Innehållsförteckning för December 2020 från Rail Express

WITH Direct Rail Services' Class 37s bowing out on Network Rail test train duties on October 8 (see page 24) after a decade and a half of operation, the venerable Type 3s have been replaced by Colas Rail VP185-powered HST power cars made redundant from East Midlands Trains. Nos. 43050 and 43060 (COTS), both still wearing their EMT livery albeit with large yellow Colas branding, operated their first train on October 15 when the pair sandwiched a pair of Mk.1 barrier coaches on a 5Z96/16.50 trial run from the Derby RTC to Stafford and back. The following day (October 16), the same formation worked a 5Z95 return trip to Barrow Hill before being let loose on their first NR test formation under the new arrangement two days later on the…

SWISS wagon lessor Wascosa is to provide 570 new Greenbrier Europe-built wagons to Network Rail in a 10-year agreement that will also see GB Railfreight handle maintenance of the fleet, writes Gareth Bayer. This is only Wascosa’s second lease contract for the UK after 50 JNA (Ealnos)-style box wagons were delivered to GBRf in 2017, and is the result of two years of intensive negotiations between the four parties. The deal was revealed on October 29 and includes 60 Wascosa ‘flex freight’ system 60ft flat wagons that can be configured with a range of different infrastructure bodies. These will be similar to existing FEA wagons already in the GBRf fleet, with ‘Tench’ and ‘Salmon’ modules for carrying prefabricated track panels, sleepers, switches & crossings, rail sections and other materials. The…

CLASS 20 HAVING moved back to Crewe from Barrow Hill on September 4, No. 20096 was given a run out on the main line with its companion No. 20107 (both from the LSLO pool) on October 26 when the pair ‘sandwiched’ Mk.2d No. 17159 running as the 5Z20/07.55 Crewe HS-Bristol East Depot, returning from Bristol at 12.35 (5Z21). Routed via Birmingham New Street in both directions the two locomotives and coach had a combined age of 167 years (see photo on page 31). CLASS 37 KYLE of Lochalsh hosted a pair of Class 37s on October 4 when Nos. 37407+37038 arrived with the 1Q78/13.12 test train from Inverness just two days after the former had been paired with No. 37419 on a test run that took in Wemyss Bay, Gourock,…

DIRECT Rail Services power on Network Rail test trains came to an end on October 8, and it was a somewhat ignominious one after the 1Q81 from Mossend to Carlisle (‘top and tailed’ by Nos. 37038 and 37407) was failed at its destination. This resulted in the cancellation of the planned official final day’s workings on the 9th, which would have seen the pair visit Blackpool before heading back to Derby. There is now a somewhat uncertain future for the operator’s Type 3 fleet, although they are currently busy with railhead treatment train (RHTT) work, with examples out-based at Stowmarket and York. There was also some good news in October with the reinstatement of debranded DRS blue No. 37422 after completion of repairs at Crewe Gresty Bridge. Out of action…

AFTER a long drawn out retirement following fire damage at Ordsall Lane, Manchester, in January 2013, West Coast Railways’ No. 47500 has been removed from Carnforth in two sections for its final journey to the scrapman. Named Great Western in February 1979, and frequently used as a royal locomotive, it was an obvious choice to be repainted in Brunswick green in May 1985 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Great Western Railway along with Nos. 47079, 47484, 47628 and 50007. It then spent the next seven years in its GW150 livery, although denamed for the last year or so and in shocking external condition, before emerging in Rail Express Systems’ red and grey in 1992. The loco disappeared into ‘Railnet’ Class 47/7 anonymity in 1994 as No. 47770, gaining…

TWO of the remaining HST sets located at Gascoigne Wood sidings (North Yorkshire), which had been placed there pending use with East Midlands Railway, left the site during October. The first to depart was set NL54 to Barrow Hill on October 16. Along with the last power car present, No. 43290, the rake (comprising Nos. 41151/152, 40740, 42128/182/186/190 and 44080) was collected by Nos. 50007 Hercules and 50049 Defiance, which formed the 5Z41/13.52 Gascoigne Wood-Barrow Hill. They join the former LNER spare vehicles and set DY22 at Barrow Hill. Departing on October 22 was set NL55 (made up of Nos. 41097/098, 40750, 42238/191/192/193 and 44061). The coaches left behind No. 57312 and running as the 5E17/12.33 Gascoigne Wood-Neville Hill. Now in traffic with East Midlands Railway is set NL57, which…

