Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2022 i Rail Express

IF you did a double-take when you first saw this month’s front cover, you’re probably in good company. Most of us thought third rail DC electrified railways were reserved for urban light railways, certainly not something that would be considered in the 2020s for main line routes. And yet… it might come to pass (see Headline News p10). And if it does, it isn’t necessarily the anachronism it might at first appear to be. After all, the now prolific network of third rail DC electrified lines in the South East was partially developed by stealth. When the erstwhile Southern Railway made a decision just under a century ago to electrify London’s suburban lines with DC third rail rather than AC overhead traction there was no grand plan for the juice…

TfL HAS confirmed that Crossrail (now rebranded the Elizabeth Line) will open for public operations from May 24. As has been planned for some time, opening will be phased and the initial operation will see trains run from Paddington (low level) to Abbey Wood only. Trains arriving at Paddington will go forward out of service to the above ground reversing sidings, where they will automatically switch direction and return to the eastbound platform at Paddington, to resume passenger service to Abbey Wood. Full operation involving through running is expected by May 2023. Bond Street station in central London is still undergoing finishing works and an opening date has yet to be announced. Normal service for the first phase of Elizabeth Line will be 12 trains per hour (one every five…

A BATTERY-powered train has successfully started operations on the 3ft gauge line that runs for around 1.25 miles along Southend-on-Sea’s pier. The city council had been looking into alternatives to the diesel trains that previously worked the line (one of these remains in service and is due to be replaced by a second BMU this summer). Train developer Severn Lamb claims the new units, which do not require rail electrification, on board power generation or overhead lines, and offer a sustainable drive system solution, are the first of their kind to go into regular passenger service in the UK. Other innovative features include: colour changing internal and external LED lighting, and facilities to enable the train to be themed according to seasonal and special events. ESSENTIAL READING FOR TODAY’S RAIL…

THE reality of the recent half price fare offer aimed at encouraging the return of rail passengers, for travel between April 25 and May 27 using services provided by train operating companies in England, has not proved to be the bargain that many intending users expected. As it was designed to attract passengers to use off peak services with spare capacity, the result has been that there was no ticket availability on many routes as it was left to the train operating companies to select journeys where the offer applied. The tickets were not available at local stations and could only be purchased online for journeys planned in advance, and the one million tickets covered by the offer represent only 1% of rail travel that will be made during the…

EASTERN Rail Services (ERS) is offering readers the chance to obtain a one-off piece of modern image railwayana, in the form of a metal roundel from former European Passenger Services (EPS) generator van No. 96374, through a sealed bid charity auction. There is just time to submit your bid by post or email before the deadline of 17.00 on Friday, May 27, 2022. The highest bidder wins. Postal bids can be sent to: EPS Roundel Auction, c/o Customer Services, Mortons Media, Morton Way, Horncastle, LN9 6JR. Email bids can be sent to Rail Express at railexpresseditor@ mortons.co.uk, with the subject line ‘Roundel Bid’. The winner will acquire a unique piece of railway history in the knowledge that the money raised will go to two excellent causes: the Railway Benefit Fund…

BESIDES those credited elsewhere, this issue has been made possible by the contributions of the following readers, to whom the editor is most grateful: Alex Thorkildsen, Andrew Triggs, Andy Lay, Andy Mason, Andy Small, Andy Stoppard, Barry Gill, Ben Bucki, Brad Joyce, aBrian Newton, Carl Watson, Chris Brock, Chris Gee, Chris Newton, Chris Wakeman, CJ Rich, Colin Howat, Colin Pottle, Colin Wareing, Dafydd Whyles, Daryl Hector, Dave Kerr, Dave Kirwin, Dave Smith, David Palmer, Dean Parsons, Doug Birmingham, Duncan McEvoy, Edward Longinotti, Ethan Wilson, Gary S Smith, Howard Lewsey, Iain Scotchman, Ian Sinclair, Jack Amos, Jack Prentice, Jack Taylor, Jamie Perry-Giddins, John Longden, John Skipsey, Justin Cazenave, Keith Marshall, Keith Partlow, Kevin Payne, Mark Lynam, Mark Youdan, Martin Elsey, Martin Tirebuck, Martin Turner, Mat Yardley, Matt Fisher, Matty Walker, Michael…

