They say old stuff never dies...well here's some proof of that. Both Wessex Trains and Valley Lines have re-introduced loco hauled trains in place of DMU's on a few of their busiest services, this has the double-whammy effect of reducing overcrowding, and freeing up a unit to strengthen another busy service. With a shortage of "cheap-to-lease" quality units around, and a surplus of hauled coaching stock due in large part to Virgin and First Great Western replacing their loco hauled fleets with high speed units, leasing in a set of coaches and a loco or two seems to be easy for the operating companies... Wessex has a pair of class 31 loco's leased from Fragonset Railways, plus a set of ex-Virgin coaches. This set runs a Friday's only Cardiff-Bristol-Brighton and return trip, a particularly busy route on Fridays. They also use the set when there are special events, such as Cardiff rugby matches or the Glastonbury music festival. Here 31468 "Hydra" arrives at Bristol Temple Meads station with the outbound working, last Friday. The train is run in "Top & Tail" fashion, as it reverses at Bristol, and 31602 "Chimera" is bringing up the rear on arrival, and will head the train on departure. [ 16. July 2003, 22:03: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
Valley Lines, which run a surprisingly vibrant Cardiff commuter operation use a trio of loco hauled sets on morning and evening peak trains to Rhymney. EWS keeps (and has been refurbishing) a pool of ETH ( HEP fitted ) class 37 loco's at Cardiff Canton to work these trains, although they are also used on local freights as well. The coaching stock had been leased from a charter fleet, but has been replaced in the last week or two with ex-Virgin coaches. Here is 37408 "Loch Rannoch" on the first train last Friday. 37402 "Bont-Y-Bermo" leads the second train out. The third train has 37422 "Cardiff Canton" for power. 37417 is a spare loco in the Rhymney pool, and was caught earlier in the day stabled at Newport. It seems like passenger diesels just refuse to die, they have also seen action this year in North Wales, where EWS 47's and ex First Great Western coaching stock have been handling some service, and Arriva Trains Northern is rumoured to start using them too... [ 16. July 2003, 22:22: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
Thanks for the super pictures Martyn Those 31's and 37's are really getting on in years, but still look good in the various current liveries. Very interesting and sensible use of locomotives and rolling stock. I have been reading about these trains in the railway press, but they are the opposite side of the country to me
A couple of those paint schemes remind me of US railroads. Could I be close in guessing some influence? Boxcab E50
The red and gold of EWS is based very closely on the owning company, Wisconsin Central, although the red is different (the UK colour is more red and less maroon I think) and the UK stuff has the regulation yellow end patches. Their new-build stuff wears the lightning stripe scheme like the F45's did on WC. The redness shows up in the sunlight, but they look very dark when in the shade, it's a very odd colour if you are a modeller! With WC being bought out, the CN owns a large chunk of EWS, but it seems they are content to hold onto it for a while longer, as despite the rumours, they haven't made a move to sell it yet.
Martyn- Am surprised that CN has not disposed of at least the overseas WC assets. Perhaps there is no current market for a sale? There have been various rumors about such actions with the properties this side of the pond. So far, nothing happening. After a merger over here, that's usually the first thing that happens. Stripping away as much of the the swallowed company that can be done. To help defray costs of the acquisition. And pay stockholders. Boxcab E50
That was the expected outcome, predicted by sources on both sides of the Atlantic, but it just hasn't happenned yet. I think they would have just sold the shares to anyone (not neccesarily a rail industry player) if they wanted out, there are three current competitors in the railfreight market over here, but EWS is still the big fish. That said, they don't seem to have made any move to influence or control EWS either, no influx of new management, no high profile rebrandings of loco's or equipment... My *guess* is that it's just not their biggest issue right now, and they are content to leave it be for the moment.
Very interesting information and pictures, Martyn, about the current loco hauled operations, especially the Cardiff commuter trains - I hope the commuters appreciate the relative luxury of the cascaded ex-main line coaching stock as opposed to the old dmu rattlers they must have had for years on those valley lines (although from looking at the middle picture it would appear that the passengers are not all commuters and there is at least one enthusiast on the train from the sight of the guy hanging well out of the leading window to savour the sight, sound and smell of the diesel!). By the way, I don't speak Welsh but my limited knowledge is enough to know that Bont-y-Bermo means Barmouth Bridge! I am always interested to hear about loco hauled passenger operations as they are so rare - my local line the Midland has been a good hunting ground over the last few years with an evening down Derby service having been fairly consistently class 47 hauled and I have tried to film and video it on a few occasions, but don't often have the chance to get out there at the right time - which brings me on to express my gratitude to you for the regular information you post about UK operations and all the excellent pictures you put up - from the limited contributions I have made I know how time consuming it is so I (and I am sure many others who remain silent in the background) really appreciate all the effort you (and all the other frequent Trainboard contributors on the huge range of fascinating railway subjects the site encompasses) put in. Ben [ 02. August 2003, 08:56: Message edited by: Ben ]
