Rail Express magazine - June 2015

GREAT EASTERN

PRIDE

Full story of Stratford’s named Class 47s

0-60 CHALLENGE

How did a Class 90 fare?

Essential reading for today’s rail enthusiast

Remembering

White Cabs!

RAIL EXPRESS No. 229 JUNE 2015

As ‘Deltic’ works Royal Scotsman

NETWORK RAIL

LIFTS WEST COAST BAN 40 pages of modelling ■ Diesel-hydraulics in Gauge 1 ■ Building mesh-sided OBAs ■ Farish 47/7, Realtrack 143 and Bachmann hopper reviewed

RAIL PLANS REVEALED

by New Government DIAGRAMS ANNOUNCED for Cumbrian Coast locos

CONTENTS

Issue No. 229 June 2015

If there is one photo to show that the previously steam-only Bluebell Railway could pull off a successful diesel gala, then this is it. The platforms at Horsted Keynes are packed on April 19 as ‘Deltic’ No. 55019 approaches with the first up train to East Grinstead, while classmate No. D9009 (55009) waits to leave for Sheffield Park. Jonathan Hughes

8

HEADLINE NEWS

West Coast Railways’ suspension lifted; RAIB releases first findings into Wootton Bassett SPAD; new Government reveals strategy for rail; first Class 700 due in August; ‘Bubble Car’ debuts at Wensleydale; ‘47s’ work sleeper duties; diagrams announced for Cumbrian Coast loco-hauled.

29

EXPRESS MAILBAG

Comparing Class 21 and 22 bogies; Class 58 engine changes; Chadderton gravity shunting.

30

TIME TRAVELLER

71

PRESERVATION

GREAT EASTERN PRIDE

74

LU WORLD

0-60: CLASS 90

76

RAILTOURS

Previewing a new book in aid of the CFPS, which charts the life and times of Welsh ‘Whistlers’.

80

POWER BY THE HOUR

28

DERBY TRAINMAN

82

POWERSCENE

29

REVIEWS

90

16 18 25 26

REMEMBERING WHITE CABS

Looking back at the move by Finsbury Park depot to improve moral amongst its staff.

The full story of Stratford’s famous named ‘47s’, the last of which left the depot 25 years ago.

Testing these capable machines in East Anglia.

CLASS 40 COUNTRY: WALES

Part 4, and it’s a lesson in messroom humour.

A selection of the latest modern traction books.

MODELLING ‘OO’ gauge too small for you? How about ‘O’ gauge? Then Gauge 1 diesels could be for you. We also look in depth at mesh-sided OAA/OBA wagons and how to model them, plus take a wider view of road/rail lorries used on the West Highland line.

93 94 95 96

News from June over the last five decades.

SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS page M34

Early ‘Chopper’ changes hands; progress at the Fifty Fund; prototype HST power car to work public services at the end of May.

Ongar 150: tracing the history of the line now owned by the Epping Ongar Railway.

It’s been a quiet month, but one tour that did run covered rare Humberside branches.

Class 92s are in demand and in trouble.

Notable loco workings around the country.

UNITARY AUTHORITY

Off-lease Class 170 ‘Turbostars’ head south for new roles with Chiltern Railways and Southern.

SHUNTER SPOT

DB Schenker acquires battery powered shunters.

COACH COMPARTMENT

DRS acquisition head north for treatment.

WAGONS ROLL

DBS tries out two sets of ‘Ecofret’ triple flats.

IRISH ANGLE

DEMU to feature in this year’s railhead treatment programme; views sought on NIR service cuts.

‘Deltic’ No. 55022 looks superb in its guise as scrapped classmate No. 55003 Meld, as it heads the Royal Scotsman away from Fort William to Mallaig on May 2.

Note the lucky passenger on the veranda of the leading coach. We look back on the history of Finsbury Park’s white cabbed ‘Deltics’ on page 16. Jack Prentice

Editor’s comment PRINT & DISTRIBUTION Newstrade & distribution COMAG, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE.

Paul Bickerdyke

01895 433600 Printed by William Gibbons and Sons, Wolverhampton Published Third Thursday of every month

Rail Express Editor

This issue May 21, 2015 Next issue June 18, 2015 Advertising deadline June 4, 2015

West Coast back in action

S

O West Coast Railways is back in business.

Or, at least, it is on probation under Network Rail supervision. This is welcome news because WCR is the principal operator of charter trains across the country, and there has been a big hole in many people’s diaries since the ban was imposed at the start of April.

The seriousness of the incident that led up to the ban should not be dismissed lightly, however. Signals are there to keep everyone safe, and passing one at danger (a SPAD) is therefore a serious breach of safety.

When the WCR-operated steam charter ran through a red signal and came to rest across the junction at Wootton Bassett in March, the potential consequences do not bear thinking about. It is sheer luck that the previous train had already gone though and nothing else was due.

