Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2022 i Railways Illustrated

AFTER MONTHS of speculation, GB Railfreight has finally confirmed that it has ordered 30 new hybrid bi-mode Class 99 locomotives and associated spare parts from Stadler, with the first of the new fleet expected to enter service from 2025. The fleet, which is being financed by Beacon Rail, is based on the Eurodual six-axle locomotives that Stadler has built for the continental European market. The Class 99 is the latest design to be developed by Stadler for use in the UK rail sector, following on from the Class 68s and 88s in use with Direct Rail Services, and also the 30 tri-mode Class 93 locomotives currently under construction for Rail Operations Group. However, the Class 68s, 88s and 93s all feature four axles, whereas the Class 99 will have six…

EAST MIDLANDS Railway will be running Class 180s on summer Saturdays from Derby to Skegness between July 23 and September 19 to provide additional capacity to the popular seaside resort on the east coast of Lincolnshire. Services on the Poacher Line between Nottingham and Skegness are usually in the hands of the EMR Class 156 fleet, but customer demand during the summer – particularly on Saturdays – means that for many years additional services have been operated. For many years EMR, and East Midlands Trains before it, operated HSTs along the route on special workings, but all of the HSTs have now been removed from the EMR network, hence the reason for now using Class 180s. EMR says the new summer Saturday service will start from Derby, as opposed to…

WORK ON the demolition of the three Class 91s delivered to CF Booth’s scrapyard in Rotherham has begun, with 91108 the first of the trio to be reduced to scrap at the South Yorkshire yard. Long-stored 91103/104/108 were moved from Wabtec Doncaster to Rotherham in late March (Railways Illustrated, issue 232), having been subject to extensive component recovery after being stood down from service on the East Coast Main Line with LNER. On May 12, work on the cutting of 91108 began, with it expected that the other two locomotives would follow it into the history books shortly afterwards. LNER still operates a fleet of 12 Class 91s and associated Mk.4 coaching stock on its services, operating alongside its modern Azuma train fleets. The company is currently in the process…

Not to be confused with the wellknown furniture retailer, Cumbrian freight operator Direct Rail Services (DRS) has another sale on – after placing another batch of locomotives for disposal. It is dispensing with many of the older locomotives in its fleet as it seeks to make use of lower-carbon locomotives. The latest tender to be issued by the company was released in late April, the third tranche of locomotive and coaching stock disposals to be organised by DRS in recent months. On offer in this tender are four Class 37s and two Class 57/0s. The locomotives listed for sale are 37038/059, 37259 and 37409, along with 57003/007. As with previous sales, the locomotives are being sold by competitive tender, with the closing date for bids set as May 23, which…

With Southern taking its 46-strong Class 455/8 fleet out of service in mid-May, the first disposals of the doomed trains began in early May, when 455838/839 were dispatched to Sims Metals at Newport on May 4. These were followed on May 10 by 455810/825, and 455827/831 two days later. Southern marked the end of Class 455 operations with a special farewell charity charter, ‘The Metro Marauder’ on May 14, which was the last official day in traffic for the 455s on Southern services before the summer timetable change the following day. South Western Railway is still operating its Class 455 fleets, but these are also due to be withdrawn once the long-delayed Class 701 Aventra fleet finally enters service with SWR over the coming months.…

CLASS 153 w/c 9/5 – 153307, 153328, 153331 and 153352 Ely Papworth to Landore by road. All four of the off-lease ex-Northern units have been sold to Transport for Wales for potential re-use. CLASS 170 9/5 – 170638 5M57 14.36 Tyseley-Derby Etches Park. The CrossCountry unit is now on a four-month loan to EMR to help alleviate its stock shortage caused by the late introduction of the Class 196s with West Midlands Railway and subsequent release of its remaining Class 170s. CLASS 196 21/4 – 196007 + 196011 + 196006 5Q81 11.44 Bletchley-Tyseley. Unit Deliveries 3/5 – 37800 + 196110 5Q66 14.35 Long Marston-Tyseley. 4/5 – 37800 + 196011 + 196007 + 196006 5Q94 10.00 Tyseley-Long Marston. 5/5 – 37800 + 196108 5Q96 13.39 Long Marston-Tyseley. CLASS 231 25/4 –…

