Rail Express - November 2018 - Preview

LIFE ON THE SLOW LINE

Speed is not everything, as our survey discovers

HOLIDAY TRAINS TO SCARBOROUGH The glory days of loco-hauled trains to the Yorkshire resort

Essential reading for today’s rail enthusiast

A feast of 50s!

RAIL EXPRESS No. 270 NOVEMBER 2018

Stunning SVR gala features 11 ‘Hoovers’

MODELLING SECTION ■ REALTRACK ‘156’

First look at new liveries

■ ‘RAT’ TO ‘RAT’

Creating a 25/0 from a 24

■ IRISH Mk.2s

Updated versions released

FIRST GBRf

‘TUG’

Class 60 gets blue and orange livery

CONTENTS

Issue No. 270 November 2018

The second Saphos Trains tour to feature Class 40 No. D213 (40013) Andania ran on October 6 from Crewe to Scarborough – pictured at the seaside town passing the station’s former Falsgrave signalbox. The ‘40’ and Mk.1s are reminiscent of past holiday trains to the Yorkshire coast, which are covered in our article starting on page 22. Andy Mason

FEATURES

NEWS

14

7

16

22

80

OUT OF THE ORDINARY

GBRf’s four-day charity tour featured 18 locos and visited England, Scotland and Wales.

LIFE ON THE SLOW LINE

Slow but dull or interesting? You decide from our selection of 20 lines around the country.

WHEN SATURDAY CAME: SCARBOROUGH

HEADLINE NEWS

SVR stages a Glorious Class 50 gala; A fabulous feast of 50s; Government launches ‘root and branch’ review of rail industry; ORR apportions widespread blame for timetable chaos; New look for GBRf ‘60’, Virgin ‘221’ and London Overground ‘378’; First train from iPort; ROSCOs announce new generation of hybrid traction; First Class 717 in passenger service.

Looking back to the glory days of loco-hauled holiday trains to the Yorkshire seaside town.

71

LU WORLD

RHTT PICTORIAL

73

PRESERVATION

It’s leaf-busting season again!

REGULARS 76

29

TIME TRAVELLER SPECIAL

78

POWER BY THE HOUR

30

EXPRESS MAILBAG & REVIEWS

82

POWERSCENE

90

UNITS

93

SHUNTERS

94

COACHES

95

WAGONS

96

IRISH ANGLE

North-East headcodes; NRM should open out.

Plus a selection of books and a DVD.

MODELLING

There’s a first look at Realtrack’s Class 156 and Dapol’s Class 59, while reviews include Revolution’s IZA twinvans, Dapol’s HAA hopper, Murphy Model’s Irish Mk.2s and two nonpassenger coaches from Bachmann. We also profile three intriguing experimental wagons based on HEAs.

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Class 37 for Dartmouth Steam Railway; ‘Grid’ back in action; Pioneer production power car designated; KWVR to hold diesel gala.

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The changing scene at Llangollen.

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Restoring the LTM’s Standard Stock.

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RAILTOURS

PTG celebrates 20 years of tours.

ScotRail power cars stored at Ely; GBRf gets all 10 Colas ‘Tugs’; ROG hires ‘Northern Belle 57s’.

Notable workings, Name Game and Spectrum.

Class 314 withdrawals begin.

Full list of Class 08/09 locations.

ERS buys 110mph Mk.1 full brake.

Rare BR tank wagon heads for scrap.

Irish rail introduces timetable tweaks.

The Severn Valley Railway’s ‘Class 50 Golden Jubilee’ gala on October 4-6 was a highlight of the year, gathering 11 ‘Hoovers’ together for the first time in preservation. One of them was No. 50008 Thunderer, which on October 3 was posed under the gantry at Kidderminster as part of an evening photoshoot.

Paul Bickerdyke

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 October 19, 2018 Next issue November 16, 2018 Advertising deadline November 2, 2018 ISSN No 1362 234X

Paul Bickerdyke Rail Express Editor

What a year for ‘50s’!

