Sommaire pour January 2017 de Rail Express

THIS will be a big year for modern traction, as 2017 is the diamond jubilee of the first main line diesel fleets starting work with British Railways. Yes there had been shunters and prototypes developed by the ‘Big Four’, but it was only after the Second World War that things could really get going – and then only reluctantly, as ‘Men of Steam’ were still at the top of the railway hierarchy. Diesels were more expensive to build than steam, and Britain had plenty of coal but no oil at that time. The 1955 Modernisation Plan recognised the long-term benefits of diesels, however, and set out a pilot scheme to trial different locos from different manufacturers – a sensible idea, if only BR had stuck to it and not rushed…

HULL Trains launched an initiative in 2012 to privately fund electrification between the East Coast Main Line at Temple Hirst Junction and Hull. Amey, the project partner, estimated that the cost would be in the order of £70 million, and a detailed project plan was submitted to Network Rail. At the time, it was also Network Rail’s intention to provide wiring between Leeds and Selby by 2019, so a number of other operators serving Hull could utilise the electrified infrastructure. But in addition to this latter project’s delay, NR sought an overall route modernisation scheme that added additional work to the provision of overhead wiring, meaning the proposal ceased to have a viable economic case. The current 125mph Class 180 DMUs used by Hull Trains are expensive to run in…

AFTER more than 13 years at the Wensleydale Railway, Class 110 power cars Nos. 51813 and 51842 returned to the East Lancs Railway on November 14. The two cars, and their centre car No. 59701, were moved to the Wensleydale Railway when the line opened in 2003. However, following mechanical issues, the power cars have not seen use since 2012. The centre TSL (Trailer Standard Lavatory) moved to the Churnet Valley Railway in 2010 and, after returning to the ELR earlier this year, it is now back in traffic. Work on bringing the unique power cars back to operational condition has already started, with No. 51842 receiving corrosion damage repairs and investigations into engine problems taking place. November 15 saw the arrival at the Wensleydale Railway of the first of…

AFTER only a few weeks operating in BR blue, No. 37099 was despatched to Cardiff Canton on November 4 for repainting in Colas house colours. By the end of the month, the work had been completed, the Type 3 sporting yellow and orange, complete with black headcode boxes. The only other loco repainted in a quiet month was DRS’ No. 57304 at Eastleigh Works, this now carrying the latest version of the ‘compass’ scheme. Slightly surprisingly, the application of the new TransPennine Express livery has resumed, Nos. 185131 and 185144 appearing in the silver and blue vinyls in quick succession in late November. To the disquiet of traincrew and enthusiasts alike, the set numbers are now carried low down on the cabsides rather than on the cab fronts. Mentioned last…

■ DB CARGO: Seventeen former BNA/BMA wagons have been recycled as part of the MXA box wagon project (Nos. 965032/3/5/6/43/9/50/7/60/1/6/9/72/3/5/7/9), but it appears that the already rebuilt underframes may have been the weak link in the programme. Three examples, Nos. 965033 (82 70 4703 087-5), 965050 (82 70 4703 089-1) and 965079 (82 70 4703 186-5) have been returned to Axiom Rail at Stoke-on-Trent and are expected to lose their bodies and then be scrapped on site. The first replacement MXA to emerge from the workshops is No. 950923, the first newly-overhauled frame for several months. This has gained a box recovered from an as yet unknown source as well as a new UIC number No. 82 70 4703 214-5, which follows on from the original series. There are 14…

THE latest addition to the range of ‘OO’ gauge limited editions offered by the Bachmann Collectors’ Club was unveiled at Warley. This takes the form of Brush Type 4 No. D1733 in its unique XP64 mid blue livery, as unveiled in 1964 as British Railways took its first step towards a new corporate image. The model carries the red-backed BR arrows on its cabsides, the first loco to do so, even if they were only in place for a short time. Also present are the original three-piece radiator grilles and appropriate headcode displays. Available only to club members, the model is priced £134.95 and limited to 504 examples. Also new is a further limited edition EFE bus with a railway connection, this depicting a Daimler DMS in Network SouthEast colours.…

