Rejul16preview

A GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND: The summer timetable brings the return of this Saturdays-only working in Cornwall and Devon. The 2P70/11.25 Par-Plymouth, 2E75/13.35 Plymouth-Exeter St Davids and 2C51/17.50 Exeter-Penzance are formed using the loco and seated stock from the previous night’s down ‘Night Riviera’ service from Paddington to Penzance. May 28 was the second week they ran, and the 2P70 working is pictured crossing Largin Viaduct – between Bodmin Parkway and Liskeard in Cornwall – powered by GWR’s No. 57605 Totnes Castle and formed of four coaches instead of the more usual three. Jenny Westwater

HEADLINE NEWS

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Record numbers for SVR gala

The Severn Valley Railway’s three-day diesel gala on May 19-21 featured an impressive line-up of locos that attracted a record number of visitors.

IT was always going to be hard for the Severn Valley Railway to top its 2015 diesel event, which formed part of its 50th anniversary celebrations and included a rare visit of unique ‘Clayton’ No. D8568 from the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway.

But the 2016 event was even better, both in terms of locos taking part and visitor numbers. The undoubted stars of this year’s gala was the pair of Network Rail Class 73/9s Nos. 73951 and 73952 (see front cover) – even though No. 73951 disgraced itself by failing on the second day, leaving its stablemate to soldier on alone.

Other visiting locos were Nos. 20142 and 20205, DCR’s No. 31452, Class 33 No. 33035, DRS Type 3 No. 37716, ‘Peak’ No. D182 (46045), the NRM’s ‘Deltic’ No. D9002 (55002), GBRf’s No. 66763, and still fresh-off-the-boat No. 68025. Representatives from the SVR’s home fleet included Classes 08, 09, 20, 50 and 52.

The visiting ‘37’, ‘66’, ‘68’ and ‘73s’ are fitted with air brakes only, so spent a lot of their time hauling the hired-in 4-TC set between Kidderminster and Bewdley. When rostered for longer runs to Bridgnorth, they had to be paired with a heritage loco in order to work with the SVR’s vacuum-braked stock.

More than 4,000 people flocked to sample the loco haulage on offer – up more than 1,500 on last year – with services running from 08.35 to 22.35.

SVR general manager Nick Ralls said he was delighted with the popularity of the event and that the opening of the new diesel depot (see page 15) was a vital improvement to the railway’s infrastructure and a recognition of the importance of preserving heritage diesel locomotives as well as its extensive fleet of steam locomotives. E

Left: The Peak Locomotive Company’s Class 46 No. D182 (46045) has been doing the rounds this year, but was one of the stars at the SVR gala. Here it heads the 14.30 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster at Highley. Paul Bickerdyke Below: Record numbers flocked to this year’s gala, and there was barely room to spare on the platform at Bewdley on May 20, when a large crowd waited to board the 12.44 to Kidderminster for the rare chance of haulage behind Network Rail electrodiesels Nos. 73951 and 73952. Paul Bickerdyke

The 12.44 was only formed of a 4-TC set, so it was ‘cosy’ on board. However, No. 73951 expired after only a quarter-of-a-mile and was out for the rest of the gala.

After No. 73951 failed on May 20, the gala’s second day, classmate No. 73952 soldiered on alone and the following day formed this unusual pairing with SVR Class 20 No. D8188 (20188), seen at Bewdley with the 13.47 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth. The ‘20’ allowed the ‘73’ to work with the vacuum-braked stock. Martin Turner

14 RAIL EXPRESS July 2016

PERFORMANCE

Just how nimble are today’s locos and units, and what’s the quickest off the mark?

Neville Hill takes a look at the South Western Main Line and what Siemens’ direct current ‘Desiros’ can deliver.

A duo of four-car Class 450 ‘Desiros’, led by No. 450006, enters the up platform at Farnborough (Main) on September 13, 2015 – with the straight and level stretch towards Fleet behind it. The units had just crossed from the down platform (left) to the up to head back to London as the main line west of Farnborough around Basingstoke was closed for engineering work on this day.

Ron Fisher.

A

SK a selection of experts what power can be expected from third-rail 750V direct current installations and you might well receive a number of opinions. A lot depends on how many trains are around, the ceiling of current that can be delivered to a single train, and unplanned factors such as current leakage.

