Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2020 i Rail Express

BY the time you read this, many non-essential shops will have been given permission to reopen as the country moves into the next phase of recovery and the Government aims to get the economy moving again. For the railways, this is a double-edged sword. So far, train services have been kept running for key workers, with the Government taking on the financial burden of running them practically empty at times. But shop workers cannot work from home and many will need to use rail services to get to work. And if shops are to be profitable they will need customers, so once again this could mean using public transport to get there in many towns and cities. In normal times (remember those?), peak-hour trains were often full and standing -…

TRIBUTE TO TOPS MAN THE Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways locomotive manager Phil Brown has paid tribute to volunteer Brian Bushelwho passed away recently. With many career highlights, Brian was instrumental in setting up British Rail's Total Operations Processing System in the early 1970s. TOPS was the biggest computer project in Britain at the time, and was an enhancement of one initially developed by IBM and the Southern Pacific Railroad in the USA. Brian became responsible for commissioning the computer system throughout the UK, launching it on time and under budget. IOW TRAINS DELAYED WORK to convert the former London Undergrountrains that will make up the new Class 484 trains for the Isle of Wight has been slightly delayed as a result of Covid-19 restrictions at VivaRail's works. The first…

LOCOMOTIVES DRS blue: 66091 Freightliner G&W orange: 59206 + Thank you NHS vinyls: 47848, 66731 UNITS EMR Regional purple: 158773, 170416 Northern: 156429, 158790/94/95,158860,158906,323227/28/30/32,333005/16 SWR: 444011/42 TransPennine Express: 802218 Transport for Wales: 158820/33/35 + NHS We thank you vinyls: 158860, 195111,331011,331109 + VE Day vinyls: 170633 + Rainbow vinyls: 150229/54/55/64,153361/67 COACHES GWR:48123/33/34,49111/13 ScotRail Intercity: 40621, 42277 /99, 42300 Transport for Wales: 82216…

SEVEN Mk.3 coaches previously used by Transport for Wales on its Holyhead to Cardiff (WAG) route were sent away for storage on May 15. Forming the 5260/10.08 Cardiff Canton-Long Marston, Nos.10249, 12176-181 were taken away by No. 56103. The same 'Grid' was used to move DVTs Nos. 82306/308 from Canton to Barton Hill four days later. The 10 coaches used on Rhymney line services (TSO Nos. 5961/98,6024/42/54/67, 6158 and BSO Nos. 9507 /20/26) have been returned to Riviera Trains. No. 47813 was used for their transfer, running as the 5Z47 /18.46 Landore-Burton.…

Correct to May 26, 2020 Allocations 10304/05/15/32 BN/HBHQ-HQ/SAXH 11201/81/87 /89 BN/HBHQ-HQ/SAXH 11309/14/16/18 BN/HBHQ-HQ/SAXH 11409/14/16/18 BN/HBHQ-HQ/SAXH 12213/15/29/30 BN/HBHQ-HQ/SAXH 12304/08/12/24 BN/HBHQ-HQ/SAXH 12410/23/28/33/45/53/67 /68/83 BN/ HBHQ-HQ/SAXH 12513/14/26 BN/HBHQ-HQ/SAXH 82206/15/20/22 BN/HBHQ-HQ/SAXH Renumbered 41146-40621 42003-48133 42211-48123 42264-48134 44008-49113 44036-49111 Sold  Data Acquisition and Testing Services Ltd: 11090,12032/97,82136 Electric Traction Ltd: 11092/99 Preserved Caine Valley Railway: 82121 Didcot Railway Centre: 10527 Northampton & Lamport Railway: 82114 Now in passenger traffic 15001,15301/36 Formations GWll:48123+48134+48133 +49111 HA21:40621+42299+42300 +42277 Stored/stopped locations Crewe TMD: 40801/02, 44078, 46006/14 Dundee CS: 41126, 42069, 42118, 42261,42344,44023/30,46010 Eastleigh Works: 10411, 11068, 12171 Gascoigne Wood: 11510, 12728-30, 12810 Knottingley: 1200, 3119, 3356/64, 5009,5952,6176,6310 Long Marston: 10249, 10406/17,11088/93,11101,12015/34/35/46/49/56/61/64/67 /79/84 /90/91,12108/16/18/25/26/37/46/54/59/64/67/76-81,82306/08 Milford Sidings: 5922/24/59, 6036, 6152,9529/31 Severn Valley Railway: 40106/804/808,41149/187,42319/583, 44081 and 46012 Slateford: 41140, 42287 /89, 44037 Worksop: 10302/07 /17 /19/29,11298/99,11301/02/27/29/30,11401/02,12204/07/16/27/32,12302/07/17/21/31,12402/14/15/17/48/49/50/62/71,82202/03/07/28/31 Disposals C F Booth, Rotherham:…