DIRECT Rail Services continues to divest itself of the ‘off brand’ members of its locomotive roster. This process was evident on April 25 with the publication of a third tender document that includes, for the first time since 2016 – when spares donor No. 37194 was sold for scrap – examples of the heavily rebuilt Class 37/0 fleet. Nos. 37038, 37059 and 37259 are joined by a second Class 37/4, No. 37409, and a pair of Class 57/0s, Nos. 57003 and 57007. The closing date is May 23. All six locomotives had recently been added to the XDSP disposal group, all previously stored XWSS. Curiously No. 57003, which has spent the best part of six months out of action in the Royal Dock sidings at Norwich with wheel flats, was…

Correct to April 23, 2022 Allocations 153307/28/31/52 HQ/SCEC-CF/ HLHQ 153364 sent for disposal 165101 RG-PM 196113 newly delivered HQ/EJHQ231001/03 newly delivered HQ/HLHQ315839/48 sent for disposal 317342/48 IL/EBHQ-HQ/SCEC317513/15 IL/EBHQ-HQ/SCEC317708/10 sent for disposal 319374 sent for disposal 321409/23/24/36 IL/EBHQ-HQ/SAXU 365536 sent for disposal 701043/44/45 newly delivered HQ/ HYHQ 720105 newly delivered HQ/EBHQ 720601-04 newly delivered HQ/ETHQ730002/07 newly delivered HQ/EJHQ Now off registration – scrapped: 456001/05/17 Liveries EMR: 360116 SWR: 450037/75 Named 323209 Birmingham New Street 323211 Four Oaks 323215 Gravelly Hill Additional name added 390129 Brett Now in nine-car formation 345016 Now in passenger traffic 345069, 720588/89 Stored/stopped locations Brodies, Kilmarnock: 156478 Cambridge: 379016/19 Crewe LNWR: 777001/02/05/06/08/12/14 Derby: 701038, 720526/55 East Ham: 720601-04 Ely: 317342/48, 317513/15 Kirkdale: 777010/49 Long Marston: 153311, 196004/08/09/10, 196110, 769940/46 Old Dalby: 710375 Oxley: 730002/07 Stewarts Lane: 455809/30…

RIVIERA MK.1 LATEST ANOTHER four coaches left Eastleigh Works for Burton on April 19, Nos. 1832, 3149, 4959 and 21269 being hauled to Nemesis Rail’s depot by No. 66013. Two other coaches have been disposed of, BCK No. 21245 to the Kent & East Sussex Railway (see Preservation, p33) and FO No. 3112 to the SRPS for use in its main line set after restoration. NETWORK RAIL MK.2 UPDATE HAVING arrived at Derby from Cardiff Canton with No. 6117 four days earlier, No. 5995 was put into service on March 23, being included in the consist of a Derby RTC-Darlington test train hauled by No. 37612. It is the first of six former DRS coaches purchased by Network Rail last year to enter service. Two more, Nos. 6001 and 6122,…

SULZER VISITORS FOR NORTH NORFOLK AND KWVR RECENTLY returned to traffic at Peak Rail after more than 20 years out of use, Pete Waterman’s Class 25 No. D7659 (25309) is to pay a visit to the North Norfolk Railway for its mixed traffic event in June. The same weekend should see a pair of Class 33s visiting the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. As well as No. 33202, normally based at Mangapps Railway Museum, newly overhauled No. D6515 (33012), which was released from Eastleigh Works on April 14 (see Headline News p11), will be attending. A Class 68 from DRS has also been requested. FREIGHTLINER ‘70’ TO STAR AT BO’NESS GALA ONE of Freightliner’s Class 70s is to make a guest appearance at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway Diesel Gala,…

FRESH from repairs to shifted cranks, No. 08503 was returned to the Barry Tourist Railway on April 21, having undergone attention at Tyseley Loco Works. The loco was damaged last October following use on a filming contract at Baglan Bay. Separately, No. 08114 has gone on hire to the Epping Ongar Railway until the autumn, arriving from Ruddington on April 20. Unfortunately, a generator fault saw its involvement in the following weekend’s diesel gala prematurely curtailed, but repairs are expected to take place on site.…

