Rail Express - June 2019 - Preview

SOUTHERN

LEGACY

Examining BR’s third-rail EMU fleet

CEMENT WAGON FLEET FOCUS Detailing the PCA and PCV types

Essential reading for today’s rail enthusiast

CORNISH

RAIL EXPRESS No. 277 JUNE 2019 £4.40

CREAM

LONG ROCK OPEN DAY SEES NEW LOOK FOR PET ‘GRONK’

MODELLING SECTION

■ DAPOL ‘WESTERN’ Special edition NRM loco

‘ED’ joins Locomotive Services fleet

■ RHTT IN FOCUS

Hattons’ new model reviewed

■ ‘TRACTOR’ BOGIES Improving Bachmann’s ‘37’

CONTENTS

Issue No. 277 June 2019

The welcome return of a diesel gala to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway over the early May Bank Holiday resulted in a number of unusual combinations amongst the visiting locos, which included Nos. 31163, 50007, 50031, 88009 plus this lash-up of No. 47727, prototype HST No. 41001 and home fleet ‘Rat’ No. 25059 – pictured at Mytholmes Viaduct on May 6. Peter Laithwaite

FEATURES

NEWS

16

SOUTHERN LEGACY

6

22

‘POWDERJETS’ IN PROFILE

24

28

We conclude our look at BR’s first generation units with a focus on its third-rail fleet.

Detailing the PCA fleet of cement wagons.

THE ‘SILVER QUEENS’

Continuing the cement wagon theme with a look at the PCV fleet.

73

0-60: CLASS 379

Timing ‘Electrostars’ on the Stansted line.

74

REGULARS 31 32 33 80

TIME TRAVELLER

June headlines from the past five decades.

76

REVIEWS

A selection of modern traction books.

EXPRESS MAILBAG

Elusive locos; Shirebrook VOP; Bruton station.

MODELLING

There’s a focus on RHTT and cement wagons this month, as Hattons and Accurascale release new ‘OO’ gauge models that are reviewed in depth. We also have part one of a project to rebuild a Bachmann Class 37’s bogies, while there’s news of a special edition model of the NRM’s ‘Western’ No. D1023.

Full round-up from Long Rock open day; Abellio takes over East Midlands; Final GWR HSTs; LSL acquires electro-diesels; Two-year delay to full Crossrail start; DC ‘Grids’ power stone traffic; Extension for Southeastern; Inverness gains wheel lathe; ‘Leg up’ for Bletchley flyover; First ‘D-Train’ enters service; Lakeside diesels return.

LU WORLD

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Return of No. 12 Sarah Siddons imminent.

RAILTOURS

Farewell trip planned to Cottam Power Station.

PRESERVATION

‘Slugs’ move to Battlefield Line; NER Autocar in action; Great Central ‘101’ back in traffic; Garw Valley holds open day; HNRC ‘20’ and ‘47’ for East Lancs summer gala.

79

POWER BY THE HOUR

82

POWERSCENE

90

UNITS

93

SHUNTERS

94

COACHES

95

WAGONS

96

IRISH ANGLE

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HEADLINE NEWS

First bodyshell for the Class 56 to 69 conversion programme goes for painting.

Notable workings, Name Game, and Spectrum.

Eversholt begins Class 313 disposals.

Clayton Bo-Bo for Tata.

More HST stock goes into store.

Snowploughs head for new homes.

New transport hub for Belfast.

One highlight of GWR’s successful open day at Long Rock, Penzance, on April 13 was the unveiling of ‘pet’ shunter No. 08645 in the striking colours of the Cornish flag and named St Piran after the county’s patron saint.

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 May 17, 2019 Next issue June 21, 2019 Advertising deadline June 7, 2019 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.

Long Rock: long way, but worth it

I

MUST begin this month with thanks to Great Western Railway, Network Rail, GBRf and everyone else involved with staging the open day at Long Rock depot, Penzance, in mid-April.

