Innehållsförteckning för May 2021 från Rail Express

DEPENDING on your point of view – or historical preference – Rail Express was born either in the dying days of British Rail or the brave new world of the Privatisation era. Either way, no one can deny the past 25 years have been an exciting time for our railways, and that is something we have tracked closely through our 300 issues so far. Both points of view can claim victories over each other, as who would have thought back then that 2021 would still have so many ex-BR locos running on the main line – with examples from Classes 20, 31, 33, 37, 40, 47, 50, 52, 55, 56, 59, 60, 73, 86, 87, 90, 91 and 92 currently active – a testament to their original design. Yet even…

NO RETURN FOR ‘442s’ SOUTH Western Railway caused a stir at the end of March when it announced the refurbished Class 442 EMUs would not now be used on services to Portsmouth. The ‘442s’ date back to 1988 and Weymouth Line electrification but, after their use with other operators, SWR announced plans in 2017 to bring back and upgrade 18 units for the Portsmouth Line. Much of this work has been completed, but now the future of the fleet looks bleak as Class 458s will be used instead. Porterbrook has chosen that Alstom has won the £25 million contract to upgrade the ‘458s’ and regear them for 100mph running. KIRKBY CRASH A RAIL Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) investigation is taking place after the 2K48/18.35 Liverpool Central-Kirkby, formed of Nos. 507006/21,…

BESIDES those credited elsewhere, this issue has been made possible by the contributions of the following readers, to whom the editor is most grateful: Ben Bucki, Steve Donald, Peter Foster, Chris Gee, Barry Gill, Stephen Ginn, John Hales, Brian Hall, Ryan Hayward, Brad Joyce, David Kerr, Steve King, Gordon Kirkby, Peter Laithwaite, Andrew Lay, Greg Mape, Graham Nuttall, Rod Orr, Keith Partlow, Chris Playfair, Colin Pottle, Karen Richardson, Steve Sienkiewicz, Jamie Squibbs, Andrew Stoppard, Jack Taylor, Mick Tindall, Martin Turner, Colin Wareing, and many more.…

AFTER its successful trials on the Severn Valley Railway, No. 69001 was expected to return to EMD Longport on March 12 behind Rustonpowered former classmate No. 56312. However, due to issues with clearances at Kidsgrove, the pair only made it as far as Crewe, with the former DCR ‘Grid’ returning to the EMD facility on its own. No. 69001 was eventually rescued by Nos. 66706 and 66758 running as a 0G69 Hams Hall-Crewe-Longport light engine move on March 15. No. 66706 departed Longport the same day, swapping its two partners for No. 69002, which it then transported to Eastleigh Works (0O69).…

Correct to March 25, 2021 Allocations 5810 XHSC-MBCS 5919 XHSC-MBCS 6046 XHSC-MBCS 9525 XHSC-MBCS 10301/18/21/30 ECHQ-SAXH 11029/31/33/79 HOHQ-MBCS 11319/20/21/22 ECHQ-SAXH 12054 HOHQ-MBCS 12104/19/65 HOHQ-MBCS 12210/11/22/24 ECHQ-SAXH 12310/16/23/26 ECHQ-SAXH 12434/52/61/77 ECHQ-SAXH 40622 IS/HAHQ-HQ/SCXH 40706 EC/HBHQ-HQ/SCXH40749/53 off registration – scrapped 41046/61/64/71/72/77 off registration – scrapped 42048/50/66/71/74/81 HQ/SCEC-LA/ EFHQ 42121/24/39/40/41/51/53/64/65 off registration – scrapped 42230 off registration – scrapped 44016 HQ/SCEC-LA/EFHQ44048/54/85 off registration – scrapped 82200/01/27/30 ECHQ-SAXH Renumbered 41124-40619 42048-48145 42050-48143 42066-48144 42071-48148 42074-48146 42081-48147 44016-49115 Sold DATS: 10237 Locomotive Services Ltd: 41063, 41117, 42100, 42220, 44047 LORAM: 5810, 5919, 6046, 9525 Preserved Appleby-Frodingham RPS: 40713, 42504/11, 44015/59 Formations HA19: 40619+42255+42568+42256 +42029 Stored/stopped locations Nemesis Rail, Burton: 5631, 5954, 6110/39 Worksop: 5922/24/59, 6036, 6152, 9529/31, 10301/18/21/30,11319/20/21/22, 12210/11/22/24,12310/16/23/26, 12434/52/61/77,82200/01/27/30 Disposals C.F. Booth, Rotherham: Arrival date: March 24: 42069, 42118, 44023, 46010. EMR Attercliffe: Arrival…

