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GERMAN Railways (DB) once had 647 Class 143 electric locos, built in the former East Germany at LEW Hennigsdorf between 1984 and 1990 for East German Railways (Deutsche Reichsbahn), and originally numbered as ‘243s’. By early 2016, fewer than 100 remained in passenger use with DB Regio, replaced all over Germany by modern EMUs, although…

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SOUTH AFRICAN national freight operator Transnet is introducing more than 1,000 new electric and diesel 1,067mm gauge locomotives to modernise its fleet. As reported in the December 2015 issue, the first of the 100 strong Class 21E BoBo 3,000kW 100kph dual voltage (3kV DC/25kV AC) electric locos being built by Chinese manufacturer CRCC at the…

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HN RAIL Class 31 No. 31459 worked its first passenger services on the Wensleydale Railway (WR) on July 2. This followed mechanical attention to the loco after it arrived at the WR. No. 31459 hauled the 11.00 Leeming Bar-Redmire (with Class 20 No. 20166 as insurance), returning from Redmire at 12.15 with the Class 20 on the rear.…

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CLASS 20 No. D8007 is pictured following a repaint in BR green with TOPS number 20007. It is based at the Midland Railway-Butterley and is seen on July 8 with classmate No. 20189 outside the diesel depot at Swanwick Junction. No. D8007 had previously received comprehensive attention at St Leonards Railway Engineering, East Sussex. It is now in…

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WORK is continuing on creating a replacement for Class 207 DEMU DTSO No. 60901 of set No. 1302, which was totally destroyed following an arson attack at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway (S&CR) in May 2016. Power car DMBS No. 60127 was damaged but can be returned to traffic when a trailer car is available. Class 205 DTCL…

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ALL the visiting locos and a resident were used for this special on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway diesel gala on May 11 (RM April, p87). Seen leaving Princes Risborough, Class 45 No. 45041, Class 20s Nos. D8059 and D8188, and resident ‘Clayton’ No. D8568, head the train, while Class 50 No.50026 Indomitable provides more power at…

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THIS working with four items of motive power proved a spectacular sight during the Great Central (Nottingham) Railway’s July 1-2 diesel gala. The 16.06 Loughborough High Level-Ruddington (1D16) – the return working of 1A13, the 15.15 departure from Ruddington – was captured crossing Stanford-on-Soar Viaduct on Sunday afternoon. Leading is privately owned Class 47 No.…

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FORMER BR Class 77 (EM2) Co-Co 1,500V DC loco NS No. 1505 Ariadne was pulled out from its usual resting place in the Power Hall at the Manchester Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) for a photo-shoot on July 2. It is many years since this loco has been outside. A total of seven EM2s were…

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THE Class 56 Group’s (C56G) No. 56006 starred at the East Lancashire Railway’s (ELR) July 7-9 diesel gala. The group has now reached agreement for the loco to be based on the railway for at least three years. No. 56006 was previously kept at UKRL’s Leicester depot between gala visits, but can now be used on more…

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SERVICES at London Waterloo have been significantly reduced during August as Network Rail continues its £800million programme to increase peak-time capacity at Britain’s busiest station by 30%. Platforms 1-10 on the suburban side of the station will be closed until August 28, with platforms 1-4 extended to cater for longer trains. The work will allow…

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