Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2018 i Rail Express

Rail Express|November 2018

What a year for ‘50s’!

THE first of the Fifties, No. D400, rolled out of English Electric’s Vulcan Foundry in October 1967, with each of the subsequent 49 locos following every week or so after that – meaning that the past 12 months have been the 50th anniversary of the class, which has been marked in a number of different ways. First, there was a gathering of seven locos back at Old Oak Common in September last year. Then a number of railtours have run – not least ‘The Caledonian’, supported by our sister title The Railway Magazine, and ‘The Cumbrian Hoovers’ supported by Rail Express. And now the year has ended with the greatest gathering of the fleet since BR days. Of the 18 that survive today, 11 came together for the Severn Valley…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

ORR apportions widespread blame for timetable chaos

AN interim report by the Office of Rail and Road into the timetable disruption earlier this year has heavily criticised Network Rail and the Department for Transport for poor decision making during the planning process that prevented the train operators from organising operational resources to run trains. In turn, Northern and the Govia Thameslink Railway were judged to have failed to have contingency planning in place that provided the information that passengers needed. The report was published in September and revealed that the timings and stopping patterns of 46% of national services were changed in the timetable due to start on May 20. The reality was that the volume of change was too great for the resources available once replanning had to take place. For the train planning process to…

3 min

Rail Express|November 2018

18 locos, four days, one tour

GBRF’S ‘OUT OF THE ORDINARY’ TOUR 2018…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Then & Now: Llangollen

LLANGOLLEN was already a popular tourist destination in the early Victorian times, not least because it was on the main trunk road from London to Ireland via Holyhead (today’s A5), and so soon there was demand for a railway too. This arrived at the end of 1861 as a branch from the Shrewsbury-Chester line at Ruabon, later extended through to the coast at Barmouth via Corwen and Bala Junction, giving access to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. The through route was to survive for almost 100 years, closing as part of the Beeching cuts in January 1965. Freight continued to run between Ruabon and Llangollen until July 1968, however, but then total closure saw the track ripped up from the entire route. We are now 50 years on from then and happily…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Raising the Standard

ON one of the six roads inside the London Transport Museum Depot at Acton sits a four-car unit of Standard Stock. Constructed in the 1920s and 30s, regular visitors to the museum will have noticed that the driving motor cab ends have recently undergone some visible cosmetic restoration work. Like the ‘Q’ Stock cars on an adjacent road, the very fact that any Standard Stock even exists can be credited to the late Bob Greenaway. Employed by London Underground at Acton Works, Bob was conscious of their historical value and even negotiated for two cars to be obtained from the Isle of Wight when they were replaced by 1938 Tube Stock in the late 1980s. Since then, the LTM has kept the remaining cars as part of the collection on…

6 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Class 37 for Dartmouth Steam Railway

IN a deal between South Devon Diesel Traction and the Dart Valley Railway, Type 3 No. 37275 has become a permanent resident at the Dartmouth Steam Railway, replacing Type 2 No. D7535 (25185), which is now in the ownership of South Devon Diesel Traction. The Class 25 was due to move to a new home at the South Devon Railway on October 12, where it joins SDDT’s three other locos – Nos. D7541 (25191), D7612 (25262) and D6502 (33002). The exchange of locos is primarily due to the Dartmouth Steam Railway being in need of a more powerful diesel to maintain schedules on the tourist line, which features gradients of 1-in-66 and 1-in-75 between Kingswear and Churston. Trains have grown in length on the line since the Sulzer Type 2…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

IN BRIEF

DUTCH ‘08s’ RETURN TO THE NETHERLANDS THE first two of four NS Class 600 shunters being returned to the Netherlands arrived back at Rotterdam on September 27. Nos. 671 and 685 had been moved from the Ribble Steam Railway and Wishaw (Warwickshire) to Immingham Docks on September 25/26 respectively. The other pair being repatriated, Nos. 687 and 692, duly returned to Holland in the first week of October. ‘CROMPTON’ BONFIRE OUTING THE Pioneer Diesel Loco Group’s No. 33035, which is on an extended visit to the Wensleydale Railway, is due to be used on services from 12.15 onwards on November 3, including an evening ‘Bedale Bonfire Express’. ‘33’ MOVES TO LEICESTER STOPPED earlier this year with wheelset issues, No. 33053 left the Mid-Hants Railway on September 28 and was moved…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Five classes in ‘Blue Boys Loco Fest’

PATHFINDER Tours’ trip on February 9, 2019 will see five different classes taking part, all courtesy of Direct Rail Services. As Pathfinder puts it, audio enjoyment will be supplied by English Electric, Caterpillar and General Motors. The proposed itinerary is a Class 68 from Newport (South Wales) to Chaddesden Yard (Derby); Class 37s from Chaddesden Yard to Blackburn via Stockport and Todmorden; a Class 66 from Blackburn to Blackpool North; a Class 88 from Blackpool North to Crewe; and a Class 57 from Crewe to Newport.…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

ScotRail HST power cars stored at Ely Papworth

THE introduction of ScotRail’s HST fleet continues to be troubled by the lengthy delays to the modernised Mk.3 trailers emerging from Wabtec, Doncaster. As a result, modified and repainted power cars have begun to be temporarily stored at Ely until they are required. First to arrive at Ely was No. 43140 on September 10, this running from Laira following the completion of its outsourced exam. It was accompanied on the cross-country journey by newly off-leased No. 43035. Two days later, the fully finished ScotRail pairing of Nos. 43125 and 43128 also arrived in East Anglia, having departed from Brush Traction. Their transfer allowed Nos. 43130 and 43139 to run in the opposite direction as the 0M99/13.36 Ely Papworth-Loughborough for similar attention, having been held on site since August 1. As…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

GBRf receives remaining Colas Class 60s

THE transfer of the Colas Class 60s to GB Railfreight ownership was formally completed in September with the second batch of five locos, Nos. 60002/21/26/56/96, moving from the COLO pool to GBTG around the 13th. A few days later, Nos. 60002/26/96 were released from Toton, the trio running to Doncaster to join No. 60021, but No. 60056 remained at DB’s Nottingham depot throughout the month. Biomass traffic from Tyne Dock continues to be the main employment for the locos. For example, the 24th found Nos. 60076 and 60096 deployed on Lynemouth diagrams, while Nos. 60021 and 60047 were engaged on Drax circuits. Meanwhile, No. 60085 was noted on driver training duties in mid-September, running from Tuebrook Sidings (Edge Hill) to Buxton on both the 18th and 19th. The loco was…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

