Contents

May 2009. No. 1,297. Vol 155. A journal of record since 1897

Headline News London loses two termini – Moorgate and Blackfriars; Hitachi seeks suppliers for ‘Super Express’ and looks at a rebuilt Doncaster Carr as a passenger depot; Another 760 rail jobs lost; Folkestone Harbour closes; Welsh Highland makes history; Tornado to tackle the South Devon banks, plus an update on the latest exhibits for Eastleigh open days.

A Garratt on the High Street . . . p7

On the cover

MAIN IMAGE : LMS 4-6-0 No. 6100 Royal Scot in steam at Crewe on March 19 before moving to the WSR and being damaged by fi re en route (see Headline News). (Note: A small part of a signal has been removed from this picture). IAN BOWLAND INSET : A Grand Central HST. Sister company Grand Northern has won the right to run direct London-Bradford trains. ANDY MASON

B R I T A I N ’ S B E S T S E L L I N G R A I L T I T L E

R O Y A L S C O T U n i o n b o s s h i t s o u t i n p l a t f o r m b a r r i e r r o w

G r a n d N o r t h e r n f o r B r a d f o r d

. . . b a c k i n s t e a m a g a i n a t l a s t !

A l s o i n s i d e :

H o w l i n e s a r e g a u g e d P o p p y L i n e g a l a s p e c i a l D f T b e c o m e s a ‘ R o s c o ’ ‘ D u k e d o g ’ g o e s b l a c k !

Track Record The Railway Magazine’s monthly news digest 54 Steam News Eight in steam at North Norfolk gala; NYMR launches £1million appeal; Funding study for GCR ‘gap’. 64 Railtour News S&C plans for Statesman Rail; Passenger licence for First GBRf; More tours for Tornado. 68 Metro News Acton open day report; New Tower Gateway opens.

69 Narrow Gauge News Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog linked; Manrider sellout. 72 Traction & Stock News Automatic driving for main line; Reshuffl e covers for missing ‘Electrostars’; Stourbridge reverts to Class 153. 78 Network News New initiatives proposed for West Highland Line; Stadium station back on track; The iTrain arrives. 80 Classic Traction News Bluebell’s fi rst diesel passenger train; Class 26s for sale. 84 World News More high-speed lines for France & Spain; Bid to rescue Polish steam locos. 86 Operations News Our monthly round-up of news from the train operating companies. 92 Disposals and Stock Spot Repainted, sold or scrapped? The most trusted and widely-followed loco & rolling stock update.

LUL’s open day at Acton – Metro News p68

Regulars 37 Readers’ Platform The most lively debates on the most varied subjects are in The Railway Magazine. 38 Signal Post A chance to have your say on the burning issue of the moment; This month - Electrifi cation 45 100 Years Ago and Heritage Diary Only The RM can feature this item. Plus suggestions for heritage railways to visit this spring. 47 Location, Location, Location Our unique linesider’s guide tells you how to reach the best locations for railway photography. 48 Reviews A selection of book and DVD reviews. 52 Ecuador Holiday ad Visit Ecuador with Railway Touring Co. and The RM. 71 Slovenian Holiday ad Travel with PTG and The RM to Slovenia.

The 1989 Purley crash – Memory Lines p45

83 Subscription Offer More and more readers are subscribing. Join them and never have to worry again about missing The RM. 96 Events Diary A summary of club meetings and fi lm shows of interest to railway enthusiasts. 98 Prize Crossword Your chance to win £100 worth of books. 98 Where is it? Our monthly brain-teaser to test your geographical knowledge.

ABOVE : It fi nally looks like the end for the Folkestone Harbour branch. Network Rail is to start the process of closing the 1-in 30 line, having upgraded facilities for VSOE passengers at Folkestone West. On March 14, the honour of hauling the last train fell to ‘Britannia’ Pacifi c No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell with the fi nal excursion on a line that opened in 1844. ALAN CROTTY

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our latest offers Features 14 The Triumph of Tornado In Practice & Performance, Keith Farr rides behind new LNER Pacifi c No. 60163 Tornado and compares it favourably with BR 1950s steam.

21 Getting the Measure of Gauging Phil Marsh take a close look at the complexities of gauging and explains why steam locos are sometimes ruled out of gauge.