■ DB CARGO: WIA No. 85 70 4971 047-1 arrived at DB’s former Marcroft Engineering workshops in Stokeon-Trent on March 12 for overhaul, the five-unit car carrier set (UIC code Seefoors) remaining on site for exactly two weeks before returning to Warrington Arpley and back into traffic on the 26th. It was replaced on the same day by No. 85 70 4971 010-9. FKAs continue to move to Stoke for container spigot conversion and a new life as FOAs (see last issue). On March 3, it was the turn of Nos. 81 70 4908 026-7 and 81 70 4908 114-1 to make the trip to the ‘Potteries’, while a fortnight later (19th) Nos. 81 70 4908 037/048/090/140 were heading for modification on the Arpley ‘tripper’. Moving in the opposite direction…

LONDON MIDLAND LONG-TERM Soho depot resident No. 08805 has lost its Robin Jones – 40 Years’ Service nameplates as the person it was named after has retired. It was named in 2019 to commemorate his 40 years of service. Remarkably, as Robin moved around the West Midlands depots from Bescot to Tyseley and then Soho, so did the ‘08’! RMS LOCOTEC RMS-OWNED No. 08809 paid a brief visit to Toton to make use of the wheel lathe there. Currently used at Ketton Cement Works, it arrived at Toton on March 20 and departed home the following day.…

ALTHOUGH unable to go to the Tinsley Open Day in April 1996 – much to my eternal regret – I vividly remember seeing the first issue of Rail Express appear among the other railway titles in my local newsagents a few weeks later, and becoming immediately excited flicking through this brash new magazine. RE’s mix of outstanding railway photography, great reproduction, enthusiast-oriented features and top quality diesel and electric-era modelling was perfectly positioned to capitalise on the bright new privatised rail scene – particularly English Welsh & Scottish Railway, which had officially launched just days before RE. The editors were always keen to grow new writing and photography talent, and I was invited to contribute a few modelling reviews here and there before officially joining the staff in 2003, taking…

DEMAND for the new Accurascale PFA container wagons loaded with half-height low level nuclear waste (LLNW) containers was so great they sold out in record time, prompting Accurascale to take a closer look at LLNW traffic. The PFA wagons concerned are of the four-wheel type built by Standard Wagon between 1986 and 1988 for containerised coal traffic (CAWD 92703-874) which has since ceased to operate. A special frame was designed to allow them to carry conventional containers by lifting them clear of the top of the axleguards. LLNW and 20ft gypsum containers are now common loads. PFAs acquired by DRS are used as barrier wagons and to carry LLNW containers including special 20ft ISO half-height boxes as supplied with the first runs of the Accurascale PFA. The remainder of the…

LIVERY samples of the forthcoming APT-P model were received by Hornby recently for assessment, and pictures offer the first impressions of how this exciting model will appear. The company has identified a few areas in need of improvement, but the colours sit on the model well from what we can see. Noteworthy is the fit of the pantograph on the power cars, with the correct through-body linkages to the bogie which held the pantograph head level when the train tilted into curves. The articulated bogies between the trailers also have coupling kinematics built in to allow close coupling of the model on straight track, while the pictures also show a high level of detailing through the fitting of small components and etched metal parts. Interior detailing is also just visible…

A CALL for more frequent rail services has been published by the 10 local authorities in South East Wales as part of the City Deal programme supported by the UK and Welsh Governments. The passenger rail vision (PRV) is part of a future integrated ‘turn up and go’ public transport network that will complement the South Wales Metro project, which is electrifying the Core Valley Lines serving Cardiff and extending the heavy rail routes using tram-trains. The Welsh Government aims to reach net carbon emissions by 2050, and improved public transport is seen as a key way to reduce the number of car journeys in the Cardiff area. With a likely cost of £4 billion, funding is being sought from the UK Government as part of the levelling up agenda…

