New JNAs head straight to store
The penultimate batch of box wagons for VTG have arrived in the UK, along with the final group of HOA hoppers for Touax Rail’s Mendip contract.
THE middle of June was a bonanza for new wagon fans with the arrival of 54 vehicles for aggregates use, all fresh from Greenbrier-Astra Rail’s Eastern European factories.
The first to make their way to Wembley Yard were 20 Touax Rail HOA hoppers (UIC code Fanpps) Nos. 81 70 6774 056-0 to 81 70 6774 075-0, which were reported to have arrived after their long journey from Wagony Swidnica in Poland on June 10. This is the second and final batch of wagons ordered for Freightliner’s Mendip Rail contract, bringing the total in the country to 40.
The next day (June 11) brought a further 35 JNA (UIC code Ealnos) up from Dollands Moor to Wembley Yard, Nos. 81 70 5500 734-5 to 81 70 5500 753-5 (in VTG/Cappagh blue livery) and Nos. 81 70 5500 754-3 to 81 70 5500 768-3 (in VTG silver). Their journey from Drobeta-Turnu Severin in Romania was not complete however, and on June 13 they were collected by DC Rail’s
No. 56103 for onward movement to Leicester Humberstone Road (4Z35). After depositing the 20 blue wagons at Leicester, No. 56103 continued with the silver-liveried set of 15 boxes, working a 4Z20 to Chaddesden sidings.
OFF TO STORE
No. 56103 was on the move again with its silver charges on June 15, being tasked with another 4Z20 trip taking the 15 JNAs into store at Long Marston. After completing this job the loco returned to Humberstone Road and on the following day worked a 4Z15 back to Long Marston with 20 more boxes. Previous deliveries of JNAs for lease to DC Rail have also visited Long Marston for short term storage while others have been stored awaiting the completion of its new Wembley aggregates terminal.
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