SHED TALK

Correct to September 29, 2018 Allocation changes 20302 XHSS-XHNC 20303 XHSS-XHNC 20305 XHSS-XHNC 37402 XHCC-XHSS 37610 CD/MBDL-BH/COTS 43028 LA/EFPC-HA/HAPC 43035 LA/EFPC-HA/HAPC 43129 LA/EFPC-HA/HAPC 43133 LA/EFPC-HA/HAPC 43136 LA/EFPC-HA/HAPC 43138 LA/EFPC-HA/HAPC 43151 LA/EFPC-HA/HAPC 43182 LA/EFPC-HA/HAPC 47813 GROG-SROG 47815 SROG-GROG 47848 GROG-SROG 57305 XHAC-XHSS 57305 KM/XHSS-LR/GROG 57310 XHAC-XHSS 57312 XHAC-XHSS 57312 KM/XHSS-LR/GROG 57602 OO-PZ 57603 OO-PZ 57604 OO-PZ 57605 OO-PZ 60002 RU/COLO-PG/GBTG 60017 WQAA-WCBT 60021 RU/COLO-PG/GBTG 60026 RU/COLO-PG/GBTG 60035 WQAB-WQBA 60056 RU/COLO-PG/GBTG 60096 RU/COLO-PG/GBTG 66001 WQAA-WBAR 66003 WQAA-WBRT 66019 WQAA-WBRT 66039 WBAE-WQAA 66050 WBAE-WQAA-WBRT 66051 WQAA-WBRT 66115 WQAA-WBRT 66120 WQAA-WBRT 66121 WQAA-WBRT 66133 WQAA-WBRT 66137 WQAA-WBRT 66145 WBAE-WQAA 66176 WQAA-WBAR 66186 WBAT-WBAE 66188 WQAA-WBRT 66200 WQAA-WBRT 66510 DFIM-DFHJ 66519 DFIM-DFHJ 67007 WQAA-WABC 67009 WQAA-WQBA 67010 WAWC-WAAC 67011 WQAB-WQBA 67013 WAAC-WAWC 67016 WAAC-WAWC 67017 WQAB-WQBA 67026 WQAB-WQBA 70006 DHLT-DFGI 70011 DFGI-DHLT 92020 HQ/GBET-WN/GBSL Renumbered…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

SHED TALK

Correct to September 26, 2018 Allocations 166218 RG-PM 319005 HQ/SBXH-NN/EJHQ 319215 HQ/SBXH-NN/EJHQ 319220 HQ/SBXH-NN/EJHQ 319372 HQ/SBXH-AN/EDHQ 345049/51/52 newly delivered OC/EXHQ 365501/03/05/07/15/27/31/ 35/41 HE/ETHQ-HQ/SAXU 385009/10/11/12 newly delivered HQ/HAHQ 717003/010 newly delivered HE/ETHQ 800316/17 newly delivered NP/EFHQ 802013/14/17/18 newly delivered NP/EFHQ 802202 newly delivered NP/EAHQ 71949/52/60/64/65 off registration scrapped Now in passenger traffic 321448 385006/07/16 385122 800003 800302/03/14/15 802002/08/09/10 802101 Stored/stopped locations Yoker: 314207/12/13 Disposals C.F.Booth, Rotherham: Cut date: August 16: 71949…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

110MPH MK.1 BG VEHICLES

92111 P Spa Valley Railway 92114 S Loram, Derby 92146 P Barrow Hill 92159 S WCRC, Carnforth 92174 C On site at Pigs Bay 2009 92901 S Eastern Rail Services 92906 R Rebuilt as Barrier Coach 6394 92908 S WCRC, Carnforth 92925 R Rebuilt as Generator Van 6312 92926 C CF Booth, Rotherham 1999 92927 C Immingham RFT 2004 92928 R Rebuilt as Generator Van 6262 92929 P Great Central Railway 92931 C CF Booth, Rotherham 2009 92932 C CF Booth, Rotherham 1999 92933 P East Lancashire Railway 92934 C Immingham RFT 2004 92936 P Kent & East Sussex Railway 92937 R Rebuilt as Tool Van 977990* 92938 C CF Booth, Rotherham 2009 92939 C Midsomer Norton, 2012 92946 P Lavender Line 92948 P Devon Railway Centre 92998 C Immingham…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

IN BRIEF

RIVIERA RETURNEES HAVING been repainted into BR blue/ grey livery at Loram, Derby during the summer, FO No. 3340 and TSO No. 5929 returned to service on September 22 when they were included in the formation of Pathfinder’s ‘Marches Cornishman’ tour from Shrewsbury to Penzance. Also now in blue/grey, but not yet reported in service, is RFO No. 1212. EPS GENERATOR VAN MOVE IN order to provide extra space at Leicester, former ‘Nightstar’ generator van No. 96371 was moved to the East Midlands Distribution Centre sidings at Castle Donington for ongoing storage on August 29. No. 37611 was used as traction for the move, which also included Nos. 56018/301 in the consist. LATEST MK.5 DELIVERIES SEPTEMBER 11 saw TransPennine Express’ fifth rake, made up of Nos. 11505, 12713-715/805, collected from…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

SURVIVING 20-TON CLASS A TANKERS

Diagram 1/304, built Hurst Nelson, 1951 B749650 Dean Forest Railway, awaiting restoration B749652 Cinderford Park, Gloucestershire, restored in fictitious livery as Berry Wiggins & Co. Ltd. 171 B749659 East Anglian Railway Museum, awaiting restoration, still in TSL livery Diagram 1/305, built Ashford Works/Hurst Nelson, 1953 B749670 Ecclesbourne Valley, partially restored in plain black livery B749676 Dean Forest Railway, awaiting restoration B749677 Ecclesbourne Valley, awaiting restoration, wearing fictitious yellow Sodor Fuel Oils livery B749678 Chasewater Railway, restored in plain black livery…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

