Rail Express - September 2015 by Mortons Media Group Ltd

Issue No. 232 September 2015

CONTENTS

HIGH FIVE: The end of the Spa Valley Railway’s diesel gala on August 2 saw this unlikely quintuple-header work the 17.10 Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge and 18.05 return. The outward trip is pictured at South Farm headed by Class 20 No. D8098, No. 37254, Class 25 No. D7612, Class 14 No. D9537 and No. 73140 – the ‘14’, ‘20’ and ‘25’ being visitors. The event also featured ‘Thumpers’ No. 1133 (from the Lavender Line) and resident No. 1317. Nicholas Hair

16 18

HEADLINE NEWS

Government watchdog recommends more openaccess operators; GNWR given green light for Blackpool services; NRM acquires Eurostar power car; SWT franchise to end in 2017; Network Rail ﬁnishes with Class 31s; engine acquired for Class 22 new build project; Hull Trains wants ‘IEPs’.

MAN AND A ‘VAN’

James Welham heads to Bulgaria to track down the exported Class 87 ﬂeet.

MAKING GOING AWAY SHOTS WORK

Often discounted as not worth the effort, here we show the different ways a going away shot can be made to work effectively.

DERBY TRAINMAN

EXPRESS MAILBAG & REVIEWS

TIME TRAVELLER

LU WORLD

RAILTOURS

Part 7 of Tim Helme’s reminiscences take him to the former Mickleover test track.

Readers’ views plus the latest in rail maps.

September news over the last ﬁve decades.

0-60: CLASS 170

POWER BY THE HOUR

EARLY DAYS AT MIDDLETON

POWERSCENE

UNITARY AUTHORITY

MODELLING How to make Mk.2 ‘air-cons’ look more authentic, plus layout inspiration from the wagon repair facility at Bardon Hill Quarry. Reviews include the LT Museum’s ‘S’ Stock, Heljan’s Class 05 and Park Royal railbus, and Locomotion’s green Class 20.

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PRESERVATION

Rare photos showing the ﬁrst passenger vehicle arriving at the Leeds line in 1960.

NEVER MISS AN ISSUE...

Pathﬁnder takes ‘Deltic’ to south Devon.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

How does a two-car CrossCountry DMU compare with a HST on the same stretch of line?

£21.50

Dedicated Tunnel Cleaning Unit order cancelled.

Getting started with the basics of train timing, which adds a new dimension to any rail journey.

FROM ONLY

‘Whistler’ to spend year at Bo’ness; Classes 24-27 to star in GCR gala; delay in No. 37025’s main line return; ‘47/7’ in ScotRail livery.

Caledonian ‘73/9s’ near completion; Colas 37s take over test train work; No. 37401 is back.

Class by class coverage of recent key workings.

London Midland gets ﬁrst ‘319’ to replace ‘321s’.

100 SHUNTER SPOT

First Great Western overhauls near completion.

101 COACH COMPARTMENT

DBSOs enter service on Cumbrian coast.

102 WAGONS ROLL

FQA triple-ﬂats formed from FCA ‘twins’.

104 IRISH ANGLE

Both Irish Rail and NIR report passenger growth.

The 21 Class 87s now working in Bulgaria carry a wide range of liveries – including a variant of Network SouthEast! In this view Nos. 87028, 87010, 87012, 87003 and 87006 are at Pirdop on April 23. See pages 16-17 for more. James Welham

Editor’s comment PRINT & DISTRIBUTION Newstrade & distribution COMAG, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE.

