YOUR CHANCE TO OWN A UNIQUE PIECE OF RAILWAY HISTORY... AND SUPPORT TWO WORTHY CAUSES!
EASTERN RAIL Services (ERS) is offering readers the chance to obtain a one-off piece of modern image railwayana in the form of a metal roundel from a former European Passenger Services (EPS) generator van through a sealed bid charity auction. All you have to do is submit your bid by post or email by the deadline of 17.00 on Friday, May 27, 2022 and the highest bidder wins.
The steel roundels, known affectionately as Polo mints by enthusiasts for the obvious reason, were carried on traction and rolling stock belonging to EPS, the company which was originally due to launch night trains through the Channel Tunnel in the 1990s. A new fleet of ‘Nightstar’ sleeping coaches was ordered but by the time they’d been completed it had already been decided that the night trains would be uneconomic to run. The new carriages were eventually exported to Canada, but five generator vans, which were due to supply power to the night stock, remained in the UK.
They had been converted from Mk.3 vehicles and all five are now in the ownership of Eastern Rail Services.
The roundel kindly donated by ERS comes from ex-generator van 96734 and measures approximately 70cm in diameter and 2cm deep. ERS will arrange for the roundel to be delivered to the auction winner at cost.
Our sister title Rail Express is managing the bidding – just include your name and contact details, along with the bid value. The highest bidder will be asked to make payment before ERS releases the roundel. Postal bids can be sent to: EPS Roundel Auction, c/o Customer Services, Mortons Media, Morton Way, Horncastle LN9 6JR.
Email bids can be sent to Rail Express editor Mark Simmons at railexpresseditor@mortons.co.uk, with the subject line ‘Roundel Bid’.
The winner will acquire a unique piece of railway history in the knowledge that the money raised will go to two excellent causes – the Railway Benefit Fund (www.railwaybenefitfund.org. uk) and Railway Children (www.railwaychildren.org.uk).
Our grateful thanks to ERS, which offers a wide range of rolling stock solutions from its spacious base in Great Yarmouth, and is very active in providing stock for TV and film contracts (including Last Train To Christmas). Visit easternrailservices.co.uk