So the sight of three Class 450s ambling into Basingstoke to form the 10.24 stopper to Waterloo was not especially welcome. Unlike modern diesel units, where the slipstream helps longer trains achieve better performance if all engines are working, it is said that third-rail EMUs suffer from a maximum delivery to an individual train.

If this is indeed the case, then single Class 450s should easily outpace eight-car formations, with

FARNBOROUGH (MAIN) TO FLEET Units Vehicles/tare/ gross tonnes Train Date Recorder/position

450126/450019 8/344/346 10.42 Waterloo-Basingstoke March 31, 2016 Neville Hill, 6th of 8

Miles

Timing Point

Sch

M. S. M.P.H.

0.00 0.01 0.04 0.13 0.27 0.54 0.95 3.28

Farnborough (Main) d.

0

0 00 0 08 0 16 0 28 0 43 1 04 1 31 4 27

Fleet a.

4½

T 10 20 30 40 50 60/63

Notes: Timed to 1/100th of a second and rounded to nearest full second.

0-60 time RE FACTOR** COMMENT

91 seconds 7043 Try timing a single set

Note: **The RE (Rail Express) Factor provides a weighted comparison of performance, taking into account time, load and rated horsepower. A higher score is better.

24 RAIL EXPRESS July 2016

12-cars effectively carrying four coaches of dead weight. Timetabling and observation suggests this effect is more limited than predicted, and this local 12-car train did not seem unduly handicapped, reaching 60mph in a respectable 90.85seconds on the level from Farnborough (Main).

My return service had just a double set, but was running comfortably on luxuriously easy timings.

There were two absolutely level starts to be measured

– one from Farnborough again and, in this direction, one from Fleet. With power to spare for 316tonnes gross, I thought we would beat the up direction figures, but the result was a consistent 90.6seconds from Farnborough and only marginally longer from Fleet.

Was the down train driver dissipating time, or was the up train less encumbered by power supply restrictions than expected? E

TIMES AND SCORES SUMMARY Rank

No.

0 to 60 RE Factor** time (secs)

Location

Issue Notes

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2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13 14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19 20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

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380022 395012 357017+357033 323224 350403 365529 387111 222020 334021+334029 333013 185113 375606 68007 172103 180110 90002 450126+450019 220007 43285 / 43321 158860 166205 175104 168003 91125 170114 143603 66184 153369 D1015 67006 40145

39 41 50 51 54 56 56 59 60 63 68 70 79 83 83 87 91 94 96 98 102 103 103 108 114 117 148 156 174 179 325

Nov 2015 Mar 2016 May 2014 Aug 2014 Nov 2014 Jan 2015 Jul 2015 Aug 2015 Jan 2016 May 2015 Oct 2014 Jul 2014 Feb 2016 Jun 2016 Jan 2014 Jun 2015 Jul 2016 Apr 2014 Jan 2014 Mar 2015 Mar 2014 Apr 2016 Jun 2014 Dec 2014 Sep 2015 May 2016 Oct 2015 Feb 2015 Jul 2014 Feb 2014 Jan 2015

Fastest EMU

12939 15286 15673 14658 12294 17515 14137 11181 14687 15755 11088 12715 9999 11000 8514 10376 7043 7610 9050 11630 11391 11297 10640 7806 9878 9895 10122 10144 10110 8030 9430

South from Troon East from Ebbsfleet East from West Ham SW from Chelford Nth/Sth from Lockerbie South from Watlington Nth/Sth from Harlington West from Long Eaton East from Blackridge North from Steeton Nth from Northallerton North from Wye West from Haymarket South from Haddenham North from Grantham South from Diss West from Farnborough East from Taunton South from Burton West from Brough West from Tilehurst East from Bridgend Sth from High Wycombe Nth from Northallerton South from Burton East from Newton Abbot SW from Highbridge East from Newton Abbot South from Banbury North from Tamworth South from Darlington

Fastest DMU

Fastest diesel loco

Fastest electric loco

HST

HEADLINE NEWS

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KIDDERMINSTER DIESEL DEPOT ALTHOUGH completed in January this year, the SVR’s £800,000 purpose-built diesel depot at Kidderminster was officially opened on May 20, with the naming of a GBRf Class 66 and the ceremonial entry of Class 50 No. 50035 Ark Royal.

The depot, which has been 21 years in the making and a year in actual construction, is described by the railway as a ‘statement for future’ – underlining the value of diesels to the line, which handle 10 percent of services and most shunting requirements.

