NEWS UPDATE

DIRECT RAIL SERVICES

THERE has been a major reorganisation of locomotive pools at DRS which has seen the creation of XHSO for DRS supply chain operations and XWSS for stored motive power and the effective disbandment of the XHCK, XHHP, XHNC and XHSS pools. The newly minted XHSO starts up with the operator’s seven operational Class 37s, Nos. 37218 and 37716 (exXHNC), 37401, 37419, 37422, 37424 and 37425 (ex-XHAC) along with its only currently active Class 57/0 No. 57002 Rail Express (ex-XHCK). Meanwhile XWSS now contains 11 locomotives, as follows: Nos. 37038, 37059, 37409 and 57007 (ex-XHHP), Nos. 37069, 37259, 37402, 37407, 37423 and 57003 (ex-XHSS) and

No. 66031 (ex-XHIM).

Having previously relied on

Colas Class 37/4 traction up until the middle of 2021, Network Rail’s observation saloon No. 975025 Caroline is continuing to be reacquainted with DRS traction, with No. 37401 now hired out to Loram Rail to power the former ‘Hastings’ gauge Class 202 DEMU buffet car (ex-S60755, converted in 1969) around the network.

WEST COAST RAILWAYS

THE Carnforth-based operator has increased its fleet of the former Freightliner and DRS Class 57/0s to eight, with the purchase of Nos. 57008, 57011 and 57012 from scrapper Ron Hull. This leaves three

on the books at DRS and No. 57004 due to take up a position at Locomotive Services. WCR has wasted no time in taking ownership of its new charges, transferring them to its AWCA pool and obliterating the branding and compass logos. It collected them from Longtown on March 17, No. 47813 bringing the first tranche down the WCML, working Nos. 57008, 57009 and 57012 as a 0Z57 to Carnforth. This was followed by No. 47245 with Nos. 57010 and 57011

running under a 0Z58 headcode. It is reported that WCR intends to return three of the Class 57s to working order – the identities to be chosen after a thorough inspection – with the other pair designated for spares recovery.

With their DRS logos crudely daubed out, WCR’s Nos. 57011 and 57010 are hauled by No. 47245 south of Oxenholme on March 17 on their way to Carnforth. Rob France

Jack Taylor On March 25, DRS’ No. 57002 Rail Express (a fine example of a machine, in our very biased opinion) passes Barrow on Trent while working as the 0Z57 Norwich Crown Point T&RSMD to Crewe Gresty Bridge.