Coaching Stock News
LSG unveils Scotrail pushpull set
Locomotive Services Group has officially confirmed that it has assembled a representation of a 1980s Scotrail push-pull set, ahead of its railtour programme commencing early in 2023.
The announcement on October 18 was accompanied by pictures of Mk.2f DBSO 9707 repainted in Scotrail colours at Crewe, albeit still in refurbished condition and without the gangway connection reinstated. The six-coach set will also feature Mk.3a TSOS 12111 and 12171, Mk.3b FOS 11066 and 11082 and Mk.3a TSOB 10404, with power coming from the Crewe Diesel Preservation Group’s Scotrail liveried 47712 Lady Diana Spencer, which is on long-term hire to LSG.
This will bring a return to the main line for the two FOS and the TSOB acquired from the Barry Tourist Railway in the summer, while the pair of TSOS have been unused by LSG since they were initially repainted into Intercity colours.
TFW debuts black Mk.4s
The first of the additional Mk.4 sets acquired by Transport for Wales was introduced into passenger service from November 9. Powered by newly-repainted 67020, set HD05 formed 1W96, the 17.16 Cardiff-holyhead and returned the next morning as 1V91, the 05.33 Holyhead-cardiff. It then continued on the diagram for the rest of the day and again on November 11.
Formed of 12224, 12326, 10321, 11320 and 82200, the former Grand Central set is operating as five coaches, with 12477 removed until such time as selective door opening modifications are completed on all of Tfw’s locomotive-hauled rakes. HD05 also retains the plain black livery originally applied for the abandoned open access operation between London Euston and Blackpool, this having seen the orange band removed earlier this year. In due course, red doors and a red cantrail band will be applied to provide a matching appearance with the new black and red locomotive livery, a scheme that is likely to be extended to the original three Mk.4 sets and matching Class 67s in time. Some relief has been provided on DVT 82200, which now carries predominately light blue ‘Lest we forget’ remembrance vinyls.
Mk.3s gathered at Gascoigne Wood
The former coal loading complex at Gascoigne Wood has become a storage and stabling location for numerous Mk.3s in recent weeks. Already present by mid-october were TSOB 10406, FOS 11092/93/99, 11101, and TSOS 12091, 12125/54, most of which have been reported as now belonging to Legacy Rail/rail Engineering Solutions.
On October 22, these were employed on a railtour from Derby to Saltburn and Shildon that was top-and-tailed by 50008 Thunderer and 37418 An Comunn Gaidhealach and with the coaches branded as ‘The Real Charter Train Co.’
October 17/18 saw the DATS Mk.3 fleet join them, with 43050 and 43076 arriving at Gascoigne Wood with 10237, 11090, 12032/64/97 and 82115/36 from Loughborough, followed the next day by 11018/48/74, 12078/92 and 12122/33/38 from Leicester.
The latter eight Mk.3s were subsequently advertised for sale, while November 4 saw the same HST power cars take 10237, 82115 and 82136 to Network Rail’s High Marnham test track. Later in the month, the coaches were noted serving as brake force runners and coupling adaptors for new London Underground wagons undergoing trials between the Class 43s.
One DATS Mk.3 that has seen its future resolved is 82138, the DVT having been un-used by the company and still in ex-virgin West Coast condition. On September 14, it was moved by road from Loughborough to EMR at Kingsbury for scrapping.
LSG movements
All of the former Rail Charter Services HST set is now at Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works, with 40804 and 41160 being brought south from Crewe by 47805 on October 25 to join 41166, 41187 and 44081 in being repurposed.
While Locomotive Services Group has made no official announcement, every indication is that a second Blue Pullman HST is being assembled. Also on this transfer was Statesman Mk.2e FO 3231, which was returned to Crewe after attention on November 10 behind 20096 and 20107. The Type 1s had reached Eastleigh the previous day, with kitchen car 80043 in tow.
West Coast mods
After a seven-month stay, West Coast Railways Mk.2s 6000, 6528 and 99675 were released from the Assenta Rail workshops at Hamilton on October 31 following the fitting of retention tanks. Earlier in the day, 57314 had arrived from Carnforth with the next trio of coaches for modification, in the form of 5278, 5453 and 99673.
The journey back south was routed via Bo’ness in order to add SRPS railtour Mk.1s 13230, 21241 and 35185 to the consist.
Film role for ERS Mk.3s
The latest filming contract secured by Eastern Rail Services involved four of its former Arriva Train Wales Mk.3s, with 37611 hauling 10249 and 12176/80/82 from Yarmouth to the Keighley & Worth Valley on November 4. With the work completed, they were returned to the company’s Anglia base on November 15.
One Mk.3 that has left Yarmouth for the last time is former Chiltern Railways TSO 12017, this going to the Stafford scrapyard of J Watson & Sons in early November. October had seen this vehicle involved in emergency exercise training at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire.
Latest disposals
The Mk.3 trailers employed as spares donors at Wabtec have begun to go for scrap to EMR, Kingsbury. The second week of November saw 44004 and 44086 depart Doncaster, with more to follow.
A somewhat belated disposal to report that has only recently been confirmed is that of Riviera Mk.2s 3292 and 5657 from Burton Wetmore, the heavily fire-damaged ex-db Cargo duo having been cut by a local firm during 2020.