Steam World

Steam World is Britain's best selling historical railway magazine. Covering the magical times when steam railways were the lifeblood of the country. It features first-hand accounts from drivers, firemen, BR managers and enthusiasts alike. Featuring magnificent photography from the fifties and sixties, it will bring back wonderful memories coupled with inside information of what it was really like to work, travel and play on the world's best railway.

Steam World

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THE END OF THE LONDON EXTENSON • September 3 & 4 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the closure of the Great Central Railway’s London Extension. Paul Cooper pays tribute to this much-missed line by delving into Ken Vernon’s archive

LONDON EXTENSION - THE LAST DAY • The debate about whether it was right to close the Great Central Railway’s ‘London Extension’ on September 4 1966 will continue to rumble on. Steam World recalls the trains that ran on the last day of services, September 3

LIFE AND TIMES OF 35030 • The visit of ‘Merchant Navy’ No. 35030 was one of the memorable moments of the last day of the London Extension. Richard Foster presents a photographic look at its career

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED • In his final column for Steam World, Bob Gwynne considers that, perhaps, not all ‘lost’ lines will be lost forever

MY TOP TEN COUNTDOWN No.3 GWR COLLETT ’GRANGE’ 4-6-0 • We’re into the Top Three in his chart countdown of favourite locomotives and Chris Leigh is nominating the ‘Grange’ 4-6-0s, thanks to just one journey

GREAT SHOT!

RELAXING IN HOLMSLEY • Stephen Roberts recalls the post-war history of the Ringwood to Brockenhurst line, focussing on the wayside station at Holmsley

‘A4s’ IN SCOTLAND • The last ‘A4s’ were withdrawn 60 years ago, on September 5 1966. Michael Welch, using photographs provided by the Restoration & Archiving Trust, takes a look at the streamlined 4-6-2s’ swansong, hauling the famous ‘three hour expresses’ between Glasgow and Aberdeen

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OAKENGATES AND NO. 4605 • Richard Derry takes us on a trip down memory lane, to his holiday haunt in this Shropshire town and a particular pannier

LAST DAY AT LONG CLAWSON & HOSE • Robin Cullup, recalls the last day at a forgotten station on a little-known Leicestershire joint line

LAST YEARS OF THE ‘K1’ • Peter R. Cooper concludes his study into the final years of the LNER’s ‘Moguls’. Last issue dealt with the ‘K2s’, ‘K3’ and ‘K4s’. Now it’s the turn of the Peppercorn ‘K1s’

UNDERTAKING LOCOMOTIVE SURGERIES • George Cowell, Consett Iron Company’s Manager of the Engineering Department, describes two heavy rebuilds he oversaw in the 1950s

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