Had a HST or freight train smashed into the charter, it could have been a major tragedy with consequential loss of lives - and it is not difficult to imagine such an incident leading not only to the end of steam on the main line but heritage diesels and Mk.1 stock too.

But fortunately none of that happened this time. It is important to separate human error from systems failure as, sadly, the safe railway we have today has been built on a series of

ISSN No 1362 234X ©Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this

improvements made following a long list of actual disasters in the past.

West Coast Railways has worked hard to tighten up its procedures and has satisfied Network Rail enough to lift the suspension on its track access agreement.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is still looking into the Wootton Bassett SPAD. But let us hope the close shave this time never happens again, for the sake of passengers everywhere and the continued enjoyment of mainline railtours.

Come with us to Bournemouth

The publishers of Rail Express, Mortons Media, has teamed up with Virgin Trains and Direct Rail Services to promote a charity railtour from Chester to the Bournemouth Air Festival on August 22.

Picking up at Crewe, Stafford, Tame Bridge Parkway and Birmingham International, traction for the tour is expected to be Class 37s Nos. 37025 and 37401 hauling a rake of Mk.2 carriages with a Class 57 at the rear.

Tickets are only available by phone from Mortons Media’s head office, and for further details see the advert of page 91 in this issue.

Paul Bickerdyke

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EDITORIAL

Simon Bendall Editor Rail Express Modeller Power by the Hour Shunter Spot Name Game Spectrum

Editor Paul Bickerdyke

David Rapson Powerscene

Christopher Westcott LU World (with Piers Connor)

RailExpressEditor@mortons.co.uk Tel: 01507 529280 Editorial address Rail Express Magazine, Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ Member of the Professional Publishers Association

David Russell Preservation Railtours Unitary Authority Coach Compartment

Gareth Bayer Wagons Roll

William Watson Irish Angle (with Alan McFerran)

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HEADLINE NEWS

Follow us on twitter @railexpress

New Government reveals strategy for rail Fare rises will be restricted, there will be no new SRA-style body, and franchising will continue as before.

By ‘Industry Witness’ THE election of the new Conservative Government will result in a continuation of current rail policies and a commitment that any price changes for regulated fares, such as season tickets, will be restricted to the level of inflation over the next five years.

The flexibility to apply the increase on an average basis will also be curtailed so that the practice of varying the level of fares to suppress demand on busy routes will no longer be allowed. There is also a commitment to require the introduction of smart cards and season tickets that recognise that many passengers do not travel on a daily basis.

Since 2004, a policy has been in force to increase regulated ticket prices by 1% in real terms annually, with the aim of meeting 75% of industry costs from fares. This has resulted in a gradual increase in the

contribution by rail users towards investment and operating costs from 50% to 68% in the last 15 years.

This fares policy had become controversial as, since the financial crisis in 2008, there has been a decline in the level of average take home pay, which meant that the cost of essential rail travel was becoming unaffordable for many.

No changes to the structure of the industry will take place, including a rejection of the proposal that there should be publicly owned franchises.

A proposal to create a new National Rail organisation akin to the former Strategic Rail Authority will also not now take place.

FRANCHISING PROGRAMME TO RESTART IMMEDIATELY

The franchising programme will continue as planned. Bids are due to be submitted for the Northern and Trans Pennine Express contracts to enable

services to start in April 2016. This will ensure there is no delay to the substantial benefits that have been agreed for Northern services, which will see a 30% increase in peak-hour capacity in the major conurbations.

It has also been specified that bidders should include the provision of 120 new diesel vehicles, which are to be used to upgrade core inter-urban routes such as between Barrow-inFurness and Manchester Airport. There are also plans for the replacement of ‘Pacer’ units by 2020 as a result of a cascade of higher quality rolling stock displaced by national electrification schemes.

In the Conservative manifesto, a commitment was given to continue the level of rail spending, which envisages a £38 billion budget for Network Rail in the five-year period to 2019. This includes a £12 billion allocation for capacity enhancement and electrification, which reflects

investment such as the Northern Hub that will connect the separate rail networks that serve Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria stations.

Planning arrangements for the construction of HS2 will continue, along with a new HS3 trans-Pennine link between Manchester and Leeds.

Work will also continue on preparation for the Crossrail 2 line in London, a tunnelled route that will link the Great Northern and Great Eastern lines at New Southgate and Tottenham Hale with South Western infrastructure at Wimbledon.

The new Government has been particularly successful in winning all the Parliamentary seats west of Exeter in Devon and Cornwall, and it is likely to consolidate this by backing the First Group proposal to acquire seven nine-car and 22 five-car Hitachi AT300 bi-mode trainsets to replace the HST fleet used on West of England services from 2018.