Paul Bickerdyke

01895 433600 Printed by William Gibbons and Sons, Wolverhampton Published Third Thursday of every month

Rail Express Editor

This issue August 20, 2015 Next issue September 17, 2015 Advertising deadline September 3, 2015

ORR says yes to open access

UST as we went to press this month came the news that Great North Western Railway has been given the go ahead to start running open access operations on the West Coast Main Line between Euston and Blackpool North. This will be a first for the WCML, introducing head-to-head competition to the franchise holder Virgin Trains, albeit with just six trains a day. GNWR has tried for years to get its application approved, and as recently as January this year the Office of Rail and Road said no, despite Network Rail saying train paths were available. The ORR said then that GNWR’s plan to run trains to both Blackpool and Huddersfield was effectively too ambitious, and that it did not pass the test of generating at least 30% of its revenue from new sources, rather than just taking it away from the franchised operator Virgin. Now that GNWR has applied again just to run trains to Blackpool, and demonstrated that this would generate more than 30% of new revenue, the ORR had no choice but to change its mind – especially after a new government report says there should be more open-access operators where possible to stimulate competition on the rails. The decision still took many in the industry by surprise, perhaps even GNWR itself, but now it needs to get cracking if services are to start running in just three years’ time.

The company first needs some trains, and the plan is to order a small number of six-car mini-‘Pendolinos’, which will thus be able to match the performance of Virgin’s fleet. Then it will need drivers and all the other staff necessary to run a service, plus demonstrate it has all the correct paperwork in place. Franchise holder Virgin has yet to comment on the development, although in the past it has steadfastly resisted allowing any form of inter-city rivalry from open access operators – such as not allowing the lamented Wrexham & Shropshire to pick up London-bound passengers from Wolverhampton or Birmingham. There is a kind of irony though as Virgin was once itself a young ‘upstart’ company – while GNWR, as part of Arriva and ultimately Deutsche Bahn, is therefore the younger cousin of Wrexham & Shropshire. Experience on the East Coast Main Line has shown that once established, open-access operators are in a better position to grow with more services and new destinations, so perhaps eventually GNWR will reach Huddersfield too. For now, the prospect of some rivalry on the West Coast is an interesting one, and the sight of GNWR’s mini-‘Pendolinos’ will certainly add a little extra interest to the route.

Paul Bickerdyke

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EDITORIAL

Simon Bendall Editor Rail Express Modeller Power by the Hour Shunter Spot Name Game Spectrum

Editor Paul Bickerdyke

David Rapson Powerscene

Christopher Westcott LU World (with Piers Connor)

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David Russell Preservation Railtours Unitary Authority Coach Compartment

Gareth Bayer Wagons Roll

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Charing Cross

Waterloo Waterloo East

CAPITAL VIEW: Network Rail has released this stunning aerial shot of its upgrade project at London Bridge, which began in 2013 and is due for completion in 2018. The station is being refurbished from left to right in this view, with the completed terminus platforms visible at the base of The Shard building, then the current work site in the middle creating new through platforms, and finally the older through platforms, whose turn will be next. Also visible are the stations at Cannon Street, Blackfriars, Charing Cross, Waterloo and Waterloo East. Network Rail

Blackfriars

Cannon Street

HEADLINE NEWS

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Study recommends allowing more open access operators to run trains Government watchdog finds non-franchised passenger services help to lower fares but grow total revenue. By ‘Industry Witness’ AFTER the Virgin and Stagecoach joint venture won the East Coast franchise in November last year, meaning Virginbranded trains working both main routes between London and Scotland, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a study of the passenger rail market. Its aim was to look at the effect of monopolistic operations on the service received by passengers and the price of tickets. The Government’s view has always been that competition benefits are satisfied by the franchise bidding process, described as ‘competition for the market’ rather than ‘competition in the market’. The CMA, however, says there’s a weakness in this approach because once the contract has been awarded, competition is then muted, particularly on routes where there is no choice of operator. Franchises are therefore monopoly operations whichever way they are dressed up. One finding of the CMA’s study provided a stark example of the consequences in the case of fares. Comparing peak-time advance fares between London and Manchester with journeys of a similar distance between London and York, it found that Virgin

West Coast - which faces no competition from other operators - charged £105, whereas Virgin East Coast charged £49.50, reflecting the presence and prices charged by rival open access operator Grand Central.