■ DB CARGOTwo further WIA (UIC code Sefoorss) five-unit car carriers have arrived at DBC's Stoke-on-Trent maintenance facility for overhaul, Nos. 85 70 4971 005-9 and 85 70 4971 015-8 arriving on site on May 1. They exchanged places with Nos. 85 70 4971 025-7 and 85 70 4971 030-7, which had arrived on April 25 (see last issue). After exactly one week (on May 8) the pair returned on the Arpley tripper, being swapped with inbound Nos. 85 70 4971 036-4 and 85 70 4971 055-4, the former from store at Eastleigh Yard. No. 85 70 4971 055-4 was returned to service on May 15, while No. 85 70 4971 036-4 was still on site at the end of the third week of the month when this column was…

THE 2020 gala diary remains very much 'on hold' as railways await further developments in the ease of restrictions on lockdown. Many lines are continuing to appeal for donations to help overcome a huge shortfall in income, and some have come up with innovative ways of raising funds to bring in revenue. For example, the team who organise the Severn Valley Railway's diesel galas have produced a number of 'lockdown' items such as mugs and T-shirts with a logo featuring locos wearing face masks (see www.svrdiesels.co.uk). As per last month, the situation regarding future events remains to be confirmed (TBC) with short-notice alterations to take place, so please check with the railways concerned before making any plans. Diesel Galas June 26-28: Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (Cancelled) July 2-4: East…

MAGNETIC bar couplings for '00' gauge rolling stock designed by Chris Hunt of West Hill Wagon Works were introduced a few months ago and have been hugely successful with sales volumes exceeding expectations. The design was simple but effective, as reported in the April 2020 issue of Rail Express (RE287 /RE/v1192). They utilise NEM-362 swallow tail fittings and with bars of varying lengths to suit different models and layout conditions, including a recently introduced short bar coupling. The magnets connect together with sufficient strength to hold under heavy loads and effectively make the couplings into a rigid bar which are particularly effective with close coupling cams. The range is continually being developed with a new 'N' gauge version added to the range which is based on the same principle and…

Tools and materials required in addition to the usual work bench hand tools: ■ Fine grade abrasive paper of grade 240 and 600 grit. ■ 'Plastic Weld' solvent cement. ■ 0.3mm and 0.45mm diameter brass wire. ■ BR unfitted freight grey paint. ■ Matt black and white paints. ■ Lanarkshire Models & Supplies coupling hooks. ■ Couplings to choice. ■ Matt varnish. ■ Weathering colours: Rust and coal dust shades. ■ Ballast weight (lead-free shot etc.). ■ Reference material! Optional items for scale modelling: ■ Scale three-link couplings and hooks (Springside Models). ■ Cast metal axle box details. ■ Metal buffer heads. ■ Brass strip for tie-bars. ■ 0.6mm brass rod from pipe work. ■ MJT Components vacuum cylinders. ■ Lanarkshire Models & Supplies cast vacuum brake hoses.…

NORTHERN Ireland Infrastructure Minister Nicola Mallon stated on May 7 that the shortfall in Translink's finances had increased "up to £181 million" after already being in crisis (see April issue). The use of public transport during lockdown has been discouraged, with the needs of NHS and other key workers cited as the main reason for continuing to provide train and bus services. However, Minister Mallon approved the introduction of extra services from May 11 (see Irish Angle), with Finance Minister Conor Murphy stating on May 19 that Translink was to receive £30 million to sustain public transport. A similar policy was also evident in the Republic of Ireland after its Transport Minister Shane Ross said on May 17 that "the Government is ready to bail out CIE (Caras lompair Eireann)…

