Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2018 i Rail Express

THE National Railway Museum occupies something of a tricky position. On the one hand, it is there to collect and preserve key items that allow the story of railways – which is fundamentally linked to the social and economic history of Britain as a whole – to be told to current and future generations. On the other hand, to do so means necessarily including some of the most important locomotives and units, which leads to demands from enthusiasts to get them running again. After all, who wouldn’t want to see and hear the likes of pioneer Class 40 No. D200 or the ‘Deltic’ prototype in action once more. However, operating locos costs money, needs manpower, and puts the vehicle – a valuable museum piece, don’t forget - at risk. The…

NR BRIDGE STRIKE CAMPAIGN NETWORK Rail has launched a new campaign aimed at professional HGV and high-sided vehicle drivers. Lorries Can’t Limbo encourages drivers to plan their route before they head out on their journey. Last year the number of bridge strikes across the rail network went up, making it the worst year for bridge strikes for five years. The campaign focuses on ‘The four Es: education of drivers and employers; engineering and signage; enablement technology in HGV cabs; and the enforcement of penalties. NR is working together with partners across the haulage industry, who are helping the rail company to educate drivers on how to size up their lorries by using its toolkit. CARMARTHENSHIRE OPEN DAY THE fledgling Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway heritage line at Cynheidre, Carmarthenshire, held…

Your letters, emails, feedback and other comments are always welcome. Contact us at Rail Express, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR; or email: railexpresseditor@mortons.co.uk. The editor reserves the right to edit all letters, and the views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the magazine. Got something to review? Send any books, DVDs or other items to the editor at: Rail Express, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR…

TWO Class 08s belonging to RMS Locotec are to be used at the Mid-Norfolk Railway’s gala on September 29/30. Nos. 08754/847 will operate towards Hoe on both days of the event. Also in use will be Nos. 47367 and 47596 Aldeburgh Festival, and the line’s two Class 101 units (sets 101695 and L836). For the first time in several years, the Llangollen Railway is to host a Diesel Galas September 21/22: Bodmin & Wenford Railway September 22/23: East Lancashire Railway September 23: Stephenson Railway Museum September 28-30: Isle of Wight Railway visiting loco at its gala on September 29/30. ‘Bagpipe’ No. 33102 Sophie is booked to attend from the Churnet Valley Railway. Making its first appearance away from the Mangapps Railway Museum since its return to service, No. 31430 Sister…

BESIDES those credited elsewhere, this issue has been made possible by the contributions of the following readers, to whom the editor is most grateful: Jonathan Allen, Mick Atkin, Stewart Armstrong, Daniel Carter, Alexander Cromarty, David Dockray, Steve Donald, Peter Foster, Brad Joyce, Stuart J Hood, Gordon Kirkby, Stuart Kirkby, Kieran Marshall, Graham Nuttall, Kevin Payne, Keith Partlow, Chris Playfair, Colin Pottle, Martyn Read, Karen Richardson, Ray Sexton, Steve Sienkiewicz, Joe Simpson, Jamie Squibbs, Tim Squires, Jack Taylor, The Wanderer, and many more.…

CLASS 319 MOVING to Wolverton from Allerton on July 30 was Northern’s No. 319424. The same day saw one of London Northwestern Railway’s additional sets, No. 319215, emerge and undertake a test run to Wembley with No. 319441 in tow for insurance. The pair then ran to Northampton depot. Soon to be reactivated, No. 319006 was moved by road from Long Marston to Wolverton in late July. CLASS 320 THE first of the next batch of Class 321 to 320 renumberings/reformations, No. 320404, emerged on August 8. The unit, formerly No. 321404 but now reduced to three cars, was collected by No. 37884 Cepheus, which formed the 5Q95/10.25 Wabtec Kilmarnock-Glasgow Shields. After dropping off the new addition to ScotRail’s fleet, the ‘37’ then took No. 320313 to Glasgow Works for…

■ DB CARGO: During the period under review some 13 HTAs arrived at DB Cargo’s workshop at Stoke-on-Trent for refurbishment, with a further 13 leaving the site to join the queue of proto-HRA wagons at Toton waiting for the ‘cut ’n’ shut’ conversion at WH Davis, Langwith Junction. The departing HTAs included No. 310625, which is the fifth example to be fitted with buffers at one end (the others being Nos. 310817, 311003/20/9), while No. 310694, observed on site at Stoke, is the sixth. It is reported that 20 HRAs will be so fitted (TOPS code HRA-B, design code HR001B, the standard wagons are HRA-A, design code HR001A). As ever, huge thanks to the guys on the ground for their observations which led to this report. AUGUST 1: Inbound Nos.…

