RailwayThe Herald www.railwayherald.co.uk Issue 102 - 28 September 07 ISSN 1751-8091 Editorial Newsdesk Welcome to Issue 102, a smaller, more compact edition than normal, as a result of editorial holiday. Rather than leaving readers an entire fortnight without Railway Herald, we hope that this smaller than usual edition will keep you up-to-date with news and events occurring around the country. Next week's Issue 103 will be back to normal and will provide a deeper in-depth coverage of both weeks. Our next issue will also carry the final part of our Newdesk Xtra coverage of the HST fleet. Richard Tuplin Editor Front Cover Colas Rail Class 47/7s Nos. 47727 Rebecca and 47749 Demelza power past the traffic at Aller, near First Grand Central HST powercar ready Newton Abbott, with a test run p The first powercar for Grand Central's new Sunderland - London service, Class 43 No. 43067, left Plymouth from the Exeter stabling point to Devonport on 22nd September, bound for Newcastle Heaton. Steve Andrews Plymouth. Robert Sherwood Rear Cover EWS Class 56 returns to the mainline ... briefly! EWS Class 66 No. 66086 reverses into MoD Ashchurch with a late running Didcot - Ashchurch train on 24th September. The service had previously needed to run-round at Worcester. Brian Cherrison Submissions We welcome submissions from all readers, especially digital photographs. Pictures should be sent to the editor at [email protected] Good quality scans of colour slides and prints are also acceptable. Currently there is no financial payment made for photographs published in Railway Herald. Where possible we always try to use news photographs taken within the p BR blue-liveried Class 56 No. 56006 made a production week of the brief return to the mainline on 20th September, publication date. albeit not under its own power. The locomotive was moved from Barrow Hill to Worksop in Publication preparation for a further movement from The Railway Herald is due to be Worksop to Ratcliffe Power Station, where it published every Friday and is available was displayed at a recent open day along with on e-mail subscription or from our several other exhibits. Here No. 56006 heads for Worksop Yard behind Class 66 No. 66220 as it website at www.railwayherald.co.uk passes Shireoaks West Junction. Chris Booth Website Our website contains all the back Trains all ways at Exeter! issues of the magazine together with u One vehicle of First Great Western's Class a host of new features which will be 150/2 No. 150248 is carefully manoeuvred across online soon! the level crossing at the north-end of Exeter St Davids on 26th September, en route to Bristol www.railwayherald.co.uk St Phillips Marsh Depot. Roger Austin National Rail Timetable The entire UK National Rail Timetable is now available as a PDF download Editorial Team: from the Network Rail website. Richard Tuplin Editor [email protected] Produced in the same fashion Brian Morrison Contributing Editor [email protected] as the printed version and John Whitehouse Railtour Editor [email protected] ordered by table number, the current timetable is available by Editorial Address: clicking here. The Railway Herald, PO Box 252, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. United Kingdom. DN17 2WY The railway by-laws and Telephone: 0870 28 56041 E-mail: [email protected] information for enthusiasts are also available online from the Network Rail website, by Railway Herald is produced by Railway Herald Ltd (Registered as company number 05837609 in England) clicking here. Registered office: Hobarn House, 12 Brompton Road, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL6 1DY © Copyright Railway Herald Ltd 2006-2007 2 RailwayThe Herald NewsDesk u Northern Rail is to invest £80,000 in refurbishing Rochdale station. The work follows a recent 'meet the manager' session where passengers and staff could voice their opinions. A variety of work will be undertaken including replacing the doors between the ticket hall and platforms, provision of new signage and redecoration. Local security patrols will also visit the station. The work is scheduled for completion next month. u Imerys and EWS Network have signed a new five-year contract for the haulage of china clay from Cornwall to locations across the UK. EWS says that the contract discussions had a central environmental remit where both Imerys and EWS Network worked on the objective to maximise volumes p Class 158/0 No. 158761 is pictured in the works yard of Wabtec Rail at Doncaster on 26th September. moved by rail rather than road and, in doing so, reduced carbon First Great Western launch 'refreshed' Class 158 emissions for the haulage of china clay. As a result there First Great Western unveiled the The budget for the interior