First Class 700 due in August as depots near completion PRODUCTION of the Class 700 fleet for Govia Thameslink services is well underway at Siemens’ Krefeld factory in Germany, with the first unit No. 700104 due to arrive in the UK via the Channel Tunnel in August.

More than 200 bodyshells out of a total of 1,140 have already been manufactured, of which 100 are in the production phase and 92 undergoing final testing. Six complete units had been finished by early April. The fleet will comprise 60 eight-car Class 700/0 and 55 12-car Class 700/1 units.

Four units should be in the country by the end of the year, with introduction to service beginning from late-2016.

They will be based at new depots at Three Bridges, West Sussex, and Hornsey, North London. Both depots are nearing completion, with Three Bridges having been energised in April so that commissioning could begin.

The Class 700s will be owned by Cross London Trains, which will lease them to Govia Thameslink Railway for use on routes from Bedford, Peterborough and Cambridge to Brighton, Wimbledon and Sutton.

Above: Unit Nos. 700106, 700105 and 700103 inside the running shed at Wildenrath, Germany, awaiting testing. Siemens

Right: A view of the nearly completed depot at Three Bridges in April, which is either side of the Brighton main line. Siemens

June 2015 RAIL EXPRESS 11

HEADLINE NEWS

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‘Bubble Car’ makes quick debut after moving to the Wensleydale Railway

Former Arriva Trains Wales Class 121 is now active in preservation on the North Yorkshire heritage line.

By David Russell THE Wensleydale Railway took delivery of its newly acquired Class 121 ‘Bubble Car’ No. 55032 on May 1, the unit arriving by road from Tyseley.

It had travelled north from Aylesbury three days previously as the 5T00/12.41 Aylesbury-Tyseley Steam Trust, sandwiched between green-liveried ‘Bubble Car’ No. 55034, and Class 117 sandite set No. 960301, all forming the longest heritage DMU to operate on the main line since the withdrawal of the Class 101s at the end of 2003.

After being unloaded at Wensleydale, No. 55032 undertook a test run to Redmire and back the same day. Three days later, it made its debut passenger outing on the line, running two trips between Leeming Bar and Redmire.

The unit was last used in regular service on Arriva’s Cardiff Bay shuttles, and upon withdrawal was sold to Chiltern Railways, which offered it for disposal earlier this year. It is the unit’s second spell in preservation. In 1994, it was acquired by Pete Waterman and based at the East Lancashire Railway and Crewe

12 RAIL EXPRESS June 2015

‘Bubble Car’ No. 55032 is sandwiched between No. 55034 and Class 117 set No. 960301 at Leamington Spa on April 28, on its way to Tyseley for onward movement by road to its new home on the Wensleydale Railway. Mark Miller

Heritage Centre for a time, before being sold for main line use.

The Wensleydale Railway sees its ‘Bubble Car’ as being ideal rolling stock

for its shuttle services between Northallerton West and Leeming Bar, with it likely to share these duties with prototype railbus LEV1 as the service

develops. It can also be used as a replacement power car on one of the line’s other DMU sets in the event of a vehicle having to be taken out of traffic.

FLEET HISTORY

Great Eastern

Pride

Stratford’s named Class 47s

Between 1979 and 1986 a number of Stratford-based Class 47s gained names associated with East Anglia, and this May marks the 25th anniversary of the last example being transferred away. Gareth Bayer charts the locos’ history from the 1970s to the present day.

D

uring the 1970s, the large diesel depot at Stratford in East London began to push at the boundaries of the tightly controlled British Rail corporate image, and became particularly associated with smartly turned out Class 47s with silver roofs.

This most clearly manifested itself on Nos. 47163 and 47164, the pair of locomotives given large painted Union Flags in 1977 to commemorate The Queen’s Silver Jubilee.

Having got away with this patriotic statement, the pair was followed by No. 47460 in 1978, which challenged the status quo even further. As well as red bufferbeams and the trademark painted roof, now changed to a harder-wearing light grey shade, the ‘47’ was put into traffic on April 3 with the unofficial name Great Eastern. Its black-painted nameplate was apparently fashioned from wood with car number plate letters.

It is interesting to look back and wonder quite why the decoration caused

so much consternation in BR’s upper levels, especially as the infamous 1967 ‘no names’ declaration had already been rescinded in a BR Board memo of June 1977. This memo led to the first Western Region Class 50s gaining famous Warship identities, while the West Coast Main Line’s Class 87s were christened the ‘Royal Scot’ class with appropriately themed names.

A row developed over No. 47460’s nameplates and they managed to stay on the loco for just over two and a half weeks before finally being removed on April 20, 1978. The fuss was such that No. 47460 appeared as good as banished from East London, as it was moved to York the following month.