T

HE first of the Fifties, No. D400, rolled out of English Electric’s Vulcan Foundry in October 1967, with each of the subsequent 49 locos following every week or so after that – meaning that the past 12 months have been the 50th anniversary of the class, which has been marked in a number of different ways.

First, there was a gathering of seven locos back at Old Oak Common in September last year. Then a number of railtours have run – not least ‘The Caledonian’, supported by our sister title The Railway Magazine, and ‘The Cumbrian Hoovers’ supported by Rail Express. And now the year has ended with the greatest gathering of the fleet since BR days.

Of the 18 that survive today, 11 came together for the Severn Valley Railway’s Class 50 Golden Jubilee Gala – which is nearly all the currently operational ones – and what a sight and sound it was. Thousands came to see them, and we have a round-up of highlights on pages 7-9.

Stars of the show were No. 50044 Exeter, which has been out of action since 2012 and is now fitted with the engine from a ‘Portuguese 50’, and No. 50033 which has not worked since

2004. The latter loco has seen a tremendous effort by volunteers, first at Tyseley and then Kidderminster, to get it ready in time, with many people thinking it just could not be done. It was.

No. 50033 still needs a repaint, however, and a novel fundraising idea saw visitors allowed to write something on the loco using a marker pen in return for a donation. This raised almost £3,500, which is a lot of ‘tags’ at £5 a go, and the loco ran over the three days in this ever-more unique livery.

On behalf of this magazine and it readers, I would like to thank the Severn Valley Railway, the Class 50 Alliance, the other loco owners and everyone else who took part, for making such a special event happen and so marking this milestone year for this charismatic class in such a fitting way.

Paul Bickerdyke

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Simon Bendall

Editor Rail Express Modeller

Christopher Westcott

David Russell

Power by the Hour Shunters Name Game Spectrum

David Rapson

Preservation Units Coaches

Gareth Bayer Wagons

LU World (with Piers Connor)

Powerscene

William Watson Irish Angle (with Alan McFerran)

‘Industry Witness’ News Writer

HEADLINE NEWS

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SVR stages a Glorious Class 50 gala The Severn Valley Railway celebrated 50 years of the Class 50s in style, including the return to service of No. 50033 after 14 years.

MONTHS of hard work and planning paid off at the start of October when the Severn Valley Railway staged its three-day Class 50 Golden Jubilee gala. The event bookended 12 months of celebrations that began with the Old Oak Common depot open day on September 2 last year, where seven Class 50s were on display.

Cooperation between various owners headed by the Class 50 Alliance meant that 11 ‘50s’ gathered at Kidderminster on October 3 – more than a fifth of the original fleet of 50 and nearly two-thirds of the surviving 18 locos. This was also the largest gathering in preservation of any one class of loco – whether diesel, electric or steam.

All 11 locos took part in a photoshoot at Kidderminster depot that evening, before the main gala got underway the following day. Thousands of visitors turned out for this unprecedented event, which marks a high point in diesel preservation that deserves recognition for everyone involved in making it happen.

The SVR is home to the Class 50 Alliance, which operates Nos. 50007, 50031, 50035, 50044 and 50049, while No. 50033 is also on long-term loan.

Visiting locos were Garcia Hanson’s No. 50008, the Bury Valiant Group’s No. 50015, Neil Boden’s Nos. 50017 and 50050, and Paul Spracklen’s No. 50026.

Sadly, Network SouthEast-liveried No. 50026 was found to have a technical fault and could not take an active part in the gala, but it was put on display at Kidderminster. Also No. 50008 only has train air-brakes, whereas the SVR’s coaching stock is nearly all vacuumbraked, so the loco could only be used on

 Some of the legal ‘tagging’ on No. 50033, which at £5 a go helped towards the funding of a repaint.  One side of No. 50033 carried the number 50030 and nameplate commemorating Neil Morgan, one of the original founders of the Class 50 Fund.

No. 50033 at Kidderminster on October 3, the night before it returned to public service after 14 years. Paul Bickerdyke

demonstration freight services.

The other nine ‘50s’ all took turns on the intensive passenger timetable, which on the Saturday included more than 13 hours of action. Stars of the show were No. 50033 Glorious, which had not worked since 2004, and No. 50044 Exeter, which had not worked since 2012 but was returned to service with the engine from a technically similar Portuguese 1800 Class loco.