COMPETITION DRIVES GROWTH

The CMA believes that a future policy for track access should allow competition to provide downward pressure on fares. It would also encourage efficient operations that reduce costs, and motivate higher levels of customer service and innovation - something that open access operators regularly demonstrate through the high satisfaction levels found in National Passenger Surveys. However, the CMA acknowledges that such a policy cannot be adopted if it leads to greater funding by the taxpayer, such as if franchised operators end up making lower premium payments. There is some doubt that this happens, though, as the presence of Hull Trains and Grand Central on the East Coast route has helped grow the market to the benefit of the franchised operator. Figures show that over five years at stations where there is competition, journeys have increased by 42% compared with 27% when there is no

competition, while income from fares has grown by 57% compared with 48%. Where it can be demonstrated there would be a significant loss of revenue and consequential reduction in the premium payments, the CMA has suggested that any new operators should contribute more towards the network costs to reduce the level of grant paid to Network Rail. There is also the issue of cross subsidy. For the Great Western franchise in particular, many loss-making services are supported from the surplus generated on longer-distance and commuter services. A similar approach applies to through trains from London to destinations in Scotland beyond Edinburgh.

POTENTIAL THREAT

To counter this potential threat to socially valuable services, the concept of a levy to support the universal service provision is suggested. This would mean a fixed element of revenue from highvalue, longer-distance operations being paid to run other loss-making services. At present, little capacity exists for additional services on core routes, but the CMA expects that the advent of ERTMS signalling and its moving block principle will allow more paths to be

offered on given stretches of railway. On the East Coast, for example, it is already accepted that eight 125mph paths per hour will be possible on the critical section between Grantham and Doncaster, which is largely two-track. This would create an opportunity for capacity to be allocated to current applicants for further open access services aimed at reducing the airline market share between London and Edinburgh.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

A further option identified is to split franchises where there is little or no competition. The thinking here is that an anchor contract would include the cross-subsidisation of loss-making services and a second contract would be fully commercial. The CMA has a degree of scepticism about this, suggesting that the weaknesses in the present franchise business model could produce the same weaknesses in both contracts - that is, once the franchise has been awarded, there is little incentive to improve the business. No policy changes are expected in the near future, however, as the current round of franchising cannot be disrupted by uncertainty about competition.

GNWR wins approval for open access to Blackpool New trains to start running from Euston in 2018. FOLLOWING publication of the CMA report into open access operations (see above), the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has decided to approve a track access application by Great North Western Railway to run services on the West Coast Main Line. Four new six-car 125mph ‘Pendolino’ trainsets are to be acquired to operate six weekday services between Euston and Blackpool North from early 2018, with five services on Sundays. The trains will calls at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Tamworth, Lichfield Trent Valley, Crewe, Preston, Kirkham & Wesham and Poulton-le-Fylde. Great North Western Railway (GNWR) is part of Arriva, and hence ultimately Germany’s Deutsche Bahn. It is a sister operation to Grand Central, which already operates open access passenger services on the East Coast Main Line from King’s Cross to Sunderland and Bradford Interchange. GNWR’s open access services are expected to generate an initial annual revenue of £27.9 million, of which £6.32 million will come from new

8 RAIL EXPRESS September 2015

passengers. This passes the test set by the ORR that any new open access service must generate at least 30% of additional revenue. The calculation is based on a standard industry format, although experience has shown that the introduction of new services usually increases income by a greater amount than the forecasting system predicts. One reason for this is that more users join services at local stations rather than ‘rail heading’ to park at major centres, in this case Preston.

PREVIOUS REJECTION

As recently as January this year, the ORR rejected a previous application by GNWR to run services from Euston to Blackpool and Huddersfield. Success this time came not only in light of the CMA report recommending more open access operators, but the scaled back application to run to Blackpool only will also have a lower impact on the existing timetable. However, experience on the East Coast route has shown that open access operators can build up their operations once established.

