Innehållsförteckning för November 2023 från Railways Illustrated

The nine-week consultation into the plan to close up to 1000 station ticket offices closed on September 1, with Transport Focus and London TravelWatch now analysing the responses received before releasing their findings at the end of October. Immediately after the consultation period ended, Transport Focus confirmed there had been a staggering 680,000 responses – that’s 1% of the whole UK population taking the effort to respond – proving the strong feelings that many people have about this issue. The last-minute decision to extend the consultation by a further six weeks, which was announced on July 26 – the day it had originally been due to end, was the right one, as the initial three-week period was insufficient for people and user groups to respond properly. The scale of the…

THE FIRST of Avanti West Coast’s fleet of Hitachi bi-mode Class 805 trains have now been accepted by the operator, with 805002/004 handed over to AWC in early September and 805005 set to be accepted towards the end of the month. These are the first of 13 five-coach Class 805s – numbered 805001-013 and which are capable of operating on diesel or electric – to be accepted by the operator, with the first of the trains expected to enter service towards the end of the year. Additionally, Hitachi is also currently building a fleet of 10 seven-coach Class 807 electric multiple units, with the new combined Class 805/807 fleets set to replace AWC’s current fleet of diesel Class 221 Super Voyager trains. Meanwhile, AWC branding has been applied to 805005…

SUCCESSFUL TRIAL operations of overnight logistics services by Varamis Rail and Carousel Logistics, which started in February this year, have now been made permanent. The overnight train, formed using a Class 321 electric multiple unit (321334) converted to transport parcel traffic in roll cages and on pallets, operates each weekday between Birmingham International and Mossend in Scotland, the journey taking just over four hours and the train capable of operating at speeds of up to 100 mph. Following the trials, the Varamis-operated electric route has officially become part of Carousel Logistics’ delivery operations. Carousel is a pan-European Critical Service Logistics specialist, delivering high-value parts and products for performance and life-critical industries, while Varamis Rail is the UK’s first electric-only express rail freight operator. Carousel Logistics’ managing director for the UK,…

A PROJECT to implement a series of improvements to facilities at Neville Hill depot in Leeds has been completed by Northern. As part of the £350,000 project, a former laundry room has been transformed into a production office, while a new communication and briefing area – complete with interactive screens and upgraded lighting – has been installed. Additionally, the depot buildings have been deep-cleaned and repainted. The depot has been solely operated by Northern since 2021 and the operator says it has since completed a site-wide clean-up, integrating teams for more efficient working, improving security, refurbishing staff facilities and improving safety through the installation of illuminated walkways. Neville Hill engineers currently service 34 trains from nine different fleets and carry out more than 500 safety-critical and service-critical tasks each day.…

TWO GREAT Western Railway Castle Class high speed train sets have been moved to the West Somerset Railway for temporary warm storage on the heritage railway. The WSR agreed to store the two HSTs at relatively short notice, with the first train – consisting of power cars 43042 Tregenna Castle and 43162 Caerhays Castle, along with Mk.3 trailer set GW03 – arriving on September 11 for storage at Minehead. The second train, comprising power cars 43094 St Mawes Castle, 43122 Dunster Castle and coaching set GW02, arrived the following day, with this train due to be stored at Bishops Lydeard. These two trains have not been permanently stood down by GWR, but they have been moved on a temporary basis due to a lack of space at Laira depot, in…

While much of the attention over the last few weeks has understandably focused on the demise of the CrossCountry High Speed Train fleet, another six Class 43 Castle Class power cars have been stood down by Great Western Railway since the last issue of Railways Illustrated went to press, with a further four placed into temporary store on the West Somerset Railway (see page 15), reducing the number of active Castle Class power cars to 17. Taken out of service at the end of August were 43040 Berry Pomeroy Castle and 43192 Trematon Castle, with 43009 Nunney Castle, 43010 Lydford Castle, 43016 Powderham Castle and 43172 Tiverton Castle succumbing over the first few days of September. As well as the two previously reported moves to the WSR, 43040 and 43172…

