Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2025 i Railways Illustrated

HNRC SWEITELSKY is starting an F-exam programme on the Colas Class 37 fleet, with 37421 the first in line for the work. Colas has seven Class 37s in its fleet, 37057/099/116/175/219/254/421, and it hires locos from HNRCS and Sheaf Engineering as required to fulfil its infrastructure monitoring contract with Network Rail. HNRCS’s Dan Ryder has spoken about the company’s plans following the acquisition of HNRC. He told Railways Ilustrated: “We are doing an assessment of all the fleet. Most of the 20s and 37s will be retained, but we need to get a full assessment [of the assets] before we start any disposal. We need to get the house in order, so to speak. We are also waiting on [the next round of] Network Rail contracts.” Meanwhile, HNRCS has sent…

HARRY NEEDLE has sold four of the five Class 47s that he retained and were not part of the sale to Swietelsky. 47703 has been acquired by Nemesis Rail, 47715Haymarket by Rail Engineering Solutions and 47843/847 by West Coast Railways. 47785 remains at the Wensleydale Railway and its future is unclear. Of these sales, RES’s Mike Vaughan told Railways Illustrated: “Over time, 47715 will be returned to main line condition. RES develops OTMR systems, and we will use 47715 as a testbed for that. “We will for the latest version of OTMR to be used as a demonstrator for our customers. A new livery is planned for the locomotive. We will move it from Worksop to a new base, possibly at Crewe, Leicester, Derby RTC or Princes Risborough – it…

THE BRUSH Type 4 Fund has been forced to cancel its planned May 17-19 tour in Hungary using 47375 and an ex-BR Class 56 and two ex-BR Class86s. Nigel Antolic, from the BT4F, said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have made the decision not to proceed with running the tour.” The first issue was the news that Komplex Rail, which operates47375, had ceased running trains due to financial difficulties. In order for it to resume operations, the national operator required the debt to be settled, and a business plan put in place. This was highly unlikely to have happened by May. Secondly came the news that due to a reorganisation within the Hungarian state railway company, MÁV-HÉV was no longer allowed to administer and run charter trains…

ONE OF the worst kept ‘secrets’ in the rail industry was finally confirmed on March 10 when GWR finally announced that contracts had been signed with Angel Trains for it to take 26 ex-Transport for Wales Class 175s. The deal is for 10 of the Class 175/0 two-car sets, 175001-007/009-011, and all 16 three-car Class 175/1s, 175101-016. Fire-damaged 175008 is excluded from the deal and will presumably be used for spares. Moves of the units have ramped up in recent weeks and are expected to be even more commonplace as they are transferred from storage in Ely to Laira for recommissioning. Rail Operations Group and Euro-phoenix have been undertaking the moves using top-and-tail Class 37s and barrier wagons. On February25,175010wascollected from Leicester – having been dumped for three weeks after…

STEVE HAMPTON, a well-known face manning the Diesel Traction Group’s sale stand, died in late February. Philip Sawyer, of the DTG, said: “The DTG has lost a real stalwart with the passing of our sales officer Steve Hampton at the all too young age of 61. “Steve has brought in much-needed funds for many years and our sales stand won’t be the same without him. He was always willing to accept a challenge and undertook the sales role even though it ‘wasn’t his thing’ to begin with. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him.”…

Debut for Class 153/5s sees 153/9s stood own The debut of the Transport for Wales Active Travel Class 153 conversions on February 25 with 153552 on the Heart of Wales Line has seen the majority of the Class 153/9 sub-class, which are not fully compliant with current accessibility regulations, removed from traffic. By mid-March, 153906/909/914/921/922/926 were stopped at Landore and 153910 and 153935 likewise at Canton, leaving just 153913 in traffic. The remaining two examples are due to be converted into Active Travel units, with 153968 stopped at Crewe since November last year and 153972 at Landore undergoing the work. On the Class 150 fleet, 150229 has become the latest Sprinter unit to be withdrawn, it arriving at Landore on March 6 to be stripped for spares. Earlier casualty 150227…

