News

  • Canadian Pacific EMDs for ‘Canada 150’ train

    Canadian Pacific EMDs for ‘Canada 150’ train

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    CANADIAN Pacific has overhauled and completely rebuilt GM ‘F unit’ diesel loco No. 1401 and is using it as the lead loco on the ‘Canada 150’ train that has operated across Canada as part of the country’s 150th anniversary celebrations. No. 1401 was built in 1958 as No. 6541 for Canadian National. The overhaul by…

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  • Tito’s locos working international trains in Serbia

    Tito’s locos working international trains in Serbia

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    SERBIAN Railways (ŽS) has four EMD JT22CW-2 Class 666 diesel locos built by EMD in the USA in 1978 and mechanically very similar to the Irish 071 Class (also model JT22CW-2 but with different body styling). The ŽS Class 666s were bought by Yugoslav Railways to operate the presidential train for former Yugoslav leader Marshall…

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  • Number of German ‘Trabbis’ decreasing

    Number of German ‘Trabbis’ decreasing

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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 fleet renewal gathers pace

    South African fleet renewal gathers pace

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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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  • Black Type 2 debuts on Wensleydale Railway

    Black Type 2 debuts on Wensleydale Railway

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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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  • Early ‘Chopper’ restored and repainted at MR-B

    Early ‘Chopper’ restored and repainted at MR-B

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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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  • Swindon & Cricklade seeks help for ‘Thumper’ return

    Swindon & Cricklade seeks help for ‘Thumper’ return

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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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  • Excess power at Chinnor

    Excess power at Chinnor

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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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  • Super power at GCR(N)

    Super power at GCR(N)

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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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  • EM2 emerges into daylight

    EM2 emerges into daylight

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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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