HAA rake grows

CLASS 20 20169, which had been at Leeming Bar since April 2014 after a spell at the Stainmore Railway at Kirkby Stephen East, has been moved yet again and taken by road to a storage site at Tebay pending developments. This open-air site, close to the West Coast Main line, was the temporary home of the National Railway Museum’s Class 502 EMU from 2009 to 2012.

The Class 20 was bought for preservation in the summer of 1999 and initially moved to Kirkby Stephen East in January 2000 before moving again to the Wensleydale Railway. Some work to revive it was undertaken but the project seems to have stalled, resulting in its removal along with other locos owned by the same individual. RI contacted the owner, but we had not received a reply by the time we closed for press. has been offered for free transfer from the East Lancashire Railway. The unit was previously numbered 207202 and 207005 during its later days with British Rail. It has not run for at least eight years, and is currently stored at Baron Street Works, not being seen as having a future at the Greater Manchester line, despite at one time being a runner. It is advertised for spares or for restoration, but the unit has been found to contain asbestos which will make its restoration costly.

After an eight-year programme of restoration, former ManchesterAltrincham EMU centre coach 117 has finally seen the light of day at the Midland Railway – Butterley. The 1931-built coach was pulled out of the workshops recently so that its bodywork could be washed down prior to a final coat of paint and lining out. The coach is destined for display in the centre’s Matthew Kirtley Museum once completed.

Following almost 30 years in store at various sites, the end has finally come for Class 104 Driving

Motor Composite 50556, which has been broken up at the East Lancashire Railway. The coach spent eight years at the now defunct Meadowhall preservation site following preservation in 1993 and it was then moved to the Telford Railway where it remained for another 16 years. A move to Bury in 2017 allowed any useful spares to be carefully removed, prior to its final dismantling.

Officials from the Vale of Berkeley Railway have confirmed that Class 121 Bubble Car 55025, which is currently in store at Long Marston in departmental condition, will eventually join the stock at their line. This unit is missing its engines and most of its interior, but the intention is to rebuild it to working order in due course.

Renaissance Railcars’ volunteers working at the Great Central Railway have been able to take advantage of the Christmas holidays to get Class 101 Driving Trailer 56342 into Rothley shed to tackle corrosion repairs to the gangway area.

With the arrival of HAA 354456 from the Doon Valley Railway, the Chasewater Railway now has a fleet of seven MGR wagons, remarkably the largest collection in the country. From a cast of 1000s this is now the longest rake possible. The rake was photographed on December 20, 2020, with new arrival 354456 nearest the camera. (Alistair Grieve)

Class 20 20169 in the station yard at Kirkby Stephen on August 21, 2011 while visiting the Stainmore Railway. The loco has left the Wensleydale Railway and is now stored at Tebay. (Gordon Kirkby)