CLASS 150 4/9 – 150207 5H70 09.00 Exeter-Wolverton, for C6 overhaul and corrosion repairs. CLASS 175 4/9 – 175009 5Q50 08.29 Crewe Gresty Green-Ilford. CLASS 197 31/8 – 70016 + 197116 6Q97 10.14 Donnington RFT-Basford Hall. 1/9 – 70016 + 197116 6Q96 05.07 Basford Hall-Wolverton. 7/9 – 66593 + 197118 6Q97 10.14 Donnington RFT-Basford Hall. 8/9 – 90044 + 197118 6Q92 05.52 Crewe Basford Hall-Wolverton. CLASS 313 Raxstar has cut the following Class 313 vehicles at Eastleigh Works: 313207 – 62535 17/7, 313204 – 62596 18/7, 71216 19/7, 62532 24/7, 313209 – 62601 25/7, 71221 26/7, 62537 27/7, 313216 – 62544 31/7, 71228 1/8, 313210 – 62538 2/8, 71222 14/8, 62602 15/8, 313219 – 62611 16/8, 71231 17/87, 62547 21/8, 313203 – 62531 23/8. CLASS 317 14/9 – 37884 +…

More JNA conversions Three further batches of JNA-Y ballast wagon conversions emerged from Loram during the period under review, 37418 handling all the transfers from Derby as usual. On August 21, 81 70 5831 150-152 were taken to Toton, with 81 70 5831 153-157 following 10 days later and 81 70 5831 159-161 on September 11. MRA sets moved to Derby as donors for the project were 501015/075/163-165, 501026/086/196-198 and 501057/117/289-291. Latest disposals A delivery to Booth’s Rotherham yard from Doncaster Belmont in the early hours of September 15 saw 66086 deposit OBA 110023/706, OCA 112003/0 86/120/137/156/192/218/221/270/375/379 and MHA/MPA 394112/394/618/812 and 396112/123/157/165. Meanwhile, early September saw work commence on cutting the longer-term stored CDA hoppers at St Blazey, a local scrap merchant breaking them into manageable sections that were then…

As reported on page 13, LNER has named 91127 Neville Hill in recognition of the work done by the Northern-operated Leeds depot in maintaining the Class 91 and Mk.4 fleet used by LNER on the East Coast Main Line between London King’s Cross, Leeds and York. Great Western Railway Hitachi Intercity Express Train 802110 was named Dame Agatha Christie in an event at Paignton station on September 12. The Mousetrap – which is currently on a national 70th Anniversary tour – was being performed at Torquay’s Princess Theatre on September 12-16, with members of the cast and invited guests attending the naming ceremony, carried out by Agatha Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard, before departing on the 14.10 service to London Paddington. With a number of Great Western Railway HST Castle Class…

FIFTY FUND honorary president and former Laira depot area fleet manager Geoff Hudson gave an illustrated talk about Class 50s and his involvement with the popular locomotives, titled ‘Fifty years with Fifties’, in front of a packed audience at the Severn Valley Railway. Mr Hudson has spent more than 50 years working in the rail industry, but he became particularly wellknown for his efforts to support Class 50 operations when the locomotives were being run down by British Rail in the early 1990s. He also supported various Class 50 preservation groups in securing various locomotives when they were withdrawn. The illustrated talk and presentation by Mr Hudson, in the Valley Suite at Kidderminster station on the evening of September 9, looked at the history of the Class 50 design, from…

HAVING RETURNED to service at the Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Diesel Festival in May, preserved Regional Railways-liveried 31270 Athena has moved from the SVR to the Didcot Railway Centre on an extended loan, the locomotive being used for the first time at its new home on September 16/17 during a diesel running weekend at the Oxfordshire museum. The former Peak Rail resident Class 31 - owned by Colne Valley Diesels - arrived at Didcot on August 25 and entered service on DRC passenger services over their demonstration running line following a period of commissioning the locomotive and driver training. DRC said the locomotive is likely to remain in its weather-worn Regional Railways colours for the remainder of the 2023 operating season, but it is possible that it may be repainted…

THE JOINT project between the National Wagon Preservation Group and the Bodmin & Wenford Railway to preserve a rake of the recently-withdrawn CDA china clay wagons (Railways Illustrated issue 248) suffered a setback in September when the NWPG learned that its initial bid for eight of the stored wagons had proved unsuccessful. The CDAs identified for possible preservation are now set to be broken up, having been secured by a scrap merchant. However, fundraising has restarted to try and increase the available funds to allow for a fresh bid to secure a rake of CDA wagons from the operational fleet – the last of which were stood down from service with DB Cargo on August 11 – for preservation on the B&WR. The NWPG said that, despite the setback, there…