SEVERAL planned tours by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) have been scuppered by a huge rise in fuel costs. Other tour operators have already been hit and it’s worrying as to whether the market will be able to afford the rise in prices. The SRPS uses West Coast Railways as its operator and the Carnforth-based company has advised of rises of between 45-50% up on last year. Provision of traction and drivers, as well as fuel, is included in the package. The SRPS feels that viability is now thrown into question and is evaluating options. One possibility is to make more use of its own home-based Class 37/4 No. 37403, owned by the SRPS Diesel Group. Using this loco, and perhaps only one from the Carnforth stable, might bring…

CONSTRUCTION of the near 400-strong fleet of HYA/IIA high capacity bogie coal hopper wagons allowed GB Railfreight and Fastline Freight to challenge the dominance of EWS and Freightliner on power station coal traffic. Introduced over a four-year period from 2007, the wagons are up-to-date, with TF25 low track force bogies and an uncluttered appearance. Hopper bodies are of unpainted metal adorned with operator logos and the strange network of brown lines where the hoppers were welded together, which is unique to this wagon type. The TOPS code IIA was adopted for HYA wagons numbered in the UIC number sequence, hence the two TOPS codes being issued for the type, even though they are essentially all the same design. The wagons are similar in appearance to the large fleet of HTAs…

THE BR Diagram 1/260 11t Gunpowder van was the last build of an RCH design dating back to the 1930s. Of metal construction for both the body (wooden planking on the interior) and underframe, the design was adopted by the LNER, GWR, LMS and Royal Ordnance. BR built its Gunpowder van from the early 1950s with changes over the original RCH design. As construction continued in small lots through the 1950s, small changes and upgrades were made. A total of 160 were constructed by Swindon and Lancing works, the first 65 being unfitted and the last 25 with 10-foot wheelbase underframes. Vacuum braked wagons received the TOPS code CXV, with some surviving as late as 1983 in departmental use. Unfitted wagons were converted to vacuum braking in due course and…

June 2022 June 10/11 Taunton Model Railway Group. Club House Open Day. In conjunction with the West Somerset Railway diesel gala. Clubhouse, Platform 1, Bishops Lydeard Station, Bishops Lydeard, Somerset, TA4 3BX. 10.30-16.00 both days. There will be a small admission charge. www.tauntonmodelrailwaygroup. co.uk June 11 Gauge O Guild Summer Exhibition in Doncaster. The Dome Leisure Centre, Doncaster Lakeside, Bawtry Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN4 7PD. 10.00-16.00. Adults £10, Members £5 (includes family). www.gaugeoguild.com/events/ guild_shows.aspx?id=5 June 11/12 Mendip 2022. Shepton & District Model Railway Society. Shepton Scout Hall, Old Wells Road, West Shepton, Shepton Mallett, Somerset, BA4 5XN. 10.30-16.30 Sat, 10.00-16.00 Sun. sheptonmrs.wordpress.com June 18 Stafford Midsummer Model Railway Exhibition. Stafford Railway Circle. Berkswich Methodist Church Hall, The Rise, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST17 0LH. 10.00-16.00 Sat. Adults £5, accompanied child free.…

VIVARAIL has sent another of its BMUs for operations in the USA. Two-car unit No. 230011 was shipped to Baltimore on April 9, and will join No. 230002 at Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania, for testing and demonstrations. The trains, converted from former London Underground D78 stock, will be used to trial ‘pop-up Metro’ routes, typically underutilised lines where the BMUs offer low-cost, low-risk start-ups. The units are likely to be closely observed by American passenger operators as rail decarbonsiation efforts in the US have until now focused on locomotives.…

