Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2021 i Rail Express

FIRST things first: I’d like to pay tribute to my predecessor –Paul Bickerdyke – who has apparently effortlessly (though he assures me this isn’t actually the case) guided the magazine not only through the trials and tribulations of recent times, but has been steadfast in the front cab of Rail Express for more than eight years. Many of you have either communicated with or met Paul at rail events over the years and some of you have already told me (thank you for that!) that I have big shoes to fill. So, I’m delighted that Paul will be ‘just down the corridor’ at The Railway Magazine and I know he will be keeping a friendly eye on what is happening in this publication. I've been asked more than once ‘what…

LNER has opened a public consultation on proposed changes to its services next year. An enhanced timetable will operate on the East Coast mainline from May 2022, which will provide an additional hourly main line path to be used by a Newcastle service. There will be an improvement in timings as the Class 801 electric-only ‘Azuma’ trains provide faster acceleration and deceleration. There is a16-minute reduction in the journey time to Edinburgh and 12 minutes to Newcastle, though this is partially achieved by a reduction in intermediate stops. Stations that will see a reduced number of services include Darlington and Berwick-upon-Tweed and to secure pathing for LNER, an hourly TransPennine Express service will be withdrawn between York and Newcastle. There are new services, such as a return working between Cleethorpes…

PREVIOUSLY expected to join the ranks of the dear departed there has been a reprieve for No. 37198, Network Rail’s Class 97/3 programme spares donor. Historically significant as the last British main line locomotive to be built by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns at the firm’s Darlington workshops, as No. D6898 in April 1964, it has been repainted in original British Railways green livery and will shortly take up a career in preservation as an exhibit at the Head of Steam Museum at Darlington North Road.…

CLAYTON Equipment Ltd is 90 years old this year, originally established in 1931 by Stanley Reid Devlin to continue supplying spare parts and maintenance for the then recently-closed Clayton Wagons Ltd. The anniversary was marked at a team meeting on May 28, when the firm’s executive chairman Steve Gretton cut a celebratory cake in the shape of the latest Clayton hybrid ‘CBD90’ shunting locomotive, which was shared among staff members. A ‘OO’ gauge model of this locomotive was recently announced – see Rail Express Modeller page M9. Currently, two ‘CBD90+’s are in the final stages of build, and when completed will be off to Tata Steel at Port Talbot, bringing the complement there to five, with two more still on order. Already gone to their new home at alarge multi-function…

The innovative KAA Mega3 intermodal vehicles, capable of carrying both swapbody vehicle trailers and ISO containers up to 45ft in length, have returned to the UK after over a decade variously of service and storage on the other side of the Channel. Built by Babcock Rail and originally employed on a tentative Westbury-Millbrook service carrying cement trailers for Blue Circle, the trial was bankrolled by the Strategic Rail Authority but was cancelled when the money ran out. Briefly employed by Victa Westlink Rail, they were later purchased by NACCO and exported to Europe on February 1, 2008, being recoded IXA (UIC code Sdffgss) and renumbered No. 37 80 4905 001-022. They have now returned, forming a 6Q91/03.21 Dollands Moor-Tilbury2 Container Terminal behind No. 66027 on June 2, and are intended…

THE proposal to extend the Bakerloo Line beyond Elephant & Castle towards Lewisham, via New Cross Gate, has already undergone three rounds of public consultations in 2014, 2017 and 2019 (see December 2019 issue). While the land needed to construct stations has now been safeguarded by the DfT, the powers to commence construction have not yet been granted. It seems very likely that this project is highly vulnerable, given the funding challenges TfL is currently experiencing.…

TfL has committed to investigate driverless trains as an expressed condition of the recent Government bailout (see July issue). An analysis of just how realistic it might be for LU to introduce Grade-of-Automation was discussed in the October 2020 issue. The DfT is funding the work to prepare an interim outline business case on the Waterloo & City line within 12 months and an interim strategic outline business case on the Piccadilly Line within 18 months. Interim reports on both projects are to be provided by December. In addition, London mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed that no further rolling stock will be ordered with an “old-fashioned driver cab”. It therefore seems likely that no further orders will be placed for replacement rolling stock on the Bakerloo, Central and Waterloo & City…

