The Railway Magazine

WAGON REPORT

- by Steven Fredrick Lappage

YORKBASED Jarvis Fastline was a major supplier of track and infrastruc­ture services to Railtrack and Network Rail during the first decade and a half of the privatisat­ion era. It was responsibl­e for the introducti­on of the innovative ‘Slinger’ sleeper distributi­on trains and also operated the original Harsco Track Technologi­es P811S track renewal train. In order to expand its business, the company decided to enter the coal transporta­tion sector, leasing 94 HYA bogie hoppers from General Electric Rail Services. Built in Romania by IRS (Internatio­nal Railway Systems), they were delivered in 2008 as Nos. 37 70 6791 000-2 to 093-7. The operation was short-lived, however. Network Rail placed track renewal contracts with other firms, causing parent company Jarvis severe financial strain. Fastline was dissolved during March 2010 and the coal hoppers placed into long term store at Long Marston (Warwickshi­re). Now owned by Touax SA, they are scheduled to be converted into aggregate hoppers by WH Davis at Langwith Junction. Removal of the centre bay reduces volumetric capacity by a third from 90 cubic metres to 60 cubic metres, but maximum payload is increased from 74.6 tonnes to 77.6 tonnes. Modified wagons were intended to move to a new series Nos. 83 70 6957 000-5 to 093-0. However, many still retain their original identities. Most of the Touax fleet was acquired through a takeover of General Electric Rail Services. The exceptions are batches of HOA/JNA hoppers and box wagons purchased new for lease to Mendip Rail. They are notable for their red livery and ‘Billboard’ style lettering. Now in service from Merehead/Whatley quarries are JNA’s Nos. 81 70 5500 804-6 to 858-2 from Astra Rail, Turnu Severin, Romania and HOA’s Nos. 81 70 6774 036-2 to 075-0 from WagonySwid­nica in Poland. Delivered immediatel­y prior to the Touax wagons were further JNA’s, Nos. 81 70 5500 754-3 to 803-8, for VTG Rail UK. Finished in silver livery, they feature a revised body with additional vertical ribs. GBRf is using them to carry aggregates for the HS2 project. A new use for earlier stock previously in store at Long Marston is the movement of high purity glassmakin­g silica sand from the Sibelco quarry at Middleton Towers to Ravenhead sidings at St. Helens. Also for VTG Rail UK are more Ecofret 2 container flats. Newly completed by WH Davis at Langwith Junction works are FWA-C outers Nos. 83 70 4520 248-3 to 267-3 and FWA-D inners Nos. 83 70 4521 060-1 to 069-2. GB Railfreigh­t is hiring the wagons to expand its range of intermodal services.

The programme to refurbish BBA steel flats for DB Cargo at Stoke has been expanded. It now includes BLA wagons fitted with box coil cradles. A number of stored examples have been returned to use. New American pattern cast steel bogies are fitted. Maximum payload/tare weight is 74 tonnes/26.6 tonnes (BBA) and 70 tonnes/32 tonnes (BLA). The difference arises through the extra weight of the box coil cradles.

Victa Railfreigh­t has imported a batch of IXA ‘Mega3’ multipurpo­se container/piggyback flats from Germany, Nos. 37 80 4905 001-6 to 022-2, to design code IXE 935.

Deleted from stock: YLA ‘Mullet’ rail flat No. DC 967528 and YKA ‘Osprey’ sleeper carrier No. DB 996375.

 ?? ?? Touax red-liveried JNA box open No. 8170 5500 827-7, leased for use by Mendip Rail, is pictured at Westbury on June 10.
Touax red-liveried JNA box open No. 8170 5500 827-7, leased for use by Mendip Rail, is pictured at Westbury on June 10.

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