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Your comments

• Dave Shell

  23 March 2008, 13:21:23

  I wonder if this was ever at Morpeth, as most of the other former Satlink vehicles they have were there at some point?

• Ben Williams

  23 March 2008, 14:04:38

  Yes we have no sightings of this pre-2004 so if anyone has any to add please do so!

• Peter Cummings

  23 March 2008, 22:13:17

  Definitely was at Morpeth. I photted it there in July 2001.

  I thought I'd sent you the pics aeons ago.

• Ben Williams

  23 March 2008, 22:36:34

  Hmm it may have got lost in the highly efficient filing system!

  I don't seem to have any sightings from Morpeth of 889020 etc that were there for a while...?

• Dave Shell

  24 March 2008, 10:00:01

  I saw the satlink set quite a few times from spotting days at the 'peth - afraid you hadn't converted me to a Departmentalist back then...

• Paul Johnson

  25 March 2008, 15:08:32

  It was only left at Morpeth because nobody would use it for its original function which was a mess and tool van.After electrification was completed in the Newcastle/North main line area the S&T stores department at Newcastle moved from the old Parcel office in Newcastle to the former electrification depot at Heaton. Once the O.H.L had removed thier rolling stock it didn't take long for Tyne yard to send all the S&T wagons stored there to the yard at Heaton. It was quite regular to see the pick up frieght to Blue Circle cement(this was next door) with a motley collection of S&T wagons tagged on behind. Although electrification work was complete S&T trains still ran on scrap collection trains, concrete troughing trains and the od cable train. the need arrose for a mess coach for the Signal works gangs and this is what they got. All that was inside were two park benches and a brake van stove! No washing facilities,tables, lights or cooking facilities. I think it did two trips in this function until the gangs refused to use it. It was replaced by DB975797. It was then used just as a tool van and just ended up in Morpeth Sidings when privitisation started to take a hold and the new companies wanted nothing to do with old rolling stock.

• Paul Bartlett

  25 March 2008, 16:07:06

  Photograph of this inside Gateshead works August 1991 at

  http://gallery6801.fotopic.net/p1445438.html

  This van has unique experimental suspension ex High speed freight vehicle HSFV4 of Derby Research.

• Dave Shell - Northumbria Rail Ltd.

  25 March 2008, 21:44:30

  Thanks for that Paul J - your name rings a bell for some reason...

• Paul Johnson

  26 March 2008, 15:11:45

  I am often in the Network rail offices at Coopies Lane most of the supervisors know me especially the S&T.

• Dave Shell - Northumbria Rail Ltd.

  26 March 2008, 19:40:42

  ah - that'd probably be it then Paul

• Dave Coxon

  1 December 2008, 21:24:34

  This is an historic vehicle and deserves a better fate than seems to have befallen it. This long wheelbase 4-wheeled ferry van was converted by the Research Division of BR. Known as High Speed Freight Vehicle No:4 (HSFV4) it had a revolutionary sophisticated suspension (for a freight vehicle) consisting of two coil springs with two 45 degree-inclined hydraulic dampers and a traction rod at each corner. It was utilised in the early 1970's for high speed trials and could run happly at 90 mile/h. Later it was used as an Auxiliary Test Vehicle in the OHLE tests with the BR/ Brecknell Willis pantograph at the Old Dalby test track and elsewhere for which it had a flat roof and an inside access ladder.

• steve rimell

  24 August 2012, 17:35:45

  Can anyone tell me if this vehicle is still at Eden Valley now ? Or where is it ?

  Cheers Steve

• steve rimell

  4 August 2023, 23:18:54

  Seen 4/4/22 at Eden Valley

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