■ TRAFFIC AND TRACTION: A reenactment of the Battle of the Boyne is held at Scarva each year on July 13. The transportation of many attendees to the ‘Sham Fight’ from Portadown has traditionally been by a shuttle service. This year, two six-car units Nos. 4009+4019 and 4002+4016 were used. The up platform (southbound) at Scarva was used for each service from Portadown and also for the return workings later the same day, as it is wider and more accessible than the down platform. The return trains ran first to Poyntzpass, then reversed and ran to Portadown over the down line – the same procedure that had been used earlier for the Scarva to Portadown empty movements. As Portrush station is being redeveloped and only one platform is in use,…

BUOYED by its ongoing success, Revolution Trains unveiled a major expansion of its 2mm range at The International N Gauge show on September 9 with an array of new projects announced. Leading the way is the Gloucester-built Class 128 single-car diesel parcels unit that is proposed for production in both the London Midland non-gangwayed and Western gangwayed forms. The specification includes a high level of detail, low profile chassis and directional lighting with DCC sound also under consideration. As usual for the company, the model will only go ahead if enough pre-orders are received, with prices expected to be around £125. Also to be funded in the same way is Revolution’s latest wagon project, covering the long-lived IPA car-carrying twins operated by STVA. Originally built during the 1950s, they were…

THREE more regional exclusive Class 37s have been announced in ‘OO’ gauge, which, like the others in this series, will only be available from retailers in certain areas of the UK. All are priced £164.95 for DCC ready and £254.95 for DCC sound fitted. Covering the early years of Privatisation is No. 37704 in the first EW&S livery, complete with ampersand but minus the ‘beasties’ logo. This will be available from retailers stretching from Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire to north Somerset and up to the West Midlands, Welsh borders, south Cheshire and Staffordshire, not to mention Ireland and Wales. For current day modellers, No. 37025 Inverness TMD in BR large logo blue is bound to be popular, this depicting the preserved loco as currently hired to Colas…

October 6/7 Folkestone MRC Exhibition, The Leas Cliff Hall, The Leas, Folkestone, Kent. www.folkestone-mrc.com 10am-5pm. Adult £6.50, child £3, family £16. Layouts include Gravesdown South (OO), Lomond Street (OO), Sandiacre (OO), Tidworth (OO), Whitecross Street (OO) and Oldham King Street (O). October 6/7 Wigan Model Railway Exhibition, Robin Park Sports & Tennis Centre, Loire Drive, Wigan, Lancashire. www.wiganfrm.org.uk 10am-5.30pm Sat, 10am-4.30pm Sun. Adult £10, accompanied child free. Layouts Include Dunkow Road (N), Deansmoor (N), Titheridge Junction (N), St Ruth (2mm), Crinan (OO), Scorbiton (OO), Strathmuir (OO), Westmoor Junction (OO) and Hebble Vale Goods (EM). October 13/14 Corby & District MRS Exhibition, St Peter & St Andrew Church Hall, Beanfield Avenue, Corby, Northants. www.cdmrs.co.uk 10am-5pm Sat, 11am-4pm Sun. Adult £4, OAP £3, child £2, family £10. October 13/14 Furness MRC Exhibition,…

THE high levels of subsidy provided by the Scottish Government to run the ScotRail network has prompted rail unions to propose that the train operating company should be nationalised to deliver higher standards of customer service at lower fares. The idea is that operating profits should be used to reduce fares by an average of 6.5%. However, the calculations are based on out-of-date data because since Abellio took over operations in October 2014, a combination of reduced revenue support payments and higher costs have eliminated any surplus. This in turn has meant Dutch national operator NS, which owns Abellio, has had to provide funds to make up a short fall. The unions also assert that a market-orientated rail policy is undesirable, and the goal of more affordable travel should be…

THE start date for Elizabeth Line trains running through London between the Great Eastern and Great Western networks, and thus relieving congestion on the London Underground system, has been put back to the autumn of 2019. Services were originally due to begin in 2017, but a decision was made in October 2010 to push this back by 12 months as a result of a cut in the budget from £15.9 to £14.8 billion, although £600 million was subsequently restored earlier this year to finish the project. The start date of December 2018 for using the central tunnel section has now been further delayed which, according to the official line, is because more time is needed to complete building work and safety tests. The critical issue is the interface between the…