Unique ‘livery’

No. 50033 was famously one of the final three railtour locos in 1994 (along with Nos. 50007 and 50050) and was then initially part of the National Collection at the NRM in York but, after spells at the NYMR and Steam in Swindon, has been laid up at Tyseley since 2007. Restoration work began there under the expert eye of Tony Middleton, but a deal with the Fifty Fund/Class 50 Alliance this year saw it move to the SVR in May to compete the work, and a remarkable effort since then saw the loco haul its

CLASS 50 GOLDEN JUBILEE GALA LOCOS Loco

Livery

Supplied by

50007 Hercules 50008 Thunderer* 50015 Valiant 50017 Royal Oak 50026 Indomitable** 50031 Hood 50033 Glorious 50035 Ark Royal 50044 Exeter 50049 Defiance

BR blue Laira blue Large logo NSE NSE InterCity Undercoat BR blue BR blue Large logo

Class 50 Alliance Garcia Hanson Bury Valiant Group Neil Boden Paul Spracklen Class 50 Alliance Class 50 Alliance Class 50 Alliance Class 50 Alliance Class 50 Alliance

50050 Fearless

BR blue

Neil Boden

*Air-brake only, confined to freight workings **Non-operational, on display at Kidderminster

first test train at the start of October.

Although Glorious was mechanically ready to take part in the gala, a full repaint is still required and so it ran with a patchwork of rubbed-down blue and undercoat green. To help raise funds for the £10,000 repaint, visitors were

offered the unique opportunity to ‘tag’ the loco with a marker pen for £5, writing whatever they wanted so long as it was inoffensive. Whether one comment saying ‘Thunderer the best Vac’ is offensive or not is best left to the reader to decide! E

SVR ‘STEAMER’: On display at Kidderminster during the Class 50 gala was their English Electric older cousin Class 40 No. 40106, which a few days earlier had been used to train staff on how to operate its steam heat boiler. On October 1, and with evidence that the loco’s boiler is working, the ‘40’ prepares to leave Kidderminster with a training run to Bridgnorth.

The boiler will allow the Type 4 to be used on services in winter. Jonathan Webb November 2018 RAIL EXPRESS 7

HEADLINE NEWS

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A fabulous feast of ‘50s’!

A selection of highlights from the Severn Valley Railway’s ‘Class 50 Golden Jubilee’ gala on October 3-6.

A photoshoot at Kidderminster depot on the evening of October 3 allowed this shot of seven Class 50s all together, which are (from left) Nos. 50049, 50015, 50033, 50050, 50035, 50031 and 50007 (as 50006 on one side).

Making a return to service at the gala after six years out of service, No. 50044 Exeter approaches Hampton Loade on October 4 with the 14.50 Bridgnorth-Kidderminster

8 RAIL EXPRESS November 2018

Four locos pose around the depot building at Kidderminster on October 3, which are (from left) Nos. 50044, 50017 (in shed), 50007 and 50008.

HEADLINE NEWS

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 Air-brake only No. 50008 Thunderer was confined to freight duties, and is pictured passing through Arley on October 4 with the 12.25 HighleyKidderminster.  Sadly No. 50026 Indomitable (right) could not take part in the gala, but is seen inside depot on October alongside No. 50017 Royal Oak, and was later posed in the station at Kidderminster.

No. 50007 can be just seen outside the building.  No. 50049 Defiance from the home fleet carries the name and number of 50011 Centurion on one side, which can be seen as the loco heads the 12.20 Bridgnorth-Kidderminster at Arley on October 4.