27 Against All Odds Under-cover reporter Ian Evans sneaks into infl ation-ridden Zimbabwe to report on a network suffering years of neglect. 29 Pendennis – Rebirth of a Legend Drew Fermor concludes the story on the restoration of GWR 4-6-0 Pendennis Castle. 34 Inside RVEL Chris Milner looks at the variety of tasks

undertaken by Railway Vehicle Engineering, Derby.

40 Welsh Wonders With sections of the Welsh Highland Railway due to open in April and May respectively, our special advertorial looks at North Wales as an idea for short breaks.

49 Panorama A round-up of top quality photographs in our monthly showcase.

P R A C T I C E & P E R F O R M A N C E

ON A p r i l 4 , 1 9 6 4 , n e a r l y a y e a r a f t e r s t e a m h a d b e e n o f fi c i a l l y b a n n e d f r o m K i n g ’ s C r o s s , P a c i fi c N o . 6 0 1 1 4 W . P . A l l e n t o o k o v e r t h e ‘ Y o r k s h i r e P u l l m a n ’ f r o m a n a i l i n g d i e s e l a t D o n c a s t e r a n d r a n t h e 1 5 6 m i l e s t o K i n g ’ s C r o s s i n 1 5 0 m i n u t e s . A f t e r w a r d s , w i t h a p l a i n t i v e w h i s t l e , t h e A 1 d i s a p p e a r e d ‘ l i g h t e n g i n e ’ i n t o G a s w o r k s t u n n e l a n d I w o n d e r e d i f I w o u l d e v e r a g a i n s e e a s t e a m w o r k e d r e g u l a r s e r v i c e t r a i n a t ‘ T h e C r o s s ’ .

I t w a s n o t t o b e ; a n d , i n J u n e 1 9 6 6 , t h e l a s t s u r v i v i n g A 1 , N o . 6 0 1 4 5 S a i n t M u n g o , w a s w i t h d r a w n . W h i l e n o f e w e r t h a n s e v e n G r e s l e y P a c i fi c s w e r e p r e s e r v e d , n o n e o f t h e T h o m p s o n v a r i a n t s a n d o n l y o n e ‘ P e p p e r c o r n ’ – t h e A 2 B l u e P e t e r – w e r e s a v e d f r o m s c r a p .

I t w a s t o m a k e g o o d t h i s d e fi c i e n c y t h a t t h e A 1 S t e a m L o c o m o t i v e T r u s t w a s f o r m e d i n 1 9 9 0 t o b u i l d a n d o p e r a t e a P e p p e r c o r n A 1 . T h a n k s t o t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f m e n l i k e D a v i d C h a m p i o n , D a v i d E l l i o t t , M i k e W i l s o n a n d c u r r e n t c h a i r m a n M a r k A l l a t t , t h e h a r d w o r k o f t h e T r u s t ’ s s u p p o r t e r s a n d t h e g e n e r o s i t y o f i t s c o v e n a n t e r s , t h a t a i m w a s r e a l i s e d a n d B r i t a i n ’ s fi r s t n e w s t e a m e x p r e s s p a s s e n g e r l o c o f o r m o r e t h a n 5 0 y e a r s i s n o w s h o w i n g i t s p a c e s o n t h e m a i n l i n e .

T h e w o r l d ’ s l o n g e s t r u n n i n g r a i l w a y s e r i e s , e s t a b l i s h e d 1 9 0 1

T h e t r i u m p h o f T o r n a d o a s s e s s e s t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f b r a n d n e w A 1 P a c i fi c N o . 6 0 1 6 3 a s i t m a k e s i t s e a g e r l y a n t i c i p a t e d m a i n l i n e d é b u t