An impression of how GNWR’s mini-’Pendolinos’ could look for services to Blackpool.

HEADLINE NEWS

NRM acquires ‘forgotten’ Eurostar power car

CLASS 373 power car No. 3308 has moved to the NRM and will go on display there from October. The power car, which was recently on display at the Great Central Railway (Nottingham), after being stored at Brush Loughborough, arrived at the NRM on August 5. It was moved by road from the GCR(N) to Network Rail’s depot in York, then taken by rail to the museum top-and-tailed by Class 47 No. 47760 and ‘Deltic’ No. 9009 (55009).

No. 373308 is missing some parts, such as the transformer, traction motors and cab controls – although the NRM says most of these will be replaced before it goes on display. It will form a new permanent exhibition in the Great Hall next to the mock-up power car and tunnel section. ■ It is widely believed that the power car has never been used in service, although the NRM claims that it has. Does any reader have photographic evidence of it in use?

No. 373308 in The Works at the NRM in York on August 6, where it will be prepared for display in the Great Hall from October. Paul Bickerdyke

NEW e320 DELIVERED: Siemens ‘Valero’ Nos. 374017 and 374018 were delivered to Temple Mills depot in London on August 5, hauled from Calais Fréthun by Eurotunnel

Krupps diesels Nos. 0003+0007+0002. The working is pictured at Lenham Crossover heading for Lenham Heath loop, where it recessed until the late evening to continue through to London. Launched at St Pancras last November, the 16-car ‘374s’ are due to start public service from this November on current routes to Paris and Brussels, then later to new destinations such as Amsterdam and Frankfurt. Adam McMillan

Engine acquired for Class 22 new build PROJECT 22, which is aiming to build a long-lost Class 22 diesel-hydraulic loco, has announced a major step forward with the acquisition of NBL-MAN L12V 18/21 engine No. 220 from the East Lancashire Railway. The engine was used in Class 43 ‘Warships’ between 1964 and 1969, but is believed to have been new in a Class 22. It was recovered some years ago from the docks in Barking, having been in marine use, then stored at Bury on the ELR pending possible use in a ‘Warship’. The engine will be moved to the group’s working base in South Wales for overhaul, although it is believed to be in reasonable condition. Support for the project is growing, and new members are always welcome via the website at www.class22newbuild.co.uk. Right: The NBL-MAN engine at the ELR. Project 22

Network Rail ﬁned for delays THE Office of Rail and Road has fined Network Rail £2 million for train delays and cancellations in 2014/15. NR’s performance on Southern, Govia Thameslink (GTR) and in Scotland was said to be below expectations, with missed punctuality targets. Southern and GTR together represented a third of all punctuality delays, while nearly half of cancelled services were in England and Wales. The ORR said the fine has to be paid to the Treasury or used to improve services beyond what is normally expected. It also said Network Rail had used flawed data to compile new timetables. Many of the delays on Southern and GTR are due to the Thameslink programme. Passengers using London Bridge have been particularly affected while the station is being upgraded (see picture on pages 6/7).

September 2015 RAIL EXPRESS 9

HEADLINE NEWS IN BRIEF OCTOBER START FOR WATERLOO REBUILD THE long-mooted revamp of Waterloo, which includes reinstating all of the former International platforms, is set to begin this October if planning permission is approved by Lambeth Borough. The project goes far beyond integrating these platforms however, as three bridges require strengthening and other platforms lengthened. A consortium of Skanska Colas Rail and consultants AECOM and Mott Macdonald won the main contract earlier this year, valued at £400 million. Platform 20 was brought into use in May 2014, with access from platform 19. Nos. 21 and 22 were re-opened in October 2014 after access provision was made. A redesign of the concourse accompanies the rebuild of the ﬁve platforms.