BODEN RAIL FOLLOWING test run with Colas Rail's No. 37175 to Loughborougon May 4, Transrail-liverieNo. 37240 ran solo from Nottingham Eastcroft to the wheel lathe at Derby Etches Park on May 6, in order to correct a wheel flat identified on its initial test run. After a second run with No. 37175 a week later, the big 'T' machine was partnered with Colas loco No. 37025 on May lB, for another outing to Loughborough and back. COLAS RAIL JUST over a year out of action after it donated its bogies to No. 37421 (see July 2019 issue), No. 37175 returned to the main line on a test run with Boden Rail's No. 37240 on May 4, working a OF89/15.35 Nottingham Eastcroft-Loughborough and return. After a jolly with No. 37219 to…

Correct to May 26, 2020 Allocations 43180 HQ/SBXL-LA/EFPC 60001 TO/WCAT-WQ/WFMS-TO/WCBT 60007 TO/WCBT-WQ/WFMS-TO/WCBT 66005 TO/WBAE-WQ/WFMS 66018 TO/WBAE-WQ/WFMS 66053 TO/WBAE-WQ/WFMS 66066 TO/WBAR-WQ/WFMS 66079 TO/WBAR-WQ/WFMS-TO/WBAR 66085 WQ/WFMS-TO/WBAR 66106 TO/WBBE-WQ/WFMS-TO/WBBE 66144 WQ/WFMS-TO/WBAR 66147 WQ/WFMS-TO/WBAE 66158 TO/WBAE-WQ/WFMS 66161 TO/WBAE-WQ/WFMS 66168 TO/WBAR-WQ/WFMS-TO/WBAR 66186 TO/WBAR-WQ/WFMS 66197 TO/WBAE-WQ/WFMS-TO/WBAE 66198 WQ/WFMS-TO/WBAR 66221 TO/WBAR-WQ/WFMS 66511 LD/DFIM-FD/DHLT 66515 LD/DFIM-FD/DHLT 66589 LD/DFIN-FD/DHLT 67004 CE/WABC-WQ/WQAA 67005 CE/WAAC-WQ/WFMS 67007 WQ/WQAA-CE/WABC 67014 WAWC-WACC 67015 WAWC-WAAC 67020 WAAC-WAWC 67027 CE/WACC-WQ/WQAA 67029 CE/WACC-WQ/WQAA 86614 CG/DFNC-DHLT 90003 NC/IANA-FE/DHLT 90004 NC/IANA-FE/DHLT 90005 NC/IANA-FE/DHLT 90006 NC/IANA-FE/DHLT 90007 NC/IANA-FE/DHLT 90008 NC/IANA-FE/DHLT 90009 NC/IANA-FE/DHLT 90010 NC/IANA-FE/DHLT 90011 NC/IANA-FE/DHLT 90012 NC/IANA-FE/DHLT 90013 NC/IANA-FE/DHLT 90014 NC/IANA-FE/DHLT 90015 NC/IANA-FE/DHLT 90026 CE/WEDC-WQ/WFMS 90029 CE/WEDC-WQ/WFMS 90040 CE/WEAC-WQ/WQAA Preserved Private at Wensleydale Railway 31454 Stored/stopped locations Please note that this was the situation in mid-May. Locomotives may be rotated in and out of store as required. Cardiff Tidal:…

ANGEL Trains has begun disposing of its former GWR HST vehicles stored at Ely Papworth in earnest, with more than 50 coaches dispatched to Sims Metals at Newport Docks since April 27 (see table). This brings the number dealt with by the South Wales scrapyard to more than 100, including former Porterbook examples. Smaller numbers have been sent to CF Booth at Rotherham, while further vehicles have been taken to Eastleigh Works, where some have been scrapped by Raxstar on behalf of Arlington. Heading for CF Booth behind No. 47813 Jack Frost from Ely on May 18 were Nos. 41004, 42049/362/ 508, 46001/011. Other departures have been No. 66764 conveying Nos. 41128, 42060/197 /507 /515/573 as the 5243/09.40 Ely Papworth-Eastleigh Works on May 4, followed by a similar move on…