N o . 6 0 1 6 3 T o r n a d o r e p r e s e n t s t h e fi n a l d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h e E a s t C o a s t P a c i fi c f a m i l y , d a t i n g f r o m 1 9 2 2 w i t h t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f G r e s l e y ’ s A 1 N o . 1 4 7 0 G r e a t N o r t h e r n . F o l l o w i n g S i r N i g e l ’ s d e m i s e i n 1 9 4 1 , h i s s u c c e s s o r E d w a r d T h o m p s o n r e b u i l t G r e a t N o r t h e r n a s t h e p r o t o t y p e o f a n e w c l a s s o f P a c i fi c s w i t h s e p a r a t e s e t s o f v a l v e g e a r f o r e a c h o f t h e t h r e e c y l i n d e r s i n s t e a d o f t h e c o n j u g a t e d v e r s i o n u s e d b y G r e s l e y . O f t h e o r i g i n a l p i o n e e r P a c i fi c l i t t l e r e m a i n e d , w h i l e T h o m p s o n ’ s i n s i s t e n c e t h a t a l l t h r e e c o n n e c t i n g r o d s s h o u l d b e o f e q u a l l e n g t h m e a n t t h a t t h e t w o o u t s i d e c y l i n d e r s , d r i v i n g t h e c e n t r e c o u p l e d a x l e , w e r e p l a c e d b e t w e e n t h e b o g i e a n d t h e l e a d i n g c o u p l e d w h e e l s a n d t h a t t h e i n s i d e c y l i n d e r , w o r k i n g t h e l e a d i n g c o u p l e d a x l e , h a d t o b e m u c h f a r t h e r f o r w a r d . T h i s l e f t i n s u f fi c i e n t r o o m f o r a f r a m e b r a c e m e m b e r t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e l o c o ’ s f r o n t e n d .

T h o m p s o n u s e d a s i m i l a r f o r m o f c o n s t r u c t i o n f o r h i s s t a n d a r d h e a v y m i x e d t r a f fi c A 2 ( l a t e r A 2 / 3 ) . A l l h i s P a c i fi c s t h e r e f o r e s u f f e r e d f r o m w e a k f r o n t e n d s a n d h i s s u c c e s s o r , A r t h u r H . P e p p e r c o r n , d e v e l o p e d h i s o w n A 1 a n d A 2 c l a s s e s o n m o r e c o n v e n t i o n a l l i n e s , w i t h t h e o u t s i d e c y l i n d e r s a b o v e t h e b o g i e a n d a s h o r t e r w h e e l b a s e .

I t h a s b e e n s u g g e s t e d t h a t d r a w i n g o f fi c e s t a f f , o n c e t h e y k n e w o f T h o m p s o n ’ s i m m i n e n t r e t i r e m e n t , d e s i g n e d t h e r e a r o f t h e A 2 fi r s t , k n o w i n g t h a t , b y t h e t i m e t h e y r e a c h e d t h e f r o n t e n d , h e w o u l d n o t b e a r o u n d a n d t h e y c o u l d a l t e r t h e o r i g i n a l t o s o m e t h i n g m o r e r o b u s t !

P e p p e r c o r n ’ s fi r s t A 1 P a c i fi c , N o . 6 0 1 1 4 W . P . A l l e n , w h i c h w e e n c o u n t e r e d i n t h e o p e n i n g p a r a g r a p h , w a s c o m p l e t e d a t D o n c a s t e r i n A u g u s t 1 9 4 8 ; a n d t h e l a s t , 6 0 1 6 2 S a i n t J o h n s t o u n , a p p e a r e d n o m o r e t h a n 1 6 m o n t h s l a t e r , i n D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 9 . B e t w e e n t h e m , D o n c a s t e r a n d D a r l i n g t o n t u r n e d o u t 4 9 P e p p e r c o r n A 1 s ,

1 4 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e M a y 2 0 0 9

m a k i n g T o r n a d o t h e 5 0 t h . A l t h o u g h i t i n c o r p o r a t e s f e a t u r e s s u c h a s T r a i n P r o t e c t i o n a n d W a r n i n g S y s t e m ( T P W S ) , w h i c h h a v e b e e n d e v e l o p e d i n t h e i n t e r v e n i n g y e a r s , i t r e fl e c t s t h e e x t e r n a l

c o n d i t i o n o f m o s t o f t h e P e p p e r c o r n A 1 s w h e n t h e y w e r e n e w – b e a r i n g L N E R s t y l e a p p l e g r e e n l i v e r y b u t w i t h B R I T I S H R A I L W A Y S o n t h e t e n d e r a n d c a r r y i n g a r i m l e s s c h i m n e y . A l t h o u g h r e f e r r e d t o a s T o r n a d o i n t h i s a r t i c l e , i t w a s n a m e l e s s f o r i t s fi r s t r u n s a n d w a s n o t o f fi c i a l l y c h r i s t e n e d b y H R H P r i n c e C h a r l e s u n t i l F e b r u a r y 1 9 . T h e l o c o w i l l l a t e r a p p e a r i n B R ‘ h e a v y e x p r e s s p a s s e n g e r ’ d a r k b l u e , c a r r i e d b y a l l t h e A 1 s f o r a

s h o r t p e r i o d , a n d w i l l t h e n b e r e p a i n t e d i n t h e B R B r u n s w i c k g r e e n m a n y r e a d e r s r e m e m b e r . A n d t h e l i p p e d c h i m n e y , w i t h w h i c h i t m a d e i t s v e r y fi r s t a p p e a r a n c e o n t e s t r u n s i n l a t e 2 0 0 8 , w i l l b e r e s t o r e d .