Visiting loco No. 37716 passes Foley Park on the first day of the gala, May 19, hauling the 11.40 Kidderminster to Bewdley. Brad Joyce

Also visiting was DRS Class 68 No. 68025 Superb, which was the last of the class to be delivered at the start of April. It is pictured on May 19 passing the carriage sheds at Kidderminster with the 4-TC set and the 15.56 from Bewdley. Darren Ford No. 50035 Ark Royal was driven in to officially open the depot, the loco being chosen as it was the last to leave the former diesel depot at Old Oak Common in 2009 before it was knocked down to make way for Crossrail. It stopped alongside visiting GBRf Type 5 No. 66763, which had just been named Severn Valley Railway.

Some of the SVR’s shunter fleet were in action over the three-day gala – including Nos. D4100 (09012) and D3022 (08015), which were captured at Foley Park on May 19 hauling the 10.10 Bewdley to Kidderminster. Brad Joyce A view of the outside of the depot, with Chiltern Railways-liveried No. 68015 on display outside. The loco took no other part in the gala. Pictures by Paul Bickerdyke

After its naming ceremony at Kidderminster on May 20, GBRf’s No. 66763 Severn Valley Railway later worked the 15.01 to Bewdley and 15.56 return – seen swapping platforms with the 4-TC set to form the return working. Paul Bickerdyke.

The pristine depot would put many main line operators to shame, the modern structure featuring two inspection pits, lifting jacks and a 10 tonne overhead travelling crane. In this view before the official opening, Class 08 No. D3201 (08133) is on the left, with ‘Western’ No. D1062 Western Courier.

July 2016 RAIL EXPRESS 15

TIME TRAVELLER YEARS AGO...

50

JULY 1966

■ NEW ROLE FOR OLD STATION: Manchester’s Liverpool Road station – the oldestsurviving railway station and today part of the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry – was converted into a railway customs post.

Continental freight wagons could go right through to Manchester from wherever they landed, thus avoiding customs at the port of entry.

■ YORK CLOSURE: All tracks serving York Old Station were removed by July 11, except those for the existing carsleeper loading dock.

This was in anticipation of the opening a week later of a new Motorail terminal at the south end of the main station. Tracks were also removed from Platform 1 and the former Fish Dock.

YEARS AGO...

40

JULY 1976

■ DMU MESS VAN: To replace a converted LNWR coach, on which most of the bodywork had become rotten, breakdown men at Bletchley depot rebuilt redundant DMU power car No. SC79098 as a mess van.

The vehicle had previously worked on Glasgow-Edinburgh services, but was withdrawn in 1971 and sent to Swindon for component recovery, where it was spotted by Bletchley’s area maintenance engineer Adrian Shooter.

It was renumbered No. ADM 975426 and repainted red to match the rest of the breakdown train. New facilities included a lounge, dining area and kitchen.

LONG HOT SUMMER: 1976 was a heatwave year, and also the last summer for the Class 52 ‘Westerns’, during which the

remaining class members were highly sought after by enthusiasts, arguably the first diesel type to attract such attention. The ‘Westerns’ were often looking quite rundown by this stage, as illustrated by No. D1022 Western Sentinel, seen heading west at Hayes & Harlington (Middlesex) that July with a down express. The loco would survive until January 1977.

YEARS AGO...

20

JULY 1996

■ CLASS 92s ENTER SERVICE: The start of July saw the first occasion that Class 92s powered revenue-earning freight trains on the national network. Selective

safety case approval allowed modified locos to power a limited number of services between Wembley and Dollands Moor.

All services were booked to use the Catford Loop and Maidstone East, with

a list of special restrictions for each section of the route.

One restriction stated that if two Class 92s were booked to pass in certain places, one must stop and lift its shoes.

YEARS AGO...

30

JULY 1986

■ S&C LOCAL REVIVAL: A regular train service was restored to eight stations on the Settle to Carlisle line after a lapse of 16 years, even though the line was still under threat of closure. From July 14, two additional trains ran in each direction on weekdays between Skipton and Carlisle under the brand name ‘Dalesman’, with one on Saturdays.

Additional stations served were Armathwaite, Lazonby, Langwathby, Kirkby Stephen, Garsdale, Dent, Ribblehead and Horton-in-Ribblesdale – previously only used by the privately chartered ‘Dalesrail’ trains that operated once a month at certain times of the year.

YEARS AGO...