ON April 13 the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) published the actions it believes are necessary to deliver timetable revisions on two of the UK’s busiest InterCity routes. New timetables planned for both the WCML and ECML should lead to a more efficient use of capacity and better resilience to disruption, benefiting train operators and ultimately passengers. The rail regulator has written to Network Rail and the Department for Transport (DfT) setting out its understanding of the necessary decisions and issues needing resolution to ensure successful delivery of the new timetables. West Coast Main Line Planned for December 2022, the WCML project is now less than 40 weeks from implementation. ■ Network Rail needs to communicate its plan for access and processes for timetabling. Operators will then need to…

Picture the scene: it’s 1964, The Beatles are playing over the radio in a messroom at Crewe Works, the air still carries the smell of classic steam, and the finishing touches are being made to the latest diesel locomotive to come out of the shop (also see p86). It’s a Brush Type 4, numbered D1645 (later to become 47830). Fast forward almost 57 years and I’m now sat in the cab of that very loco, back in two-tone green livery and renumbered D1645, popping in my own EP key and taking full control... Okay, it was with a minder and I was moving it 60ft down the line and out of the way, but it was still a magical moment. That beautiful-sounding engine and poky acceleration didn’t make it feel…

Correct to April 23, 2022 Liveries Pullman: 99347 Named 99347 Diamond Preserved Churnet Valley Railway: 12090, 12137 K&ESR: 21245 Northumbria Rail: 40904 SRPS, Bo’ness: 3112 Wensleydale Railway: 4406, 9370 In further use Richardson Primary School, Smalley: 11088 Stored/stopped locations Barrow Hill: 9705 Doncaster Wabtec: 10301, 11322, 12210, 12316, 12452, 82230 Great Yarmouth: 5787, 5937, 6064, 6173, 9709/10 Rail Operations Centre, York: 12230, 12468 Wembley: 10305, 12215, 12304/24, 82220 Wolverton: TP09/12 Disposals CF Booth, Rotherham: Arrival date: April 20: 42324. Cut dates: April 11: 17148; April 15: 6414, 977787. Euro Demolition & Dismantling at Toton: Cut April 22: 975454 Sims Metals, Newport: Arrival dates: March 29: 12177-79/81/83-85, 82107, 82307/08; April 14: 42167, 42231, 42563/65…

May 19-22: Severn Valley Railway May 27-29: Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway June 9-11: West Somerset Railway June 10-12: North Norfolk Railway June 10-12: Keighley & Worth Valley Railway June 18/19: Midland Railway – Butterley (DMU) June 30-July 2: East Lancashire Railway July 2/3: Swindon & Cricklade Railway July 15-17: Mid Hants Railway July 29-31: Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway August 5-7: Ecclesbourne Valley Railway August 12-14: Spa Valley Railway August 12-14: Caledonian Railway September 3/4: Llangollen Railway September 10/11: Middleton Railway September 16-18: East Lancashire Railway September 17/18: Dean Forest Railway September 17/18: Epping Ongar Railway September 23-25: Mid-Norfolk Railway September 29-October 2: Severn Valley Railway October 8/9: Llangollen Railway (DMU) November 12/13: East Lancashire Railway (DMU)…

PREVIOUSLY destined for use by Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service after a temporary visit to the East Lancashire Railway, No. 144009 is to be retained on the heritage line following a change in ownership. The ‘Pacer’ proved popular at the ELR’s diesel gala and DMU events last year, and now carries a fictitious Great Midlands Trains livery which was applied for a filming contract. Heading to Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue instead is No. 144010, which was previously located at the Weardale Railway. In advance of this, it was moved to the East Lancashire Railway in late March, where it will undergo component recovery before being transferred to its new base, which is also in Bury. ■ Another ‘Pacer’ which has been given a reprieve is No. 142011 at…

ALSTOM MID-February brought an exchange of shunters at Polmadie, with No. 08954 being unloaded on the 17th, following maintenance at Eastleigh Works. This in turn released No. 08451 for the long journey south to the Arlington workshops, where the scheduled work includes a repaint. FREIGHTLINER REINSTATED back in January, overhauled No. 08891 finally departed Bartonunder-Needwood on April 4, bound for Crewe Basford Hall. Here it replaced No. 08691, which had departed three days earlier, and via a weekend stopover at the haulier’s yard, for attention by Nemesis Rail at Burton Wetmore. HNRC THE last two Class 08s stored at Long Marston both departed for the Battlefield Line during March, No. 08701 being the first away on the 3rd, with unloading taking place the next day. It was then joined by…

