Farewell to the Cumbrian Coast Class 68s

The two locomotive-hauled diagrams on the Cumbrian Coast between Barrow and Carlisle reverted to Class 37 power on September 17, ending a six-month spell when one was operated by top-and-tail Class 68s.

Northern has a contract with Direct Rail Services for two Class 37-hauled sets to cover for a shortage of diesel multiple units, pending the arrival of new rolling stock.

Reliability issues led to a decision earlier this year to substitute ‘68s’ on one diagram as a short-term measure.

DRS spokesman Rachael Storey told RAIL: “The use of our ‘68s’ was always going to be a temporary arrangement until the start of the railhead treatment train (RHTT) season. From that date, our ‘68s’ will be required to handle our core traffic so that other locomotives can be released for RHTT work.”

Storey said that the contract with Northern will continue until January 2019, at which time the operator expects to have its new trains in service. The exact date depends on the commissioning and training of staff on the new trainsets.

The XHCC pool for Cumbrian locomotives contains 37401 Mary Queen of Scots, 37403 Isle of Mull, 37424 Avro Vulcan XH558

and 37425 Sir Robert McAlpine/ Concrete Bob. Additionally, 37422 from the XHAC pool has been made available for use. DRS also has 37405/407, 37409 Lord Hinton, 37419 Carl Haviland 1954-2012 and 37423 Spirit of the Lakes in the XHAC pool for use in East Anglia (37409/423 were on hire to Greater Anglia at the end of September), while 37402 Stephen Middlemore 23.12.1954-8.6.2013 is undergoing a major exam at LORAM’s Derby facility and will return to traffic once that work is complete.