Shunter News

Beacon Rail

Deployment of the Clayton-built Class 18s has finally commenced following a long delay while the hybrids gained type approval and underwent modifications. First to leave Wolverton on February 5 was 18003, which has gone on hire to British Steel at Scunthorpe for trials. About a week later, 18002 departed, bound for the former Brush works at Loughborough.

HNRC

GB Railfreight-liveried 08924 briefly departed Cardiff Tidal at the beginning of February to undergo tyre turning at Freightliner’s Midland Road depot. It arrived in Leeds on February 2 and was on its way back to South Wales three days later.

Hunslet

Fresh from maintenance, 08615 was dispatched back to Shotton steelworks on January 16 after more than five months at Hunslet’s workshops at Barton-under-needwood. This in turn allowed 08401 to be recalled from its covering role and it returned to the Midlands the following day.

Railway Support Services

Now in RSS grey, 08629 arrived at Daventry in mid-january for use at the ever-growing freight terminal. Meanwhile, hired-in 08706 returned to Wishaw in early February to await its next move, having been supplanted at Garston by 08939, which arrived back in November. Another shunter belonging to a third party, 09004, was also released in early February after failing at Hams Hall. This was delivered back to the Avon Valley Railway for repairs on February 16, with 08899 taking its place at the West Midlands intermodal facility.

RMS Locotec

With RMS Locotec vacating its longterm base at Wolsingham on the Weardale Railway, five of the company’s Class 08s have been relocated to Chesterfield. These are now stored under cover and largely out of sight inside Stagecoach’s Stonegravels bus garage, which is a private site. January 16-19 saw 08423, 08874, 08885 and 08936 arrive in that order, with 08573 following on January 26.

Preservation

A busy period at the Avon Valley Railway has also seen the departure of 07010 for Peak Rail on January 24/25, where it is due to undergo repairs under contract. Two weeks later, 08888 arrived back at Bitton for similar attention, the discovery of engine defects bringing an early end to its hire at the Gwili Railway. Also back home is the Severn Valley’s 09107, this returning from its festive hire to the Telford Steam Railway on January 16.