Off-lease HSTs move for storage
LNER’s rundown of HSTs has enabled it to return sets to their rolling stock leasing company owners. The first off-lease set moved to Potters Group at Ely on December 6, for storage pending developments.
This follows the confirmation that two sets and two power cars have been identified for scrap
( RAIL 893). The planned transfer of these by GB Railfreight has yet to take place, with EC64, NL65 and power cars 43061/075 currently stored at Tyne Yard ahead of their final journey to Newport Docks for scrapping.
The Angel Trains set that moved to Ely was powered by 43315/367, which took LNER set EC55 for warm store. They join six former GWR ‘43s’ and more than 100 ex-GWR Mk 3s at the Cambridgeshire facility.
The coaches forming EC55 were Trailer Kitchen Buffet First (TFKB) 40704, Trailer First (TF) 41091/092, Trailer Standard (TS) 42106/179181/188 and Trailer Guards Standard (TGS) 44058.
On December 9, 43239/296 and set EC60 operated the 0755 Inverness-London King’s Cross
(the final southbound ‘Highland Chieftain’ to use an HST) before running to Ferme Park and going off-lease. The following day it ran north to Craigentinny for debranding, although it is understood only one of the
‘43s’ will make the move to East Midlands Railway.
Within EC60 are two Mk 3s built for the prototype HST in 1972. These TS vehicles were 42355 and 42357, which were originally TS 12000 (later 42000) and TF 11003 (later 41002). Currently these are destined for Ely, along with TFKB 40742, TS 41066, 41164, TS 42116/122/134 and TGS 44031.
The same week, EC58 was also retired by LNER. This was formed of TFKB 40750, TF 41097/098, TS 42158/191-193, 42238 and TGS 44061. It is currently at Craigentinny.
Into the final few days, and LNER was using 43238/257/290, 43307/308/316/317/318. Others that started the week beginning
December 9 but were out of traffic two days later were 43208, 43311/314/319. The operator had planned to have one fewer HST, but the accident involving 43300 and 800109 at Neville Hill in November ( RAIL 893) meant an extra HST was required.
These off-lease sets join those already out of traffic, with EC52 and EC62 stored at Gascoigne Wood (eventually destined for EMR), while EC63 (owned by Porterbrook) has also been stopped in readiness for its move to the Midlands.
Additionally, LNER power cars removed from traffic are 43061/075, 43239/257/274/296, 43300/302/310/313/315/320/367. Of these, 43274, 43302/320 have all been rebranded with EMR logos.
LNER has also stopped 43206 and 43312, so that they can be repainted into ‘Flying Banana’ livery at Craigentinny for the farewell tours on December 18-21. Wabtec Rail at Doncaster is repainting the coaches, which form EC56. This set is TFKB 40720, TF 41118/170, TS 42241244, 42363 and TGS 44098.
Speculation that it is bound for Locomotive Services Limited has been denied by the company, which said it is still negotiating which HSTs will join its fleet.