Non-Pool Freight Stock 1948-1968 Volume 2 – Privately-owned and European Vehicles (Including ICI, Regent, Shell-Mex and BP) . By David Larkin. Published by Kestrel Railway Books, PO Box 269, Southampton, Hampshire, SO30 4XR. Softback 215mm x 272mm, 96 pages. Price £16.00. ISBN 978-1-905505-41-8. NOW available is the second volume of David Larkin’s exploration of the early private owner or ‘non-pool’ wagon fleets, this covering the British Railways period of 1948 to 1968. With volume one having dealt with owners between A and H, this edition mops up the remainder. As such, big names include Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), Regent Oil, Traffic Services, United Molasses and the vast Shell Mex-BP joint fleet. Many smaller companies also feature as well, some familiar, others less so. As with the first book, the…

NETWORK RAIL TO SHARE RAIL MAINTENANCE TRANSPORT minister Chris Grayling has announced plans to allow train operating companies to take over responsibility for maintaining the rail infrastructure they use – a move he believes will lead to quicker repairs and less disruption. Network Rail has been in sole charge of the network since taking over from failed private firm Railtrack in 2002. The new idea is to introduce ‘vertical integration’, with operators responsible for both train services and the track they run on. The changes will come into effect as new franchises are awarded, the first being Southeastern and East Midlands Trains. TRAIN FARES TO RISE BY 2.3% TRAIN fares are to rise by 2.3% from January 2, which is an average figure for both regulated and unregulated tickets. Regulated…

An Illustrated Historical Review of the Clayton Type 1 Bo-Bo Diesel-Electric Locomotives – Class 17 By John Hooper Published by Book Law Publications www.booklaw.co.uk 152 pages, some colour, 280x220mm, hardback. £26.99 ONCE in a while a book comes along that stands out above others – and this is one of them. It is remarkable not just for the length of the title, but for the immense amount of data and photographs on this fairly elusive fleet of locos all gathered together in one volume. There is photo after photo of the class at work, rest and play – showing a wide range of workings, including some on passenger, at a wide range of locations. But it is more than a picture and caption book, even though that on its own…

THE Branch Line Society’s ‘Vossloh Voyager’ on January 14 might hint at Class 220 traction, but the real clue is in the first word. For this jaunt between various South West Trains depots will be worked by Class 455s EMUs Nos. 455732 and 455870, which have been recently used as the test bed for the new Vossloh Kiepe three-phase AC traction motor project. The special fundraising charter is being run in conjunction with South West Trains, with the aim of traversing three much sought-after depots/ yards and other lines of interest in and around London, Surrey and Middlesex -including East Putney in both directions. All profits from ticket sales will be donated to SWT’s nominated charity, the Railway Benefit Fund, as well as on-train fundraising activities. The SWT-approved itinerary sees…

AN appeal to raise £9000 to help pay for repairs to Drewry Railcar No. DB998901, which was damaged in an arson attack at the Middleton Railway in February, has been launched by the EM2 Locomotive Society. Although an insurance payment has been received, this is insufficient to completely fund the repairs and transport fees to Ingrow on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. If ‘Operation Phoenix’ is unsuccessful, then the future of No. DB998901 is bleak. A restoration plan has been agreed with the Vintage Carriages Trust, which carried out the vehicle’s restoration in 2015. This will see it sent away for attention during 2017 providing sufficient donations are received. The VCT will undertake bodywork repairs and replace all doors and windows, with interior work being carried out by the…

THE 60th anniversary of the entry to service of the very first Class 31 No. D5500, which was taken into stock on October 10, 1957, is to be commemorated at the Nene Valley Railway’s Diesel Gala on October 13-15. One of the stars of the show is planned to be No. 31414, returning to service following its restoration at Barrow Hill, and in addition to locos from the A1A Locomotives fleet, discussions are taking place with other Class 31 owners. The event is also expected to feature some non-Class 31 traction. New additions to the gala listing for 2017 include those at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, where Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ No. D9537 will be visiting on March 18/19 while on its way back from the Spa Valley Railway to…

