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Fastline fleet returns to action

Having ditched its original 10 locomotives in 2009, Nos. 66401-10, now happily working for GB Railfreight (to be renumbered 66733-7) and Colas Rail (66841-5), the company is said to be ridding itself of some if not all of the next 10 EMD-built machines, Nos. 66411-20. However, in a curious move, the Carlisle-based operator has taken former Fastline Freight Type 5s Nos. 66301-5 onto its books, with Nos. 66301/3/4 already in use and 66302/5 undergoing attention at Electro-Motive Services’ facility at Longport (see Power by the Hour, pages 28-29). Just two years younger than the locos that they replace, how long will it be before they are partnered with their old colleagues, the IIA coal hoppers, to create an authentic Fastline train around a year since the company’s owner Jarvis went into administration. March 24th saw XHIM pool allocated Nos. 66301/4 head to York ready to begin work for DRS, with the former taking charge of the 6Z90 Stockton to Cardiff Tidal steel scrap service the next day. No doubt pleased to be at the head of a train again, the doyen of the Fastline Class 66s hustles its rake of JXAs through Burton Salmon, between Milford Junction and Ferrybridge.

Ron Cover