However, the setback for Stratford was only temporary.

OFFICIAL NAMINGS BEGIN

In the late 1970s, all services out of Liverpool Street were formed of steamheat Mk.1 and early Mk.2 coaching stock.

With wildly contrasting marker light positions, No. 47581 Great Eastern (left, complete with GER crest) and No. 47583 County of Hertfordshire (in transition to its well known Royal Wedding large logo paint job) pose at Stratford TMD on July 11, 1981.

Antony Guppy

18 RAIL EXPRESS June 2015

While a few low numbered non-generator Class 47/4s were allocated to Stratford, the depot still relied heavily on its fleet of Class 47/0s for motive power on the two principal routes to Norwich and King’s Lynn.

In 1979, Stratford’s Class 47 fleet comprised Nos. 47003-6/9-19/85/1148/35/55/6/8/60/2-4/7/9/70/2/80/3/ 4/255/78/9/91, many of which had been based in East London since the start of the decade. One of these was chosen to become the first officially named ‘47’ associated with the region.

The lucky recipient was No. 47184, the former D1779, which gained County of Cambridgeshire ’plates at Cambridge station on May 9, 1979.

The following three months saw more naming events, giving each of East Anglia’s five counties their own locomotive: Nos. 47180 (D1775) County of Suffolk at Ipswich on May 13; 47172 (D1767) County of Hertfordshire at Hertford East on July 26; 47167 (D1762)

County of Essex at Witham on August 2; and 47170 (D1765) County of Norfolk at Norwich on August 24.

As well as county emblems fitted above the nameplates, all received the full Stratford treatment befitting of their role representing the ancient regions of East Anglia, including grey roofs, red bufferbeams, silver buffers and pipework, white-walled tyres, yellow axleboxes and white bogie cabling.

The locos, which had their headcodes plated over, also had this area painted black to match the original marker light panel. These GE-named Class 47s turned heads wherever they went, especially outside their home region.

However, the real pride of Stratford was a sixth locomotive. Named at Liverpool Street on July 7, 1979, No. 47169 (D1764) was fitted with the Great Eastern name, this time with the blessing of BR management and unveiled by the Lord Mayor of London himself. The

FLEET HISTORY No. 47574 was notable for carrying two different names during its Stratford career. Dedicated Lloyd’s List 250th Anniversary at Liverpool Street in December 1984, it later wore Benjamin Gimbert G.C. ’plates after No. 47577 was transferred to Eastfield. Pictured at the ‘Street’ on May 12, 1985, about to depart with the 15.30 to Norwich, Lloyd’s List shows off its original style of sealed beam headlight. John Hooson

‘suits’ could hardly turn the dedication down after the release of No. 47500 Great Western at Old Oak Common earlier that year. Unlike the previous five ‘47s’, No. 47169 did not receive any crests at its official unveiling.

AIR-CON ARRIVES

With the introduction of HSTs on the East Coast and Great Western main lines, BR finally had enough of the early batches of air-conditioned Mk.2s to cascade to the Great Eastern, and the first upgraded services began in December 1980. This required a fleet of new electric train heat (ETH)-fitted Class 47/4s conversions, and Stratford began to receive its first examples for GEML operations in 1979.

The first two to be converted were already Stratford machines: the former flag waving No. 47164 (fresh from a brief exile to York and Healey Mills) and No. 47169 Great Eastern. Despatched to Crewe Works in the autumn, they returned as Nos. 47571 and 47581 in

November and December respectively.

As well as its new number, No. 47581 was also finally given Great Eastern Railway crests mounted above its nameplate. The following May it was honoured with an appearance at the Rainhill Cavalcade, the celebration to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway.

A further three Stratford machines received the call to Crewe during 1980, all taken from the named group. Nos. 47167 County of Essex, 47172 County of Hertfordshire and 47180 County of Suffolk became Nos. 47580 (May), 47583 (November) and 47584 (December) respectively, and were ready to heat the transferred ‘air-con’ sets when they arrived.

They were joined by Nos. 47519/21/2, sent down from York to cover for locomotives undergoing ETH conversion, and newly modified Nos. 47565-7 (ex-Immingham 47039/43/4),

No. 47568 (ex-Eastfield 47045) and No. 47576 (ex-47176, previously of Thornaby).

LARGE LOGO INTERLUDE

As Stratford had proven itself a specialist in the production line application of grey paint to locomotive roofs, the depot was given the job of repainting Class 56 No. 56036 in a modified livery that was designed to freshen up the 14-year-old corporate blue image.

The loco was released into traffic in June 1978 sporting a grey roof, yellow cabsides, black window surrounds and super-sized double arrows and TOPS numbers, with the scheme being quickly dubbed large logo.