Travelling down by train, and taking the opportunity to catch as many of GWR’s last remaining full-length HST diagrams as possible before they end in May (but more of that next month), I was reminded just how far away Penzance can feel – not least because the near 80 miles from Plymouth still take around two hours to cover by rail.

But that is not meant to be a negative in any way. It is a fantastic journey, one well worth making, travelling through stunning scenery and with much to savour from a rail enthusiast’s point of view – such as the substantial engineering, the remaining sections of traditional lower-quadrant semaphore signalling, and the ‘true’ branchline stations where one or two-car DMUs wait to connect with main line arrivals.

For the event itself, although the recently-

enlarged Long Rock depot is still fairly compact, it offered the rare chance to see behind the scenes at this most westerly of facilities on Britain’s main line network, and included the claimed first visit of a Class 73 electro-diesel to the town, while the first ‘88’ this far west passed by on railtour duties (see pages 12, 13 and 74 for more details). So it was pleasing to see so many make the journey, not least on the overnight sleeper from London, which was rammed with enthusiasts.

All in all it was a fitting tribute to the depot – which has taken on more importance now as the home of the ‘Night Riviera’ fleet – as well as marking the end of top-link HST duties on GWR and the full transition to IETs. Paul Bickerdyke

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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

HEADLINE NEWS

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Abellio takes over East Midlands

Ex-LNER HSTs will be used in the short term, with ‘180s’, ‘360s’ and new stock to follow.

By ‘Industry Witness’ A NEW East Midlands franchise has been awarded to Abellio after the two other bidders Stagecoach and Arriva were disqualified as they refused to meet Government proposals for reducing a deficit of up to £6 billion in the Railway Pension Scheme. The eightyear contract will start on August 18.

The issues about dealing with the pension fund deficit are disputed

by Stagecoach, which has also been disqualified from bidding for the West Coast Partnership and South Eastern franchises. This is a decision that will result in the elimination of all Virgin rail operations in the UK given their partnership with Stagecoach for the West Coast competition. The choice for WCP is now between a consortium of MTR (Hong Kong) and the Spanish operator RENFE, or First Group and its partner the Italian operator Trenitalia.

The successful bidder is expected to be announced in June.

FIVE UP FOR ABELLIO

Abellio, which is the UK arm of the Dutch national operator NS, now holds the largest number of franchises with five: East Midlands, Merseyrail (2003, in partnership with Serco), Scotrail (2015), Greater Anglia (2016, in partnership with Mitsui) and West Midlands Trains

(2017, in partnership with the East Japan Railway and Mitsui).

The new franchise, branded as the East Midlands Railway, will see a number of route changes as the current Norwich to Liverpool service is to be split in two at Nottingham. This is a result of many more passengers travelling between Nottingham and Liverpool than between Nottingham and Norwich. It is expected that the Liverpool trains will transfer to TransPennine Express in 2021, with the remaining East Midlands route between Norwich and Nottingham extended to Derby. Current trains between Nottingham, Derby, and Crewe will be enhanced, with most services operated over the complete route with more capacity as the current single-car Class 153 units will be replaced.

Services from Nottingham will also be extended to provide an hourly service to Grimsby, with some extensions to Cleethorpes, and Sunday services will be enhanced between Lincoln and Grimsby. The East Midlands Railway will also take over the Bartonon-Humber to Cleethorpes route from the Northern franchise.

On the Joint Line between Peterborough and Doncaster via Lincoln, the timetable will become hourly from 2021, with Sunday trains introduced between Lincoln and Doncaster. With other changes this will

completely eliminate the use of singlecar Class 153s from the East Midlands fleet, but details are not yet known about the replacements.

FLEET CHANGES

There will be rolling stock investment in Midland Main Line services. The continued operation of HSTs has been an issue since planned electrification to Nottingham and Sheffield was cancelled, as the vehicles do not comply with accessibility regulations due to start in January 2020 and also discharge toilet effluent direct to the track. So HSTs are to be replaced by bi-mode rolling stock by April 2022 (supplier to be decided), but the Department for Transport has said that their use will be allowed until the end of 2020 with additional help provided for passengers travelling with reduced mobility.

