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Tyseley’s ‘Castle’ No. 7029 Clun Castle is our cover star this issue, as we interview the Collett 4-6-0’s operator, Vintage Trains Ltd, about its first year as a train operating company.


Down Main correspondent Tony Streeter sits down with VTL MD Cath Bellamy, to review Tyseley’s first 12 months of main line operations, what its plans are for next year, and the challenges facing main line steam in this day and age.

Elsewhere, we pick up the story behind last month’s cover, as assistant editor Toby Jennings tells the remarkable tale of how he helped to discover the mortal remains of lost ‘Fifteen Guinea’ star ‘Black Five’ No. 44781 in deepest Essex, nearly 50 years after it was scrapped. Also, Thomas Bright goes behind the scenes at the Statfold Barn Railway to learn all about this enthusiasts’ paradise, while editor Nick Brodrick explores the Bala Lake Railway’s bid to extend into Bala itself, and what obstacles it must overcome to achieve that aim.

We also put forward our ten candidates for the coveted Steam Railway magazine HRA Award and we want you – our readers – to decide what should win. To vote for your favourite, visit https://www.steamrailway.co.uk/hra-vote.

As always, we bring you the very latest news, comment and analysis from the world of steam railway preservation, including:

· Owner ‘open to offers’ for Thornbury Castle

· Corwen connection completed

· Why ‘Brighton Atlantic’ group chose ‘E’ over ‘Radial’

· Hosking to run steam-hauled sleeper trains

· Carnforth Lindsay set to return to steam

There’s all this and more, including our regular Down Main, industrial, narrow gauge and Irish steam news columns, in the latest edition of Steam Railway – the world’s biggest steam news magazine. On sale now.

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