IARNROD EIREANN / IRISH RAIL

■ TRAFFIC AND TRACTION: The second day of the Papal visit, August 26, saw the following extras operated to and from Dublin Heuston (all ICR DMUs except where shown): 07.10 ex-Galway, 19.15 return (3+4-car); 07.15 ex-Waterford, 19.40 return (2x3-car); 07.15 ex-Cork, 19.25 return (GM 201 Class loco+Mk.4 train); 07.25 ex-Limerick (5+3-car), 20.00 return (3-car); 07.40 ex-Galway (5-car), 19.50 return (4-car); 07.45 ex-Kildare (5-car); 07.57 ex-Portlaoise, 18.10 return (3+4-car); 08.20 ex-Portlaoise (2x3-car), 19.35 return (4-car); 09.20 ex-Kildare (5-car); 10.18 ex-Portlaoise (3+4 car); 10.55 ex-Kildare (5-car); 18.50 Heuston to Kildare (5-car); 20.10 and 20.45 Heuston to Portlaoise (5-car and 3+4 car respectively); 21.30 Heuston to Athlone (4-car); 21.45 Heuston to Portlaoise (5-car). The 07.10 Tralee to Cork service train was diverted to Heuston and was worked by a five-car ICR DMU. As…

3 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Accurascale adds French PCA

OCTOBER 13 saw Accurascale announce its third ‘OO’ gauge model, this sticking with the cement wagon theme, being the French-built PCAs that appeared in the first half of the 1980s. These wagons were first announced by Realtrack Models way back in 2011 but little progress was made as the company instead focused on its DMU range. Following an agreement between the two firms, Accurascale will now develop the PCAs as part of its range in 4mm while an ‘N’ gauge version will appear from Realtrack. Both models have already reached the pre-production stage with the 4mm example pictured here and scheduled for release in January, with the 2mm one due shortly afterwards. Originally built by CFMF, Nos. STS10600-51 have seen service over the years with Rugby Cement and Blue Circle…

6 min

Rail Express|November 2018

OCA wheel carriers for RfD

THE OCAs were British Rail's final open wagon design, with some 400 being built at BREL's Shildon Works in 1981/82. Intended for general merchandise and metals traffics, they had an all-steel body with three drop-down doors per side, removable side stanchions between the doors, and turnover bolsters in the floor. They were fitted with Bruninghaus four-leaf spring suspension and carried a range of loads, including bagged fertiliser, bricks and building blocks, aluminium ingots, steel billet, rod coil and Government stores. However, the requirement for open wagons in revenue traffic soon declined and as early as 1984, over 150 OCAs were transferred to the departmental fleet while over 120 were subsequently converted into OTA timber carriers. Following the creation of the Railfreight sub-sectors in October 1987, the wagon repair depot at…

3 min

Rail Express|November 2018

DIARY DATES

November 3/4 Gravesend Model Railway Show, Northfleet School for Girls, Hall Road, Northfleet, Kent. www.gres.org.uk 10am-5pm Sat, 10am-4pm Sun. Adult £4, accompanied child free. November 10/11 Crewe Exhibition by Alsager Railway Association, Legends Conference Centre, Bentley Motors Ltd, Sunnybank Road, Crewe, Cheshire. www.alsagerrailwayassociation.co.uk 10am-5pm Sat, 10am-4pm Sun. Adult £6.50, child £2.50, family £15. Layouts include Barton Road (N), Loch Tat (N), Stapleforth St Stephens (N), Titheridge Junction (N) and Oulton TMD (OO). November 10/11 Hull Model Railway Show, Walton Street Leisure Centre, Goathland Close, Walton Street, Hull, Humberside. www.hullmrs.org 10am-5pm Sat, 10am-4.30pm Sun. Adult £4, child £1. Layouts include Hedon Road Yard (OO), Lomond Street (OO) and Barrowfleet (EM). November 10/11 Tolworth Showtrain, Tolworth Recreation Centre, Fullers Way North, Tolworth, Surrey. www.tolworthshowtrain.co.uk 10am-5.30pm Sat, 10am-5pm Sun. Prices TBA. Layouts include…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Decorated Class 59s unveiled

THE development of Dapol’s much anticipated Class 59 has now moved on a stage with the recent arrival of the first decorated samples of the 4mm scale model. All four of the standard range models are shown here and include No. 59002 Alan J Day in original Foster Yeoman silver and blue, although this is the mid 1990s variant with the orange cantrail stripe bisecting the Yeoman lettering. It is joined by ARC’s No. 59103 Village of Mells, No. 59204 Vale of Glamorgan in the stylish National Power blue/grey and, for current day modellers, DB Schenker-branded No. 59206 John F Yeoman Rail Pioneer. As initial samples, the liveries are very much subject to corrections with tweaks to paint shades and printing already noted as required in several cases, such as…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Modern buildings join Scenecraft range

RECENT weeks have seen a number of new items added to Bachmann’s 4mm scale Scenecraft range. As is often the case, some of these are particularly eye-catching and rich with potential, including the two examples featured here. The first of these is the latest addition to the diverse selection of pre-fabricated buildings, this being a fairly modern example in that it features rendered walls (44-0094, £54.95). Modelled as an ‘L’ shape, the longest walls measure 134mm by 94mm with a height of 46mm. Features include two doors with steps, a drainpipe and gutter, and moulded light. In railway terms, it could easily serve as a building for a relatively new or modernised depot or yard, it having hints of the office building at DRS’ Crewe Gresty Bridge TMD for example,…

3 min

Rail Express|November 2018

SVR stages a Glorious Class 50 gala

MONTHS of hard work and planning paid off at the start of October when the Severn Valley Railway staged its three-day Class 50 Golden Jubilee gala. The event bookended 12 months of celebrations that began with the Old Oak Common depot open day on September 2 last year, where seven Class 50s were on display. Cooperation between various owners headed by the Class 50 Alliance meant that 11 ‘50s’ gathered at Kidderminster on October 3 – more than a fifth of the original fleet of 50 and nearly two-thirds of the surviving 18 locos. This was also the largest gathering in preservation of any one class of loco – whether diesel, electric or steam. All 11 locos took part in a photoshoot at Kidderminster depot that evening, before the main…

3 min

Rail Express|November 2018

IN BRIEF

GWR ‘802s’ BEAT DFT ‘800s’ GREAT Western Railway’s Class 802s, which feature software that allows greater use of the available diesel power compared with the earlier Class 800 cousins, made their appearance on scheduled passenger services from late August, and Railway Performance Society technical officer Dr David Stannard estimates they are about 20% better. However, after analysing data from RPS members David Ashley and Sean Emmett, he is also satisfied that the units have been outperforming their Class 800 cousins under electric power. It had been believed that all IET variants were operating to a DfT formula that limits acceleration to certain standards, but the Class 802s are exceeding even those expectations. Class 802 performance should be placed in context, however. They are still failing to match HST characteristics on…