10

JULY 2006

■ MTU REENGINING SCHEME: No. 43093 became the first HST power car to be outshopped in the ‘production’ MTU4000 engine replacement programme when it was shown off at Brush Works, Loughborough, on July 6.

Nos. 43004 and 43009 had previously been given MTU engines in 2005 as testbeds, the success of which led to the engines being used in the bulk of the fleet. Today, MTU engines are fitted to all production power cars except those operated by East Midlands Trains, which have Paxman VP185 units, while the NRM’s prototype has an original Paxman Valenta engine.

OLYMPIC ‘87’ BOWS OUT. No. 87012 The Olympian hauls mail unit No. 325005 as the 5Z48/09.40 Polmadie-Wembley at South Kenton, North London, on July 3, 2006. This was the last scheduled working for the celebrity electric, although it nearly worked the next day on the 16.51 Euston to Birmingham, but was prevented with a speedometer fault.

July 2016 RAIL EXPRESS 25

RAILTOURS

D1015 headed a ‘Champion’ day out on the ‘Western Challenger’ tour A NON-STOP run from Paddington to Plymouth was the target for Pathfinder Tours’ ‘Western Challenger’ on May 7, with No. D1015 Western Champion attempting to emulate the exploits of classmate No. D1010 half a century earlier.

On May 7, 1966, No. D1010 Western Campaigner achieved a non-stop run from Paddington to Penzance in a time of five hours 20 minutes as part of an Ian Allan railtour. With Campaigner

CAMERA PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY

now ensconced at the West Somerset Railway, it was down to main lineregistered Champion to fly the flag and deliver a performance to write home about.

Running with the identity of No. D1010 on one side and No. D1058 Western Nobleman on the other, the ‘Western’ got away from Paddington at 07.37; those on board getting to enjoy the sound of the loco’s twin Maybach engines as it put in a blistering

performance over the Great Western Main Line.

The trip passed Dawlish 16 minutes early and looked set to achieve its non-stop goal. But unfortunately fate intervened and the train was stopped at Mutley tunnel, just outside Plymouth.

Nevertheless it rolled into Plymouth North Road 20 minutes early, having covered the distance in three hours 16 minutes - a claimed new record for the class.

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After its run back from Plymouth via Okehampton – albeit sadly only possible via Exeter and not direct via Tavistock these days – ‘Western’ No. D1015 causes a bit of a stir at Waterloo on May 7 with Pathfinder’s ‘Western Challenger’ tour.

The outward run from Paddington was non-stop apart from just outside Plymouth, but was completed in a claimed record time for the class of three hours 16 minutes.

Jamie Squibbs

BLUEBELLS ON THE BLUEBELL:

The first railtour outing of the year for Hastings Diesels Limited’s DEMU No. 1001 was on May 7 when it ran from Hastings to the Bluebell Railway, with a four hour break at Sheffield Park, and then returned via Uckfield. The unit is pictured on the Bluebell Railway, heading south from Horsted Keynes at Lindfield Wood.

Jonathan Hughes

70 RAIL EXPRESS July 2016

After reversing, the train proceeded to Okehampton via Exeter, where the Dartmoor Railway used it to work the 14.55 Okehampton to Meldon Viaduct platform in order to run the ‘Western’ round. It then headed the 15.25 Meldon to Okehampton service to get it back in time for a 16.50 departure.

The return run to London took the train over the London & South Western Railway route via Honiton and Salisbury to Waterloo.

GBRf Inverness tour will mark passenger debut of No. 37025 THE Scottish Thirty-Seven Group’s popular ‘large logo’ Class 37 No. 37025 is to work its first railtour since getting main line clearance last December when it heads the Scottish Railway Preservation Society’s ‘Golden Stag’ to Inverness on July 16.

Inverness TMD, which has its home base at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, has been frequently seen across the network on one end of Network Rail’s test train during recent months, so for it to get its first railtour on its ‘home patch’ is somewhat fitting.

The ‘Golden Stag’ is to be worked

by GB Railfreight, marking a first-time partnership with the SRPS and a welcome expansion of GBRf’s operations north of the border.

A civilised 08.30 departure from Linlithgow sees the train head east to Winchburgh Junction from where it swings northwards for its crossing of the spectacular Forth Bridge, reaching Inverkeithing at 08.55. The ‘Tractor’ then proceeds through the Kingdom of Fife before arriving in Perth.