LAST GWR 'CASTLE' SET ENTERS SERVICE THE last five of 48 vehicles rebuilt as GWR 'Castle' vehicles underwent a test run from Plymouth Laira to Penzance and back with power car Nos. 43016 and 43042 Treganna Castle on May 12. The five coaches (Nos.48123/33/34,49111/13) had returned to Laira from Wabtec, Doncaster behind No. 37884 on April 23. Following the test run, the final rake, set GWll, was formed and entered service on May 19, made up of Nos.48133+48132+48131+49111. RIVIERA REPAINTS MOST recently used on Fife Circle duties, Mk.2fTSO Nos. 5952 and 6176 have been outshopped by Arlington in blue/grey livery and, for the first time on Riviera stock, 'Inter-City' branding - although in a smaller font than in BR days. They were released on April 30, moving north to Knottingley…

TFL has announced its new Transport Commissioner is Andy Byford, who is returning to look after the London Underground system he joined as a graduate trainee in 1989. Mr Byford has most recently been working for the New York City Transit Authority, where he was the president and chief executive officer. He will take over from the current commissioner Mike Brown on June 29. Mr Brown also joined TfL in 1989, becoming commissioner in July 2015. He will remain at TfL until July 10 for a two-week handover before taking up his new role as chair of the delivery authority for the restoration and renewal of the Houses of Parliament,…

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. CUMBRIAN CLASS 50 DISCOVERY I HAVE been sorting through some of my old diaries recently and I came across many of the ones from when I was working in the train crew signing on point at Workington in the 1970s. Something turned up in them that surprised me. Whenever I was on early turn (every other week), I would record locos of interest that came to Workington on my shift and it appears there…

LIVERIES for the forthcoming '00' gauge North Eastern Railway (NER) electric 'autocars' commissioned from Heijan by Rails of Sheffield have been approved with livery samples expected in the coming months. Two models are to be finished in the complex NER crimson and cream livery as NER No. 3170 and No. 3171 in 1904-1923 condition. One model will be offered in LNER brown as No. 3170 covering the 1923-31 period. Fitted with a petrol engine, the two autocars were essentially petrol-electric vehicles using electric traction to improve performance over equivalent steam traction. No. 3170 was fitted with a more powerful engine allowing it to haul a single passenger coach. Both auto-cars saw use in Hartlepool, on the Scarborough-Filey route and between Selby and Cawood. Withdrawal came in 1931 with 3170 being…

■ THE Government made face coverings mandatory on public transport from June 15 to coincide with the next stage of easing restrictions. This includes train, tram, bus, coach, ferry and aircraft passengers after scientific advice set out that face coverings can provide some additional protection where social distancing is not possible. Face coverings are not the same as face masks, and passengers are being asked not to use medical grade PPE masks so that these remain available to frontline staff. ■ TRAIN operators are calling on potential passengers to ask themselves if their journey is really necessary. This is to keep sufficient space on trains for those that have no alternative, as carriages look set to only carry 10-20% of their normal capacity. GWR, for example, has introduced a 'counted…

THE growth in online shopping is changing the way retail distribution is organised, with the use of heavy goods vehicles to shops giving way to light vans to door steps, writes Industry Witness. As a large percentage of goods are imported, distribution warehouses are stocked by containers arriving at deep-sea ports, and many new distribution hubs are only getting planning permission if they include rail connections. The most recent approval in May was for the West Midlands Freight Interchange at Four Ashes in South Staffordshire, which will have a capacity to handle 10 rail services a day with a train length of up to 120 SLU (775 metres). The terminal is located on the rail route between Bushbury and Stafford Trent Valley Junction, with easy access to the West Coast…