GOVERNMENT policy is that controlled fares, which includes season tickets, should increase annually by the rate of inflation as measured by the Retail Prices Index (RPI) in the July prior to the January change date. This year’s RPI in July showed an increase over 2017 of 3.2%, outpacing the average growth in earnings of 2.4%. As a result, rail fares will become less affordable and where essential journeys are made – such as for travel to work – households will have to cut back on other spending. This is a tough call given the amount of recent service disruption following the introduction of the May timetable, but the view is that passengers affected should be compensated for the cancellations and delays that have taken place as a separate transaction from…

CREWE-BASED Locomotive Services has reached agreement with Porterbrook to acquire an HST set and two Class 90s when they finish with their present operators next year. These will be used to expand the company’s charter operations under the Saphos Trains brand. Indications are the HST will come from the LNER fleet rather than GWR, with the agreement including a full set, along with spare coaches. Meanwhile, the Class 90s will be Greater Anglia examples displaced by the introduction of the new EMUs from next year. Their higher maximum speed will allow Saphos charters to obtain more favourable paths on both the West Coast and East Coast Main Lines, as well as reducing wear and tear on the company's more vintage motive power.…

Severn Valley Fifties DVD Produced for the SVR by Locomaster Profiles Available at the October gala and while stocks last Running time 1hr 20mins. £4.99 at the gala/£5.99 after THE Severn Valley Railway has teamed up with Locomaster Profiles to produce this exclusive DVD charting the history of Class 50s in preservation at the SVR and beyond. The programme features many highlights of the 25 years since 50031 Hood arrived at Kidderminster in 1992, including many main line workings, plus visits of the SVR Class 50s to other heritage railways. Also included are all the major livery variations, as well as all the other surviving members of the class that have visited the SVR since 1992 and a number of unusual freight workings. Last, but not least, is an exclusive…

THE Deltic Preservation Society is set to benefit from the assistance of the ‘KOYLI’ Group, who are to provide manpower to help complete the protracted overhaul of No. D9015 (55015) Tulyar, which last ran back in April 1997. The offer of help comes as a result of the National Railway Museum’s condition review of its diesel and electric fleet (see August issue), which has resulted in work on locos being suspended until the review has been completed. Consequently, no work is at present being carried out on No. D9002 (55002) The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at York. There have already been major signs of progress with the reassembly of a set of overhauled bogies for Tulyar. During August, the wheelsets (which have been overhauled at the South Devon Railway)…

CLASS 117 CARS REUNITED A PAIR of Class 117 DMU power cars, which spent almost all their operational lives on BR working together, have been reunited at Whitwell & Reepham station (Norfolk). DMBS No. 51370, which was purchased from Cotswold Diesel Railcar Ltd earlier this year, has been joined by DMS No. 51412, which was previously located at Titley Junction (Herefordshire). No. 51370 had itself also been at Titley Junction until 2017, when it was sold with No. 51372 and moved to the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway. The opportunity to reunite the two power cars with their former trailer, No. 59522, also recently presented itself but was rejected owing to its condition, and the trailer has now moved to the GCR(N) at Ruddington from its previous home at the Chasewater Railway. NORTH…

AUGUST brought aconsiderable increase in the application of TransPennine Express vinyls to the Class 68 fleet with seven locos, Nos. 68020/23-27/32, completed at Crewe Gresty Bridge and the remaining handful due to be treated imminently. A strong contender for the most unlikely repaint location is Willesden F Sidings in North London, but this is where No. 56103 swapped its tatty Fertis colours for acoat of DCR grey during August. For the duration of the work the ‘Grid’ was ensconced in a specially constructed scaffolding and tarpaulin enclosure. At Barrow Hill, HNRC’s newly-acquired No. 37610 has seen its BR large logo blue repaint completed but it has been finished with standard size numbers and arrows, recalling some of the part-finished attempts from the 1980s. Also with some new adornments is Great…