4 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Life on the slow line

THERE has always been an emphasis on ‘Fastest, newest, best’ within the railway industry. But the vast underbelly of train services can prove fairly ordinary, and some can even verge on – well, let us admit it – being tedious. So I have trawled through my notebooks and selected some of the journeys I have made which are long, slow and littered with stops – then ranked them to discover which is my personal ‘unfavourite’. The results are listed in the accompanying table. I should say first that any accusation of scientific method will be strenuously denied. There have been very few criteria applied to the selection made, and no doubt every reader will have their own contenders, so let us hear your recommendations for the ‘RE Tedious List’. One…

10 min

Rail Express|November 2018

LETTERS

HISTORICAL CAPTION CORRECTIONS IN the interests of historical accuracy, I would like to offer the following amendments to a couple of captions in recent supplements sent out with Rail Express. In the ‘Blue & Grey Years’ (October issue), I thought the northbound ‘Deltic’ with the 08.00 King’s Cross to Edinburgh at Newcastle captioned as being opposite a Class 40 on a train to East Anglia seemed wrong. Factors such as the direction the Class 40 was pointing (yes, I know it could have been going via the High Level Bridge), that there were no East Anglia-bound trains anywhere near the appropriate time, and the 1E91 reporting number meant it must have originated on another region, all looked suspicious. As president of the Friends of the Newton Abbot Railway Studies Collection,…

5 min

Rail Express|November 2018

PROFILE: STANDARD STOCK

THE final Standard Stock cars were withdrawn from passenger service on the Moorgate-Finsbury Park branch of the Northern Line on November 8, 1966. Following overhaul at Eastleigh, many were transferred to the Isle of Wight just months later. Yet some trailer cars remained in service on the Central Line, operating with 1960 Tube Stock driving motor cars between Hainault and Woodford. The last examples were withdrawn in the early 1980s, being removed via road to Booths at Rotherham on August 3, 1983. The story of the Standard Stock began with the extension from Golders Green to Hampstead, part of what is now known as the Northern Line. As the Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Line (and others) grew into London’s suburbs, a total of 1466 cars were constructed between 1922…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

IN BRIEF

CLASS 104 BACK IN ACTION INTERNAL repairs to DMCL No. 50528 at the Llangollen Railway have been completed. Whilst out of service, its flooring has been given a deep clean, woodwork has been rubbed down and revarnished, and painting has been carried out. It has been reunited with partner DMBS No. 50454, which has spent the past few months operating as a hybrid set with Class 108 car No. 56223. CLASS 504 ADVANCES FOLLOWING a large amount of bodywork attention, DTSO No. 77172 emerged from the ELR workshops in as built BR green on September 19. Work on its partner, DMBSO No. 65461, began on September 29 – this car is in need of much greater attention than the trailer vehicle. MORE MK.3 STOCK FOR MNR THE Mid-Norfolk Railway’s Mk.3…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Keighley & Worth Valley to hold 2019 diesel gala

HAVING had successful mixed traffic and diesel days as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations earlier this year, the Keighley & Worth Valley is to hold a four-day event in 2019. The first two days (May 3/4) will be pure diesel days, with the following days (May 5/6) being mixed steam and diesel. In addition to the home fleet, the KWVR hopes to have visiting locos from main line freight operators as well as other lines. Various other railways have now announced dates for 2019 events and these have been included in this month’s listing. The South Devon Railway’s gala on November 2-4 should see its new resident Class 25 No. D7535 Mercury (see main story) in action for the first time. Also planned to visit is a ‘Teddy Bear’…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

‘Aberdonian’ trips to be run by A1SLT

NEXT year, A1 ‘Pacific’ No. 60163 Tornado will haul a series of five Edinburgh-Aberdeen return trips under the banner of ‘The Aberdonian’. Dates pencilled in are Thursdays March 14, August 1 and 8 and Saturdays August 31 and September 8. The trains will leave Waverley at 09.30 and return at 20.30, with a four-hour stay in Aberdeen. The A1 Steam Loco Trust is offering add-ons in Aberdeen, including a visit to a distillery, Highland cattle farm and a castle.…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

NEWS ROUND-UP

DB CARGO MOST of the Class 66s stored during August to undergo preparations for RHTT duties were reinstated in mid-September, Nos. 66003/19/51,66115/20/21/33/37/88 and 66200 joining the reactivated and appropriate WBRT pool. Also returned to use but in normal traffic pools were Nos. 66001 and 66176, as were Nos. 60017 and 67007, both of which had been absent since early summer. However, new additions to the WQAA stored pool are Nos. 66039 and 66145. Damaged in the collision with a staff buggy at Dollands Moor on September 4, No. 66230 was hauled away from the Kent yard by No. 66084 on the 25th. Initially taken to Doncaster, the loco reached Toton two days later where the fire damaged cab will be assessed. DIRECT RAIL SERVICES WITH the arrival of autumn, a…

3 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Powerscene

CLASS 20 TYPE 1s Nos. 20132+20311 relinquished their regular work on the movement of London Underground stock to take part in the GBRf charity tour on September 21, ‘top and tailing’ with No. 66728 Institution of Railway Operators on the 1Z20/07.08 Euston-Wellingborough Yard via the Bletchley to Bedford line. The tour then ran south to Tonbridge West Yard via Brixton, Gravesend and Maidstone West. At Tonbridge, the Class 66 was replaced by a pair of ‘electro-diesels’ for the next leg to Acton, where the two English Electric Type 1s were detached. Equally unusual was the sight of Nos. 20007 and 20205 sandwiched between a pair of recently-overhauled independent snowploughs at Derby late on September 24, the duo taking them on a nocturnal test run to Barrow Hill and back. CLASS…

17 min

Rail Express|November 2018

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

BESIDES those credited elsewhere, this issue has been made possible by the contributions of the following readers, to whom the editor is most grateful: Stewart Armstrong, Allan Brooks, Alexander Cromarty, Steve Donald, Derek Fry, Christine Howard, Simon Jones, Brad Joyce, Steve King, Gordon Kirkby, Stuart Kirkby, David Kirwin, Ian Leech, Graham Nuttall, Chris Playfair, Colin Pottle, Karen Richardson, Steve Sienkiewicz, Jamie Squibbs, Tim Squires, Tom Stobbs, Steve Stubbs, Jack Taylor, Stephen Veitch, Ryan Walker, The Wanderer, and many more.…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Class 08/09 locations 2018