COLAS RAIL DESPITE November bringing some reliability issues, Colas now has seven Class 56s available for traffic after No. 56094 was reinstated to the COFS pool in mid-month following prolonged repairs. The only stored ‘Grids’ on the company’s books now are Nos. 56049, 56051 and 56090, all of which have yet to work for Colas since their acquisition, although Nos. 56049 and 56090 have received attention and a repaint in orange and yellow. DB CARGO A QUIET month for the DB fleet saw No. 60063 reinstated after repairs and take up shunting duties at Peak Forest, while No. 66098 took its place in store at Toton. Further Class 92s look set to move to Eastern Europe, with stored No. 92022 reallocated to the WGEE pool late in November and equally…

AS of late November, more than half of the Class 442 fleet had been moved to the Potter Group site at Ely for secure storage pending future use. One set is to be used by Rail Operations Group on a charter train at the end of December, while Alliance Rail hopes to use these units on its Grand Southern services between Southampton and Waterloo from December 2017 should its plans come to fruition (see Headline News). It is understood there has also been interest from at least one bidder for the next South West Trains franchise, which could result in the units returning to their former stamping ground on trains between Waterloo and Weymouth, where they operated until 2007. Movements of units in recent weeks have included No. 442404 as…

Freightliner STILL proving troublesome, No. 08530 departed Felixstowe on November 10 for its second visit to LH Group Services within three months. As before, Wabtec’s No. 08571 has again been provided as cover at the container terminal, it arriving the previous day from the Midlands. HNRC WITH repairs completed at Barrow Hill, No. 08924 was despatched back to Cardiff Tidal in late November, allowing No. 08389 to make the return journey via a weekend layover at Wishaw. Also among the HNRC fleet, No. 08714 has been erroneously reallocated to the MBDL private owner fleet rather than the company’s own pools. HNRC has also completed repairs on GB Railfreight’s No. 08925, this leaving Barrow Hill for Tyseley on November 18, where it was due to undergo tyre turning. However, the lorry…

DBC MOVEMENTS FOLLOWING on from their move to Wakefield Europort (see last month’s issue), the seven DB Cargo Mk.2 ‘air-cons’ that had previously been at Bescot were moved the short distance to Healey Mills by No. 60059 Swinden Dalesman on October 26 for use in an emergency services exercise, which also involved Nos. 94227/429/545. Once the exercise was completed, No. 60059 departed with the coaches (Nos. 5922/24/59, 6036, 6152, 9529/31) and ten VGA/VKA wagons on October 29 as the 6Z72/13.30 Healey Mills-Doncaster Belmont Yard. DBSO GOES FOR SCRAP USED as a spares donor during the overhaul of the other Mk.2f Driving Brake Standard Open vehicles for Direct Rail Services, No. 9713 was despatched from Loram, Derby to CF Booth, Rotherham for scrap in early November. Other…

SO, that was 2016. A modelling year that will perhaps be best remembered for the rise of numerous small manufacturers, all promising, and in some cases delivering, highly useful models that will plug several important gaps. Their focussed approach and willingness to listen to customers is also refreshing, resulting in benefits all round. On the downside, the year ends with the spectre of significant price rises hanging over the hobby as a result of the poor exchange rate. With Dapol and Hornby having already recently increased prices as a result of this, 2017 could get even worse as the Brexit process gets underway. Model railway retailers are already reporting a noticeable drop in sales as prices spiral ever upwards and with record numbers of new models on the way, can…

WARLEY saw Revolution Trains unveil the next wagon planned for ready-to-run production in ‘N’ gauge, this taking the form of the increasingly common HOA/IIA bogie aggregates hopper. Introduced in 2006, EWS acquired 68 wagons from Astra Rail of Romania, the distinctively-shaped HOAs soon seeing use out of Peak Forest in particular. Initially carrying EWS grey, some soon received Cemex blue/grey and more recently DB red. The design, now coded IIA, was resurrected this year by VTG and Ermewa with a further 118 wagons appearing for Tarmac and Mendip Rail. Once again to be produced by Rapido Trains, the HOAs will be to the same acclaimed standard as the TEAs and will employ crowdfunding methods as before to finance the model’s development. All five main liveries are planned with a mix…

