Railways from 1970 to 1976 • Jonathan Allen reviews the story of Northern Ireland Railways, with an emphasis on the early 1970s when railway staff struggled heroically to maintain a service in the face of unimaginable difficulties. Photographs by the author unless otherwise shown.

Norton Colliery Branch: End of an era • Nick Gerrard remembers a freight only Staffordshire branch line.

Cement trains around Southampton in the 1980s • John Dedman recorded on film many of the cement workings that could be seen around this port city.

Modelling the UKF PWA wagons • Living in Harrogate, James Smith knows that UKF PWA vans were frequent visitors there and decided to model a few of these distinctive wagons to provide something a little different on his layout.

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Bachmann Branchline New BR Class 47

The Lavant Quarry gravel flow • Steve Stubbs describes an unusual freight working which he photographed in West Sussex

A day trip to Crewe - 23rd April 1967 • J. Crosse recalls an an enthusiasts’ coach trip starting from Bristol in April 1967 with Crewe as the prime destination.

The Big Four • Elliot Hopewell returns with another of his railway reminiscences, this time in Scotland.

Carlisle to Shap before electrification • Gavin Morrison has searched through his photo archives to present a selection of diesel locomotive images from the time before this section of the West Coast Main Line was electrified. The northern approach to Shap was less demanding operationally than that from the south, and also ran through less spectacular scenery, but there were still several worthwhile photographic locations.

Frost Precautions • S. G. Allsopp describes some of the problems experienced at diesel depots in the winter months.

D1062 Western Courier’s Return to Traffic

Letters