AS predicted last issue, Railway Support Services’ No. 08730 was moved from the Chasewater Railway to Wolverton Works to allow the movement of No. 08752 back to the RSS base at Wishaw (Warwickshire) for urgent repairs. The move to Wolverton did not last long, however, as after less than a week on site No. 08730 disgraced itself with a major radiator leak that rendered it unusable. Luckily, the repairs on No. 08752 were progressing quickly, and as soon as these were completed it was dispatched back to Wolverton and the errant No. 08730 returned to Wishaw in disgrace. Elsewhere, No. 08663 was moved from Landore depot (Swansea) to Felixstowe on October 15 to cover for No. 08738, which had failed the previous week. No. 08738 was then taken to Wishaw…

THE success of the innovative ’Staycation Express’, which was operated by Rail Charter Services between Skipton and Appleby this summer, has been deemed successful enough that it should run again in 2021. This stand-alone private sector venture clearly appealed to the general public, traversing as it did the most scenic parts of the famous Midland Railway route over the Ribblehead Viaduct. It was enjoyed by both the general public and railfans, the latter flocking to enjoy loco-hauled travel with Classes 37, 47/7 and 40. RCS’ director Adrian Quine was pleased with the results that saw some 15,000 passengers use the almost 300 trains over an eight-week period from July to September. It if goes ahead in 2021, services will be tweaked to take advantage of emerging facts. For instance, the…

STRIPPED HST power car No. 43018 has been donated to Crewe Heritage Centre for permanent display as a static exhibit at the site. It arrived by road from Haymarket on October 21. No. 43018 had been used as a spares donor for the ScotRail HST fleet for the past year. The off-lease vehicle was moved by road from Ely Papworth to Haymarket in September 2019, where many components were removed for further use. As well as missing its power unit and cooler group, a number of other parts were removed that will need replacing to make it cosmetically complete, including the roof, a cab door, headlight clusters and lower skirt panels. Crewe Heritage Centre is already home to a number of Crewe-built locomotives, including Class 47 No. D1842/47192 (which replaced…

CADBURY World has donated Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0DM No. D1012 of 1956 (Cadbury No.14) to the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Museum. The shunter worked at the Cadbury Moreton Factory until 1977, when it entered preservation at the Llangollen Railway. In 2003 it returned to Moreton depot (by then a Premier Brands site) as a gate guardian on display at the factory entrance, before moving to Cadbury World in 2007 where it remained on display until now. Initial plans will see the locomotive moved to a new home where it will get a repaint before fitting with a vacuum braking system for use with passenger stock.…

THE ‘Hull Executive’ was introduced in a fairly low-key way with the May 1978 timetable change, replacing the withdrawn ‘Hull Pullman’ service. It was fairly loosely timed that year, and diagrammed for Class 47 haulage, although ‘Deltics’ did appear occasionally. After departing King’s Cross at 16.42, it called at Peterborough to let the 17.00 King’s Cross to Edinburgh HST pass, then went on to Retford (arriving 18.39), Doncaster, Goole, Brough and Hull. The May 1979 timetable change, however, would see something special planned. This was when new HST diagrams were fully introduced to the East Coast Main Line, but Hull was left off the HST map. The city of Kingston-upon-Hull was less than impressed at being left out of the great ‘speed-up’ of trains, and to satisfy its demand an…

COLAS RAIL OUT of action since the end of April 2020, repairs to No. 70808 were completed at Leeds Midland Road in September and the errant Class 70/8 returned to Cardiff Canton on the 27th with colleagues Nos. 70811 and 70815. DB CARGO CLASS 66 No. 66199 has been reinstated, swapping places in the active WBRT railhead treatment train pool with No. 66161, which was transferred to the WFMS stored pool. By month’s end, however, No. 66161 had been returned to WBRT. Nos. 90020, 90026 and 90029, which were stored in the WQAA pool in September following the cessation of planned Grand Central services to Blackpool, were all back in service in October. They rejoined the active WDEC pool, whilst ‘glider-special’ No. 90037 was transferred from store (WFMS) to active…

THE end of the ZZA independent snowplough refurbishment programme by Loram means that attention is now being turned to the 10 members of the Beilhack PB600 plough fleet. These are built on redundant Class 40 and 45 bogies, and were last overhauled by Brodie Rail, Kilmarnock, in 2011. Nos. ADB 965576-81 (ex-Class 40) and ADB 966096-9 (ex-Class 45) were originally converted in 1984-5 and 1990 respectively, with Nos. ADB 966096/7 being sacrificed during the project and withdrawn to provide spares for the remaining examples. Brodie Rail has again been awarded the upgrade contract, with the first pair Nos. ADB 965580/1 being delivered to Kilmarnock on August 27 by Nos. 37407 and 37423 working as the 7Z78/05.03 ex-Carlisle Kingmoor.…

