Class 31 collision overshadows Chinnor diesel event
involving Class 31 97205 (31163) on April 2 overshadowed the Spring Diesel Event on the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway.
The event took place between April 1 and 3 and featured the railway’s operational home-based locomotives alongside visiting HST power cars 43054 and 43066, which were provided by DATS and Hanson & Hall Rail Solutions 50008 Thunderer, although power car 43054 failed beforehand and was not used.
One of the highlights of the event was the use of 43066 hauling the C&PRR’S Class 411/9 3-CEP EMU 1198, with a locomotive at the other end of the formation to haul the return working. The Class 411/9 was used with air-braked locomotives and a rake of Mk.1 coaches was also in use.
The event suffered from a number of operational problems throughout its three days, with reports of services running extremely late on several occasions and various locomotive failures causing the organisers to have to hastily amend the rosters and the running order for each of the days. The collision involving the British Rail Research-liveried Class 31 – which is a resident member of the C&PRR diesel fleet – is understood to have taken place at about lunchtime on the Saturday.
C&PRR chairman Stanley Hart told Railways Illustrated: “The incident is currently under investigation and I am unable to give much more information into the circumstances at this stage until that investigation has been completed and the facts have been established.
“I can confirm that the incident involved our Class 31 locomotive, which collided with another vehicle in a siding. The vehicles have been damaged, but there were no injuries. “The collision was not reportable to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, although someone did report it to them and we have since spoken to them about the incident, along with a representative from the Office of Rail and Road.”
Mr Hart was unwilling to confirm to Railways Illustrated what vehicle the Class 31 had collided with, or the circumstances in the lead-up to the collision, but it is believed the other vehicle involved was visiting 43054, which was stabled having failed prior to the start of the event.
Mr Hart said that despite the various operational challenges, the weekend was a success for the railway in terms of visitor numbers, and good feedback had been received.
A special additional running day was organised on April 4 featuring 50008, although the locomotive sadly suffered a failure and services were taken over by 37227 for the remainder of the day.