OLD DALBY DEAL GB Railfreight has won a four-year contract from Network Rail to operate the Rail Innovation & Development Centre (RIDC) at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. RIDC Melton (known more commonly as Old Dalby) is a dedicated test facility used for validating and commissioning new and modified rolling stock, plant, on track machines, infrastructure, equipment and technology away from the constraints of the mainline network. It includes a 13 mile high-speed test track and a slower-speed four mile test track. RMS SALES FOLLOWING the administration and sale of the former British American Railroad group, which included RMS Locotec, the new owner Proviso Holdings is consolidating its fleet and focusing on the supply of shunters to industry. Therefore the company has put a number of items of rolling stock up for…

Correct to March 25, 2021 Allocations 143611/20/21 off registration – scrapped 170531 TS/EJHQ-NM/EMHQ 196009 newly delivered HQ/EJHQ 230010 newly delivered HQ/MBCS 317345 IL/EBHQ-HQ/SCEC317346/52/53 IL/EBHQ-HQ/SCXH 317509 IL/EBHQ-HQ/SCEC 317514 off registration - scrapped 317649/50/58 IL/EBHQ-HQ/SCEC317653/55/72 off registration - scrapped 321334/45/47/48/56/58/63 IL/EBHQ-HQ/SAXU321435/38/42 IL/EBHQ-HQ/SAXU484002/03/04 newly delivered RY/ HZHQ 701025 newly delivered HQ/HYHQ720522/50/53/62/64 HQ-IL 720557/59/61/63/64/66/74 newly delivered HQ/EBHQ 769452 HQ/SBXH-CF/HLHQ Renumbered 319438-769938 710274-79 – 710374-79 Formations 170531: 50631+79631 170621: 50521+56633+79521 Now in nine-car formation 345039/40/44/49 Now in passenger traffic 345002/39/47/49/57720522/50/53/62/64 769452 Stored/stopped locations Cardiff Canton: 143601/22 Doncaster Wabtec: 321334 Donnington RFT: 196009 Ely: 317345, 317509, 317649/50/58 Landore: 143604/14 Nemesis Rail, Burton-on-Trent: 769928/38 Reading: 769943 Wolverton: 769937 Worksop: 701017, 720514/55/74 Disposals C.F. Booth, Rotherham: Cut date: February 23: 71437 Raxstar, Eastleigh Works: Arrival dates: March 4: 317346, 317652; March 25: 317659/71. Cut dates: February 17: 77017…

DB MK.2 STOCK ON THE MOVE THE seven DB-owned Mk.2 ‘aircons’ have been moved from Milford Sidings (near Gascoigne Wood, North Yorkshire), where they had been stored since 2020, to Worksop. The maroon liveried vehicles Nos. 5922/24/59, 6036, 6152, 9529/31 were transferred by No. 66007 on March 4. The coaches, which have been used for training purposes at Healey Mills, West Yorkshire, in recent years, have also spent considerable time in store at Bescot and Doncaster Belmont, having last seen regular service in 2011 when they were used by ScotRail on Fife Circle peak hour workings.…

WHILE Beacon Rail’s new ‘MegaBox’ wagons have grabbed the headlines, W H Davis’s Langwith Junction workshops continue to work on cutdown HHA hoppers and FWA Ecofret 2 container flats. On March 13, DC Rail’s No. 60055 was tasked with delivering nine ‘shorty’ HHAs, Nos. 370256/60/1/6/79/81/4/6/95 as a 6Z60/10.22 to Gascoigne Wood Sidings. A reverse trip took place just two days later on the 15th when the same Class 60 moved 11 full-length HHAs to W H Davis for conversion as a 6Z61/13.30 from Gascoigne Woods comprised of Nos. 370255/7/359/67/8/72/80/1/92/3/406. A further seven complete Ecofret 2 ‘triple’ sets for GB Railfreight were moved off site for storage on March 17, GB Railfreight’s No. 66731 Capt. Tom Moore collecting the following and then departing as a 6Z60/11.17 to Gascoigne Wood: Nos. 83…