It is apparently an option to displace the existing EMT vehicles in favour of LNER East Coast sets made available by the introduction of ‘Azuma’ IETs from May. The LNER stock is considered to be in better overall condition, plus the power cars have MTU 2250hp engines whereas EMT ones have Paxman VP185s rated at 2100hp.

A number of interim arrangements are also planned to enhance the available rolling stock, which include

the use of 125mph five-car Class 180s displaced by Hull Trains later in 2019 and an allocation of Class 360/1 EMUs from Greater Anglia during 2020.

The latter will be used on the newlyelectrified route to Corby, allowing Class 222 diesel units to be cascaded for alternative use. Authorisation has also been given to extend the overhead wiring to Market Harborough allowing an extension of electrified services.

The new bi-mode fleet from 2022 will allow an enhancement of the service between Lincoln and St Pancras, with two trains per hour operating on the route. The timetable changes will mean an overall increase of 80% in the seats provided during the morning peak for services arriving at St Pancras, Nottingham, and Lincoln.

As a contribution to the aim of creating carbonless UK rail operations by 2040, there is a commitment to take part in trials of rolling stock equipped with hydrogen cells, which allow a significant increase in the range and capability of battery powered trains.

There will also be a range of station improvements, where a £16.8 million fund will be available for improvements that include 916 extra car parking and 1,050 additional cycle spaces. Four new Community Rail projects will be funded, backed by an additional £1.5 million scheme to improve facilities at stations.

KNARESBOROUGH ‘AZUMA’: LNER bi-mode No. 800111 was involved in gauging runs between York and Harrogate via Knaresborough on April 28, the outward 5Q41/10.59 York to Harrogate pictured on the single track section at Poppleton. Phil Precious FINAL GWR HSTS: May 18, the last day of the winter timetable, is expected to

bring down the curtain on GWR’s use of full-length HSTs, with the final departures from Paddington being the 18.03 to Plymouth, 18.15 to Cheltenham Spa, 18.22 to Hereford and 18.30 to Taunton (extended to Exeter St Davids) – although a farewell special is also due to run on June 1. The final four departures are expected to feature celebrity power cars Nos. 43002 (blue/yellow livery), 43093 Old Oak Common, 43172 Harry Patch, and 43185 (InterCity livery). As the rundown continued, Nos. 43194/43162 made a surprise visit to Carmarthen on April 28, the return 1L90/17.23 to Paddington pictured passing Lonlas, near Swansea. John Headon

6 RAIL EXPRESS June 2019

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LSL ACQUIRES ELECTRO-DIESELS: Locomotive Services’ modern traction fleet has expanded again with the addition of ‘EDs’ Nos. 73001 and 73002, which were the first of the class to be built entering service in early 1962 as Nos. E6001/6002 respectively. No. 73001 was at the Dean Forest Railway, while No. 73002 is at Eastleigh Works. They join a long list of locos leaving preservation for reuse on the main line, although No. 73002 is unlikely to ever run again as it has long been a spares donor to classmates Nos. 73003/005/006 and 101. No. 73001 is pictured after arriving by road at LSL’s base at Crewe Diesel Depot on May 2. Jordan Kearney

Two-year delay to full Crossrail start

Construction and technical delays could push the opening further back to 2021.

By ‘Industry Witness’ CROSSRAIL has announced that the central section using the new tunnels underneath London will now open between October 2020 and March 2021, some two years after the original plan of December 2018.

The issues are delays in building the stations as well as difficulties interfacing the different signalling systems on the route. Somewhat amazingly at this stage, Crossrail has revealed it still has to create and

test software that will integrate the train operating system with the three different signalling systems. When trains do start running, they are unlikely to be able to call at Bond Street station while work there is finished off.

Each Elizabeth line station has more than 50km of communications cabling, 200 CCTV cameras, 66 information displays, 200 radio antennas, 750 loudspeakers and 50 help points.