CLASS 08 FAILURE A main generator bearing problem, discovered while a minor fault was being fixed, has resulted in No. D4118 (08888) being removed from traffic for repairs. NEW HOME FOR CLASS 14 RECENTLY put up for sale (along with fellow Nene Valley resident No. D9529), No. D9520 arrived at the Mid-Norfolk Railway, its new permanent base, on June 9. The Diesel & Electric Group’s No. D9526 is being loaned to the Kent & East Sussex Railway for a period of six months, providing cover for No. D9504 which is out of service. NORTH STAR FOR WHITBY AN agreement for the hire of the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group’s No. 47077 North Star to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway has been concluded, and the loco ran from Williton…

THE two surviving Bulleid ‘4-DD’ power cars, Nos. 13003/4, are set to be reunited after some 37 years apart. DMBT (Driving Motor Brake Third) No. 13004, which has been located at the Northampton Ironstone Railway Trust since 1999, has been gifted to the Bulleid ‘4-DD’ Group following the passing of its former owner, Nick Robinson. It is due to be moved to Hope Farm in Sellinge, Kent, where it will join the other surviving car, DMBT No. 13003. The two vehicles were the driving cars from set No. 4002 (which later became No.4902). The ‘4-DD’ EMUs were a pair of prototype high density four-car units designed by OVS Bullied which entered service in 1949. Although referred to as ‘double deck’ stock, in reality, to enable them to fit in the…

THE ever-popular itinerary embracing the Settle & Carlisle is evident this August, as no less than 18 tours are booked to traverse this appealing line during the month. Six different tour promoters are taking their trains over the spectacular and steeply-graded 72-mile route. With a destination of Carlisle which has so much to offer those who participate, notwithstanding turning and servicing facilities for train crew and staff, there are only a handful of tour operators who do not feature in this month’s listing. ■ Yet to return to this year’s tours is long-time Norfolk-based operator, NENTA. Social distancing and therefore less customers which affects the profit line was the reason why NENTA is awaiting better times when full (and therefore profitable) complements can be entertained on tours.…

AS MGR wagons were taken out of service by EWS, perfectly good underframes were used to build a large fleet of ballast and spoil wagons with two different types of body. The fleet grew by one batch of around 250 at a time to number over 1150 wagons,  which were finished in EWS maroon livery. They were constructed by RFS Industries from 1997 onwards and were used mixed in trains with MFAs, a similar rebuild which utilised domestic and industrial coal hopper wagon underframes (HEA) to create box wagons for coal and  aggregates (MEA) which were later cut down for ballast and spoil use. Accurascale has added the MHA to the MGR range, starting with four packs of the later body style of MHA with 11 body side ribs (the…

TWO retailers have commissioned brand-new models of the Merry-go-Round wagons in ‘OO’ gauge from Cavalex Models, including several versions used in power station coal traffic and the small fleet of CDA china clay wagons. Livery samples have arrived with the pictures showing an HAA with a yellow painted cradle and Trainload Coal markings alongside a CDA finished in the original English China Clays blue scheme. Advance orders for the highly detailed wagons are being taken by www. trains4u.com and www.kmsrailtech. co.uk. The coal MGRs are being sold as packs of three individually  numbered wagons for £89.95 whilst the CDAs are sold singly for £32.50 and in pairs for £64.95.…

NETWORK Rail and the train operating companies (TOCs) which hold Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements, acting as employers, and trade unions ASLEF, RMT, TSSA, and Unite, representing rail industry workers, signed an Enabling Framework Agreement (EFA) on June 15. The content of the EFA reflects a need to reduce industry costs to match an expected annual revenue shortfall of £2billion compared to pre-Covid earnings from ticket sales. With a lower number of passengers, it is intended that the 15% timetable reduction that was applied in May 2021 will continue. A recruitment and pay freeze will be instigated with no funding provided for outstanding pay reviews from 2020 or new cases put forward in 2021. One exception provides for asalary increase of up to £250 per annum for staff earning less than…