Visiting from the East Lancashire Railway was the Bury Valiant Group’s No. 50015 Valiant, which is pictured arriving at Highley on October 4 with the 11.20 Bridgenorth-Kidderminster

November 2018 RAIL EXPRESS 9

HEADLINE NEWS

 FIRST GBRf ‘TUG’: Class 60 No. 60095 became the first of the 10 ‘Tugs’ acquired by GBRf from Colas Rail to carry its new owner’s livery, the transformation being done at Eastleigh Works, where it is pictured on September 29. The loco subsequently ran light engine from Eastleigh to Doncaster Robert Roads on October 7. Carl Watson

 NEW LOOK FOR ‘VOYAGER’: The first and possibly only Class 221 to receive the latest Virgin Trains livery is

No. 221101 (now named 101 Squadron), which is pictured passing through Highbury & Islington on October 5 after the work was completed at Ilford. Although initially finished with black ends, yellow vinyls have been reapplied until such time as the headlights are upgraded to current standards to allow the yellow to be removed. John Hurst

Government launches ‘root and branch’ review of rail industry An expert panel will examine how the rail industry should be structured and financed in the coming years.

By ‘Industry Witness’ AN independent investigation into the structure of the rail industry is to be carried out by a panel led by Keith Williams, a former chief executive of British Airways, which will also include industry experts and stakeholders. One aim is to counter the widely held public view that nationalisation offers a quick fix to providing reliable rail services at lower prices.

The review follows the interim report by Professor Stephen Glaister, chair of the Office of Rail and Road, into the causes of the recent timetable disruption. This revealed a lengthy list of deficiencies that were not identified

by Network Rail, the Department for Transport, or the train operators concerned.

A ‘root and branch’ review is promised that is tasked with finding answers to improve train service reliability and improve value for money for both rail users and taxpayers. It is believed these can come from greater management accountability with more track and train integration, regional partnerships, and improved industrial relations.

A series of events has led to

10 RAIL EXPRESS November 2018

this government response, including the collapse of Northern and Govia Thameslink services when the May timetable was introduced, and the financial failure of the Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) contract. Measures are also needed to resolve the continued dispute caused by staff opposition to the changing role of guards.

The timetable implementation issues have been thoroughly aired by the ORR (see separate story opposite), which frees up the review team to concentrate on identifying what is needed to provide passenger and freight services in the period to 2040, which the Government has set as a timeframe for decarbonising transport operations (see also page 12).

The goal of reducing carbon emissions suggests the need for a greater switch from road to rail, particularly by heavy goods vehicles. Up to now there has been a tiny budget for Model Switch Revenue Support grants of less than £20 million per annum, which enable the freight operating companies to carry flows of traffic that otherwise would be costlier to freight users than road transport. This is an opportunity for a step change in funding which will bring a substantial benefit: cost bonus.

When Network Rail became the infrastructure owner in 2002, it was regarded by the Government as a private sector company, even though there were no shareholders. The intention was that the funds needed for extensive renewal and expansion of network capacity would be raised from private sector borrowing guaranteed by the Government. A change took place in 2014 when the Office for National Statistics ruled that NR must be regarded as a public sector entity, with its then debt of £34 billion regarded as a Treasury liability.

FUNDING ISSUES

One of the elements of the current review is to decide how private sector financing can be restarted to allow the continuation of the renewal programme and meet the need for new infrastructure that is evident throughout the country.

There is a good example with the Wales and Borders franchise contract, where the Welsh Government has negotiated an agreement with KeolisAmey that will result in investment to electrify the Core Valley Lines and extend the reach of services in the Cardiff area by the use of tram-

trains. Similarly, the intention is that East West Railway, which will reconnect Oxford and Cambridge, will be financed by the private sector and operated as an integrated railway rather than a franchise.

The decision to terminate the VTEC franchise has brought single ownership of the infrastructure and the principal train operator using the route. If there is a desire to combine these operations permanently, a private company could be aloowed to purchase the infrastructure and operate train services. However, it would have to provide funding for capacity enhancement on the route for use by all passenger and freight operators granted access rights by the ORR under existing processes.

The review is taking place against a background where the demand for rail services has been transformed by improved marketing and service quality, coupled with economic changes that have seen a concentration in city centre employment. There remains a legacy of poor asset condition, however, which is recognised in the £48 billion railway spending plan for the next five years, of which £18 billion has been allocated to track renewals. E

HEADLINE NEWS

ORR apportions widespread blame for timetable chaos Regulator publishes report into timetable disruption and threatens fines.

