Steam Days

Steam Days is a monthly magazine dedicated to all steam railway enthusiasts. Each issue covers the six regions of British Railways: Western, Southern, London, Midland, Eastern, and Scottish, with the occasional article on Irish railways and the industrial scene. These well illustrated articles in the magazine cover the history of the railways of Britain from the early days of the 1800s through to the end of steam on British Railways in August 1968.

Steam Days

TRAINS of thought

Waddon Marsh and its environs • Recalling when his local line was already electrified but still awash with steam-worked goods duties and busy sidings, Eric Stuart tracks the life of the Wimbledon-Mitcham-West Croydon route from its origins through to modern times as part of Croydon Tramlink.

THE CHRISTMAS GIFT • THAT LASTS ALL YEAR!

On the tracks of the Wyvern To Morecambe by rail: 1962-64 • A regular holiday destination for Richard Dangerfield and his family, recollections include a misread Jubilee, riding on ancient electric units to and from both Lancaster and the port of Heysham, steam pilot turns and other observations.

STEAM DAYS In Colour 237: Woodford Halse to Banbury • Linking the Great Central Railway’s London Extension with the GWR’s Birmingham main line, the 8¼-mile line between Culworth Junction and Banbury was built under the GreatWestern and Great Central Railways Act of 1899 and opened for goods services on June 1, 1900, and for passenger services on August 13, 1900. The connection provided a vital role in two world wars and in the transfer of freight and long-distance passenger trains to and from theWestern Region, but its fate was intrinsically linked to that of the Great Central’s London Extension. In early 1965, the diversion away and elimination of freight on that route left it with next to nothing in the way of regular traffic and after the closure of Woodford Halse shed in June 1965, the main line and branch would go down together on September 5,1966.

The Cambrian Dukes • Drafted in to Mid-Wales post-Grouping, Andrew Wilson explains how late Victorian double-framed 4‑4‑0s kept the Cambrian’s passenger services running and proved to be long-lived.

THE CHRISTMAS GIFT • THAT LASTS ALL YEAR!

To Scotland with the Wessex Railway Society: 1959 • Armed with Freedom of Scotland tickets, this group visit to experience much of the Scottish Region network and bash as many engine sheds as possible used public transport, including trams and buses. Barry Young recalls a high summer two-week trainspotting adventure.

Tail Lamp • Readers Letters