THE contract for the physical works involved in the rail upgrade on the Isle of Wight is to be let in the near future. The work will see a few weekend blockades this summer, mainly to deal with the restricted clearance under the Smallbrook Lane bridge between Ryde St Johns Road and Smallbrook Junction. There will then be an eight week complete blockade of the line in early 2021 to allow the bulk of the physical upgrade work to take place. This will include significant upgrading of some of the track and creating a passing loop at Brading, as well as either raising or lowering of station platforms where necessary. ■ Network Rail's separate scheme to upgrade the pier to make it fit for another 60 years is now said…

DB Cargo, Freightliner and GB Railfreight all increased the number of locos in store in May as the coronavirus lockdown continued to suppress traffic levels. DBC stopped 14 locos during the month, but returned 10 to traffic. The ranks of the WFMS holding pool swelled with the addition of Nos.66005,66030,66053,66130, 66158, 66221, 90026 and 90029 at Taton and No. 67005 at Crewe, while the WQAA pool (used for locomotives temporarily stored during maintenance) was joined by No. 67004 at Taton and Nos. 67029 and 90040 at Crewe. Moving in the opposite direction were Nos. 60007 (back to WCBTI, 66079, 66085, 66144 and 66168 (all to WBAR), 66106 (WBBE), 66147 (WBAE) and 67007 (WABC). Despite being allocated to the WFMS pool since April 15, No. 66006 was reportedly returned to service…

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, Bill Bass, Andrew Burton, Brian Dobbs, Steve Donald, Peter Foster, Stephen Ginn, John Hales, Ryan Hayward, Rich Holmes, Brad Joyce, Gordon Kirkby, Peter Laithwaite, Ian Leech, Greg Mape, Kenneth Middleditch, Thomas Mills, Graham Nuttall, Keith Partlow, Scott Peters, Chris Playfair, Colin Pottle, Karen Richardson, Eric Salisbury, lain Scotchman, Robert Sherwood, Steve Sienkiewicz, Joe Simpson, Jamie Squibbs, Steve Stubbs, Jack Taylor, Kevin Truby, Stephen Veitch, Ryan Walker, Mike Williams, and many more.…

Correct to "'1ay 26, 2020 Allocations 150001/02 EX/EFHQ-NH/EDHQ 165120 PM-RG 165133 RG-PM 196101 Newly delivered HQ/EJHQ 331004 NL-AN 331022/24-26/28 HQ-AN 331102/03/05/07 /09/11/12 AN-NL 387105 SL-HE 710277 Newly delivered HQ/EKHQ 720508/11/15/25/26/29/33/35 Newly delivered HQ/EBHQ 745108 HQ-NC 745110 Newly delivered HQ/EBHQ 755401/05/06 HQ-NC 755403 Newly delivered HQ/EBHQ 769008 HQ/HBHQ-CF /HLHQ 777004/07 Newly delivered HQ/HEHQ 801214/29 Newly delivered HQ/HBHQ 801227 HQ-DR Now in nine-car formation 345052/63/64 Now in passenger traffic 195125 331022/24-26/28 397002/08/10 745108 755401/05/06 801227 Preserved Cambrian Heritage Railway: 144006/07 Stored/stopped locations Please note that this was the situation in mid-May. Locomotives may be rotated in and out of store as required. Allerton: 195111 Barrow in Furness: 195002/14 Birkenhead North: 508112/24 Blackburn: 195005 Cardiff Canton: 142072/74/76/77 /82,143604/05/08,170202/08/70/73 Castle Donington: 769456 Doncaster: 195016 Doncaster Belmont: 321903, 322481-85 Eastbourne:377117/33,377412 Eastleigh Works: 442407 Exeter: 143620…

THE number of Mk.4 coaches stored at Worksop has increased with the arrival of more sets that have been handed back to Eversholt by LNER, as well as sets used by Grand Central for crew training on the West Coast Main Line. With the launch of its new Euston-Blackpool services now delayed until 2021, Grand Central has stopped its training programme for the time being. Making the journey from Bounds Green (with No. 66737 Lesia having supplied traction) on April 25 was set BN02, made up of Nos. 82202, 11402/302/299, 10302, 12448/450/402/232. Four days later, No. 66719 Metro-Land took set BN0l (Nos. 82207, 11401/301/298, 10307, 12307/414/415/417/20nfrom Bounds Green to Worksop. May 4 saw the arrival of two Grand Central crew trainer sets, Nos. 66755 Tony Berkeley DBE and 66772 Maria…