By ‘Industry Witness’ AN interim report by the Office of Rail and Road into the timetable disruption earlier this year has heavily criticised Network Rail and the Department for Transport for poor decision making during the planning process that prevented the train operators from organising operational resources to run trains. In turn, Northern and the Govia Thameslink Railway were judged to have failed to have contingency planning in place that provided the information that passengers needed.

The report was published in September and revealed that the timings and stopping patterns of 46% of national services were changed in the timetable due to start on May 20.

The reality was that the volume of change was too great for the resources available once replanning had to take place.

For the train planning process to cope with the workload, a final go/ no-go decision was needed as early as Autumn 2017. However, the Industry Readiness Board (created to oversee the changes) took the view that this deadline could be passed and still be ready for May – although, as a contingency, the number of Thameslink services through the rebuilt central section was reduced from 24 to 18 trains per hour.

It was not realised, however, that this decision to delay had a significant impact on the service frequency at some stations, which resulted in a rewrite of a timetable that had largely been completed. As a result, the requirement to publish train service

details 12 weeks in advance (on February 23, 2018) was missed and still not finalised in April. There was then no realistic chance of completing train crew diagrams or training staff in that timescale and, as a result, a further 100 Thameslink services were removed from the schedule to create capacity for pilot drivers to be provided.

In the event, unplanned cancellations soared to 470 per day. A large-scale substitute bus service had to be introduced, with taxi services provided for disabled passengers and schoolchildren.

A positive aspect was that the Thameslink infrastructure was finished on time, with the completion of the Canal Tunnels that link the route to the Great Northern line in February.

MEANWHILE UP NORTH

The Northern disruption was the direct result of delays to the North West electrification programme, with Phase 3 (the Blackpool route) and Phase 4 (the Bolton corridor) not completed as planned.

The closure of the Preston to Blackpool route in early 2018 overran by three weeks, which disrupted driver training, and wiring the Wigan to Manchester via Bolton line – which had already been delayed from completion in December 2016 to December 2017 – was not finished. This brought a need for diesel-powered rolling stock to be retained that was scheduled to be used elsewhere.

Northern again resorted to removing services from the timetable, but the lack of resources resulted in up to 310 daily cancellations, infamously

including the complete service on the Windermere branch.

Timetable planning is organised

by Network Rail’s System Operator function, and the ORR considered this management group was best placed to intervene when it became clear that the risk to the successful implementation of the May 2018 timetable had become too great.

However, no action to was taken mitigate the risks by postponing some or all of the proposed changes. The DfT was also slow to realise the impact of the original timetable reduction when authorisation was requested.

An outcome is that the ORR, which overseas NR’s budget, has indicated that more train planning resources will be authorised and that the software deficiencies that impact on the production of automated timetables will be resolved.

■ Another investigation was launched in early June by the ORR as to whether GTR and Northern breached contractual requirements by failing to do what they could to provide “appropriate, accurate and timely information” before the changes to the train timetable and during the disruption that followed.

The regulator has said licence conditions may have been breached that require the provision of information for passengers “to plan and make their journeys with a reasonable degree of assurance, including when there is disruption”.

Any fines could potentially be up to 10% of the companies’ turnover, although the ORR has said they would be “proportionate” and well below that ceiling.

NEW LOOK FOR ‘ELECTROSTAR’:

EMU No. 378135 has recently received the revised London Overground livery and is pictured with the new look arriving at Clapham Junction on September 26 with the 13.49 from Dalston Junction. Tom Braund

IN BRIEF GWR ‘802s’ BEAT DFT ‘800s’

GREAT Western Railway’s Class 802s, which feature software that allows greater use of the available diesel power compared with the earlier Class 800 cousins, made their appearance on scheduled passenger services from late August, and Railway Performance Society technical officer Dr David Stannard estimates they are about 20% better. However, after analysing data from RPS members David Ashley and Sean Emmett, he is also satisfied that the units have been outperforming their Class 800 cousins under electric power. It had been believed that all IET variants were operating to a DfT formula that limits acceleration to certain standards, but the Class 802s are exceeding even those expectations.

