DCRail puts locomotive fleet up for sale

As this issue of RAIL went to press there were unconfirmed reports that DCRail had been sold.

The company’s locomotive fleet was put up for sale on November 10, with a closing date of November 16 (after RAIL went to press). The locomotives have to be cleared from the company’s Washwood Heath facility by November 30 - a deadline imposed as part of the work to clear the site for HS2.

DCR locomotives had been running as late as November 15, but following the decision to make them available for sale, the Invitation to Tender meant they will be withdrawn from the rolling stock library and therefore unable to operate on the main line following their sale, pending inspection.

This will mean the withdrawal of the last Class 31 regularly used on the national network, while a freight flow operated by the company between Wembley and Foxton (near Cambridge) was taken over by Rail Operations Group on November 14.

Put up for sale were 31190, 31452/454/468, 31601/602, 56091, 56103/128, 56303/311/ 312. All are at Washwood Heath apart from 31190, 31468 and 31602, which are at Wolsingham on the Weardale Railway.

The status for each locomotive is also provided, with 31452 and 56303 classed as ‘in service’, 31190 and 56312 described as stored serviceable, 56091, 56103 and 56311 described as ‘stored unserviceable’, and the rest described as ‘for component recovery’.

No other main line company now uses Class 31s on the national network, although Harry Needle Railroad Company does own examples and is keen to acquire more for hire contracts and components. Network Rail owns two (31105, 31233), with one used for shunting at Derby.

Class 56s are still used by Colas Railfreight and UK Rail Leasing (supplied -usually - to ROG and also recently to DCR).