DEVELOPMENTS
■ DB CARGO: There were a number of WIA car carrier visitors to DB's former Marcroft Engineering site in June, including a pair of examples that had previously spent time undergoing overhaul at the Stoke-on-Trent site earlier this year. On June 4, Nos. 85 70 4971 010-9 and 85 70 4971 016-6 were on the inbound working from Arpley, swapping places with No. 85 70 4971 040-6, which had arrived on May 28. This was the second visit for No. 85 70 4971 010-9 in 2020, it having already left the site on
April 7. Meanwhile, No. 85 70 4971 043-0 returned to Stoke after around six weeks on June 21 (it originally departed on May 7). It replaced
No. 85 70 4971 016-6 at the cramped site, which returned on the ‘tripper' to Warrington.
■ FREIGHTLINER: Four further FRA-B RHTT conversions have been recorded in June, bringing the fleet of converted wagons up to 12. Eastleigh Works has again undertaken the modifications, which include the fitment of jetting equipment and pipe runs. The four wagons are: Nos. 613109 ex-613001, 613110 ex-613002, 613111 ex613024, and 613112 ex-613027.
■ GB RAILFREIGHT: The annual
‘Rail Live' event at Long Marston took place over June 16/17 and GBRf provided a rolling stock display as in previous years. 2021's offerings included IIA-C Tanoos biomass hopper No. 83 70 0689 044-1, IIA-F Tanpps(1) sand hopper 81 70 0659 022-5 and JNA Ealnos box wagon No. 81 70
5500 494-6. They were delivered to Long Marston by Class 66 Nos. 66723 and 66715 on June 14 along with Merseyrail Class 777 No. 777002 sandwiched between Mk.1 barriers Nos. 6376 and 6377, working a 6X90 from Kirkdale. The return 6X90 to Tuebrook took place on June 18 with Nos. 66723 and 66726 being provided for the move.
■ TOUAX RAIL: Davis Wagon Services, the wagon maintenance arm of WH Davis, is fitting new dark blue hoods to the Touax fleet of IHA (UIC code Sfhimmns) curtain-sided steel coil carriers. All 200 vehicles, Nos. 37 84 4667 001-200, are to see their
GERS-branded hoods replaced over the next year with the work being done at Llanwern.
■ DISPOSALS: The 46 former Freightliner HHA coal hoppers at Long Marston, Nos. 370005/11/2/9/20/7 /34/8/46/9/50/5/60/4/7/82/5/95/ 100/1/9/16/27/8/9/31/5/45/8/50 /1/61/4/7/70/90/7/202/17/20/5/9 /39/41/4/5, have been removed from the site after component removal, principally the bogies, wheels and braking equipment, to provide parts for refurbishment and reuse in the Beacon Rail ‘Megabox' programme (see July issue) currently underway at WH Davis, Langwith Junction.
Wards Recycling at Ilkeston is again the destination for the stripped hoppers, following the delivery of a number of similar wagons in 2020, and they have been steadily removed by road after arriving earlier this year.
Also disposed of recently was YLA Mullet No. DC 967528, which moved from Wigan to EMR Attercliffe in June, as well as JGA potash hopper
No. NACO 19259, which was scrapped on site at Leicester in April.