TWO Fowler 0-4-0 diesels have been on the move. Already, preserved No. 4220015 has moved from the Chasewater Railway to Darley Dale. Built for the Royal Ordnance Factory at Radway Green, Crewe, it has not run for many years after suffering engine failure. Missing components saw it sidelined and threatened with scrapping before being bought by Peter Briddon. Meanwhile, No. 4220016 has been sold by Aggregate Industries (from its Meldon Quarry site) and is now homed at the Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust. A sibling of No. 4220015, it looks rather different as it has a cut-down cab from its time at Groby Quarry, Leicestershire. The Gloucester Carriage and Wagon Museum’s Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0DM No. D1012 of 1956 (formerly at Cadbury World) is to be based at the Llanelli and Mynydd…

A SMALL change of itinerary has been made to GB Railfreight’s four-day marathon ‘This Time It’s Personal’ tour. On the Saturday evening, September 4, the tour arrives at Newcastle behind – most unusually – an LNER Class 91 from Mossend. The original plan was then to stop at Newcastle for the night, but now a Class 60 will take the special along the Tyne Valley from Newcastle to Carlisle where the overnight stop will be taken. This is because of high demand for hotels in Newcastle that night due to other events.…

THE Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society, which operates special trains round the network at Scunthorpe Steelworks, has acquired five former GWR Mk.3 HST coaches from Angel Trains. The vehicles, Nos 40713, 42504/511, and 44015/059, arrived behind No. 66736 Wolverhampton Wanderers on March 15, the GM Type 5 forming the 5E75/14.30 Ely Papworth-Scunthorpe Anchor Sidings. The AFRPS says the coaches have been acquired for a future project, although this is dependent on events over the next year or so. For the time being, they will be stored with corridor connections sealed and all systems checked and maintained regularly. Three vehicles from the former LNER fleet have also been purchased for preservation and are being moved to the Colne Valley Railway in Essex. Two of the coaches (Nos. 40706 and 44058) had…

■ TRAFFIC AND TRACTION: The mid-life refurbishment of the 3000 Class fleet continues at York Road Works, with units Nos. 3001, 3009 and 3014 the latest to receive attention. Nos 3001, 3003, 3005 and 3006 were in regular use on Cross-Border ‘Enterprise’ duties during the period under review; Irish Rail ICR DMU No. 22x04 was also in regular use on the service. MPV No. 11 was active on trainee driver mileage accumulation and route knowledge duties during the week ending February 27. The machine was noted on the Belfast to Londonderry and Larne lines. Temporary speed restrictions were imposed on sections of the Larne line between Carrickfergus and Whitehead during late February. Adelaide Traincare Depot, a DMU maintenance and stabling facility, was used to stable GM No. 233 and its…

THE open day at Tinsley on April 27, 1996 turned out to be the final major event to be held at the Sheffield depot, as it was to close for good just two years later. It had opened in April 1964 on the hillside above the large marshalling yard of the same name, replacing a number of steam-era sheds in the area. Tinsley was purpose-built for servicing and maintaining diesel locos, and throughout the 1960s to 1980s was home to a large allocation of freight locos to serve the area’s coal mines and heavy industries. Most notable were Classes 20, 31, 37, 47 and 56, but it was also famously home to the three Class 13 ‘master+slave’ shunters that were specially formed to work the hump yard. By the 1990s,…

ISSUE 1 JUNE 1996: And we’re off! Making the news was a plan to build double-deck Eurostars for use on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (now called HS1), from Dollands Moor to Fawkham Junction in 2003, then on to St Pancras in 2007. But we are still waiting for the double-deckers… ISSUE 50 JULY 2000: The new millennium had dawned, but there was still a relatively healthy number of loco-hauled trains in action with Virgin Trains, First North Western, the Cardiff Railway Company, and the sleeper trains out of Euston and Paddington. Freight firm EWS was busy standardising on Class 66s, however. ISSUE 100 SEPTEMBER 2004: The Strategic Rail Authority, established to determine train service requirements, was axed after just four years and its role was handed over to the…

BR found use for three ‘Hymeks’ after withdrawal from service, albeit in nonactive roles. Nos. 7076 and 7096 were sent north to the Railway Technical Centre in Derby, while No. 7089 was sent to Plymouth Laira for use as a carriage pre-heater. Nos. 7076 and 7096 went north in 1974 after two years in store at St. Philip’s Marsh, Bristol. They were used by the RTC as dead weights on the Old Dalby and Mickleover test tracks until the end of 1982 when they were no longer required. Although they were both in poor condition by then, No. 7076 was able to be preserved using parts donated by No. 7096, which then went for scrap. This led to the remarkable sight of a ‘Hymek’ in the Sheffield scrapyard of Marple…