THE RESTORATION of the No.2 end cab from scrapped 86247 has been completed by its owner, James Mather, at Crewe Heritage Centre, with the cab immaculately restored into Anglia Railways livery. Since buying the cab just over two years ago, a number of modifications made to the front end by Europhoenix have been reversed, returning the cab to how it would have looked before being withdrawn by Virgin West Coast in 2003. Anglia Railways operated a number of Class 86s on its services between London Liverpool Street and Norwich before they were replaced by Class 90s. While 86247 was never operated by Anglia Railways, ending its operating days with Virgin West Coast, Mr Mather decided to celebrate the Anglia era of Class 86 operations on his cab because Crewe Heritage…

THE SHORT-TERM hire of Nemesis Rail’s main line-registered 31128 Charybdis to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for use on the NYMR’s services to Whitby has come to an end, with the locomotive being replaced by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society’s 37403 Isle of Mull. The Class 31 arrived at Grosmont on March 22 to cover for the line’s main line-registered Class 25 D7628 Sybilla, which is currently out of service undergoing engine and generator repairs. It is expected to be sidelined for the majority of the main operating season. Following the end of its hire to the NYMR, 31128 departed Grosmont on May 2, heading first to Worksop to collect Harry Needle Railroad Company’s 37703 before continuing to the Midland Railway – Butterley for the Peak Locomotive Company’s Class 44…

THE CLASS 40 Preservation Society has sold its trailer-mounted cab from 40088 to Richard Benyon to join his Cab Yard collection, with the cab due to move to the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway over the coming weeks. The CFPS restored the cab several years ago and mounted it onto a road trailer and attached a sales unit to it, so it could be moved around the country to heritage railways and open day events, as well as providing a covered sales stand for the society. However, since before the pandemic, the trailer and cab have been stored at Baron Street Locomotive Works on the East Lancashire Railway. The combination of a reduced number of events for the cab to attend and the cost of maintaining the cab and sales…

The East Lancashire Line runs for just over 29 miles from the City of Preston to its current terminus at the former cotton mill town of Colne. With 16 intermediate stations along its route, the line serves a catchment of about 250,000 people, passing through pleasant scenery as well as being an integral part of the urban East Lancashire townscapes, with the Pennines never far away. The East Lancashire route diverges from the West Coast Main Line at Farington Curve Junction, some 1.49 miles south of Preston station. On its way the route serves stations at Lostock Hall, Bamber Bridge, Pleasington, Cherry Tree, Mill Hill, Blackburn, Rishton, Church & Oswaldtwistle, Accrington, Huncoat, Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley Barracks, Burnley Central, Brierfield, Nelson and Colne. Since 1973 all signalling and movements have…

→ With work now in full swing on the project to refurbish the 56-strong Avanti West Coast Class 390 Pendolino fleet, we go behind the scenes at Alstom’s Widnes plant to look at the scope of the refurbishment, which is designed to transform the interiors of the trains and breathe new life into the 20-year-old West Coast Main Line fleet. → In our latest preservation profile, Andy Coward visits Peak Rail in Derbyshire to meet the heritage railway’s general manager, Mark Sealey, to find out his plans for the future of the four-mile line between Matlock and Rowsley South. → A master of atmospheric and somewhat moody railway photography, our next 10 Pictures submission comes from the lens of photographer and railway signaller Dafydd Whyles, showing perfectly that sometimes the…

FOLLOWING THE delivery of the first of 12 Class 720/6 electric multiple units to c2c’s East Ham depot, the EMUs have been observed on main line testing and commissioning runs in preparation for entry into service later this year. 720601 was observed on test in early May between London Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness. The first train from the order (720602) was delivered to East Ham on May 19 (Railways Illustrated, issue 232), with three more trains following over the next week – 720601/603/604. Finished in pink and white, the 12 trains are owned by Porterbrook and will allow c2c to release its Class 387/3 fleet to other operators, with three of the Class 387/3s already in use with Great Western Railway. Although the c2c order is relatively small at 12…

EAST MIDLANDS Railway launched its new staff uniform on May 3, with a catwalk event at Nottingham station to show off the new look. The uniform, which will be worn by more than 2000 EMR employees within the customer service, driver and fleet sections of the company, has been created to allow staff to select the fit and style of garment that suits them best. Staff are able to choose from a range of garments specially created for their role. The range includes a variety of items that are versatile for every type of weather condition, as well as being comfortable and smart. The uniform was designed and developed by Debbie Johnson, who has designed internationally for airlines, travel, and transport companies. She said: “The uniform has been created based…