Despite the generally positive reaction to the new look, it is possible that the Stratford painters were getting restless by the beginning of 1980 as no further large logo repaints had been sanctioned. It is against this background

that No. 47170 County of Norfolk was given black window surrounds with white lining in February of that same year.

This was quickly followed in May by the addition of full bodyside height double arrows and large numbers ready to work a resurrected ‘East Anglian’ on the 12th of the same month. This named train from the days of steam featured an accelerated 1 hour and 55 minute schedule, departing Liverpool Street for Norwich at 16.20 (and then onward to Great Yarmouth), with a balancing 07.18 Up working in the morning. The train also ran complete with a reproduction of the classic headboard.

While No. 47170 is perhaps best remembered for this hybrid livery, it was actually very short-lived. Its metamorphosis into large logo was completed by the end of June 1980 and it ran in this condition until it was damaged in a collision that December, resulting in a trip to Crewe Works.

By the time it returned to Stratford,

June 2015 RAIL EXPRESS 19

›

TRACTION & ROLLING STOCK

David Rapson

Powerscene

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

CLASS 20

TYPE 1s Nos. 20305+20308 set off from Crewe on April 12 with the ‘Dimple, Darley and Dale’ charter organised by Pathfinder Tours. The special was routed via Stafford to Bromsgrove where No. 37610 was removed, it having tailed the charter from Crewe.

The Type 1s later headed for Bartonunder-Needwood (Central Rivers) via Birmingham New Street thence on to Matlock and back to Crewe via Walsall.

Subsequently, the duo remained in partnership to work the Berkeley flasks on April 15 before heading along the North Wales coast to Valley on April 23.

Elsewhere, Nos. 20096+20107 took five MRAs from Ferme Park to Tonbridge West Yard on April 1 and next day formed part of a seven locomotive light engine move from Tonbridge to Hoo Junction along with Nos. 20901+20905 and Nos. 73107/28/36. The quartet of Type 1s then powered the 6G14/10.13 Hoo Junction-Charlton on April 3 and

the 6G14/10.57 return on April 5 with more than 1000 tonnes of ballast, spoil and sleepers before stabling at St Leonards on the afternoon of April 6.

A week later, on April 13, Nos. 20096+ 20107 could be found in top-and-tail mode with Nos. 20118+20132 on the 7X09/11.47 Old Dalby-West Ruislip with LUL sets Nos. 21451/2, and the same four locomotives subsequently handled 7X09 on April 15 (with sets Nos. 21447/8) and April 20 sandwiching ‘S’ Stock units Nos. 21453/4.

CLASS 31

HAVING maintained a low profile for several months before the end of March, No. 31190 was out on the main line on April 9 hauling Class 50 No. 50035 from Eastleigh Works to RVEL Derby, Ark Royal being destined for a repaint into BR blue livery.

A week later (April 16), No. 31190 hauled K4 2-6-0 No. 61994 The Great Marquess from York NRM to Grosmont

while April 29 found the green Type 2 heading the 5Z34/10.39 Brush Loughborough-Wembley LMD past Ridgmont with Chiltern Railways DVT No. 82302 in tow.

Also in the HTLX pool, No. 31601 has been involved in similar movements. For instance, it had four locomotives (Nos. 33109, 50008/15 and 56104) in tow heading from Fletton (Nene Valley Railway) to Heywood (East Lancashire Railway) on April 13 before taking No. 50008 on to Washwood Heath next day. Then, before heading off to Crewe DMD towards the end of the month, No. 31601 hauled prototype HST power car No. 41001 from Neville Hill to Hotchley Hill on April 17.

While nothing has been seen of No. 31105 on test train work this year, fellow QADD examples Nos. 31233, 31285 and 31465 have been active of late. The first of this trio undertook various tasks during the first two weeks of April before working the

3Z01/19.57 Didcot-Derby RTC on April 16 with coaches Nos. 977985/6, 62384 and driving trailer No. 9708. The same set of vehicles formed the 3Z08/17.54 Derby RTC-Exeter Riverside behind No. 31285 on April 27. Two evenings later, No. 31285 headed off to Bristol covering the branches to Avonmouth and Hallen Marsh. Meanwhile, No. 31465 reached Ferme Park late on April 20 with an ultrasonic test train and next day visited Chingford, Cambridge and Stansted Airport before heading off to Ipswich on April 22 and then Norwich and Harwich.

CLASS 37

AFTER taking the empty coaches from Crewe to Eastleigh the previous day, Nos. 37218+37607 powered the first leg of Pathfinder Tours’ ‘Easter Chieftain’ special on April 3.