All this technology needs to be fully installed, tested and integrated.

Dynamic testing of trains in the

tunnels is now underway, with intensive work to increase the reliability of the train software to enable trains to successfully operate across the three signalling systems on the Elizabeth line.

Trains have been operating at the line speed of 62mph/100kph in the central section using the new automatic signalling system, and multi-train testing will soon get underway.

The delay means severe financial consequences for Transport for London.

The original budget was £14.8 billion, but the project is now expected to cost

at least £17.6 billion and, in addition, the delay to running trains has meant that it is expected there will be a loss of £1 billion in ticket sales that would otherwise have been made.

The operator MTR Crossrail has made the point that it should have been involved earlier in the project to ensure an effective delivery, and that the delay justifies an extension to its contract currently due to end in 2023 with the option of a two-year extension.

This extension, however, has been declined by TfL.

DC ‘Grids’ power stone traffic REACTIVATED in February 2019 after five-and-a-half years out of use at Washwood Heath and Leicester while undergoing a top-end engine overhaul and attention to other issues, No. 56091 has now received its long-promised repaint out of debranded Fertis livery.

The ‘Grid’ was released after its month-long repaint into DC Rail Freight dark grey at Willesden on April 25. It then worked a 0Z65 light engine move to Leicester, before partnering up with No. 56103 for a 0Z56 test run to Crewe and back to following day.

The loco’s first revenue-earning run in the new look was three days later

on the 29th, when the duo powered a 6Z57/16.54 Chaddesden Sidings to Carlisle Kingmoor VQ with a set of JNA/ KEA box wagons.

DCRail is part of the Cappagh group of companies and has commenced a new contract with Total Aggregates moving recycled rail ballast from Carlisle to Boston. TA opened its Boston railhead in 2018 to supply aggregates across Lincolnshire, and this is the first occasion it has procured its own rail services. At Boston, the recycled ballast is blended with local aggregate for use in a variety of construction projects.

DCRail’s Nos. 56091+56103 power the 6Z57 Boston Docks-Carlisle Kingmoor VQ at Barrow upon Trent (Derbyshire) on May 1, returning the empties off the first run of recycled ballast for Total Aggregates. Rob McRorie

June 2019 RAIL EXPRESS 7

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IN BRIEF DONCASTER DERAILMENT

THE Rail Accident Investigation Branch has released its report into the loco derailment at Doncaster on December 21, 2018, when a train formed of four light locomotives left Roberts Road depot in Doncaster following wheel reprofiling. While the train negotiated a tight curve, the third locomotive in the formation derailed, blocking the line for 36 hours.

The accident highlights the increased risk of derailment for vehicles with newly-turned wheels with P1 profiles operating on curves without a check rail or adequate lubrication. The report states the importance of track curves of around 200 metres radius or less on passenger carrying lines being fitted with check rails.

‘TRACTOR’ STORED

CLASS 37/6 No. 37605, which was placed in the stored XHSS pool after derailing at Doncaster on December 21 (see above), has been moved to Loram at Derby by road, arriving on April 9. It is reported as unlikely to be repaired.

Also stored in December was No. 57311 and this has moved from Longtown to Carlisle Kingmoor.

NYMR WINS LOTTERY GRANT

THE North Yorkshire Moors Railway has won a £4.4 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund towards its £9.7 million ‘Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey’ project, which is dedicated to preserving the railway for future generations. Work includes renewing Goathland’s three iron bridge spans and a new carriage shed at Pickering. It will take around five years to be completed, but the railway will remain open throughout.

There will also be an emphasis on volunteer development, including raising awareness within the local community and a new volunteer centre where families can be accommodated.

