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

Royal Train to be decommissioned

British Steel gets £500m deal to supply rail to UK

Southeastern and Network Rail unite under single leadership

Rail 200 exhibition train launched • More dates to visit ‘Inspiration’ added to calendar

UK debut of GBRf’s first two Class 99s • The new face of GB Railfreight motive power arrives in the form of the dual-mode Class 99, the latest iteration of the Stadler Rail Valencia UKLight/UKDual platform that has included Classes 68, 88 and 93.

Former Class 210 car heads to the scrapyard • Prototype DEMU vehicle is sent for scrap as part of a ‘455’.

‘Britannic Explorer’ Mk.3 set emerges • New luxury charter train from Belmond takes to the rails

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

Class 47 sale imminent • Stratford 47 Group to be wound up once sale is completed.

Diesel gala pictorial • It’s been another busy round of diesel galas at several heritage railways around the country, and Rail Express presents a selection of the action.

Andy’s Man Club Class 69

‘O’ Class 31s make progress

Heljan’s ‘Skinhead’ Class 24 • The first of a new range of ‘O’ gauge Class 24 locomotives is examined in detail.

Fish vans from Rapido Trains

Classic BR coal hopper in ‘OO’ • 21t coal hopper wagons are released as part of Accurascale’s ‘Powering Britain’ range

Model ‘N’ gauge steel trains with Revolution’s IHA-F wagons

Rail Adventure film special

‘Salmon’ in the wild • A common and varied wagon with the potential to keep modellers busy with detailing and loads!

Tips for better ‘OO’ gauge wagons PART ONE • In the first of a two-part article full of practical tips for upgrading and detailing wagons, we start with techniques for improving the appearance and running qualities of wagons, both recent and older designs.

The French Connection • Andy Flowers looks at the background of five Class 20s which were exported to France, and their subsequent repatriation, with one now a regular performer at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

DPS reaches target to put 55019 back on main line • Major goal achieved in the plan to see Royal Highland Fusilier back on charters

Dawson to plinth celebratory ‘08’ • 1980s celebrity Ivor is to end its days stuffed and mounted on a Middlesbrough roundabout

WH Davis completes first Freightliner MWA-C boxes • Examples of the third batch of MWAs, notably the first to be built in the UK, debuted on a run from Shirebrook to Earles Sidings at the end of June.

Rail access to Dublin Port has been suspended until 2027

LU WORLD • Piers Connor & Christopher Westcott

TIME TRAVELLER • Steven Knight takes the time machine into the archives