PRESERVED ROLLING STOCK
■ The Colne Valley Railway has become the latest line to acquire redundant Mk 3 coaches. It received former LNER vehicles 44058 and 40706 from Ely Papworth on March 11/12, with a delayed move for 41088 occurring on April 8. Subsequently formed up with 82121, the DVT is expected to be fitted with a generator set in due course to power the trailers’ electrical systems.
■ Northumbria Rail has announced plans to secure further Mk 3 trailers from the prototype HST set to join 42356 (42002) that the company already owns and is actively refitting internally at Eastleigh Works. It goes under the name Project HST-P, and discussions are underway with leasing companies and other owners, with 42357 (41002) being targeted as the next acquisition. A Facebook page (www.facebook. com/donate/442389583643355) has been set up for the project with donations welcomed towards the cost of purchasing and restoring the trailers.
■ Five of the Mk 1s from the Scottish Railway Preservation Society’s main line charter set were transferred from Bo’ness to Carnforth on March 17 behind 37516 and 37668. During their stay at the West Coast depot, 3096, 3115, 4856, 13229 and 13230 are variously due to receive retention toilet tanks and internal work. Also included in the move were West Coast’s own 4973 and 99723, returning from use as a staff shuttle on the West Highland line the previous weekend where they ferried workers from Upper Tyndrum to a remote possession to assist with social distancing measures.
■ Mid-March saw Mk 1 TSO 5001 returned to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway following extensive refurbishment over the past 15 months by Rampart Engineering at Barrow Hill. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the former InterCity vehicle was stripped back to a shell before being re-skinned and rebuilt internally. All of the 1980s refurbishment modifications have been reversed, and it now has vacuum brakes, steam heating, wooden panelling and period lighting. An accessible toilet has also been fitted in place of the two originals with the adjacent door on each side modified into a double door.
■ The 125 Group’s HST set was on the move again on March 17 with 43089 and 43048 transferring the eight Mk 3s (40730/41, 41057/67, 42111/19/20 and 42337) from the cramped site at Rectory Junction for further storage at Chaddesden Sidings, Derby. A move to the Great Central Railway – Nottingham is still awaited.
■ Former Motorail GUV 96212 became the first item of rolling stock to leave the Dartmoor Railway on April 7 when it made the cross-country trek to Great Yarmouth. It was unloaded in the carriage sidings the following day and is now owned by Eastern Rail Services.
■ At the Mid-Norfolk Railway, the refurbishment of Mk 2 TSO 5211 commenced in mid-March. It required attention to water damage around the toilets and adjacent vestibule. Minor bodywork repairs are also scheduled before a repaint. The latest coach to arrive for contract work at the West Somerset Railway in March was the Bodmin & Wenford’s Mk 1 SK 25807, and it went straight into the painting booth. Also delivered to the line during the month were Mk 1 BG 92387 from the Dean Forest Railway and Newspaper GUV 94003 from Burton Wetmore, with the latter expected to be used for spares.
■ Previously in West Coast ownership, Mk 1 Super BG 94530 has found a new home at Wannies Retreat, Low Chesterhope in Northumberland. The former parcels van is currently in the process of being converted into holiday accommodation, including a kitchen and bathroom, with the roller shutter doors now replaced by patio-style double doors. Also now in non-railway use is Southern GUV 4588, which has moved from the Llangollen Railway to the Plaice Station fish and chip shop alongside Padgate station, where it is being converted into a dining area.
■ At Eastleigh Works the restoration of Mk 1 RU 1987 for use in the Kent and East Sussex Railway’s dining train has progressed to a repaint into Pullman umber and cream following the completion of bodywork repairs. The coach still requires internal work, which will be carried out upon its return to the line.
■ Plans to create a Thai-themed restaurant alongside Pitlochry station using two Mk 3s narrowly received planning permission in early April. 40807 and 41161 will now be transported to the site and put in place ahead of a planned opening in the summer. The decision is subject to the car parking places that will be lost by their installation being replaced elsewhere.