RSS hires ‘08s’ to Greater Anglia for shunting

Two Railway Support Services Class 08s have been hired to Greater Anglia. The locomotives (08480 and 08683) arrived at Norwich Crown Point on July 18.

The former was first introduced in September 1958, and the latter in September 1959. Both were bought from DB Cargo and have been overhauled by RSS.

RSS moved 08480 to the Great Central Railway, where it appeared at the GCR’s March diesel gala. A few weeks later 08683 joined its classmate at the GCR. They were moved by road from Quorn to Norwich, leaving on July 17.

As no abnormal load access is available directly into Crown Point depot, vehicle deliveries are normally via Dereham, for transit via the main line. With ‘08s’ this can be a time-consuming and cumbersome task - the motors require de-meshing, the rods removing, and a speed restriction on movement prior to re-fitting and re-meshing on arrival.

RSS used the rail-connected terminal siding adjacent to the station, where the ‘08s’ were unloaded and then driven to the depot under their own power.

RSS commissioned the locomotives on July 19, and handed them to GA to shunt rolling stock at the depot. The operator wanted at least one locomotive fitted with buck-eye couplings fitted to ease movements with the coaching stock, and 08683 fulfils this request with its swing-head coupling.

The locomotives replace RMS Locotec 08754 and 08847, which had been on hire to GA.

RSS also supplies 08511 to GA at Cambridge for shunting Class 317 electric multiple units.