Sam Hewitt

THE two Class 67 Bo-Bo locos bought by Colas Rail from DB Cargo have emerged from the Toton paintshop. Colas tweeted pictures of Nos. 67023 and 67027 at Toton on completion of the work at the end of February – both Type 5s appearing in a bright colour scheme. Work for the pair on Network Rail…

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WITHDRAWALS of the first units in Northern’s ‘Pacer’ fleet of more than 200 vehicles will begin no later than September 15, 2018. The units are being withdrawn as they do not comply to new disability regulations. They will be replaced by new trains. Five Class 144 two-car units should have been stood down by September…

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COMPLETION of the construction of the first bodyshell for the new Mk5a carriages for the TransPennine Express franchise has been confirmed by the operator. CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles), in Spain, is producing 66 carriages for TransPennine, which will be formed into 13 five-carriage sets that will include a driving carriage. Three vehicles will…

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THE arrival of five more of the 10 dual-power Class 88 locos ordered by DRS back in 2013 means that more than half the fleet have been delivered. On March 1, loco Nos. 88001/3/4/5/8 were unloaded at Workington Docks and hauled by No. 66433 to Carlisle Kingmoor for commissioning. They join No. 88002, which arrived in January.…

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THIS pairing is perhaps reminiscent of a scene from a Thomas the Tank engine story – the diesel shunter and a light ship. Both are in temporary storage at Sharpness Docks, Gloucestershire, just a few yards from the embryonic Vale of Berkeley Railway’s loco shed. However, the 0-4-0DH (Ruston & Hornsby 418793 of 1957) is…

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KEITH & Dufftown Railway services are operated with Class 108 Derby Lightweight DMUs but it is also home to the unique, two-car Class 140 Derby/Leyland railbus prototype No. 140001 (DMS No. 55500 and DMSL No. 55501). They were developed as a replacement for the 1950s, first-generation DMUs, and Leyland Vehicles, Workington built the two bodies, which were…

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THE only surviving Class 105 two-car Cravens DMU is nearing completion of an extensive restoration at the East Lancashire Railway (ELR). DMBS No. 51485 and DTCL No. 56121 are seen on March 5 and are due to make their debut on the ELR at the Scenic Railcar Weekend on November 4, following completion of interior work. More…

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The £6million revamp of the ticket halls and concourse at Newcastle Central Metro station was officially completed in March after 18 months of work. The station is the third busiest on the network after Monument and Haymarket, and is used by more than five million passengers every year. Improvements have been made to disabled access,…

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MANCHESTER Metrolink opened its Second City Crossing (2CC) on February 26, which doubles the capacity in the city centre by providing an extra route between Manchester Victoria and St Peter’s Square. 2CC runs via Exchange Square, which opened as a terminus from Victoria in December 2015, then along Cross Street to the town hall before…

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RAVENGLASS & Eskdale Railway Preservation Society’s (RERPS) 1929-built Krauss 4-6-2 No. 8457 is to be named Whillan Beck. It was bought at the beginning of 2016. The name derives from the water course which passes under Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (R&ER) at its Dalegarth terminus and ties in with R&ER locos named after local rivers: River…

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