AS EXPECTED, Southern withdrew its entire fleet of Class 455 EMUs from traffic upon the implementation of the summer timetable in mid-May. The demise of 455801-846 from South London suburban services after 40 years of operation is the train company’s solution to the Department for Transport’s demand for cost savings across all parts of the industry. Their withdrawal has been facilitated by the axing of Southern’s services between Watford Junction and Milton Keynes, along with recasting and short-forming on other routes, allowing enough Class 377s to be redeployed to replace them. The disposal of sets for scrap began prior to the final day of operation, with the previously stood down 455838 and 455839 the first to be sent on their final journey, 47727 hauling them away from Stewarts Lane on…

The latest Class 69 to be completed for GB Railfreight, 69005, emerged from Arlington Fleet Services, Eastleigh, on April 29 painted in British Railways green livery with cream lining and small yellow cab warning panels, in a style reminiscent of that applied to the BRCW Class 33s. The locomotive has been named Eastleigh, a name also carried by now-preserved 33008 during its final years in service before withdrawal, and the ‘celebrity’ Class 33 was also painted in the same livery style. Arlington has also recently completed the repainting of the 71A Locomotive Group's Class 33, D6515 Lt Jenny Lewis RN, in the same paint scheme, with the Class 33 leaving the works in April to return to its usual home base at the Swanage Railway. 69005 was created using the…

Nocturnal Mk.4 tests The end of April saw two nights of testing undertaken into Mk.4 braking performance using one of the former Grand Central sets destined for use with Transport for Wales. This saw 67008 working from the Arriva depot at Eastleigh with DVT 82200 and coaches 10321, 11320, 12224, 12326 and 12477, bringing push-pull Mk.4 operation to a number of rare locations. On the first night of April 27/28, the set ran from Eastleigh to Bristol East Depot before heading to Reading, back to Swindon, and then home to Eastleigh via Reading once more. This pattern was largely repeated the next night, but with the Swindon leg extended through to Bristol. With the data gathered, the same Mk.4s were transferred to Crewe Carriage Sidings behind 37884 on May 4,…

Colas timber in the news The latest trial into expanding railborne timber operations took place on April 29, with Colas Rail operating a loaded service from Aberystwyth in conjunction with Kronospan and Network Rail. This was the first such working on the Cambrian line since the MPV-powered experiment back in 2005 and was once again to assess the feasibility of using rail to reduce carbon emissions and remove lorries from local roads. The inbound empties departed Chirk behind 56113 as the 6C54 04.07 to Aberystwyth, with ETCS-fitted 97303 and 97304 taking over at Shrewsbury. Loading to 10 wagons, these were KSA 33 70 4739 026/65/66/72/74/76/78, IWA 83 84 3523 032 and 041, and KFA GERS97153. The loaded return to Chirk departed at 19.56, with 56113 taking charge of 6C56 from…

Great Western Railway has applied three more ‘Castle’ nameplates to its Class 43 HST power cars, with 43160/171/172 all gaining new names in recent weeks and all applied without ceremony at Plymouth Laira. 43160 is now Castle-an-Dinas, while 43171 has become Raglan Castle and 43172 Tiverton Castle. Of note, 43172 was previously well-known for carrying a vinyl wrap in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the First World War and was named Harry Patch The last survivor of the trenches, although the power car has carried standard GWR dark green livery since being refurbished at Doncaster Works, emerging in October 2020. To celebrate 20 years since GB Railfreight first collaborated with the Port of Felixstowe on operating intermodal services across the country for MSC, 66792 was named Collaboration in a…

THE SWANAGE Railway Diesel Gala and Beer Festival in early May featured newly-installed permanent digital information screens, providing real-time train information for visitors. The screens have been installed in conjunction with Realtime Trains, using its heritage system that was originally launched in 2014 and has been developed by the company over recent years. Realtime Trains has gained a growing reputation over the last few years by enthusiasts for its train scheduling software that covers most workings across the main line rail network. The real-time information was first trialled at Swanage in 2017. It features GPS trackers wired into the rolling stock to monitor the services and update passenger information should services be running on time or be delayed for any reason. It is configured using Realtime Trains scheduling and diagramming…

WORK ON the repaint of Class 142 ‘Pacer’ DMU 142011 into Provincial blue livery has been completed at the Midland Railway – Butterley, reviving the colour scheme that was applied to a large number of Class 142s when they were first delivered to BR. 142011 has been at the MRB for the past two years and was originally bought as a spares donor for 142013, which is also based on the MRB. However, the owner of the two units managed to secure a large quantity of Class 142 spares, meaning the original intention to scrap 142011 is no longer necessary. The unit is operational and it is intended that it will make its passenger debut on the MRB at the railway’s DMU gala on June 18/19, where it will be…