W h e n I t u r n e d u p f o r t h e d é b u t o f N o . 6 0 1 6 3 i n p a s s e n g e r s e r v i c e o n J a n u a r y 3 1 , 2 0 0 9 , Y o r k s t a t i o n w a s b u z z i n g . P l a t f o r m s 1 0 a n d 1 1 i n p a r t i c u l a r w e r e p a c k e d w i t h w e l l w i s h e r s i n a d d i t i o n t o A 1 T r u s t m e m b e r s a n d i n v i t e d g u e s t s . F e w o f t h e m , o n e i m a g i n e s , f u l l y a p p r e c i a t e d t h e s i g n i fi c a n c e o f t h e ‘ P e p p e r c o r n P i o n e e r ’ s 7 4 m i n u t e b o o k i n g f r o m Y o r k t o N e w c a s t l e , b e l i e v e d t o b e t h e f a s t e s t b o o k i n g o v e r t h e 8 0 . 2 m i l e s e v e r l a i d d o w n f o r s t e a m .

N o t o n l y w a s i t t h r e e m i n u t e s q u i c k e r t h a n t h e p r e w a r ‘ C o r o n a t i o n ’ s t r e a m l i n e r , l i m i t e d t o

3 1 2 t o n s t a r e , b u t i t w a s i n t e n d e d f o r a 4 6 5 t o n t r a i n h a u l e d b y a l o c o r e s t r i c t e d t o 7 5 m p h ! T h i s s c h e d u l e w a s m a d e p o s s i b l e b y t h e r a i s i n g o f m a n y p e r m a n e n t s p e e d r e s t r i c t i o n s d u r i n g t h e 1 9 7 0 s a n d ’ 8 0 s : t h u s a m o d e r n d o w n t r a i n m a y t a k e D u r h a m a t 9 0 m p h c o m p a r e d w i t h 3 5 m p h i n t h e s t e a m e r a . A t t h e c o n t r o l s o f T o r n a d o w a s D B S C a r l i s l e d r i v e r B r i a n G r i e r s o n , w i t h s o m e 2 0 y e a r s ’ e x p e r i e n c e o f w o r k i n g s t e a m c h a r t e r s , w h i l e S t e v e H a n c z a r w a s fi r i n g a n d i n s p e c t o r J i m S m i t h w a s i n o v e r a l l c h a r g e . P a r t l y b e c a u s e o f t h e s h e e r v o l u m e o f h u m a n i t y s e e i n g u s o f f , t h e s t a r t w a s t h r e e m i n u t e s l a t e a n d , d e s p i t e M r G r i e r s o n ’ s e f f o r t s , t h e P a c i fi c s l i p p e d a l i t t l e a s i t c o a x e d i t s b i g t r a i n i n t o m o t i o n o n t h e s h a r p c u r v e . U n a v o i d a b l y , t h e n , t h e s t a r t w a s o n t h e s l o w s i d e , w i t h m o r e t h a n a m i n u t e l o s t b y S k e l t o n J u n c t i o n ; b y t h e n , T o r n a d o

w a s ‘ g e t t i n g h o l d o f t h e m ’ a n d s t e a d y a c c e l e r a t i o n t o o k p l a c e w i t h B r i a n G r i e r s o n u s i n g f u l l r e g u l a t o r a n d a r o u n d 2 5 p e r c e n t c u t o f f ( T a b l e 1 ) . O n l e v e l t r a c k , t h e b r a n d n e w A 1 w o r k e d i t s 5 0 0 t o n g r o s s l o a d u p t o 7 4 m p h a s T h i r s k s l i p p e d b y i n a c l o u d o f s t e a m . O n t h e g e n t l e r i s e t h a t f o l l o w s , s p e e d d r o p p e d t o 7 2 m p h b u t , w i t h s p e c t a t o r s w a t c h i n g o u r p r o g r e s s f r o m fi e l d s , l a n e s a n d s o m e t i m e s , I a m s o r r y t o s a y , f r o m t h e ‘ w r o n g s i d e ’ o f t h e b o u n d a r y f e n c e , ‘ T h e P e p p e r c o r n P i o n e e r ’ w a s u p t o 7 5 m p h b e y o n d N o r t h a l l e r t o n a n d c a r r i e d t h e m o d e s t ‘ s u m m i t ’ a t E r y h o l m e w i t h o u t d r o p p i n g b e l o w 7 3 .