HACKNEY INTERCHANGE OPENED BY TFL THE ﬁrst large project implemented by Transport for London since it took over West Anglia services on May 31 has opened: a 200 metre covered walkway linking Hackney Downs and Hackney Central. The new facility, which has lifts and is CCTV monitored, enables far easier interchange between the two London Overground stations. It has been funded by TfL, London Borough of Hackney and Network Rail. It will mean passengers at Hackney Central can access trains to North London or to Liverpool Street via Hackney Downs, and those at Hackney Downs can access trains to Stratford or Highbury & Islington via Hackney Central.

LOCOMOTION TO STAGE AUTUMN ‘DELTIC’ EVENT NRM outpost Locomotion in Shildon is to hold an event to mark the 60th anniversary of No. DP1, the prototype ‘Deltic’, on October 24/ 25. No. DP1 will be joined by three production locos, Nos. 55002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, D9009 (55009) Alycidon, and 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier. This will be the largest gathering of ‘Deltics’ at Shildon since 2011, when all six surviving production locos were reunited with the prototype for the ﬁrst time to celebrate for their 50th anniversary.

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SWT franchise to end in 2017

A Government U-turn means Stagecoach’s South West Trains contract will not be automatically extended beyond the current term after all. By ‘Industry Witness’ IT had been widely expected that the Stagecoach-held contract to run South Western Trains would be extended under the direct award process to see it through to the end of the current control period in April 2019. But in a change of policy, the Department for Transport has announced the franchise will end in August 2017, and that a new competition will be held to assess whether alternative bidders might make a better offer. Confidence in continued operations by Stagecoach was hit after the decision to end its ‘deep’ alliance with Network Rail. The alliance was set up with the goals of improving the passenger service with a joint control room, reducing operating costs by eliminating duplicate functions, and improving possession management by a clearer understanding of the priorities of the two organisations. The joint operating board was always going to have tensions, however, because NR and SWT remained separate legal entities and, as a result, its directors had a potential conflict of interest. The original agreement was also

compromised when NR became directly accountable to the Government last year. This introduced a different dynamic, with the DfT requiring savings to be made that did not sit easily with the alliance’s investment aims. With the alliance’s high-level goal of demonstrating the benefit of closer integration removed, the negotiation of a direct award came down to the usual trade-off between investment and a commitment to premium payments. There is speculation in the industry that Stagecoach was not prepared to commit funds to contribute to capacity enhancements without more certainty about the financial return.

A CRUCIAL PERIOD

Whether a potential change of management in the middle of a significant upgrade programme is good for passengers remains to be seen. At Waterloo, the station is being enlarged so that the suburban platforms are able to handle 20 10-car trains per hour compared with the current timetable that allows 17 eight-car trains per hour, with further work being undertaken to bring the platforms at the former

international station fully back into use. Additional rolling stock is also due for delivery at the time the contract will now end. These are 150 new Class 707 ‘Desiro City’ vehicles from Siemens, which will be marshalled into five-car sets. These trains are to be equipped for driver-only operation, and implementing this will require delicate negotiation with the trade unions if the type of dispute currently being seen on First Great Western over the introduction of Hitachibuilt InterCity Express units is to be avoided. Longer-term planning is also required to reflect continued growth. Grade separation is required at Basingstoke, and Crossrail 2 is seen as a solution to divert a significant number of passengers from Waterloo by providing a direct link from Wimbledon to central London and on to the West Anglia and Great Northern routes. Some in the industry argue it would be much better if longer franchises in the style of that awarded to Chiltern Railways became the norm, so that route and train service development could be planned with more certainty.