LONGER BUXTON STONE TRAINS: The Up Relief Sidings at Buxton, also known as Buxton Up Reversing Sidings, have recently been extended to accommodate longer trains from Dowlow Quarry. This shot on April 23 shows Freightliner’s No. 66616 running around its train in the relaid loop, the 6H22/11.13 Tunstead Quarry to Hindlow. The main line towards Manchester can just be seen higher up in the background to the left. David Ratcliffe

Extension for Southeastern Contract pushed back to at least November while last two bidders are assessed.

By ‘Industry Witness’ THE South Eastern franchise, which has been operated by Govia since November 2007 under the Southeastern brand, was due to end on June 22 but – in the absence of a decision about the winner of the next franchise – the contract has been extended to November 10, with an option to continue until April 2020.

The number of bidders has been reduced following the Government’s decision to disqualify a joint bid by Stagecoach and Alstom after failing to agree terms for making up a shortfall in the Railway Pension Scheme. Two bidders now remain: the incumbent operator Govia, a consortium made-up of 65% the

Go-Ahead Group and 35% Keolis; and Abellio with backing from the East Japan Railway and Mitsui.

COMMUTER TRAFFIC

In the 2017/18 financial year, there were 176 million passenger journeys on South Eastern, which means the franchise is the fourth largest under this measure. There has been a small decline in the year, but this is the result of the new Thameslink timetable absorbing some services.

A high proportion of journeys are within Greater London, which prompted the Mayor of London to propose transferring some routes to the London Overground network. The aim of this would be an all-round improvement in product quality, with rolling specifically

designed for metro operations, higher service frequencies, simpler ticketing and improved station staffing.

The Government decided not to pursue this option, however, as there were concerns that it might reduce the capacity for running longer-distance services from coastal towns in Kent, which produce higher levels of fare income.

For London commuters, there is a long-standing tradition of providing trains to a mix of London terminals, which allows a choice of station best suited to work locations. This makes the operation more complex, however, and impacts on performance but, after consultation, it was concluded that users valued the choice and this has been retained.

RIVIERA FOR RHYMNEY

RIVIERA Trains is to supply rolling stock for the two loco-hauled peakhour services between Cardiff and Rhymney, which are expected to begin in the coming weeks. In advance of this, four vehicles (Buffet First Open No. 1212, First Open Nos. 3340/86 and Brake Standard Open No. 9504) were moved from Burton to Cardiff Canton on April 19, No. 66121 bringing the vehicles south, with No. 66187 being added to the rear for the final leg from Alexandra Dock Junction.

HOPE CEMENT OPEN DAY

THE Hope Cement Works is holding an open day on June 1, to mark its 90 years of operations. Admission to the event is free and will include access to the museum, which looks back over the 90 years of the site, and the opportunity to visit the quarry and take a mini bus ride through the main works.

8 RAIL EXPRESS June 2019

INVERNESS GAINS WHEEL LATHE: The ScotRail Alliance has installed a £1.6 million wheel lathe at Inverness depot to

improve train performance in the Highlands to Aberdeen, Kyle of Lochalsh, Wick and Thurso. Previously, trains with flatspot wheels had to travel at low speed to Edinburgh or Glasgow. The installation of the lathe includes synchronised lifting jacks that allow twocarriage trains to be lifted at the same time. It will be used by the TOC’s Class 158 and ‘Inter7City’ mini-HST fleets. ScotRail

10 RAIL EXPRESS June 2019

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‘Leg up’ for Bletchley flyover Structure to be strengthened as part of East West Rail project.

One of the new masts installed under Bletchley flyover at Easter that will allow the bridge decking to be raised and strenghtened. Phil Marsh

The lift will be carried out using a self-lifting gantry designed by Italian lift specialists Cimolai in conjunction with Freyssinet, who raised the Moco Farm bridge between Swanbourne and Winslow in Autumn 2016.

Section 2C Alliance Project Manager Jez Porter said: “The

EWR project is now moving from a development phase to a delivery phase so far as is allowed without any TWAO [Transport and Works Act Orders] being in place.” TWAO should hopefully follow with the public inquiry in Milton Keynes ending in early May and a decision expected by the end of the year.