HAVING postponed its 2020 tours until next year, Pathfinder has published the following dates for its variety of tours. April 24: ‘The Non-Mazey Day Cornishman’ May 15: ‘The Blue Boys Merrymixer’ May 22: ‘The Cumbrian Freighter’ June 5: ‘The Galloway Fifties’ June 18: The Cambrian Coast Express 2021’ April 14: ‘Cambridge & Norfolk Explorer’.…

FOLLOWING its visit to Bury for maintenance, No. 40106 Atlantic Conveyor was hauled back to the Severn Valley Railway by No. 40145 on October 14/15. The loco was used on the SVR’s ‘Pioneer’ service on October 18, making three return trips from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth, and then again on October 23 operating ‘top and tail’ with No. D1015 Western Champion, which was substituting for No. D1062 Western Courier. The return to service of the latter has been delayed after a brake fault reoccurred during a test run on October 11. A long-term solution is being devised to eradicate the problem. Three more running days with No. 40106 are planned, making use of its steam heat boiler over the Christmas period. These will run on December 26/31 and January 3, 2021.…

PROTOTYPE HST COACH SAVED A HST coach that originally formed part of the prototype set in the 1970s has been acquired for preservation by Northumbria Rail. Presently located at Eastleigh Works, No. 42356 was constructed as No. 12003 and then renumbered to No. 42002. After being rebuilt as a production vehicle in 1982, it became No. 41173 and then it gained its current identity after conversion from a TF (Trailer First) to TS (Trailer Standard) in 1992. SLEEPERS SOLD ANOTHER two former Caledonian Sleeper Mk.3 coaches stored at Long Marston have been acquired for use at preserved railways. No. 10561 arriving at the Mid-Norfolk Railway on October 6, while No. 10706 has moved to the Caledonian Railway at Brechin. SANDSEND CAMPING COACH MK.1 TSO No. 4606, which has been reconfigured…

WORKS REPORT: GM No. 087 was released from Inchicore on October 14 after being out of traffic for around 18 months. The locomotive has received an overhauled main generator and engine governor, plus refurbished bogies and new wheelsets. No. 077 was undergoing load testing in mid-October, while No. 088 was planned to be the next member of the class to receive works attention. TRAFFIC AND TRACTION: The 16.00 Connolly-Sligo and 16.55 Sligo-Connolly were cancelled each day from September 28 to October 3. It is understood that a shortage of drivers during the period under review was the reason for most cancellations or bustitutions. GM No. 075 worked an empty CWR train from Dundalk to Portlaoise PW Depot on the 27th. Services were disrupted on September 29 when the 06.30 Dundalk-Bray…

THE Deltic Preservation Society was formed in 1977 and today is a nationwide group with around a thousand members. It aims to encourage interest in, and keep in operational order, three of the legendary 100mph locomotives – Nos. 55009, 55015 and 55019 – which are based at the society’s headquarters at Barrow Hill Roundhouse, Derbyshire. All types of members are welcome, from ‘armchair’ supporters at home or those wanting to be more ‘hands-on’ and actually work on the locomotives. More details are available through the website at www.thedps.co.uk, including how to join the society, donate to the cause, or contribute via the Easyfundraising scheme as you shop online. A recent initiative is called DPS Friends (www.thedps.co.uk/dps-friends),which is for all members who feel they would like to play more of a…

AUTUMN shows are traditionally the time when many manufacturers take the opportunity to announce new models and to update customers with on-going projects. With the major shows such as Warley and Modern Image O Gauge (MIOG) being cancelled, announcements are being made on the ‘virtual’ events covering for cancelled shows. Heljan used the MIOG Live Virtual ‘O’ Gauge Show to announce three exciting new ready-to-run ‘O’ gauge locomotives. Scottish Region modellers will welcome completely brand-new toolings for Class 26 and Class 27 locomotives which replace older models whilst the long-lived Class 73/1 finally sees an ‘O’ gauge model for the first time making the ideal partner for the Heljan Class 33. 7mm MacRats The outwardly similar BRCW Type 2 Class 26 and Class 27 will take advantage of common components…

‘OO’ Class 57s and digital sound dominate TWO NEW versions of the Class 57 suitable for a later post-Privatisation layout theme are added to Bachmann’s ‘OO’ gauge ‘Branchlines’ range this winter. The popular DRS ‘compass’ scheme is applied to a Class 57/0 as No. 57009 with the numbers applied along the lower edge of the cab sides (32-754A). West Coast Railways Class 57/3 No. 57313 (32-765) with Dellner coupling detail fitted to the cab fronts adds a different style of livery to the range with its simple maroon finish. They provide traction for modelling modern charters and special trains with the analogue versions of both models priced at £204.95. On the diesel multiple unit front, the popular Class 108 is reissued with details specific to their introduction including both roof…