03145 – Moreton Park: August saw attention focus on 03145 in preparation for its working visit to the Dean Forest Railway’s diesel gala in September. The locomotive received its long-overdue engine oil change, and was running much better for it. All the brakes and running gear was examined, and a couple of worn axlebox oiler pads were replaced. The flexible hoses were checked, as was the electrical system and lights, with no faults found, although one of the vacuum hoses was changed as a precaution. The oil level in the gearbox and final drive was checked; the final drive needed to be topped up. Externally, the bodywork was cleaned and polished. On the lefthand cabside, part of the double arrow had started to peel away in places, but some remedial…

The original 10 Class 44s were all named after British mountains, which led to them being known as the Peaks. When the more powerful Class 45 and Class 46 locomotives came along later, the name given to the prototype design stuck across all three variants. Until now, little has been known about the course of events that led to these locomotives being named after British mountains, but using original British Railways documentation, here we shed light on this previously little-known aspect of their story. At the start of the modernisation process, the British Transport Commission (BTC) identified three main power ranges for its emerging diesel locomotive fleet. Type A covered 800-1000hp for freight duties; Type B 1000hp-1250hp for mixed-traffic work; and Type C for locomotives 2000hp and over for…

All of the British Rail Type 5s are now available ready-to-run in O gauge thanks to the arrival of the latest model from Heljan, the Class 58 slotting in nicely between the previously released Class 60 and the more recent Class 56. The Class 58 completes an impressive line-up of heavy freight machines from the Danish manufacturer, one that seemed unlikely – even a few years ago – when the company was very much focused on releasing locomotives suitable only for the green and blue eras. Happily, Heljan has become receptive to subsequent, more colourful, periods and the Class 58 is no different, appearing in liveries that stretch from BR ownership, through the shadow freight period, and on into full privatisation. The standard releases encompass six different models, including Railfreight…

TIME HAS finally been called on the remaining high speed trains in use on the privatised CrossCountry network – more than 41 years since they first made their debut. The last day of operation on September 18 saw retro-liveried 43007 and 43008 take charge of 1E73, the 16.27 Plymouth to Leeds service, the last timetabled passenger train to be worked by HSTs on CrossCountry. The train was strengthened with the addition of another Mk.3 trailer coach to take the formation to eight coaches to help with the anticipated demand from passengers wanting to travel on the final HST in normal service. The full formation of the train was Class 43 power cars 43007 and 43008, with Mk.3 coaches 41193, 45003, 42378, 42373, 42377, 42097, 42376 and 44012 also in service.…

THE DEPARTMENT for Transport has awarded long-term contracts to Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry, with the new National Rail Contracts coming into operation for both operators with effect from October 15. The decision to award a long-term contract for the First Group and Trenitalia-backed AWC operation comes as the operator has dramatically improved its reliability and performance over the last year after suffering well-publicised service cancellations caused by a shortage of drivers and a ban on rest day working by drivers. The operator was awarded two consecutive six-month contract extensions to give it the opportunity to implement a recovery plan, which has been deemed successful. Alongside the recovery plan, the DfT says the operator has prioritised training new drivers, reduced its reliance on rest day working, and is now getting…

LOCOMOTIVE SERVICES Group’s subsidiary charter company InterCity announced the debut main line passenger outing for Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive orange and tan-liveried Class 142 Pacer diesel multiple unit 142003 on August 31 – with the tour declared a sell-out just seven days later. Returning the Pacer to routes the DMUs often worked during their 35-year working lives on the national network, the ‘St Tudno Wanderer’ was due to operate on September 27, just after this issue of Railways Illustrated closed for press. Picking up passengers at Wilmslow, Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Line Street, the train was then set to head to Chester before traversing the North Wales Coast line and reaching its destination at Llandudno Town. The train was then due to have a break of about 90…