T o a c h i e v e t h i s , B r i a n G r i e r s o n h a d d r i v e n T o r n a d o i n t h e c l a s s i c s t y l e , u s i n g f u l l r e g u l a t o r a n d n o t c h i n g u p t o 2 0 p e r c e n t w h e n s p e e d r e a c h e d t h e m i d 7 0 s . “ I w a s t e m p t e d t o t r y 1 5 p e r c e n t , ”

h e t o l d m e , “ b u t s h e l i k e s a b i t m o r e d r a u g h t o n t h e fi r e . ” H e a d d e d t h a t i t w a s d i f fi c u l t t o g a u g e p r e c i s e l y w h e n T o r n a d o w a s t r a v e l l i n g a t i t s o f fi c i a l 7 5 m p h m a x i m u m a s t h e s p e e d o m e t e r n o t c h e s a r e a t 2 m p h i n t e r v a l s , s h o w i n g 7 4 a n d 7 6 – s o “ y o u t r y t o n u d g e i t i n b e t w e e n ” .

N e v e r t h e l e s s , h i s j u d g m e n t w a s i m p e c c a b l e , f o r t h e P a c i fi c a v e r a g e d 7 2 . 9 m p h o v e r t h e 4 4 m i l e s f r o m T h i r s k t o D u r h a m , g r a d i e n t s i n c l u d e d , w i t h o u t e x c e e d i n g 7 6 . S o , d e s p i t e t h e t r i c k y s t a r t , T o r n a d o r e a c h e d ‘ e v e n t i m e ’ i n 3 1 m i l e s a n d t h u n d e r e d p a s t i t s D a r l i n g t o n b i r t h p l a c e i n 4 1 ¾ m i n u t e s f o r t h e 4 4 . 1 m i l e s f r o m Y o r k . T h e b r o k e n c l i m b a t 1 i n 2 2 0 / 2 0 3 t h e n c e t o B r a d b u r y c a u s e d s p e e d t o f a l l o n l y f r o m a b r i e f 7 6 m p h t o 6 8 a t t h e fi n a l s u m m i t , w i t h a c o m m e n d a b l e a v e r a g e o f 7 3 . 1 m p h f r o m D a r l i n g t o n t o m i l e p o s t 5 5 . D o w n

M a y 2 0 0 9 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e 1 5

STORM FORCE: Triumph of Tornado – p14

H O W R O U T E S A R E G A U G E D

W O R K S H O P V I S I T

G e t t i n g t h e m e a s u r e o f

G A U G I N G

‘ O u t o f g a u g e ’ o r ‘ n o t g a u g e d f o r t h e r o u t e i n t i m e ’ a r e t w o o f t h e m o s t c o m m o n c a u s e s o f m a i n l i n e s t e a m c a n c e l l a t i o n s . r u n s t h e r u l e o v e r t h i s i m p o r t a n t b u t l i t t l e u n d e r s t o o d s u b j e c t

TO l i s t e n t o c o m m e n t s i n m e s s r o o m s o r p o s t e d o n t h e I n t e r n e t , y o u ’ d t h i n k e v e r y o n e w a s a n e x p e r t o n g a u g i n g ; “ B e c a u s e a g i v e n c l a s s o f s t e a m l o c o m o t i v e u s e d t o o p e r a t e o v e r a c e r t a i n l i n e i n s t e a m d a y s , i t s h o u l d s t i l l fi t o n t h a t r o u t e t o d a y ” i s t h e m o s t c o m m o n s o r t o f r e m a r k . B u t w h y s h o u l d i t ? T h e r a i l w a y h a s c h a n g e d o u t o f a l l p r o p o r t i o n s i n c e 1 9 6 8 . . . l i t e r a l l y i n m a n y l o c a t i o n s .

M a i n t a i n i n g i t s t r a d i t i o n o f t a k i n g r e a d e r s b e h i n d t h e s c e n e s , T h e R M h a s t h e r e f o r e d e c i d e d t o l o o k a t w h a t i s i n v o l v e d i n g a u g i n g – a l o o k p r o m p t e d b y t h e r e f u s a l o f N e t w o r k R a i l t o a l l o w G W R ‘ C a s t l e ’ N o . 5 0 2 9 N u n n e y

C a s t l e t o g o t o t h e M i d H a n t s R a i l w a y l a s t a u t u m n o n a r a i l t o u r f r o m T y s e l e y .

