PUBLISHER Steve Cole stevec@warnersgroup.co.uk EDITOR Andrew Charman 12 Maes Gwyn, Llanfair Caereinion, Powys, SY21 0BD. Tel: 01938 810592 Email: editor@narrowgaugeworld.co.uk FEATURES EDITOR David Joy Email: dawjoy1@gmail.com DESIGN & PRODUCTION Andrew Charman GROUP ADVERTISING MANAGER Bev Machin Tel: 01778 392055 Email: bevm@warnersgroup.co.uk AD PRODUCTION Allison Mould Tel: 01778 395002 Email: allison.mould@warnersgroup.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel: (0) 1778 392469 (UK & Overseas) Fax: (0)1778 421706 Email: subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk UK: £40.50; Rest of Europe: £52.00; Outside Europe: £60.00 DISTRIBUTION News trade Warners Distribution – Tel: 01778 392417 Model Trade Warners Trade Sales – Tel: 01778 392404 Overseas Agents JAPAN: Eriei Co, Ltd, 1-1-12 Toyotama-kita, Nerima-ku, Tokyo 176 Printed by: Warners Midlands Plc Lincolnshire All rights reserved. Material is only accepted on the understanding that there are no copyright restrictions. Although every care will be taken, all materials submitted are at the owner’s risk and Warners Group Publications cannot be held responsible for loss or damage however caused. Copyright on all materials in this magazine remains vested in the Authors and Warners Group Publications. Reproduction of the whole or any part is forbidden without the relevant permissions. Warners Group Publications and the Editor cannot be held responsible for any error that might occur in text or advertisements. Reliance placed upon the contents of the magazine is entirely at the reader’s own risk. © WARNERS GROUP PUBLICATIONS PLC 2023 ISSN: 1466-0180 Cover: Autumn brought the traditional rush of photo charters and Karl Heath captured this rather splendid shot of the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway’s Hunslet 2-6-2T ‘Russell’ in old haunts, at Rhyd-Ddu on the WHR, on 30th October. Russell will play a starring role in celebrations of the centenary of the WHR’s opening in 2023. The inset shows the interesting road quality of the Bord na Mona lines, final haunt of working industrial Rustons... Photos: Karl Heath and Ted McAvoy NARROW GAUGE WORLD is published nine times per year. This issue on sale 30th December 2022 Next issue published 24th February 2023 Issue No 172 Jan-Feb 2023 www.narrow-gauge-world.co.uk www.facebook.com/narrowgaugeworld Twitter – @NarrowGaugeWrld Email – editor@narrowgaugeworld.co.uk 05 First Lines A new year begins... 06 Headline News Mile-long train sets a record CONTENTS 3232 07 UK News Taiwan to Wales trip underway 14 World News Coal cost kills early school train 0707 19 The Narrow Gauge Industry 50 Years of Alan Keef excellence 24 News Gallery Chilly end to another year 28 Waite’s World Insight to under-threat Czech line 32 Future Narrow Gauge Could ‘Green Coal’ be the answer? 36 Today’s Narrow Gauge Last of the Irish industrial Rustons 40 NG Modelling Narrow gauge at Warley show 42 NG Modelling Pernhyn delights from Bachmann 44 On the Model Shelf Another good month for 009 46 On the Shelf Sandstone and Ffestiniog releases 47 Viewpoint Memories of a line under threat 48 NG Extra When not to look at Ebay... 50 Encounters Decade-old Swiss rack memories 4040 1919 www.warnersgroup.co.uk No 172 – Subscribe at www.narrow-gauge-world.co.uk NEXT ISSUE – MAR-APR 2023 On Sale 24th February 03