First ‘D-Train’ enters service APRIL 23 saw the first of Vivarail’s Class 230 ‘D-Trains’ put into service on the Marston Vale Line. The two-car unit, No. 230004, is one of three sets leased

by London Northwestern Railway and maintained at Bletchley depot for use on the route. Its first working was the 2S01/05.16 Bletchley-Bedford.

Originally constructed by MetroCammell in the late 1970s for use by London Underground on the District Line, the former ‘D’ Stock cars have been extensively rebuilt by Vivarail and, in addition to the traction package featuring ‘genset’ modules, the set has gangway connections between vehicles, an accessible toilet and USB charging points.

The other two sets, Nos. 230003/005, are due to enter traffic in the next few weeks. Their entry to service will enable LNR to release its three remaining Class 150s, Nos. 150105/107/109, for transfer to Northern.

‘SOFT LAUNCH’ FOR SLEEPER MK.5S

SUNDAY, April 28, saw Caledonian Sleeper introduce, with little fanfare, its new Mk.5 fleet to the ‘Lowlander’ route between Glasgow/Edinburgh and London. The ‘Highlander’ from Fort William/Inverness/Aberdeen to London should follow within weeks.

The new fleet includes rooms with double beds and en suites, keycard door locks, and wi-fi throughout the train.

Prices have risen, with classic rooms starting at £140 for a solo traveller (£170 for two), but CS says they have to be considered like a night in a hotel plus travel. Seated tickets are still available from £45 however.

By Phil Marsh THE East West Rail Alliance of Network Rail, Atkins, Laing O’Rourke and Volker carried out a minor but vital electrification project under and around the Bletchley flyover over Easter.

When the West Coast Main Line was electrified in the 1960s, the overhead wires were hung from the flyover decking. But, as it is due to be lifted for renovation as part of the EWR Project, the wire arrangement had to be revised.

The Easter project, completed on May 6, has seen nine new masts erected under and around the flyover.

A 60 metre ‘contenary’ wire has also been installed under the flyover, which is where the contact and catenary wire are combined due to height constraints.

The 60-year-old flyover requires new crossbeams to permit higher loadings on the existing supporting columns, and new stainless steel and carbon bearings will be installed.

IN BRIEF

DRONE PILOTS FACE PENALTY NETWORK Rail and the British Transport Police have warned drone pilots to keep away from the railway or risk being taken to court and facing a £2,500 penalty following an incident in Surrey.

The BTP is investigating footage posted online in which a drone appears to fly dangerously close to the railway between Farnborough and Woking as steam loco Flying Scotsman passed through on April 12.

Helen Yorke, route crime manager for Network Rail’s Wessex route, said: “This was a very concerning incident which put the safety of passengers, railway staff and members of the public at risk. Network Rail has a team of pilots and specialist approved contractors who are the only people permitted to fly drones near the railway. We do this as inspecting the railway by air is both effective and efficient, reducing disruption to train services or the need for workers to go trackside.”

Inspector Andy Jackson from the British Transport Police said: “It is a criminal offence to fly a drone on, over or within 50 metres of the railway and it is important that any would-be drone pilots are aware of this.”

‘27’ FOR SPA VALLEY

LAKESIDE DIESELS: Loco-hauled trains returned to the Windermere branch in

Cumbria at Easter, when the West Coast Main Line through Oxenholme was closed for engineering work. Usual operator Northern had arranged a bus replacement service, but as it was a peak holiday period for the area, West Coast Railways also operated a three-coach shuttle along the branch on April 20/21 ‘top and tailed’ by Type 4s Nos. 47826 and 47851. Six return trips ran on each day, with the 2Z07/13.37 Oxenholme-Windermere pictured leaving Staveley on the first day with No. 47826 leading. David Dockray

THE Spa Valley Railway has announced the visit of Class 27 No. 27001 for the line’s annual Summer Diesel Gala on August 2-4, the first of its class to visit the line. The loco’s visit is claimed to be the furthest south it has ever travelled (unless any reader knows different) and is only the second Class 27 to visit Kent and Sussex in preservation.

