Fleet Review
Mk 3 moves continue
The number of former Greater Anglia Mk 3s languishing in store continues to decrease as new owners are found. On November 17, 2020 ROG’s 37510 arrived at Long Marston to collect 10406, 11093, 11101, 12125 and 12154 and take them to Castle Donington. They all now belonging to Electric Traction Ltd. The working was routed via Cardiff Canton to order to collect RFM 10259, it being the last of the former Transport for Wales Mk 3s to be collected. Two days later, 11093 and 11101 were moved onwards to Derby RTC by 47812, while the stay of 10406, 12125 and 12154 at Castle Donington was equally brief. A stock move on November 25 by 57303 saw the trio transferred to MOD Bicester, along with 12183-85 and DVT 82107.
Also now with a new home are 10417, 12015, 12034, 12084, 12108 and 12126, these moving from Barrow Hill to the Weardale Railway on November 30 behind 50007 and 50049. Previously at Leicester, they are understood to have been sold to the railway. Although not Mk 3s, the quartet of DRS-owned Mk 2s previously in Loram colours were transferred from Derby to Castle Donington behind 47813 for storage on November 26. Now sporting plain DRS blue, 5810, 5919, 6046 and 9525 all show scars of where the vinyls were removed.
Penultimate Scot Rail HST
Just one HST set, HA19, remains to be delivered to Scot Rail following the release of HA20 from Wabtec, Doncaster, on November 28. Taken north to Slateford by 43143 and 43179, the set was formed of 40620 (ex-41158), 42200, 42575 and 42129.
Mk 4 disposals resume
After a break of a few months, the disposal of Mk 4 coaches from Worksop resumed in the first week of December 2020 with 11277, 11280, 11402, 12401 and 12402 being taken by road to a Sims scrapyard within Hull Docks. Another nine vehicles were due to make a similar journey but to a different Sims yard in Hull before Christmas.
Into preservation
Previously at Barrow Hill, where it was used as a stores vehicle by Rampart Engineering, Mk 1 BG 92146 had moved to the Midland Railway – Butterley by December 12, 2020. It will be used as a brake vehicle for the railway’s short set of Mk 3s, it being fitted with air brakes and ETS wiring. Also destined for a new home are Mk 3s 40807 and 41161, which have been sold for static use at The Wee Choo-Choo, Pitlochry. Previously at Long Marston, they were most recently noted at the Stoke yard of Reid Freight Services.
HST barrier overhauls
Former Mk 1 BG 6344 has become the latest HST barrier coach to be overhauled and repainted in ROG blue at Eastleigh Works. It departed for Derby on December 5, 2020 sandwiched between 57303, newly repainted 57305 and 57312. Its place was taken three days later by 6330, it arriving at Eastleigh as part of the transfer of 319011 from Long Marston.
Mk 3 miscellany
Owned by Eastern Rail Services, former Nightstar generator coach 96371 was moved by road from Leicester to the PD
Stirling terminal at Mossend at the beginning of December 2020, GBRF 66744 subsequently transferring it to Polmadie on December 3. Meanwhile, amongst the DATS fleet based at Leicester, Mk 3 buffet 40728 is now branded Test Coach 3 over its existing East Midlands Trains livery.
LSL Pullman move
Locomotive Services’ Pullman car Pegasus was returned to Crewe from attention at Chesterfield in late November, allowing Mk 3 sleeper 10520 to take its place in the converted bus garage.