THE SOLE-SURVIVING ex-LMS Class 502 EMU formed of Motor Brake Second 28361 and Driving Trailer Second 29896 that was once part of the National Collection is now in the care of the Class 502 Preservation Trust. Work is continuing on its restoration at its base, the Merseyside Transport Trust premises in Burscough, West Lancashire. Efforts have been continuing to restore the trailer car (29896) to its former glory and to reverse the damage caused to the bodywork following almost 10 years of outside storage, prior to the group gaining custody of the unit. The cab front had virtually disintegrated and has since been totally rebuilt. Most of the external steel body panels have been replaced, and a protective coat of BR green has been applied. Three of the four interior…

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First unveiled in 1963 by Dr Richard Beeching, the merry-go-round (MGR) concept proposed a radical change in the way coal trains operated between collieries and power stations, ending practices dating from the Victorian era where huge numbers of low-capacity and generally unfitted wagons shuffled between the two at low speeds, which resulted in poor productivity and fleet utilisation. Instead, higher capacity air-braked hopper wagons would be introduced, which would feature automatic discharge equipment and be capable of being loaded and unloaded on the move. Running directly to power stations with no intermediate marshalling, the wagons would complete several circuits a day between pits and power stations. However, such a revolution required investment, not only in rolling stock but also in loading and unloading equipment. As a result, much hard bargaining…

THE BANK branch of London Underground’s Northern Line was reopened by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, on May 16, following a 17-week closure to allow a series of upgrades to be carried out along the route. A new Northern Line tunnel and passenger concourse at Bank Underground station has been created, along with a new southbound Northern line platform for the station, to create additional capacity on the busy route. Three new passageways have also been built to make moving around the station quicker and easier for passengers. Transport for London states that Bank station will see its capacity increased by 40% when upgrade work is finished later in the year. Improvements still to be completed at the station include the provision of step-free access to the Northern line,…

STADLER HAS released an image of the first train being built for Tyne and Wear Metro as it nears completion on the production line in St. Magrethen, northern Switzerland. The new 46-strong five-coach train fleet for Metro is destined to replace the existing Metro-Cammell Metrocars, which date from 1980 and are considered to be life-expired. The first members of the new fleet are expected to be delivered later in the year to a specially-built £70 million depot being constructed at Gosforth. The fleet is being built at a cost of £362 million and will bring a whole host of improved features for passengers, such as air conditioning and charging points, as well as improved accessibility and automatic sliding steps at each door to provide step-free level access from platforms. Since…

ROLLING STOCK company Porterbrook has donated former Greater Anglia Mk.3b FO 11088 for use as a student teaching facility at Richardson Endowed Primary School in Smalley, Derbyshire. Industry partners came together to help ensure the coach could be suitably installed at the school, which is celebrating its 300th anniversary. The coach will provide a library and break-out area, as well as additional learning space, with much of the First Class seating in the vehicle retained. The project to convert and relocate the coach for its new role has seen a number of companies collaborate with Porterbrook to ensure that it could be handed over to the school on May 13, after a platform had been built alongside it, so it can be accessed by staff and pupils. Work on internal…

THE FIRST Avanti West Coast Class 390/1 Pendolino to pass through Alstom’s Widnes facility for major refurbishment has returned to service with the operator. The completion of the 11-coach 390125 marks an important milestone for the £117 million project, which began in July last year when the train was admitted to Alstom’s Widnes facility (Railways Illustrated, October 2021). The refurbished 390125 returned to service on April 25, working the 05.05 AWC Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston service before also visiting Liverpool Lime Street later in the day. The refurbished trains will initially be allocated onto diagrams based off Longsight depot, where they are being recommissioned after being released from refurbishment by Alstom. The project, financed by Angel Trains, will see the entire 56-strong AWC Class 390 fleet admitted to Widnes…

THE MAY timetable change saw Brighton lose its last remaining inter-regional trains, as Great Western Railway withdrew its service along the Sussex coast to the terminus. Although the axing has been publicly blamed on changing travel patterns post-pandemic, it is understood to be part of the Department for Transport’s mandated cutbacks to reduce operating costs and subsidies in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The final GWR trains to the city ran on May 13, with 158798 and 158767 forming 1O98, the 10.41 Great Malvern to Brighton and 1V98, the 17.02 Brighton to Bristol Parkway, complete with a commemorative headboard. The withdrawal also brings the end of DMU operations along the West Coastway line.…