NO brand-new tooling was revealed in Bachmann’s summer programme, with reissued Class 08 shunters and Class 90 locomotives in various colourful liveries dominating the list of new versions of established models. Three Class 90s in both DCC-ready and digital sound versions are added to the list, including Rail Express Systems No. 90019 Penny Black (32-614); Freightliner G&W No. 90044 (32-617) and EWS No. 90030 Crewe Locomotive Works (32-619). The DCC-ready versions are priced at £229.95. Class 08 models include up-to-date versions for Harry Needle Railroad and Freightliner G&W numbered as No. 08502 (32-123) and No. 08785 (32-124) respectively. A BR blue model is also included as No. 08031 (32-115C). All three models are priced at £149.95. Two digital sound fitted BR(S) MLVs are added to the range as No. S68002…

Accurascale continues to whip up enthusiasm for its Class 37 project by revealing a livery sample for Network Rail No. 97301, an ‘Accurascale Exclusive’ model which is not available for sale through any of its retail network. The model not only shows the extensive detailing being applied to the models, but the unique testing equipment fitted to the underframe. We have been told to expect further livery samples of the models which are due for delivery in the late summer. www.accurascale.co.uk…

CONSTRUCTION has started of a new £26.5 million station in south Leeds. The two-platform station, to be named White Rose, is located next to the White Rose office park, shopping centre and bus interchange and is situated between Morley and Cottingley on the main trans-Pennine route to Manchester via Huddersfield. Rail infrastructure specialist Spencer Group is building the station on behalf of development partners West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Leeds City Council, the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Munroe K. The station is expected to open in 2023. Like us on facebook facebook.com/RailExpressMag Follow us on twitter @railexpress…

DATS Class 43 power car No. 43054 is being assessed for damage to its cab end after it is understood that it was hit by Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway’s Class 31 No.97205/31163 during the C&PR’s Spring Diesel Event on April 2. The ‘Goyle’s’ front end is also thought to be seriously damaged. Details of the collision, believed to have taken place at the end of the line at Chinnor at a low speed, have yet to be released. But the C&PR told Rail Express that it was discussing the incident with its insurers and had informally informed the ORR. A third party had already alerted the RAIB. The power car was one of several visitors to the line, including another DATS power car No. 43066, a DATS Mk.3 coach…

AT THE end of April, GB Railfreight confirmed that it will operate 30 Class 99 hybrid locomotives, funded by Beacon Rail and built by Stadler. The Co-Co machines will be based on Stadler’s successful Eurodual platform and can run under 25kV AC electric routes, but are also equipped with a Stage V emissions diesel engine. The locomotives, due to start operations in 2025, will replace Class 66 diesels, and GBRf estimates that their use will cut emissions by around 50% per journey, saving a total of some 585,000 tonnes of carbon each year. The UK has been slow to adopt hybrid locomotives compared to other European countries. The only machines currently working on the UK main line network are DRS’ 10 Class 88s. Rail Operations Group has 30 Class 93…

Correct to April 23, 2022 Depot/Pool Codes DCRO DCR Locomotives – Operational DCRS DCR Locomotives – Stored Allocations 37038 XWSS-XSDP 37059 XWSS-XSDP 37259 XWSS-XSDP 37405 KM/XSDP-BH/HNRL 37409 XWSS-XSDP 56007 LR/UKRS-RR/GBRG 56103 HQ DCRO-DCRS 57002 XHSO-XSDP-XHSO 57003 XWSS-XHSO-XSDP 57007 XWSS-XSDP 57301 GROG-XHSO-XWSS 57303 GROG-XHSO-XWSS 57305 GROG-XHSO 57310 GROG-XHSO 57312 GROG-XHSO 60008 WQDA-DCRS 60009 WQDA-DCRS 60013 WQDA-DCRS 60022 WQDA-DCRS 60028 DCRS-DCRO 60029 DCRS-DCRO 60038 WQDA-DCRS 60046 DCRS-DCRO 60055 DCRS-DCRO 60057 WQDA-DCRS 60061 WQDA-DCRS 60064 WQDA-DCRS 60070 WQDA-DCRS 60075 WQDA-DCRS 60080 WQDA-DCRS 60090 WQDA-DCRS 60098 WQDA-DCRS 60099 WQDA-DCRS 66015 WBRT-WBAE 66155 WBRT-WBAE 67029 WQAB-WQAA 90021 WQ/WQAA-CE/WEAC Renumbered 56007-69005 Liveries DB Cargo red: 66125 GBRf + large Ukraine flag: 66708 +Ukraine flag + #We Stand with Ukraine: 66099 Named 43172 Tiverton Castle 66708 Glory to Ukraine 68013 Peter Wreford-Bush 68015 Kev Helmer Names removed…