WITH September seeing no movements of either Class 08s or 09s, it provides an opportunity for our annual survey of the locations of the two shunter fleets. Only two locos have been scrapped since our last survey – No. 08699 at the Weardale Railway in May and No. 08913 at EMR Kingsbury in February. All 258 examples still in existence are included here, be they on the national network, at preserved or industrial locations, or languishing in scrapyards. The locations are correct as of September 30. Class 08 (total 236) D3000 Peak Rail D3002 Plym Valley Railway D3014 Dartmouth Steam Railway D3019 Cambrian Heritage Railways, Llynclys D3101 Great Central Railway D3255 Private Site, Leavening D3261 Swindon & Cricklade Railway 08011 Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway 08015 Severn Valley Railway 08016…

4 min

Rail Express|November 2018

IN BRIEF

MK.3 DVT MOVEMENTS NEWLY-OVERHAULED No. 82107 returned from Cardiff Canton to Norwich Crown Point behind No. 57007 on September 4. Six days later, No. 37038 took No. 82105 away for attention, running as the 5V37/08.59 Norwich Crown Point-Cardiff Canton. Stored at Long Marston since 2006, No. 82125 has been sold for preservation, along with Mk.3a TSO No. 12008, and moved to a new home at the Mid-Norfolk Railway during the latter half of September. STEAM SUPPORT COACH RELEASED NEWLY-OVERHAULED Mk.2a BFK No. 14060 has been released from overhaul at Nemesis Rail, Burton and arrived at Tyseley during September. Wearing maroon livery, it is to be used as a support coach for LMS ‘Jubilee’ No. 45596 Bahamas , which is nearing the completion of an overhaul.…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

SHED TALK

Correct to September 26, 2018 Allocations 5631 RCCO-RTCO 5954 RCCS-RTCO 6110/39 RCCS-RTCO 10506 PO/ESHQ-HQ/SBXH 11505 newly delivered HQ/EAHQ 12713/14/15 newly delivered HQ/ EAHQ 12805 newly delivered HQ/EAHQ 40424/26/33 NL/EMHQ-HQ/SCXH 41006 LA/EFHQ-IS/HAHQ 41144/46/80 LA/EFHQ-IS/HAHQ 42028 IS/HAHQ-HQ/SCXH 42295/96/97/99 LA/EFHQ-IS/HAHQ 42300/01/50/51 LA/EFHQ-IS/HAHQ 42578/79 LA/EFHQ-IS/HAHQ 44009/24/32/49 IS/HAHQ-HQ/SCXH 44028/39/40 LA/EFHQ-HQ/SCXH 94166/76/95/97 PPXX-RTCO 94423 PPXX-RTCO 94515 PPXX-RTCO 95763 PPXX-RTCO Modifications Sliding doors fitted: 40601, 42004/46, 42561 Ownership changes Porterbrook to First Group: 42085, 42101/02/74, 42218/22/24/58/66,42315/17/65, 44079/83/90/97, 44101 First Group to Porterbrook: 42092, 42103/05/08/69/76, 42232/33,42302/03/05/53, 44068/74/76/81, 44100 Stored/stopped locations Ely: 41006, 41144/46/80,42295/96/97/99, 42300/01/50/51,42578/79, 44028/39/40 Disposals C.F.Booth, Rotherham: Arrival date: August 21: 2592…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

DEVELOPMENTS

■ BRITISH AIRWAYS: September 14 saw the final Colas Rail-powered Lindsey-Colnbrook aviation fuel service, ahead of its replacement with new wagons, a new operator and a new originating point. No. 70802 was in charge of the last train, the 6E38/13.54 Colnbrook-Lindsey, comprised of the usual mix of ex-GERS and VTG TDAs. The new Freightliner-operated Grain-Colnbrook flow began on September 16 with No. 66622 in charge of the 6V01/22.35 Grain-Colnbrook, formed of new VTG-leased TEAs, Nos. 81 70 7836 021-027/029-041. Meanwhile, on the 21st the same locomotive had the slightly tweaked formation of Nos. 81 70 7836 021-025/027/029-034/037/039/040 for company on the 6O00/09.25 Colnbrook-Grain empties. No. 66532 was the power a week later (28th) for the same working, again with a subtly tweaked rake, Nos. 81 70 7836 018/020/022-024/027/029-034/037/039/040. ■ DB…

3 min

Rail Express|November 2018

NORTHERN IRELAND RAILWAYS (NIR)

■ TRAFFIC AND TRACTION: The 2018 Sandite railhead treatment programme commenced in early September, with Windhoff built MPV No. 99 70 9428 011-9 (NIR No. 11) operating to and from Fortwilliam Traincare Depot. Its sphere of operation includes the Belfast to Bangor and Portadown lines, and the Belfast to Larne Harbour line as far as Carrickfergus. Interestingly, ex-DEMU Motor Coach No. 8097 – which had been used as a Sandite application vehicle – was noted stabled at York Road yard on September 23. This is the last DEMU vehicle to remain on NIR’s books. Three DMU-operated ‘Footex’ trains operated from Adelaide Halt on September 11 and were scheduled to serve all intermediate stations: the 22.00 to Bangor, 22.02 to Portadown and 22.09 to Carrickfergus (which ran empty from Portadown). The…

3 min

Rail Express|November 2018

IN BRIEF

■ Respray specialist Rainbow Railways is now offering two further fully repainted Bachmann Class 66s, the ‘OO’ gauge models appearing as No. 66413 in the new orange and black Freightliner livery (pristine £200, weathered £212) along with GB Railfreight’s recently unveiled No. 66780 in Cemex colours (pristine £245, weathered £260). The Freightliner transfers for No. 66413 are also available separately at £7.50, these providing all the main livery elements. www.rainbowrailways.co.uk ■ GB Railfreight’s latest repaints are keeping Railtec Models busy, beginning with waterslide transfer packs for Cemex-liveried No. 66780. Available in both 2mm (£4.90) and 4mm (£7.50), these provide all the livery elements. Equally up to date are transfers for No. 60095 in its GBRf colours, these covering 2mm (£5.50), 4mm (£5.90) and 7mm (£10.90). The 2mm sheet also includes…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

