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Diesel

  • 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

    –

    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

    –

    NORTHERN has withdrawn the first its Class 142 ‘Pacer’ units – 11 months later than planned.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

    –

    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

    –

    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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  • 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

    –

    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

    –

    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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  • Stadler ‘FLIRTs’ in service in Texas

    Stadler ‘FLIRTs’ in service in Texas

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    TEXAS gained a new commuter railway in January, which is operated using eight Stadler-built ‘FLIRT’ DEMUs, incorporating central diesel power pack units. Stadler assembled the trains at its new factory in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The 43km TEXRail line links two stations in central Fort Worth with DFW Airport, and currently has five other intermediate…

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  • New Zealand diesel preservation progress

    New Zealand diesel preservation progress

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    LEADING New Zealand diesel preservation group the Diesel Traction Group (DTG) has begun restoration of New Zealand Railways’ (NZR) first mainline loco, which was built by English Electric (EE) in 1954.  This follows the successful return to main line use of Australian EE-built loco No. Di 1102 last year, the only survivor of five locos…

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  • Rotterdam tram museum celebrates 30th anniversary

    Rotterdam tram museum celebrates 30th anniversary

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    ROTTERDAM tram museum Rotterdamsche Tramweg Maatschappij (RTM) celebrated 30 years at its base at De Punt, on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee, in late May.  The relocation of the museum site, south-west of Rotterdam, was driven by redevelopment at the old site, but gave RTM the opportunity to lay much more track. They now have 10km…

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  • Painstaking restoration for Wickham trolley at Midsomer Norton

    Painstaking restoration for Wickham trolley at Midsomer Norton

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    A TYPE 27A MkIII gangers’ trolley (Wickham 7504) has had a thorough restoration at the Somerset & Dorset Railway, Midsomer Norton.  When acquired it had been robbed of parts for the restoration of sister Wickham 7505 (Nos. PWM4302 and TR19) at Norden on the Swanage Railway. The Midsomer Norton vehicle has had to have many parts…

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