THE first public passenger working of GWR’s ‘AT300’ IET units took place on August 18 when Nos. 802006/007 formed the 1B03/06.45 Bristol Temple Meads-Swansea. They then worked the 1L48/09.29 Swansea-Paddington prior to operating a round trip to Bristol (1C16/13.30 ex Paddington and 1A24/16.00 return). The previous day, August 17, No. 802005 worked the 1Z17/10.28 Penzance-Exeter, a special train for invited guests. Public runs to and from the West Country began three days later when two pairs of ‘AT300s’ were in action on the new booked diagrams. Nos. 802003/005 formed the 1A72/05.53 Plymouth-Paddington, 1C89/16.33 Paddington-Exeter and 1A98/19.55 Exeter-Paddington; and Nos. 802006/007 worked the 1C04/07.30 Paddington-Penzance, 1A93/14.00 Penzance-Paddington and 1C96/20.03 Paddington-Plymouth. More Class 802 diagrams to Devon and Cornwall are scheduled to be introduced on September 24. PHASED INTRODUCTION GWR has 36…

Allocations 156475 HT-NH 165131 PM-RG 166211 RG-PM 170459/60/61/72/73/74 HA/HAHQ-NL/EDHQ 172002 WN/EKHQ-TS/EJHQ 320404 HE/ETHQ-GW/HAHQ 195103 newly delivered HQ/EDHQ 331102 newly delivered HQ/EDHQ 385008 newly delivered HQ/HAHQ710102/10/11 newly delivered HQ/ EKHQ 800105/07/09 newly delivered HQ/ HBHQ 800314/15 newly delivered NP/EFHQ802015/16 newly delivered HQ/ EFHQ Renumbered 321404 to 320404 Formations  320404: 78098+63066+77946 Now in passenger traffic 319215, 319372 365513/19/21/23/33 385003/05, 385103/04 700060 800004 800308/09/10/13 802003/05/06/07 Stored/stopped locations Crewe South Yard: 365501/05/07/15/27/31/35/41 Ilford: 365503 Wolverton Works: 319006, 319373 Disposals CF Booth, Rotherham: Arrival date: July 24: 71949…

MK.4 ROAD TRANSFER WITH the rest of its set (BN17) at Wabtec, Doncaster for overhaul, No. 12432 was moved by road from Bounds Green to Doncaster on July 30/31 to rejoin the rest of the rake. ERS REPAINTS NEWLY-REPAINTED in Caledonian Sleeper colours, Nos. 6703 and 9800 were released from overhaul at Wolsingham on the Weardale Railway on July 31 and returned to Polmadie behind No 66739 Bluebell Railway . Earlier the same day, the ‘66’ had worked the 5Z27/08.14 Polmadie-Bishop Auckland West with Nos. 9513 and 9807 in tow. MK.3 SLEEPER STOPPED IN advance of the introduction of Mk.5 stock on Caledonian Sleeper workings, one vehicle, No. 10506, has already been taken out of traffic. The Mk.3a SLEP arrived at Long Marston on July 26, its…

■ CROSS-BORDER: On July 18, the 07.35 Dublin Connolly to Belfast Lanyon Place was worked by four-car DMU No. 29x27. The same train was again worked by a four-car DMU on August 1, on this occasion No. 29x19. That day also saw the 13.20 ex-Connolly and 16.05 return worked by ICR DMU No. 22x54, while the 16.50 ex-Connolly and 20.05 return were worked by unit No. 22x28. On August 3, a relief to the 10.35 Belfast Lanyon Place to Connolly was worked by three-car DMU No. 3002. This unit departed at 10.10, while the 10.35 was formed by a De Dietrich/ Mk.3 set (DBFO 9002)+GM No. 233, which had also worked the 07.35 ex-Connolly. The unit that worked the relief to the 10.35 ex-Belfast normally returns north empty, but remains…

WITH two major scale specific shows in early September, Dapol had plenty to announce and update in 2mm and 7mm during this period and the company also put out some ‘OO’ news for good measure. Taking ‘O’ gauge first, the main news for D&E modellers was the unveiling of both the Bogie Bolster E and YCV ‘Turbot’ ballast wagon in this scale, both appearing in pre-production form. Six versions of both ready-to-run wagons are initially planned with an early 2019 release anticipated. The ‘Turbot’ will appear in engineers’ grey/yellow and EWS maroon/yellow with three numbers for each, while the bolster gets six bauxite releases, all currently featuring either BEV revenue or YNV/YRV departmental TOPS codes. On display were livery samples of the array of Class 121 and Class 122 ‘bubble…