THE LONG-AWAITED opening of the spur to Wolverhampton Station on West Midlands Metro took place without ceremony on September 17, with CAF Urbos 3 tram 31 Cyrille Regis MBE 1958-2018 given the honour of being the first passenger-carrying tram to traverse the new half-mile extension to the WMM network. The new line was formally handed over to WMM operator Midland Metro Ltd by the Midland Metro Alliance (which is responsible for the construction of the new extensions being built for the WMM network), allowing driver training and familiarisation of the route to begin on August 29. The extension leaves the original WMM route immediately after trams have crossed Wolverhampton’s landmark Wishbone Bridge, running along Pipers Row – where a staggered-platform tram stop is located alongside the city’s bus station –…

MORE THAN 1.2 million passengers were carried on Edinburgh’s trams during August as the city hosted its annual cultural arts festival, breaking previous records for passengers using the recently-extended tramway running from Edinburgh Airport through to Newhaven. The annual Edinburgh International Festival and Festival Fringe is a highly acclaimed celebration of music, theatre, opera and dance, attracting thousands of additional visitors to the city each year. With the tramway operating through the city, services were enhanced by the operator to cope with this huge influx, including the provision of overnight trams on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the month. Additionally, the rugby international matches taking place at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield stadium saw extra trams being provided to ensure that fans could be moved to the stadium with ease. The…

With DB Cargo having now stored its remaining operational Class 90 electric locomotives, the freight company offered 12 of the type for sale in mid-September. All – 90017/018/022/023/025/027/030-033/038/040 – are stored at Crewe electric depot and the closing date for expressions of interest was set for September 29. Some of those on offer have been stored for a considerable amount of time, with 90025 now rapidly approaching the 20th anniversary of it being stopped in January 2004, with 90032 following just one month later. The most recent examples to be stored of the batch available for sale are 90018 (stored in August 2019) and 90040 (May 2020). With the exception of the aforementioned 90018/040, the remaining 10 have not worked a train for well over 15 years. Should they be…

GWR Castles reduced Three more Castle Class HST sets have been removed from traffic by GWR, September 11 seeing 43042 and 43162 run from Laira to Minehead with GW03 (48107-109, 49103) for short-term store. The next day saw a further set arrive at the West Somerset Railway for the same reason, with 43094 and 43122 bookending GW02 (48104-106, 49102). Also on September 12, 43040 and 43172 ran from Laira to St Philip’s Marsh with GW14 (48140-142, 49114), all having been debranded. Over in East Anglia, September 12 saw all 11 of the off-lease sliding door Mk.3s so far stored at Ely Papworth removed by the Rail Adventure power cars 43468 and 43480 and taken to the carriage sidings at Great Yarmouth. In due course, TS 48101/103/113/115/125/131/132/133 and TGS 49101/107/111 will…

THE LONG-RUNNING overhaul of the Deltic Preservation Society’s Class 55 Deltic D9015 Tulyar took a major step forward when the locomotive was reunited with its overhauled bogies on August 29, followed by the successful installation of two Napier engines a fortnight later on September 12. Tulyar was originally taken out of service by the DPS in 1997 for overhaul, which began at the locomotive’s previous home at the Midland Railway – Butterley, before it was transferred to the DPS Depot facility at Barrow Hill Roundhouse. The lifting of D9015 from its accommodation stands was originally planned for August 15, but was postponed when a fault was found with one of the lifting jacks. However, Rampart Engineering – facilitating the lift on behalf of the DPS – arranged for an electrician…

NORTH YORKSHIRE Moors Railway chief executive officer Chris Price has announced that he will leave the heritage railway at the end of the year to take up a position as director of The Tank Museum, at Bovington, Dorset. Mr Price has led the NYMR for the past eight years, joining as general manager in 2015 after two years in the same role at the Talyllyn Railway. During his time in charge, he has steered the railway through the coronavirus pandemic and also a successful Heritage Lottery Fund application that awarded the line £4.6 million as part of the wider NYMR’s £9.2 million Yorkshire›s Magnificent Journey Appeal to allow the railway to invest in facilities and safeguard its future. He was featured prominently in the popular Channel 5 television documentary The…