UDDER CARNAGE: Five cows were killed when

their herd strayed on to the line near Godmersham, between Chilham and Wye in Kent, and struck by the 20.10 Charing Cross to Ramsgate on July 28. The train was formed of EMUs Nos. 375703 and 375612, and leading vehicle No. 67833 was derailed and damaged. After re-railing, the pair of units was hauled forward to Canterbury West by GBRf Type 5 No. 66723 Chinook on July 28. Network Rail said around 400 yards of track needed replacing, along with repairs to sleepers, ballast and a small bridge – meaning the line did not reopen until July 30. ■ Remarkably, Hasting Diesel’s DEMU power cars Nos. 60116+60118 were hired into move the pair of ‘375s’ from Canterbury West to Ramsgate late on July 29. The movement was reported to have had a 5mph restriction throughout. Picture: Network Rail

‘EVOLUTION’ CLASS 144 GOES ON TEST PORTERBROOK’s reworked Class 144 ‘Pacer’ unit No. 144012, which has been developed to meet the latest accessability regulations and so allow the type’s use in the next decade, has begun main line tests. On August 6 it worked a circular trip from Neville Hill via Castleford, Knottingley and Wakeﬁeld with representatives from Northern Rail and local councils aboard.

CLASS 67 NAMEPLATES SOLD AN auction of nameplates carried by the Class 67s formerly used on Chiltern Railways’ services from Marylebone to Birmingham raised £15,000 for charity. At the G.W. Railwayana Auction on July 25, A Shropshire Lad (ex-No. 67012) fetched £7100, Dyfrbont Pontcysyllte (ex-67013) £2900, Thomas Telford (ex-67014) £3600 and David J Lloyd (ex-67015) £1400.

10 RAIL EXPRESS September 2015

ENGINEERING TRAINS COLLIDE: DRS Class 66 No. 66428 was derailed near Cumnock, Ayrshire, on August 1 when its 6K07

engineering train ran into the back of the preceding 6K06 headed by classmate No. 66305. Eighteen wagons were also derailed and both lines, which were closed to regular traffic for maintenance work, were blocked and the track damaged. No one was seriously injured in the crash, but the line was not expected to reopen until August 17 as an access road had to be built for a 1000-ton crane. Passenger services were cancelled between Dumfries and Kilmarnock, while freight traffic was diverted to the West Coast Main Line. Picture: Network Rail

New Heljan Class 05 and Park Royal railbus reviewed in full No

DIESEL AND ELECTRIC ERA MODELLING

METRO-LAND MARVEL The London Transport Museum’s ‘S’ Stock has arrived

YOUR

40 PAGES

OF MODEL LING

STARTS

HERE! Air-conditioned

Mk.2s

How to make the most of the recent Hornby model

A modernday wagon repair facility

- described and illustrated in detail

September 2015 RAIL EXPRESS M3

M4 RAIL EXPRESS September 2015

This issue sees the highly anticipated ‘OO’ gauge London Underground ‘S’ Stock reviewed in advance of the release of the London Transport Museum’s exclusive model at the end of September. Inevitably, the appearance of the first ready-to-run massproduced Underground model has focused attention on how to justify a set on a layout. For many current day modellers with layouts set outside London this means portraying the delivery runs from Derby and Old Dalby to Neasden and West Ruislip. These services have been worked almost exclusively by quartets of Class 20s over the past few years, the Type 1s being hired to GB Railfreight by HNRC. Ironically, the most difficult part of the trains to portray is the barrier wagons, the tankers being quite different from the models produced by Hornby and Bachmann, particularly in that they have full length solebars. On June 26, Nos. 20107 and 20096 could be found stabled at Derby with Nos. 20901 and 20905 at the other end. Simon Bendall

Editor’s comment

Simon Bendall 6

Newsdesk: Latest developments

There is news aplenty this month as Dapol unveils its decorated Class 73s and Bachmann shows oﬀ the Wickham trolley. Revolution Trains releases its ﬁrst CAD images while JLTRT announces a 7mm Class 47.

Reviews: Heljan Class 05 shunters

The latest new locomotive model from Heljan sees it venture into the world of diesel shunters for the ﬁrst time with the release of the Hunslet-built Class 05 in ‘OO’, two diﬀerent versions having been produced.

Rail Express Modeller Editor

Reviews: Rumney Models wagon kit

The range of etched wagon chassis produced in 4mm scale by Rumney Models have much to oﬀer if you have the necessary skills to build them. The upgrade of the ancient Lima Bogie Bolster E is described.

