July Newsrail has another interesting mix of current and historic content for all interested in Victorian rail, from our front cover (commemorating 150 years since the opening of the railway to Everton) to our rear cover (commemorating 60 years since the closure of the railway to Warburton).

Our main feature article for July is the first of a two-part history on the industrial railway that branched off from Box Hill Station and ran to the former brickworks that today is the site of Surrey Park. Mark Cauchi’s thoroughly-researched history is illustrated with maps, advertisements and beautiful photographs from the era.

This month’s tourist and heritage rail column features a report from Daylesford Spa Country Railway on their major project to return Leyland Double-Ended Rail Motor 53RM to operation. It’s an ambitious project, but as DSCR’s Barry Fell notes, the DSCR team has already made major progress.

Nick Anchen’s collection of stories from old hands at the former North Melborune Locomotive Depot, published in our June edition, attracted a lot of attention, including some emails and letters with photographs of the depot we’ve never seen before. We’ve published them this month in a special four-page spread.

Also from Nick Anchen, another story from the Whistleblowers series, this time from David Moon remembering the wheat season in the days of steam, running steam locomotives in 100 Fahrenheit (37 Celcius) weather, and trying to sleep in the primitive accommodation provided by Victorian Railways for loco crews.

Trevor Penn presents another most interesting entry for our Photos in focus series. Rounding out our coverage of North Melbourne Loco, Trevor interprets the details in a 1961 image that shows diesel traction usurping steam, with the new North Melbourne flyover under construction as the old steam depot marks time until its demolition.

And our usual other columns are there: