Rail Express magazine - February 2020

THE GAS TURBINE Three HNRC Class 25s to be certified STORY Essential reading for today’s rail enthusiast MAIN LINE ‘RATS’

Full history of the alternative to diesels

‘PACERS’ INTO 2020!

■ HORNBY 100

Printed in the UK

MODELLING SECTION

■ LAYOUT DESIGN

FAREWELL

■ IN-DEPTH REVIEWS

LNER special marks end in style

New releases for centenary Control panel considerations Early EMU and 48DS shunter

EAST COAST HSTs No. 285

RAIL EXPRESS No. 285 FEBRUARY 2020 £4.50

Full list of all non-compliant stock as PRM deadline passes

CONTENTS

Issue No. 285 February 2020

BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE: As part of its four-day farewell to the East Coast HST fleet, LNER released this shot from the cab of power car No. 43312 as it headed north across the Forth Bridge from Edinburgh to Aberdeen on December 18. For a full round-up, see pages 14-19. LNER

FEATURES

NEWS

14

EAST COAST HST FAREWELL

8

20

GAS GUZZLERS

26

THE CLASS 314 STORY

28

0-60: CLASS 802/2

31

DERBY TRAINMAN: ‘47S’ R US

How LNER saw the end of its HST fleet in style.

Full story of the experimental turbine locos.

Looking back on their 40 years of service.

How do TPE’s bi-modes rate?

Fun and games with Brush Type 4s.

REGULARS 24

SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS

32

TIME TRAVELLER SPECIAL

33

LETTERS & REVIEWS

Feedback and modern traction books.

MODELLING

2020 is Hornby’s centenary year, and to mark the occasion it has announced a bumper crop of new releases across locomotives, carriages and wagons – we round up the full modern era list, which includes a new APT and Class 91. Our in-depth reviews include a prewar Southern EMU, the diminutive 48DS Ruston shunters, and ‘Rawie’ buffer stops.

ScotRail franchise to end three years early; Harry Needle Class 25s to make main line return; Ex-Sleeper day coach in use with Network Rail; Crewe and Horwich Works demolished; The North and Midlands hope for transport boost following general election result; GWR starts Cardiff electric service; New operator wants to run shorter freights; TfW Mk.4s prepared for service.

73

LU WORLD

75

RAILTOURS

76

PRESERVATION

80

POWER BY THE HOUR

82

POWERSCENE

90

UNITS

93

SHUNTERS & INDUSTRIALS

94

COACHES

95

WAGONS

96

IRISH ANGLE

The best ways to get Rail Express every month.

The end of Woodhead passengers.

HEADLINE NEWS

FROM ONLY

£21.50 NEVER MISS AN ISSUE...

SUBSCRIBE TODAY – PAGE 24

Derogation for 1973 Stock.

Repairs for railtour ‘Deltic’.

Two Class 142s for Chasewater, one for NRM, and Class 144 for Ruddington; Second HST designated for National Collection; Crewe Group purchases ex-Scottish Mk.3s.

DC Rail unveils third Class 60 in blue.

Notable workings, Name Game, and Spectrum.

Ex-Anglia units become Class 156/9.

Events organiser PLEG winds down.

More rebuilt Mk.3s emerge.

WH David to build new Ecofrets.

GMs and DMU work ‘Santa Specials’.

Northern’s No. 142044 (pictured at Meadowhall on November 23, 2017) was scrapped in December 2019, but many ‘Pacers’ and other types of unit around the country have needed special permission from the Department for Transport to continue running in 2020. See page 13 for the full list.

Editor’s Comment PRINT & DISTRIBUTION

Newstrade & distribution Marketforce UK Ltd, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU. 0203 787 9001 Printed by William Gibbons and Sons, Wolverhampton Published Third Friday of every month This issue January 17, 2020 Next issue February 21, 2020 Advertising deadline February 7, 2020 ISSN No 1362 234X

Paul Bickerdyke Rail Express Editor

© 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.

Thanks for the memories

T

HE management and staff at LNER have to be congratulated for organising an outstanding farewell to HST operations on the East Coast route in December, both on the last day of timetabled services and the four-day farewell tour the week after.

There was certainly no obligation to do any of it, certainly not for our sake, and yet they did anyway. You could just tell there was a genuine fondness amongst the crew and other staff for these iconic machines that have plied their way north from King’s Cross for more than four decades.

The tour set was superbly turned out in original 1970s condition, at considerable expense, just for those four days – again a commendable thing to do. Yes the company gained a great deal of publicity and press around the country, giving them a platform to talk about its new ‘Azuma’ services, but the main reason was to give a fitting send-off, to thank rail staff for their hard work and pride in their jobs, and to give the public – and enthusiasts – something to remember.

While HSTs have now gone from the

Rail Express is pleased to consider contributions for publication

Western and Eastern main lines, the interesting thing is that – with careful planning – it is still possible to travel all the way from Penzance to Inverness by HST using GWR, CrossCountry and ScotRail.

This is proof, if proof were needed, of the enduring usefulness of this design classic.

‘RAT’ ATTACK To the many Type 2 fans out there, and I’ll admit to being one of them, there is very welcome news that Harry Needle is planning to return a pair of Class 25s to the main line. These Sulzer-powered machines have long been a gaping hole in the list of classes that have returned since British Rail days – so well done Harry, we look forward to seeing and hearing these gutsy machines spluttering their way around the country again soon!

Paul Bickerdyke

Want to know when your next edition of Rail Express is on the shelves?

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 or via CD or DVD to the editorial address.

IMPORTANT: Images should be ex-camera with no Photoshop manipulation.

ADVERTISING

Group advertising manager Sue Keily skeily@mortons.co.uk Advertising Fiona Leak Tel: 01507 529573 Email: fleak@mortons.co.uk Publishing director Dan Savage Publisher Tim Hartley Production editor Sarah Wilkinson Designers Tracey Markham, Tim Pipes Reprographics Jonathan Schofield Subscription manager Paul Deacon Circulation manager Steve O’Hara

EDITORIAL

Editor Paul Bickerdyke Tel: 01507 529540 Email: RailExpressEditor@mortons.co.uk Editorial address Rail Express Magazine, Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ

Scan this QR code for a reminder.

Having trouble finding a copy of this magazine?

Why not just ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy each month

Independent publisher since 1885

Like us on facebook facebook.com/RailExpressMag Follow us on twitter@railexpress Visit our website railexpress.co.uk

Nigel Burkin Editor Rail Express Modeller

Alistair Grieve Shunters

David Russell

Preservation Units Coaches

Gareth Bayer Power by the hour Wagons

David Rapson Powerscene

William Watson Irish Angle (with Alan McFerran)

Christopher Westcott LU World (with Piers Connor)

‘Industry Witness’ News Writer

HST TOUR GOES FORTH: A fantastic shot of specially-repainted HST

power cars Nos. 43312 and 43206 (carrying their original identities of E43112 and W43006 respectively) and the seven matching Mk.3s forming LNER’s ‘Let’s Go Round Again’ tour, the four-day marathon send-off to mark the end of regular East Coast Main Line HST operations. This was day one on December 18 as the tour headed north from Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Inverness at Burntisland (Fife), with the Forth rail and road bridges in the background.

See pages 14-19 for more on the end of East Coast HSTs. Finbarr O’Neill

FLEET SURVEY

The Class 314 story For over 40 years, the ‘314s’ were an everyday sight on the Strathclyde network. David Russell takes a look back at the history of this small fleet, the last examples of which were withdrawn in December.

A

N expansion of the rail network in Glasgow in 1979 brought with it a need for additional rolling stock. A fleet of over 100 Class 303 and 311 units already operated on the Strathclyde network, but there were insufficient spare sets available to cover the new services.

The answer to the EMU shortage in Scotland was a fleet of 16 three-car units based on the ‘PEP’ stock that had been developed by British Rail in the early 1970s. These suburban trains had been constructed at York Works between 1970 and 1972 and were trialled in service from 1973. They

formed the basis for several fleets of new stock: Classes 313, 314, 315, 507 and 508.

The Class 314s were effectively an AC-only version of the dualvoltage Class 313s, which had been constructed for use on Great Northern suburban services out of King’s Cross and Moorgate in 1976-77.

Other differences included a thyristor control system and a slightly lower seating capacity to allow more standing space around the doors.

Additionally, problems with the power operated sliding doors on the ‘313s’ saw the passenger controls, which had taken the form of handles to pull, discontinued. Instead, the traincrew released and opened/closed all the doors at each stop, although one unfortunate consequence of this was it meant all doors were opened at every station, even in cold weather when there was nobody to board or alight.

The new units for Glasgow were the third variation of production ‘PEP’ stock to be built at BREL’s York Works. After The fleet was repainted in 1983/84 into Strathclyde PTE’s orange and black colour scheme, which the units wore until the late 1990s/early 2000s. No. 314213 is pictured at Helensburgh Central on April 4, 1988. DC Collection

26 RAIL EXPRESS February 2020

 Class 314s entered passenger service from October 1979 in BR blue/grey livery with ‘Trans-Clyde’ branding, as worn by No. 314209 at Motherwell on April 9, 1981. Bruce Galloway

the construction of the aforementioned ‘313s’ in 1976-77, a batch of third-rail DC-only units were ordered for use in Merseyside, these being the Class 507s. The Class 314 build of 16 units was slotted in among the production of the Merseyrail sets, which began entering service in November 1978 and were completed a year or so later.

The delivery of Nos. 314201-216 from BREL York took place between April and July 1979, with one set, No. 314205, spending a short period on display outside the National Railway Museum before it moved north.

Externally, the units carried blue/grey livery with ‘Trans-Clyde’ branding.

INTO SERVICE

The first two sets to enter service were Nos. 314204/208 on October 26, 1979. The Argyle line reopened less than two weeks later when further sets entered service. This cross-Glasgow line had closed in 1964 and, in addition to the reopening of Glasgow Central Low Level, Dalmarnock, Bridgeton and Anderston, two new stations were opened at Argyle Street and Finnieston.

The latter had been named Stobcross prior to closure in 1959 and became Exhibition Centre in 1986 in recognition of its location adjacent to Scotland’s largest exhibition facility.

POWERSCENE

David Rapson

Powerscene Our authoritative class-by-class review of newsworthy locomotive workings.

CLASS 20

‘POLAR Express’ specials between Birmingham Moor Street and Tyseley stations throughout December kept privately-owned English Electric Type 1s Nos. 20142 and 20189 (both in the MOLO pool) in regular employment along with Stanier ‘Black 5’ No. 45305. Generally operating four round trips between Thursday and Sunday (inclusive) in the weeks leading up to Christmas, the Class 20s shared duties with the blue-liveried No. 20189 earlier in the month and No. 20142 (LT red) thereafter.

82 RAIL EXPRESS February 2020

Since the cessation of RHTT duties, Nos. 20302/3/5, 20311/4 have been put to store at York, while the five XHSS examples (Nos. 20301/4/8/9/12) remain at Barrow Hill.

GBEE Type 1s Nos. 20096+20107 last worked a train in October, while Nos. 20901+20905 ceased working on the London Underground ’S’ stock transfers back in June.

Nevertheless, the other pairing of Nos. 20118+20132 spent Christmas at Leicester after handling the 6Z20/13.28 Westbury-West Ealing on

December 4, returning the three HOBC wagons they had taken to Wiltshire in mid-November.

CLASS 31

HAVING returned to main line use earlier in 2019, No. 31128 has been relatively active for the past six months. A further outing on December 3 found the blue-liveried Type 2 in charge of the 5Z31/09.50 Burton Wetmore-Eastleigh Arlington with ‘generator’ coach No. 6310, a vehicle with its own interesting

history. Built by Pressed Steel in August 1958 as gangwayed brake (BG) No. M81448, it was converted in 1973 to a generator van for use with HST coaches and renumbered No. ADB975325, before a further conversion to work with locomotivehauled coaching stock when it became No. 6310. No. 31128 ran light engine to Cardiff on December 18, returning to the East Midlands with a pair of Mk.2 coaches, Nos. 6054 and 9507, as the 15.44 Cardiff Canton-Burton Wetmore.

ENJOYED THIS PREVIEW? THE BEST ACTION IN TRIALS AND MOTOCROSS

DIRTb bike ke

VELO MAC MA S SPECIAL PECIAL NORTON RT RTON INTER AJS SCEPTRE SCEP E SPORTS! SCEPTR SPORTS POR !

PORTS

CLASSIC

#48

ISSUE

Forty-eight Autumn 2018

OCTOBER 2018

No. 330 October 2018 £4.30 UK Off-sale date 31/10/2018

MOTO MEMORIES // TECH TALK // MONTESA COTA 200 // BULTACO MATADOR

3.60

Running, Riding & Rebuilding Running, Rebuilding Real RealClassi RealC Classic C lassi Motorcycles

BOXER CKS TRIC

HOW THE LEGEEND BEGAN

SUPERMAC’S TRIUMPH DRAYTON

PRINTED IN THE UK

PLUS MOTO MEMORIES TECH TALK MONTESA COTA 200 BULTACO MATADOR AN HOUR WITH: GERRIT WOLSINK

£3.60 US$9.99 C$10.99 Aus$8.50 NZ$9.99 PRINTED IN THE UK

HOME, JAMES!

UNIVERSITY GRADUATE

#48

001 Cover_OCT.indd 1

AT THE CASTLE

DRUMLANRIG 2018 D 20

WINNER

SUPER PROFILE: ARIEL’S HT3

GREEVES ESSEX TWIN BUYING GUIDE // STRIP YOUR TWOSTROKE // BSA B31 RESTORATION // MALLE MILE // CAFE RACER CUP // SHETLAND CLASSIC // THE CLASSIC TT // MIKE HAILWOOD REPLICA

CLASSICS

65 PRE65 PRE

PRINTED IN THE UK

R 2018 ISSUE 174 OCTOBER

N48 2018 US$15.99 Aus$14.99 NZ$18.99 UK£5.50 UK Off-sale date 15/11/18

BUY  SELL  RIDE  RESTORE

13/09/2018 10:34:50

001 CDB Cover_048.indd 1

02/08/2018 14:53:55

001 Cover_174.indd 1

03/09/2018 10:18:26

•SINGLE ISSUES •SUBSCRIPTIONS

CLICK HERE

www.classicmagazines.co.uk

ENDOFPREVI EW

I fy oul i k ewhaty ou’ v e r eads of ar ,whynot s ubs c r i be,ort r ya s i ngl ei s s uef r om:

www. c l as s i c magaz i nes . c o. uk