ANNOUNCED almost two years ago at the Warley exhibition, Hornby’s newly tooled Class 87 has now arrived with retailers. The ‘OO’ gauge model has initially appeared in BR Rail blue as No 87035 Robert Burns, featuring the original cross-arm pantograph design, and also as No. 87010 King Arthur in Intercity Swallow colours with a Brecknell-Willis high speed pantograph. The latter was painted in Swallow at Glasgow Works in October 1992, carrying the livery until early 1999 when Virgin colours were applied. A third Class 87, portraying Virgin Trains’ No. 87019 Winston Churchill, has been announced, but this is not due until next summer. First impressions of the loco are that it is a well-made, superbly-detailed model. Having acquired the InterCity release, Hornby has got the livery colours right to my…

IF the appearance of the Freightliner flats fills a massive gap amongst 4mm scale ready-to-run rolling stock, then the same can be said of the long-awaited arrival of the Mk.2f Driving Brake Second Open (DBSO) from Bachmann. Five years in the making, the debut of the push-pull coach in its original ScotRail form with cab front gangway connection marks the imminent unveiling of the manufacturer’s all-new Mk.2f range, these all being due to hit the shops this autumn. In some respects, the release of the DBSO alongside the other Mk.2f coaches is a little curious, as only one example of the latter, a First Open (FO), was to be regularly found amongst ScotRail’s premier fleet during the 1980s. To be strictly correct, the DBSO needs to be paired with Mk.2d…

AMONGST all the new rolling stock from Bachmann, a further loco has also been released in the form of another Class 44 ‘Peak’. The selected machine this time around is No. 44006 Whernside in BR blue with a coat of factory weathering (32-651A). Renumbered and repainted at the same time in autumn 1973, the loco was an early casualty among the Pilot Scheme Type 4s, being removed from traffic in December 1976 and cut up just two months later. Bachmann’s ‘OO’ gauge model of the first batch of ‘Peaks’ continues to be a dependable, if now slightly dated, re-creation and this latest iteration offers more of the same. The body sports the correct combination of features in terms of open and plated grilles and steps while the nose ends can…

NOW available from Rails of Sheffield is the retailer’s latest exclusive Bachmann limited edition, this portraying No. 37425 Sir Robert McAlpine/Concrete Bob in Railfreight triple grey with Construction logos. Surprisingly, this is the first time these particular sub-sector emblems have appeared on the ‘OO’ gauge model. The Type 3 received the livery at the end of 1989 following overhaul at Glasgow Works, it being one of several Class 37/4s displaced from ScotRail passenger duties to find anew career on freight work. In this guise, it became part of the Buxton out-based aggregates fleet, working alongside the incumbent Class 37/5s on traffic from Peak Forest and the surrounding area. It was not until March 1993 that No. 37425 returned to regular passenger work, becoming part of the Regional Railways allocation based…

HATTONS UNVEILS FIRST SAMPLE OF NEW CLASS 66 THE end of August saw Hattons receive the first engineering prototype of its all-new ‘OO’ gauge Class 66 from China. The fully functional but hand-built model will now undergo testing and evaluation with a number of areas already identified for improvement. However, it gives a good indication of how the model will look with a superb amount of detail incorporated on the underframe for example while the rotating axleboxes are also in place. As pictured here, the sample was supplied from the factory with an original body and low-emission underframe, the interchangeable components on the latter subsequently being swapped over to match the body. Livery samples are due later this year ahead of release next spring. www.hattons.co.uk CLASSIC BR STEEL WAGON NEXT…

MNR SECURES EU SHED GRANT THE Mid-Norfolk Railway has been awarded European Union funding for construction of a train shed at Dereham. The unspecified amount is said to cover 80% of the cost of the three-track building, which will be large enough to accommodate nine locos or carriages. The rest of the money has been raised through donations by the railway’s members and visitors. The shed will provide much-needed undercover maintenance facilities, allowing restoration work to continue all year round regardless of the weather. The work could be completed by the end of the 2018. TRACTOR BLOCKS MAIN LINE A POTENTIAL tragedy was narrowly avoided on the evening of August 15 when a large tractor rolled on to the main line at Fitzwilliam, near Wakefield, and blocked the line. Luckily…

SOUTH WEST ‘EYE IN THE SKY’ NETWORK Rail has begun using helicopters across the South Western network as part of a drive to improve journeys for passengers. Using thermal and visual imaging equipment, the aerial operations team are able to identify small faults and inspect a wide area of infrastructure in a short space of time. The helicopter is capable of covering the route from London Waterloo to Weymouth in around three hours, including hovering over equipment to capture the critical thermal and high definition images. The flights also reduce the need to send members of the workforce onto the track when trains are operating, thus improving safety. EMT FACEBOOK TRIAL EAST Midland Trains is testing new communications technology that notifies passengers of disruption to their journeys with personalised direct…