THIS is a follow up to the author’s 2020 book that covered Saltash to St Austell, this time completing the journey westwards from St Austell to Penzance plus the St Ives branch. Each section of the line is introduced, whilst each of the 180 images is accompanied by a narrative that describes the context of the scene, rolling stock and historic nuances. Images date across more than 50 years, from double-headed ‘Warships’ captured by Craig’s father in July 1969 to an almost heritage HST alongside a Class 800 IEP undergoing exams at Long Rock Train Maintenance Depot (Penzance) in January 2020. The changing everyday scene is accompanied by some common visitors, including ‘Cromptons’, an electro-diesel, ‘20s’ on weedkiller duties, the Royal Train, and steam locos on tours. This book will…

Heljan Class 73/1 revealed ELECTRO-DIESEL fans were delighted with news of progress on the Heljan ‘O’ gauge Class 73/1 when the company revealed the CAD images of the new model. It is undergoing tweaks before tooling is authorised, including the body side grilles which were found to be at the wrong height. No less than 16 models are listed, including a special edition for Tower Models covering operation of the class from introduction to privatisation with GBRf and EWS. Seven of the models will not be numbered, while the remainder are of celebrity locomotives from the fleet including Network SouthEast No. 73126 Kent & East Sussex Railway; InterCity Executive No. 73102 Airtour Suisse; GBRf blue and orange No. 73107 Tracy and BR ‘Dutch’ engineers yellow and grey No. 73108. Tooling…

Hornby’s forthcoming model of the Locomotive Services Limited (LSL) Midland Pullman HST train pack announced for the 2021 catalogue, has thrown up a small but interesting detail: the top marker light above the front cab window of the power cars. Hornby has decided to model this feature on both power cars of train pack R30077 to complement the new livery. The models of No. 43046 and 43055 will need new lighting circuits and the area above the cab reorganised to accommodate the new marker light. The addition of this marker light alongside upgraded running lights means the full-size power cars now comply with the standard required to negate the need for a warning yellow panel, allowing Pullman livery to be applied in a more authentic manner. The power cars are…

NOT to be outdone by DB Cargo (see last issue), Freightliner ran its own HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) trial on February 18. No. 70017 was used on a 7A91 Merehead (Somerset)-Acton ‘Jumbo’ train with Nos. 59205 and 66524 included as insurance and 39 JNA box wagons – the total weight being recorded as more than 4,000 tonnes. The same locomotive was used on a similar HVO test run on March 16 and worked a 6Z88 Tunstead (Derbyshire)- Wembley for Tarmac with No. 66620 provided in case of any issues. At more than 3,800 tonnes, this was said to be the heaviest stone train to have ever run on this route. Freightliner reported a significant reduction in CO2 emissions from the locomotives, the Mendip Rail trial alone said to save the…

COLAS RAIL WITH its current fleet of Type 3s stretched to the limit, Colas has trialled Class 70s on a Network Rail formation, Nos. 70810 and 70812 bookending a 5Z70 Eastleigh Works-Waterloo and back ultrasonic test train. No. 70812 led the up service, which was some 90 minutes late by the time it reached London, although otherwise, indications are that the duo – with 7,400hp on tap to move five Mk.1 and Mk.2 coaches – performed well. DB CARGO TWO reinstatements to note during the period under review, with No. 67007 moving from WQAA to the WABC pool (RETB Class 67s) and No. 90020 rejoining WEDC (DB Class 90s) after being sidelined since February in the WFMS fleet management pool. Nos. 90026, 90034, 90036, 90039 all transferred in the opposite…