■ Newly released by Railtec Models are transfers for the Railway Support Services Class 08 hire fleet. Developed with the assistance of the company, logos, small details and numbers for 08441, 08511 and 08670 are provided (2489, 4mm £7.50, 7mm £10.90). www.railtec-models.com ■ DJ Models has announced the prices for its forthcoming Class 92 in both 2mm and 4mm, as well as shown off ‘in progress’ CAD images. The ‘N’ gauge Brush electric will be £139.95 when it goes on general sale but advance orders via crowdfunding will only be £115 for the first model and £105 for each subsequent order. In 4mm, the prices will be £159.95 upon full release with the discounts being £134.95 for the first pre-order and £119.95 thereafter. Sound versions will cost £90 and £95…

JANUARY 7 Maidenhead Model Railway Exhibition, Cox Green Community Centre, 51 Highfield Lane, Maidenhead, Berks. www.mmdmrc.org.uk 10am-5pm. Adult £4.50, child £2, family £10. JANUARY 7/8 ScoutRail 2017, Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxfordshire. www.scoutrail.org.uk 10am-4.30pm. Adult £3.50, concessions £2.50, child £1.50. JANUARY 14 DEFine Modellers’ Day, Risley Memorial Village Hall, Derby Road, Risley, Derbyshire. www.definemodellers.wordpress.com 10am-4pm. Admission £3. For layout details see text. JANUARY 14/15 The Chiltern Model Railway Exhibition, Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, Lytton Way, Stevenage, Herts. www.cmra.org.uk 10am-5.30pm Sat, 10am-4.30pm Sun. Adult £8, accompanied child free. Layouts include Oulton TMD (OO), Vopak Barry Docks (OO), Black Country Blues (EM), Canada Street (EM) and Netherwood Sidings (O). JANUARY 20-22 London Model Engineering Exhibition, Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, London. www.londonmodelengineering.co.uk 10am-5pm Fri/Sat, 10am-4.30pm Sun. Adult £12,…

ALSO released by Hornby during November were the Virgin East Coast-liveried HST trailers, this particular set of Mk.3 coaches having been keenly awaited by many modellers to go with the already available power cars. Disappointingly, the manufacturer has abandoned its short-lived strategy of bringing out a full set of eight coaches, or nine in this case, all with different running numbers and coach letters. Hornby has at least recognised the need to produce additional Trailer Standard (TS) vehicles to cater for demand though, so we get Nos. 42322 (Coach C, R4751) and 42130 (Coach D, R4751A). Joining this pair are Trailer First (TF) No. 41159 (Coach M, R4752), TRFB buffet car No. 40708 (Coach J, R4753) and Trailer Guards Standard (TGS) No. 44050 (Coach B, R4750). These five are all…

FOLLOWING on from last month, further weathered wagons are on their way from Bachmann in both ‘OO’ and ‘N’. Taking the larger scale first, there is a second version of the BR 24t Covhop, this portraying vacuum-braked No. B870799 in bauxite with CHV TOPS code (38-500A, £27.95). This has received a typically heavy coat of pale grey weathering over its roof and down the sides and ends to represent load spillage, the end result being impressive for a mass-produced model but perhaps a little uniform. Making a welcome return is the ‘Queen Mary’ brake van, this appearing as YZW No. KDS56305 in Satlink red/ grey (33-831, £25.95). While the livery of the Signal & Telegraph department has previously appeared on the Southern-built vehicles in pristine form, here it gets a…

RELEASED to widespread acclaim in the autumn of 2015, Heljan’s model of the Metropolitan Railway/ London Transport electric locos proved to be a sales success with many of the five liveries quickly selling out. For some though, the omission of the most famous of the class, No. 12 Sarah Siddons, was a disappointment, the manufacturer holding it back on account of the minor tooling alterations required to the underframe to accurately represent the loco. Happily, two models of the 94-year-old veteran are now available, one of these recreating the current maroon livery with a grey roof and Metropolitan crests. Pictured here is the other, this recalling its look for much of the 1990s with a red oxide roof, London Transport lettering and black nameplates (reference no. 9009), an appearance that…

