Wagons News
More JNAS for GBRF
With the current insatiable demand for box wagons, GB Railfreight has reached agreement to lease a further 50 JNAS, which will once again be built by Greenbrier Europe and owned by Porterbrook. These will be used to support future growth in the construction sector.
Meanwhile, GBRF received another new FWA Ecofret triple-set on February 14 with the release of 83 70 4520 328-3, 83 70 4521 100-5, and 83 70 4520 329-1 from WH Davis at Shirebrook. Taken to Doncaster by 66750, the transfer also included shortened HYA hoppers 371074-77/80 and 37 70 6791 000/28/37/38/48/51/68. Earlier, the locomotive had arrived with 37 70 6955 227 and 83 70 6955 306/14/37/41 for the same conversion work.
More Wascosa FEAS
Two more rakes of yellow-painted Wascosa-owned FEA container flats have arrived in the UK. On February 20, GBRF’S latest celebrity 69004 was accompanied by 73965 atop the 6Y71 1840 Dollands Moor-eastleigh Yard with 81 70 4524 001-14/18-22/27, these all carrying Salmon flat modules. Then on March 8, Royal Scotsman-liveried 66746 repeated the journey with 81 70 4524 031/041/067/086-102. With the wagons not yet introduced on their intended infrastructure workings, some of those not fitted with modules have been noted formed in GBRF intermodal services.
MRAS gather at Derby
With the appearance of the first converted wagons still awaited, MRA side-tipping ballast wagon sets continue to be delivered to Derby for rebuilding with fixed bodies by Loram. On March 4, 20189 and 20205 brought in 501028/088/202/203/204 from Doncaster Wood Yard, while 37510 made the same journey on the 18th with 501046/106/256/257/258.
Latest disposals
After more than seven years stored at Colchester, Balfour Betty-liveried USP5000C ballast regulator DR77332 was extracted by road on March 6. Initially taken to Plasser’s workshops at West Ealing, the machine will be overhauled and then exported.
On the wagon front, the MHA/ MPA ballast opens continue to be decimated, with 60092 delivering 394638/858/874/898/917/946/999 and 396009/040/083/086 to EMR’S Attercliffe yard from Doncaster on February 16. Three subsequent deliveries to the same scrapyard up to March 9 encompassed 3941 23/128/264/349/361/375/406/5 37/577/640/671/695/727/819/88 6/904/926/968/979/981/990 and 396025/027/028/035/036/058/060062/065/068/077/080/084/091/152, along with MFA 391246/303/346/ 380/530.