replaced the old ones. will be a 'significant' increase new look to its West Country improvements is £4 million and The new exterior livery for in the amount of china clay Regional Fleet at Wabtec Rail in the key features of the new look the units is a variation of First moved by rail and also through Doncaster on 26th September. trains include a new lilac and blue Great Western’s corporate the provision of longer trains. The refurbish and upgrade of colour scheme, new toilets and 'Dynamic Lines' branding, with The new contract will be the Class 158s is part of an £11 lighting together with new floor names of villages, beauty spots, implemented in phases during million investment in FGW local coverings and re-upholstered tourist attractions, pubs and even the autumn, with the final phase services and includes a major seats. On the Class 158s, the schools forming the images on being completed early next year. engineering overhaul, new interiors seating has been re-configured the side of the carriages, which and a new livery. The sets have to allow a turning circle for were suggested as part of a u Wabtec Rail have announced undergone various modifications wheelchairs and new tables have competition. plans to take over the to improve performance and workshops at Eastleigh Works in reliability, as well as providing a move the company describes a better environment for both as the creation of 'Doncaster passengers and staff. South'. The company now Safety on board the train has undertake a significant amount been developed with £1 million of work for train operating being spent on installing Close companies in the south and the Circuit Television to improve creation of Wabtec at Eastleigh is passenger and staff security, intended to allow the company with laminated glass also being to become more competitive introduced as an additional safety and reduce the amount of empty measure. stock movements. A total of 21 Class 158 DMUs will pass through Wabtec, as well u Although no comment was as the 11 single car Class 153s, the available from either company as latter of which will be dealt with Railway Herald went to press, it at Eastleigh - see separate story. is understood that an agreement FGW's 17 Class 150 and eight has been reached between Hull Class 143 units are being dealt p The interior seating layout, with new style lighting and refurbished Trains and Cargo-D for the use with by Pullman Group in Cardiff. seating in Class 158 No. 158761. of the Mk3 stock on certain q The attractive seating, together with the 'Dynamic Lines' q The new version of the 'dynamic lines' livery for services between London King's in the moquette, which is now used on the trains. local services. All: Richard Tuplin Cross and Hull. The company has been operating its service with three Class 222 'Pioneer' sets since the maintenance accident with the fourth set at Crofton. Although a range of options have been looked at nothing has yet come to fruition. The key problem over replacement stock is the top speed. The Class 222s work on paths timed for 125mph running on the East Coast Main Line and any replacement stock would need to be able to achieve near to this in order to keep to the advertised timetable. RailwayThe Herald 3 Railtours & Excursions The Week Ahead The big event over 5th and 6th October has to be Railway Touring Company’s ‘Autumn Highlander’ which is scheduled to feature English Electric traction throughout from London King's Cross to Wick and Thurso, with a wander down to Kyle of Lochalsh for good measure. Deltic No. 55022 Royal Scots Grey is the nominated traction from Kings Cross through to Perth on Friday 5th October, giving way to Class 40 No. 40145 East Lancashire Railway for the remainder of the journey to Inverness. Next day the Class 40 is joined by Class 50 No. 50049 Defiance for an out-and-back to Kyle of Lochalsh, with both locomotives again 'topping and tailing' north from Inverness to Wick and Thurso the following day. The Class 40 and Class 50 combination then returns the train south on 8th October, giving way to No. 55022 again at Edinburgh. Earlier, on 4th October Hertfordshire Rail Tours p Class 40 No. 40145 East Lancashire Railway stands at Elgin, during a brief-stop on the return also head north from London King's Cross to leg of SRPS Railtour's Linlithgow to Inverness trip. Garry Sparks Berwick-on-Tweed (for Lindisfarne). UK Steam & Modern Traction Railtour ListingsListings During it’s layover period, Royal Scots Grey was booked for a SRPS charter from Dundee to Oban The following table details the latest information available on steam, diesel and electric via both Tay and Forth Bridges. However, a much railtours for the forthcoming weeks from the date of publication.