THE CLASS 91 electric locomotive on loan to Crewe Heritage Centre from spot-hire company Europhoenix has been repainted into the original InterCity 225 livery it carried when it first entered traffic with British Rail in 1990. 91120 is one of two Class 91s that Europhoenix acquired from Eversholt Rail in September 2019 – the other being 91117 – after they were taken out of service by East Coast Main Line operator LNER following the introduction of the new Hitachi Azuma fleet. Europhoenix originally planned to export for pair for further use abroad, in a similar scheme to that which the company previously managed in relation to a number of Class 56s, 86s and 87s. However, the coronavirus pandemic meant that the traffic flow that the Class 91s had been identified…

NETWORK RAIL has donated three-car Class 313 electric multiple unit 313121 into preservation at the Fife Heritage Railway at Kirkland Yard, in Leven, following withdrawal from its operational fleet. The distinctive yellow-liveried Class 313 was, in recent years, used to support testing and validation for projects on the railway and to support the deployment of new digital signalling using the European Train Control System. The unit – consisting of driving motor standard 62549, trailer standard 71233, and brake driving motor standard 62613 – arrived at its new home on August 16 and has been positioned on trackwork adjacent to the new Levenmouth Rail Link, which is currently under construction and due to open next spring. Although the unit will not be maintained in operational condition, the FHR is reviewing various…

Railways Illustrated is written by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, providing the latest news and developments on the national rail network and from our standard gauge heritage railways. This is the title for anyone who likes heritage diesel and electric traction, and showcases some of the best railway photography around. As well as an established team of writers, we also welcome contributions from you, our readers. Take out a subscription, save cash in the process, and take your place in our fantastic railway community. WHICH RAILWAYS ILLUSTRATED SUBSCRIPTION SUITS YOU BEST? 1: 12-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION BEST VALUE 12 print issues for £46 Direct Debit 12 print issues for £50 credit/debit card SAVE £17 2: SIX-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION 6 print issues for £24 Direct Debit 6 print issues for £26 credit/debit card SAVE £7.50 WHAT…

Various new duties and operations means that, in their 25th year, the Class 57s are perhaps as newsworthy as they have ever been. The first member of the 33 converted locomotives – 57004 – has been scrapped in recent months (Railways Illustrated issue 247), having donated components to keep classmates operational, while two new operators have recently begun using Class 57s on the main line (GB Railfreight and Locomotive Services Group). Additionally, another long-time operator of the class, West Coast Railways, has increased its operational pool with the addition of 57009, another long-stored example returned to action by the Carnforth-based operation. However, question marks remain over the long-term future of several locomotives that have been out of traffic for varying periods, while the Great Western Railway Class 57/6 fleet could…

➔ A partnership between a small team of Network Rail staff and the Branch Line Society - with help from the wider rail industry - has seen a number of ambitious charter trains organised to raise funds for Martin House Children’s Hospice, which is based in Wetherby, West Yorkshire. Andy Coward met up with the charter organisers to find out more about the trips, their backgrounds, and plans for the future. ➔ The Severn Valley Railway’s Autumn Diesel Bash will see the largest gathering of preserved diesel-hydraulic locomotives on a heritage railway, with one Class 14, two Class 35 Hymeks, two Class 42 Warships and four Class 52 Westerns brought together, joined by a supporting cast of preserved former BR diesel locomotives. We present a selection of some of the…

THE SCOTTISH Government has confirmed that a six-month pilot scheme to introduce off-peak fares on all fares and products set and controlled by ScotRail will begin on October 2. The ScotRail peak fares removal pilot is being funded by the Scottish Government and designed to encourage more people to travel by rail instead of car. Peak time fares will be abolished for the duration of the trial, offering savings for passengers who usually travel during this period, while also aiming to encourage more car users to travel by train. On ScotRail routes where no off-peak fare currently exists because the same price is available for travel at any time of the day, passengers will not see any change in fares. Some national railcard conditions that apply a minimum fare before…

FOLLOWING THE transfer of three Class 150/1 diesel multiple units from Northern to London Northwestern Railway for use on the Marston Vale line between Bedford and Bletchley (Railways Illustrated issue 248), a date for the recommencement of passenger services on the 16-mile route was still awaited as this issue went to print. Services were suspended on December 1 last year when Vivarail entered administration. The company had supplied LNR with three Class 230 diesel trains, numbered 230003-005, for use on the route – converted from former London Underground D78 stock – with maintenance carried out by Vivarail staff at Bletchley depot. The trains had to be stopped when Vivarail collapsed as the maintenance staff at Bletchley were made redundant and, due to ongoing concerns about the reliability of the Class…

