News - Summer news latest!
22 September 2004 - thanks to Simon Bendall, Peter Hall, Tony Cole, John Hall, Andrew Jenkins for this article
A summary of recent news from July, August and September.New load bank locomotives
A couple of Class 86 locomotives are currently under conversion to become mobile load banks. The machines in question are 86210 and 86253 but unlike previous load bank locomotives that have received ADB series numbers it is thought these will just receive numbers in a new 86/9 series (86253 = 86901 and 86210 = 86902.) 86210 is currently at Barrow Hill, 86253 is at Brush, Loughborough although some movements are anticipated by road late September / early October:
86210 - Barrow Hill > Brush Loughborough.
86253 - Brush Loughborough > Carillion, Rugby.
****UPDATED 23RD SEPTEMBER 2004****
86253 has now arrived at Rugby but is still not fully painted and still carries its old number.
New Measurement Train latest
The current NMT is getting two new laboratory coaches to replace 977974 and 999550. These will be Mark 3s 44053 and 44087 and are currently under conversion at RTC. They are due for release shortly and will be renumbered 977993 and 977994 respectively.
The second New Measurement Train is beginning to be formed now. Coaches are not yet finalised but it will include 977974, 999550 and 1205 which was bought by AEA for conference car conversion. New yellow power car conversion 43154 is for this train along with two more power cars yet to be selected. NMT2 will be for Southern Region use *only*
Other new conversions
DMU car 51375 is currently at LH Group Barton under Needwood for conversion to 977992. This is to become a third car for the Chiltern water cannon unit 960301 and is to have its cab removed so it can be used as a trailer vehicle between the two existing driving cars 977987 and 977988.
****UPDATED 28TH SEPTEMBER 2004****
977992 has now arrived at Aylesbury after a brief stop at Tyseley.
6263 and 6264 appeared at Derby during August which (if nothing has changed) are converted from 92961 and 92923 respectively. They both carry the new yellow livery.
Disposals
The cutting of 6362 and 6363 was finally completed at Edge Hill on 21/07/04 by Richard Oakley (Central Engineering). They had remained partially cut on their sides for a few weeks!
DW 150144 was broken up at Bristol East yard at the end of August after suffering from a fire earlier in the year and its roof collapsing. As this was the last coach in the old DW series left on Network Rail metals it sadly means this is the first of the former regional departmental number series' to become extinct.
Former Toton engine carriers 025031 and 025032 were both finally cut during July by HNRC.
Sandite moves!
930204 and 930206 moved from Ashford to Selhurst 14/09/04 - These units will be used mostly in Selhurst depot on de-icing duties / depot shunting. Individual vehicles are 977874 and 977875 (930204) and 977924 and 977925 (930206.)
930002/003/004/006/011/203 all made their last journey from Ramsgate to Immingham for scrap on 09/09/04 behind Fragonset locomotives.
Individual vehicles were as follows:
975586/975587/975590/975591/975594/975595/975602/975603/975896/975897/977864/977865.
Other movements
Former Class 309 units 960101 and 960102 were moved from Old Dalby for store at MOD Pigs Bay on 24th August.
999801 has moved from MOD Bicester to Rugby.
The Hitachi unit moved back to Ilford on 02/09/04. I believe testing is now complete and this unit is to be stored at Ilford for a while although what the long term future holds isn't yet clear.
****UPDATED 28TH SEPTEMBER 2004****
The AC power car 977979 has now been marshalled back into the formation indicating more AC testing is imminent?
Other news...
Mark 1 BG 92936 and Mark 2 RFB 1258 are no longer used by Freightliner as Pendolino Barrier Vehicles and are now part of the operational charter fleet for Riviera Trains.
975403 has been noted at Bristol St Phillips Marsh depot in the new FGW colours.
975071 and 975797 have possibly gone from their long term home at Heaton ECD yard. No more is known about their disposal yet but it is almost certain they were no longer present when my correspondent passed the site in early August.
The Structure Gauging Train is now all in Network Rail yellow - 975081, 975280 and 977985 join 977986. Unit 901001 (977391/977392 and 999602) is also now all yellow.
977858 has received a repaint in all over maroon without the old Railtrack branding, while 975042 has recently appeared in NR yellow with red bufferbeams!
I have been told that all of the Serco MK1 barrier fleet have been sold to preserved railways although their new homes are not yet known. The MK2 fleet may follow soon - 977801 977802, 977468 and 977470 are all to be sold or scrapped.
Green saloon 975025 looks to be ready during October now and will be TPWS fitted. It is possible that this coach may be based at MOD Ludgershall.
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