EASTER Rail Services has acquired five former Greater Anglia coaches. Nos.10413,11078/095,12021/098 are the first ERS vehicles to arrive at Vauxhall Carriage Sidings at Great Yarmouth, which have recently been cleared of vegetation. They were hauled to the firm's new base from Norwich by No. 37402 Stephen Middlemore 23.12.1954-8.6.2013 on May 27. Also during May, further redundant Mk.3 coaches left the Greater Anglia region for the last time. Three rakes of vehicles have been moved to Long Marston for storage. The first, powered by Nos. 37059/402, ran from the Mid-Norfolk Railway on May 5 and comprised Nos. 12015/035/056/061/067 /079/084/108/146/167. It was followed by a similar move two days later, comprising Nos. 12034/046/049/090/116/118/126/137 /159/164 and handled by Nos. 37402 and 37716. May 12 saw No. 37402 in action again, this time leaving…

Arrived in 2016 81 70 5500 000-073 JNA - Ermewa grey (first 24 given Tarmac/CRH brandings from factory, with majority of remaining wagons decaled shortly after delivery) 81705500 074-163 MMA- DB red 81 70 5500 164-228 JNA - VTG/Mendip Rail silver 81 70 5500 229-252 JNA - Ermewa grey 81 70 5500 253-312 JNA - VTG dark blue Arrived in 2017 81 70 5500 313-377 JNA - VTG dark blue 81 70 5500 378-453 MMA - DB red 81 70 5500 454-503 JNA - GBRf dark blue Arrived in 2019 81 70 5500 504-603 JNA - Ermewa/GBRf dark blue 81 70 5500 604-653 JNA - VTG silver 81 70 5500 654-668 JNA - VTG aquamarine blue Arrived in 2020 81 70 5500 669-703 JNA - VTG aquamarine blue 81 70…

MK.1 RETURNS TO MNR AFTER a spell on loan to the Battlefield Line, Mk.2a FK No. 13447 arrived back at the Mid-Norfolk Railway on May 14. SPA VALLEY DINER DESTINED for use on its dining specials, Mk.l FO No. 3131 was moved from the East Somerset Railway (where it has undergone bodywork repairs by Cranmore Traincare and Maintenance Services) to the Spa Valley Railway on April 28. Interior work has still to be carried out, and the vehicle currently carries primer - it will be painted in crimson and cream before it enters service. PMV FOR MIDDLETON SOUTHERN Railway PMV No. 522235, which later became Internal User No. 041614, has been acquired by the Middleton Railway and will be moving from the East Lancashire Railway, where is has been based…

Locomotive Traction 2020 Rail Guide 2020 By Pip Dunn / Colin Marsden Published by Crecy Publishing www.crecy.co.ukLocomotive Traction: 144 pages, colour, softback. £7.95 Rail Guide: 381 pages, colour, hardback. £25 WHERE would we be without rolling stock guides, and here are two 2020 updates to popular choices. The Marsden book is a comprehensive guide to British, Irish and light rail companies, providing a company-by-company listing of who owns what on our main line and heritage railways, including fleet numbers in order of their operators. The bulk of the pages is taken up by the passenger operating companies, but similar treatment is given to freight operators; infrastructure companies; train engineering firms; rolling stock hire companies and more. It is perhaps a hefty price at first glance, but you get a lot…

FINAL livery prototypes of several brand-new '00' gauge wagons have been approved for production by Accurascale. It released pictures of the final pre-production models of the eagerly awaited PTA, JUA, and JTA bogie box iron ore tipplers and aggregate wagons, together with the associated JSA conversions which make up a comprehensive range based on one family of wagon with a common underframe and BSC Axle Motion bogies. It is the largest batch of new models to be produced by the Dublin-based company so far and has now been checked for livery colours and small adjustments made prior to production approval. The iron ore and aggregate bogie box wagons are offered in packs of five wagons, including inner and outer wagon packs in British Steel, VTG, ARC and Foster Yeoman liveries…