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SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY GALA “exceeds expectations”

EXCLUSIVE: Inside LU’s Acton Works

Essential reading for today’s rail enthusiast

CLASS 93 MAKES MAIN LINE DEBUT

RAIL EXPRESS No. 338 JULY 2024 £5.30

Stadler tri-mode starts testing

£116 millionine Levenel ns reop

MODELLING SECTION

■ Bachmann Class 25/1 review Has the Type 2’s character been captured?

■ Track cleaning developments New techniques investigated

■ Mk.3 EMUs to be modelled

Why is there a lack of mainstream models?

RCTS/Mortons photography winners revealed

CONTENTS

Issue No. 338 JULY 2024 Rail Operations Assets Ltd No. 93001 passes Shireoaks on May 30, on the first day of its loaded testing.

The ‘93’ is hauling a rake of Eastern Rail Services coaching stock. Hayden Bradbury

EDITORIAL

Editor Richard Clinnick Tel: 01507 529565 Email: RailExpressEditor@mortons.co.uk Production editor Sarah Wilkinson Designer Tracey Markham Publisher Tim Hartley Editorial address Rail Express Magazine, Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ

ADVERTISING

GB Railfreight’s large logo blue No. 56098 spent much of May hired to DC Rail. On May 9, the ‘56’ leads DCR No. 56103 as the 6Z82 12.20 to Brandon, away from Peak Forest. Eddie Holden

FEATURES

NEWS

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SWANAGE IN PICTURES

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AC/DC! THE CLASS 319 STORY

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Richard Clinnick presents pictures from the recent Swanage Railway diesel gala.

The last ‘319’ passenger working took place in January, leaving only the rebuilt Class 769 Flex sets in traffic. David Russell tells the story of the former Thameslink fleet.

Avanti Class 805s enter traffic, Rail Operations Assets Ltd Class 93 begins main line testing, Northern unit order details, Southeastern goes to market for new trains, passenger trains start serving Leven, more open access operations planned, Class 802/2 battery trials, revolutionary wagon launched and much, much more.

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POWER BY THE HOUR

The Severn Valley Railway held another successful diesel gala. Richard Clinnick reports.

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WAGONS

RCTS/MORTONS MEDIA RAILWAY PHOTOGRAPHY WINNERS

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UNITS

SEVERN VALLEY SUCCESS

The results of the joint RCTS/Mortons Media railway photographic competition are in, and we present the winners.

REGULARS 53

SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS

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0 TO 60!

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NEWS

Former Direct Rail Services Class 37s begin new careers.

WH Davis commences Touax Rail tanker work

More Class 323s move to Northern.

Tel 01507 529529, 24-hour answerphone email help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk

PRINT & DISTRIBUTION

Newstrade & distribution Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT Printed by William Gibbons & Sons Ltd. Magazine & Catalogue Printer 26 Planetary Road, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV13 3XB Published Third Friday of every month This issue June 21, 2024 Next issue July 19, 2024 Advertising deadline July 3, 2024 ISSN No 1362 234X

A Class 08 returns to Haymarket.

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COACHES

Rail Express is pleased to consider contributions for publication

Metro-Cammell Pullman back in action.

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PRESERVATION

REVIEWS

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RAILTOURS

How clean is your track?

We look at various new techniques. Rail Express Modeller asks what Mk.3 electric multiple units could be modelled.

HTO and HTV wagons announced in ‘OO’ gauge, more TT:120 models are released, Bachmann’s Class 25/1 is reviewed and Hornby’s Iris 2 Class 101 model is assessed

GENERAL ENQUIRIES & BACK ISSUES

SHUNTERS AND INDUSTRIALS

John Heaton searches for Class 755/3s in electric mode in East Anglia.

MODELLING

Sales and distribution manager Carl Smith Circulation manager Steve O’Hara Publishing director Dan Savage

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POWERSCENE

The latest topical reviews.

MORTONS MEDIA GROUP

© Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

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The best way to get Rail Express every month.

Advertising Fiona Leak Tel: 01507 529573 Email: fleak@mortons.co.uk Group advertising manager Sue Keily skeily@mortons.co.uk

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All the recent notable workings in class-by-class order.

Former Harry Needle Railroad Company ‘47/7’ saved.

Class 50s to visit Leven in August.

Please do not send images that have already been sent to other publications. Prints & slides are sent at the owner’s risk and must be accompanied by a SAE for return. Digital images can be sent by email, but please bear in mind we may not be able to reply to every one, as we receive hundreds of images each week.

Although care will be taken with submissions, Rail Express assumes no responsibility for loss/damage, however caused. Submitted material may also be used in connection with other Mortons Media Group projects or as content on the internet. Payment for material used will be made promptly. Please send digital submissions to RailExpressEditor@mortons.co.uk IMPORTANT: Images should be ex-camera with no Photoshop manipulation.

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Christopher Westcott pays an exclusive visit to London Underground’s Acton Works.

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GB Railfreight No. 66303 and Caledonian Sleeper No. 73968 lead the 1Y11 04.50 London Euston-Fort William through Achallader, north of Bridge of Orchy on May 2.

The train left the capital the previous evening as the 1S25 21.15 London EustonInverness/Fort William/Aberdeen, powered by GBRf No. 92028 as far as Edinburgh Waverley. From there, the train split into its three portions, with No. 73971 taking the 1A25 04.39 portion to Aberdeen, while Nos. 73966/969 continued to Inverness at 04.21 with the same headcode as the train which left London. Simon Jones

Richard Clinnick HEADLINE NEWS

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Siemens says it will build battery trains in Goole for UK market SIEMENS has said it will build battery trains at its new factory in Goole if it is successful in bidding for new train contracts.

The manufacturer highlighted that the trains could replace diesel fleets at Chiltern Railways, Great Western Railway, Northern, ScotRail, TransPennine Express and Transport for Wales. They could also operate on EastWest Rail within the next decade.

Currently Chiltern, Northern, ScotRail and TPE are looking for new fleets (see separate story), with GWR evaluating what is possible (RE337).

Siemens claims that by using battery trains then only small sections of railway would need to be electrified with fast-charging key points on routes supplied from the domestic grid using Siemens’ Rail Charging Converters

(RCC). The manufacturer claims this could save £3.5 billion and 12 million tonnes in CO2 emissions from Britain’s railways over 35 y ears.

The new trains would be powered overhead line electrification on routes already electrified, switching to battery power away from the wires. Siemens said that this would mean only small sections of routes and/or particular stations would have to be electrified.

The manufacturer also claims that by using its RCC, the OLE can be plugged directly into the domestic grid which could, Siemens claims, cut delivery times for OLE from seven years to 18 months.

Sambit Banerjee, joint CEO for Siemens Mobility UK & Ireland said: “Britain should never have to buy a diesel passenger train again. Our

battery trains, which we’d assemble in our new Goole factory in Yorkshire, can replace Britain’s aging diesel trains without us having to electrify hundreds of miles more track in the next few years. So, on routes from Perth to Penzance, passengers could be travelling on clean, green batteryelectric trains by the early 2030s. And the best thing is that this would save the country £3.5bn over 35 years.”

The manufacturer said it had conducted extensive modelling using advanced train performance simulation software to compare battery bi-mode trains to operating diesel or part-diesel trains. The manufacturer said its battery bi-mode trains “would only require 20-30% of a line to be electrified. These trains, utilising Lithium Titanate Oxide battery

GTR completes first ETCS main line trial A UK first took place on June 2, when a Great Northern Class 717 ran in test conditions between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin using European Train Control System (ETCS).

ETCS sends signalling information direct to a computer screen in the driver’s cab and is designed to enable a more reliable, more efficient and greener railway.

The test was part of the early stage of an ongoing process to prove that trains already fitted with the technology can work with the new digital signalling infrastructure being

installed on this section of the East Coast Main Line.

GN said that testing will continue until the middle of next year to ensure complete assurance of the new system’s safety and reliability.

The first passenger and freight digital signalling operations are expected to commence soon afterwards.

The process will involve the breadth of the industry-wide partnership delivering the pioneering East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP).

Train Control Partner Siemens Mobility is overseeing testing, working with the

relevant train operating partners with Govia Thameslink Railway suppling the first train to be dynamically tested.

Oliver Turner, Head of ERTMS at GTR, which operates Great Northern, said: “This weekend’s testing marks the very first step in an intensive testing process to ensure the system is safe. We are working closely with the rest of the industry to share the lessons we’ve learned, and continue to learn, from introducing and operating ETCS on the Northern City Line and Thameslink route across the heart of London.”

chemistry, can charge their batteries to full capacity in 20 minutes whilst moving along the electrified sections or charging whilst stopped at stations.”

It said it had reviewed routes across the country and identified strategic points where discontinuous electrification could be installed.

Siemens already has a fleet of battery trains in use in the Ortenau region in Germany. Meanwhile, in Britain, Stadler has delivered seven batteryfitted Class 777/1s for the Headbolt Lane line in Merseyside, while TfW Rail has 24 tri-mode Class 756s that are due to enter traffic this year. GWR is testing a battery-powered Class 230 (RE336) while TfW also has five batteryhybrid Class 230s in use on the Bidston line. Rail Operations Assets Ltd has a fleet of ten tri-mode Class 93s on order.

Class 197s to Long Marston TRANSPORT For Wales Class 197/0s have begun moving to Long Marston for storage. Two-car Nos. 197027/029 were delivered to the site on June 5.

Both had been stored at Donnington Railfreight Terminal having been assembled by CAF at Newport. The ‘197s’ are part of a fleet of 21 destined for the Cambrian Coast and will be fitted with European Traffic Control System (ETCS). The fleet, featuring Nos. 197003/022-041, is expected to enter traffic next year.

Two CrossCountry units have received Pride logos in support of staff and passengers from the LGBT+ community. The trains, No. 170618 and 220005, were unveiled ahead of Birmingham Pride on June 1, and this is the first time an XC train has carried a Pride symbol. On May 23, No. 220005 leads No. 221129 through Bridgwater with the 1S51 12.27 Plymouth-Glasgow Central. This was the first day in traffic for the ‘220’. Christopher Perkins

July 2024 RAIL EXPRESS 9

HEADLINE NEWS Richard Clinnick

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SVR gala exceeds all expectations MORE than 5000 people attended the four-day Severn Valley Railway diesel gala on May 16-19.

The event featured main line visitors supplied by 20189 Ltd, Colas Railfreight, Freightliner, GB Railfreight, Locomotive Services Group and RailAdventure while Eastern Rail Services supported the event by providing High Speed Train stock owned by Romic.

“What a four days we’ve had,” said SVR managing director Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster. “This was another wellplanned and professionally delivered event and I’d like to thank everyone involved across the entire SVR for their hard work and dedication.”

He confirmed there were problems and said: “We had a couple of locomotive issues, and these were both extremely well handled operationally, and the diesel engineering team dealt superbly with an issue with the Colas HST on Friday.”

The SVR said that visitor numbers significantly exceeded expectations.

“Our commercial results are of course, all important, and I’m delighted to say that we smashed the budget for both passenger numbers and secondary spend. Yet again, a triumph that showcased our wonderful railway at its very best.”

However, after the event the SVR announced a new fundraising appeal, aimed at supporting the operational resilience of the railway in the coming years. Called the SVR Resilience Fund, it is replacing the railway’s Survival Fund, which was launched last year.

“We are indebted to everyone who supported the Survival Fund,” said Mr Dunster. “It raised a very substantial £500,000 and has helped us turn things around from what was, without doubt, a time of crisis.

“We’ve now wound up the Survival Fund, but there’s still a long way to go before we can say we’ve fully recovered. We’re going to need ongoing support to meet our running costs

Freightliner No. 70005 leaves Kidderminster on May 19, with the 10.30 to Bewdley, passing No. 40106 Atlantic Conveyor and 69009 Western Consort on the left, while No. 59206 Pride of Ferrybridge and a pair of Class 20s are on the right. In the station are Nos. D10162 Western Courier, 43468/480 and 50035 Ark Royal. Locomotive Services No. 37409 Loch Awe is on the rear of the departing train. Tom McAtee

for some time to come, so that we can build the railway’s resilience and confidence, and safeguard assets such as rolling stock and infrastructure.”

The SVR Company Limited is leading the new SVR Resilience Fund.

This volunteer-run member of the SVR family of companies is separate from SVR (Holdings) Plc, the train operating company.

“Because we’re a volunteer company, we’re able to keep overheads to a minimum,” explained Diane Malyon, SVR Company Limited chair. “And that means we’ll be able to pass on to SVR (Holdings) every penny possible to support the railway’s operational

resilience, and to secure its future for many years to come.”

“The costs associated with running a heritage line can be very high,” continued Diane. “For example, the railway has to spend £500 on coal for a steam locomotive’s return trip along the 16-mile line, and a new set of points will be £10,000.

“Those are some of the higher costs, but donations of all sizes will help, and will be very welcome. A ton of granite ballast costing £25 will stabilise the track for example, and with £50 we can buy three litres of specialist paint for a locomotive or one of our heritage carriages.”

Mr Dunster said: “We suffered a huge loss of income during Covid when we had to shut down for extended periods. The current cost-of-living crisis has damaged visitor numbers, whilst the price of coal, diesel, electricity and everything else we need continues to rise.

“We’ve made massive savings with scrupulous spending controls and by reducing our paid staff, and we’ve found new ways of earning income by undertaking contract work for main line railway companies. But operating the SVR is a costly business, and we need every bit of help we can find right now.” E

 Greater Anglia No. 755418 passes the under construction Cambridge South station on May 10, with the 1K78 15.37 Stansted Airport-Norwich.

The new station will connect the Cambridge Biomedical Campus with potential destinations including central London, Stansted Airport and Birmingham. The platforms will all have step-free access while there will be accessible toilets, cycle parking, a drop-off area and access for pedestrians on both sides of the station. GA will serve the station while Network Rail said other operators (CrossCountry and Govia Thameslink Railway) are expected to call there subject to future timetabling. The station is due to open next year. Iain Scotchman

12 RAIL EXPRESS July 2024

HEADLINE NEWS Richard Clinnick

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Hitachi begins battery trial with TPE ‘802’ A first-ever trial to replace a diesel engine with a battery on an inter-city train in Britain is under way using TransPennine Express No. 802207.

Testing began with the five-car set at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe facility on May 24, in a project involving Angel Trains (which owns the ‘802’), TPE, Turntide Technologies and Hitachi Rail.

Hitachi claims that one battery unit is predicted to reduce emissions and fuel costs by as much as 30%.

The battery has been fitted to the ‘802’ ahead of testing on the TPE network from this summer. Removing one of the engines means that No. 802207 will have two vehicles powered by a diesel engine, one by a

battery and two trailer vehicles. It will continue to have its 25kV overhead electrification capability.

Hitachi claims that the battery unit can store enough electricity to power more than 75 houses for a day and that it can provide the same levels of acceleration and performance as the ‘802/2’ did previously. It also claims that the battery technology is no heavier than the diesel engine it replaces.

The aim is also to test how the train can enter and leave non-electrified stations in battery mode.

The trial aims to provide real-world evidence to inform the business case for a 100% battery-electric intercity train capable of running for up to 62

miles in battery mode. Hitachi said: “It will also demonstrate how battery technology can reduce infrastructure costs by reducing the need for overhead wires in tunnel sections and over complex junctions.”

Paul Staples, TPE engineering, safety and sustainability director, said: “We’re really pleased to be a part of this innovative and critically important trial of battery technology.

“We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and are constantly looking at ways of making rail travel even more sustainable and efficient.

“This trial will allow us to assess the exciting new technology on our Nova 1 train; we’re looking forward to

seeing the results and how well the batteries work on our network.”

Jim Brewin, Hitachi Rail chief director UK & Ireland said: “Hitachi has invested more than £15 million in research and development to deliver a ‘UK first’ in battery train technology.

Collaborating closely with our partners, Angel Trains and TransPennine Express, we are committed to showcasing how the rail industry can significantly lower costs and emissions. This is an important next step towards a more energy efficient and greener railway.”

The battery pack was built in Sunderland and tested in Japan before returning to Newton Aycliffe for fitting to No. 802207. E

IN BRIEF NEW RAILWAY 200 WEBSITE LAUNCHED

RAILWAY 200 has launched a new website to help celebrate the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. The site www.railway200. co.uk, invites rail and non-rail organisations to register their planned Railway 200 events and activities, sign up for regular email updates and download the Railway 200 logo for non-commercial use.

RAIL MINISTER RESIGNS

AHEAD of the general election to be held on July 4, rail minister Huw Merriman announced he is standing down as an MP. He was the Conservative member for Bexhill & Battle and was previously chair of the Transport Select Committee.

As this issue of Rail Express went to press, Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper was contesting his Forest of Dean seat.

BLS charity tours raise £11,000 THE Branch Line Society’s ‘Return of the Shedi’ on May 3, and ‘May the Fourth be With You’ charter on May 4, raised £11,000 for the Martin House children’s hospice.

The first tour ran from EastleighHinksey Reception Lines, Gloucester, Cardiff Central, Bristol Parkway and Westbury and featured, on various legs, preserved Nos. D6515 (33012) Lt Jenny Lewis RN, DB Cargo UK Nos. 66114, 66205 and Freightliner Nos. 59005 Kenneth J.Painter and 66541.

The following day, the BLS tour ran from Eastleigh to Portsmouth Harbour, Westbury, Exeter Central and London Waterloo, and featured the same ‘33’, GB Railfreight No. 73136 Mhairi, FL Nos. 59101 Village of Whatley, 59104 Village of Great Elm and 59202 Pride of Ferrybridge.

14 RAIL EXPRESS July 2024

TransPennine Express No. 802213 Unity and London North Eastern Railway No. 801226 Together at York on June 1. LNER

Show of Unity for Pride at York COLLEAGUES from London North Eastern Railway (LNER) and TransPennine Express (TPE) joined together in a show of unity at York on June 1, to celebrate the start of Pride Month.

Two ‘Pride’ Hitachi sets were used to mark the event, with TPE No. 802213 Unity and LNER No. 801226 Together also attending to provide a visual representation of the rail industry’s

commitment to celebrate the key values of progression and collaboration.

The teams were joined by members and beneficiaries of LGBTQIA+ youth charities Mosaic Trust and The Proud Trust who travelled to York for the popular Pride Parade and Festival.

Tracey Barber, LNER senior employee experience partner, said: “At LNER, we celebrate Pride all year round and foster and encourage

individuality and an environment where our colleagues can bring their true selves to work, every day.

It’s fabulous to see so many of our colleagues, and colleagues across the industry, getting into the spirit with our Pride celebrations in York, and a joy to see LNER’s Together and TPE’s Unity side by side on the tracks as a show of solidarity for the LGBTQIA+ community.”

Eurostar’s environmental pledge EUROSTAR plans to power its trains using 100% renewable energy by 2030.

The European high-speed rail operator aims to carry 30 million passengers on its routes between France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Britain, by 2030.

In its first sustainability report, the company is focussed on reducing its impact by sourcing renewable energies for traction needs and reducing energy requirements. In February 2024, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Infrabel to study

the installation of novel solar projects to power trains.

“This is a deliberately ambitious target, Eurostar wants to use its brand and commitment to accelerate change across the sector,” said Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave. “To achieve our goal, we work closely together with our partners in each of our markets, we encourage regulatory support for the rapid deployment of new renewable energy projects.”

Eurostar recently joined the RE100 alliance with companies committed

to sourcing 100% of their energy from renewable sources. “We’re proud to be the first rail company to join,” said Mrs Cazenave. “Today, the transport sector accounts for 25% of European greenhouse gas emissions, making sustainable high-speed rail a key solution to a quarter of Europe’s climate problem.”

Currently, since 2017, Eurostar trains have been using electricity powered by 100% wind energy since 2017, and this has reached 40% in the UK since last year.

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Richard Clinnick HEADLINE NEWS  The Branch Line Society organised the ‘Bucket and Spade’ charter on June 5, with proceeds raised donated to the Railway Benefit Fund. Locomotive Services provided the stock as well as No. D213 (40013) Andania. The ‘40’ approaches Seamer with the 1Z88 16.37 Scarborough-Crewe return leg. On the rear is D05 Preservation No. 47828, which is currently part of the LS fleet. Andy Mason

IN BRIEF NEW HS2 CEO

MARK WILD, the former CEO of Crossrail has been appointed chief executive of HS2 Ltd. His precise start date has not been confirmed, and he replaces Mark Thurston who left the role in September 2023 after six-and-a-half years. Mr Wild was most recently CEO of SGN, the gas distribution network covering Scotland and south east England.

He was Crossrail CEO for almost four years, and prior to that he was London Underground managing director.

CLASS 730 NAMING

WEST Midlands Railway (WMR) named No. 730018 Hurst Street on May 24, ahead of the Birmingham Pride Festival. The ‘730’, which has also received Pride livery, was named after the city’s famous Gay Village. WMR has confirmed that the ‘730s’ have been branded the Landmark Class and that more will receive names in connection with other landmark locations across the region in the coming months.

Grand Central expansion plans OPEN access operator Grand Central has submitted plans to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) that could see new services launched next year, with more than 550,000 extra seats provided annually.

The capacity uplift of around 30% would be for services on existing routes.

The application to the ORR includes a proposal for two additional daily return trains between Bradford and London, an additional early morning departure from York to London and a late-evening return, four new daily stops at Seaham and additional stops at Peterborough.

Arriva owns GC. David Brown, Arriva UK Trains division managing director said: “This is a growth opportunity for the railway and a positive development for passengers and for our colleagues at Grand Central.

By delivering additional services through open access, we can encourage more train travel, which is good for the environment and for communities, helping to ensure Britain’s rail system can thrive long into the future.”

D-Day naming for SWR Class 444 SOUTH Western Railway named No. 444040 The D-Day Story at Portsmouth Harbour on June 4, in recognition of the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

For its trip to the naming ceremony, the ‘444’ was guarded by SWR guards inspector Andy Dennis, who joined the Army at 19 and served for 22 years.

The museum the Desiro is named after highlights the major role that Portsmouth played in liberating Europe from the Nazis, using personal possessions and words of the people who took part.

HS2 VIADUCT MILESTONE

CONSTRUCTION of HS2’s Thames Valley viaduct has passed the halfway point, with 44 of the 72 customised pre-cast beams in position, 66 of the 70 piers installed and work underway on the deck that will support the railway. The structure is being built near Aylesbury.

Lumo to Rochdale

LIVERPOOL City Region has released images of the planned Liverpool Baltic station which could be open by the end of 2027.

It is one of four new stations planned by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram. Three other stations are planned at Daresbury in Halton, Woodchurch on the Wirral and Carr Mill in St Helens. Work on those three should be under way by the end of the decade.

Plans for Liverpool Baltic include step-free access from street to train, waiting facilities, fully accessible toilets, secured monitored cycle parking and links to enhanced local active travel.

A public consultation will be conducted during June and July. Subject to approval, work is expected to commence on site next year.

The new station will be located in one of the fasting growing areas of Liverpool, near to the former Cains Brewery and Anglican Cathedral.

It is being funded through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS), allocated via the Department for Transport.

FIRSTGROUP has applied to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to operate an open access service between Rochdale and London Euston.

If approved, the service would be part of the Lumo operation and would be operated using “new British-built trains”, although details of them have not been confirmed. Currently Lumo uses five Class 803s assembled by Hitachi in Newton Aycliffe.

First’s proposal is for six return trains a day, running via Manchester Victoria, re-creating a service that last ran in 2000 when First North Western served London from the north west.

The new service will call at Eccles, Newton-le-Willows and Warrington Bank Quay. First estimates are that some 1.6 million people in the north west would be served by the new operation.

A consultation period will now follow as well as discussions with Network Rail to secure required approvals. It is anticipated that trains could start running in 2027.

July 2024 RAIL EXPRESS 17

UNITS EMU ❮

CLASS 720 AVENTRA

MAKING its first outing in revenueearning service on April 29 was No. 720519, its initial working being the 2F04 05.45 Shenfield-Braintree with No. 720514. Two weeks later, on May 12, No. 720101 also entered service.

A delivery move on May 21 saw No. 720142 hauled from Alstom, Derby to Willesden by GB Railfreight No. 69009 Western Consort.

CLASS 730 AVENTRA

RELEASED from Alstom, Derby on May 1, was No. 730218, which was hauled to Oxley by Rail Operations Group No. 37800 Cassiopeia.

No. 730222 undertook the same move behind ROG No. 37601 Perseus on May 8, before taking both sets to Melton RIDC later in the day.

Another set, No. 730219, was sent direct from Derby to Melton RIDC on April 24, traction being provided by No. 37800, and, following completion of work, it was hauled to Oxley with No. 730214 by ROG No. 37608 Andromeda on May 9. Nos. 730218/222 subsequently returned from Melton RIDC to Oxley on May 24, ROG No. 37884 Cepheus providing traction.

After a spell in store at Doncaster Belmont Yard, Nos. 730036/038 were hauled to Oxley by ROG No. 37800 Cassiopeia on April 30. Just over two weeks later, on May 16, No. 730023 was taken from Doncaster Belmont Yard to Willesden by ROG No. 37884 Cepheus, a move which was repeated by the English Electric Type 3 on May 21, this time conveying No. 730024. The same ‘37’ also formed the 5Q23 08.22 Gascoigne Wood-Doncaster Belmont Yard with Nos. 730037/039 in tow on May 20.

A new storage destination for the Class 730 fleet is Long Marston, where No. 730224 arrived from Oxley on May 24. It was followed by No. 730207 from Alstom, Derby on May 25; both moves

After a gap of several months, Class 701s have begun to be moved to Long Marston again for storage. On May 8, GB Railfreight No. 69011 hauls South Western Railway No. 701003 as the 5Q90 06.17 Eastleigh-Long Marston. As this issue of Rail Express went to press, there were 16 ten-car Class 701/0s and four five-car Class 701/5s at Long Marston. John Stretton.

were carried out using ROG No. 37884 Cepheus, which had also hauled No. 730224 from Derby to Oxley on May 18.

New into service on May 3, were Nos. 730046/048, their first working being the 2T06 07.40 Tring-Euston.

CLASS 769 FLEX

TWO Class 769s originally destined for Great Western Railway were moved to Wabtec, Doncaster during May, although Porterbrook is remaining tight-lipped with regards to the reason.

No. 769935 was taken north from Long Marston by Rail Operations Group No. 37884 Cepheus on May 9, with No. 769949 following behind ROG No. 37800 Cassiopeia five days later.

CLASS 777 STADLER

ARRIVING at Kirkdale in the early hours of May 2, were Nos. 777029/037, the pair of new Merseyrail units having been moved from Long Marston

by RailAdventure power car Nos.

43423/467 and 43468/480. The same four power cars also took Nos. 777043/045 from Long Marston to Kirkdale on May 15/16. Remaining at Long Marston was just one set, No. 777053.

On May 29, DB Cargo UK No. 66020 formed the 6Q14 08.09 Dollands MoorWembley with Nos. 777033/047 in tow.

The pair continued their journey north behind power car Nos. 43423/467, which formed the 6Q77 13.30 Wembley Yard-Walton Old Junction later the same day. Their arrival leaves just one unit, No. 777035, still to enter the United Kingdom.

IET CLASS 805

UNBRANDED No. 805006 returned to Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe factory from Oxley on May 10, with No. 805011 heading the opposite direction six days

later. It should become the ninth Class 805 to be accepted by Avanti West Coast, Nos. 805001/002/004/ 005/008-010/012 having already been accepted by the Train Operating Company.

Now in full Avanti livery, No. 805003 formed the 5Q06 Merchant Park Sidings-Oxley on May 21. The former test unit had returned to Newton Aycliffe on October 16, 2023.

CLASS 810

TESTING of No. 810001 under electric power began on May 28, when, after running from Melton RIDC (Asfordby) to Peterborough, the Hitachi AT300 made several trips to Newark and back.

Previous testing has been under diesel power. The set, the first of 33 new IETs for East Midlands Railway, had returned to Melton RIDC from Newton Aycliffe on May 20. The second set to emerge, No. 810004, was expected to do so in early June.

DEPOT TALK Correct to May 23, 2024 Allocations 175011 CH/HLHQ-HQ/SCEC 175102/106/110 CH/HLHQ-HQ/SCEC 197102/113/117/125 HQ-CH 323202/205/206/209/210 SO/EJHQAN/EDHQ 507011/014/015/021 sent for disposal 701059 newly delivered HQ/HYHQ 720101/102/138 HQ-IL 720519 HQ-IL 730017/033/046/048 HQ-BY 730218/219/222 newly delivered HQ/ EJHQ 777038/051 HQ-KD 805011 newly delivered HQ/HFHQ

Named 197001 Robin Goch Philadelphia Robin 197004 Ddraig Goch Vancouver Red Dragon 730018 Hurst Street 777041 Sir Samuel Cunard

Now in passenger traffic 197102/113/117/125 720101/102/138 720519 730017/033/046/048 777038/051

Names removed 323209 Birmingham New Street 323217 Chester Road 323222 Redditch 323241 Dave Pomroy 323 Fleet Engineer 40 Years Service

Sold Merseyside Fire & Rescue: 64432, 71369 (507028)

Liveries Pride: 730018, 220005, 803003 South Western Railway: 458401/413/427

Formations 458401: 67601+74001+74101+67701 458413: 67613+74013+74113+67713 458427: 67627+74027+74127+67727

24 RAIL EXPRESS July 2024

Renumbered 458501 – 458401 458513 – 458413 458527 – 458427

Stored/stopped locations Cockshute: 74412/424/431/437 (458527/522/501/513) Crewe LNWR: 197121 Derby Litchurch Lane: 701007/010, 701501/502 Doncaster Belmont Yard: 730040/041 Doncaster Wabtec: 769935/949 Eastleigh Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot: 701059 Eastleigh Works: 458416/423/424/428

Ely: 175011, 175110 Gascoigne Wood: 730037/039 Hornsey: 379021/023-026 Kirkdale: 777029/037/043/045 Landore: 150236/281, 175002/010, 175105/113 Long Marston: 701002/003/005 MoD Marchwood: 701019/022/029 Old Dalby: 730006, 730218/219/222 Oxley: 730036/038, 805011 Soho: 730012/013 Willesden: 720142, 730023/024 Wimbledon: 701032/038 Worksop: 153317, 701503/504 Disposals C.F.Booth Ltd, Rotherham: Cut dates: May 10: 71441; May 16: 71333 (315853) Sims Metals, Newport: Arrival dates: April 4/5: 319454; April 10: 507020/031; April 29: 507014/021; May 13: 507011/015

POWER BY THE HOUR

Three former Direct Rail Services Class 37s, bought by Harry Needle Railroad Company, were delivered to their new owner on May 28. Locomotive Services No. 37409 Loch Awe hauls HNRC Nos. 37419, 37716 and 37422 through Derby as the 0Z37 08.50 Crewe-Barrow Hill. HNRC has also added Nos. 37424/425 to its fleet. Martin Turner

NEWS ROUND-UP Continued nameplates from No. 60091. Recently repainted No. 66224, the last of the 10 repatriated ex-Euro Cargo Rail machines to enter service, has finally been allowed out from Toton. It worked a 0E23/0Z54 test run to Doncaster Belmont and back on May 24, although has not ventured out since. Finally, Nos. 66060 and 66133 have both been repainted in DB ‘Traffic red’ at Toton.

The remaining four Class 90s of the 12 that were sold in the tender issued in September 2023 have all moved to their new owners. On May 1, European Metals Recycling (EMR) received the first of its pair in the form of EWS-liveried No. 90031, stored since December 2007, and this moved to the recycler’s Liverpool Alexandra Docks location on the back of an Allelys’ low-loader.

Notably, the former No. 90131 originally acquired the Intercontainer nameplates from No. 86605 in February 1997, but was more famously renamed The Railway Children Partnership at the Old Oak Common open day on August 6, 2000, by Clare Thomas and Sally Thomsett (stars of the 2000 and 1970 film versions of The Railway Children book respectively).

Incredibly, the latter nameplates (along with No. 90022 mentioned later) were only removed recently. This was followed on May 3, by Railfreight

Distribution-liveried No. 90025, the first of the class to be stored way back in January 2004 along with No. 90034 (later reprieved), with the end of Royal Mail operations being cited for their removal from traffic.

Meanwhile, the two outstanding machines destined for Sandbach Commercial Dismantlers Ltd (SCDL) have also made their final journey to Middlewich, EWS maroon/gold No. 90017 moving on May 7, and the EWS stickered ex-RfD European No. 90022 on May 8. The former was previously named Rail express systems Quality Assured, while the latter – when numbered 90122 – was most famously the ‘British’ member of the European-liveried quartet of Class 90s and gained the name Freightconnection in September 1992.

The other three were Belgian Railways (SNCB) No. 90128 Vrachtverbinding, German Railways (DB) No. 90129 Frachtverbindungen and French Railways (SNCF) No. 90130 Fretconnection.

All eight, along with the two at EMR, were still extant as of the end of May. However, with only limited component recovery possible on some machines, scrapping is expected to start soon.

DC RAIL

Out of action since December 2020, No. 56103 has made a return to traffic

after the completion of repairs at Boden Rail’s Colwick TMD at Rectory Junction. It was first partnered with back-on-hire GB Railfreight machine No. 56098 on May 9, for a 6Z82 11.20 Peak Forest (Cemex) to Brandon Down Sidings. No. 56103 had been a fixture at Leicester LIP until March 2024, while the ‘Grid’ had swapped from the DCRS stored pool to the operational DCRO group as long ago as November 2023. However, moving in the opposite direction is No. 56091 Driver Wayne Gaskell, which was taken out of traffic at UK Rail Leasing’s Leicester facility in January.

FREIGHTLINER

Having first waved ‘do widzenia’ to No. 66526 last October, the fifth and final member of the Polish-bound contingent, No. 66599, departed the UK on May 8. It was moved from Leeds Midland Road to Immingham Docks by No. 66597 Viridor. No. 66599 is the 23rd Class 66 to make the journey, giving Freightliner Poland (FPL) a fleet of 31 GM Type 5s, as follows: Nos. 66001-007 (all purchased directly for FPL), 66008011/013-019 (ex-UK 66411/412/417, 66527/530/535/582-584/586, 66954, not in number order), 66012 (ex-DE 674), 66526/529/595/599,

66955/956 (ex-UK, not renumbered), and 66601-606 (ex-UK 66608/609/ 611/612/624/625, not in number order). Freightliner Germany (FDE) also operates an eclectic group of seven hired ‘Class 66s’, although none transferred from this country.

Back home, No. 66591 was sidelined to DHLT at Midland Road during the month.

While the future is bleak for the 10 Class 90s sold to EMR and SCDL (see DB Cargo UK), the pair that were purchased by Freightliner, Nos. 90018 and 90040, have now been transferred from the DB disposal pool WQDA to the active DFLC allocation, although both are still undergoing attention at Crewe Basford Hall.

GB RAILFREIGHT

Freshly repainted into the same variant of the GB Railfreight paint scheme as No. 57310, No. 57306 departed UK Rail Leasing at Loughborough on May 17, with Caledonian Sleeper No. 92023, the pair travelling as the 0Z22 13.08 to Wembley. The ex-Direct Rail Services Class 57/3 was next seen on May 20, running to Hornsey EMUD to return Electrostars Nos. 379006/014 to store as a 5Q78 13.40 to Worksop Up Reception (see Units).

July 2024 RAIL EXPRESS 19

❯

COACHES IN BRIEF SRPS STOCK MOVES TO BARROW HILL FOR OVERHAUL

FOUR coaches from the SRPS Railtours fleet have been moved to Barrow Hill, where their overhauls are to be completed by Rampart Engineering. Miniature Buffet Standard (RMB) No. 1859, First Open (FO) No. 3112, Tourist Standard Open (TSO) No. 4832 and Brake Standard Corridor (BSK) No. 35185 were moved south by No. 37403 Isle of Mull on May 29. The SRPS set has not been used on any charters since March 2023, as it does not have a Regulation 5 dispensation to operate stock without Central Door Locking (CDL). The SRPS is in the process of finalising a fitment plan for its dual braked stock and hopes to resume operations later in the year.

RIVIERA REPAINTS

FORMERLY in Anglia Railways livery, Riviera Trains’ Mk.2f Tourist Standard Open (TSO) No. 5921 has emerged from the paint shop at Carnforth in blue/grey. Also repainted into this livery at West Coast Railways’ base have been Mk.1 Generator Van (GV) No. 6310 and Restaurant Kitchen (RK) No. 80042. Both previously carried chocolate/cream colours.

Another coach carrying Anglia Railways livery, Mk.2f TSO No. 6042, was taken from Burton to Carnforth

by WCR Nos. 37518 Fort William/An Gearasden and 37668 on May 7. The coach had suffered graffiti damage while stabled at Bristol back in February.

MK.5A MOVEMENTS

RUNNING as the 5Q94 08.58 Longsight-Long Marston and with No. 68023 providing traction, TP12 (formed of Nos. 11512, 12734736/812) was dispatched for storage on May 15. Similar moves later in the month involving TP10 (Nos. 11810, 12728-730/810) on May 20, TP06 (Nos. 11506, 12716-718/806) on May 21 and TP11 (11511, 12731733/811) on May 22 also took place, hauled by Nos. 68030/019/024 respectively. Heading the opposite direction for handback work, with Nos. 68019/032 providing traction, on May 25, was TP13 (11513, 12737739/813).

David Russell

Metro-Cammell Pullman back in action

Rebuilt coach added to Royal Scotsman set.

A Metro-Cammell Pullman coach last used on the main line as a Departmental vehicle more than 40 years ago has returned to service as part of the Royal Scotsman set.

No. 316, formerly named Magpie, has been rebuilt by Assenta Rail at EG Steele’s Hamilton workshops, from where it emerged on April 29, for its new role in the luxury train. It was collected

by GB Railfreight No. 66743 and hauled to Millerhill to be united with the rest of the rake. It has taken the place of No. 99961 (formerly No. 324 Amber) which is now at Hamilton for attention.

Unlike the other Metro-Cammell Pullman State Cars in the Royal Scotsman set which contain four cabins, No. 316 contains two grand suites plus one double cabin. Additional features in the two grand suites include a lounge area with a sofa, dining table/

ROYAL SCOTSMAN – METRO CAMMELL PULLMAN COACHES Number 316 99337 99960 99961 99962 99963 99964 99965 99967

Former Number 337 321 324 329 331 313 319 317

Former Name MAGPIE SWIFT AMBER PEARL TOPAZ FINCH SNIPE RAVEN

chairs and mini-bar. Belmond says: “The design elements conjure a sense of enrapturing myth and cinematic drama, while fostering the feel of a private club where members join together in a convivial spirit.”

No. 316 was, for many years, a derelict vehicle stored at Carnforth, moving to Hamilton in 2019 for restoration and conversion for use

by Belmond. Withdrawn from normal

Current Use Grand Suites/State Car State Spa Car Dining Car State Car State Car State Car State Car Observation Car Dining Car

service in 1976, it became part of the Civil Engineer’s fleet as No. DB975608 until 1981, when, along with five other Metro-Cammell Pullmans, it was sold and moved to the Taverner Inn at Casterton, near Stamford. By 1990, it had been moved to Carnforth where, unrestored, it resided until it became part of the Royal Scotsman fleet. It is the ninth such coach to become part of the set (see table). E

Rail Operations Assets hires Eastern Rail Services stock RAIL Operations Assets Ltd (ROAL) has hired nine Eastern Rail Services coaches for main line testing with its first Class 93, No. 93001.ROAL is part of the same organisation as Rail Operations Group.

The Mk.3 vehicles, comprising Restaurant First Buffet (RFB) No. 10229, Tourist Standard Open Buffet (TSOB) No. 10413, First Open (FO) Nos. 11078/095 and Tourist Standard Open Nos. 12021/064/091/098 along with Mk.2f Brake Standard Open No. 9525,

were collected by ROG Nos. 37608 Andromeda and 37800 Cassiopeia on May 28, and moved to Chaddesden Sidings (Derby). The following morning, with No. 37800 having been replaced by Europhoenix No. 37407 Blackpool Tower, they continued to Worksop via Castle Donington to begin testing the next day.

Testing with the ‘93’ began on May 30, with the tri-mode locomotive hauling Nos. 9525, 10413, 11078/095, 12064/091/098.

Meanwhile, former European Passenger Services Mk.3a Generator Van No. 96371, which has been based at Inverness since December 2022, (RE321) to enable pre-heating of Caledonian Sleeper stock during the winter months, departed by road for Great Yarmouth on May 31.

Over the coming months, it is planned to fit overhauled bogies as well as undertaking a C4 exam on the vehicle.

DEPOT TALK Correct to May 23, 2024 Liveries TransPennine Express vinyls removed: 11505/511, 12713715/728-730, 12805/811 Stored/stopped locations Long Marston: 11505/510-512, 12713-715/725-733, 12805/810-812 Longsight: 11503, 12707-709, 12803

26 RAIL EXPRESS July 2024

Rail Operations Group No. 37800 Cassiopeia hauls nine Eastern Rail Services coaches through Eccles Road on May 28, with the 5M57 17.30 Great Yarmouth-Chaddesden Sidings. The coaches, eight Mk.3s and one Mk.2, were being moved ahead of testing with No. 93001. Ryan Hayward

SHUNTERS & INDUSTRIALS

Simon Bendall

Class 08 returns to Haymarket After decades without, famous Edinburgh depot once again has a shunter in residence.

THE end of May saw RMS Locotec commence its latest hire contract by providing No. 08754 to ScotRail for use at Haymarket depot, to the west of Edinburgh Waverley.

As with No. 08648 at Inverness,

its principal role will be marshalling High Speed Train sets undergoing maintenance, but also shunting multiple unit vehicles. The shunter arrived in Scotland on May 30, having spent almost two months undergoing preparations at Chesterfield, this including modernising its marker lights.

For those of a certain age, the reappearance of a Class 08 at Haymarket will rekindle fond memories of the depot’s colourful

shunter fleet of the late 1980s, when a number of locomotives were specially repainted. This included Nos. 08720 and 08761 in Provincial, along with No. 08793 in LNER green, black-liveried No. 08730 and Railfreight triple grey No. 08791 with General sub-sector markings.

Haymarket officially lost its shunter allocation in August 1991 with their mass transfer to the other end of the Edinburgh-Glasgow route at Eastfield. E

The former Direct Rail Services shunter is reported to now be fitted with a hydrogen generator, this discharging into the air intake to reduce the amount of diesel fuel required and therefore reduce emissions. Meanwhile,

the last of the company’s former Ministry of Defence locomotives at the Wensleydale Railway was removed on May 17, No. 01526 spending the weekend at the haulier’s yard before unloading at Worksop three days later.

NEWS ROUND-UP HARRY NEEDLE RAILROAD COMPANY

No. 08892 returned to Worksop on May 15, after a stay of around three months undergoing tests at the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre in Dudley.

PRESERVATION The Mid-Norfolk Railway has officially named 03063 Paul A. Mobbs in honour of its previous owner, who bequeathed the Class 03 to the line upon his death in 2021. The red-backed nameplates are fitted in front of the air tanks and were unveiled in a ceremony at Thuxton on May 25. The locomotive, which carries BR blue, is due to be a guest at the Spa Valley Railway gala during August.

Also with a fresh look following repainting at Kidderminster is No. 08015, this retaining its previous plain BR green with original identity of No. 13201. The locomotive has also become the first of the Severn Valley Railway’s shunter fleet to be modified with an electric oil priming pump.

The Wensleydale Railway has gained a Sentinel 0-6-0DH with local connections after Hope Cement Works placed No. 10156 on permanent loan to the line. Dating from 1963 but rebuilt by Hunslet Barclay in 1988, Derwent has latterly been stored out of use at Hope with delivery to the railway taking place on April 24/25.

Following a change of ownership, 1956-built Ruston & Hornsby 88DS No. 394014 returned to the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway on April 24, after three years away. With its restoration still awaiting completion, it was previously at the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway and before that, the Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway. Another Ruston product with a better looking future is 165DS No. 281266, which was threatened with scrapping if no buyer was found. Dating from 1950, this will now leave the Colne Valley Railway for a new home.

INDUSTRIALS

The new battery-only Clayton CB40 two-axle shunter for use at Sellafield spent a month undergoing commissioning at the Chasewater Railway following delivery from the manufacturer on April 25. As a result, it attracted considerable interest from enthusiasts aiming to see it before it disappeared behind the high fences of the reprocessing plant. Built as works No. B4668, it had its new internal identity of No. 3 applied shortly before departing for Sellafield around May 24. For much of its time at the Chasewater Railway, the locomotive was kept inside the workshop area of the museum building at Brownhills West, occasionally appearing outside. Such was the case on May 5, with a volunteer kindly allowing access for photography. Simon Bendall

 An exchange of Ed Murray-owned former British Steel shunters took place between Daventry and the Hunslet workshops at Barton-underNeedwood around April 24/25. Fresh from overhaul, No. 5465 (268) was dispatched to the sprawling freight terminal as expected, allowing 1977-built GECT No. 5425 (460) to take its place in the overhaul bay.  Hunslet-built 0-6-0DH No. 8902 previously named Emma, has become the latest industrial to be stored in Cockshute Sidings, Stoke, and therefore visible from the adjacent running lines.

The 1978-built locomotive was previously held in the main Cinderhill yard of Reid Freight Services before the short transfer around late April.

The shunter was previously in the ownership of Harry Needle Railroad Company until removed from Long Marston last summer, but is now understood to be a Hunslet asset.

July 2024 RAIL EXPRESS 25

PRESERVATION

David Russell

Wensleydale Railway acquires Anglia ‘47’ Only Class 47/7 to carry Anglia Railways livery purchased from HNRC. THE Wensleydale Railway is to become the new home for No. 47714 which has been bought for preservation from Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC). The ‘47/7’ is one of five Class 47s first put up for sale as surplus in 2022, and No. 47714 is the first to be sold into the heritage sector.

The Brush Type 4 will be a useful

asset for the Wensleydale Railway, particularly for the highly-popular Polar Express trains which operate throughout December. These require an ETS-fitted diesel at one end, and although No. 33035 has been resident for several years, the daily running makes a second engine essential for the operation; in 2023, No. 47701

was hired from Nemesis Rail for this purpose.

No. 47714 is the only Class 47 to have ever carried Anglia Railways livery, a colour scheme it still carries.

It was applied in 2003 when it was part of the Cotswold Rail fleet and used as a Thunderbird in East Anglia, as well as on Norwich to

Great Yarmouth workings. Following purchase by HNRC, it visited the Great Central Railway in 2009 before moving to Asfordby for use on the Old Dalby test track. More recently, it has been used for testing of ETS on coaching stock at Wabtec, Doncaster.

Having not hauled a passenger train for almost 15 years, its first workings at its new home are likely to be quite popular. E

Alycidon suffers power unit failure THE Deltic Preservation Society’s No. 55009 Alycidon is likely to be out of traffic for more than 12 months following a failure which occurred during the Nene Valley Railway’s gala on May 25.

A planned visit to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for its diesel event and part of the summer season was cancelled, although the Deltic, which is currently masquerading as No. 55013 The Black Watch, was able to fulfil its workings on the NVR using its second power unit; this power unit is, however, high on engine hours and has been downrated, so is not considered suitable for one power unit operation on a line with steep gradients including the 1-in-49 between Grosmont and Goathland.

No. 55009 was due to return to Barrow Hill after a running weekend at the NVR on June 8/9. The power unit will then be removed for assessment; initial indications are that it has suffered a dephased phasing case, although what the damage is will not be known until it has been stripped down. Presently, the DPS has no spare power units ready for service. Work has been ramped up on power unit

No. 55009 Alycidon, masquerading as long-scrapped classmate No. 55013 The Black Watch departs Wansford on May 17, during a freight driving course. The ‘55’ has since suffered another failure and is expected to be out of traffic for up to a year.

Hayden Sheppard

No. 430, which last ran in No. 55008 The Green Howards in 1981, with a view to it being fitted to No. 55009. Its main and auxiliary generators have been prepared to be sent away for overhaul; this is likely to cost in the region of between £15,000 and £20,000.

The failure of No. 55009 is another setback in the return of the locomotive, which was a frequent and reliable performer on the main line until March 2019, when it suffered a major power surge, requiring repairs which cost into six figures. Reappearing on main line

use last year, it failed on the ‘Coronation Deltic’ charter on August 18, with a battery charging fault. The latest failure should have no impact on the return to service of No. D9015 Tulyar, which is now mechanically complete and is undergoing final wiring work.

DIESEL DIARY

Bluebell Railway announces 2024 diesel gala THE Bluebell Railway is to hold a diesel gala on September 6-8 and three guest visitors have been announced so far.

Class 14 No. D9551 from the Severn Valley Railway, No. D8188 (20188) from the Mid Hants Railway and the Class 33/1 Preservation Group’s No. 33111 are all due to appear, along with resident No. 73133

2024 GALA DATES

The Bluebell Railway.

The same weekend sees a newly announced charity event at the Nene Valley Railway. Organised by Modern Railways in conjunction with GB Railfreight, it will see various GBRf locomotives in action on the Saturday and Sunday (Friday being home fleet), and, provisionally, a shuttle between

June 20-23: Keighley & Worth Valley Railway June 27-29: East Lancashire Railway July 12: Great Central Railway (EE Running Day) July 12-14: Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Steam Railway July 12-14: Mid Hants Railway July 20/21: Midland Railway – Butterley (Cancelled) July 25-28: Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (14s@60) August 2-4: Spa Valley Railway August 2-4: Caledonian Railway September 6-8: Great Central Railway September 6-8: Nene Valley Railway

34 RAIL EXPRESS July 2024

Peterborough main line station and the Nene Valley Railway on the Saturday.

Pre-booked site tours of GBRf’s headquarters and motive power depot will also be available. Funds raised from the event will support the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Due to appear at the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway

on July 12-14 is No. D5310 (26010) from the Llangollen Railway. The same weekend is the Mid Hants Railway gala, with No. 50008 Thunderer and a pair of RailAdventure ‘43s’ the first announced visitors. The Rail Riders event at Butterley planned for July 20/21, has been cancelled due to what is described as “multiple factors”.

September 6-8: Bluebell Railway September 13/14: East Lancashire Railway September 14/15: Dean Forest Railway September 20-22: Epping Ongar Railway September 21/22: Midland Railway – Butterley (DMU gala) September 21/22: Tanfield Railway September 29: Telford Steam Railway October 3-6: Severn Valley Railway October 5/6: Llangollen Railway (Heritage Railcar weekend) November 9/10: East Lancashire Railway (Railcar weekend) December 28: Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway

PRESERVATION

New homes found for ‘Clacton’ EMU set

THE potential disposal of No. 960102 (ex 309624) following the expiry of the Clacton Express Preservation Group’s storage contract with the Lavender Line has been averted, with all three cars being found homes, albeit at two different locations.

Two of the vehicles have been donated to the East Anglian Railway Museum (EARM), where it is planned that they will be cosmetically restored. BDTCsoL (Battery Driving Trailer Composite semi-open Lavatory) No. 75965 and MBSOL (Motor Brake

Standard Open Lavatory) No. 61928 arrived at their new base in mid-May, and the EARM says whilst some substantial works will be required to transform the vehicles into high quality exhibits, it is confident that they will prove to be assets to the museum, helping to tell the story behind both the technology and history of the electrified railways in East Anglia.

The Class 309 (or AM9 as initially known) fleet was used on Liverpool Street to Clacton services, which passed through Marks Tey, just a few

miles from the EARM, between 1962 and 1994, so are seen as ideal for the collection. The museum is already home to a Class 317 car (No. 77092, formerly part of No. 317345) which represents a later generation of EMU. The East Anglian Railway Museum was unable to house the third car from the set, which has been moved to a new home at the Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough Railway.

It is planned to restore it to 1980s condition for use with the line’s Mk.1 coaching stock.

MULTIPLE UNIT DEVELOPMENTS PARRY PEOPLE MOVER TO LEAVE SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY

STORED at Highley on the Severn Valley Railway following a testing contract in 2020, Parry People Mover No. 12 is due to depart for the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre at Dudley in the coming weeks.

ECCLESBOURNE ‘BUBBLE’ DEPARTURE

MAY 31 saw Class 121 No. 55034 leave the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway for its new base at the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway (see RE336). The Locomotive Services owned ‘bubble car’ had been at Ecclesbourne for just over four years.

BOGIE SWAP FOR ‘THUMPER’ TRAILER

AS part of plans to return Class 207 DEMU No. 1317 to three-car formation, the centre car from the set, No. 60616, was moved into the shed at Tunbridge Wells West on June 2 for a bogie swap to be carried out. No. 1317 has been operating as a two-car unit at the Spa Valley Railway since it entered preservation.

LEV1 MOVES TO SHILDON

PROTOTYPE Railbus No. LEV1 (RDB975874) has, following cosmetic restoration at the Wensleydale Railway, returned to Locomotion (Shildon) for display. The forerunner to the ‘Pacer’ fleet and part of the National Collection,

it last ran around 2013. It arrived at the Wensleydale Railway from Shildon in 2012, and had previously been based at the North Norfolk Railway.

‘507’ CROWDFUNDER REACHES TARGET

AN appeal to raise £10,000 for the movement of No. 507001 to its new home at the Tanat Valley Railway once it is retired from service, has exceeded its target. The Class 507 Preservation Society has increased its crowdfunder to £15,000, which will provide £5000 to purchase a generator to power up the train’s auxiliary systems such as lights, and keep its batteries charged.

For more details, please visit www.class507.org.uk

IN BRIEF ‘TEDDY BEAR’ BACK IN ACTION

CURRENTLY on an extended visit to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, No. D9520 has been reunited with its repaired generator and undertook a test run on May 6. Later in the month on May 27, it was used in passenger service, double heading with English Electric prototype No. D0226 Vulcan.

125 GROUP MOVEMENTS

THE 125 Group moved HST power car No. 43025 and Trailer Guard Standard (TGS) No. 44000 from Ruddington to the Midland Railway-Butterley on May 23.

Both were due to be used during the 1980s weekend on June 8/9, and the TGS, which retains Great Western Railway green, will be used on main line workings, enabling an eight-coach set to be provided for charter trains.

CLASS 56 UPDATE

ENGINE repairs to the Class 56 Group’s No. 56301 have begun at UK Rail Leasing, Loughborough, and are expected to be completed by early July. A loaded test run will take place before its sale to Cappagh/DC Rail is concluded.

‘CHOPPER’ ARRIVES AT GREAT CENTRAL

IN early May, No. D8001 (20001) left the Epping Ongar Railway for its summer season visit to the Great Central Railway.

As well as the English Electric Running Day (see Diesel Diary), the locomotive has booked workings on July 13/14.

PONTYPOOL ‘31’ RETURNS TO SERVICE

OUT of action for over five years, No. D5627 (31203) returned to service at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway on May 18. The Class 31 was taken out of traffic in late 2018 for engine work.

EWS COLOURS FOR WENSLEYDALE ‘37’

PREVIOUSLY in grey/yellow ‘Dutch’ livery, No. 37250 has been painted into EWS colours at the Wensleydale Railway, a colour scheme it never carried when in main line service.

COACH NEWS GLOUCESTERSHIREWARWICKSHIRE ADDITION

PREVIOUSLY located at the West Somerset Railway, Mk.1 Brake Composite Corridor (BCK) No. 21272 has been placed on long-term loan to the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway.

DERBYSHIRE SCHOOL ACQUIRES RIVIERA BSO

The Spa Valley Railway has acquired Class 207 power car No. 60127 from the Swindon & Cricklade Railway. It is to be used as a source of spares for No. 1317, but there are no plans to scrap the vehicle. On April 29, the vehicle stands on the back of a lowloader at Blunsdon before heading to its new home. Darren Ford

RIVIERA Trains Mk.2f Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9521 has been disposed of and is to be converted into a library at Ivy House School in Littleover, near Derby. The coach was due to arrive from Burton in late May.

July 2024 RAIL EXPRESS 35

IRISH ANGLE

William Watson

Belfast terminus closes after 29 years Low-key celebrations mark the closure of Great Victoria Street.

GREAT Victoria Street Station (GVS) in Belfast city centre closed on May 10, after the departure of the last train, the 23.32 to Bangor, formed of three-car diesel multiple unit No 3012.

GM 8112 was on display in Platform 2 for part of the day and a special Last Day Ticket was issued as a memento of the historic occasion.

While many enthusiasts attended

the final day’s operations and the closure received extensive media coverage, the occasion was fairly lowkey because the rail element of the adjacent Grand Central Station is due to be operational this autumn.

Removal of track by recycling contractor Hamills started on May 11, with road/rail machines working towards GVS from Westlink and City Junctions.

Demolition of the platforms and removal of lineside equipment was also in progress during week ending May 18, while items that were to be recovered

for reuse elsewhere had been marked prior to the closure date.

From May 11, all timetabled services on the Belfast-Portadown corridor have used the direct curve between City Junction and Central Junction which had previously only been used by ‘Enterprise’ services, some peak hour and special trains, empty workings and departmental movements.

This has allowed the contractors to have full access to the Blythefield Curve and Westlink Junction area where the throat of the new station

is located. The planned renewal of the signalling from Belfast to Hilden will tie into the Lisburn Area Renewals Project.

This scheme has been completed although most of the trackwork at the Belfast end of Lisburn station was not renewed. A new LED banner repeater signal on the Up line between Hilden and Lisburn in advance of signal PD158 has been erected and commissioned as well as the one for PD156 at Lambeg with both being required because of sighting issues due to curvature in the area. E

GM No 233 received a bogie swap at Portarlington down yard on May 17.

Two road cranes were used during the operation. Freight traffic continued to be buoyant during the period under review with Nos. 072, 074, 081 and 087 used on the Ballina-Belview XPO container service. Ballina-Dublin Port IWT container traffic saw Nos. 072, 074, 084, 087 and 215 used while the Ballina/Westport to Waterford timber flow featured Nos. 074 and 081.

thus eligible for funding. Reinstatement of the single-track Limerick to Foynes line is continuing and with most of the formation renewed, track laying has started. Renewal of the River Deel bridge has been completed and Rogerstown viaduct is planned to be finished in July.

On May 3, Boliden announced that it was to restart production at its Tara Mines facility at Navan in July after an agreement had been reached with trade unions to reduce the number of employees. The haulage of bulk ore from Navan to Alexandra Road, Dublin Port is anticipated to restart shortly after. The Dublin Port Authority has stated that discussions with IE have progressed well regarding the safeguarding of future access at the port for railfreight.

IARNRÓD ÉIREANN (IE)/ IRISH RAIL  TRAFFIC AND TRACTION: A

three-car ICR diesel multiple unit was a regular performer on Cork-Cobh/ Midleton services during the period under review, with No. 22x56 noted at Glounthane on May 10. GM No. 218, which uses Hydrotreated Vegetable oil (HVO) on an experimental basis, continued to be used on front rank Heuston/Cork Mk.4 services on a regular basis. Bogie flat wagon No. 30164 has been converted to a translator vehicle for use with new DART multiple units and Mk.4 coaching stock. The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) railtour from Dublin Connolly to Dundalk and Drogheda on May 12, was hauled by a diesel locomotive rather than by steam

traction at the request of IE following the issues that had seen the previous RPSI tour terminated at Rathdrum (RE337). GM No. 082 hauled the tour train of seven Cravens coaches and van No. 3173 throughout. From May 13 to July 5, the ‘Enterprise’ diagram that starts with the 07.35 from Dublin Connolly on weekdays and 10.00 on Sundays has been booked for a six-car ICR DMU. The 20.05 from Lanyon Place is retimed to 21.36 on weekdays and to 21.28 on Saturdays. The 18.20 from Connolly on Saturdays runs to Dundalk instead of Lanyon Place and the 21.06 Lanyon Place to Connolly is cancelled. GM No. 082 transferred two ICR intermediate cars from Inchicore to Laios Traincare Depot on May 15.

 NEWS: The reinstatement of the

Athenry to Claremorris line received a boost in late-April when the European Commission confirmed that it was to be included in the Trans European Transport Network (Ten-T) scheme and

An ICR diesel multiple unit has been allocated to Enterprise duties to cover ongoing maintenance of the De Dietrich sets. On May 18, No. 22038 crosses Boyne Bridge, Drogheda, with the 1900 Dublin-Belfast. Finbarr O’Neill

38 RAIL EXPRESS July 2024

IRISH ANGLE

Anniversary retro repaint for 2600 Class DMU TO celebrate the introduction to traffic of the 17 Tokyu Car-built 2600 Class diesel multiple unit vehicles in May 1994, the Irish Railway Record Society (IRRS) in conjunction with Iarnrod Eireann, ran a two- day ‘Times Arrow Railtour’ on May 18/19.

The tour train consisted of Nos. 2601 and 2602, which had received a retro repaint to mark the anniversary.

IE had decided to mark the introduction of both the 2600 Class fleet and the then new suburban service between Heuston and Kildare 30 years ago by repainting two cars Nos. 2601 and 2602 into the original black, orange and white scheme at Inchicore Works, and adding the following in white characters on each black horizontal bodyside band: “30 Years Arrow 1994-2024”.

Each cab end features one of the two IE logos that the type has sported.

Also carried out during preparation work at Limerick was renewal of upholstery and fitting of CCTV. The celebratory tour started at Cork on May 18, departing at 07.30, and ran to Heuston picking up at selected stations en route. From Heuston the tour continued to Adamstown, Grand Canal Dock, Dundalk, Kilbarrack, Howth, Connolly, Maynooth, Clonsilla, M3 Parkway, Connolly and Heuston with photo stops at other locations too.

The next day the unit ran nonstop from Heuston, departing at 12.20 to Cobh, replicating some of the long distance runs the class made in the 1990s prior to the introduction of more appropriate

As part of a two-day Irish Railway Record Society (IRRS) charter from Cork-Dublin and Dundalk to mark the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the 2600 Class diesel multiple units, the two-car set repainted into a retro livery for the event, Nos. 2601/2602, visit the Howth Branch. This was the first time since 1995 that a 2600 Class DMU had traversed the branch, the last time being to replace DART services on the line due to overhead wire works. On May 18, Nos. 2601/2602 pass Sutton with the Dundalk-KilbarrackHowth leg of the ‘Times Arrow’ tour. Stephen White

stock. The final leg was from Cobh to Cork.

The two-car set was used in passenger traffic prior to the charter.

After being released into traffic at Limerick the set was used to form

the 06.55 Limerick-Limerick Junction and 07.31 return on May 14. The next day the set plus Nos. 2615 and 2606 formed the 06.45 LimerickBallybrophy with Nos. 2615 and 2606 detached at Nenagh (the regular

arrangement) for them to form the 07.47 Nenagh-Limerick. Nos. 2601 and 2602 ran to Ballybrophy then formed the 09.00 return to Limerick. The set subsequently ran empty to Cork for railtour duty.

May 16. Belmond liveried GM No. 216 was stabled at York Road on May 18.

coloured steel sculpture entitled ‘Journeylines’ which is composed of vertical curved rods and shapes and is positioned in the open air behind the down platform. The station became the first on NIR to issue tickets using the Flowbird vending machines with the roll out across the network to be completed by June 30. Northern Ireland Infrastructure minister John O’Dowd cut a red ribbon during the official opening ceremony on April 29, hich was also attended by other VIPs. Students studying at the nearby Ulster University have boosted patronage since the transfer of many departments from the Jordanstown campus and a recent independent survey revealed that the station had recorded the largest increase in passenger numbers on the network since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. Demolition of the old station building and footbridge started on May 2, and was completed on May 6.

Extra canopies on both platforms were being installed at the north end of the station in mid-May and landscaping was also in progress.

The nearby Donegal Quay loop on the Dargan Bridge was once again made operational during the period under review.

NORTHERN IRELAND RAILWAYS (NIR)  TRAFFIC AND TRACTION: Services

on the Londonderry line were severely disrupted on May 1, after a bin lorry became wedged under the Millburn Road bridge on the outskirts of Coleraine at around noon. The 11.38 LondonderryBelfast Great Victoria Street was terminated at Castlerock and disruption continued for the remainder of the day with bustitution used between Bellarena/Londonderry and Coleraine.

To facilitate competitors and spectators travelling to the Belfast Marathon on Sunday, May 5, NIR ran early morning specials to Lanyon Place from Londonderry (scheduled departure 05.40), Newry (06.48), Larne Harbour (06.51), and Bangor (07.15) and all served selected intermediate stations. All the trains operated punctually except the Larne line service which arrived over an hour late because of an operational issue.

The sight of a 12-car diesel multiple unit formation on NIR on any type of duty is very rare but on May 5, two sixcar 4000 Class units were noted on an empty transfer movement when set No. 4014 hauled No. 4015 from York Road yard to Adelaide Traincare Depot.

Heavy passenger traffic was recorded at Portrush between May 8 and 11, due to the North West 200

motorcycle road races in the area. Dhu Varren halt which is close to the course was closed at certain times during the above period. An unusual feature in the timetable issued following the closure of GVS has been the use of City Hospital to start and terminate Londonderry line and Larne line services. Each terminating train runs empty to Adelaide Traincare Depot or to Balmoral where the trailing crossover is used to gain the down line to return to City Hospital.

GM No. 8112 transferred a hopper from York Road to Poyntzpass siding on May 12. DMU No. 3008 collided with a fallen tree at Muckamore on the outskirts of Antrim on May 14, while working the 05.50 Coleraine-Lanyon Place. No injuries were reported but damage to the driving car was severe with both cab windscreens smashed and the cab front and offside pillar penetrated. The annual Balmoral agricultural show at the showgrounds between Lisburn and Moira from May 15-18, saw many attendees using the railway and free shuttle bus service to and from Lisburn station.

Selected ‘Enterprise’ trains served Lisburn during the event.

GM No. 8111 hauled six loaded hoppers from Poyntzpass siding to Portadown during the evening of

 NEWS: The Yorkgate station

building, footbridge and lifts in Belfast became redundant at end of service on April 27. A new larger building and wider enclosed footbridge came into use the following morning and with it, a change of name to York Street Station.

The new building was built adjacent to the 1992-built one on the downside but its entrance is at street level whereas the original was positioned, because of necessity, at the top of a man-made embankment.

Yorkgate initially served as a terminus for the Larne line from when it opened in October 1992 until becoming a through station with the opening of the elevated Cross Harbour Link in November 1994. The new £17 million York Street station building has an escalator and lifts, secure cycle storage, cafe, toilets and customer information desk, five ticket barriers and vending machines. Both platforms have been partially resurfaced/ widened, extra canopies erected, and the use of grey stone effect brickwork has helped to soften the concrete dominated environment of the station.

An unusual feature is a large multi

July 2024 RAIL EXPRESS 39

BACHMANN’S NEW CLASS 25/1 MAKES AN APPEARANCE!

No. 243 DIESEL AND ELECTRIC ERA MODELLING

How clean is your track?

New ideas and materials are investigated

5 Newsdesk: HTO and HTV wagons announced in ‘OO’ gauge

Years after the final members of the thousands of 21t hopper wagons were retired, a model is announced.

Heljan reveals its Ruston & Hornsby 48DS model whilst Cavalex shows off samples of its Class 60.

6

Newsdesk:

10

Review: Bachmann ‘Rat’ reviewed

Wallets are further challenged with the continued flow of new models which thankfully shows no sign of letting up. New products now arriving in the shops include a GWR Class 802/1, GWR fish vans and a station full of TT:120 models.

Has the character of the Class 25/1 been captured in the new Bachmann ‘OO’ gauge model? We investigate it in a comprehensive review.

14 Review: TT:120 Mk.3 trailers examined

The matching stock for the new Hornby HST power cars are subjected to our usual test and examine routine.

18

Review: Going bananas

23

Review: ‘IRIS 2’ from Hornby

We take a close look at the ‘Tadpole’ version of Accurascale’s brand-new ‘OO’ gauge Southern Railway banana vans.

A close fit livery application on the Class 101 model has produced a model of departmental power twin DMU No. 901002. How faithful is it to the full-size unit?

28 D&E Files: Mk.3 EMUs that remain to be modelled

Why are we still waiting for models of these signature trains from the BR and Privatisation era? With so many Mk.3 EMU vehicles operated on numerous routes, the lack of mainstream models for many classes remains a mystery.

32 Modelling: Developments in track cleaning

Has IPA had its day for track cleaning? Techniques aimed at reducing the need to clean track are investigated, including different chemicals.

RAIL EXPRESS MODELLER EDITOR Nigel Burkin

REMeditor@mortons.co.uk

NEWSDESK

 A fully finished Maersk reefer with refrigeration equipment modelled in one end.

 Four new liveries are applied to various C-Rail Intermodal containers, with prices ranging from £7.50 for a dry box and £9.50 for a detailed reefer.

New C-Rail container liveries WITH THE DELUGE of new releases from the larger manufacturers arriving in the shops, it would be easy to miss the excellent work being done by smaller producers which add much needed variety to the D&E scene.

C-Rail Intermodal seeks out the more interesting container types and

 Early Freightliner trains can be further enhanced with the Manchester Liners 8ft dry box, an early design which is a relatively recent release by C-Rail Intermodal and available in Freightliner livery.

liveries. It has developed a significant range of containers in both ‘N’ and ‘OO’ gauge covering the history of main line container trains from the introduction of Freightliner through to modern day maritime intermodal operations. At the time of writing, there are around 70 fully finished containers in ‘OO’ gauge and 30 in the ‘N’ gauge range, including container tanks in the range.

The latest additions include the reissue of the 20-foot reefer, detailed with refrigeration equipment at one end. Some of the components are small, moulded details giving the models a good level of relief. Both Maersk and Bell liveries are applied on an overall white finish. Prices remain very reasonable for the current modelling environment with the reefers priced at £9.50 each.

An early container type has been

released in the form of the 8-foot smooth-sided Manchester Liners box which is neatly finished with crisp printing and good assembly which is priced at £8.

Finally, a useful box for both UK and Irish railways is the Bell 20-foot dry box which has accurate colours and an excellent standard of printing which shows no gapping across the side ribs. It is priced at £7.50 which is competitive for a fully finished container.

All of the boxes fitted Bachmann intermodal wagons along with the Hornby KFA without difficulty. They are assembled correctly which was observed when containers were loaded on wagons where they sat square on the container locks. Whilst care is needed to choose the right containers to match your modelling era, by all means mix and match your container trains with the C-Rail Intermodal range. shop.c-rail-intermodal.co.uk/

 The same reefer model is decorated with Bell markings over a white base colour.

GWR IET TRAIN PACK A GWR Class 802/1 IET unit is now available from Hornby as a five-car train pack along with an extension pack to bring the train set up to nine cars. The Class 802/1 is a bimode unit similar to the Class 800 which was released by Hornby as No. 800008 in ‘Trainbow’ livery. More powerful engines and larger fuel tanks are fitted to the Class 802/1 for operation on long distance GWR services over routes without electrification such as the main line to Devon and Cornwall. The new model is priced at £502.49 whilst the four-car extension pack is priced at £264.99. www.hornby.com

TT:120 MK.2F COACHES ARRIVE Hornby continues to deliver its new TT:120 range with the arrival of Mk.2f coaches in two liveries which will go well with the Class 50s which also arrived in May, making it an exciting month for those modellers that have taken up TT:120 modelling. The main types to be offered so far include the BSO, TSO and the featured FO, all of which are priced at £37.99. The models are lined up for review in a future issue of Rail Express Modeller.

HORNBY HOOVERS NOW AVAILABLE

 Class 50s in TT:120 gauge landed at the same time as the Mk.2f stock, with both No. 50007 Sir Edward Elgar and BR Large Logo No. 50040 Leviathan suitable traction for the stock.

M6 RAIL EXPRESS Modeller July 2024

 The Class 50 was released in both analogue and digital sound formats with prices starting at £167.99. The models are lined up for a comprehensive review once testing and analysis of proportions and the finer detail has been completed.

GWR FISH VAN FROM EFE RAIL GWR ‘Bloater’ fish vans are the latest new tooling from EFE Rail with bodyshells modelled with and without the bodyside and end louvres. Diagram S10 was not fitted with bodyside louvres, and this feature is modelled in one of the five models and is finished in BR crimson as No. W2661W. The models are now available in the shops priced at £29.95. www.bachmann.co.uk

NEWSDESK

HOP21 wagons announced in ‘OO’ AT LAST, a signature wagon for the BR era has been revealed by Accurascale, a wagon that will fit neatly in its ‘Powering Britain’ range due to its extensive use in coal traffic.

The first model will cover Diagram 1/146, the standard BR hopper wagon type when first introduced. It was a development of the 1935 LNER riveted design and featured a welded hopper body with five ribs per side and Morton brakes.

Eventually, 16800 wagons were built (some with minor detail differences) making the BR HOP21 to this diagram an important development for a model, given its widespread use throughout the north east and eventually many other parts of the rail network where they could be found working in block trains of industrial coal and as small sets and single wagons within mixed freights with domestic coal.

The rebuilding of Diagram 1/146 wagons produced a welded body with two welded ribs per side and the fitting of vacuum brakes. Uprated wagons with stronger springs were included in the rebuilding programme for aggregate traffic.

When TOPS coding was applied, the unfitted wagons received code HTO whilst vacuum-fitted wagons were coded as HTV. They were progressively withdrawn from domestic coal traffic as HBA (HEA) wagons were introduced and air braking became standard.

Rebuilding as ‘Tope’ engineers wagons saw them used into the early 2000s, whilst recovered underframes were also reused for engineers stock.

Model specification

Accurascale has indicated that the Diagram 1/146 wagon in both five-rib and rebuilt form with vacuum brakes is the start of a series of models based on this design. The first batch includes six packs of three wagons of both the original and rebuilt designs, with the latter consisting of five packs of HTVs in BR bauxite and one in grey.

The models will be built around a diecast metal underframe with the hopper door mechanisms and brake gear built up from individual detailing parts.

Wheels will run in axle bearings for a free-rolling wagon and Accurascale also indicates that scale wheel conversions are being accommodated too.

 A high standard of detail is applied to the new 48DS model, along with good technical features including a NEXT18 decoder interface, working headlamps and a factory fitted speaker. The suggested retail price is £199 making the model an excellent entry point for ‘O’ gauge and ideal for a first or compact layout theme. www.heljan.co.uk

CAVALEX CLASS 60 MAKES PROGRESS

The first decorated samples of the new Cavalex Class 60 arrived in late April, including No. 60049 in Trainload Metals livery. The models were assessed and checked during May for tweaking and small refinements which were communicated back to the factory.

The packs of three individually numbered wagons are priced at £99.98 each with an anticipated delivery in the third quarter of next year. The models have reached the first engineering prototype stage and are being assessed at the time of writing. Having built HOP21 and HTV from kits, the complexity of these seemingly simple wagons cannot be underestimated and it is a much welcomed development. www.accurascale.com

 Accurascale is also producing models of the rebuilt Diagram 1/146 wagon with its two-rib hopper and vacuum brakes.

NO ONE SAW ‘TUG’ COMING FROM ACCURASCALE

HELJAN REVEALS 48DS LIVERIES

 The attractive (cute?) new Heljan ‘O’ gauge Ruston & Hornsby 48DS has reached the livery sample stage. Five models make up the first batch of the model, including Express Dairy blue and Ruston works green. The picture gives a hint of the cab interior detail and colouring.

 The original Diagram 1/146 wagon design with five ribs per side and Morton brake.

IN a surprise announcement, just as this issue was closing for press, Accurascale revealed livery samples of its newest ‘OO’ gauge locomotive which will fit well with its range of modern freight wagons. The first batch of Class 60s comprises of seven locomotives and will be supplemented with special editions and a charity model too.

The seven launch models cover Trainload Freight liveries along with

Loadhaul, Transrail and Mainline Freight. EWS and GB Railfreight are also represented in the range.

Both sound and DCC-ready versions will be produced with prices starting at £169.99. The livery samples have been signed off and a production order sent to the factory which has allowed Accurascale to predict a delivery date in the first quarter of next year.

 Digital sound versions of the model include the usual large capacitor bank for reliable running, along with a large built-in speaker and accurate sound recordings. The top of the model is removable for access to lighting switches and the decoder bay.  The specification for the new Accurascale Class 60 will include comprehensive lighting including the cab and engine room; all-wheel drive and provision for dropin wheel conversions for ‘EM’ and ‘P4’ modellers with wheels available separately.

The success of the Class 56 model has heightened enthusiasm for the new Cavalex Class 60 which is on track for delivery in the first part of next year.

Advanced orders for the large range of models is being taken by Cavalex resellers with prices starting at £194.95 for an analogue version.

The choice of liveries ranging from original Trainload Freight through to Privatisation and special liveries will ensure that no one is left out. www.cavalexmodels.com

July 2024 RAIL EXPRESS Modeller M5

REVIEW Careful examination of the trailers submitted for review shows no discernible bowing of the bodyshells when examined along their length. The roof lines are also straight except a slight dimple where there is a moulding mark visible in the roof.

Coach frames

The fit of the bodies to the underframes is excellent with no gaps or excess frame showing between the frame detail and bottom of the body tumblehome.

Each vehicle was checked against photographic references and apart from some minor details, the applied underframes match the trailer types.

The catering car has the correct format too which is different from the TS, TF and TGS vehicles. Photographs of the trailers in early condition were also examined and the Inter-City 125 trailers are also correct in this area.

Looking at the ends of the underframes, there is a moulded buckeye coupling fitted in the correct position under the end gangways. There are no holes for buffers which indicates that the tooling may not be used for producing locomotive-hauled Mk.3 stock which has differing underframes, and in the case of some vehicles, roof and end panel detail too.

The moulded detail in the underframes is very fine, particularly the ventilation grilles. It is worth noting the tooling finesse applied to the panel fixing detail too.

Bogies, wheels and couplings

Bogies are simple one-piece mouldings but with good detail depth in the side frames. End spacers are modelled which really adds to the appearance of the bogies. Metal wheels are fitted and they are detailed with brake discs on the outside faces. Tests of the trailers showed them to be free-rolling, although a touch of eccentricity in the wheels was noted when rolled over plate glass. Further, the wheel sets

MODEL FEATURES:

 TGS trailer finished in original BR blue and grey livery. Note the correct roof pattern especially at the guard’s van end (left), which has no roof hatch.

 First Class trailer in original BR Inter-City livery. The orientation of the internal seating module is correct, as is the underframe type.

have about 1.5mm of side to side slop which can affect the ride height and how the coaches align with one another when propelled.

Couplings are fitted to close coupling cams which when coupled together, still have a 2.5mm gap between the gangways, which is perhaps a little excessive. The coupling cams are well sprung but with minimal slack in the cam mechanism which means the trailers run well together with no sign of bounce between the vehicles, a malaise which does affect a lot of ‘OO’ gauge coaches and bogie wagons fitted with frame-mounted cams.

Fine details

This review has already touched upon the CDL lights and controls which have been applied as moulded detail rather than printing. This is commendable, along with the crispness of the coach mouldings including window frames and roof. It appears that single interior mouldings have been used for each coach type. Consequently, the GWR TS does not have the correct mix of airline style seat positions and table seating bays. The First Class coach has the correct two-plus one seating with table detail and it has been fitted in the

 One type of catering vehicle has been tooled which has three seating bays. The model is viewed from the counter/corridor side of the vehicle.

correct orientation compared to the underframe.

Livery finish

All of the reviewed trailers are very nicely finished with accurate colours and small printed details. Although not immediately apparent, some of the trailers have no smoking and First Class labels printed on the glazing.

An egg-shell finish is applied to all three liveries applied to the trailers including the GWR ones which is a relief.

The shiny finish applied to Hornby’s ‘OO’ gauge GWR HST stock looks too harsh, whilst the TT:120 models look about right.

Examining the Intercity ‘Swallow’ stock, it was noted that the red and white lining was a touch short of the point where it should end on the corners of doors in some instances, and its position is a fraction of a millimetre too close to the windows.

Despite this, the overall finish and assembly quality of the models is excellent even though their design is a touch on the basic side. They would have benefited from stub axle current collection for interior lighting or at least the use of metal cup bearings in the bogies to ensure that they are as freerolling as possible.

Our closing remarks centre on the accuracy of the models which is excellent, along with good assembly quality and application of the livery.

Hornby has produced a fine range of models to work with its HST power cars and they are well-priced given that they are completely new models and for their quality too.

❒ Produced by Hornby Hobbies Limited www.hornby.com

£ RRP

£37.99

■ Four different trailers available.

■ Flush glazed with interior detail.

■ Close coupling cams and NEM 355 pockets.

■ Underframe step and ETH details fitted.

■ Brake discs fitted to the wheels.

■ CDL fittings correctly modelled.

 The most common trailer type was the Standard Class trailer which is available in sufficient number to build up near scale train lengths and with individual running numbers. InterCity ‘Swallow’ livery has been applied well to these models with good colours and sharp markings.

 GWR green Trailer Standard with CDL fittings. The livery has a satisfying eggshell finish with the diagonal band contrasting well with the base livery.

 The catering vehicle finished in GWR green. It is viewed from the kitchen (galley) side of the model with its blanked out windows. Again, Hornby has correctly tooled the right roof detail and underframe.

 During testing, it was noted that the wheel sets were loose in the bogies with around 1.5mm of sideways movement. It may be a contributing factor in the trailers sitting slightly below the level of the matching power car models. Modellers can correct this with brass cup bearings.

July 2024 RAIL EXPRESS Modeller M15

REVIEW

TT

G GAUGE

1:120scale

1975 to 2019

ERA

 Trailers to suit the power cars reviewed in the last issue of Rail Express Modeller are now available in three liveries, and with era-specific detailing. The most common type was the TS vehicle which is available in a range of different running numbers in all three liveries.

HST trailers for TT:120

Three sets of HST Mk.3 trailers covering three different times in the history of the HST are now available in Hornby’s TT:120 range. How well do they measure up?

First unboxing impressions

AS IS EXPECTED for rolling stock aimed at a market where it may be required to stand up to regular handling, the new TT:120 HST trailers appeared robust and solid when first removed from their boxes. There is a certain amount of integral moulding of detail which might be applied as separate fittings on larger scale models.

The detail that did catch your reviewer’s eye was the Central Door Lock (CDL) detail which was applied to the GWR and InterCity coaches as moulded detail. It is not present on the BR Inter-City 125 trailers which is quite correct.

Another point was offering a Trailer Guard Standard coach in BR blue and grey with Inter-City 125 markings.

Presumably, this is to match the power cars in the same livery which were released in as-built condition without deflectors by Hornby. It is unlikely that TGS trailers were operated by power cars in pre-deflector condition but will be a useful trailer for those adding deflectors to their models.

 One catering trailer type has been tooled which has the three window bay seating area. The underframe module is correct for this type and is different to those fitted to the Standard and First Class trailers.

 Tinted glazing is fitted to all of the vehicles with little edge or prism effect being observed during close examination of the stock.

Another feature was the balance between specific detailing for a given livery against the use of one-size-fitsall mouldings. Hornby has achieved a good result in this area and the first impressions of the new TT:120 Mk.3 trailers are very positive.

Bodyshell mouldings

 Moulded detail has a good level of definition, which is particularly noticeable in the bogie side frames and around the corner slam doors.

 Roof detail has been researched properly with the correct formats apparent on the Trailer Guard Standard (TGS) stock (shown), and catering vehicles.

Note the excellent definition of the guard’s section door, including hinge and hand rail detail.

Three different coach types, with and without CDL features, have been tooled, and all of them capture the character of the Mk.3 trailer well. One tooling covers both First and Standard Class stock. A TGS and a threewindow catering car are also modelled, leaving the four-window catering vehicle to be covered at some point.

The bodyshells of all four trailers are single piece mouldings and are correctly shaped along their length and

M14 RAIL EXPRESS Modeller July 2024

 Frame-mounted close coupling cams are fitted, along with some small details at the coach ends. The wheels are cast and have a coarse surface on the tyres which can make for noisy running.

across the roof profile too. The large corner doors are neatly represented with a good level of relief and the roof ribs have about the right level of bulk to be clearly seen.

Integral moulded detail is used to represent hand rails adjacent to the corner doors and in the roof hatches where they are a little bulky.

 There is a greater reliance on simpler, integral mouldings to give the models the needed durability to withstand the regular handling associated with temporary layouts. The Mk.3 coaches have simple bogie frames and few additional components are used on the trailer bodies.

Separate details include the end gangways which are well modelled along with the flush glazing which is tinted. It is a close fit to the window openings and has little edging visible in any of the window openings.

REVIEW

00

GAUGE G 4mm:1ft 4

19341978

ERA

Accurascale goes bananas over SR vans Is Accurascale the top banana with banana vans? Okay, we will drop the fruit idioms in favour of our usual in-depth examination of what is actually two new wagon models.

Two different types of the Southern Railway banana van are added to the Accurascale range.

The mixed BR ‘Tadpole’ departmental pack of three former banana vans is the subject of this review.

The mixed ‘Tadpole’ pack

WHEN BANANA TRAFFIC declined in the 1960s, the remaining Southern Railway (SR) vans were either withdrawn or transferred to departmental use, gaining the ‘Tadpole’ name and eventually TOPS code RBV. They survived well into the diesel and electric traction era with the last vehicles being withdrawn around 1978.

Two ‘Tadpole’ packs are offered in the range of 12 triple wagon packs which includes SR examples in original SR stone livery and those operated

by British Railways in banana traffic, with company labels applied to bauxite liveried vans.

The mixed pack includes two Diagram 1478 vans numbered as DS50693 and DS50708. The third is to Diagram 1479 and carried the number DS50832. They would suit a D&E layout theme with BR green and BR blue traction, making them suitable departmental wagons for the forthcoming BR green Class 37s.

Bodyshells

Both toolings are crisp and accurate when checked against reference photographs and material. The tooling has the same high level of detail definition we have come to appreciate with the Accurascale range. Planking and external bracing is sharp edged and the bodies have good, moulded hinge, bolt head and door detail. Grab rails are separately applied as are the door catches and rods.

