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Sam Hewitt

  • All ‘Goblin’ Class 710 units accepted

    All ‘Goblin’ Class 710 units accepted

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    LONDON Overground has accepted all eight Class 710/2 EMUs for use on the Gospel Oak to Barking service.  It means the line is finally operated exclusively by the Bombardier-built four-car sets, and has allowed the 15-minute service frequency to be restored. The service is used by 30,000 passengers per day, and it was planned to…

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  • TPE accepts first ‘Nova 2’ CAF set

    TPE accepts first ‘Nova 2’ CAF set

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    By Tony Miles TRANSPENNINE Express accepted the first ‘Nova 2’ Class 397 EMU into its fleet on July 25, meaning units from all three new ‘Nova’ train types have now joined its fleet.  The first sets to be delivered are still being used for type testing, and require some final rectification work by manufacturer CAF,…

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  • Northern and Greater Anglia increase use of new trains during August

    Northern and Greater Anglia increase use of new trains during August

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    NORTHERN and Greater Anglia (GA) introduced more new trains to their routes throughout August. GA’s bi-mode Class 755 No. 755410 made a low-key debut on July 29, between Lowestoft and Norwich, with services having now expanded to include Great Yarmouth and the busy Norwich-Ely-Cambridge route.  Units on test and undertaking platform gauging checks have visited stations,…

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  • Northern withdraws first batch of ‘Pacers’

    Northern withdraws first batch of ‘Pacers’

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    NORTHERN has withdrawn the first its Class 142 ‘Pacer’ units – 11 months later than planned.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

    ‘Duchess’ demolishes Devon banks record

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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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’

    Branch Line Society and Vintage Trains team up for West Midlands ‘Balti bash’

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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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!

    Three Type 3s – to the sea!

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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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

    Stanier pair celebrate Conwy Valley reopening

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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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

    Rail operator MARC using new and rebuilt locos for Maryland commuters

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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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

    Chicago’s Metra adds diesel locos

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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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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