N R a d v i s e d t h e t r a i n ’ s o p e r a t o r , t h e W e s t C o a s t R a i l w a y C o m p a n y , t h a t t h e l o c o w o u l d b e o u t o f g a u g e i n t h e d o w n d i r e c t i o n i n t h e t u n n e l a t A l d e r s h o t , s o i t h a d t o g o b y r o a d . I t w a s , h o w e v e r , a l l o w e d t o h a u l a r a i l t o u r f r o m t h e M i d H a n t s b a c k t o S o l i h u l l a s t h e t u n n e l w a s c l e a r e d i n t h e u p d i r e c t i o n .

W h a t c a m e a s a s u r p r i s e w a s t h a t a n e v e n l a r g e r G W R e n g i n e , ‘ K i n g ’ N o . 6 0 2 4 K i n g E d w a r d I , h a d t r a v e r s e d t h e r o u t e o n l y a f e w y e a r s p r e v i o u s l y . I t c o u l d h a v e b e e n t h a t r e b a l l a s t i n g i n s i d e t h e t u n n e l h a d r a i s e d t h e h e i g h t o f t h e l i n e – b u t w h a t w a s s u s p e c t e d

M a y 2 0 0 9 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e 2 1

KEEPING TRACK: Gauging – p21

I n s i d e R V E L R a i l w a y V e h i c l e E n g i n e e r i n g L t d h a s r i s e n p h o e n i x l i k e f r o m t h e a s h e s o f F M R a i l . v i s i t s R V E L ’ s D e r b y w o r k s h o p s t o d i s c o v e r a w e a l t h o f t e c h n i c a l e x p e r t i s e

3 4 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e M a y 2 0 0 9

RA I L p r i v a t i s a t i o n h a s c r e a t e d a h o s t o f o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r a l l m a n n e r o f c o m p a n i e s w i t h i n t h e i n d u s t r y ’ s s e r v i c e s e c t o r – b u t w h i l e m a n y d e a l w i t h c a t e r i n g , c l e a n i n g , s e c u r i t y a n d r e f u r b i s h m e n t o f t r a i n s o r c o m p o n e n t s , t h e n u m b e r o f s p e c i a l i s t e n g i n e e r i n g fi r m s o f f e r i n g e i t h e r b e s p o k e o r r u n o f t h e m i l l e n g i n e e r i n g s e r v i c e s h a s b e e n s m a l l .

O n e s u c h c o m p a n y i s R a i l w a y V e h i c l e E n g i n e e r i n g L t d ( R V E L ) , b a s e d i n t h e f o r m e r R a i l w a y T e c h n i c a l C e n t r e a t D e r b y .

R V E L ’ s f o r m a t i o n w a s v e r y q u i c k , t a k i n g p l a c e o v e r C h r i s t m a s 2 0 0 6 a n d r i s i n g f r o m t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a s h e s o f F M R a i l , w h i c h i t s e l f h a d b e e n f o r m e d b y t h e m e r g e r o f F r a g o n s e t a n d M e r l i n .

H e a d i n g R V E L i s m a n a g i n g d i r e c t o r A n d y L y n c h . F o r h i m , t h e a t t r a c t i o n w a s t h e e n g i n e e r i n g s i d e o f t h e b u s i n e s s , w h i c h h a d e x i s t i n g c o n t r a c t s f o r l o c o m o t i v e a n d v e h i c l e m a i n t e n a n c e w i t h N e t w o r k R a i l , E u r o s t a r a n d o t h e r s , a s w e l l a s r e p a i r a n d r e f u r b i s h m e n t c o n t r a c t s .

A n d y w a s f a m i l i a r w i t h i t s b u s i n e s s a n d c u s t o m e r s , s a w a n o p e n i n g a n d m a d e a s u c c e s s f u l b i d t o t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , a n d o n J a n u a r y 7 , 2 0 0 7 , R V E L w a s o f fi c i a l l y r e g i s t e r e d .