Class 802 performance should be placed in context, however. They are still failing to match HST characteristics on banks such as Hemerdon and Whiteball by some 5-10mph, although their initial acceleration can sometimes neutralise this disadvantage if the HSTs fail to make a notch 4 start as is now believed to be allowed from most stations.

CLASS 385 BRAKE SET-BACK

WITH their windscreen problem resolved, ScotRail’s new Hitachi-built Class 385 EMUs were hit by another problem in early October after reports of a potential brake issue. One incident in September saw a seven-car unit almost overshoot the stop at Falkirk High after the on-board computer shut down the brakes on the rear three-car unit. Then on October 4 another set stopped and blocked the line at Winchburgh.

The fleet was taken out of services for checks as a precaution, with stored Class 314s reinstated to cover for Class 380s sent to fill Class 385 diagrams. There were widespread reports of short-formed trains on October 5.

MK.5 BOGIE CHECKS

THE start of October saw Network Rail impose a ban on Mk.5 movements after an issue was found relating to their bogies. The ban applied to both Caledonian Sleeper and TransPennine Express vehicles while checks were carried out, putting a halt to testing of the new CAF-built carriages.

Caledonian Sleeper has also announced that introduction of the Mk.5s on the Lowlander route (between Edinburgh/ Glasgow and Euston) has been put back from October 2018 to spring 2019, putting it in line with the Highlander route (from Fort William/Inverness/Aberdeen to Euston).

FIVE BID FOR T&W METRO

TRANSPORT Executive Nexus has begun negotiations with five bidders shortlisted to design, build and maintain a new fleet of trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro. The five companies will be narrowed down to a single bidder at the end of next year, with the first new trains delivered two years later. The sets will serve a network that carries more than 36 million passengers a year. The five bidders are Bombardier Transportation UK, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF), Downer EDI Rail, Hitachi Rail Europe and Stadler.

November 2018 RAIL EXPRESS 11

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IN BRIEF VTL GETS OPERATOR LICENCE

VINTAGE Trains Limited has announced it has been granted a passenger charter licence by the Office of Rail and Road. Led

by Arian Shooter and Cath Bellamy, VTL supports the retention and teaching of heritage engineering skills with associated apprenticeships.

Although VTL will mainly be operating railtours, its first job is providing the crew and paths for mileage accumulation on the Class 230 unit running from Bedford to Bletchley. VTL has worked closely with manufacturer Vivarail in planning this operation, which is testing a number of systems and processes and gaining valuable data before the train enters service on the Marston Vale line from December with West Midlands Trains.

STEPHENSON NOTEBOOK FOUND AND DISPLAYED

GEORGE Stephenson’s notebook detailing plans for the world’s first passenger railway to use locomotives has been found by a records assistant at Network Rail’s archive in York. The notebook, dated 1822, outlines Stephenson’s redesign of and budget for the Stockton and Darlington Railway, and became the blueprint for the railways that followed. John Page uncovered the notebook, which had not been seen since the 1950s, while searching for documents in the archive’s deeds room in April.

The 12x12-inch notebook is bound in its original form and is written in ink with pencil annotations. It shows Stephenson’s survey of fellow engineer George Overton’s original 1821 line and the amendments he recommended to it and was signed

by G Stephenson at Killingworth Colliery on January 18, 1822. The notebook is on display at the at the National Railway Museum until December 28 this year.

NR DEPLOYS GAUGE SCANNER

NETWORK Rail Scotland has used a trackbased three-dimensional scanner to model railway infrastructure ahead of the arrival of new trains onto the network. The Trimble GEDOScan system – operated by Network Rail’s team of absolute track geometry (ATG) engineers – has been used to collect detailed information about the track and surrounding features such as bridges, parapets, and platforms, gathering highresolution data for use in track clearance assessments on structures and tunnels.

The scanning system has been used across the network to carry out general surveys for maintenance and monitoring, as well as assessing the capability and suitability of specific routes to carry certain types of rolling stuck, ahead of the introduction of HSTs on the network between Scotland’s seven cities.