A REVIEW of the TransPennine Express train fleet and operation has seen the operator announce plans to replace the Class 68 locomotive-hauled Nova 3 Mk.5a fleet at the December timetable change – rendering the relatively new trains redundant. Thirteen five-coach Nova 3 train sets were built by CAF in 2017/18, each set consisting of one First Open coach, three Standard Open coaches and a Driving Brake Standard Open vehicle, with one spare DBSO also provided as part of the order. To provide traction for the trains, 16 Direct Rail Services Class 68s were modified to operate with the Mk.5a sets and these locomotives, 68019-032, have had TPE’s distinctive silver, blue and purple livery applied. Additionally, 68033/034 were also suitably modified to operate with the Mk.5a coaches, but these are allocated…

THE RAILWAY Correspondence and Travel Society and Mortons Media – publisher of Railways Illustrated, Rail Express, The Railway Magazine and Heritage Railway – have launched ‘Steam or Modern; People and the Environment. The 2023/24 RCTS Photographic Competition.’ The contest will offer existing and fledgling photographers of all ages the chance to showcase their work and win one of a great range of special prizes. The competition builds on the long-established precedent of excellence in railway photography, which survives and thrives in railway publications such as Railways Illustrated and the RCTS’s in-house title, The Railway Observer. There are four possible categories to enter: ■ Heritage railways and main line steam ■ Modern traction ■ People and the railway ■ The environment and the railway In choosing these categories, the joint organisers have…

THE LUTON DART (Direct Air-Rail Transit) service, which connects passengers from Luton Airport Parkway station with the nearby Airport terminal, carried its one millionth passenger on August 21 – just 147 days after the route first opened to the public on March 27. The 1,000,000th passenger to make use of the DART service was Mr Wouter Ruffen, who was travelling en route to a flight from London Luton to Amsterdam. In recognition of the landmark occasion, Mr Ruffen was awarded with a year’s free travel on the DART system. East Midlands Railway operates regular Luton Airport Express services from London St Pancras International to Luton Airport Parkway station, using its fleet of Class 360/1 electric multiple units, with the DART service taking four minutes between the railway station and the…

The fleet of locomotives in use with GB Railfreight continues to expand, with further Class 66s imported to join the company’s fleet, two more Class 69s nearing completion at Progress Rail at Longport, and four former Direct Rail Services Class 57/3s also entering service with operator. Last year, GBRf announced plans to enhance its existing Class 66 fleet by importing another 11 of the locomotives, which have been in use abroad with other operators, to support the company’s expansion and traffic demands. By mid-September, eight of the 11 had been delivered to the UK, although none had yet entered traffic. Four – newly renumbered as 66306-309 – have visited Arlington Fleet Group at Eastleigh for repainting into GBRf’s dark blue and orange colours. The most recent arrivals – destined to…

Southeastern Class 707 transfers resume The transfer of the remaining Class 707 units from South Western to Southeastern Trains recommenced overnight on August 18/19, with 707014 and 707023 moving from Clapham Yard to Grove Park via Waterloo and later on to Gillingham. The reallocation of the 30 Desiro City EMUs had been paused at the end of 2021 due to the acceptance issues with the Class 701s, leaving 12 sets with South Western on a temporary basis. The afternoon of September 2 saw 707018 and 707019 run directly from Waterloo to Gillingham, replacing 707014 and 707023, which were released to traffic following the application of Southeastern blue vinyls and internal rebranding. Next to depart South Western were 707020 and 707021 overnight on September 15/16, leaving just 707015-017/022/024/030 to follow. Networkers…

Only one Class 59 now retains DB Cargo red following the release of 59205 from Arlington Fleet Group at Eastleigh Works in Freightliner colours, with the sole survivor being 59201. Similarly, 90046 is now the last Class 90 to carry the original green and yellow Freightliner livery after 90041 received a new coat of orange and black at Wolverton Works. At Crewe Heritage Centre, 91120 has been repainted into InterCity Swallow while it remains on loan from Europhoenix and is now no longer bound for Eastern Europe. With 43040 now off-lease from GWR, it has been stripped of its 40th anniversary Falklands War vinyls in addition to its other brandings and nameplates. Brand-new Hitachi 805005 has become the first of the 13 five-coach bi-mode trains to be unveiled in Avanti…