A s p a r t o f t h e b u y o u t , A n d y i n h e r i t e d 2 1 f o r m e r s t a f f . T h e r e h a v e s i n c e b e e n n i n e d e p a r t u r e s a n d t e n r e c r u i t s t o g i v e a n e m p l o y e e s t r e n g t h o f 2 2 . S a y s A n d y : “ S e v e n

l e f t i n t h e fi r s t s i x m o n t h s , d u r i n g w h i c h t i m e o u r t u r n o v e r t r e b l e d . ” H e w o r k e d h a r d t o a s s u r e t h e i n h e r i t e d c u s t o m e r b a s e t h a t i t w a s b u s i n e s s a s u s u a l , a l t h o u g h h e r e v e a l e d t h a t u n d e r t h e p r e v i o u s r e g i m e , t h e e n g i n e e r i n g s i d e h a d n o t r e c e i v e d t h e f u l l s u p p o r t i t d e s e r v e d .

“ T h e c o m p a n y i s r u n o n f a r d i f f e r e n t l i n e s t o t h e d a r k d a y s o f t h e p a s t , a n d w e h a v e a g o o d o r d e r b o o k ” h e s a y s .

R V E L h a s e x c e l l e n t w o r k s h o p f a c i l i t i e s w i t h a n o v e r h e a d g a n t r y c r a n e , l o c o l i f t i n g j a c k s a n d a c o m p r e h e n s i v e s p a r e s f a c i l i t y . I t c a n u n d e r t a k e m y r i a d t a s k s f o r i t s c u s t o m e r s , i n c l u d i n g b o g i e a n d w h e e l s e t s w a p s , t r a c t i o n m o t o r r e p l a c e m e n t , p o w e r u n i t r e p l a c e m e n t , c o m p o n e n t e x c h a n g e a n d c a b r e f u r b i s h m e n t a s w e l l a s r o u t i n e l o c o e x a m i n a t i o n s . “ W e c o n s i d e r o u r f a c i l i t i e s a r e o n a p a r w i t h B r u s h T r a c t i o n , a n d w h i l e w e m i g h t n o t h a v e q u i t e a s m u c h s p a c e , w e c e r t a i n l y h a v e t h e s k i l l s a n d e x p e r t i s e t o c a r r y o u t m o s t t a s k s . W e a i m t o d e l i v e r q u a l i t y e n g i n e e r i n g o n s c h e d u l e , ” A n d y a d d s .

A s w e l l a s r e t a i n i n g e x i s t i n g c u s t o m e r s , R V E L h a s g o n e o u t a n d u s e d i t s i n d e p t h k n o w l e d g e a n d e x p e r t i s e w i t h o l d e r d i e s e l t r a c t i o n t o w i n f u r t h e r c o n t r a c t s f r o m c u s t o m e r s o p e r a t i n g s u c h l o c o m o t i v e s , i n c l u d i n g D i r e c t R a i l S e r v i c e s , F a s t l i n e a n d H a n s o n T r a c t i o n – a n d h a s d e v e l o p e d r e l a t i o n s h i p s o n a s t e p b y s t e p b a s i s . A d d S e r c o , B o m b a r d i e r , E a s t M i d l a n d s T r a i n s a n d N e t w o r k R a i l t o t h a t p o r t f o l i o a n d

y o u c a n s e e t h a t R V E L h a s a c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n d i m p r e s s i v e c u s t o m e r b a s e – y e t , d e s p i t e t h e b i g i n d u s t r y n a m e s , t h e c o m p a n y p r e f e r s t o k e e p a l o w p r o fi l e .

O n e o f t h e r e a s o n s f o r R V E L ’ s s u c c e s s i n m a i n t a i n i n g a n o r d e r b o o k w o r t h a r o u n d £ 3 m a y e a r i s t h e f a c t t h a t s o m e c o m p a n i e s fi n d i t e a s i e r a n d c h e a p e r t o c o n t r a c t o u t t h i s t y p e o f e n g i n e e r i n g w o r k r a t h e r t h a n s e t u p a n d m a n a g e t h e i r o w n o p e r a t i o n .

