Coaching Stock News
More Mk 4s for TfW
The scope of Transport for Wales’ loco-hauled operation looks set to expand after an additional 30 Mk 4 coaches were added to the HLHQ pool during April. This includes all four of the refurbished sets that were due to be used by Grand Central on its abandoned Blackpool-Euston services with the 24 coaches all currently stabled at Worksop, namely 10301/18/21/30, 11319-22, 12210/11/22/24, 12310/16/23/26, 12434/52/61/77 and 82200/01/27/30. Also included are former LNER examples 10305, 12215, 12304/15/24 and 82220, also at Worksop. Recent months have seen training continue on the Mk 4 sets already at Cardiff with the possibility of one diagram commencing in early summer.
Stonehaven HST scrapped
The ScotRail HST set involved in the Stonehaven derailment last August was sent for scrap from Glasgow Works on April 19/20. Moved by road to the Glasgow yard of JR Adams & Sons were the remains of power car 43140 along with all of set HA22 (40622 and 42007/145/564). The second power car, 43030, has been retained and was returned by road to Haymarket at the same time. Having derailed at Dalwhinnie on April 10, power car 43029 and TS 42029 were moved by road from Haymarket to Assenta Rail at Hamilton by road on May 13 to undergo repairs. Also in need of attention after a ‘bump’ at the Edinburgh depot were 43033 and 43164, which were moved by road to Brodie Rail at Kilmarnock in late April. Four more refurbished TS coaches were released from
Wabtec on May 1, 57312 taking 42054/077/144/185 to Slateford to await insertion into ScotRail sets.
Last Castle completed
The last of GWR’s additional Castle HST sets was released from Wabtec on May 5, 43153 and 43171 bringing GW16 back from Doncaster to Laira. This features TS 48146-148, which were previously 42074, 42081 and 42071 respectively, along with TGS 49116, which was converted from 44002.
Yarmouth developments
A busy couple of days at Great Yarmouth on May 13/14 saw Eastern Rail Services take delivery of long stored Mk 2e FO 3240 from Crewe, this still carrying faded Riviera blue and cream. In return, Mk 2e BUO 9804 has been transferred to the ownership of Locomotive Services and this returned to Crewe on the low-loader. Also delivered back to Yarmouth on May 14 was former Nightstar generator coach 96374, this having spent just under three months undergoing overhaul at Independent Rail, Chesterfield. Having received bodywork and roof repairs along with internal work, it has received a repaint into InterCity colours and carries the lettering ‘Eastern Rail Services Generator’. Already modified to give a standard ETS supply, it will be used with ERS’ diverse fleet, initially on a static basis in the carriage sidings.
Stock exchanges
Fresh from attention at Eastleigh Works, Mk 2s 5366 and 17056 were collected by 37688 on April 28 and returned to Crewe to rejoin their respective Saphos and
Statesman charter sets. The scratch set of HST coaches recently used by Locomotive Services for its crew training runs to Carlisle was dispatched to Laira behind the same Type 3 on May 10, 41063/117, 42100/220 and 44047 making the journey with Mk 2d BSO 9479 used as a barrier coach.
Meanwhile, recent moves involving the Mk 3s being amassed by ROG and Electric Traction Ltd saw 11101 and 12176 moved from Derby to Castle Donington by 37601 on April 26. On May 10, 37611 collected former Transport for Wales TSOs 1277-181 from Castle Donington and took them to MoD Bicester, from where it returned to Derby the next day with 12180 and ex Greater Anglia examples 10406, 12125 and 12154.
Long Marston swaps
The second pair of Network Rail Mk 3b DVTs were delivered to Long Marston for storage on May 11, 67023 being utilised to move 82124 and 82129 from the Derby RTC. Mk 3 departures have included RFM 10242 to Burton Wetmore on April 8, ex Greater Anglia TSO 12116 to the Battlefield Line on April 22 and sleeper 10680 to the South Devon Railway six days later. The latter has been sold to PNP Events, organiser of the Polar Express events at heritage lines.
Latest disposals
Mid-April brought further Mk 4 departures from Worksop for scrap, 10304, 11278/304 and 12327 heading to Sims at Beeston while 10308, 11201/311, 12204 and 82231 went to the company’s Hull yard. The last week of April brought the departures of 11287/89 and 12207, also to Hull. At Eastleigh Works, Raxstar scrapped HST buffets 40727 and 40739 on April 21/22 while the last Mk 3 at St Philip’s Marsh, 42554, was taken by road to Sims, Newport on April 27. Finally, the remaining parcels vans in Toton Yard, 94177, 94207/08 and 94316/44, were scrapped on site in mid-April.