IT IS now almost 26 years since the Fifty Fund’s 50031 Hood became the first preserved Class 50 to be recertified for main line running, when it hauled ‘The Pilgrim Hoover’ charter for Pathfinder Railtours from Birmingham International to Plymouth on November 1, 1997. Since that date, the Class 50 Alliance – the operational arm of the Fifty Fund – has successfully also re-registered and operated 50007 Hercules, 50044 Exeter and 50049 Defiance on main line charters. Although that pioneering main line preserved Class 50, 50031, is currently out of service undergoing significant engine repairs, the Class 50 Alliance celebrated the operation of the 100th main line charter in the preservation era – and, coincidentally, the 50th tour to be operated with Pathfinder – on September 16, when GB Railfreight-liveried…

THE WESTERN Locomotive Association is aiming to return Class 52 Western diesel-hydraulic D1013 Western Ranger to service on the Severn Valley Railway during 2024 as the highlight of the association’s 50th anniversary celebrations. WLA publicity officer Paul Finch told Railways Illustrated that the preservation group is planning a number of events during 2024 to celebrate its formation in January 1974, and that it aims to return D1013 to service for the first time in 15 years during its golden anniversary year. D1013 has been undergoing a comprehensive overhaul since it was stopped by the WLA in October 2009. Over the last 14 years, a huge amount of work has been completed on the locomotive, including an end-to-end rewire, as well as the refurbishment and overhaul of its two Maybach engines…

AS THE end of the operating season approaches for most of our heritage railways, a final few heritage diesel events are taking place during October – bringing down the curtain on another popular events calendar that has kept enthusiasts entertained. The main event of the month is the Nene Valley Railway’s British Rail 1980s event, which will feature working appearances from Class 14 9529, the Peak Locomotive Company’s 45041 Royal Tank Regiment, 125 Preservation’s short-formed HST train – making its first event appearance at its new home base – and the NVR’s second-generation diesel multiple unit Pacer 143602. In addition to the NVR home fleet, the Heavy Tractor Group’s ever-popular 37714 Cardiff Canton is making its first working visit away from the Great Central Railway, providing a late substitution for…

COMPLETION OF the comprehensive nine-year restoration of Class 104 diesel multiple unit DTCL (driving trailer composite lavatory) vehicle M56182 was celebrated on the North Norfolk Railway on September 9, when the immaculately restored vehicle re-entered service, some 36 years since last carrying passengers. The launch day saw the Class 104 DTCL – which is currently paired with Class 101 DMBS (driving motor brake second) 51188 – operate a number of trips along the NNR route between Sheringham and Holt following its lunchtime entry into passenger service, which took place after a ceremony was held to officially launch the vehicle. The celebrations continued into the evening with a series of special services using the two-car hybrid Class 101/104 DMU set, which included a fish and chip special. The newly-restored DMU was…

Anyone who thinks organising a diesel event is easy seriously needs to think again. Often a thankless task for those who do it, with months of planning going into organising each event, it takes plenty of experience and commitment to pull a successful event together and certainly isn’t something for the faint-hearted. Trying to host a successful event has become much harder in recent times, with costs rising for virtually everything, making enthusiasts’ events – where visiting locomotives are often expected – particularly expensive to host. Additionally, with most people currently finding themselves with less disposable income when it comes to days out, many enthusiasts are now being more selective about which of the numerous events they attend. The difference between making a profit or a thumping loss is finite…

And then they were gone. By the time this issue goes on sale in early October, the reign of the small fleet of Cross-Country High Speed Trains will be over – and another operator has consigned the iconic HSTs to the history books. As we went to press in late September, the last scheduled service day for the trains – September 18 – has already gone, leaving just the special farewell charters to be operated just over a week later, on September 26. Introduced by BR onto CrossCountry routes in 1982, this isn’t the first time that HSTs have been banished from CrossCountry services, as Virgin’s reign on the franchise in the privatisation era saw HSTs phased out in favour of then-new Class 220 Voyager and Class 221 Super Voyager…