STRATHSPEY OPTION

Leaving Perth at 10.00, the next two hours are spent travelling through some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland as the ‘Golden Stag’ traverses the Highland Line over Drumochter summit - the highest point on Britain’s main line railway network.

There is an option to leave the train at Aviemore and take a trip on the Strathspey Railway, or alternatively stay with No. 37025 for an assault of the climb to Slochd and then on into Inverness.

The return journey has a provisional departure time of 18.00 from Inverness, after which the train, made up of the SRPS’ maroon set, will retrace its steps, arriving back in Linlithgow at 22.25.

For further information visit www. srps.org.uk or call 0131 202 1033.

RAILTOURS FORTHCOMING TOURS FOR JULY Date 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 7 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 11 12 13 13 13 14 14 14 15 15 16 16 16 16 17 19 20 22 22 23 23 23 23 23 23 24 24 24 24 25 26 26 27 27 27 28 29 29 30 30 31

Tour Name Harwich Pullman Steam & Jazz Turbo Prop Tracker Hadrian Cotswold Venturer Class 170 Farewell Golden Age of Travel – Kent Historic Canterbury Grand Tour of Great Britain (Day 1) London at Leisure Steam & Jazz Golden Age of Travel – Kent End of Southern Steam West Somerset Rambler Grand Tour of Great Britain (Day 2) Blenheim Palace/Worcester Waverley Sea Breeze Plockton & Kyle of Lochalsh Royal Duchy Grand Tour of Great Britain (Day 3) Grand Tour of Great Britain (Day 4) Grand Tour of Great Britain (Day 5) Conwy Valley Explorer Cambridge, Ely & Sandringham Grand Tour of Great Britain (Day 6) Swanage Belle Discover Folkestone Grand Tour of Great Britain (Day 7) Grand Tour of Great Britain (Day 8) Cathedrals Express West Somerset Steam Express Herd of Wildebeeste Lakeland Explorer Aviemore & Inverness Waverley Cathedrals Express Historic York Murder Mystery Lunch Grand West Highland Journey (Day 1) West Somerset Steam Express Grand West Highland Journey (Day 2) Cumbrian Mountain Express Golden Age of Travel by Steam Cheshire Cat Portrush Flyer Grand West Highland Journey (Day 3) North Wales Coast Express Boyne Cathedrals Express Grand West Highland Journey (Day 4) Welsh Mountaineer Grand West Highland Journey (Day 5) Dorset Coast Express Grand West Highland Journey (Day 6) Welsh Valley Explorer Cathedrals Express Murder Mystery Lunch Glorious Goodwood Cotswold Venturer The Eden Project and Padstow Cathedrals Express

From-To Victoria-Harwich Belfast circular Manchester Airport circular Leicester-York Paddington-Worcester Manchester Airport-Cleethorpes Victoria circular Victoria-Canterbury Edinburgh-Boat of Garten Manchester-London Belfast circular Victoria circular Waterloo-Weymouth Cardiff-Minehead Boat of Garten-Dundee Victoria-Worcester York-Carlisle Dublin-Rosslare Aberdeen-Kyle of Lochalsh Bristol-Par Dundee-North Wales Caernarfon-Bath Bath-Peterborough Harrogate-Blaenau Ffestiniog Victoria-Cambridge Wansford-Scarborough Victoria-Swanage Victoria-Folkestone Scarborough-Alnmouth Alnmouth-Edinburgh Victoria-Bristol Paddington-Minehead Waterloo-Paignton Taunton-Carlisle Linlithgow-Inverness York-Carlisle Victoria-Weymouth Victoria-York Victoria circular Edinburgh-Spean Bridge Paddington-Minehead Spean Bridge-Bridge of Orchy Crewe-Carlisle Victoria circular Eastleigh-Stockport Belfast-Portrush Bridge of Orchy-Gourock Liverpool-Holyhead Dublin-Dundalk Victoria-Canterbury Edinburgh-Boat of Garten Preston-Blaenau Ffestiniog Boat of Garten-Dundee Victoria-Weymouth Dundee-Edinburgh Barrow-Cardiff Paddington-Cardiff Bristol circular Victoria-Chichester Poole-Worcester Swansea-St Austell Paddington-Exeter

