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

HEADLINE NEWS

Colas to return five more Class 56s to traffic for leaf fall season • While two former Colas Class 56s have departed for a new career in Africa, the near future for the Colas fleet is brighter with the news it has authorised repairs to re-activate all but one of its remaining roster.

Final ‘701/0’ released from Derby • Last ten-car ‘Arterio’ is delivered.

West Coast CDL fitted Mk.1 appears on Jacobite workings • Two Jacobite sets are formed, but only one CDL-fitted Mk.1 is in service.

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

VTG orders 98 more JNAs from Greenbrier-Astra Rail • The ubiquitous Romanian-built Ealnos box wagon fleet will get a further boost as VTG Rail takes another large batch for an as-yet undisclosed customer.

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

Loram hires in battery ‘08' • Positive Traction has secured a second commercial customer for its ‘08e’ design at the Railway Technical Centre.

Preservation debut for Railfreight ‘31’ • ‘Goyle’ back in action for first time since 1991

Heritage Diesel Pictorial • It’s been another busy month for diesel events at heritage railways around the country and here is a round-up of some of the best of the action.

Accurascale unpicks the ‘Bone’

Nexus sound decoders

Bachmann updates its Class 47 • Five years on from its original release, Bachmann’s award-winning ‘OO’ gauge Class 47 receives an upgrade to its detailing and electronics. We revisit the model to see what has changed.

Eastfield memories in ‘O’ gauge • The once important traction maintenance depot at Eastfield was a big attraction for railway enthusiasts. Mick Worrall's ‘O’ gauge layout takes us back in time to a glorious era of Scottish diesel traction.

CIÉ palvans

Hornby biomass wagon

Scottish diesels at Eastfield TMD

A look back…. to the 1960s

The HST fleet – 50 years on • August 1976 saw the introduction to service of the first production HSTs, and, fifty years later, one of the power cars used on the first day are still in regular use. David Russell reviews current HST operations as well as summarising the present status of all 197 power cars .

Wabtec Doncaster opens its doors • David Russell reports on Wabtec’s recent open day, giving the public a final chance to visit the locomotive works before planned closure later this year.

Remote Trainspotting and watching with Railcam • Christopher Westcott explores the online world of Railcam. Where did the concept originate, how has the site developed to provide live railway footage, and where is it heading?.

Loco-Hauled trains through the Chilterns • Locomotive-hauled trains first started on the Chiltern route in 2008. Andy Flowers charts the history from the days of Class 67 and Mk.3s to the recently introduced Mk.5a carriages hauled by Class 68s.

Class leader 071 excels on railtour and charter duties

Bognor...