FIRST MAIN LINE PLASTIC SLEEPERS TRAINS in Wiltshire are now running on top of old bottles, food packaging and other unwanted plastics with the introduction of the first composite railway sleepers on Network Rail’s main line tracks. Made from recycled plastic, engineers have installed the environmentally-friendly sleepers across the weight-restricted Sherrington Viaduct, between Salisbury and Warminster. Track across the viaduct would previously have been fitted with wooden sleepers, as concrete is too heavy for the structure. The new sleepers are manufactured by Sicut in the UK using a blend of locally-sourced plastic waste that might otherwise end up at landfill. IPORT SECURES CUSTOMS DEAL IPORT Rail in Doncaster has become the UK’s first Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SFRI) to be given Government approval for an on-site customs area. Businesses can…

The four 384ft high cooling towers at Rugeley power station, which closed in 2016, and were for many West Coast Main Line travellers an iconic landmark of the route, were demolished on June 6. Seconds before they were reduced to rubble on a very wet Sunday morning, No. 390156 speeds past on the down fast with the 1H03 Euston-Manchester Piccadilly service. Shortly after, and before the dust has settled, No. 390129 moves cautiously by with 1S52 Euston-Carlisle working.…

THE final interior design of the new Tyne & Wear Metro fleet has been unveiled. Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, has finalised the design options after an unprecedented 23,000 responses from customers, employees and specialist user groups. The consultation, delivered using interactive online platforms and augmented virtual reality workshops, has resulted in comprehensive improvements to the original design, including extra seats being added, as well as final decisions on the look and feel of doors, handholds, wheelchair spaces, cycle storage, seat fabric, internal artwork and branding. Train manufacturer Stadler will start production of the 42 new trains in August, and the first units are expected to enter passenger service in 2023, replacing the two-car Metro-Cammell units, the earliest of which date back to 1975. The final…

Correct to June 19, 2021 Allocations 43140 HQ/SCXL-HA/HAPC43295 EC/IECP-HQ/SCEL43305 EC/IECP-HQ/SCEL43306 EC/IECP-HQ/SCEL43309 EC/IECP-HQ/SCEL43310 EC/IECP-HQ/SCEL43316 EC/IECP-HQ/SCEL43319 EC/IECP-HQ/SCEL43320 EC/IECP-HQ/SCEL50008 DCRO-HVAC66060 WBAR-WBRT66098 WBAE-WBRT66099 WBBE-WBRT66111 WBAE-WBRT66114 WBBT-WBRT66116 WBAE-WBRT66143 WBAE-WBRT66151 WBAE-WBRT66155 WBAE-WBRT66161 WBAE-WBRT66174 WBAE-WBRT66183 WBAE-WBRT66186 WBAR-WBRT66194 WBAR-WBRT66199 WBAE-WBRT66599 LD/DFIN-FD/DHLT66953 LD/DFIN-FD/DHLT69001 Newly registered RR/GBGS69002 Newly registered RR/GBGS69003 Newly registered RR/GBGS69004 Newly registered RR/GBGS69005 Newly registered RR/GBGS69006 Newly registered RR/GBGS69007 Newly registered RR/GBGS69008 Newly registered RR/GBGS69009 Newly registered RR/GBGS69010 Newly registered RR/GBGS69011 Newly registered RR/GBGS69012 Newly registered RR/GBGS69013 Newly registered RR/GBGS69014 Newly registered RR/GBGS69015 Newly registered RR/GBGS69016 Newly registered RR/GBGS90036 CE/WEDC-WQ/WQAA-CE/WEDC Liveries Blue+GBRf and Beacon logos: 66797 Dark grey+H&H logos: 50008 FL orange: 90048 GBRf: 08703, 60087 GBRf + UK and USA flags: 69001 InterCity Executive: 43044 Railfreight Petroleum: 66794 Named 66764 Major John Poyntz –Engineer & Railwayman 66794 Steve Hannam 69001 Mayflower Names removed 43480 West Hampstead…