Running as the 1Z68/05.20 Eastleigh-Inverness, the venerable Type 3s travelled 649 miles via

Harry Needle’s Type 1 No. 20906 is still busily employed at the Hope Cement Works in Derbyshire, the loco seen leaving the main line behind at Earles Exchange Sidings on April 18. James Austin

82 RAIL EXPRESS June 2015

TRACTION & ROLLING STOCK Swindon, Oxford, Crewe, Shap, Motherwell and Perth. This was followed by a jaunt from Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh (April 4) before Nos. 37218+37607 set off to cover the 352 mile round trip between Inverness and Wick the following day.

The weekend outing was concluded on April 6 when the Class 37s headed back to Hampshire. They remained in harness, however, handling the 6S43/06.23 Carlisle Kingmoor-Torness flasks on April 14 and then the 6S99/05.56 Kingmoor-Georgemas Junction next day, just 10 days after their appearance in the Far North on the ‘Easter Chieftain’.

Having handled the Wylfa Power Station traffic from Valley on Anglesey (April 16), Nos. 37604+37612 ventured to East Anglia on test train work, which included an unplanned use on April 20 to recover failed No. 90014 and its train from outside Colchester. The following day found the Type 3s at Southend Victoria and Dagenham Dock.

On April 22, Nos. 37059+37605 took three Mk.1 coaches south as the 5Z70/08.28 Crewe HS-Hereford where they attached a further four coaches left at Hereford three weeks earlier.

Nos. 37059+37605 then formed the 5Z58/11.11 Eastleigh TMD-Crewe HS on April 23 with another set of a dozen vehicles ready for use on Pathfinder Tours’ ‘Devon Explorer’ (the 1Z74/05.58 Crewe-Meldon Quarry) on April 25.

CLASS 47

APRIL witnessed a downturn in both coal and charter traffic, the latter considerably reducing the number of Class 47 passenger workings.

Nonetheless, the daily Anglian DMU substitution diagram has continued to see the type handling passenger trains between Norwich and the coastal towns of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, although these services will soon go over to Class 37 operation.

‘Northern Belle’-liveried No. 47790 Galloway Princess and No. 47818 handled the bulk of the duties from the beginning of the month until April 20 when the former was briefly replaced

by No. 47805 John Scott 12.5.4522.5.12, although Nos. 47790 and 47818 were reunited on April 24.

Various stock moves involved No. 47805 collecting Mk.2f coach No. 6117 from Derby RTC on April 2 and transporting the vehicle to Norwich Crown Point while No. 47813 Solent moved Mk.3 No. 12109 from Norwich to Wolverton Works on April 9. Four days later, No. 47813 had charge of the 5Z45/11.20 Stewarts Lane-Eastleigh Works with a short set of Belmond British Pullman coaches, while, on April 14, the same Type 4 ran from Willesden Brent to Daventry and collected a single IDA twin flat for onward transfer to Stowmarket thence to WH Davis at Shirebrook the next morning.

The GBRf pairing of Nos. 47812 and large-logo blue 47847 handled the gypsum workings (4D93/09.41 Doncaster Down Decoy-Drax and the 4D31/16.12 return) on April 16 but this proved to be their last appearance for

With the Houses of Parliament in the background, a First Great Western HST set with power cars Nos. 43087 and 43144 approaches Vauxhall on April 5 while working from London Waterloo to Penzance. The train had been diverted from Paddington owing to engineering work at Reading. Alex Thorkildsen

Name game

the time being. Two days later, in the company of No. 66732 GBRf The First Decade 1999-2009 John Smith MD, the Type 4s ran light from Doncaster to Polmadie ready to undertake empty coaching stock duties between there and Glasgow Central. Back on April 2, No. 47843 Vulcan was entrusted to work a rake of coal hoppers solo as the 4R63/08.00 Doncaster DecoyImmingham Mineral Quay.

by Simon Bendall

LOCO NAMINGS 08164 Prudence Bury, East Lancashire Railway 04.15 Reapplication of nameplates to the preserved shunter following repainting in BR blue, the name having previously been carried in the 1990s while in RFS ownership.

43026 Michael Eavis London Paddington station 23.04.15 Naming of the HST power car after the founder of the Glastonbury music festival, which First Great Western supports by running additional services to Castle Cary. Previously named City of Westminster.

CLASS 56

FORMER Fastline example No. 56301 was regularly noted during the month and on April 7 had charge of the 6Z36/17.38 Stockton-Cardiff Tidal scrap metal, it returning to the north east next day with the 6Z35/18.18 Cardiff Tidal-Stockton. Two days later, there was a trip in store from Bristol Barton Hill to Wembley LMD with Mk.3 coach No. 12606, but No. 56301 was back on the Cardiff to Stockton run by April 15, handing over to No. 56312 at Washwood Heath. No. 56301 was next recorded atop the 6Z57/10.16 CalvertWillesden Euroterminal on April 27 and on the following two days also.

