Coaching Stock News
Nocturnal Mk.4 tests
The end of April saw two nights of testing undertaken into Mk.4 braking performance using one of the former Grand Central sets destined for use with Transport for Wales. This saw 67008 working from the Arriva depot at Eastleigh with DVT 82200 and coaches 10321, 11320, 12224, 12326 and 12477, bringing push-pull Mk.4 operation to a number of rare locations.
On the first night of April 27/28, the set ran from Eastleigh to Bristol East Depot before heading to Reading, back to Swindon, and then home to Eastleigh via Reading once more. This pattern was largely repeated the next night, but with the Swindon leg extended through to Bristol.
With the data gathered, the same Mk.4s were transferred to Crewe Carriage Sidings behind 37884 on May 4, running via Bath and Shrewsbury.
Meanwhile, the additional Mk.4s for TFW that originated from the off-lease LNER fleet were released from Wabtec on April 24, 37800 initially taking 10305, 12215, 12304/15/24 and 82220 to Wembley Yard. Here they remained until May 2, when hauled onwards to Eastleigh by 57306.
Network Rail Mk.2 update
The first of the Mk.2f TSOS acquired from DRS by Network Rail has now received the obligatory coat of yellow, 5995 being noted formed in test trains by mid-may. Of the others, 6117 and 6122 were also active but still in fully-branded DRS blue, while 6001 had not been recorded in traffic since arriving at Derby on April 11.
The remaining pair, 5971 and 6008, were still at Cardiff Canton.
Eastern Rail Services
Eastern Rail Services has been confirmed as the new owner of the last DRS Mk.2f DBSO that remained at MOD Longtown, 9709 arriving at Great Yarmouth on April 21 after a lengthy road journey from Cumbria.
The low-loader then departed with Mk.2e FO 3240, the coach having been sold for scrap, but paperwork issues prevented a subsequent delivery to EMR, Kingsbury, meaning it was being held at Allelys’ Studley yard awaiting a resolution.
ERS has also put one-time Satlink staff coach and long-term Newport and Dalton resident KDB977591 (ex Mk.2 BFK 17033) and former Dartmoor Railway Mk.2f RFB 1213 up for sale via its website.
HST to Wabtec
Recent months have seen Scotrail’s plans to expand its HST sets grind to a halt, with the additional TS cars littering Slateford depot in particular and whole sets stood down from traffic. On April 30, set HA23 was brought south from Haymarket to Doncaster for attention by Wabtec, with power cars 43134 and 43143 later departing back north without taking HA02 or HA08 with them. Both sets have now been at Doncaster since February 2021.
Experimental DVT sold
Artemis Intelligent Power has sold Mk.3b DVT 82113, sometimes referred to as Class 19 19001, to Edinburgh-based Lenz Labs. Still to be found at Bo’ness, the vehicle previously served as a test-bed for a diesel-powered conversion with hydrostatic transmission. Its new owner specialises in developing solutions to low rail adhesion, with the erstwhile DVT set to be used in magnetic adhesion trials. During May, it was re-liveried into the company’s white and black livery with blue stripes by Heritage Painting.
Pullman HST swap
The now regular exchange of Midland Pullman trailers for retention tank fitting took place on May 3/4, with 37688 bringing Mk.3 41182 south from Crewe to Eastleigh Works, the working also featuring Rail Charter Services power car 43059. The Type 3 headed home the next day with 41169 in tow, along with Mk.1 FK 13227, which served as the barrier coach on both trips.
Overdue disposals
Recent weeks have seen several long-stored coaches finally cleared from the network, most notably at Bletchley where the residency of Mk.1 GUV 93723 and Mk.1 BG 84564, which ended its days as sandite coach ADB977618, finally came to an end after more than three decades.
May 9 saw the bodies of both coaches broken up in situ, with work then commencing on the underframes, some parts from them being retrieved by preservationists.
Inactive for almost the same amount of time, Mk.1 breakdown train tool van ADB975454 was scrapped at Toton by Euro Demolition & Dismantling on April 22.
Last used in passenger service by Virgin Trains, Mk.3 TGS 44089 finally departed York Leeman Road on May 4, bound for EMR, Kingsbury, having passed through the ownership of Grand Central, Network Rail, and Eastern Rail Services in the intervening years.
Rather more recently in traffic, Mk.4s 11409, 11414 and 12453 were transported from Worksop to Booth’s yard in Rotherham in the first week of May.