TRAM-TRAIN SHADOW RUNNING

SEPTEMBER 17 saw full shadow running introduced on the South Yorkshire tramtrain pilot scheme between Sheffield and Rotherham. The Class 399 tram-trains are running a full timetable without passengers, indicating that the start of service is now very near. There will be three trains an hour, although due to a clash with main line services they will not be evenly spaced.

12 RAIL EXPRESS November 2018

FIRST TRAIN FROM IPORT: The new freight terminal at Doncaster iPort was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal on September 12, and present that day on the loading pad was GBRf’s No. 66735 ahead of services commencing the following week.

Initially there will be five trains a week to and from Southampton. Jim Scott

ROSCOs announce new generation of hybrid traction All three main leasing companies are developing hybrid prototypes featuring hydrogen fuel cells and batteries.

By ‘Industry Witness’ ROLLING stock leasing companies have announced plans to meet the Government’s objective of removing rail carbon emissions by 2040.

This follows news that an Alstombuilt hydrogen powered multiple unit entered traffic in Germany on September 17 with an operating range of 620 miles.

In Britain, Alstom has entered into agreement with leasing company Eversholt Rail to convert Class 321 electric units to hydrogen power when these are displaced by Class 720 units on Greater Anglia services next year.

As yet there are no firm train operator orders, but there are ambitions to convert the complete fleet if users can be agreed.

Porterbrook is also carrying out a vehicle conversion, and has supplied a Class 319 electric unit to the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education for conversion to hydrogen power. The system will be

The first Porterbrook bi-mode Class 769, which is an ex-Class 319 EMU fitted with diesel engines, was moved from Brush to the nearby Great Central Railway for testing on September 14 – the unit (formerly No. 319434) being pictured at Quorn & Woodhouse on September 29, active trials having begun on the 25th. Greg Hartle

known as HydroFlex, and demonstration running is expected to start in mid-2019.

The vehicles will retain their dual mode 25kV AC overhead and 750V DC third-rail current collection, but in addition will have a hydrogen fuel cell that will allow use on non-electrified routes without the need for a diesel engine.

Porterbrook has also combined with Rolls Royce to offer a hybrid diesel/ battery power pack that is suitable for use with existing Class 168/170 diesel units, and the conversion of two development units has been agreed.

The third major leasing company, Angel Trains, has also announced it is to spend £3.5 million on converting a Chiltern Railways Class 165 DMU to hybrid diesel/battery power in partnership with Magtec, a company based in Sheffield. The concept is to switch to battery power at stations where the effect of pollution from emissions is most evident. The battery is charged both by the diesel engines and by regenerative braking. The system has been named as HyDrive power. E

‘DESIRO CITY’ ENTERS SERVICE. The first Class

717 in passenger service ran on the Moorgate branch on September 28 when No. 717007 formed the 2G92/10.49 Moorgate to Gordon Hill, which had very few passengers on board.

Four days earlier, the same unit is pictured on test at Highbury & Islington on a test working from Hornsey depot to Moorgate. The full fleet of 25 six-car units is due to be in service by spring 2019. Alex Thorkildsen

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RAILTOUR REVIEW

18 locos, four days, one tour GBRf’s marathon ‘Out of the Ordinary’ charity railtour on September 20-23 lived up to its name and featured haulage by 10 different classes over lines in England, Wales and Scotland.

Day 1 on September 20 kicked off with Class 66 and 73 haulage from London to South Wales, but the highlight was the run back from Didcot into Paddington by electric loco No. 87002, which is pictured on arrival. What a sight! Simon McComb

Day 2 on September 21 was a run around the Midlands and Kent featuring Classes 20, 66 and 73 – the first destination being Wellingborough Yard, where No. 66728 waits to head south to Tonbridge with Nos. 20132+20311 out of sight at the rear. Richard Gennis

Scotland was reached via an overnight run from Waterloo to Mossend on September 21/22, including the first visit of a Class 92 to Blackpool North. No. 92033 is seen afterwards, back at Preston, with Nos. 73107+73141 at the rear. John Hales

14 RAIL EXPRESS November 2018

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#48

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Forty-eight Autumn 2018

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

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

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