Careful examination of both bodyshell types revealed nothing in the way of moulding flaws, either in the moulded detail or along the roof lines which were correctly profiled on both wagon types.

Underframes

Numerous fine moulded details are built on to a cast metal underframe which brings the model’s weight up to around 60g in both cases. Although the cast floor has planked detail, it

DS50832 is a model of the second type of banana van built to strengthen the original fleet and fitted to the same underframe.

They differ in shape, being modified general covered vans which were being built at the same time, becoming Diagram 1479.

M18 RAIL EXPRESS Modeller July 2024

To meet the demand for increased banana transportation from Southampton Docks in the 1930s, the Southern Railway built 200 dedicated vans fitted with heating to assist with ripening to Diagram 1478. Two vans in the BR departmental ‘Tadpole’ triple pack are modelled to this diagram.

cannot be seen, along with some of the separately applied underframe detail.

Axle guards are separate mouldings and quite thin in section. The springs are separate fittings giving this area of the underframe a particularly fine appearance. The solebars are also well detailed with bolt heads and label clips.

The bespoke wagon numberplates with the correct wagon numbers are a noteworthy detail, as are the finely detailed sprung buffers fitted with metal heads.

MODEL FEATURES: ■ Single piece bodyshells tooled both vans.

■ Common underframe tooling.

■ Differing wheel types.

■ NEM coupling pockets.

■ Separately applied brake fittings.

■ Steam and vacuum brake details supplied in the box.

■ Wagons have unique markings and numbers.

Wheels and couplings

Accurascale has tooled two different bodyshells to fit the 10-foot underframe. They are quite different from each other including the roof profile.

Two types of wheel are to be found in the mixed ‘Tadpole’ pack including split-spoke on the D.1458 wagons and three-hole disc wheels on the single D.1459 model. They are fully concentric and fitted to 26mm long steel axles which are unpainted or blackened. Conversion to closerto-scale gauges will be relatively straightforward except for the need to carefully unclip part of the brake linkage to release the wheelsets.

The clasp brake blocks align with the wheels and are positioned towards the front face. There is sufficient clearance with the wheels allowing the models to run freely.

DIESEL GALA

Swanage: the show must Despite failures and a derailment, the Swanage Railway diesel gala once again proved popular with fans of classic diesel traction. Richard Clinnick presents a selection of images from the event.

THE annual Swanage Railway diesel gala held in May always provides entertainment, and this year’s line-up was no different.

As is the case every year, enthusiasts from across the country (and further afield!) make the pilgrimage for what is one of the ‘mustattend’ events of the calendar.

Resident Nos. D6515 (33012) Lt Jenny Lewis RN and 33111 were joined by visiting locomotives from several main line operators including Colas Railfreight, Harry Needle Railroad Company and GB Railfreight, while preserved locomotives based at the East Lancashire Railway, Eastleigh Works and Severn Valley Railway also saw action throughout the weekend.

HNRC Nos. 20302/311, both released from repaint at Arlington Fleet Services, Eastleigh Works, a few days prior, attended the event as part of a testing process ahead of their return to the main line. Colas sent No. 37219 Jonty Jarvis 8-12-1998 to 18-3-2005,

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while GBRf No. 69002 Bob Tiller CM&EE arrived at the event (and departed it), via a Branch Line Society charter from London Waterloo, which also featured No. D6515 and GBRf No. 73109 Battle of Britain 80th Anniversary. The charter brought the London Transport 4-TC to the gala, and this was used with air-braked locomotives.

Also attending the event were Nos. 50021 Rodney and 50026 Indomitable, although the former failed on two days while the latter derailed on May 11. Class 24 No. D5054 Phil Southern, based at the ELR, made the long trip south by road while, finally, SVRbased main line-certified No. D1015 Western Champion also hauled trains throughout the weekend.

The ‘52’ also took the ‘50s’ to and from Eastleigh Works while the outward run also featured the ‘20s’ from the Hampshire facility. The ‘Western’ took the ‘50s’ home, before continuing to Barrow Hill with the ‘20s’. E

DIESEL GALA

go on!

 Colas Railfreight No. 37219 37219 Jonty Jarvis 8-12-1998 to 18-3-2005 leads the 1239 Corfe Castle-Swanage through Afflington on May 10. It is hauling the London Transport 4-TC, with Harry Needle Railroad Company Nos. 20302/311 on the rear.

Brad Joyce  No. D1015 Western Champion arrives at Corfe Castle on May 10, with the 15.32 River Frome-Swanage. Tom McAtee  For the second year in a row, No. 50021 Rodney attended the Swanage gala, however the ‘50’ failed on both May 10 and 11. On May 10, the large logo ‘50’ hauls the 1N01 09.39 Norden-Swanage through Corfe Common. Terry Eyres  GB Railfreight Class 69s are proving regular (and popular) visitors to heritage railway diesel events. GBRf No. 69007 Richard Trevithick was planned to attend the Swanage event, however it failed prior to hauling the Branch Line Society charter to the event and was replaced by No. 69002 Bob Tiller CM&EE. On May 10, the large logo ‘69’ leaves Harmans Cross with the 11.39 SwanageCorfe Castle. Tom McAtee

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DIESEL GALA

Stunning success for Severn Valley Railway Richard Clinnick presents a selection of images from the recent Severn Valley Railway diesel gala.

MORE than 5000 visitors attended the Severn Valley Railway during its diesel gala, held on May 16-19.

People flocked to see the wide array of traction on offer, with resident Nos. D1015 Western Champion, D1062 Western Courier, D9551, 20048, 33108, 40106 Atlantic Conveyor, 43301/303, 43468/480, 50007 Hercules and 50035 Ark Royal joined by Nos. 20007, 20142 Sir John Betjeman, 20189, 20205, 37409 Loch Awe, 46045, 59206, 69009 Western Consort, 70005 and 73119 Paul Taylor.

The next diesel event is planned to be the ‘Autumn Diesel Bash’, which will take place between October 3 and 6 and “promises an almighty celebration of heritage locomotives but with the possibility of one or two surprises.” E

 As well as the visiting locomotives, resident traction also saw action during the gala. On May 16, No. 50035 Ark Royal departs Kidderminster hauling the 09.15 to Bridgnorth. Brad Joyce

 Freightliner No. 70005 trails the 08.55 from Highley into Kidderminster on May 19, with Locomotive Services No. 37409 Loch Awe leading. No. D1015 Western Champion waits to leave with the 10.00 to Bridgnorth. Phil Chilton

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DIESEL GALA  Three former CrossCountry Mk.3s owned by Romic, currently stored at the Severn Valley Railway, and two ex-XC High Speed Train power cars leased by Colas Railfreight, Nos. 43301/303, were used at the diesel gala. A further pair of RailAdventure ‘43s’. Nos. 43468/480, also saw action at the event too. On May 19, Nos. 43301/303 arrived at Bewdley with the 10.22 from Highley.

Andy Flowers  With RailAdventure Nos. 43468/480 leading, Locomotive Services No. 37409 Loch Awe trails the 12.00 Kidderminster-Bewdley shuttle through Foley Park on May 19.

LS also supplied a rake of airbraked stock for the event (Nos. 5366, 5912/991, 9479, 13227), and it’s this stock which the ‘43s’ are hauling. Paul Waring  A popular pairing was that of ‘Dutch’ livery No. 33108 and No. 73119 Paul Taylor. The ‘33/1’ is based at the Severn Valley Railway while the ‘73/1’ was supplied by GB Railfreight.

On May 19, the pair stand at Bewdley with the 15.15 Bridgnorth-Kidderminster.

Tom McAtee

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REVIEWS Class 50s From Heydays to Maydays Published by The Fifty Fund www.fiftyfund-alliance.co.uk Price: £29.95

THE first of two planned Class 50 books by the co-founder of the Fifty Fund, Dave Keogh, was published last year, titled Fifty Memories. After buying a copy I eagerly read it from cover to cover and, while it was essentially a photographic book, the captions were far more than simple photo captions, being used to tell a wider story in a highly entertaining tone. It’s a book I’ve found myself returning to several times since.

Well, the second book has now been published and Class 50s – From Heydays to Maydays has certainly been worth the wait, and is sub-titled ‘A basher’s account of how a fleet of modern locos were sidelined by British Rail as it prepared for Privatisation’. And he has a point, for many of the Class 50s barely managed two decades of

operation before being withdrawn.

This book features the author’s extensive Class 50 photographic collection, and any concerns that he would have used all the best images in the first volume are quickly dispelled when you start poring over the pages, as this book is just as good – if not better – than the first one.

With the author being a highly accomplished photographer, the book is lavishly illustrated over its 208 pages and 14 chapters with a wide range of excellent images depicting the Class 50s in action, as well as depot shots and some photographs of the sidelined locomotives awaiting their fate.

It’s not a secret that I have rather a soft spot for the Class 50s, so I realise that I am essentially the target audience and was therefore likely to enjoy it, but

it is the style of the author's writing and his entertaining and informative text that provides plenty of interest above and beyond the photography, even if you only have a moderate passing interest in the Class 50s.

Certainly no ‘difficult second album’ situation with this softback A4 portrait-format book, which is published by the Fifty Fund and priced at a very reasonable £29.95, with all profits generated from sales going towards the ongoing preservation of the locomotives managed by the Fifty Fund and Class 50 Alliance. While there is certainly no shortage of books for the Class 50 enthusiast, this book is another must-buy publication to be added to your collection and I have no hesitation in recommending it to be added to your bookshelves. (AMC)

Canton Depot Published by Amberley Publishing www.amberley-books.com Price: £15.99 ISBN: 978-1-39810-384-9

THIS is a photographic tribute to the locomotives maintained and operated from Canton Traction Maintenance Depot in Cardiff, which opened almost 60 years ago and played host to many locomotives in the 40 years between its opening in 1964 and closure by English Welsh & Scottish Railways in May 2004.

Retired railway engineer Martin Bray had a close working association with the depot and all of the photographs featured come from his extensive collection. Featuring a wide variety of

images of locomotives from Classes 08, ‘09’, ‘20’, ‘24’, ‘25’, ‘26’, ‘31’, ‘33’, ‘37’, ‘40’, ‘47’, ‘50’, ‘56’, ‘57’, ‘58’, ‘60’, ‘66’ and ‘67’, this is a comprehensive look back at some of those locomotives that were so well associated with Canton throughout its operating period, with the most dominant designs featured within the pages being the Class 08s, ‘37s’, ‘56s’ and ‘60s’.

The book finishes with a couple of images from 2003 when EWS’ 37422 was named Cardiff Canton in tribute

to its namesake depot.

This is an excellent collection of images depicting many of the locomotives that have been associated with Canton over the years. The quality of the images is very good and reproduction is to a high standard.

Some captions are repetitive in terms of details but overall there is little else to fault with this volume, which is priced at Amberley’s standard photo album retail price of £15.99.

Recommended. (RC)

Givin’ it the Beanz Published by: Rail-Fan Video Productions railfanvideoproductions.com Price: £19.95 Email: railfanvideoproductions212@gmail.com

GIVIN’ it the Beanz is a new DVD release from Rail-Fan Video Productions, featuring a wide variety of locomotives in use both on freight and passenger charter workings in the UK, along with some heritage railway footage for good measure.

There is a wide variety of traction types featured, providing something for everyone, with the production company firmly aiming this title at those enthusiasts who enjoy their ‘thrash’ when locomotives are working hard.

There is no commentary to distract from the sounds of the locomotives at work, but captions are provided detailing the locomotives featured, along with the relevant working and date they were captured on film.

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Almost by way of demonstrating the ever-changing nature of the railway, despite most of the footage having been filmed over the past five or so years, there are still many sights featured within it which have since disappeared, such as Direct Rail Services Class 20s and ‘37s’ in action, along with DB Cargo UK Class 60s.

The quality of the footage is very good and the sound is also well captured, giving the viewer a clear audible and visual spectacle, as if they were standing alongside the cameraman. I have seen

many railway DVDs, some of which have had ‘debateable’ quality, but this certainly isn’t one of those and in terms of setting out to provide film of locomotives at work both on the national network and in preservation, it achieves its aims admirably.

Priced at £19.95 and running for 90 minutes, this DVD is available directly from Rail-Fan Video Productions. If you like the sight and sound of locomotives at work in the UK, then Givin’ it the Beanz is a DVD that you will probably enjoy. (AMC)

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