Coaching Stock News
DATS relocates to Loughborough
Early November saw much of the coaching stock operated by Data Acquisition and Testing Services (DATS) relocated to Brush Traction at Loughborough. Last used in the spring, the assortment of Mk.3s was previously stabled at the former oil terminal at Rectory Junction, a not particularly secure location.
With Brush soon to close, a deal has been agreed to use the Falcon Works as a base, at least in the short term. On November 1, HST power cars 43050 and 43076 transferred 91122 to Loughborough, along with 11074 (Test Coach 1), 40728 (Test Coach 3) and former Virgin ‘Pretendolino’ Mk.3s 11018/048 and 12078/122/133/138.
Four days later, 43054 and 43066 made two trips between Rectory Junction and Loughborough, first moving 91128 and then 10237, 12092 (Test Coach 2) and 82115. With some DATS Mk.3s still awaiting transfer, the two power cars then ran to UK Rail Leasing’s Leicester Depot for stabling.
Mk.3 refurbishments
The last Trailer Standard to be modernised for Scotrail was released from Doncaster in early November, with 42056 moved by road to Inverness to be prepared for traffic. Locomotive Services-owned Trailer Composite 46014 has been overhauled and internally refurbished at Eastleigh Works. Once earmarked for spares recovery and disposal, a use has been found for the TC with Arlington finishing the coach in white undercoat. October 28 saw it collected and transferred by road to the Independent Rail workshops at Chesterfield for final painting.
Mk.3 FO 11094 has been scrapped on site at Assenta Rail, Hamilton.
ROG Mk.3s to Donington
Following recent use on charter workings and as brake force runners on stock transfers, November 10 saw 11 Mk.3s, operated by the Rail Operations Group, returned to the East Midlands Distribution Centre at Castle Donington for stabling. The transfer from Derby was undertaken by 37510 with 10249/406, 11092/093/099/101 and 12125/154/176/180/182 in tow. Back on October 19, FOS 11092, 11099 and 11101 had been utilised for brake force on a 5Q08 12.23 Longsight-kilmarnock Bonnyton working that involved 37510, Transpennine EMU 397005 and translators 6378 and 6379.
When 37510 returned to Derby from Castle Donington on November 10, it brought HST barrier coaches 6330, 6340 and 6344, which had been there since August 10, and translators ADB975875 and ADB977087.
Welsh Mk.4s head for refurbishment
The last two former Grand Central Mk.4 sets remaining in store at Worksop were retrieved by 57310 on October 22 and taken to Doncaster, the coaches being 10321/30, 11320/21, 12222/24, 12323/26, 12461/77 and 82200/27. Destined for use with Transport for Wales, they first require internal work and external re-liverying at Wabtec and conversion to work with Class 67s at Eastleigh.
GWR ‘Castle’ sets latest
Great Western’s modernised Mk.3s continue to rotate through Wabtec’s Doncaster workshops for warranty work. On October 19, 43010 and 43027 took GW04 (48110-12, 49104) along with TGS 49113 to South Yorkshire and returned to Laira the next day with GW10 (48128-30, 49110) and TS 48134. On November 10, GW04 and 49113 were returned to Devon between 43005 and 43153, the power cars having come north the previous day with GW11 (48131-33, 49111). As a result of this disruption, the two additional permanent four-coach sets of GW12 and GW13 have still to be properly formed. In early November, newcomer 48149 was in a threecoach GW13 with 48135 and 49112, while equally new 48136 and 48137 were substituting in GW08 with 48123 and 49108. 48150 and 49117 were not in traffic.