June 2019 RAIL EXPRESS 11

DEPOT FOCUS

Behind the scenes at Long Rock GWR opened the doors to its Penzance depot in mid-April, allowing a rare chance to see inside this Cornish outpost.

A general view of Long Rock looking west from the footpath along the adjacent sea wall, with the main line out of Penzance running this side of the temporary fence. Visible are Nos. 47306, 50007, 50049, 50042, steam loco No. 3205, 73107 and 66174. All photos by Paul Bickerdyke

G

Some of the locos visitors could see with (from left) Nos. 08410, 08645, 57604, 43162, 73107 and 43002.

REAT Western Railway staged an open day at Long Rock depot, Penzance on April 13, raising money for the Penlee Lifeboat station and the RNLI. Enthusiasts and the general public were able to see a number of GWR and visiting locos, plus have a look inside the maintenance shed, which was enlarged last year as the new base for the ‘Night Riviera’ fleet following closure of Old Oak Common depot at the London end of the line.

Despite being the most westerly main line depot – not just on the GWR network but on mainland Britain as a whole – many turned out for the rare chance to see behind the scenes at the depot, which handles loco-hauled stock, HSTs, DMUs and the new IETs. The overnight sleeper from Paddington, hauled by No. 57605, was packed with enthusiasts – while Pathfinder ran a tour from Tame Bridge Parkway to Penzance that day, featuring DRS locos No. 88003+68034 (see also railtours news).

The GWR fleet was represented by Nos. 08410/645, 43002/042/162/185, and 57602/604/605. The previous day had seen Nos. 47306 (looking resplendent in a new coat of Railfreight Distribution livery) and 50042 travel from the Bodmin &

Wenford Railway via Liskeard behind No. 57306 (which that night hauled the up sleeper to Paddington), while GBRf’s No. 66714 hauled Nos. 73107, 50007 and 50049 for display. GWR’s steam past was represented by GWR 0-6-0PT No. 4612 and cut-down Bagnall Port of Par 0-4-0ST Alfred (taken by road from Bodmin) plus Collett 0-6-0 No. 3205 (from the South Devon Railway).

NAMINGS

During the event, the driving cars of bi-mode No. 802008 were named RNLB Solomon Browne (after the Penlee Lifeboat that tragically went down with all hands on December 19, 1981 while on duty during a storm) and Rick Rescorla (locally born Rick lost his life while saving the lives of others during the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York in 2001).

Depot shunter No. 08645 was unveiled in a new livery of black with a large white cross, representing the Cornish flag of St Piran, after which it was also named.

The day after the open day, GBRf locos Nos. 66714 and 73107 stopped off at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway to work passenger trains – the ‘73’ reaching the site of former Southern Railway metals at Boscarne Junction!

 No. 57602 was inside the new depot building, lifted on the jacks while a bogie was removed for repairs. Mk.3 No. 12100 is to the left.

12 RAIL EXPRESS June 2019

DEPOT FOCUS

Bi-mode No. 802008 was outside the new depot building.

No. 802008’s driving cars were named Rick Rescorla and RNLB Solomon Browne during the event, to commemorate local heroes.

Shunter No. 08645 was unveiled in a striking new black livery with a white cross representing the Cornish flag and named St Piran.

The GWR’s steam past was represented by Pannier Tank No. 4612 and 2251 Class No. 3205. ‘Hoover’ No. 50042 is on the right.

GBRf’s No. 73107 is believed to be the first of its kind to reach Penzance. The company’s No. 66714 is just behind.

Celebrity loco No. 57604 Pendennis Castle was the third of GWR’s small fleet of four ‘57s’ to be on shed for the open day. Classmate No. 57605 is in the background.

