Backtrack

Backtrack, Britain's Leading Historical Railway Journal, covers all aspects of railway history from its earliest days through to more recent events up to around ten years before now including, early railway history from the 'pre-Stephenson' era, steam, diesel and electric locomotive history, railway company history, railway carriages and wagons, railway stations, railway ships, hotels & road vehicles, railway economic and social history, railway publicity and advertising. Backtrack's contributors include many of today's leading railway history writers. From the beginning the magazine has maintained a reputation for its production values and each issue contains a wealth of photographs reproduced to the highest standards, including a generous selection of historic colour. Published monthly, Backtrack is THE magazine for all who are interested in British railway history.

Editorial • Sparks effects

Backtrack

TO THE WEST OF LONDON • Steam on the Great Western main line from Paddington through the West London suburbs – as far as West Drayton

THE WEST COAST MAIN LINE ELECTRICS A BR TRAFFIC STUDY

SOME NUGGETS FROM  A WORKING TIMETABLE

A MANX ODYSSEY IN 1963 PART THREE

THE ROBINSON GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY CLASS 8K (LNER O4) 2-8-0 FREIGHT LOCOMOTIVE

AT EASTLEIGH • Eastleigh, in Hampshire, developed as a railway town, the London & South Western Railway setting up its carriages shops there in 1891 and establishing its locomotive works (previously in London at Nine Elms) in 1909. With its position on the South Western main line from London to Southampton and Bournemouth, with junctions to Portsmouth and Romsey, Eastleigh not surprisingly became a ‘place of interest’. GAVIN MORRISON photographed some of the variety of motive power to be encountered there.

WHEN THE WORLD FIRST CAME TO WEMBLEY RAILWAYS AND THE BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION 1924-25

GLASGOW CENTRAL

IRISH GOODS • With a very few exceptions – including a couple of massive 4-8-0s on the narrow gauge – the ‘standard’ Irish goods engine was the 0-6-0. This selection features a variety of locomotives, ancient and (slightly more) modern.

THE NORTH BRITISH AND THE ADMIRALTY AT CROMBIE

DERBYSHIRE'S MAIN LINE THAT NEVER WAS THE WIRKSWORTH AND ROWSLEY LINE

RAILWAY POINTS WEAK LINK OR BACKBONE OF RAIL NETWORKS? • Points are essential for safely guiding moving trains and railway rolling stock from one track to another. They are always there but how many passengers take any notice of them?

CLASS 20s ON THE JOB

Readers'Forum • Letters intended for publication should ideally add extra detail to our articles (or offer corrections of course!) and not be too long, consistent with the detail they offer. As always, we are sorry that space and time prevent us from printing them all or sending personal replies. ED.

BookReviews