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

Backtrack

GOING NUCLEAR IN KENT • RODNEY LISSENDEN photographed the movement of nuclear waste flasks to and from the nuclear power station at Dungeness in Kent. Nuclear flasks traverse a branch from Appledore, on the Ashford-Hastings line, to Lydd. The branch had carried on to Dungeness until 1937 but the passenger service from Appledore to Lydd lasted another 30 years. The first nuclear power station at Dungeness (‘A’) dates from 1965 and was closed down in 2006; Dungeness ‘B’ followed in 1983 but ceased electricity production in 2018 and is now in the long decommissioning process.

GLASGOW & SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY PASSENGER SERVICES IN JULY 1922

ON HOLIDAY TO NORFO & GREAT NORTHERN LK – WITH AND WITHOUT THE MIDLAND • STEPHEN G. ABBOTT outlines the history of the Midland & Great Northern Joint line and discusses the impact of its closure on the operation of holiday trains to the Norfolk coast.

MIDLANDS MUNDANITIES • Whilst passenger trains, from expresses to branch line locals, atttracted the greatest public attention, it was the transporting of freight which made the railways tick and for many years made the money. It was often a far from glamorous activity and largely unseen other than in passing, but it was important and TOMMY TOMALIN was one of many photographers who recorded this everyday activity.

MORE OF TYSON'S TOURS • As well as being a prolific recorder of the everyday railway scene, ALAN TYSON was also a regular participant on organised railtours both on the main lines and over lesser-known routes. Here is a selection from his adventures.

ASPECTS OF THE ‘GINGERBREAD LINE’ THE NANTWICH & MARKET DRAYTON RAIL

THE GWR ‘14XX’ TANKS SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED

ENGINE AND BRAKE VAN TO SHIREBROOK PART ONE • AN UNSENTIMENTAL REFLECTION ON WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE FOR A FREIGHT GUARD IN THE 1970s

BURRY PORT TO CYMMAWR PART ONE • BRUCE LAWS looks at the Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Railway, a South Wales company which maintained its independence until being absorbed by the Great Western in 1922.

TO TEMPLECOMBE BY THE SOMERSET & DORSET • Following our first feature on the much-loved Somerset & Dorset line in the December issue last year, GAVIN MORRISON now takes us southwards from Shepton Mallet to Templecombe.

WHAT WE DID IN OUR HOLIDAYS

RUNAWAY TRAIN AT WELLINGBOROUGH

THE END OF ABERDEEN ’S ‘SUBBIES’

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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