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

ON THE NORTH DOWNS LINE • The cross-country route from Reading to Redhill, via Farnborough, Guildford and Dorking, has provided a valuable link south of London from Great Western territory to a connection with the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway main line. Along the route there are further links with the Waterloo–Reading line at Wokingham and the Portsmouth Direct at Guildford. The Reading, Reigate and Guildford Railway was acquired by the South Eastern Railway (later becoming part of the South Eastern & Chatham), though the section between Guildford and Ash Junction was an enclave of the London & South Western. Network SouthEast coined the name ‘The North Downs Line’ in 1989, reflecting the railway's course along the chalk hills in Surrey.

THE LOCOMOTIVES OF THE MARYPORT & CARLISLE RAILWAY

THE STANDARD RAILFREIGHT SCRAP SCHEME AN EARLY PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

JOTTINGS FROM MY DIARY A HOLIDAY TO REMEMBER: SCOTLAND AND NORTH EASTERN ENGLAND - 1957

WARD LOCK RED GUIDES AS A SOURCE OF RAILWAY HISTORY PART TWO

EAST KILBRIDE ELECTRIFICATION WORK • The photographs depict the new Hairmyres station and the view looking south from Hairmyres towards East Kilbride.

COATS OF MANY COLOURS • In our May issue we paid tribute to the tremendously successful Inter-City 125 High Speed Trains as their service on the main lines ended, though it was pointed out that some were still being used on certain routes in Scotland. We noted that with the arrival on the scene of Train Operating Companies, the number of colourful liveries they appeared in proliferated and that therefore a further selection of photographs would appear. So here they are …

THE CENTRAL LINE 1900-2025 • Recognised today as the ‘red line’ on the familiar London Transport map, the history of the Central Line of the Underground system goes back to the beginning of the twentieth century. STEPHEN ROBERTS tracks its 125 years of service.

WORKING THE LOCAL GOODS ON THE WESTERN

THE MELTHAM BRANCH

AROUND THE OPERATIONAL CLOCK AT DERBY PART TWO

THE YORK PROJECT – 1989

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.