Wagon News
MRA ballast tippers to be rebuilt
More than half of Network Rail’s fleet of MRA side-tipping ballast wagons are to be rebuilt with fixed box bodies following the award of a major contract to Loram.
Built in two batches between 2000 and 2004, 400 wagons (501001-400) were eventually constructed and formed into sets of five with two outer wagons and three inner, one of the outers carrying a generator to power the set. Each was fitted with two box bodies that could be hydraulically tilted to discharge ballast onto adjacent trackbeds.
However, the MRAS did not find universal favour, with some infrastructure companies preferring to use more traditional box wagons and road-railers to accomplish the same work. Over the years, many of the sets have seen the tilt mechanism disabled and generator removed for use as bulk ballast carriers, with others stored. This two-year project will see at least 250 wagons rebuilt specifically for this role, with new bodies on the existing underframes. The first set for conversion was delivered to Derby behind 20007 and 20205 on November 19, 501016/076 and 501166/67/68 arriving from Doncaster.
Stoke outshops reworked DB steel carriers
The first of the production batch of open steel carriers for DB Cargo were released from the company’s Stoke wagon works on November 26, with more following on December 10. These have been converted from surplus Thrall-built BRA and BYA covered steel carriers by removing the sliding hood and ends before modifying the cradles and follow on from prototype 966050, which was completed in March 2021. Finished in DB red, all have been released configured to carry steel slab but can be altered to transport hot rolled coils if required. All retain their original numbers, but those previously classified as BRA have been recoded as BYA, these being 964018/33/35/49, while converted original BYA are 966007/09/11/17/47/79/97, 966117/44/59 and 966201/09/33/47. Another11conversionsareduetofollow.
New wagons arrive
Late November and early December saw three rakes of new wagons arrive via the Channel Tunnel. First through was the latest batch of Vtg-owned JNA box wagons, 66788 heading to Wembley on November 25 with 81 70 5500 972 and 977-999.
On December 11, the remaining 25 Wascosa JNA bulk ballast boxes, 81 70 5932 176 to 200, were moved by 66717 as the 6Z70 03.30 Dollands Moor to Eastleigh Yard.
In between, 92032 transferred the last of Freightliner’s new FFA intermodal twins to Wembley on December 1, where they remained in mid-month. This batch featured 81 70 4846 120+121 followed by 113+115, 226+201, 124+119, 087+102, 229+223, 116+114, 130+125, 152+151, 160+159, 021+012, 220+225, 214+217, 228+221 and 224+227.
Departures from Davis
Not to be outdone, W Davis released a further batch of FWA Ecofret triple-set container wagons bound for GBRF on November 29, 66735 departing Shirebrook for Doncaster with 83 70 4520 300, 83 70 4521 086, 83 70 4520 301 followed by 302+087+303, 304+088+305, 306+089+307, 308+090+309, 312+092+313, 314+093+315 and 316+094+317. The working also included the latest shortened IIA hoppers in the form of 37 70 6791 012/41/44/54/60.
HOBC exported
One of Network Rail’s high-output ballast cleaner sets was dispatched to Europe on November 25, it having been transferred from Wembley to Dollands Moor by 66788 the previous day. Included in the move were RM900RT ballast cleaner DR76501, MFS-D hopper wagons DR92303-22, MFS-SB swivel conveyors DR9229092 and YSA conveyor support wagon DB979403.
Eight of the more recent batch of YSA conversions from former container flats were transferred from Derby to Whitemoor Yard on November 18, 20007 and 20205 taking DR92634/39/44-48/50 for further storage.
Colas retrieves KSAS
Out of traffic since April 2020, the entire fleet of 10 KSA timber carriers were collected from Hackney Yard, Newton Abbot, and taken to Baglan Bay on December 16 to await a return to use. Powered by 66849, the 6Z32 11.38 departure featured 33 70 4739 003/10/26/65/66/72/74/76/78/79.
Latest disposals
Further clearance of redundant wagons at Toton during December saw Ron Hull of Rotherham remove two-axle ballast wagons MFA 391482, MHA 394297/503/702/720/732/760/805, MPA 394716/851, 396056 and MTA 395021/52/57/64/87, 395100/03/44/45/60/63/69/82/96 and 395210/29.
Also scrapped were OBA opens 1100 60/123/142/325/412/441/453/733/7 73, OCA 112114, RRA runner 110574, YLA Mullet DC967629/36 and YMA Salmon DB996460/649. On December 1, the same scrap merchant collected MHA 394892 and MTA 395132/206/266 from Hinksey Yard for disposal at Rotherham.