THE seven Mk.2 coaches which have been stored at Dalton Transport & Storage, near Thirsk, for many years have been acquired by Eastern Rail Services. The first to depart was Mk.2 BFK No. 17033 (latterly DB977591), which arrived at Great Yarmouth on June 11, and it was followed by Mk.2c SO No. 6415 five days later. Work on returning the latter to FO (First Open) configuration, by fitting carpets and replacing the seats with examples in orange moquette, has already begun. Also planned to move to Great Yarmouth are Mk.2d BFK No. 17164, which underwent a body overhaul and repaint into blue/grey before its move to Dalton in 2006, and former Gatwick Express car No. 72641 (ex- Mk.2f TSO No. 6079). The other three coaches (Mk.2c TSO No. 6414, Mk.2c…

SIX coaches belonging to Riviera Trains, which had been stored at Kingmoor since they were removed from use with ScotRail on the peak hour Fife Circle workings, finally returned to Riviera’s northern base at Burton on June 16. Mk.2f TSO Nos. 5945/55, 6027 and BSO Nos. 9521/27/39 were hauled south from Carlisle by No. 37716. ■ Following a spell at Knottingley for fitting of controlled emission toilets, a pair of Mk.1 vehicles (FO No. 3119 and TSO No. 5009) returned to Eastleigh behind No. 66187 on June 8.…

■ DB CARGO: There were anumber of WIA car carrier visitors to DB’s former Marcroft Engineering site in June, including a pair of examples that had previously spent time undergoing overhaul at the Stoke-on-Trent site earlier this year. On June 4, Nos. 85 70 4971 010-9 and 85 70 4971 016-6 were on the inbound working from Arpley, swapping places with No. 85 70 4971 040-6, which had arrived on May 28. This was the second visit for No. 85 70 4971 010-9 in 2020, it having already left the site on April 7. Meanwhile, No. 85 70 4971 043-0 returned to Stoke after around six weeks on June 21 (it originally departed on May 7). It replaced No. 85 70 4971 016-6 at the cramped site, which returned on…

ON-GOING building projects have been taking place at numerous interchange hubs across the Underground, including Victoria, Tottenham Court Road and Bank, where work has been taking place for some years. Many examples are part of the Crossrail project, however, in the case of Victoria and Bank, work is part of a need to increase capacity. A new Northern Line southbound platform is due to be opened at Bank in 2022 (see December 2018 issue) that will see the current island platform decommissioned and converted into a concourse. Once complete, the next station due to benefit from a capacity upgrade is Holborn. With passenger footfall increasing, Holborn was noted as requiring upgrade in 2017, with a new station entrance proposed, as well as lifts providing step-free access to platforms and new…

THE sole-surviving Class 120 DMU car, buffet car (TRSLB) No. 59276, has been assured a future as part of the Renaissance Railcars fleet. Originally preserved by the Red Triangle Society back in 1984 for use with its two Class 127 cars (Nos. 51616 and 51622), it has been out of use in Swithland Sidings for more than 20 years. The ‘127’ power cars were sold some time ago and are now based at the Helston Railway in Cornwall. Ownership of No. 59276 has now passed to the Great Central Railway, with Renaissance Railcars becoming custodians. The vehicle contains blue asbestos which requires professional removal before work can begin on its restoration. It is planned to rebuild the car to near original condition. ■ No Class 120 power cars survive, the…

Tim Dunn @MrTimDunn Our NEW TV SERIES is here! Starting Tuesday 13th July at 8pm @YesterdayTweets channel it’s #SecretsOfTheLondonUnderground presented by me & @siddyholloway of @ltmuseum. Abandoned tube stations, museum discoveries, social history, disused tunnels & more: this is *fascinating* TV! RAIL EXPRESS @railexpress We so nearly did it... well done to all involved! @AvantiWestCoast @networkrail #royalscot2021 RAIL EXPRESS @railexpress Inspired by today's visit to @mhrailway this weekend's Rail Express poll asks: When did railways stop going 'clicketyclack'? Railway Performance Society @railperf Lots of clickety clack on the Highland Main line. Ian Murray @Ian Twitts It depends where you are, some bits of BR still do, track between Great Malvern & Malvern Link stations for example. Eric Holland @raetiamann Many routes still have sectional track. RAIL EXPRESS @railexpress After 390044…

