The Railway Hub Podcast

This month marks 125 years since the first issue of The Railway Magazine was published in July 1897. In this special podcast episode, we reunite every living editor and the current deputy editor of The Railway Magazine to mark the occasion. Enjoy this hour-long discussion of the history of the magazine, the formative events it's played a part in, and what the next 125 years could look like for the railway industry.

Across the UK is a network of mysterious ghost trains and ghost stations. A ghost train, sometimes referred to as a parliamentary train, is a name given to a rail service that has been all but abandoned by the rail operator but has been left open because it's cheaper than closing it. In this podcast, we discuss what ghost trains are and Ben shares what he observed on a recent trip to investigate one.

In this episode of The Railway Hub Podcast, we explore the possibility that there's a missing train full of gold hidden below a former Nazi command post at Ksiaz Castle. Sit back and delve into this bizarre and macabre world of secret underground bases, gothic castles and modern day treasure hunters.

In 1896, a publicity stunt to crash two locomotive engines into each other ended in disaster. Shannon and Ben delve into this incredible story in the latest episode of the Railway Hub Podcast.

Ben and Shannon delve in the remarkable story of Mrs Rhoda King, who on the 17th January 1901, found herself the sole witness to a murder in her own rail carriage. She then found herself trapped with the murderer, George Parker, for the remainder of the journey. In this episode, we detail the entire timeline of this incredible true story of human bravery. 

The incoming editor of The Railway Magazine, Paul Bickerdyke, meets with the outgoing editor, Chris Milner, to discuss the publication's history, changes throughout its run and how they feel about their own handover. With thanks to the Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre for hosting us.Visit https://www.barrowhill.org/ for more information about the services they provide and how you can visit.

In 2019, LNER launched the new Hitachi-built Class 800 Azuma express trains - due to replace their entire fleet by summer 2020. Railway Magazine Editor Chris Milner, visits the factory in County Durham where the train is being manufactured. Find out the entire process of how the ‘brain of the train' gets wired in, how the internal fittings are installed and the thorough testing process. Don’t miss this fascinating insight into how a train goes from an empty body shell to running on the track. This interview is taken from the documentary Azuma: Train of the Future – available on a DVD which is issued free with the October 2019 issue of The Railway Magazine. https://www.classicmagazines.co.uk/issue/View/issue/RM201910/october-2019

Gareth Evans, deputy editor of Heritage Railway magazine recalls his half-day footplate experience course on the Severn Valley Railway, which involved firing and driving GWR No. 813 with a Mk1 BSK carriage between Bewdley and Bridgnorth. This podcast complements his four-page feature, published in issue 255 – which is available to buy either digitally or on paper from: https://www.classicmagazines.co.uk/issue/View/issue/HR255

To mark the 190th anniversary of the staging of the Rainhill Trials in 1829, The Railway Magazine invites you to join editor Chris Milner and early railways historian Dr Michael Bailey as they explore the legacy of the trials, the technologies of the competitors that took part, and the stories of the men who built them.This interview is taken from the documentary Inside the Archives: Rocket, Rainhill and the Stephensons’ Legacy – available on a DVD which will be issued free with the May 2019 issue of The Railway Magazine.This episode has been supported by Locomotion, Shildon – this April and May, early railway historian Dr Michael Bailey and colleagues will be delving into the history of a mysterious unnamed engine. Locomotion, part of the Science Museum Group, is home to more than 70 rail vehicles from the national collection. For more information about this project, our museum and our exciting programme of events, visit https://www.locomotion.org.uk