Motive Power Steam: 60163 Steam: 85 Class 170 (TPE) Class 47/57 (WCRC), Steam: 60103 Steam: 70013 Class 170 (TPE) Unspecified (DBC) Unspecified (DBC) Class 66 (GBRf) 2 x Class 57 (DRS) Steam: 85 Unspecified (DBC) Steam: 34052 or 34067 Class 66 (GBRf) Class 66 (GBRf) Unspecified (DBC) Steam: 60103 Steam: 4 2 x Class 47/57 (WCRC) Steam: TBA Class 66 (GBRf) Class 66 (GBRf) Class 66 (GBRf) 2 x Class 47/57 (WCRC) Unspecified (DBC) Class 66 (GBRf) Steam: 34067 or 70000 Unspecified (DBC) Class 66 (GBRf) Class 66 (GBRf) Steam: 34052 Steam: TBA 2 x Class 73/9 + 2 x Class 73/0 Class 68 (DRS) 37025 Steam: 60103 Steam: 61306 Unspecified (DBC) Unspecified (DBC) Class 66 (GBRf) Steam: TBA Class 66 (GBRf) Steam: 60009 Steam: 60163 2 x Class 37 (DRS) Steam: 85 Class 66 (GBRf) Steam: 45690 or 46100 Steam: 4 Steam: 61306 Class 66 (GBRf) Steam: 45305 or 48151 Class 66 (GBRf) Steam: 34067 or 70013 Class 66 (GBRf) 2 x Class 47/57 (WCRC) Steam: 61306 2 x Class 57 (DRS) Unspecified (DBC) Steam: 34067 2 x Class 57 (DRS) Steam: 61306

Promoter PRU RPSI BLS RTC RTC BLS BBP BBP BRS BNB RPSI BBP RTC PT BRS BBP RTC RPSI SRPS RTC BRS BRS BRS WCRC BBP BRS RTC BBP BRS BRS SD RTC UKR PT SRPS RTC SD BBP BBP BRS RTC BRS RTC BBP PT RPSI BRS RTC RPSI SD BRS RTC BRS RTC BRS WCRC SD BNB BBP RTC BNB SD

Jacobite Scarborough Spa Express Torbay Express Shakespeare Express

Fort William-Mallaig Carnforth-Scarborough Bristol-Kingswear Snow Hill-Stratford-Upon-Avon

Steam: 45407 or 44871 Steam: TBA Steam: 46100 Steam: 4946 or 5043

WCRC WCRC TEL VT

Regular services Weekdays Thursdays Sundays Sundays from 17

Promoter Codes: A1SLT – A1 Steam Locomotive Trust; AGA – Abellio Greater Anglia; BBP – Belmond British Pullman; BNB – Belmond Northern Belle; BRS – Belmond Royal Scotsman; NT – Nenta Traintours; PMRT – PMR Tours; PRU – Papyrus Rail UK; PT – Pathfinder Tours; RPSI – Railway Preservation Society of Ireland; RTC – Railway Touring Company; SD – Steam Dreams; SR – Statesman Rail; SRPS – Scottish Railway Preservation Society; TEL – Torbay Express Ltd; UKR – UK Railtours; VT – Vintage Trains; WCRC – West Coast Railways

July 2016 RAIL EXPRESS 71

POWER BY THE HOUR

Simon Bendall

GBRf ‘newbies’ amble into traffic

Two of GB Railfreight’s last batch of Class 66s saw action during May but the rest still await their main line debuts.

AS first mentioned last month, No. 66775 made its revenue-earning debut on May 4. Two days later, it was the turn of No. 66774 to venture out on the same diagram, handling the 6M73/10.52 Doncaster Decoy-Toton before moving on to the 6K50/15.13 Toton-Basford Hall. The latter was noted on the same workings on May 10 before going on to power the 6L15/17.52 Toton-Whitemoor engineers’ train the following evening.

The two GMs continued in this

vein for the remainder of the month, powering infrastructure trains around central England interspersed with short spells back in stored status at Doncaster Roberts Road.

For example, Nos. 66735 and 66774 top-and-tailed the 6E42/07.15 Stud Farm-Doncaster Decoy on May 13, while No. 66775 had charge of the 6D46/07.15 Stud Farm-Stapleford three days later followed by the 6L15 Whitemoor job. Later in the month, it was No. 66774’s turn to circulate between

Toton, Crewe and March Whitemoor Yard.