60039 Dove Holes Dove Holes Quarry 27.04.15 Twinning of DB Schenker with the Cemex-operated quarry at Peak Forest, which has despatched stone by rail for many decades. Previously named Glastonbury Tor.

CLASS 57

66754 Northampton Saints Wellingborough Yard 22.04.15 Naming of the GB Railfreight loco after the Northampton Saints rugby club, who were champions of the Aviva Premiership in the 2013-14 season. Also commemorates GBRf’s contract with club supporter GRS Roadstone to deliver aggregates to Wellingborough for use in the surrounding area.

DRS hire-in No. 57303 Pride of Carlisle and No. 57604 Pendennis Castle were to be found at either end of the First Great Western sleeping cars forming the 1A40/21.45 Penzance-Paddington late on April 6. Thereafter, No. 57303 handled the Night Riviera trains on a number of occasions during April.

No. 57602 Restormel Castle took HST vehicle No. 42519 (sandwiched between Mk.3b BFOs Nos. 17173 and

66741 Swanage Railway Swanage station 07.05.15 Naming of the Class 66/7 after the Dorset preserved line ahead of its diesel gala, the nameplates incorporating an image of Corfe Castle. Loco previously named Sophie while running as Freightliner’s No. 66581.

66751 Inspiration Delivered Asfordby Test Centre 27.04.15 Hitachi Rail Europe Named to mark GB Railfreight winning the contract to provide haulage for the Hitachi pre-series Class 800 trains during their testing phase on the East Coast and Great Western routes. No. 66751 will be dedicated to this duty, having received retractable Scharfenberg couplings on its cab fronts in order to transfer the units to and from the newly rebranded Rail Innovation Development Centre at Asfordby.

›

DE-NAMINGS 67014 Thomas Telford 92014 Emile Zola 92023 Ravel 365527 Robert Stripe Passengers’ Champion

Crewe Electric TMD Brush, Loughborough Brush, Loughborough Ilford EMUD

04.15 03.15 03.15 04.15

June 2015 RAIL EXPRESS 83

New Graham Farish pushpull Class 47/7 reviewed

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ScotRail push-pull favourites unveiled Bachmann has added another version of the Brush Type 4 to its ‘N’ gauge range in the form of the Class 47/7s.

ANNOUNCED a couple of years ago, Bachmann has now delivered its ‘N’ gauge version of the popular Class 47/7 push-pull locomotives, these arriving somewhat in advance of the new Mk.2f coaches and DBSOs they are designed to accompany.

Unveiled at the same time, the new coaching stock has yet to appear in physical form so modellers will have to content themselves with four versions of the Type 4s for now.

Bachmann has focused on the first 15 years or so of the sub-class for its initial releases, eschewing the many colourful privatisation liveries that they went on to carry. Pictured here are two of the Scottish Region trio in the form of No. 47701 Saint Andrew in BR blue with its Stratford-baiting Rail grey roof (372243) and No. 47710 Sir Walter Scott in the much-liked ScotRail colours (372245). Also due for release are No. 47711 Greyfriars Bobby in BR large logo blue and, from their second career south of the border, No. 47715 Haymarket in revised Network SouthEast.

Of the two models illustrated, No. 47701 is represented as running in 1981-82 with marker light panels in position but prior to the accident in October 1982 that would leave it with a

flush-fronted No. 2 end. Meanwhile, No. 47710 depicts the last years of service with ScotRail, the cab roof aerials and Eastfield terrier motifs making it suitable for 1988-90.

Tanks of contention

Commendably, Bachmann has tooled up two new bodyshells for the Class 47/7s, with and without the aforementioned aerials. In both cases, the distinctive RCH jumper cables that were fitted to the cab fronts to allow push-pull operation are moulded in place. These are neatly picked out in black and orange, offering a visual improvement over the separate all-orange mouldings given to the 4mm model, even if the black does not quite cover the sides of the moulded cable in places.

The extended range fuel tank style of underframe is present for the first time on the retooled Farish Class 47, although this is of the later pattern with the angled corner piece, so not quite correct for any of the push-pull subclass. Additionally, as many modellers will know, the other defining characteristic of the Class 47/7s is the white-painted coiled brake pipe fitted to one side of the underframe above the battery boxes.

Disappointingly and surprisingly, Bachmann has chosen not to represent this feature on any of the new models.

When queried, the manufacturer confirmed that this omission is down to the cost of tooling a bespoke underframe tank for the Class 47/7 with the brake pipe moulded as part of it, as already seen on the Class 57/3. Instead, a standard long range underframe has been provided but the decision does detract from the model’s appearance.

Lighting up

Both models sport directional headlights, marker lights and tail-lights, these being of a suitable brightness.

While No. 47710 has standard square headlights, No. 47701 is meant to feature the round ‘car-type’ headlights that the Class 47/7s were originally fitted with.