BACHMANN RAILFREIGHT DISTRIBUTION OCA

FOLLOWING on from the Plasmor-end OBA reviewed back in the summer, it is now the turn of the OCA to appear in the grey and yellow sub-sector scheme with Railfreight Distribution logos. While a standard OCA could have been depicted in this livery, Bachmann has plumped for one of the three dedicated wheel carriers (38-054). It is an interesting decision, given it limits the operating sphere of the model somewhat, but there is still over 400 miles of railway between St Blazey and Carlisle that it is good for. It is also sufficiently quirky to ensure its appearance on all manner of sector era layouts in the near future. Unsurprisingly, it is No. 112232 that has been chosen for re-creation in miniature, the presence of the dual depot plaque logos…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

A family of experiments

STEEL scrap has long been an important rail traffic but back in the 1970s, it was still being carried in 16 ton unfitted and vacuum-braked mineral wagons. This was a design that was incompatible with the air-braked Speedlink network, which British Rail envisaged as handling all revenue-earning wagonload traffic from the early 1980s. Consequently in 1976, two air-braked underframes were diverted from the HBA/HEA domestic coal hopper building programme, which was then underway at BREL’s Shildon Works. These instead became prototype scrap carriers, being fitted with high-sided steel box bodies. Over the next few years, the two wagons, coded MFA and numbered 390000/01, were sent to numerous rail served scrapyards as demonstrators. Subsequently, Railease, the wagon leasing arm of the Standard Wagon Company, introduced a fleet of over 180 POA…

3 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Revolution delivers ‘twins’ in ‘N’

ARRIVING just in time for The International N Gauge Show last month, Revolution Trains has now released its latest ‘N’ gauge model in the form of the Cargowaggon IZA twin vans. This portrays the semi-permanently coupled pairs of two-axle vans that first appeared in 1986 from German manufacturer Duewag, further batches following in 1989 and 1991 to give a 200-strong fleet. The wagons immediately proved popular on cross-channel services via the Dover-Calais train ferry and continue to operate through the Channel Tunnel to this day, a long-standing principal traffic being mineral water to Daventry. Over three decades of service, the IZAs have also seen domestic use carrying a wide range of commodities, including newsprint, beverages, pet food and bagged china clay, during the course of which pretty much every corner…

4 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Second go for Irish ‘Supertrain’ Mk.2s

THE past couple of years have proved to be rather quiet for Murphy Models for a variety of reasons, although work continues at a steady pace on the long-awaited General Motors 121 Class diesels. However, recent weeks have seen the release of further ‘OO’ gauge coaching stock models, including a second batch of air-conditioned Mk.2s in CIE ‘Supertrain’ colours. This is the livery in which the Mk.2d derived stock entered service from December 1972 onwards, BREL building 73 new vehicles at Derby Litchurch Lane which were then shipped to Dublin for final fitting out and painting at Inchicore Works. The vacuum-braked coaches were principally deployed on the Dublin-Cork line, allowing services to be accelerated to 80mph operation from the following year. Typically formed in nine coach rakes, the Mk.2s as…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

BOOK REVIEWS

The Acquired Wagons of British Railways: Volume 1 – Fleet Composition and Brake Vans By David Larkin. Published by Crecy Publishing, 1A Ringway Trading Estate, Shadowmoss Road, Manchester, M22 5LH. Hardback 220mm x 289mm, 152 pages. Price £25. ISBN 978-0-86093-682-4. NOW available is the latest wagon book from David Larkin, this marking the start of a new series that will examine the wagon fleets acquired by British Railways upon Nationalisation on January 1, 1948. Although now being published by Crecy and in hardback form, the style of content will be familiar to purchasers of the author’s previous books, teaming informative text and tables with numerous black and white photos, all largely reproduced to a good standard. This introductory volume begins by setting out the state of the ‘Big Four’, private…

3 min

Rail Express|November 2018

New scenic accessories released

AMONGST the latest laser-cut scenic items from Scale Model Scenery are four packs of cast iron ‘bow top’ or ‘hairpin’ railings, as once commonly used around schools and public parks. There are two sets each for 2mm and 4mm, one providing a combination of gates and railings while the other just features lengths of railing to extend the fence. Taking the 2mm releases first, pack LX102-N (£4.99) includes five 61mm lengths of railing along with three pedestrian gates and a double vehicle gate while LX162-N (£4.99) has six railing strips of the same dimensions. The same combinations are evident in the 4mm releases, LX102-OO (£5.99) providing the gates and railings while LX162-OO (£5.99) is the extension pack. In this larger scale, the railing lengths measure 122mm. The construction of a…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

MODERN DETAILS IN 4MM SCALE

ALSO new in 4mm are four other very useful packs, these all being particularly suitable for current day layouts. The pick of the bunch is probably the anti-trespass boards, these being the angled wooden slats installed by level crossings, foot crossings and some platform ends in an effort to stop people straying onto the track. Two versions are available, one for a single track crossing (AX061-OO-Single, £3.95) and the other for a double track installation (AX061-OO-Double, £5.75). The former contains six 3D-printed board assemblies in black, these measuring 18mm by 12mm. These can be used straight out of the packet if desired or, alternatively, the small amount of flash can be cleaned up and the parts painted in a mid to dark brown to represent preserved wood. The double track…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Government launches ‘root and branch’ review of rail industry

AN independent investigation into the structure of the rail industry is to be carried out by a panel led by Keith Williams, a former chief executive of British Airways, which will also include industry experts and stakeholders. One aim is to counter the widely held public view that nationalisation offers a quick fix to providing reliable rail services at lower prices. The review follows the interim report by Professor Stephen Glaister, chair of the Office of Rail and Road, into the causes of the recent timetable disruption. This revealed a lengthy list of deficiencies that were not identified by Network Rail, the Department for Transport, or the train operators concerned. A ‘root and branch’ review is promised that is tasked with finding answers to improve train service reliability and improve…