WITH Bachmann about to release its newly tooled Graham Farish ‘N’ gauge ‘refurbished’ Class 31/1 with cab roof headcode boxes as part of a new batch of six new Class 31/1 models in its winter release schedule, the diverse appearance of the class is given a photographic airing in this issue of D&E Files. It is a taste of the liveries and condition the locomotives could be found after 1990 until their final days working on the privatisation railway. The scope for modelling is vast, with the locomotives being found in numerous liveries and wide variation in external condition which can be used to add character and variety to the new Graham Farish models and forthcoming re-runs of the ‘OO’ gauge Hornby model. During the 1990s, Class 31/1s were stored…

THE Government’s aspiration to have a carbon-neutral railway is expected to eventually lead to electrification of the greater part of the network. But the long-standing challenge of the ‘final mile’ to reach terminals, and the reality that some secondary routes used by freight trains will not be electrified, remains. This means that the next standard locomotive is likely to be a bi-mode machine capable of operating at dual voltages and offering a competitive haulage capability over non-electrified lines. PAST ‘STANDARDS’ Railways have long had the goal of standardisation for traction because of the benefit of simplifying maintenance procedures and the provision of spare parts, as well as removing the need for drivers to have traction knowledge across a variety of different train types. Going back to the steam era, the…

GEMINI Rail Group, which has operated the rail business at Wolverton Works for two years, is looking to expand its operations into the heritage rail and charter train business. The news was announced by Gemini’s business unit director Kirk Trewin, who said: “Rather than do nothing with the significant and still fully-equipped workshop, Gemini is now looking at alternative uses for the 1902-built, 17-road building. It offers a safe secure working environment, with areas between 10,000 and 100,000 sq ft of covered accommodation available for leasing. It also offers HGV road access and secure car parking.” The workshop is linked by a traverser to the rest of the works, and to the West Coast Main Line via Wolverton’s Centre Sidings. It includes the former wheelshop, bogie shop, paint spraying, corrosion…

HAVING initially returned to the main line for a test run in January 2020 following extensive repairs, No. 37510 Orion finally began earning its crust for EPX/Rail Operations Group on October 5, when it dragged Nos. 37800, 47813 and 47815 to Crewe (0N42). The latter acted as ‘insurance’, which came in handy when the Class 37/5 was failed on the return trip to Leicester, requiring No. 47815 to take over for the remainder of the journey. The Type 3 was back out on test on October 9 with Nos. 47815 and 47848, with the intention of collecting unique No. 89001 for onward movement to Barrow Hill (see also Preservation news). Another failure put paid to that idea, however, and No. 47815 again rescued the ‘37’ for the trip back to…

RECENT weeks have seen a large number of movements take place involving Anglia’s new Class 720 ‘Aventra’ units. Transferred from Bombardier, Derby to Worksop for storage have been Nos. 720549 (September 25), 720555 (September 30), 720522 (October 8), 720548 (October 15), 720547 (October 23) and 720523 (October 26). All were moved by Nos. 47727/749 except that on September 25, which used Nos. 47727/739 instead, this pair also being used to take No. 720514 from Derby to Old Dalby the previous day. Three sets arrived at Wolverton during October for test runs on the West Coast Main Line. Released from Bombardier on October 6 was No. 720546, which (with 47727 Edinburgh Castle/Caisteal Dhun Eideann and 47749 City of Truro as power) formed the 5Q47/12.00 Derby Litchurch Lane-Wolverton. The same locos took…

Correct to October 28, 2020 Allocations 6352 BN/HBHQ-HQ/SAXH 6376/77 MBCS-GBXX 10405/14 off registration – preserved 10415 off registration – sold 10561 off registration – preserved 11067/69/73/80/81/85/95 off registration – preserved 11100 off registration – preserved 44034 LA/EFHQ-HQ/SCEC 82112/33 off registration – preserved 82143 off registration – sold Renumbered 41022-40615 41144-40617 Formations HA15: 40615+42030+42579+42010 HA17: 40617+42295+42558+42250 Preserved Caledonian Railway, Brechin: 10706 Mid Norfolk Railway: 10561, 12030, 12129 Private: 42356 Stored/stopped locations Barrow Hill: 40740, 41151/52,42128/82/86/90, 44080 Crewe TMD: 10519, 40804, 44081 Long Marston: 40708, 41083, 41159, 42130, 42228, 42322, 44050 Neville Hill: 40750, 41097/98,42191/92/93, 42238, 44061 Wembley: 10301/18/21/30,11319/20/21/22, 12210/11/22/24,12316/19/23/26, 12434/52/61/77,82200/01/27/30 Disposals  C.F. Booth, Rotherham: Cut dates: October 2: 40803; October 6: 40901; October 16: 41140; October 23: 42287, 44037 Sims Metals, Newport: Arrival dates: October 6: 40810/11, 41186/92, 42304, 46008; October…

