RAILWAY HISTORY
Join us and delve into the archives to discover the stories of locomotive classes large and small, learn how the railway worked, and why it was built in this amalgamation of the popular Reality Check and Railway Realism sections from Hornby Magazine.
Southern Region first-generation DEMUs
Forever identified with the Southern Region, British Railways’ first diesel-electric multiple units, affectionately known as ‘Thumpers’, were developed quickly due to a unique set of circumstances, yet proved very successful, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES explains.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Stanier's 'Turbomotive' design and development
Throughout the history of the railways experiments have aimed at improving the efficiency of the steam locomotive. One of these was Stanier’s ‘Turbomotive’, a bold initiative that used turbines instead of cylinders and valve gear for propulsion. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks at the history of this unusual locomotive.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Reality Check: Terminus Operation
Throughout the railway age the terminus has been an important part of the operational scene, and one that has brought with it special requirements, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES describes.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
GWR ‘15XX’ 0-6-0PTs
Pannier tanks were synonymous with the Great Western Railway and their last evolution broke with many cherished traditions. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES charts the history of the distinctive and powerful ‘15XX’ class.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
40145 - the large logo Whistler
One of the most recognisable locomotives on the preservation scene is D345, otherwise known as 40145, a machine that gained fame when it was, for a time, painted in BR large logo blue, a livery it never carried in front-line service. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES tells its story.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
BR’s Class 73 electro-diesel
Despite its considerable third-rail electrified system the Southern Region had a needed a unique and special type of locomotive. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks back at the history of the Class 73.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Private and Industrial Railways
Thanks to the recent introduction of several new models of industrial prototypes, interest in non-main line railways has boomed over the last couple of years. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES examines the world of private railways and explains how they can inspire future modelling projects.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
BR's brilliant Class 58 Co-Co heavy freight diesels
One of the most recognisable British-built diesel locomotives is the Class 58 - a successful design which never quite achieved its potential, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES explains.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Collett GWR ‘Manors’ on the Cambrian
Designed as a lightweight equivalent of the ‘Hall’ 4-6-0s, the Great Western’s ‘Manors’ did their best work on the Cambrian lines of mid and north Wales. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES explains why these versatile locomotives were so successful.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
BR’s North British 10800
Although many people think that BR’s Modernisation Plan was the start of the diesel era, there had been several attempts to introduce alternative traction prior to that, with one of the least successful being 10800, which was, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES relates, ordered before nationalisation.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
British Rail ‘PEP’ Electric Multiple Unit story
Rarely modelled, but part of the railway scene now for almost 50 years, the British Rail ‘PEP’ family of EMUs is now reaching the end of its service life. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES takes a look at the interesting history of this group of influential but often overlooked trains.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
LSWR ‘B4’ 0-4-0T class history
Although primarily known for their work in Southampton Docks, the Adams ‘B4s’ actually had a wide sphere of operation, both on the main line and later on industrial railway complexes, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES describes.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES.
The LNER ‘G5’ 0-4-4Ts
One of the most successful Victorian-era passenger tank engines was the North Eastern Railway’s ‘O’ class, which became the LNER’s ‘G5’ and lasted for more than 50 years in service. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES charts the history of a fleet so well designed it never needed any substantial upgrades during its service life.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Reality Check: The Great Eastern’s ‘J15’ 0-6-0s
Many good locomotive designs were born out of necessity rather than a desire to progress science, and few more so than the humble ‘J15’ 0-6-0s which served the East of England well for more than 70 years, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES explains.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Level Crossings
Level crossings are one of the common features on model railways, but few represent the diversity of styles which existed on the national system, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES discovered.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
The evolution of the railway carriage
From an open truck fitted with hard seats to a 140mph air-conditioned vehicle the British Railway carriage has come a long way in less than two centuries, yet it is surprising how long many features from those early years actually survived, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES relates.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Third-rail Electrification
The south of England’s pioneering third-rail electrified railway system has served the country well for more than a century, and after a long pause could yet be extended. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks at the history of this innovative and important system.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
A4’s in Preservation
It is now 57 years since the last of Sir Nigel Gresley’s famous ‘A4s’ were taken out of service yet six survive, with one still active on the main line. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks at the preservation years of what will always be remembered as the ‘Streaks’.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
The Great Eastern Jazz Trains
Intensive suburban passenger workings are a feature of many great stations, but perhaps one of the most efficient in steam days were the ‘Jazz Trains’ of the Great Eastern Railway’s London Liverpool Street terminus. These intensive steam workings established a frequency of service that many thought impossible to achieve, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES describes.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Developing the diesel shunter
Amazingly, the diesel shunter has been around now for more than 90 years. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks at its development and shows how it can be incorporated into layouts set from pre-nationalisation days onwards.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
The Billinton LBSCR ‘E4’ 0-6-2T
Throughout the history of the railway many locomotive classes have made an invaluable contribution to providing services, yet have remained largely out of the limelight. One such design was the Brighton built ‘E4’ 0-6-2T, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES relates.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
BR Liveries: Sectorisation to Privatisation
In the 1980s British Railways was coming under considerable pressure from the country’s politicians to stem its losses. One of the most radical changes made was the splitting of the railways into sectors and the abandonment of regional boundaries. The changes lead to an explosion of new liveries, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES relates.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
The GWR ‘64XX’0-6-0PTs
The Great Western stood alone amongst the railways of the British Isles in its widespread use of ‘Pannier’ tank locomotives. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES takes a close look at the ‘64XXs’, and finds out what made this small class different from the rest.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
RAILWAY REALISM: The British Royal Trains
The coronation of a new king in May will bring to the public’s attention one of the more unusual trains on our network, the Royal Train, which has been transporting our monarchs around the country now for almost 200 years. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks into its history.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Direct Rail Services Class 37s
Although they were one of the earliest British Railways diesel classes which could well have faded into history by now, Cumbrian operator Direct Rail Services has used them for many years. Now though, their seemingly charmed existence looks to be coming to an end, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES reports.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Class 08 Diesel Shunters
The Class 08 diesel shunters are amongst the most successful locomotives ever to run on Britain’s railways – yet they are often ignored by enthusiasts and modellers. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES argues this is a situation which should change.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
REALITY CHECK: Western Region Blue Pullmans
Remembered by many as the high point of the 1950s modernisation of British Railways, the Blue Pullman trains set new standards of comfort and design, yet had a short and unhappy life, with much of it spent by necessity on the Western Region. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES explains all.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Heritage traction on the main line
Trains operated by individuals or small private companies have, for more than 50 years, provided a welcome variation to what we can normally see in everyday service. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks at how these workings came about and explains how they could provide variety on almost any post-1960s layout.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Development of the ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive
For enthusiasts and modellers one of the best-known types of steam locomotive is the ‘Pacific’, a design that once dominated express services in Britain and produced the fastest steam locomotives ever to run on our tracks. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES investigates how the 4-6-2 developed and why it was to prove so successful.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES
Great Central Railway ‘A5’ 4-6-2T
Built originally for heavy suburban traffic out of London Marylebone station, the ‘A5’ 4-6-2Ts spread their wings to all corners of the London and North Eastern Railway’s system. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES looks into the history of this long extinct class.
EVAN GREEN-HUGHES