DRS Open Day
Direct Rail Services’ Carlisle Kingmoor depot raises £29,000 for charity as visitors get a rare opportunity to look inside.
A DAY punctuated by heavy showers did not deter the crowds from attending the open day staged by Direct Rail Services at its Carlisle Kingmoor base on July 22.
DRS spokesman Rachael Storey told RAIL that every type of current DRS traction had been assembled, with all livery variations included.
This meant a rare opportunity to see the four guises of Class 68 livery side-by-side, with examples of Chiltern Railways’ and Scot-Rail’s liveried locomotives displayed alongside the usual DRS livery on a ‘68’ and the new basic livery applied to the latest arrivals (68026-68034) ahead of their hire to Trans-Pennine Express.
Storey said that despite the operator having to fulfil obligations for operating services, 20% of the DRS fleet was at the depot. This included stored Class 20s and ‘57s’. The ‘20s’ are expected to be used on railhead treatment train duties in Yorkshire this autumn for the final time, before being disposed of.
She continued that locomotives had been lined up (as far as practicable) to facilitate photography, while 88008 Ariadne had been raised on lifting jacks within the depot for display purposes.
At the event, DRS named 66301 Kingmoor TMD. This was the first time in 14 years that a DRS Class 66 has been named. It carries the plates removed from withdrawn 37688.
A newly installed washing plant was demonstrated during the day, using 37259, while a low-loader in the car park carried the two Caterpillar diesel engines fitted in Classes 68 and ‘88’, giving a unique perspective on the relative size of these prime movers.
Pathfinder ran a charter from Bristol Temple Meads to Carlisle, carrying passengers for the open day. It was hauled by 68004 Rapid.
DRS merchandise was on sale, while Stadler, which built Classes 68 and ‘88’, had a stand offering free souvenirs. The open day raised money for local charities.