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Sam Hewitt

  • More new EMUs for French Intercités to replace locos

    More new EMUs for French Intercités to replace locos

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    SEVERAL batches of new multiple units have been ordered by the French regions which are taking over responsibility for most non-high-speed Intercités routes. ‘Omneo Premium’ part double-deck articulated EMUs were ordered from Bombardier in November to operate services between Paris Nord and Maubeuge/St Quentin in northern France. The new trains will replace SNCF Class BB…

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  • Old German locos substitute for modern EMUs

    Old German locos substitute for modern EMUs

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    VETERAN electric locos have made a comeback on several routes in Germany. They are replacing modern EMUs, which are out of service because of accident damage or maintenance. In December, three routes in western Germany had these temporary stand-ins operating, two of them using Class 110 electric locos originally built for West German Railways (Deutsche…

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  • ‘Polar Express’ delights Birmingham crowds

    ‘Polar Express’ delights Birmingham crowds

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    VINTAGE Trains (VT) operated its first ‘Polar Express’ trains between Birmingham Moor Street and Tyseley from November 29 until December 23. VT used GWR ‘Hall’ No. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall, temporarily carrying the classic GWR name Polar Star. No. 4965 carried the characteristic headlight on its smokebox door as seen in the animated movie which inspired…

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  • ‘Screaming Valentas’ tour raises more than £21,000 for HST depot

    ‘Screaming Valentas’ tour raises more than £21,000 for HST depot

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    EAST Midlands Trains took one of its ex-Grand Central 2+6 High Speed Train sets from Derby to Ruddington on the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) on November 17. At Ruddington one of the power cars was switched for the National Railway Museum’s prototype HST power car No. 41001. The sold-out train was organised jointly by EMT, the…

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  • UK Railtours buzzes around rare lines in Kent

    UK Railtours buzzes around rare lines in Kent

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    NOVEMBER 17 saw UK Railtours take a tour of rare and freight-only lines in the south-east of England, including the branch to Dungeness in Kent. Bearing the catchy title ‘The Return of the Short Haired Bumblebee’, the tour was powered by DB Cargo Class 66s Nos. 66177 and 66151, and also visited the Grain branch in…

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  • ‘Union’ on home ground after southern adventures

    ‘Union’ on home ground after southern adventures

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    John Cameron’s ‘A4’ No. 60009 Union of South Africa visited destinations as far apart as Plymouth, London and Edinburgh towards the end of 2018. On December 8 it was on familiar territory with a Railway Touring Company Christmas markets excursion from York to Edinburgh and return. The train worked north over the East Coast Main Line…

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  • ‘Whistler’ Aureol returns to MR-B after five years

    ‘Whistler’ Aureol returns to MR-B after five years

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    CLASS Forty Appeal’s Class 40 No. 40012 (D212) is now back home at the Midland Railway-Butterley after a five-year absence. It is seen at Swanwick Junction on November 25, having arrived from the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) three days earlier. The transfer was made by rail, hauled by sister No. 40145 on 5Z40, the 08.32 Bury-Butterley. No. 40012…

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  • Supporters secure future for Bulleid double-decker

    Supporters secure future for Bulleid double-decker

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    THE Bulleid 4-DD Double-Deck EMU Supporters Group Committee became the owners of double-deck EMU DMBS No. S13003S at Sellindge, Kent on November 20. The group was formed inlate-2015 to rescue and restore this historic vehicle, which had been saved for preservation by Esmond Lewis-Evans, who died in 2017. Now the group owns the vehicle it will…

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  • Class 03 returns to Norfolk

    Class 03 returns to Norfolk

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    CLASS 03 No. 03197 (right of image, below), stands on newly laid track at Hardingham on the Mid-Norfolk Railway (MNR) in October. It arrived from a gala appearance on the Isle of Wight earlier in the month (RM Nov, p99) and is now assisting with track laying by contractor Sonic Rail Services (SRS), for storing Greater…

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  • Prototype HST power car works to North Pole

    Prototype HST power car works to North Pole

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    THE Mid-Norfolk Railway (MNR) has hired in a loco with electric train heating each year for its popular ‘Polar Express’ trains, and for 2018 this was prototype HST power car No. 41001. It arrived by road from GCR (N) Ruddington on November 20 and worked its first train on the MNR on November 24. The…

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