Railways Illustrated

The best coverage of today's railway scene. Each issue of Railways Illustrated offers a comprehensive round-up of the latest news and topical events from the UK across the present-day railway, including heritage traction in operation on the main lines. Railways Illustrated reflects the energy and vitality of the present-day railway scene.

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Railways Illustrated

Nine new tri-mode Hitachi trains for Grand Central

Hot weather prompts Moors steam ban

Chiltern to run the East West Line

ROG’s Class 373 Orion parcels EMU sent for scrap

Class 67 diversions planned for summer

IN BRIEF

No scrapping plans for damaged 66

Could some Class 99s be Dellner-fitted?

Class 56s for warm store

Class 37 unveiled in Swietelsky’s new livery

LNER Azuma visits St Pancras on route clearance trial run

DB Cargo loses RHTT work

Balfour Beatty’s Class 20s enjoy minor upgrades

Plenty of traction and track on recent railtours

Third Class 33 looks set to move to Harry Needle?

Online Class 31 database launched by the RCTS

Obituary: Mark Hare1970-2025

EMR unveils first revamped Class 170 Turbostar

Railway manager Gordon Pettitt dies aged 90

LSL’s ‘Chairman’s Train’ overcomes several challenges on UK tour

FS group plans high-speed rival London to Paris link

SVR to move ahead with major landslip repairs

Coaching Stock News

Unit Focus

Wagon News

Unit News

Naming Update

Shunter News

Liveries

Hymeks on comeback trail

Annual exam for main line Class 40

Chinnor is the base for RES newly-acquired 47

Rare Class 20 haulage available at Lakeside gala

More visitors announced for many summer diesel galas

Class 31s on the move

Welsh Class 73 repainted blue

Varied visitors make Chinnor gala a success

LMS10000 project repatriates traction motors

The good times are returning • It’s been a challenging few years for the Scottish Railway Preservation Society’s charter operations, with the pandemic, numerous rail strikes, and now the central door locking issue. But it has been working hard and is now coming through the other side. Pip Dunn finds out more…

What’s happen to… • Our monthly round-up of restoration projects around the country, compiled by Pip Dunn.

Class 50 bonanza: It was always going to be a big ask

PICTORIAL

Dealornodeal • Direct Rail Services has always been one of the most interesting freight operating companies over the years. After 30 years in business, Pip Dunn looks back at the changing fleet the company has operated.

And the winners are… • The Phoenix Railway Photographic Circle runs an annual photography competition, and these are the 2025 entries.

LIVING LIFE IN THE PAST LANE • Chris Gee recounts his experiences in pursuit of recreating typical railway scenes from a bygone era but using a present day setting – and no digital trickery – for his inspiration.

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North toThursoin the BR blueera • Paul Shannon presents a selection of images of operations on the Far North line from Inverness to Wick in the 1970s and 1980s, when Class 26s reigned supreme.

10 PICTURES • In each issue of Railways Illustrated, we ask a photographer to select their 10 favourite rail related images and tell us the reasons why they believe these photos stand out from the crowd.

Rails goes electric • Rails of Sheffield has teamed up with Dapol to deliver an exclusive model of the Class 88 hybrids in OO gauge, finally completing the line-up of modern Direct Rail Services motive power. Simon Bendall takes a look at the Stadler-built locomotives.

Rail Atlas 16th...