4 min

Rail Express|November 2018

ROSCOs announce new generation of hybrid traction

ROLLING stock leasing companies have announced plans to meet the Government’s objective of removing rail carbon emissions by 2040. This follows news that an Alstombuilt hydrogen powered multiple unit entered traffic in Germany on September 17 with an operating range of 620 miles. In Britain, Alstom has entered into agreement with leasing company Eversholt Rail to convert Class 321 electric units to hydrogen power when these are displaced by Class 720 units on Greater Anglia services next year. As yet there are no firm train operator orders, but there are ambitions to convert the complete fleet if users can be agreed. Porterbrook is also carrying out a vehicle conversion, and has supplied a Class 319 electric unit to the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education for conversion to hydrogen…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

When Saturday Came SCARBOROUGH

THE FISHING town of Scarborough became a destination for travellers as far back as the mid-1600s, after the discovery of spa water, but it was the coming of the railway in 1845 that really opened it up to tourists, and it swiftly became the largest resort on the Yorkshire coast. Visitors came mainly from Yorkshire, Lancashire, the North-East and the North Midlands, and train services reflected these patterns with through workings from the likes of Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Leicester. DMUs began to take over from steam at the end of the 1950s, then the first diesel locos to work through were Type 2 Sulzers – although from the 1960s to 1980 almost anything could turn up from Class 20s through to ‘Deltics’, with ‘40s’, ‘45s’ and ‘47s’ being…

6 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Express Mailbag

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…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

LTM STANDARD STOCK

3693 (L131) ONE of the last driving motor cars delivered as part of the 1934 batch, and built by Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage & Wagon Company, this car operated on the Piccadilly Line. Elements of the cab are missing, which will need replacement. Should the Standard Stock never operate again, replica instruments could be installed to give an impression of how the cab looked when in passenger service. 3370 (L134) CONSTRUCTED in 1927, this driving motor car was No. 3370 during its passenger service life. It became part of the ballast motor pilot car fleet in 1967, renumbered No. L134. Initially painted in maroon, it was repainted yellow when last overhauled in April 1983, as depicted by a date stamp to the rear of the car. This was the first Standard Stock…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Pioneer production HST power car is designated

THE Railway Heritage Designation Advisory Body (the successor to the Railway Heritage Committee) has listed the first-built production HST power car, No. 43002 Sir Kenneth Grange, for preservation when it is withdrawn from service. Previously, only a class designation had been applied, rather than a specific vehicle. As well as being the first power car to roll off the production line at Crewe (and first to be released along with No. 43003 on February 18, 1976), No. 43002 is significant in a number of other ways. It was one of four power cars used on the first day of production HST services on August 9, 1976. Then on August 30, 1984, it was involved in a record-breaking run from Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads. It should be remembered that designation…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

PTG celebrates two decades of tours

IT is now nearly 20 years since the Portuguese Traction Group ran its first railtour on January 28, 1999. Those early years saw Portuguese Railways’ 1800 Class – which were built by English Electric in 1968 based on our Class 50s – play a prominent role, with the tours being led by the amiable Paul Spracklen. The forthcoming anniversary is being celebrated by another tour, but due to shortages of stock and locomotives in Portugal, the PTG has opted to run it in Spain instead. Traction is scheduled to be a vintage and popular Alco 321, built in 1965. The trip runs from January 25-30, 2019, but the first and last days are for getting there and back. The train itinerary takes up three days and embraces some non-passenger lines,…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Carnforth sell-out

ALTHOUGH now sold out, it is worth mentioning that the Branch Line Society, together with the cooperation of PLEG and West Coast Railways, is staging the ‘Carnforth Charity Charter Cracker’ on December 8. These will be two separate tours of Carnforth’s depot lines, using one TSO coach (just 64 seats) ‘top and tailed’ by shunters Nos. 03196 and 08485. WCR stipulated any photos taken on the trips are for private use only, with none to be published on social media or the railway press. Those of a certain age will recall the last time any such trips took place within the Carnforth empire was in the 1990s – the ‘Crag Bank Shuttles’ then taking place when the site was known as Steamtown.…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

ROG takes ‘Northern Belle’ Class 57s on hire from DRS

THE hire of the two Northern Belle-liveried Class 57/3s to the Rail Operations Group commenced on September 19 when Nos. 57305 Northern Princess and 57312 Solway Princess departed Crewe Gresty Bridge for Leicester. Still fully branded in their obsolete colours, the two locos have been placed on long-term hire to the company by DRS, and are expected to be repainted in ROG’s blue livery in due course. Around a week before the transfer, both locos were moved into DRS’ XHSS stored pool, their last duty for the company coming on September 18 when a Beilhack snowplough test run was undertaken from Crewe to Chester and back. The first outing under ROG control for Nos. 57305 and 57312 occurred on September 25 when the duo ran light to Edge Hill to…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

SPECTRUM

EASTLEIGH Works was the place to be for notable repaints during September with the beginning of the month seeing the emergence of GB Railfreight’s latest customer livery on No. 66780. Now decked out in Cemex white and blue, the release of the former No. 66008 completes the repaints on the company’s 10 acquired Class 66s. The end of September was equally interesting with the appearance of the first GBRf Class 60 from the Arlington paint shop, No. 60095 carrying standard blue and orange. In addition to this pair, No. 37901 was also rolled out in Europhoenix colours as part of its return to the main line. At Crewe Diesel, another of the LOCOS Repaints BR two-tone green: 47810 Cemex: 66780 Europhoenix: 37901 GB Railfreight: 60095 Northern Belle: 57601 ScotRail Intercity:…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Class 314 withdrawals begin

SEPTEMBER saw ScotRail withdraw the first of its 16 Class 314 EMUs from traffic. Three sets, Nos. 314207/212/213, were taken out of service following a reduction in the number of booked weekday diagrams for the units from 14 to 11. This has been made possible due to a blockade at Ayr station, which has had to be partially closed owing to the condition of the adjacent Station Hotel, which has resulted in an exclusion zone being imposed. Services to Ayr are now limited to four cars. This has released some Class 380 units to cover three diagrams previously operated by ‘314s’. All three units now out of use were moved to Yoker for storage on September 22. Nos. 314207/213 ran as the 5Z51/19.30 Corkerhill-Yoker, with No. 314212 following later that…