The last remaining stored Class 365 has been delivered to Sims at Newport for scrapping, bringing down the curtain on the EMU fleets disposal. Scrapping of the Class 365s began at the end of September last year, when 365501 and 365511 were sent to Booths in Rotherham, and movements of the remaining stored units has continued over the past seven months. The final set to be moved was 365506, which departed Crewe Belmont Down Yard on April 26 behind Rail Operations Group’s 37601 Perseus and 37608 Andromeda for Sims Metals at Newport Docks, where the Class 365 was to be scrapped. A number of barrier vehicles were included in the consist to provide brake force for the train. A couple of Class 365 vehicles are still awaiting processing at Booths…

Beacon Rail Newly completed 18003 was released from the Burton workshops of Clayton Equipment on April 20, it being delivered to Wolverton Works for trials. Freightliner The stay of 08891 at Crewe Basford Hall lasted all of five weeks, as it was noted traversing the motorways bound for Ipswich on May 12. Unloaded directly at the new Freightliner depot, it was soon at work alongside incumbent 08785, although the latter was expected to depart imminently as it is due a D exam. Railway Support Services RSS’s latest acquisition, 08899, was hauled away from Derby Etches Park by 37418 on May 3, the shunter being tripped the short distance to Chaddesden Sidings to await redeployment. By March 13, two new arrivals at Wishaw were 08670 from Bescot Yard and 08757 from…

THE RETURN to service of the Deltic Preservation Society’s main lineregistered 55009 Alycidon during the Great Central Railway Spring Diesel Gala was overshadowed when the locomotive was declared a failure on the first day – and was forced to sit out the rest of the four-day event. The locomotive moved to the GCR on April 13 from the DPS Depot facility at Barrow Hill following extensive repairs after suffering a catastrophic power surge during a main line charter in March 2019. The surge caused severe damage to its traction motors and electrical equipment. DPS chairman Murray Brown told Railways Illustrated that the fault has been traced to issues with the locomotive’s traction motor contactors and the associated relays, with the DPS carrying out tests to resolve the issue before returning…

WATERMAN RAILWAYS Heritage Trust is hoping to find a team of volunteers to help with bodywork repairs to Class 46 ‘Peak’ 46035 Ixion – in what could become the start of a project to reactivate the long-stored locomotive. The ‘Peak’ is stored at Peak Rail, where the WRHT has established an engineering base in conjunction with Peak Rail at its Rowsley South site. WRHT engineer and Peak Rail director Andrew Civil had previously told Railways Illustrated that the restoration of the Class 46 is something he would like to see, but pressure of work means other than protecting the locomotive from the elements, it is likely to be some time before it receives attention, unless a support team of volunteers is formed to drive the project forward. Mr Civil said:…

AS CAN be seen elsewhere in this issue of Railways Illustrated, the 71A Locomotive Group’s main line-registered Class 33 D6515 Lt Jenny Lewis RN has returned to service after receiving significant attention at Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works over a 15-month period. The Class 33 has had a full overhaul and a rebuild of both cabs while at Eastleigh, with work completed in early April, with it returning to the Swanage Railway hauling Paul Spracklen’s 50026 Indomitable, with its first passenger workings following restoration being at the Swanage Railway Diesel Gala and Beer Festival in early May. 71A Locomotive Group publicity officer Alan Hawkins said: “The bulk of the work was carried out by a small group of 71A Locomotive Group volunteers, with all the heavy structural welding and…

03162 – Llangollen: The locomotive has been moved under cover to assess what work needs to be done to return it to traffic after its acquisition by the Llangollen Railway Trust. 03179 – Rushden: One side of the underframe and running board now have two costs of undercoat applied, ready for the gloss coats. The other running board has been completely needle-gunned, ready for further preparation work before painting. This leaves the small lip that runs around the back of the locomotive to strip, and the whole running board will be in black before too long. The front section has now been straightened out after removal of the rust that forms around the bolts between the checker plate and the buffer beam, and this was then given a further coat…

Formed in 1981 with the intention of preserving one of the Pilot Scheme Class 44 ‘Peaks’, the Peak Locomotive Company has gone from strength to strength over the last 41 years and now boasts one of each variation of the Sulzer Type 4 ‘Peak’ locomotive designs. The PLC is the proud owner of Class 44 D4 Great Gable, 45041 Royal Tank Regiment, 45108, and Class 46 D182. The group is based on the Midland Railway – Butterley, but has its fleet of ‘Peaks’ dotted throughout the country, with D4 and D182 currently at the home base (apart from when they are making guest appearances at other lines for diesel events), 45041 on long-term hire to the Nene Valley Railway at Wansford, and 45108 on hire to the East Lancashire Railway.…