Given the difficulties of making such a headlight design actually work in miniature, No. 47701 just sports a round LED pushed through a hole in the cab fronts with no attempt at adding a representation of the headlight surround. While it is difficult to see what else could have been done if the model was to have working headlights, the visual appearance of a bare LED

protruding out is not particularly appealing, up close at least.

Happily, the remaining areas of the models are up to the usual standard with a nicely tooled bodyshell, all-wheel drive chassis and a six-pin DCC socket. The provided accessory bag contains a full set of bufferbeam pipework, including ETH cables that correctly plug into the cab fronts rather than the bufferbeams.

The livery application is also to a high standard, both models featuring accurate colours with only a hint of fuzzy edges here and there, such as around the yellow on No. 47701. The printing is similarly good with legible data panels and depot allocation stickers.

Overall though, the Class 47/7s have to go down as something of a disappointment. While they look very nice out of the box and will certainly go well with the new Mk.2f coaches, to specifically produce a push-pull Class 47 and then leave off a key and very obvious modification for cost cutting reasons is a most unfortunate decision.

Review by Simon Bendall Farish by Bachmann, Moat Way, ❒ Graham Barwell, Leicestershire, LE9 8EY. Web: www.bachmann.co.uk

£ RRP: £119.95

A comparison of the cab fronts shows the contentious headlight on BR blue No. 47701, the LED being meant to represent the ‘car type’ headlight. The large diameter hole alongside is the mount for the ETH cable, which is provided in the accessory bag.

Supplement No. 134

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Realtrack achieves a First

All four versions of the new Class 143 DMU are now available, allowing a closer look at the FGW releases.

IT HAS been a long time coming but April finally saw Realtrack Models receive the main production batch of its newly tooled Class 143 ‘Pacer’ DMU. A limited number of the ‘OO’ gauge models had been delivered prior to this, allowing some to go on sale, such as at last November’s Warley show when the Arriva Trains Wales duo first appeared.

While this version was reviewed at the time, the DMU is well worth revisiting now that the First Great Western models have arrived in bulk. As before, two different running numbers have been produced, both carrying the complex Local Lines livery. This vinyl colour scheme first appeared on the Class 143s in December 2008, it utilising several hundred place names to make up the white, red and blue bodyside stripes. Although the livery has since fallen out of favour with First Great Western, it is still retained by all of the company’s ‘Pacer’ fleet today.

Pictured here is No. 143619 (RT143214), which was reliveried in June 2009 and displays the destination blinds of Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach.

Joining it is No. 143618 (RT143-213), which shows Paignton and Exmouth and received the livery three months before its sister.

A work of art

Quite rightly, the re-creation of the Local Lines livery is winning Realtrack numerous plaudits from modellers, fully

justifying the time and effort spent on getting it as accurate as possible, even if it did delay the models by a few more months. The printing of the numerous place names must rank as one of the most complex applications yet undertaken on a 4mm scale model, especially considering they are all fully legible, even if a magnifier is needed to read the smallest ones!

Allied to the attractive dark blue and pink paintwork, the model looks excellent out of the box. The other neat touches already seen with the previous models are also apparent once more, including the painted internal door handrails, correct high-backed seating type and colours, glazed internal partitions and all the small printed details adorning the bodysides and the underframe.

As with the Arriva units, the FGW pair display all the detail alterations that are required to set them apart from the earlier Class 144s, including revised front fairings and underframe details.

The same low-profile mechanism is employed to drive both axles of the DMSL car with the other vehicle, the DMS, housing the 8-pin DCC socket, circuit board and speaker enclosure, with a power coupling connecting the two.

Choose your spec

At additional cost, Realtrack offers various ordering options beyond the as

M30 RAIL EXPRESS Modeller June 2015

supplied model, including fitting either a DCC decoder or a DCC sound chip and speaker, along with painted passenger figures. Directional and internal lighting is provided as standard, albeit without on/off switches for DC users, while the only contents of the accessory bag are dummy BSI couplings to plug into the NEM pockets. The only minor quibbles with the model remain the propensity for the glazing to get scratched during assembly, particularly on the doors, and the indifferent fit of the NRN radio pod baseplates against the roof. Other than that, the model is superb.

With the initial tranches of the Class 143s and Class 144s now completed,

Realtrack is due to announce its next multiple unit models later this year.

Hopefully, it will not be too long before the manufacturer returns to these ‘Pacers’ though and backdates them to British Rail days with the necessary tooling alterations. Provincial blue and Tyne & Wear PTE yellow/white would look particularly fetching on the Class 143s! Review by Simon Bendall

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Realtrack Models, 111 Norwood Crescent, Stanningley, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS28 6NG. Web: www.realtrackmodels.co.uk RRP: £120

Supplement No.134

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