IT has taken over 30 years for a mainstream model of the dynamic Class 319 dual voltage EMUs to be produced and it comes in the form of an ‘N’ gauge model by Graham Farish. Livery samples of the forthcoming Class 319/0 No. 319004 in revised Network SouthEast livery have been  publicised alongside models representing the refurbished and converted Class 319/3 units (converted from Class 319/1) as operated by Thameslink (Govia) in its 1996 livery (No. 319382) and Northern Rail in its 2015 livery (No. 319362). Two sub-classes CLASS 319s were built as two different sub-classes for cross-Thames operations through the reopened and extended Snow Hill Tunnel between Farringdon and Blackfriars. The 60-strong fleet of Class 319/0s worked inner suburban services as well as some longer distance trains. It is…

A hint of the forthcoming Dapol ‘O’ gauge Class 66 was offered with a view of the first tests from the moulds. The image shows two versions of the model’s bodyshell moulding which can be seen in the differing cab windows. Locomotive and operator specific details are being incorporated in the tooling to provide a wide range of different types of Class 66s. They will have certain common features  including twin motor drive, a heavy cast metal chassis, comprehensive illumination including cab driving controls and running lights alongside a sprung centre axle in each bogie. Dapol lists six different locomotives in its catalogue, each of which will be offered in conventional analogue (£325), DCC-onboard (£355) and with digital sound (£475). Advance orders are being taken with deposit being required at…

ROLLING stock owner and asset manager Porterbrook has added the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre to its portfolio of railway assets. The site, Porterbrook’s first operational and delivery facility, covers 135 acres and includes a two-mile circular test track and over 12 miles of secure train storage facilities, connected to the national rail network. Porterbrook plans to significantly invest and upgrade the on-site facilities to benefit customers and suppliers across the rail industry, as well as bringing new jobs and skills to the area, on the edge of Stratford-upon-Avon.…

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, Andy Cooke, Chris Addoo, Chris Gee, Chris Newton, Colin Wareing, Dan Whittaker, David Hill, Duncan McEvoy, Gary Thomas, Ian Lyall, Jack Prentice, Jack Taylor, Jay Monaghan, John & Rhian Headon, Karen Richardson, Keith Marshall, Leo Martin, Marc Davies, Martin Cook, Martin Turner, Mick Tindall, Mike Lalley, Neil Walkling, Nick Sanderson, Paul Bickerdyke, Peter Foster, Peter Laithwaite, Rod Orr, Ryan Hayward, Stephen Ginn, Steve King, Steve Sienkiewicz, Steve Stubbs, Stuart Fowler, Terry Mendoza, Tom Stobbs and many more.…

FORMERLY hired to West Coast Railways, the Stratford 47 Group’s No. 47580 County of Essex was back in action in June after repairs at Nemesis Rail, Burton-upon-Trent, following a main generator fire in September 2018. The most patriotic of Brush ‘Type 4’s was partnered with ex-Rail Operations Group No. 47813 on a 0Z77 light engine move to Alton on June 23, No. 47580 being one of the stars of the Mid Hants Railway diesel gala over the weekend of June 25-27. ■ Also departing Burton on the 23rd was No. 47760, which was collected by No. 57314 working back to Carnforth under a 0Z31 headcode. The Class 47/7 had been moved to Nemesis Rail for engine repairs as far back as April 2019 by No. 31128.…

DB CARGO OF DBC’s original fleet of 250 locomotives, just 145 are currently still active in the UK, though that is still the largest fleet of a single type among British freight operators. Of the remaining 105, 11 are stored, 64 are or were in France, 15 are in Poland, five are on long-term lease to DRS (only two of which are currently working for the ‘blue’ team) and 10 were sold to GB Railfreight. The current total is expected to grow to 148 with the arrival through the ‘Chunnel’ of Nos. 66010/28/190 from France on June 9, all three of which have spent between seven and 11 years working abroad for Euro Cargo Rail. The trio worked north to Toton on the 18th and 19th behind No. 66090 as…