THE Rail Accident Investigation Board has completed its report into the derailment of a GBRf container train at Ely West Junction on August 14, 2017. This saw FEA-A wagon No. 630034 (part of a twin set with No. 630033) and the following 11 wagons leave the tracks and be dragged along for about 350 metres, causing heavy damage to the infrastructure. RAIB has pinpointed the damping on the bogies of No. 630034 as the cause of the accident, and has blamed incorrect maintenance limits and inappropriately validated general repair maintenance specifications. GBRf was the owner of the wagons and in charge of maintenance of the wagons, which was undertaken by Wabtec.…

PATHFINDER Tours is again running the only rugby supporters special train direct to Edinburgh (and Motherwell for those staying in the Glasgow area) in connection with the Wales v Scotland Six Nations Rugby International to be played at Murrayfield stadium, Edinburgh, on March 9, 2019. The tour leaves Carmarthen on March 8 at 07.00, arriving in Edinburgh at 18.30. The return leaves Edinburgh at 10.00 on March 11, arriving at Carmarthen at 21.30. It travels via Cardiff, Crewe and Motherwell in both directions. Punters on the special must make their own accommodation reservations and obtain the rugby tickets themselves. However, you do not have to be a rugby fan to partake, making it suitable for a mini-break in Edinburgh/ Glasgow.…

AS August began, GB Railfreight had received the first five Class 60s from Colas Rail – Nos. 60047/76/85/87/95 – all being stabled together at the Railnet terminal at Doncaster. The first to depart from there was No. 60095, this bringing up the rear of a 4G66/11.45 Doncaster Decoy-Peterborough empty wagon move on August 7, powered by No. 66720. Transferred to Whitemoor the following day, No. 60095 was next recorded on the move, on August 31, when it headed to Eastleigh Works with a single FEA wagon in tow, the Type 5 remaining on site for repainting into GBRf colours. August 10 saw No. 60047 dispatched to Tyne Dock to begin driver training, it along with Nos. 60076/85/87 having lost their Colas logos and lettering at Doncaster, but with the ‘Railfreight’…

COLAS RAIL THE protracted return to service of No. 56049 moved on a stage on August 6 with a 0Z56/09.30 test run from Nottingham Eastcroft to Crewe and back. To provide a load, No. 56096 was in tow along with Boden Rail’s Nos. 50017 and 50050, although the resurrected Type 5 was not seen out again during the month. Another Colas convoy was noted very late on September 2 when Nos. 56078 and 56090 sandwiched a disabled No. 56105 away from Peak Forest. The latter ‘Grid’ had suffered traction motor damage while undertaking ‘super shunter’ duties, leaving it unable to move by rail without a wheelskate. With this in place, the slow speed convoy headed for Longsight overnight, allowing suitable access for No. 56105 to be transferred to a low-loader…