RECENT years have seen Bachmann produce several exclusive ‘OO’ gauge coaching stock models for its Collectors’ Club, these usually passing without much in the way of comment beyond the initial announcement. However, things were a little different exactly two years ago when a twin pack of Mk.1s in the unmistakable Sealink colours appeared. This scheme was applied to a rake of second class corridor stock used principally on boat trains between Glasgow Central and Stranraer during the 1982-86 period, although they did wander further afield on occasions on excursion duties. For its limited edition, Bachmann produced Second Corridor (SK) No. SC24884 and Brake Second Corridor (BSK) No. SC35070 but soon faced numerous calls for a separate SK to allow a full set to be modelled. This demand has now been…

OPEN Access operator Alliance Rail Holdings, the Arriva/Deutsche Bahn subsidiary that is set to operate Great North Western Railway services on the West Coast Main Line from May 2018, has applied to the Office of Rail and Road for a track access agreement to operate services on the Waterloo-Southampton line. The company would trade as Grand Southern Railway. This is a notable development because to date open access operators, such as Grand Central and Hull Trains, have applied to run services on routes that do not already have a significant service to the capital. DIRECT COMPETITION In this case, Grand Southern would be in direct competition with the franchised operator South West Trains. However, the company says that the proposed services will exceed the ORR’s ‘Not Primarily Abstractive’ threshold, which…

THE Heritage Railway Association has released the shortlist for its 2016 Awards, which celebrate excellence in railway preservation. Rail Express sponsors the Modern Traction Award, which has been won by the Severn Valley Railway for the opening of the dedicated diesel maintenance depot at Kidderminster, which will ensure the long-term future of preserved modern traction. Other prizes include Heritage Railway magazine’s Interpretation Award, which has been won by the South Devon Railway for the completion of an authentic GWR country station at Totnes Riverside using genuine components from closed stations elsewhere; and The Railway Magazine’s Award For Services To Railway Preservation, which has been won by Tom Tighe for a substantial contribution to steam and diesel preservation that has spanned more than 45 years. Winners of the HRA’s own prizes…

‘FORGOTTEN’ PROTOTYPE I HAVE just completed Simon Bendall’s excellent article on the HST prototype set (December issue, REM). It brought to mind a visit (perhaps with Dalesrail?) to Crewe Works on July 23, 1972 when we came across the second power car No. 41002 in undercoat and apparently under initial testing. With all the recent publicity surrounding the recently restored No. 41001, it always seems to me that No. 41002 is largely overlooked and was perhaps the ‘one that got away’. I therefore wondered if your readers might be interested in the attached picture from that day? Andy Galpin Darlington RYDE PIER TRAMWAY I AM just catching up with recent editions ofRail Express, and was intrigued to read the October issue with the article on modern traction on the Isle…

FOLLOWING a meeting with representatives of London Underground and Crossrail in June 2015, the Epping Ongar Railway has now taken delivery of the original Victorian cast iron roof trusses that arched above the main entrance and ticket hall of Whitechapel Station. These date back to when Whitechapel station was built in 1876 and therefore have immense heritage value. The trusses are currently in storage, with the railway planning to utilise them as part of new visitor facilities – including a cafe adjacent to Ongar Station. The trusses will support a new glass roof, further cementing the relationship between the EOR and its London Underground heritage.…

THE Railway Preservation Society of Ireland is further promoting its fundraising for the overhauls of two of its three Dublin-based diesel locomotives with a special railtour on April 8. The ‘Marble Tribesman’ will run primarily to swell the coffers for its General Motors Class 121 No. 134 and Class 141 pioneer No. B141, which are now ensconced in the RPSI’s shed at Dublin Connolly following their transfer from Inchicore in July. Motive power will be courtesy of the ever-popular Irish Rail Class 071s, with several loco changes planned during the day. The tour will depart from Dublin at 08.15 and head westward to Galway, where abreak of around an hour will be taken before the train returns east via Athlone to Kildare. A change of loco here precedes a run…

