NEWS ROUND-UP

RAILWAY SUPPORT SERVICES

FOLLOWING on from the successful deployment of the Clayton CD40 No.4 (B4618.4) to the Network Rail RIDC at Melton Mowbray (see November issue), No. 08580 has been released for further duties and now resides at Garston Car Terminal for shunting DRS car traffic, a long planned move. No.4 has since been joined by No.3 (B4618.4) at the RIDC, which will in turn release No. 08922 for further duties.

As also reported in the November issue

Clayton No.7 (B4618.7) had been at Boulby mine demonstrating its capabilities. This was part of a bid for a new three-year contract to supply shunting locomotives (and support) to the site, which RSS has now won, with the new contract commencing at the start of November. This will see two of the Clayton CD40s take over duties from the current locomotives supplied by Ed Murray Ltd. The locos in line for the job are CD40s No.1 (B4618.1) and No.2 (B4618.2), which are expected to carry a livery and name devised by a local school, following a competition run by the mine. No.7 will then be moved back to Wishaw which, with No.5 (B4618.5) at London Underground’s Acton Depot, will leave only it and No.6 (B4618.6) at the Chasewater Railway unassigned. However, that may be only short-lived with a possible contract for the pair in the offing.

No. 08730 left Whatley Quarry at the start of October for a filming contract, before moving on to Tyseley TMD, joining No. 08503 from the Barry Railway that had also been moved there.

HARRY NEEDLE RAILROAD COMPANY

HNRC has taken on Thomas Hill Vanguard No. 189c/1967 (a rebuild of Sentinel Vertical boilered steam loco 9536/1952), formerly owned by Davy Markham, and moved it to its Worksop site. Immaculately maintained, the loco was used to move wagons around Markham’s internal rail system, the site having no mainline rail connection for many years. No. 189c became redundant when the firm went into administration in early 2018.

MENDIP RAIL

NO. 08296 has made the short journey from Whatley Quarry to Merehead by low-loader, arriving at the latter on October 6.