Blue-belle!
Class 73 E6040 is unveiled after its BR blue repaint
CLASS 73 electro-diesel locomotive E6040 (73133) was unveiled in BR blue with small yellow warning panels and renamed The Bluebell Railway at Arlington Fleet Services, Eastleigh, on April 5, ahead of a planned move to its namesake railway.
The Class 73 was bought privately from former owner John Buxton for preservation on the Bluebell Railway at the end of last year, and it has since undergone an extensive bodywork overhaul and high quality two-pack repaint.
Railways Illustrated was invited to a small unveiling event hosted by AFS at its Eastleigh Works complex, with project lead Paul Auckland keeping the chosen livery a closely guarded secret until then.
After being re-named by Bluebell Railway Preservation Society vice president Roy Watts, the Class 73 was driven out of the workshops and run around the yard at Eastleigh, using both its diesel engine and the locomotive’s third-rail electric shoe gear for traction.
Regarding the chosen colour scheme, Mr Auckland explained: “Every livery carried by 73133 throughout its working life was considered, but the final decision was left for the Bluebell Railway to make. Early BR blue with small yellow warning panels, white cab window surrounds and E6040 numbers is appropriate for the era we are recreating at the Bluebell, and the finished locomotive looks fantastic.
“I am extremely grateful to Carl Watson and the whole team at Arlington for their work on the locomotive over the last few months and I’m looking forward to the start of the next chapter in the story of E6040 when it arrives on the Bluebell.”
The newly-completed locomotive was expected to be moved from Eastleigh to its new home by road at the end of April. If all goes to plan, it should have arrived at the Bluebell by the time this issue goes on sale in early May.
73133 is one of three locomotives to have been named The Bluebell Railway, the others being long-scrapped 73004 and GB Railfreight’s 66739, which still carries the name of the heritage line. Mr Auckland said that although the nameplates had been carried by the locomotive much later in its working life than when it was originally numbered E6040, the link between the Class 73 and the railway could not be ignored.
It has also retained its unique cab front lighting clusters that were applied to 73133 by Mainline Freight in 1997.
Among the guests invited to the unveiling was the locomotive’s former owner, who has also been a long-time supporter of the Bluebell Railway. Mr Buxton explained to Railways Illustrated that he had been approached towards the end of last year about the possibility of the locomotive being available and was delighted that the Class 73 would shortly be heading to the Sussex heritage railway. He also wished the locomotive’s new owners every success with the newest addition to the Bluebell Railway’s operational fleet.
Mr Auckland explained that once the locomotive arrives at Sheffield Park, it will undergo some testing and commissioning, along with driver training. The locomotive is fully operational and is expected to enter service on the Bluebell over the coming weeks once sufficient crews have been trained on it.
Bluebell Railway Preservation Society vice president Roy Watts said “The Bluebell Railway continues to move with the times and we’ve now had diesels for many years, starting with diesels operating the tip trains as part of us getting to East Grinstead more than 10 years ago.
“I am delighted that E6040 is coming to the Bluebell Railway as it will be a highly versatile and economical locomotive, allowing us to enhance our timetable alongside steam locomotives. I am confident it will find a number of uses, including giving us the option to keep operating during periods of high fire risk.” Any reader wishing to support the restoration of E6040 can make a donation via a crowdfunding website that supports the locomotive (visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk and search for ‘73133 The Bluebell Railway Restoration’). Mr Auckland also said that new volunteers to support the Bluebell’s diesel fleet and the operation of E6040 would be welcome; anyone interested in getting involved in volunteering can contact him by email at paulchillout@aol.com E6040 is the latest diesel arrival at the Bluebell, joining the fleet of Class 09 D4106 (09018), Class 33 D6570 (33052 Ashford) and recently-arrived Class 207 Thumper DEMU 1305. At present, the Class 33 and Thumper are undergoing overhauls before entering service, with the Class 09 in regular use on engineering and shunting duties, along with occasional use on passenger services.