KWVR TO RUN SATURDAY DIESELS AGAIN IN 2017 FOLLOWING the success of its 2016 events, the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway is to hold a diesel running day on the last Saturday of the month between April and September 2017. Six round trips between Oxenhope and Keighley will be diesel-hauled, with the rostered loco for each month still to be advised. No. 25059 is now back in service and has been used on the line’s Santa Specials. WORK BEGINS ON NRM’S PIONEER ‘CHOPPER’ THE pioneer Class 20, No. D8000, which last ran in around 2008, is to be returned to operational condition by volunteers at the National Railway Museum. Power unit rebuild work is to start in the next few weeks. This loco was also the first to be delivered…

A NEW suburban service has been introduced in Dublin between Grand Canal Dock and Hazelhatch/Newbridge via the 2¾-mile line from Islandbridge Junction to Glasnevin Junction. This double track line had previously been used primarily for freight traffic and stock transfers but received a €13.7 million infrastructure upgrade prior to the new timetabled passenger service being introduced. The weekday peak period service, which is being promoted as the ‘Phoenix Park Tunnel Service’, was introduced on November 21. It links the west Dublin area to the main business areas in the centre and east of the city. Heuston station is not served as, according to IR, “the current infrastructure does not permit services to call at platform 10.” There are seven trains to Grand Canal Dock (GCD) between 06.14 and 09.12 serving…

BACHMANN is making good progress on the Mk.1-derived Carflats that are being produced in its Graham Farish range exclusively for the N Gauge Society. CAD drawings have now been received for checking, these covering all the variants that will be produced with the one pictured here being a composite of various detail options. Employing some existing components from the Farish Mk.1 range, the rest of the models are new. Six different liveries are planned, including bauxite, Motorailbranded blue and Railease yellow, and can be pre-ordered now by society members at an expected cost of around £28 each. Delivery is currently expected next autumn. www.ngaugesociety.com…

ANNOUNCED way back in March 2012, Dapol’s re-creation of the Class 08 shunter in ‘O’ gauge has been a long time in appearing. Despite this lengthy gestation period, interest in the model has remained high throughout, principally due to the manufacturer promising a highly detailed and fully finished ‘Gronk’ in the senior scale for just £199.95. Despite the growth of ‘O’ gauge over the past few years, it has remained a relatively expensive part of the hobby with even the popular Heljan diesel types typically retailing at between £400 and £500. The Class 08 is therefore something of a revelation, delivering a ready-to-run model with DCC compatibility for half the price and putting it firmly within the realms of affordability for considerably more modellers. For many, it will allow a…

THE release of a new Class 60 by Hornby is generally a welcome event, given it still pretty much sets the bar for quality as far as 4mm scale D&E locos are concerned. The latest addition is a notable one as well, being DB’s No. 60066 in its silver Drax livery with ‘Powering tomorrow’ logos (R3479). Following overhaul at Toton, No. 60066 was released in the basic livery in November 2013 with the brandings appearing early the following month. The repaint coincided with the inauguration of Drax’s biomass operation with the loco working ademonstration service with the new IIA hoppers on December 9 that year. However, this was purely for promotional purposes as the Brush Type 5s cannot work the trains in everyday service as their slow speed equipment is…

ONE of the highlights of Bachmann’s 2015 range was the appearance of the retooled ‘Warships’ in 4mm scale, these portraying the North British variant rather than the Swindon version seen previously. Unsurprisingly, the three models that made up the first batch sold very well, leading to a second run that will soon be with retailers. For this new tranche, Bachmann has again opted to produce one model in each of BR green, maroon and blue but with livery variations that mark them out from their predecessors. For instance, pictured here is No. D838 Rapid in BR maroon with full yellow ends (32-068) rather than the half yellow panels previously seen. Similarly, No. D841 Roebuck sports BR green but without yellow panels this time while No. D836 Powerful has an earlier…