Coaching Stock News
TFW debuts lengthened Mk.4 sets
The first of Transport for Wales’ extended Mk.4 sets entered passenger traffic on January 20, with 67029 and HD01 working 1W57, the 10.52 CardiffCrewe; 1V46, the 15.11 Crewe-cardiff; and 1W65, the 18.55 Cardiff-crewe. TSO 12454 has been inserted next to the DVT, giving the set five passenger vehicles, which are formed as 12225, 12315, 10325, 11323, 12454 and 82226. Another extended set carried its first passengers on February 6, with 67015 taking charge of 12217, 12324, 10312, 11325, 12446 and 82216, although HD03 has been in this formation since last May to carry out testing of the selective door opening modifications.
Next to appear in six-coach formation was the first of the black former Grand Central sets, with HD07 now comprising of 12210, 12316, 10301, 11322, 12452 and 82230. Its first day in traffic was February 13, with 67022 providing the power.
Back on February 8, Rail Operations Group’s 37800 transferred TSO 12477 from Landore to Crewe to await insertion into HD05, with the move employing spare vehicles 12215 and 82220 as barriers.
More Mk.5s for Long Marston
By mid-february, four more of the former Transpennine Express Mk.5 sets had arrived at Long Marston for storage, joining the already present TP03/TP04/TP12. Running as 5Q94, the 08.56 Longsight-long Marston, on each occasion, 68026 conveyed TP05 (11505, 12713-715, 12805) on January 25, with 68021 following with TP13 (11513, 12737-739, 12813) four days later.
On February 1, 11511, 12731-733 and 12811 (TP11) made the journey from Manchester behind 68027, while a week later it was the turn of TP07 (11507, 12719-721, 12807), again with 68026 for power. Meanwhile, 68025 transferred TP02 (11502, 12704-706, 12814) from Gascoigne Wood to Longsight back on January 15.
Yarmouth turnover
The latest batch of HST Mk.3s for Mexico departed from Yarmouth Docks on February 8, having been moved by road from the carriage sidings over the preceding couple of weeks. Featuring a mix of slam and sliding door examples, now on their way to Central America are 40750, 40902, 41026, 41193, 42036/052/053, 42366/373/378/380, 42408, 42585, 44017/052/072 and 45002/005. All of these were already at Yarmouth with the exception of 42408, which was first moved by road from Ely in mid-january.
The latest acquisitions by Eastern Rail Services are Mk.2f FOS 3277 and 3295, which arrived at Yarmouth by road on January 27. Still in Anglia Railways colours, they have been acquired from Locomotive Services and had been stored at Rowsley, Peak Rail, since January 2019.
The Mk.3s used for static testing of 93001 at Crewe in January were returned to Yarmouth by 37901 on February 9, these being 10229, 10413, 11078, 11095 and 12021. The coaches had initially moved from Crewe to Castle Donnington behind the same Class 37 on January 18 to await onward movement, this transfer including 12091, which was subsequently left behind when the rest went forward to Yarmouth.
Mk.3 transfers
The set of former Greater Anglia Mk.3s most recently used by Hanson & Hall on charters was extracted from Chaddesden Sidings, Derby, by 50008 on February 14, with 10406, 11092/093/099, 11101 and 12125/154 being transferred to the test centre at Asfordby. Four days earlier, and now in ERS ownership, Mk.3a RFM 10237 was also noted making its first move for some 10 months, 37901 hauling the buffet vehicle from Burton to Derby RTC.
Miscellaneous moves
With space created at Rowsley, two more of Locomotive Services’ reserve coaches transferred over from Crewe in late January for further storage. These were former boat train Mk.1 Super BG 94538 and Mk.2c BSK 35511. Meanwhile, West Coast Mk.1s 5035 and 99328 were returned to Carnforth in mid-january following their festive loan to the Spa Valley Railway, while Colas Rail barrier coaches 6364 and 6365 departed from the Churnet Valley Railway in early February after some 16 months in residence for a further spell in storage at Wishaw.