L a t e l a s t y e a r , R V E L w o n a c o n t r a c t f r o m D R S f o r w o r k o n i t s C l a s s 3 7 s . T h e d e a l w a s f o r a p a c k a g e o f d i f f e r e n t r e p a i r s o n u p t o s e v e n m e m b e r s o f t h e c l a s s , t o b e f a c i l i t a t e d o v e r t h e w i n t e r i n r e a d i n e s s f o r t h e a u t u m n 2 0 0 9 r a i l h e a d t r e a t m e n t t r a i n s e a s o n . D u r i n g m y v i s i t a t t h e e n d o f F e b r u a r y , N o . 3 7 6 0 2 w a s h i g h u p o n j a c k s a s p a r t o f a w h e e l s e t r e p l a c e m e n t p r o g r a m m e . S o m e l o c o s w i l l b e r e p a i n t e d i n t o t h e n e w ‘ c o m p a s s ’ l i v e r y d u r i n g t h e i r t i m e i n D e r b y .

T h e c o n t r a c t h a s a d e g r e e o f fl e x i b i l i t y , s o i f o n e l o c o n e e d s m o r e o r l e s s w o r k t h a n e n v i s a g e d , t h e n t h e n u m b e r o f l o c o s c a n b e a d j u s t e d . F o r D R S , i t i s p a r a m o u n t t h a t t h e y a r e r e a d y f o r t h e l e a f f a l l s e a s o n .

O n l y a f e w w e e k s p r e v i o u s l y , t h e c o m p a n y h a d c o m p l e t e d t h e r e f u r b i s h m e n t o f T y p e 2 N o . 3 1 4 6 5 t o a d d t o N e t w o r k R a i l ’ s y e l l o w l i v e r i e d i n f r a s t r u c t u r e fl e e t . I n f a c t , t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h N e t w o r k R a i l i s a v e r y i m p o r t a n t o n e f o r R V E L , f o r t h e c o m p a n y

h a s p r e p a r e d a n d n o w m a i n t a i n s N R ’ s C l a s s 3 1 s . I t a l s o a s s i s t e d S e r c o i n m o d i f y i n g t h e D B S O s f o r u s e o n t h e i n f r a s t r u c t u r e m o n i t o r i n g t r a i n s o p e r a t e d f o r N e t w o r k R a i l . B y 2 0 1 2 , N R p l a n s t o h a v e i n s e r v i c e n e w i n f r a s t r u c t u r e m o n i t o r i n g t r a i n s . T h e r e a r e i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t t h e s e c o u l d b e f o r m e d b y t h e m a n u f a c t u r e o f a n u m b e r o f C l a s s 1 7 2 D M U s , a d d e d t o t h e e n d o f t h e e x i s t i n g p a s s e n g e r t r a i n o r d e r , a n d R V E L s e e s i t s e l f a s a p o s s i b l e m a i n t e n a n c e s u p p l i e r f o r t h e s e s e t s . G o o d r e l a t i o n s a r e d e v e l o p i n g w i t h n e i g h b o u r s E a s t M i d l a n d s T r a i n s , w h o s e E t c h e s P a r k d e p o t o n t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e m a i n l i n e i s c u r r e n t l y b e i n g e x p a n d e d . O v e r t h e p a s t m o n t h s , R V E L h a s u n d e r t a k e n c o m p o n e n t e x c h a n g e o n E M T C l a s s 1 5 3 , 1 5 6 a n d 1 5 8 D M U s a s w e l l a s w h e e l s e t a n d e n g i n e s w a p s . W h e e l s e t s w a p s o n H S T p o w e r c a r s a r e a l s o p o s s i b l e , a s o u t s o u r c i n g t h i s t y p e o f w o r k b y E M T a l l o w s i t s s t a f f t o f o c u s o n d a y t o d a y m a i n t e n a n c e . A n d y L y n c h h o p e s t o d e v e l o p s u c h r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h m o r e T O C s .

W i t h a f u l l o r d e r b o o k a n d m o r e w o r k i n t h e p i p e l i n e , R V E L i s n o w p l a n n i n g t o r e v a m p i t s s p a r e p a r t s f a c i l i t y w i t h a n e w s t o r e s a r e a , o n c e l a n d l o r d a p p r o v a l h a s b e e n g i v e n . A n d a s a n a s s u r a n c e t o i t s c u s t o m e r s o f q u a l i t y s e r v i c e , t h e c o m p a n y h a s g a i n e d I S O 9 0 0 0 a c c r e d i t a t i o n a n d i s t a k i n g g r e a t s t r i d e s t o s t r e n g t h e n i t s p o s i t i o n a s a t r u l y i n d e p e n d e n t r a i l w a y e n g i n e e r i n g c o m p a n y .

M a y 2 0 0 9 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e 3 5

WORKS VISIT: Inside RVEL – p34

May 2009 • The Railway Magazine • 5