New deliveries DB Cargo’s new-build BAA steel wagons continue to emerge from the company’s Stoke wagon works at a steady rate, with up to three appearing every week. On February 17, 66117 departed for Warrington Arpley with 900408/410, while seven days later 66150 had just 900421 in tow. On March 3, the 6F52 13.01 departure from Stoke included 900412/413/422 behind 66179 and it was a similar picture on March 10, with 66020 hauling 900414/415/424. Like the previous deliveries, all of these BAAs are configured as slab carriers with onward movement to South Wales from Warrington typically taking place during the night. Meanwhile, the latest batch of HOA hoppers for Mendip Rail was hauled from Dollands Moor to Wembley by 66709 Sorrento early on February 26, where 59206 was provided to…

THE SEVERN Valley Railway has confirmed Freightliner will be supplying a Class 66 and 70 for the upcoming May 15-18 diesel gala. The company supported last year’s May event with 59202 and 70005. The organisers are still working on other guest locos, from both main line operators and heritage groups with conversations with LSL, Colas and GB Railfreight continuing. To is also hoped to get both Class 44s to the railway, 44004 Great Gable from Butterley and D8 Penyghent from Peak Rail. Other locos taking part will be 58023 Leicester Depot and at least two of Michael Owen’s Class 20s alongside resident locos of Classes 14, 17, 33, 37, 40, 42, 50 and 52.…

THE RESTORATION team at the East Anglian Railway Museum (EARM) and Clacton Electric Preservation Group (CEPG) have celebrated the completion of interim work on one of two Class 309 EMU vehicles at the EARM, BDTC 75965. This is the culmination of a six-month programme to weatherproof the vehicle which had suffered from several vandalism attacks at its previous storage location. The scope of works has included a full strip and repaint of the body sides and roof to assess for areas of corrosion, with limited local metal and panel replacement, the rebuilding of several damaged doors, and removal of the window frames, cleaning and then re-sealing with new double glazed units. Whilst in the workshop the decision was taken to complete a full repaint into 1987 ‘Original’ Network South-East livery,…

INSPIRED BY two of the Severn Valley Railway’s younger members, Jack Summerfield and Ted Dunster, a Class 50-hauled charity fundraising day at the line is planned for April 12 to raise money towards the line’s landslip repairs. Some details are still being finalised, but the outline plan is a day of 100 miles of haulage behind 50049 Defiance between Kidderminster and Hampton Loade. Hot food and real ale will be available on the train, featuring the Travelling Tavern coach. A raffle will also take place in aid of the Fifty Fund. Detailed timings and stock are subject to confirmation soon; however, the first departure will be at 08.45 from Kidderminster Town and the final arrival at 19.42. The two trips in the middle of the day (11.15 and 14.05 from…

The final vehicle for use in the battery-powered 4-CIG being assembled by the 400 Series Preservation Group was delivered to the East Kent Railway on February 19. Driving Trailer Composite 76762 from set 1881 spent several months stored at the Wishaw yard of Moveright International following its acquisition from the 5-BEL Trust and transfer away from Barrow Hill last year. It will join 62364, 70273 and 76747 in eventually forming the set, all of which are currently undergoing or awaiting restoration at the line. Following the delivery of 76762, the low-loader departed for the Newport scrapyard of Unimetals with Motor Brake Standard 62385, this having been stripped for parts to restore 62364. The Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway has hired Class 121 ‘bubble car’ 55024 for use on its early season services following…

Most people will associate Class 27s with Scotland, but of the 69 locomotives built between 1961/62, only 23, D5347-69, actually went north of the border from new. The second batch, D5370-78, had no train heating boilers and were new to Thornaby shed in the North East. The final series, D5379-5415, all went to Cricklewood from new. Pictures of the Thornaby locos at work are relatively rare, but D5374 and D5377 pass Holgate bridge at York on June 6, 1962, with a mixed goods. By February 1970, all the fleet was based in Scotland at Eastfield, Haymarket, and later Inverness, depots. These locos became 27101 and 27030 respectively, the former fitted with a steam heat boiler and modified for push-pull operation and later renumbered 27045. They were withdrawn in May 1986…

Results Between February 21-23, Crewe Railwayana Auctions held its latest telephone/email auction. Steam nameplates: Moray Firth (70053) £7100, King Arthur Class-Sir Guy (30789) n/s and Bude with badge and West Country Class scroll (34006) n/s. GWR cabside numberplates: 5982 (Harrington Hall) £1000, 6640 (CI) £560, 7779 £550, 6687 £480, 8422 £440, 6129 £400, 8759 (CI) £350, 3610 (CI) n/s, 3615 (CI) n/s, 3697 (CI) n/s, 3713 (CI) n/s, 3726 n/s, 4028 (King John) n/s, 4650 (CI) n/s, 5379 (CI) n/s, 5610 (CI) n/s, 6416 (CI) n/s, 6639 (CI) n/s and 9744 (CI) n/s. Diesel nameplates: The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire (55005) £35,100, Rover Group Quality Assured (47323/236) £3500, Cottam Power Station (58040) £3000 and High Peak (60002) n/s. Electric nameplates: Prometheus (76055) £11,000 and City of Birmingham (87009) £6000. Diesel…

