NRM calls-in a modern shunter to move its stock

A FOUR-WHEEL batteryelectric road-rail shunter has been used to move stock within the National Railway Museum’s Great Hall. This is a product of BEAZ Solutions BV of Hoogkarspel, Netherlands and is known as a ‘Tweetie’. BEAZ stands for ‘battery electric from A to Z’ and produces a large range of small, electric shunters. This one is BEAZ M001 of 2016, a Type BRR-3000, which came from the Paris Metro having been used previously in other European countries. Despite its diminutive size, it can move more than 400 tons at a time, so is well capable of shunting the largest of exhibits at York. An NRM spokesman explained: “It came to the NRM by road at the end of June for the July shunting. The Q1 0-6-0 was on Road 5 and unable to move, so the Class 09 diesel shunter would not have been able to be on the turntable and get the vehicles off Road 17 – ‘Tweetie’ was able to push them on to the turntable then the table was turned to Road 4 and the 09 pulled them off. It helped move the Pullman car Topaz, SECR ‘D’ 4-4-0 No. 737, and the ‘Eurostar’ car and was then able to push the ‘Shinkansen’ vehicle into position.”

TIM DUNN/NRM When not in use moving exhibits at the NRM, the BEAZ 4wBE road-railer was displayed with an information board. Initially, it was only on hire for a month, but it stayed on, but for how much longer after that was not known.