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 • Finding the words

Backtrack

FAITHFUL IN THEIR FASHION – THE MR/LMSR 2P 4-4-0s • The Midland Railway had an association with the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement for passenger duties long before the grouping brought it into the London Midland & Scottish Railway fold from 1923. The latter inherited from the Midland a sizeable number of Class 2 locomotives, going back to 1912, for ‘lighter’ work and the dominant MR influences post-grouping saw that design adopted for further ‘standard’ construction from 1928 to 1932 – no fewer than 138 of them. The 2P 4-4-0s were modest enough in their aspirations but what was expected of them they performed competently on secondary passenger services and even occasionally assisting more powerful express engines on heavy main line trains – and they lasted into the 1960s.

“ONLY IN AMERICA…”

THE LAKE LOCK RAIL ROAD THE FIRST PUBLIC RAILWAY? • ANTHONY DAWSON looks at an early industrial railway in Yorkshire which might hold a special claim to a place in history.

THE ‘CASTLES’ THAT NEVER WERE

MICKLE TRAFFORD A CHESHIRE JUNCTION OF MANY MANIFESTATIONS

CHINA CLAY • China clay deposits, a highly decomposed granite, were discovered in 1755. By rail it was originally transported to the docks in 12- or 13-ton capacity wooden open-bodied wagons with end tipping for unloading; later a raised bar kept the tarpaulin clear of the load in an ‘A’ shape. This method continued until fairly recently and PAUL AITKEN photographed these trains at Par in Cornwall on 2nd July 1986.

WILTSHIRE WAYS

A VISIT TO STOKE IN MAY 1932

CAPITAL GAINS… AND LOSSES • Scenes from the SIMON LATHLANE Collection reflecting on the great variety of steam motive power to be found at London's main line termini.

THE NORTH BRITISH AND THE ADMIRALTY AT PORT EDGAR

PRINCIPAL WORKS OF THE LANCASHIRE & YORKSHIRE RAILWAY – 1890

NOTED AT NEWPORT • Three contrasting locomotives recorded at Newport High Street station by TOMMY TOMALIN

CROSS-COUNTRY – VIA BOLTON • Electrification has come to the former Lancashire & Yorkshire main line between Manchester, Bolton and Preston, linking the West Coast Main Line and the electric system south of Manchester. Before that a number of long-distance AngloScottish cross-country services passed this way with haulage by the ubiquitous Brush Class 47 diesels, as photographed around Bolton by TOM HEAVYSIDE

FROM HURSTBOURNE AND ANDOVER TO KIMBRIDGE JUNCTION THE ‘SPRAT & WINKLE’ AND THE LONGPARISH BRANCH PART ONE

THE RAILWAY AT SHIREOAKS, WORKSOP AND RHODESIA

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.

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