PORTERBROOK has disposed of all but one of its off-lease HST coaches, with vehicles from the former East Midlands Railway fleet sent for scrap or to new homes during March. Leaving Gascoigne Wood (North Yorkshire) for Newport Docks behind No. 50049 Defiance on March 1 was the former set NL08, comprising Nos. 40753, 41071/072, 42139-141/329 and 44048. A similar move on March 10 (5Q51/10.22 Gascoigne Wood-Sims, Newport, hauled by No. 66716 Locomotive & Carriage Institution Centenary 1911-2011) took Nos. 41046, 42124/230 and 44085 on their final journey. Another convoy of Porterbrook coaches to Sims, Newport took place on March 16 when No. 66737 Lesia hauled Nos. 41113/115/185/190,42160/286/307/330, 44051 from Neville Hill (Leeds) to the South Wales scrapyard. The same day saw No. 37667 (D6851) collect five coaches from Gascoigne Wood…

WITH the end of the contract between Ed Murray Ltd and the Chasewater Railway to use the latter’s workshop facilities, the remaining locomotives were gathered together in the yard at Chasewater Heaths station awaiting removal. The two GECT 6wDE locos Nos. 255 and 267 departed the week commencing March 15 for Beaver metals, where they were quickly cut up for scrap. The two others are Thomas Hill 4wDH 200v (ex-Hanson Whatley Quarry No.4) and Rolls Royce Sentinel No. 10220. The Sentinel arrived in March 2019 for a complete rebuild and while it was stripped down and partially repainted, the rebuild was stopped and the shell has remained under a tarpaulin ever since, but should now be rebuilt. The future for the Thomas Hill has yet to be decided, with the…

THE set of Mkl.1s owned by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society and kept at Bo’ness is in the process of being modified and repainted. A change of livery will see the Mk.1s put into carmine and cream livery, replacing the lined maroon. Four coaches, Nos. 3096, 3115, 4856 and 13229, were taken from Bo’ness to Carnforth by Nos. 37516/668 on March 17 for fitting of Controlled Emission Toilets. Also in the consist was another SRPS First Corridor (FK), No. 13230, for upholstery work and a pair of WCRC coaches, Nos. 4973 and 99723. These latter two vehicles were used to take workers to remote possession sites on the West Highland line earlier in the month.…

NYMR ‘25’ PAYS A VISIT TO MIDLAND ROAD DEPOT THE NYMR’s No. D7628 (25278) paid a short visit to Midland Road depot (Leeds) for tyre turning on February 25. Careful planning meant the loco was away from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for less than two days. ISLE OF MULL REBUILD THE rebuild of the engine for No. 37403 Isle of Mull, removed from the loco at Bo’ness last year, is continuing, with the overhauled crank returned from Lincoln Power Systems and reassembly of the power unit now in progress. SWANAGE ‘TC’ BODYWORK REPAIRS COMPLETED RAMPART Engineering has outshopped 4-TC DTSO No. 76322 at Barrow Hill in blue/grey livery following major bodywork repairs. It should move to the Swanage Railway shortly, where electrical and braking system repairs will…

NYMR GETS ‘FUSS-FREE ACCESS COACH’ MK.1 TSO No. 5001, which has been converted to an accessible vehicle featuring double doors, accessible toilet facilities and space for wheelchair users, returned to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in March. Previously unrestored and still carrying InterCity colours, it has been rebuilt by Rampart Engineering at Barrow Hill and now sports maroon livery, with air brakes and ETH replaced by vacuum brakes and steam heat. ELSECAR MK.1S TO ECCLESBOURNE THREE Mk.1 coaches from the Elsecar Heritage Railway (TSO Nos. 3958 and 4903, plus BSK No. 35305) are to be moved to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. GUV LEAVES BROCKENHURST AFTER more than 20 years in static use with a cycle hire company at Brockenhurst station, Mk.1 GUV No. 96111 has been acquired by the North…

‘RAT’ BACK IN BLUE THE East Lancashire Railway has completed the repainting of Mark Fowler’s Class 25 No. D7629 into BR blue as No. 25279, the first time it has carried this livery since the late 1980s. Subject to the event being able to take place, the Sulzer Type 2 should be one of the star attractions at the ELR’s diesel gala in July. ‘GRID’ BACK IN ACTION STOPPED in March 2019, primarily for a bogie swap that was undertaken in September 2020, No. 56301 returned to service on March 19 when it left Leicester on a run to York. Unfortunately, a load regulator issue saw the test run curtailed at Aldwarke (near Rotherham). The Class 56 Group is hopeful that the fault can be easily rectified.…