■ DB CARGO: Making its first journey for several years to the famed former Marcroft Engineering facility at Stokeon-Trent, WIA five-unit car carrier No. 85 70 4971 058-8 was delivered by the Arpley ‘tripper’ on March 25, spending two weeks on site before heading back north and into traffic on April 6. The next member of the fleet to arrive was No. 85 70 4971 012-5 on April 22, which last visited the Potteries in summer 2020. ■ ERMEWA RAIL: Having received the first 11 wagons of its new 23 vehicle order with Millet AFR of France in December 2021, the balance of the Tarmac order of JGA-P cement tankers arrived in the UK through the Channel Tunnel in the second week of April. Nos. 81 70 7829 042-053 continued…

EASTERN Rail Services has purchased six Mk.2 coaches which were recently put up for sale by DRS. Nos. 5787, 5937, 6064, 6173 and 9710 arrived at Great Yarmouth on April 7, No. 57002 Rail Express being used for their move south from Carlisle Kingmoor. A further coach, DBSO No. 9705, which has been acquired by Europhoenix, was dropped off en route at Barrow Hill. Three of the above listed vehicles (Nos. 5787, 5937 and 6163) had been stored at Motherwell since the cessation of loco-hauled trains on the Fife circle, and were hauled to Kingmoor in advance of their transfer to Great Yarmouth by Nos. 68018 Vigilant and 37425 Sir Robert McAlpine/Concrete Bob on April 6. ERS has also purchased a further DBSO, No. 9709, which was transferred from Longtown…

CLASS 14 PROGRESS THE defective power unit in No. D9525 was lifted from the loco at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway on April 18. The power unit is now in the process of being stripped down prior to further work in advance of the fitting of a replacement crank. SRPS ‘37’ HIRED TO NYMR THE Scottish Railway Preservation Society’s No. 37403 Isle of Mull was due to move to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, in early May, where it is expected to remain until the early autumn. Its main line certification will provide the NYMR with a diesel capable of operating to Whitby while its Class 25 is out of action. Workings in the early part of the season were covered by hired-in No. 31128 Charybdis. RODNEY STARTED OUT…

DESPITE the cessation of its contract with Locomotive Services earlier this year, the Class 40 Preservation Society has affirmed its commitment to running No. D345 (40145) on Network Rail metals, and says it is speaking to several parties who are interested in using the loco on the main line. A new engineering team has been appointed, headed by a couple of people who are already well known in the diesel preservation world – David Peacock, who was previously CFPS engineer prior to 2010, and Alex Williams, former head of mechanical engineering for the Deltic Preservation Society. Later in 2022, it will be 20 years since No. D345 regained its main line certification. The new team have also set a target of three years to have No. 40135 back in service…

BLUEBELL OFFERS COACHES FOR SALE THREE LMS sleeping cars head a list of vehicles which have been put up for sale by the Bluebell Railway as surplus to requirements. Sleeper First No. 398 and Sleeper Third Nos. 603/23 became redundant when the line acquired Mk.3 vehicles in 2020, and, because of the likely cost of asbestos stripping, are being offered for a nominal sum. They have substantially intact interiors. Also put up for disposal is a Mk.1 Sleeper No. 2442, formerly part of the ‘Queen of Scots’ rake, which is incomplete and being offered without bogies. Several former Southern Railway vehicles are also on offer, including Maunsell Corridor Third No. 2356 and Brake Third No. 3724, together with SR Post Office Sorting Van No. 4922. All are in need of…

