Rail Express

RAIL EXPRESS is Britain's favourite modern rail enthusiast title. Undoubtedly the best for modern traction photography, the magazine keeps readers informed and entertained with undiluted coverage of Britain's railways in the diesel and electric era. First produced in 1996, RE has set a new standard for the hobby, with a clean design, high quality paper and the best reproduction. January 2008 saw the magazine relaunched in an innovative 'supersize' format, showing off the ground-breaking contents to the best advantage. Every issue includes news and analysis covering the present day railway scene, plus the latest preservation developments. Also inside: RAIL EXPRESS Modeler - Diesel & Electric era modeling magazine

Rail Express

GB Railfreight confirms Class 99 testing to begin later this year

Refurbished Class 458/4s enter traffic

GB Railfreight delivers final UK coal train

Ten extra Class 345s ordered

First five Land Recovery Class 60s leave Toton for further storage • Fifty-nine stored Brush Type 5s remain at the Nottinghamshire depot as the now Aggregate Industries-owned subsidiary has begun the extraction of its 12 locomotives.

New scrapping location in North East • Thompsons of Prudhoe begins cutting up wagons at Port of Blyth – with some surprising vehicles amongst the first to be dismantled.

Last Class 777 arrives in the UK • Final Merseyrail ‘777’ is delivered.

More ScotRail HSTs increased to five cars • Three more sets gain an extra vehicle.

Power scene • Our authoritative class-by-class review of newsworthy locomotive workings.

Class 26 returns to service • Bo’ness-based ‘26’ back in action after four-year overhaul.

Railtour marks 30th anniversary of GM Class 201 locomotive fleet • Railtour celebrates 30 years of GM fleet with trip to rarely visited locations.

Full strength for Freightliner • The imminent return to traffic of No. 08530 means the company’s fleet is now entirely orange.

Class 08/09 locations, 2024 • It is once again time for the annual survey of the locations of the Class 08 and Class 09 shunter fleet. As in previous years, this includes all examples still in existence, be they on the national network, at preserved or industrial locations, or languishing in store awaiting reuse or disposal. Locations are correct as of June 25.

Revamped Bachmann ‘OO’ ‘Gronk’

Hornby bolsters its 2024 range

English Electric legends return in ‘TT:120’ • How well does the new Hornby ‘TT:120’ gauge Class 50 measure up? This is investigated in the usual thorough Rail Express Modeller review.

Córas Iompair Éireann 141/181 (B) Class • The Murphy Models CIÉ 141 and 181 (B) Class locomotives make a welcome return, decorated in four different liveries. 181 Class No. 191SA receives an exam to see how well the model stands up in 2024.

EFE Rail’s GWR 10t ‘Bloaters’

You can win super rail reads • Summer is here, and we all need something to read, so how do you fancy some quality railway distractions?

SE&CR 25t brake van in ‘N’

Hornby’s new GWR Class 802/1

Illuminated marker lights for the Hornby Class 08/09 • Hornby’s super-detailed Class 08 and 09 shunter remains in production today, and is capable of good slow speed performance. What it lacks is running lights, the installation of which formed part of a weekend detailing project.

Technical modelling: Track cleaning trial results • The results of a new track cleaning plan on two layouts are revealed following several months of tests. Some of the test results were surprising and unexpected.

Eastern promise for ERS • Richard Clinnick visits a small team in Great Yarmouth with a large fleet of coaches and even bigger business plans.

0 to 60!...