FULL LIST OF EXHIBITS Locos 08410, 08645 47306 50042, 50007, 50049 43002, 43042, 43162, 43185 57602, 57604, 57605 66714 73107 Unit 802008 Steam 4612 GWR Pannier tank 3205 GWR 2251 Class ‘Alfred’ 0-4-0 Bagnell saddle tank Queues formed for the chance to cab GWR's Nos. 57605, 43042, and GBRf's No. 66714.

Mk.3s 10616, 10217, 17173, 12100

June 2019 RAIL EXPRESS 13

FLEET SURVEY BR in the corporate blue era, as illustrated by 4-EPB (Class 415) No. 5113 at Wandsworth Common in 1982, which features a Bulleid-style bodyshell. DC Collection

Southern legacy After looking at BR’s first generation DMUs (December 2018 issue) and AC EMUs (March 2019 issue), we complete the survey of its early units with a focus on the third-rail fleet.

T

HE decision by the amalgamated Southern Railway in the 1920s, to standardise its electrification programme on a third-rail conductor system, rather than overhead wiring, has resulted in a large-scale presence of the technology today that specialist engineers now regard as an obsolete way to supply traction current.

The cost of providing conductor rails and their associated power supply is much lower than that of overhead wiring. But, if a longer-term view is taken, there is greater energy

advantage in an overhead system, which is why it has been chosen for recent main line and suburban electrification schemes.

The issue has always been affordability, however, and it is unlikely that the extensive electrification of the Southern Railway’s suburban network and the later main line projects would have been affordable if an overhead system had been specified instead.

British Rail continued this approach, with approval of the Kent Coast thirdrail electrification in the late 1950s as

well as the subsequent electrification to Bournemouth (1967) and later Weymouth (1988). Further routes were converted, reaching Hastings (via Tunbridge Wells) in 1986, East Grinstead in 1987, the Solent link line (Eastleigh to Portsmouth) in 1990, and between Redhill and Tonbridge as a diversionary route for Channel Tunnel services (1993).

There’s little doubt there is higher reliability with third-rail current collection than overhead wires, and it only becomes problematic in severe weather when icing can prevent the supply. In comparison, overhead wiring systems are much more vulnerable to poor weather – particularly in windy conditions, and a ‘wires down’ event can curtail services for lengthy periods.

The constituent companies of the Southern Railway were not the first to opt for third-rail electric systems, as prior to them conductor rails were installed elsewhere in the country as a result of competition from trams and the lower cost of operations compared to steam-hauled services.

LNWR

Even though most of the third-rail network is in former Southern Railway territory today, it was other railway companies that led the way. This is former LNWR driving car No. 28249, which dates from 1915 but is now preserved in the National Collection and pictured at the NRM in March 2010.

16 RAIL EXPRESS June 2019

In 1907, the London & North Western Railway approved a project to electrify its London suburban services at 630V DC, which also involved constructing a new two-track line between Euston and Watford Junction that ran alongside the existing main line. The Broad Street terminal was also electrified, and services were operated to Richmond with branch lines to places such as Earls Court.

Three-car units were built by Siemens (four sets) and Oerlikon (38 sets), the latter working in fixed sixcar formations, although there were five spare motor cars. The fleet was enhanced in 1921 with a further 30 three-car sets from Oerlikon and three spare motor cars. Two renumberings took place by the successor London Midland & Scottish Railway in 1923 and 1933, but no class identity was established.

Growing traffic required further rolling stock, which was provided by the LMS in 1927 for both the former LNWR routes. By 1957, the original rolling stock had become life expired, and 50 three-car units were built at Eastleigh based on the then standard Mk.1 coach design. The numbering system was based on the last three digits of the individual vehicle numbers, and these became sets Nos. 133-182 that were later classified Class 501.

LANCS & YORKS

Routes were also electrified at 630V DC by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, the line between Liverpool and Southport being equipped in 1904 with the line to Ormskirk added in 1913.

The rolling stock was organised in four-car sets, but they were not fixed formations and trailer cars were marshalled between two driving cars to allow a mixture of vehicle types offering First and Third Class accommodation that depended on the diagram being worked. In all there were 33 sets.

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