Trackside
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GWR InterCity 125s bow out in style
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GREAT Western Railway said farewell to long-distance InterCity 125 operation on June 1 with an epic railtour visiting many parts of the GWR network. The first and last production HST power cars – Nos. 43002 Sir Kenneth Grange and 43198 – powered standard eight-car set LA72 on an itinerary embracing Bristol, Paddington, Oxford, Hereford, Carmarthen and…
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BLS tour brings Class 31 back to the main line
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JUNE 9 saw a Class 31 return to main line action after a gap of several months. Nemesis Rail’s No. 31128 Charybdis, currently the only Brush Type 2 authorised for use on Network Rail metals, powered the Branch Line Society’s ‘Sunday Yicker’ tour in top-and-tail formation with West Coast Railways’ No. 37668 and just four WCRC Mk1…
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‘Trackbashing’ special to run over Dartmouth line for charity
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47 years after the Paignton to Kingswear branch was sold to Dart Valley Railway plc, the ‘big railway’ will be running a train over it again.
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British Thomson-Houston survivor in New Zealand
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The only remaining diesel loco supplied by British Thomson-Houston (BTH) still in service anywhere in the world is in use with Alliance Group in New Zealand, where it works as a shunter at their Pukeuri Works, north of Oamaru, on the South Island. The loco – DSC 2067 – was delivered 60 years ago, in…
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Florida tourist train loses half its route after owner decision
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AROUND half the route operated by Florida tourist train Orlando & Northwestern Railway – which runs as ‘The Royal Palm Railway Experience’ – was closed to passengers in April. The move came after the route’s owner, shortline freight operator Florida Central Railroad, decided it would no longer maintain the Tavares to Mount Dora section to…
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Two monorail lines for Egypt – with trains built by Bombardier in Derby
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IN LATE-May it was announced Bombardier was ‘preferred bidder’ for a major contract, with local partners, to build and operate two monorail lines in Egypt. Bombardier also announced the 280 ‘Innovia’ vehicles required would be built in the UK at Derby. Bombardier’s share of the contract is worth around €1.2billion (£1.07bn) with an additional €1.1bn…
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DB Class 111 electrics locos losing passenger work in southern Germany
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MAJOR changes to operating contracts in southern Germany on June 9 mean Go-Ahead’s German subsidiary is now operating multiple routes from Stuttgart, replacing DB Regio push-pull trains. Abellio also took over routes in the area on the same day, and more routes will switch from DB in December. For the German national operator, the changes…
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Rebuilt Simplex locos still at work in Malaysian palm oil industry
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MALAYSIAN United Plantations Berhad’s (UP) use of rail transport meant it became the first palm oil producer to gain a sustainable palm oil producer certificate. UP uses a fleet of 700mm-gauge modified Motor Rail Simplex locomotives, originally built in Bedford, which have had their original Dorman engines replaced by more powerful ones made by Deutz,…
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South African loco back in steam after 59-year gap
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The loco was restored earlier this year and operated as a pair with Beyer.
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Dartmoor Railway’s English Electric weekend
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THE Dartmoor Railway held an English Electric weekend on June 8-9. In use were Class 31 No. 31452 with a five-coach set of stock, ‘Berkshire’ DEMU set No. 1132 (Nos. S60150+S60831), and Class 08 No. D4167. The plan was to run two trains on the Saturday, one from Okehampton towards the Colford boundary with Network Rail, and the other…