New pool  GBTG – GB Railfreight Class 60 Allocation changes 43041 OO-LE-LA43042 OO-LE-LA43053 LE-LA43056 LE-LA43063 OO-LE-LA43069 OO-LE-LA43070 OO-LE-LA43071 OO-LE-LA43078 OO-LE-LA43079 OO-LE-LA43086 OO-LE-LA43087 OO-LE-LA43088 OO-LE-LA43091 OO-LE-LA43092 OO-LE-LA43093 OO-LE-LA43094 OO-LE-LA43097 OO-LE-LA43098 OO-LE-LA43122 OO-LE-LA43124 LE-LA43129 LE-LA43130 LA/EFPC-HA/HAPC43131 LE-LA43136 LE-LA43137 LE-LA43138 LE-LA43139 LA/EFPC-HA/HAPC43144 LE-LA43147 LE-LA43150 LA/EFPC-HA/HAPC43151 LE-LA43164 LA/EFPC-HA/HAPC60011 WQAA-WCAT60045 WQAB-WQBA60047 RU/COLO-PG/GBRT-GBTG60049 WQAB-WQBA60065 WQAA-WCAT60071 WQAB-WQBA60076 RU/COLO-PG/GBRT-GBTG60085 RU/COLO-PG/GBRT-GBTG60087 RU/COLO-PG/GBRT-GBTG60095 RU/COLO-PG/GBRT-GBTG60099 WQAB-WQBA66001 WBAR-WQAA66003 WBAE-WQAA66019 WBAR-WQAA66035 WBAE-WQAA-WBAE66051 WBAR-WQAA66053 WBAE-WQAA-WBAE66084 WBAR-WQAA-WBAR66092 WBAE-WQAA66109 WBAR-WQAA-WBAR66115 WBAE-WQAA66120 WBAE-WQAA66121 WBAE-WQAA66133 WBAE-WQAA66135 WBAE-WQAA-WBAE66137 WBAE-WQAA66148 WBAE-WQAA66176 WBAR-WQAA66188 WBAR-WQAA66200 WBAE-WQAA66230 WBAE-WQAA-WBAE66507 DFIM-DFHJ66522 DFIM-DFHJ66999 registered HQ/GROG67005 WQAA-WAAC67006 WQAA-WAAC67013 WAWC-WAAC67018 WAWC-WAAC67020 WAAC-WAWC67022 WAAC-WAWC-WAAC67029 WACC-WAWC70002 DFGI-DHLT70011 DFGI-DHLT-DFGI70015 DFGI-DHLT Modifications  Dellner couplings fitted: 92018/28 Tripcocks fitted: 66507/22 Reinstated 60011/65, 67005/06 Stored/stopped locations  Castle Donington EMDC: 56018/81/98, 56104, 56312 Dollands Moor: 66230 Leeds Midland Road: 70002/15 Toton: 66001/03/19/51/92,66115/20/21/33/37/48/76/88, 66200…

CLASS 153 ‘SUPER SPRINTER’ FOLLOWING their transfer from GWR to East Midlands Trains, Nos. 153372/382 entered service with their new operator in early August following application of EMT colours. No. 153368 appeared later in the month, leaving just No. 153318 of the four units that moved still to be put into traffic. Following attention by Wabtec, No. 153306 formed the 5Z53/15.20 Doncaster West Yard-Norwich Crown Point onAugust 21. CLASS 155 ‘SUPER SPRINTER’ AUGUST 1 saw No. 155341 return from Brodie Rail, Kilmarnock to Neville Hill following refurbishment. It had been away since April 1. Now at Kilmarnock is No. 155342. CLASS 156 ‘SUPER SPRINTER’ OUT of action for several months following its derailment on the Mallaig branch back on January 22, No. 156458 has returned to service following repairs at…

THE Guildex show at the start of September brought a further expansion of Heljan’s ‘O’ gauge range with the announcement of three new projects. Undoubtedly the most interesting is that the Class 56s will be joining the senior scale in ready-to-run form with the manufacturer announcing its intention to produce the later build examples that emerged from Doncaster and Crewe. In terms of details, this should include the more angular cab appearance, no bufferbeam lip, full-size air horn grilles and proud marker/tail lights. The specification is to Heljan’s usual 7mm standard, with a 2020 release date planned. The proposed liveries run from BR blue to Loadhaul, taking in BR large logo blue along with both Railfreight original grey and Red Stripe. Triple grey is not forgotten either with Coal, Construction…

IF THERE are two wagon designs that define the modernisation of Britain’s railways in the 1960s, it would be the merry-go-round coal hoppers and the container carrying flats introduced under the Freightliner brand. Both revolutionised their particular traffics, going on to put in decades of service, and are fully deserving of being immortalised in miniature. Hornby recognised this many years ago by producing models of both in ‘OO’ gauge but as the hobby developed, they became inadequate for the purpose. While the manufacturer responded with a new HAA early this century, the Freightliner flats have been a major gap ever since. For those with the patience and skill, the etched brass kits produced by Colin Craig offered a high quality solution but as is so often the case, it was…

THE past 18 months or so have seen considerable interest generated in the fleet of Carflats built by British Rail on the underframes of redundant coaching stock. These were constructed to support not only the burgeoning Motorail network but also to allow the distribution of new motor vehicles from factories in the UK and those imported through various docks. The first manufacturer to venture into this field last year was Oxford Rail with its decent, but not perfect, ‘OO’ gauge re-creation of the Carflats built on LMS underframes. This was followed by the N Gauge Society’s smaller scale versions at the start of this year, these portraying the Mk.1-based Carflats and produced in conjunction with Bachmann as part of the Graham Farish range. Bachmann has now utilised the research from…