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 • History in the press

LNER 2-6-0s ON THE WEST HIGHLAND • The West Highland line from Glasgow to Fort William and the Extension to Mallaig called for some forceful motive power to meet the challenge of its gradients through the mountains and its often heavy trains. The London & North Eastern Railway found three 2-6-0 classes to fit the bill: its Class K2 which had originated on the Great Northern Railway in 1913, its own K4 Class designed specifically for the West Highland and finally the K1 Class built after nationalisation.

TWILIGHT OF THE ‘PATRIOTS’ A CASE STUDY

THE MARPLE DIESEL TRAIN • An article on BR Modernisation Plans last year (BT 38/9 & 10) made mention of some of the last Class 101 Metro-Cammell diesel multiple units (first introduced in 1956) used on the Manchester Piccadilly-Rose Hill Marple local services in 2003.

KILMARNOCK’S RAILWAYS TO 1922 PART ONE

A WINTER’S MORNING AT RYECROFT IN JANUARY 1978 • It has now been over a decade since the passing of renowned railway photographer MICHAEL MENSING. To mark this, and as a small appreciation of his work, DAVID J. HAYES has compiled this feature based around pictures in his collection which Michael took one morning at this former freight-only location in the West Midlands.

HEADLAMPS AND HEADCODES EXPERIMENTS WITH A BRUSH TYPE 4

A CLAPHAM JUNCTION SELECTION • Steam, diesel and Southern electrics around the famous south London railway intersection in photographs from the COLOUR-RAIL Collection

SUMMER ON THE WEST COUNTRY BRANCHES • With the evenings shortening and winter ahead, we may linger awhile looking back at summer days on the idyllic branches of the Great Western in Devon and Somerset.

"A POPULAR RAILWAY CHIEF" FROM LAD PORTER TO DISTRICT TRAFFIC MANAGER: WILLIAM MOZLEY OBE, 1860-1925

LAKE’S CHIEF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART 4 DUGALD DRUMMOND • Impressions of the man and his work by C. S. LAKE and others.

ACCIDENT ON THE EMETT RAILWAY

MORE OF TYSON’S TRAVELS • Another selection of photographs taken by ALAN TYSON during his railway journeys.

A WELSH JUNCTION WITH A TELEPHONE BOX

A ‘TRAMM’ TO SCOTLAND • ROSS TOMLINSON recalls an unusual journey in January 1986.

HIGHLY IRREGULAR • STEVE LEYLAND describes how a short and easy day for a Bolton crew turned into a much longer affair, though not disagreeably.

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

EDITORIAL GUIDELIINES • BACKTRACK is always keen to encourage the submission of suitable material by prospective authors and photographers but, to avoid possible disappointment, the...