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Northern withdraws first batch of ‘Pacers’
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NORTHERN has withdrawn the first its Class 142 ‘Pacer’ units – 11 months later than planned. The first was scheduled for retirement in September 2018, but late delivery and acceptance of replacement units gave the ‘Pacers’ a stay of execution. Unit No. 142005 was ‘retired’ on August 12, with Northern holding a ceremony at Manchester Victoria…
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‘Duchess’ demolishes Devon banks record
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STANIER Pacific No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland put in a storming performance on August 4’s ‘Royal Duchy’, using its immense power to set a new record time for steam on the Plymouth to Exeter leg. The 50 miles, including steep climbs to Hemerdon and Dainton and numerous curves and speed restrictions, were reeled off in just…
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Branch Line Society and Vintage Trains team up for West Midlands ‘Balti bash’
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VINTAGE Trains and the Branch Line Society are offering an opportunity to enjoy the tasty combination of rare track, Class 20s and a curry – all on the same train! Starting from Solihull, the September 22 tour will run to Shrewsbury via Warwick, Sutton Park and the Ironbridge branch. After a break in Shrewsbury, the…
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Three Type 3s – to the sea!
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THREE Class 37s at the head of a heavy freight train used to be a regular sight in South Wales and around Glasgow in BR days, but such a trio has always been a rare event on passenger trains. On August 11, the Branch Line Society completed its two-day ‘Type 3 to the Sea’ trip…
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Stanier pair celebrate Conwy Valley reopening
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NETWORK Rail and Transport for Wales Rail Services hosted a special main line steam trip on August 3 to celebrate the reopening of the Conwy Valley line in North Wales. ‘The Conwy Quest’, double-headed by West Coast Railways’ Stanier ‘8F’ No. 48151 and ‘Jubilee’ No. 45690 Leander, ran from Chester to Blaenau Ffestiniog. At Llandudno Junction there…
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Rail operator MARC using new and rebuilt locos for Maryland commuters
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MARYLAND commuter rail operator Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) has recently taken delivery of eight Siemens-built SC44 ‘Charger’ diesel electric locos. These are currently largely used ‘under the wires’ between Baltimore and Washington DC on Penn Line services. MARC has replaced all of its older AEM7 electric locos with the new diesels, but has refurbished…
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Chicago’s Metra adds diesel locos
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CHICAGO commuter rail operator Metra is buying 24 former Amtrak California diesel locos, and has ordered 15 rebuilt freight locos to replace older diesels. Metra bought 24 F59PHI locos from Amtrak in 2018 and is currently overhauling and repainting them into its livery. They have entered service in 2019, mainly operating from Chicago Union on…
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Battery-fitted trams for Oklahoma
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THE new light rail system in Oklahoma City opened on December 14, 2018, and is operated as two loops: a 7.8km north-south Downtown Loop, which also shares tracks with almost all of the route used by the 3.2km Bricktown Loop in the Bricktown entertainment district. The system is electrified at 740V DC except for several short…
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Stadler ‘FLIRTs’ in service in Texas
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TEXAS gained a new commuter railway in January, which is operated using eight Stadler-built ‘FLIRT’ DEMUs, incorporating central diesel power pack units. Stadler assembled the trains at its new factory in Salt Lake City, Utah. The 43km TEXRail line links two stations in central Fort Worth with DFW Airport, and currently has five other intermediate…
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Classic Viennese trams fading away as new stock takes over
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ONE of Europe’s most numerous tram designs is fast disappearing. Vienna tram operator Wiener Linien bought more than 500 Type E trams, based on the German Duewag articulated design, between 1959 and 1990. The older trams have already been replaced by the Siemens-built ‘ULF’ (Ultra Low Floor) design LRVs, and most of the remaining Type…
