Sarah Wilkinson
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Tram-train trial gets underway
THE long-awaited launch of Britain’s first tram-train service finally took place on October 25, when No. 399204 carried the first passengers as the 09.39 Sheffield Cathedral to Rotherham Parkgate. But the day was marred just a few hours later when this same unit was involved in a crash with a lorry, bringing a halt to…
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Call for Great Western ‘Thunderbird’ locos
THUNDERBIRD rescue locomotives have not previously been necessary on Great Western routes given the operational flexibility of the High Speed Trains that are now starting to be withdrawn. It has been recognised, however, that failures of the replacement Class 800 series rolling stock – which have distributed power systems rather than power cars – will…
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CLASS 19 ON TRIAL
Former Driving Van Trailer No. 82113, which has been converted into a self-powered vehicle dubbed No. 19001, was running trials along the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway in October. The Artemis-led project has seen the DVT fitted with a JCB engine and hydraulic accumulators, which store energy during braking for reuse during acceleration to reduce overall…
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Edwardian splendour
IT’S not often I get to use the word ‘Edwardian’ in this magazine about modern traction, but I was privileged recently to see firsthand the amazing work done returning NER Autocar No. 3170 back into service at the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway. The importance of this vehicle cannot be overstated. Built in 1903…
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Colas Rail ‘70s’
THE new year had just begun when Nos. 70803 and 70805 were unloaded from the Atlantic Concert at Seaforth Docks, Merseyside, on January 4, 2014, following their month-long journey from the General Electric factory in Erie, Pennsylvania. So began the story of the Colas Rail Class 70 fleet, which has gone on to be a…
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CLUES TO THE ‘WELLY BOOT’ PULLMAN
REGARDING the Scottish Met-Camm Pullman picture (Express Mailbag, August issue), I think I can identity it – or at least narrow it down, because three of the former Eastern Region Pullmans were sent to Scotland for departmental use after withdrawal from regular services. These were Kitchen Second No. E335 (condemned April 24, 1976); Kitchen First…
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JANUARY 2019
FEATURES CALLING AT DERBYA railwayman’s view on the recent station remodelling and upgrade. GAS GIANTSA look at the distinctive former BOC, which are reviewed in model form on page M26. 0-60: CLASS 321It is back to East Anglia to test out these ex-British Rail workhorses. FATE OR COINCIDENCE?The bizarre story of No. 47299’s fatal crash.…
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The ‘Trying Banana’
THE Hatfield derailment of October 17, 2000 was a watershed moment for Britain’s railway, and most railway engineers around at the time would rather forget the ‘nervous breakdown’ the system experienced in the months that followed. The infrastructure owner Railtrack went into something of a commercial tailspin, but it was clear that whatever organisation emerged…
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Tenders sought for HS2 fleet
THE Government has issued an invitation to tender to the five bidders hoping to build the initial fleet of trains for HS2. The winner will design, build, test and maintain at least 54 high-speed trains, which will be based at a new depot at Washwood Heath in Birmingham. The shortlisted companies – which are Alstom,…
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Back to the future
FIFTY years ago saw the end of steam on British Railways, with the running of the famous 1T57 ‘Fifteen Guinea Special’ on August 11, 1968. Our small tribute to that day is on page 7, with a shot taken from the tour, of the crowds at Liverpool Lime Street and the new order in the…
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