Resplendent in BR green, No. 66779 Evening Star was hauled as the 0Z66/17.53 Doncaster Roberts Road-York NRM via Knottingley on May 9, power coming from a ‘bulled up’ No. 66737 Lesia. Following its unveiling the next day (see headline news last month), No. 66779 remained on display at the museum for the remainder of the month while Nos. 66773/76-78 did not venture out from Roberts Road at all.

May 10 brought a changeover in the

GBRf Class 66s engaged on Crossrail duties, with Nos. 66760 and 66765 coming south from Peterborough to West London. Upon reaching Park Royal, they went their separate ways – with No. 66760 continuing to Westbourne Park, outside Paddington, to relieve No. 66772, which then headed for Peterborough and release into normal traffic. Meanwhile, No. 66765 ran to Plumstead, where it has joined Nos. 66767 and 66771 on dedicated works train duties. E

‘90’ CELEBRATES INDUSTRY SHOW: Class 90 No. 90019,

the former Penny Black, was named Multimodal at the industry exhibition of the same name at the NEC in Birmingham on May 11.

After the event, the DB red-liveried machine was reinstated to traffic along with classmate No. 90028.

Chris Playfair, DB Cargo

SECOND GBRF ‘66’ GETS SCOTSMAN LIVERY: No. 66743 was outshopped

from Eastleigh Works at the end of May in Royal Scotsman maroon livery – joining classmate No. 66746 for use hauling the luxury train around Scotland. The loco is pictured at Trowell Junction, north of Toton, while running light engine from Eastleigh to Doncaster Roberts Road on May 30. Steve Donald

‘50s’ HAUL WAGONS FOR STORE: May 24 brought the amazing sight – even in BR days never mind 2016 – of two Class 50s hauling a rake of coal hoppers. Nos. 50050 Fearless and 50007 Hercules were taking the 17 Freightliner HHA wagons from Crewe Basford Hall to Donnington IRFT for store – pictured passing Walcot in Shropshire. They later worked back to Crewe with a rake of nine IKA Megafrets. James Poole 78 RAIL EXPRESS July 2016

PRESERVATION

BIRTHDAY BASH: To celebrate his 80th birthday, Sir William McAlpine held a vintage transport festival at his estate in Henley-on-Thames on May 22, offering a rare chance for the public to ride his private Fawley Hill Railway. Most of the trains were hauled by steam, but a few featured resident Class 03 No. D2120, pictured leaving the line’s station with a brake van and wagon. Darren Ford

DIESEL DIARY Indomitable to visit Butterley NETWORK SouthEast is the theme for the ‘Railex’ model railway event at the Midland Railway-Butterley and, in keeping with this, No. 50026 Indomitable is due to put in an appearance.

In addition to the two locos which

are visiting for the season (Nos. 26038 and 55022), two more locos are planned to attend the NYMR gala, these being Class 40 No. D213 Andania and ScotRail-liveried No. 47712.

Later in the year, ‘Deltic’ No. 55022

will also be visiting the Nene Valley, where it will star at the East Coast Revival event as well as the autumn diesel gala.

The Bo’ness gala in late July should feature a number of visiting locos. A convoy from the East Lancs Railway

is due to include a pair of Class 40s (Nos. 40106 and D335) and ‘Crompton’ No. 33109. In addition, prototype HST power car No. 41001 will be making its first appearance north of the border and further visitors are likely to be announced over the next few weeks.

Diesel Galas

August 5-7: Spa Valley Railway August 6-7: Ecclesbourne Valley Railway August 13-14: Midland Railway– Butterley (Railex) September 3-4: Dean Forest Railway September 9-11: Mid-Norfolk Railway September 10-11: Great Central Railway

September 17-18: Epping Ongar Railway September 24: Welshpool & Llanfair September 24-25: East Lancashire Railway October 1-2: Isle of Wight Railway October 1-2: Ribble Railway October 8-9: GloucestershireWarwickshire Railway October 14-16: Nene Valley Railway

October 21-23: Spa Valley Railway November 5: East Lancashire Railway (DMU day) November 5-6: South Devon Railway December 30-31: Mid-Norfolk Railway

June 17-19: North Yorkshire Moors Railway July 2-3: GCR (North), Ruddington July 8-10: East Lancashire Railway July 15-17: Wensleydale Railway July 22-24: Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway July 22-24: Lavender Line July 29-31: GloucestershireWarwickshire Railway

Mixed Traction events:

July 23-24: Llangollen Railway August 27-29: Nene Valley Railway (East Coast Revival)

July 2016 RAIL EXPRESS 77