WHILST the future for the Aggregate Industries Fowler diesel at Meldon Quarry is somewhat uncertain at present, with it being up for sale (see separate story, left), the future for another Fowler diesel is looking much rosier. Ribblesdale Cement No. 6 (John Fowler 0-6-0DH No. 4240010 of 1960) at the Tanfield Railway has been undergoing a full restoration over the past couple of years, and on October 25 it moved under its own power for the first time in 30 years. The shunter came from the Clitheroe Cement works, where it shared the duties with ex-BR Class 17 No. D8568, before moving to Tanfield in October 1993. There is still some work to do, including the fitting of vacuum brakes, but it should not be too long now before its…

A CAMPAIGN to reopen the mothballed Waterford (Belview) to Rosslare Strand line by the Green Party, lobby groups and interested individuals is continuing. However, three councils have initiated the legal process for the proposed Rosslare Harbour to Waterford City Greenway, which would use the trackbed of the line. Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford councils carried out a public consultation exercise in early October, but it is anticipated that planning permission for the Greenway will be granted in November. Its estimated €12 million construction bill quoted in January 2018 had increased to €35 million by September 2020. The Green Party’s pro-rail position was borne out in the Dail (Irish parliament) by two of its elected representatives who back reopening the line. On October 6 and 12, Marc O’Cathasaigh stated that a ‘managed…

THE Great Eastern Main Line from Liverpool Street to Norwich has been a busy route for many years and one of the most important for long-distance travel in East Anglia. Extension of the earlier outer-suburban electrification north of Colchester, including the branch to Harwich, was authorised in November 1982 and completed in three stages to Ipswich in 1985, Harwich in 1986, and finally Norwich in 1987. Diesels took over from steam between London and Norwich in 1958. EE Type 4 (Class 40) No. D200 hauled the inaugural diesel working on the route, which was the 10.27 Liverpool Street-Norwich on April 18, 1958. Thereafter, the ‘Whistler’ and five classmates Nos. D201-5 became a familiar sight on the route, with Nos. D206-9 joining the fleet at Stratford in 1961. A further change…

50 YEARS AGO... DECEMBER 1970 ■ MERSEY LOOP CONSTRUCTION: Work began on the underground railway loop in Liverpool that linked existing stations at Lime Street, Central and James Street with a new one at Moorfields, which replaced the former Exchange station. A short length of tunnel near James Street, bored in 1890 to link with the dock railway but later abandoned, was incorporated into the scheme. Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority authorised the British Railways Board to seek a 75% Government grant towards the estimated cost of almost £11 million, whilst promising to contribute the remaining 25%. 40 YEARS AGO... DECEMBER 1980 ■ CLASS 315S PREVIEWED: British Railway’s Eastern Region gave local authority and commuter representatives a preview on December 5 of the 61 four-car EMUs being built by BREL York…

IIA biomass wagons WAGONS for power station traffic of one type or another are starting to make up a significant part of the Accurascale ‘OO’ gauge range, and the addition of the IIA covered biomass bogie hopper wagon to the range reinforces its ‘Powering Britain’ plan of re-creating the wagons associated with energy traffic. It started with the HOP24, an early diesel-era four-wheel industrial and power station coal hopper wagon. Power station modellers were delighted by the announcement of an HYA/ IIA coal hopper wagon last month; a model which had already reached the engineering prototype stage. Therefore, the related covered IIA comes as no surprise, being a development of the numerous British-built HYA coal wagons through the fitting of covers to protect the load, modified end covers and a…

A CLASS 66 became part of the Hornby range when it acquired the Lima business in 2004. The model was based on the first Class 66s to be built for EWS, GBRf and Freightliner with original ‘Wipac’ running light fittings with two tail-lights, two headlights and rectangular marker light lenses on the outside. This format fits many Class 66s locomotives operational today even though things have become a little more complex with many design variations working their way into the Class 66 design over the years. Hornby upgraded the Class 66 model with a new underframe moulding, detailing parts and single drive bogie before rereleasing it. It remains a nicely detailed but basic model compared to the Bachmann and Hattons models, lacking working lights, locomotive-specific details and only featuring a…