■ SPERRY TRAIN: GM No. 072 worked test trips with the Sperry train between Portlaoise PW yard and Portarlington during the period March 3-5. The three-vehicle consist was: ‘BR’ van No. 3187, a wagon carrying the Sperry container, plus another wagon loaded with a tank, and a spoil container. No. 3187 and the extra wagon were used to provide brake force. The loco-worked Sperry train remains in service as the new purpose built vehicle that will replace it has yet to be commissioned because of delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Retro-liveried GM No. 073 was in charge of the train in the Mallow/Cork area on March 8/9, but the lines to Cobh and Midleton were not visited. On March 11, No. 073 worked the train from Portlaoise PW yard…

PRODUCING a brand new magazine from scratch is no small undertaking – there is a myriad of matters to finalise, finance and implement. The introduction of issue No. 1 of Rail Express at the Tinsley Open Day in 1996 was the culmination of months of work, and was not the first issue as that accolade went to issue No. 0. It may surprise readers to learn that every magazine sold by WH Smith must be to a high standard – and rightly so – which means any budding publisher must produce a dummy issue, replicating to as near as possible what the finished product will look like. We produced a 64-page dummy issue incorporating eight pages of news, an article and photo spread, and this eight-page section was then duplicated…

FOUR ‘Hymeks’ have been preserved: Nos. D7017, D7018, D7029 and D7076. Nos. D7017 and D7018 are based on the West Somerset Railway with the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group. D7017 was acquired in 1975 and D7018 in 1977. Both have been restored to operational use in BR green livery. No. D7029 was bought by the Diesel Traction Group in 1975 and was returned to service in the 1980s and 1990s on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. It is now being overhauled at the Severn Valley Railway after a number of years at Old Oak Common and is expected to be returned to traffic in BR blue livery. No. D7076 is owned by the Bury Hydraulic Group on the East Lancashire Railway. It was acquired from BR’s Railway Technical Centre in…

THIS is another second part book, the first one covering the period up to 1980 and this one picking up the story since then. The author had a 48-year career at Brush, so is in a prime position to talk about work done there. Although the number of new-build locos has declined in this century, Brush has been kept busy with various refurbishment and upgrade programmes. Six main sections cover overseas locos, 1980s electrics, Class 60s, the 1990s, Class 57s and the 21st century. It is mostly text, so there is lots of detail, backed up with a sprinkling of relevant colour photos. Equally useful is a series of appendices packed with all manner of reference data about Brush locos, which all adds up to a very 'shelf-worthy' source of…

PRODUCTION of the six ‘OO’ gauge GWR railcar models has commenced, with delivery expected in a few months’ time. The models are tooled to incorporate detail differences between individual cars, including windscreen wipers and drive shafts. Liveries include two models in BR crimson and cream, together with two finished in BR DMU green with speed whiskers. Priced at £189, the models are fitted with saloon, cab and running lights with illuminated tail lamps, a decoder socket located in an easily accessible compartment on the underside of the model, and all-wheel current collection. The interior is kept clear by the use of a low-profile motor and drive which powers both bogies. Fittings include sprung buffers, flush glazing and a fully detailed interior. More details are available at www.heljan.co.uk, the new…

Tools and materials include the following, in addition to the usual work bench hand tools: ■ Fine grade abrasive paper of grade 600 grit. ■ ‘Plastic Weld’ solvent cement or similar. ■ Cyanoacrylate adhesive (Zap or similar). ■ 0.3mm diameter brass wire. ■ 0.7mm diameter brass wire. ■ 0.4mm diameter drill. ■ 2.2mm diameter drill. ■ Pin vice. ■ BR bauxite brown paint. ■ Matt black and white paints. ■ Lanarkshire Models & Supplies coupling hooks. ■ Couplings to choice. ■ Matt varnish. ■ Weathering colours: Rust and coal dust shades. ■ Ballast weight (lead–free shot etc.). OPTIONAL SCALE MODELLING PARTS ■ Scale three-link couplings and hooks (Springside Models). ■ Cast metal axle box details (MJT Components). ■ Metal buffer heads. ■ Brass strip for underframe tie-bars. ■ Lanarkshire Models…