TV show celebrates railway architecture

Ten-part series goes behind the scenes to examine the stories behind many of our most famous structures.

The Retro Years: June

A selection of archive images of June workings in years gone by.

‘Tug-12' Glyder Fawr

Hornby’s model of Class 60 No. 60015 Bow Fell was released late in 2019 and was found to have several significant livery errors. Whilst a simple renumbering project was not possible as a result; a minimal reworking project with accurate transfers, nameplates and Trainload Freight livery paints transforms the model.

VDA to ZCA ‘Sea Urchin' conversion

There are several ways to model the 1992 ZCA ‘Sea Urchin’ air braked ballast and spoil carriers built on redundant VDA air braked van underframes. The wagons can be built on the underframes of Bachmann VDA and OTA models as conversions or from a kit by S Kits. A Bachmann VDA van and OTA were used to build the ZCAs shown in this article using simple styrene techniques and a little scratch building.

LU struggles to cope

Month two of lockdown puts a strain on staff, passengers and Transport for London finances.

Powerscene

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

Cutdown HYA fleet in focus

A guide to the HYA and IIA bogie coal hoppers that have been shortened in length and given a range of liveries for different traffic flows.

0 to 60! Just how nimble are today's locos and units, and what's the quickest off the mark?

Lockdown means our performance trials are on hold, but the break offers a chance for some analysis of what we have seen so far.

Powerscene

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

Services scaled back for virus crisis

Both Northern Ireland Railways and Irish Rail have revised their timetables for the Covid-19 crisis.

North British Class 29

Further support for Scottish Region modellers has arrived in the form of the Dapol's ‘OO’ gauge 'Sad Eye' NBL Class 21 and Class 29 rebuild. No. D6114, modelled as a rebuilt locomotive, is the subject of this review which also covers the Class 21 model in essence, as most features are common to both.

Realtrack ‘N' PCA cement tank wagons

Realtrack Models has a reputation for some excellent ‘OO’ gauge models, including its ‘Pacer’ and Class 156. It steps into the world of ‘N’ gauge wagons with super-detailed modern cement tank wagons in three liveries.

Painting ‘N' gauge models: Centro livery

A stint in the paint shop completes the ‘N’ gauge Class 150/0 conversion based on the Graham Farish model as described in the February 2020 issue (REM190). The same painting techniques may be used to apply Regional Railways livery too, except dark blue replaces Centro green and certain markings are different. This article concludes the Class 150/0 No. 150002 project with livery application and its first introduction to service.

Bachmann ‘Bubble Car'

Pressed Steel Class 121 single car DMUs are the latest brand-new ‘OO’ gauge models to arrive from Bachmann. Employing its new low profile drive mechanism to clear the passenger compartment for seats and fittings, the Class 121 builds on the success of Bachmann’s new approach to multiple unit modelling first introduced in the Class 158 and Class 159.

Kit Corner: ‘OO' ZFV ‘Catfish'

Cambrian’s ‘OO’ gauge BR ballast hopper wagon kits are now decades old and the ‘Dogfish’ has since been produced as a ready-to-run model by Heljan. With no commercial model available for the ‘Catfish’, however, the Cambrian kit is the only way to model them. This article looks at the techniques and pitfalls of building this kit.

HSTease

Former 1990s Derby trainman Tim Helme considers the allure of HSTs.

Farewell to the ‘Slammers'

Ten years ago, the Lymington branch in Hampshire witnessed the end of mainline slam-door EMUs.

0 to 60!

Neville Hill gives a Class 700 the chance to show what it can do on third-rail power.

Using Shawplan ‘Laserglaze'

One of the most difficult things to replicate convincingly in scale modelling is locomotive cab glazing of any type. ‘Laserglaze’ by Shawplan Models is a useful product that helps achieve the flat appearance associated with locomotive glazing. We show you how to use it by fitting it to three different ready-to-run ‘OO’ gauge diesel locomotives and how to avoid the more common pitfalls.

Old name new outlook

Clayton Equipment has survived where other loco-builders have not. Alistair Grieve pays a visit to the now-independent company’s base in Burton-on-Trent to find out more.

Heljan ‘OO' ‘MacRat'

Modellers will be delighted with the re-issue of such a useful and popular ‘OO’ gauge model of the Class 27, with its well-proven drive mechanism. Version 3 issue includes BR rail blue and green versions with locomotive-specific detail and provides a useful opportunity to revisit the model.

The great ‘08s'

Although not officially part of his trainman duties, Tim Helme still has shunter stories to tell from his Derby days in the early 1990s.

Powerscene

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

Network SouthEast Class 159/0

Brand new ‘OO’ gauge models of the Class 158 and 159 by Bachmann replace the original 1990s tooling famous for its protruding LED running lights. Three Class 158s were released in late 2019 after a very long period of development. A single model of the Class 159/0 is due in the spring of this year. New innovations include individually powered driving cars and advanced electronics based around a PLuX22 decoder socket.

Locos of the RTC

Derby’s Railway Technical Centre has been home to an eclectic mix of department locomotives over the years, and in Part 1 of a full survey, Gareth Bayer rounds up those that saw active use.

Heavyweight ‘Crompton'

Heljan releases more classic traction in ‘O’ gauge in the form of 10 versions of the ever-popular Class 33/0, spanning its life from 1962 to the present day. The late condition model, post 1992, is the subject of this review.

Class 159/0s – the first 22

REPLACEMENT of the traction used on the West of England route between London Waterloo and Exeter via Salisbury and Yeovil became critical in the early 1990s.

0 to 60! Just how nimble are today's locos and units, and what's the quickest off the mark?

Neville Hill catches a railtour bound for Yorkshire behind a pair of DRS Class 57/0s.

‘Goyles' vs ‘Tractors'

While ‘37s’ and ‘31s’ were both powered by English Electric engines, former 1990s Derby Trainman Tim Helme found the ‘Tractors’ much easier to deal with than the ‘Goyles’.

Powerscene

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