MORE CLASS 379s have entered traffic on the Great Northern routes, allowing more Class 387s to move to the Southern operation. On March 4, 379016 entered traffic on the 17.24 King’s Cross-Letch-worth Garden City, while 379026 also entered use the same day on the 06.35 Peterborough-King’s Cross. 379002/022 were the first to enter traffic on February 10 and 379017/020 were due to enter service in late March The units that have moved to Southern are 387123/128/12/302 and in April 387111/113/301/303/305/306. They will allow 377/1s to move to Southeastern; 377121/122 have already made the switch and 377123-130 are due to move in numerical order during the new few months.…

There was an unusual freight working by two GBRf Class 73s on February 26 when 73201 Broadlands and 73107 Tracy top-and-tailed a rake of IZA wagons that had been sent to Ashford for tyre turning. They were returned on 6Z81, the 13.30 Ashford Down sidings-Dollands Moor. The EDs returned light to Tonbridge after depositing the wagons. One of two Class 20s hired by HRNC Swietelsky to Breedon Aggregates, 20168 Sir George Earle, was returned to Hope Cement Works in Derbyshire on February 28 after attention at Barrow Hill. The loco now sports Swietelsky branding on its Breedon blue livery. Beacon Rail 221104 visited Wrexham on March 11 for gauging trails. The six off-lease Class 221 units, 221101-106, are earmarked for the new open access operation from the town. Colas Rail…

The emergence of newly-renumbered 37501 from the UKRL workshops at Loughborough on March 5 certainly attracted plenty of interest, with the Europhoenix loco returned to the pale blue British Steel livery it received at Thornaby in February 1987. The Type 3 sports the initial version of the scheme that was applied 38 years ago with white kingfisher depot emblems, although there are a number of differences between the two incarnations for those looking closely. Another repaint at Loughborough is 66501, which has a new look following the completion of a lengthy and comprehensive overhaul. It has become the second Freightliner loco to be given a special livery to mark the company’s 60th anniversary although, unlike the green and yellow of 70008, this employs the usual orange with black and white…

NETWORK RAIL has clarified its position on fitting ETCS to main line-registered heritage locos. It said: “The ECDP charter and heritage pathfinder project involving steam locomotive 60163 Tornado and the ‘first in class’ Deltic D9000 Royal Scots Grey has been set up to determine the technical and commercial viability of fitting ETCS to heritage vehicles. “We are continuing to progress the pathfinder project. The next stage will involve ETCS dynamic testing of Tornado and Royal Scots Grey on the Cambrian line. Any decisions about future fitment will depend on the progress of the pathfinder project.”…

NETWORK RAIL and the Bluebell Railway have signed an agreement which will see further collaboration between the two organisations – the first of its kind with a heritage railway in the south of England. The landmark agreement will benefit the BR through the donation of redundant railway assets, with NR’s Sussex Route providing railway materials such as rail and sleepers no longer needed on the main line railway that would otherwise be recycled elsewhere. With heritage railways running passenger services at slower speeds, the materials can be safely reused and repurposed for a new lease of life, ensuring the BR can continue to welcome about 150,000 visitors each year. During 2025 and into 2026, the bicentenary of the railway, NR and the Bluebell will also work together on supporting exhibitions…

TWO CLASS 50s are due to star at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway at its April 4-6 diesel gala with 50008Thunderer from Hanson & Hall being joined by 50015Valiant from the East Lancashire Railway. These two locos were the last two Departmental Class 50s restored from traffic in January 1991 but retained – and repainted – for rail tours that they worked occasionally throughout that year. 50015 was the only 50 painted in the then new yellow and grey ‘Dutch’ livery, while 50008 was painted in a version of ‘Laira blue.’…

