Cynheidre’s 08 hired back to main line depot
THE Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway's (LMMR) Class 08 No. 08795 has returned to its former home at Swansea's Landore depot, after being hired by UK rail refurbishment specialists Chrysalis Rail Services Limited.
The LMMR acquired No. 08795 when Landore closed as a High Speed Train servicing depot in March 2019. Still carrying its all-over black livery and distinctive Landore markings, it was the last locomotive to leave the site when the depot closed and it made the short journey by road to the heritage line's Cynheidre base.
Chrysalis Rail commenced operations at Landore in late 2019. Its core services include the refurbishment, painting, modifications and repairs to all types of rolling stock running on the national network. Over the past year the LMMR has worked closely with Chrysalis, which supported the heritage line in providing storage and technical facilities at Landore for its recentlyacquired Class 142 ‘Pacer' unit
No. 142006.
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LMMR director David Mee said: “We have developed a good working relationship with Chrysalis Rail at Landore and are delighted to be hiring our Class 08 to them. It is fantastic to see the locomotive being used and all of the income generated from the hire will go towards improving the facilities at Cynheidre in readiness for reopening after the recent lockdown.”
Chrysalis Rail depot manager Mike Campbell said: “I'm delighted that the LMMR has agreed to hire its shunting locomotive to us. Having the 08 will allow us to move rolling stock quickly and efficiently around the depot.”
Outshopped as D3963 on May 21, 1960 and first allocated to Old Oak Common, No. 08795 was transferred to Plymouth Laira in 1974 and Swindon in 1975 and served as the Gloucester station pilot before eventually arriving at Landore in the mid-Nineties. It was repainted several times at Landore in a number of liveries including DCE Grey, InterCity and First Great Western. It was painted into its current livery in 2013.
Meanwhile, the LMMR has announced a partnership with the UK Rail Training Company EYC Global to provide hands-on training opportunities on its site at Cynheidre through a kickstart scheme to create job placements for 16-24 year olds who would otherwise be at risk of long term unemployment.
Chris Jenson, who himself took up an apprenticeship when he was 20 years old, and is now a fully-qualified NVQ rail trainer and EYC Global's senior training manager ran the first nine-day course at Cynheidre in March, said: “I am just a bloke from Doncaster who took a gamble and it paid off. If you get the chance to do an apprenticeship at any time, then do it – you don't know what doors it might open.”
The 11 individuals on the first course have all been offered jobs in the rail industry.
Kerry Verghese, head of operations at EYC, said: “The course that we run is the NVQ level 2 Diploma in Rail Engineering Track Maintenance. We only run our cohort if we know that we can guarantee a job at the end of the course.
“We could just do a Personal Track Safety course, without the NVQ, but we feel you don't gain the experience and confidence to go on to have a fulfilling career in the railway by just doing that.”
Facilities
David said: “We are very pleased to offer their facilities in support of this very worthwhile scheme to help young people start careers in the rail industry. From our point of view, it is a win-win situation as we get help to maintain the running line to a high standard and it assists with our preparations to reopen after the Covid-19 lockdown.
“EYC Global already has another course planned at our site and we look forward to working together with the firm in the future.”
➜ The LMMR needs more volunteers in all departments, including operational, maintenance and restoration, and administration. Anyone willing to help is invited to visit www.llanellirailway. co.uk or www.facebook.com/ llanellirailway