WAGON REPORT
AMONGST the most impressive items of on-track plant currently in use are the two AFM 2000-RT track finishing machines owned and operated by Swietelsky Babcock Rail. Built in 2006 by Plasser & Theurer as Nos. DR 77001-002, design code ZW 100A, they are triple element units carried on five bogies. Total weight is 150 tonnes and overall length is 47.2 metres; maximum speed is 60mph and they have RA6 route availability.
Two functions are combined in these machines. Firstly ballast regulation, the ability to plough and sweep ballast (aided by an on-board hopper able to carry 18 tonnes of stone), and dynamic track stabilisation. This allows track to be returned to line speed in reduced time following relaying. However the weight, size and cost of the machines has so far stopped other trackwork companies from acquiring them.
■ Six-wheeled wagons were never numerous in either the grouping or post-Nationalisation years, and few made it into the TOPS era, but curiously a new batch of TMV 35 ton six-wheel milk tanks appeared in 1981 when WH Davis (Langwith Junction) refurbished 40 existing vehicles for the Milk Marketing Board as Nos. MMB 42800-839. All had roller bearings and sloped stainless steel tanks.
The wagons were intended for emergency use and kept on standby at Chard Junction and Lostwithiel. However, the only known use was in August 1981 when 10 wagons formed a service to Stowmarket. The fleet was withdrawn in 1989.
■ Another product of the 1980s was the building of two fleets of PKA ‘Comtic’ and PQA ‘Autic’ vehicle transporters for wagon hirer Railease. Based on French domestic stock, they came from SNAV and Fauvet-Girel in 198183, the designs being ‘Anglicised’ by Standard Railway Wagon of Heywood, Lancashire. The ‘Comtics’ Nos. RLS 92300345 were able to carry three lorries or five vans, while the ‘Autics’ Nos. RLS 92000-111 could carry a dozen medium-sized vans. This was equal to the rival PLA ‘Procor 80’ design of the same period. However, the absence of bogies made the ‘Autic’ lighter. Hirers included Leyland, MAT Transauto, Renault and Silcock & Colling. In later years they were renumbered into the international RIV series to allow them to work to Europe. Four ‘Comtics’ remained as private owners Nos. RLS 92338/339/342/343, and were employed by Jarvis Fastline and Balfour Beatty to carry Donelli single line track relayers. Two wagons can be seen dumped out of use in Bordesley yard, ‘Comtic’ No. 43 70 4287 004-2 and ‘Autic’ No. 43 70 4288 009-0. Arlington Fleet Services, Eastleigh, has refurbished a quintet of IPA four-element car transporters for GroupeCat/STVA, Nos. 23 87 4375 006-5/0149/029-7/032-1/046-1. Coded TALT 4000, they have UIC wagon type Laaefooss and are to design code IPE 893. They have joined previously outshopped wagons carrying new Toyota cars from Burnaston to Europe via the Channel Tunnel. DB Cargo continues to send large numbers of two-axle wagons to the European Metals Recycling scrapyard at Attercliffe, Sheffield. Now deleted from rolling stock records are, MHA/*MPA ‘Coalfish’ Nos. 394002*/009/01 7*/020*/024*/025*/068/080/0 83/084*/085/086/087*/089/09 2*/120/192/209*/214*/217/22 9*/238/249/256*/263*/289*/3 80/381/389*/393*/567/570/58 6/665/667/669/685/696*/706/ 740/786/801/810*/843/859/8 72/877/890*/905*/908/920/9 43/987/994/996, Nos. 396024/ 057/067/078/081*/082*/085* /095*/097*/103*/126*/135*/1 56*. Of interest is that the MPA wagons have only recently been fitted with integrated disc brake wheelsets.