THE GREAT Central Railway has announced a series of events on top of its two planned diesel galas. The spring diesel gala is April 25-27, while the autumn event is set for September 4-7. Other events planned through the year see the line’s DMUs out on the May 17/18 Bus Rally, while the following Friday is a Deltic running day with 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier. June 12 is an English Electric running day featuring the line’s two Class 37s, D6700 and 37714 Cardiff Canton, 50017 Royal Oak, the Class 55, and, assuming it is still at the railway, Class 20 D8001. Diesel traction will inevitably be in use during the line’s July 5/6 Railway 200 Open Weekend. Later that month is a DMU running day, on the 18th. August 8…

Paul Waring This month’s 10 Pictures comes from Derbyshire-based Paul Waring. Paul has his dad to thank for his passion for locomotives and the railway, with the pair going on days out by train from when Paul was very young. These trips could involve depot bashing in the car or just a simple day out by the lineside watching the trains go past. “From tracking down that elusive Class 06 for sight around Dundee to bunking around Wath depot, to name but one long-lost depot, I went round through to watching triple-headed Class 37s thrash through Cardiff Central and Newport on iron ore trains,” said Paul. “Nowhere was off-limits, and my enthusiasm just grew and grew.” These trips out ensured that Paul excelled at geography at school, and by the…

NETWORK RAIL’S new exhibition train, Inspiration, will tour the country to mark 200 years of the modern railway and make stops at many locations. The mobile attraction – developed in partnership with the National Railway Museum – will showcase the past, present and future of the rail industry to an estimated 200,000 visitors. Four Mk. 3 coaches acquired by NR are being converted into the exhibition train, called Inspiration because it will promote rail innovation and careers. Supported by a £250,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant and operated by GB Railfreight, it will make 60 stops in England, Scotland and Wales as part of the year-long Railway 200 celebration. A Class 66 will be used to haul the train, and a special livery is planned for it. After starting at…

A NUMBER of HST power cars have been moved about, some for scrap and others ready for preparation for export by Romic to Mexico. On March 2, 50008 Thunderer collected ex-LNER 43112/238/319 from Dereham and took them to the Nemesis Rail site at Burton-upon-Trent. Then on March3, 43153/194 left Laira and were moved under their own power by Hanson & Hall to Dereham via a stopover at Chaddesden. The next move was on March 7 when ROG’s 37884 Cepheus and freshly repainted 37501 Teesside Steelmaster collected43017/020, 43174/191at Ely Papworth Sidings and took them to the Mid-Norfolk Railway. 43174/191 were left at the heritage railway, and the two 37s then top-and-tailed 43017/020 as 0Q98, the 13.28 Dereham-Burton Wetmore Sidings. Also moving to Burton have been 43160/162, which were taken by road…

ALL BUT one of the Transport for Wales Class 756 Stadler bi-mode units have now entered traffic, with just 756110 to carry passengers for the first time. The penultimate TfW Class 756 bi-mode unit to enter traffic was 756101, which was put into use on March 10, and followed 756103 on February 20 on the 05.24 Cardiff-Merthyr Tydfil, 756109 on February 27, and 756113 on March 6. The seven 756/0 three-car sets have yet to enter traffic. Another Class 197 into traffic was 197029 on February 22, when it worked the 04.46 Chester-Crewe. Five more Class 720s have entered use with Greater Anglia. On March 1, 720141, 720503/510/516 all carried passengers for the first time, followed by 720143 on March 3. The only GA 720s yet to carry passengers are…

A START has been made on ScotRail’s Class 320/4 C6 over-hauls. The first of the three-car inner suburban EMUs, 320415, moved to Wolverton for refurbishment under its own power from York on March 2, undertaken by Rail Operation Group. Along with the core C6 scope elements such as an external repaint, doors, brake controllers and the like, there will be light interior refresh work which will include a touch-up of lino and seat covers. The Class 320/3s and 318s have both had the work completed. Each unit will take about four weeks to complete, with the programme expected to end in summer 2026.…

MARTIN TOTTLE was a well-known and much liked volunteer for the Bury Hydraulic Group and a driver at the East Lancashire Railway, and regularly seen driving the lines Class 14, 35, 42 and 52 hydraulics, passed away in late-February aged 53. He started volunteering at the Lancs aged 18 on D5054 and then joined the BHG, regularly working and driving D9531, D7076, D832 and D1041, but would work on any of the locos based or visiting the RLT and was one of the akin drivers of the group. He also worked at LNWR and later Porterbrook Neil McCannon who worked closely with Martin at the ELR said: “He was also the ‘main man’ at any party and the life and soul of the railway, he will be sadly missed.” He…