As passenger numbers approach 70% of pre-pandemic levels, TfL has used the fifth anniversary of the introduction of the ‘Please offer me a seat badge’ to remind passengers of priority seats. A different patterned moquette to normal seats was introduced in 2019, first used on the Jubilee Line. The priority seats are located immediately adjacent to doors, enabling those with mobility issues to alight as quickly as possible. Since its launch in 2017, almost 100,000 badges have been issued. With the entirety of the Crossrail, TfL Rail network, now renamed Elizabeth Line, being step-free, 52% of the TfL railway network, made up by London Overground, LU and DLR, is now step-free. Harrow-on-the-Hill is the most recent Underground station to go step-free.…

US SWITCHER AT WISHAW NEWLY arrived at the Wishaw yard of Railway Support Services is No. FWDX 0002, a three-axle American switcher that was built in 2015 by Curry Rail Services using part of the frame and a single bogie from a SD40 diesel. Fitted with a CAT engine, the 100-ton (US) machine is rated at 475hp and has previously seen use in both the United States and Canada. When noted, it was loaded on two trailers, with the body separated from the bogie. However, as it is built to American loading gauge and with an axle loading greater than that permitted by Network Rail, hire to an industrial operator looks to be its future.…

TWO-YEAR-OLD train operating company SLC Operations pulled off its first passenger charter operations towards the end of April, when it ran the ‘Ore No More’ and connecting move ‘Honeybourne Hoovers’ tours on April 23 and April 22 respectively, on behalf of the Branch Line Society. Using Class 50s Nos. 50007 and 50008 the tours covered over 400 miles, with the main event traversing routes in Hampshire and Sussex. The traditional BLS on board raffle raised over £3000 for charity. SLCO is due to operate four further charters between now and this autumn.…

GM 071 Class locomotives are normally diagrammed on freight or departmental duties. However, members of the class were also used on railtour duties during the period under review. The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) steam-hauled ‘Midlander’ tours between Dublin Connolly and Maynooth on March 26 and 27 consisted of two return trips on each day. This required a return ecs movement between Inchicore and Connolly, with No. 077 working the train of seven RPSI Cravens coaches and BR van No. 3173 on both days. No. 077 also acted as station pilot at Connolly. The passenger stock is vacuum braked and a driver refresher trip from Inchicore to North Wall and return on March 30 featured No. 081 hauling the featured coaching stock. The freight/ PW yard was used to…

■ TRAFFIC AND TRACTION: Signalling problems continued to affect Londonderry line services. On April 1, the 18.10 Belfast GVS-Londonderry ran to Portrush after being delayed en route. Disruption to services in the Coleraine/Ballymoney area occurred on April 4, while the 07.45 Coleraine to Portrush was cancelled on the 6th. The 22.40 GVS-Coleraine later the same day worked by a two x three-car formation was delayed after a fallen tree blocked the line near Antrim. The ‘trainbow’ NHS tribute vinyls that one DMSO of unit No. 3006 had carried for around two years, were removed on April 12. On the 13th, GM No. 8208 and a De Dietrich/ Mk.3 train working a cross border service, was diverted to GVS as the line between Central Junction/ Westlink Junction and Lanyon Place was…

HORNBY’S LNER Azuma models are sharp and well constructed, creating a very positive impression from unboxing to placing on the layout for testing. The attractive pale grey and bright red livery scheme sits well on the model which has a strange combination of an aerodynamic front of a high-speed train, combined with the bolted-on appearance of equipment normally associated with suburban trains – neatly encapsulated in plastic. That sums up the Hitachi Class 800 series of trains. Unlike the APT, which is sleek and almost minimalist in appearance, the Class 800/1 (together with its sisters) has equipment attached to the exterior of the vehicle bodyshells including roof modules; tanks hung under the end vestibules and various electrical boxes attached to either side of the inner gangways. All of the features…