Steam World

Steam World is Britain's best selling historical railway magazine. Covering the magical times when steam railways were the lifeblood of the country. It features first-hand accounts from drivers, firemen, BR managers and enthusiasts alike. Featuring magnificent photography from the fifties and sixties, it will bring back wonderful memories coupled with inside information of what it was really like to work, travel and play on the world's best railway.

Steam World

MEALS ON (AND OFF) WHEELS

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HOLIDAY TO ILFRACOMBE • Prompted by memories of childhood holidays in North Devon, Chris Leigh pays a nostalgic visit, in words and pictures, to the Ilfracombe branch.

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED • Bob Gwynne recalls the wonderful world of mechanical signalling and mourns its passing, ringing ‘Call attention’ one last time.

FREEDOM FORTNIGHT • John Dagley-Morris and his brother Richard spent two weeks touring Scotland by train with Freedom of Scotland tickets.

TO SOUTHAMPTON AND BACK VIA THE S&D • Ron Herbert travelling with two friends, made a visit to Southampton from Morecambe, returning via the Somerset & Dorset and Bristol, in 1962

GREAT SHOT

YORKSHIRE SHEDS, 1964 & 1966… • A mini shed-bash of White Rose Motive Power Depots from the camera of Keith Sanders

PLATFORM • send your letters to Steam World, 4 Milnyard Square, Orton South gate, Peterborough PE2 6GX or steamworld@choicemag.co.uk

STEAM WORLD CROSSWORD

THE TORTUOUS PATH TO 'DUCHESS’ WITHDRAWAL • John Palmer continues his study of the decline of Stanier's ‘Pacifics’, how they were used and how they were phased out. Part two Part one was in October 2022

THE DAY WE TOOK A BULLEID TO NOTTINGHAM • recalls a remarkable day out with a ‘Merchant Navy’ 4-6-2 a long way from home.

PARKSTONE BANK? WHERE'S THAT …?! • Gradients to Shap, Beattock and Grayrigg were all very well known, as were the infamous GWR South Devon Banks, while the Lickey Incline enjoyed near-cult status. But the four-miles climb between Poole and Branksome, on the Bournemouth line, was barely known in comparison, despite challenging gradients of 1 in 60. spent time at its tracksides, noting that trains from the ‘Somerset & Dorset’ line, which joined at Broadstone Junction, seemed rarely to benefit from rear end assistance, compared with Southern trains of up to 10-11 coaches – especially if they had stopped at Parkstone station. Banking was also a handy way to reduce line occupancy and move locomotives back to Bournemouth, from Poole.

THAT GOING-AWAY SHOT • makes a case for the photographic angle that was most photographers’ second choice.

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