HD08 to be formed The long-delayed introduction of an eighth loco-hauled set by Transport for Wales is to go ahead after the four Mk. 4 coaches stored at Bristol Barton Hill since October 2023 were retrieved. February 26 saw 11316 and 12526 arrive at Worksop by road, with 10305 and 12308 following soon after for preparatory work to commence. All require significant work, having not carried passengers since 2020 and subsequently deteriorating in open store. The other two vehicles earmarked for HD08, 12215 and 82220, remain at Landore. DB sleeper for LSL The latest acquisition by Locomotive Services is Mk. 3a sleeper 10546 from DB Cargo’s company train. This arrived at Crewe in mid-February via a road transfer from Toton, with the coach due to be refurbished for inclusion in…

ONE OF the two Class 35 Hymeks based at the West Somerset Railway, D7018, was started up at Williton for the first time in almost two years in early March. The transmission tests revealed some problems with the directional interlock mechanism, but this is outside the transmission and will be rectified. It is hoped it can therefore be used throughout the summer. The WSR has announced a series of diesel running days on the 23-mile line featuring its Class 14 D9526, the two Class 33s, D6566/75 and the two Class 35s, D7017/18. For the Class 33s, of which one will be used on an 80-mile diagram, they are May 10/11, 17/18, 24/25, June 14/15, July 5/6/20/21/26/27, August 2/3/23/24, September 6/7/13/14 A Hymek is booked to run on May 31, June…

THE SEVEN Valley Railway has revealed its roster for diesel traction, out working trains on most days between April and September. The home fleet locos of D9551, D8568, 20048, 33108, 37263, 40106, 821 Greyhound, 46045, its Class 50s and D1062 Western Courier, along with the three-car DMU, will be in use throughout the spring and summer. The current plan, which of course is subject to change due to availability of the locos or suitable crews, is: D9551 – July 20/22-24, August 10/12-14/17/19-21/24-28; D8568 – May 7/8, June 25/26, July 6/9/10, September 10/11; a Class 20 – April 15-17/22-24, May 21/22, June 4/5/19, July 2/3/13/16/17/29/30, August 5-7/31, September 3/4/24/25; 33108 – May 3-5; 37263 – July 12/13/29-31, August 2/3/25-31; 40106 – October 11/12/25-30; D821 – April 5/6, June 11/12, August 19-21/23/24;…

THE APPLEBY Frodingham Railway Preservation Society has outlined its summer programme of steelworks tours using a mixture of steam and diesel trips. Diesel-hauled brake van trips are set for April 5, May 3, June 14/28, July 5, August 16 and October11. Some of the earlier dates are already sold out, so check www.ticketsource.co.uk/afrps for availability. Steam-hauled brake van trips are set for April 26, May 10/31, June 7, July 12/19, August 2/23, September 6/20 and October 4. Again, some are sold out, and others have yet to open for bookings.…

Since 1994, when Class 46 D172 Ixion became the first preserved diesel to run on the main line, all manner of great and good things have happened for the heritage movement. We have enjoyed classes we thought to be long-lost, back on main line, performing at high speeds, hauling full trains and over long distances. After the Peak came a Class 55 Deltic, D9000 Royal Scots Grey. Then were Class 50s, a Class 40, while examples of classes that were still in use with other operators were also put on the rails by preservation groups – Class 20s, 31s, 33, 37s, 47s, 73s and 86s. Now, thanks to the likes of both preservation groups and some private train operators like LSL, WCR and GBRf, we have all sorts of ex-BR traction…

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH English Electric Type 2 'Bo-Bo' Baby Deltic locomotives: BR Class 23 AUTHOR: Anthony Sayer PUBLISHER: Pen & Sword ISBN: 978-1399-058-45-2 PRICE: £35 WEBSITE: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk THIS IS the ninth book by Anthony Sayer for Pen & Sword, and it’s another highly detailed, intensively researched and thoroughly comprehensive look at some of the earlier loco types that BR used in the 1960s with varying degrees of success. After detailing the lives of Classes 14, 15, 16, 17, 21/29, 22 and 28, he turns his attention to the Class 23 Baby Deltics. Another of the pilot scheme designs, these were an interesting machine that ultimately did not prove overly successful. These books are so refreshing to see subjects being covered with hitherto have had little, if indeed, any devoted texts…

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