8 min

Rail Express|November 2018

ERS buys 110mph Mk.1 Full Brake

EASTERN Rail Services has acquired a Mk.1 BG (brake gangway) from Alstom. No. 92901 has been at Wembley since 2005, where it was used as a stores van. The BG is one of a handful of such vehicles that were passed for 110mph operation in the mid-1980s, enabling them to be used on faster services with Mk.3 stock and Class 87s on the West Coast Main Line prior to the construction of the Mk.3b Driving Van Trailers. Subsequent to the introduction of DVTs, a number of the 110mph BGs – including No. 92901 – found use on sleeper services between Euston and Scotland. The introduction of central door locking from 1994 saw these Sleeper Brakes, which by then were owned by Eversholt, fitted with equipment to control this. After the…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

More Great Western HST stock handed back

GREAT Western Railway sets LA14 and LA15 were returned to Angel Trains at the end of August. Vehicles from the first of these two sets (Nos. 41144, 42295-297/350/578 and 44039) departed on August 31 as the 5L46/03.18 Laira-Ely behind No. 37611. On September 4, Nos. 41146, 42299-301/579 and 44040 were moved from Laira to Castle Donnington by Nos. 43133/136, and six days later formed the 5L46/13.35 to Ely. September 5 saw Nos. 41006/180, 42351 and 44028 taken from Laira to Bristol and on to Ely Papworth by Nos. 43028/129. Also off lease is LA73, which was the set involved in the derailment at Penzance on August 22 (see last month). Five of its coaches Nos. 41016, 42006/096/555 and 44007 departed Laira for Bristol on September 26 between Nos. 43138/182. Trailer…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Rare BR tank wagon heads for scrap

ARRIVALS at C F Booth, Rotherham, during September included three internal user tank wagons from Heaton depot on the 6th. The star of the trio is undoubtedly No. 041361, previously No. B749750, one of just two unfitted 20-ton Class B tankers built in 1954 by Charles Roberts & Co at Horbury to diagram 1/307, lot No. 2410 (the other being No. B749751). This classic anchor-mount design was that relatively rare beast, a British Railways owned tank wagon, albeit hired to Townson Tankers, Oldham, for the transport of unrefined oils. The Class A version was slightly more common, with some 10 examples built by Hurst Nelson in 1951 for international benzene traffic with Petrochemicals Ltd (Nos. B749650-59, diagram 1/304, lot No. 2240) and a further 20 by Ashford Works/Hurst Nelson in…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Timetable changes for Irish Rail

IRISH RAIL introduced a new timetable on September 9, the majority of changes mainly affecting the Dublin area. The most significant change has been the start of a more intensive service on Mondays to Fridays on the electrified Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) service. From 06.50 to 20.00, services run every 10 minutes in each direction between Bray and Howth Junction, with the destination/originating station alternating between Howth and Malahide. This increase has, however, impacted on other services that serve stations in the DART area. Some off-peak services between Maynooth/Dundalk/ Drogheda that start from/terminate at Pearse station have been cut back to Connolly. Howth Junction, Clongriffin and Portmarnock are now served by fewer outer-suburban (DMU worked) trains because of the increase in frequency on the DART service. Drumcondra is now…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Weather disruption

SEPTEMBER 19 saw severe disruption across Ireland as Storm Ali made landfall with a windspeed of 91mph being recorded. Rail services on both Irish Rail and NIR suffered line closures, cancellations and numerous delays as trees and other debris blocked lines. IR’s 07.15 Westport to Heuston service, worked by an ICR DMU, incurred damage to the front of leading car No. 22132 after striking a tree between Athlone and Tullamore. The unit was able to continue to its destination, even though both windscreens had been damaged. NIR imposed a network-wide temporary speed limit of 50mph, which was subsequently dropped to 30mph. Disruption continued on September 20 with the Belfast to Londonderry line worst affected, and some trains started from Belfast Lanyon Place instead of Great Victoria Street. ONLINE ■ POST…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

A hybrid ‘rat’

WITH the quality of ready-to-run models at an all-time high, it is getting to the stage where it is hard to improve on what the various manufacturers are offering. However, there are still some opportunities here and there, especially if seeking a particular sub-class that has yet to be tackled. One loco design where such gaps still exist is the Class 25, the evolution of the BR Type 2s over the years meaning that variations range from the small, such as the fitting of air brakes, to complete body restyling. The class has been well covered in both books and magazine features over the years, meaning these alterations are well recorded, while the internet makes it relatively straightforward to find photos and ensure your chosen loco is correct. The BR…

5 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Time for the national exhibition

AS ever, the modelling year largely reaches its conclusion with the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition, this year being held on November 24/25 with the venue once again being Hall 5 at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre. Amply illustrating the increasingly diverse nature of the ready-to-run market is the lengthy list of manufacturers to be seen at the show. The traditional ‘big four’ of Bachmann, Dapol, Heljan and Hornby are again joined by DJ Models, Oxford Diecast, Rapido Trains, Realtrack Models/C=Rail Intermodal and Revolution Trains, while making their debut will be Accurascale/Irish Railway Models. Also appearing for the first time will be Hattons, the company joining Rails of Sheffield and Kernow Model Rail Centre in showcasing their range of exclusive own-brand models. Lots of layouts Among the many layouts on display…

2 min

Rail Express|November 2018

MODIFIED HEA HOPPERS

AMONGST the designs participating in the South Wales coal wagon trials were a trio of HEA hoppers that had previously been allocated to the nuclear flask barrier wagon pool based at Sellafield. After being fitted with a solid floor and through vacuum pipe at Cardiff Cathays in January 1989, both Nos. 360610 and 360810 were recoded MEB and despatched to Taff Merthyr. However, like the MFBs, they also failed to impress and were quickly returned to Sellafield along with the third wagon, No. 360821, which, although modified into a MEB, never took part in the trial. In 1991, all three MEB were recoded as RNB to reflect their barrier wagon status but the following year, they were chosen for a further experiment. This saw the trio sent to RFS Doncaster…

1 min

Rail Express|November 2018

Dapol offers the kings of coal

FIRST announced way back in November 2012, the first air-braked wagon to join Dapol’s ever-growing 7mm scale range has certainly been a long time coming. At the time, both the HAA power station and HEA domestic coal hoppers were unveiled together but in the event, it is the long-lived merry-go-round design that has arrived first. With the HAA now delivered, development work on the HEA has commenced in earnest. The choice to release the HAA in the senior scale is an interesting one, given their whole purpose was to operate in lengthy block trains carrying coal from collieries to power stations; modelling such workings faithfully requiring a decent amount of space in 7mm. However, with the wagons giving half a century of hard service to British Rail and beyond, it…

4 min