SIGNALLING systems are being updated across the four sub-surface lines comprising the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines. The original plan envisaged allowing all trains to run using Automatic Train Operation [ATO], with service regulation being controlled from a new service control centre at Hammersmith. Work to replace signalling and control systems began in summer 2016, with the project expected to be complete by May 2022 (see May 2019 issue). Since then, the project has been curtailed. However, due to the need to introduce automation to increase the number ofservices within central London and with capital finance already sourced and committed, the 4LM project is expected to continue.…

RECENTLY outshopped from Locomotive Services' depot after repaint/bodywork repairs and some mechanical attention, Crewe Heritage Centre's No. D1842 (47192) is to move to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway on long-term loan. The '47', which has been in preservation for more than 30 years, is planned to feature at the line's summer diesel event on August 6-8. DIESEL GALAS July 24/25: North Norfolk Railway (Mixed Traction) July 24/25: Heritage Shunters Trust (Rowsley) July 30: Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway August 6-8: Spa Valley Railway August 6-8: Ecclesbourne Valley Railway August 8: Cholsey & Wallingford Railway (‘08’ day) September 3-5: Great Central Railway September 10-12: Chinnor & Princes Risborough RailwaySeptember 10-12: Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (Mixed Traction)September 17/18: East Lancashire RailwaySeptember 25/26: Epping Ongar RailwaySeptember 25/26: Mid-Norfolk RailwaySeptember 30-October 3: Severn Valley RailwayOctober 8-10: Nene…

SUCCESSFUL RETURN FOR ‘WHISTLER’ HAVING returned to Crewe from Barrow Hill back in April, No. D213 (40013) Andania successfully hauled its first railtour since it received its replacement power unit on June 1, when it worked Saphos Trains’ ‘Welsh Marches Whistler’ which ran from Lancaster to Bristol and back. OSWESTRY BASE FOR ‘ED’ HAVING been sold to a new owner, No. E6036 (73129) left the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway, where it had been based since 2005, and arrived at its new home, the Cambrian Heritage Railways base at Oswestry, on June 14. WENSLEYDALE ‘143’ SWAP PLANS for No. 143608 to enter preservation at the Wensleydale Railway have been revised and its place will now be taken by No. 143623. Faults with No. 143608, which has now been sent for scrap, are the…

■ TRAFFIC AND TRACTION: The first three new CAF-built 4000 Class intermediate cars have been incorporated into unit No. 4017 at York Road. The six-car unit has undergone static testing. Gauging trials and test runs have also been carried out. A further 18 cars are to be delivered from Spain in a rolling programme, with revenue earning service scheduled for the autumn. Signalling problems disrupted services, particularly on the Londonderry and Larne lines, during the period under review. Areas affected included Killagan loop between Cullybackey and Ballymoney on May 28, Cullybackey and Londonderry/Bellarena on May 30 and Killagan again on the 31st. Bustitution was introduced between Londonderry and Bellarena on June 8 until repairs in that area were completed. On June 12, all services between Belfast Lanyon Place and Ballymena/Larne…

RENDERS for a brand-new and highly detailed model of the Class 56 locomotive in ‘OO’ gauge caused quite a stir on social media during June. Cavalex Models has been quietly working on the project for afew years to the point where it is in the tool room. It is a breath-taking project in terms of its scope for any manufacturer to attempt. Given that a truly scale representation of the Class 56 remains to be produced in ‘OO’ gauge, with all of the subtle variations that appeared in the fleet of 135 locomotives, the news has been widely welcomed. One of the reasons for selecting the Class 56 as its first diesel electric locomotive model is that the full size locomotives have hauled, in regular service, the very wagons either…

AS much a design icon of the British Rail era as the HST, the fleet of 10,961 air-braked Merry-Go-Round (MGR) hopper wagons became a regular sight on the mainline from their introduction in 1964, dominating coal traffic until their run-down in the early 2000s. They modernised coal handling at power stations and industrial sites by automating unloading without having to constantly stop a train to discharge wagons. Construction was completed almost exclusively by Shildon Works, except a handful built at Ashford. Production was completed in 1982 with 460 wagons (HDA) fitted with upgraded suspension allowing the wagon to run at 60mph, a higher speed than standard MGRs for use on longer runs. The first builds of MGRs coded HOP AB were fitted with cross members or struts to strengthen the…