Modelling: Mk.2 ‘air-con’ coaches

Hornby’s much anticipated take on the Mk.2 airconditioned coaches proved to be a resounding disappointment when released last year. Andy Clayton describes how to signiﬁcantly improve the model.

LTHOUgH summer is traditionally a quiet period in the railway modelling world, the past month has bucked this trend somewhat with all four main manufacturers having something to show off. Arguably the most interesting is the first view of Bachmann’s Wickham trolley, the ‘OO’ gauge model remaining an intriguing but now rather pricey addition to the company’s range. Dapol has also released images of its upcoming Class 73s in decorated form, although a host of errors need to be, hopefully, corrected before they go into production. The news is not all good though as the eagerly awaited Heljan 7mm Class 60 has been delayed until the end of the year or so.

EXPRESS RATING

30 Reviews: Heljan Park Royal railbus

Wider View: Wagon repair sidings

Recently visited for a naming ceremony, the wagon repair sidings at Bardon Hill Quarry service the ﬂeet of hoppers operated by Aggregate Industries and oﬀer plenty of modelling potential as shown here.

Exhibition diary

September once again brings a glut of scale-speciﬁc exhibitions with events catering for modellers in ‘N’, ‘EM’ and ‘O’. However, it is the ‘P4’ speciﬁc Scaleforum that is the focus of this month’s preview.

Reviews: LT Museum ‘S’ Stock

Demonstrating the beneﬁts of announcing a model just ahead of release, the London Transport Museum’s 4mm scale ‘S’ Stock has arrived for review – will it kick start a revolution in Underground modelling?

Heljan has added a third design of 1960s fourwheel railbus to its 4mm scale range, this being the Park Royal design, which found employment in the Midlands, several parts of Scotland and the Peak District.

Reviews: Locomotion/Bachmann

The latest addition to Locomotion’s range of exclusive models is the pioneer Class 20 in as delivered BR green with a gloss ﬁnish. There is also a further Class 37 from Bachmann, this time in Mainline Freight blue.

A breakdown of our Express rating system

✓✓✓✓✓ poor ✓✓✓✓✓ average

✓✓✓✓✓ ✓ ✓✓✓✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓✓✓✓

good

excellent

outstanding

Editor: Simon Bendall REMeditor@mortons.co.uk Contributing writer & modelmaker: Alex Carpenter Publisher: Tim Hartley Designer: Tim Pipes Reprographics: Jonathan Schoﬁeld, Paul Fincham Advertising: Fiona Leak Tel: 01507 529573, ﬂeak@mortons.co.uk Customer services, back issues and subscriptions: Telephone: 01507 529529 (24hr answerphone) Fax: 01507 525263 Email: railexpress@mortons.co.uk

Reviews: Bachmann/Graham Farish

New in the Bachmann range this month is a VDA van in departmental service while NSE-liveried Mk.2a coaches join the graham Farish roster. Also released is a useful new book on modelling scenery.

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NEWSDESK

Bachmann’s Wickham trolley breaks cover

The manufacturer has released its first images of the diminutive and motorised ‘OO’ gauge engineers’ trolley. ANNOUNCED the best part of two and a half years ago, the end of July finally brought the first sighting of Bachmann’s Type 27 Wickham trolley. The tiny 4mm

scale model has proved to be something of an engineering challenge for Bachmann, especially in fitting the motor, hence the delay.

Produced in large numbers and used worldwide, examples were still in service with British Rail in the 1990s. Bachmann’s model features a permanently attached trailer with electrical connections between them, two different radiator types and correct

pattern wheels. Initial liveries will be BR maroon and engineers’ yellow, with and without wasp stripes. Sadly, the expected retail price has also increased considerably in the interim from the initially announced £45.95 to £79.95. www.bachmann.co.uk

Heljan progresses ‘O’ gauge range JLTRT to ﬁnally produce Class 47 JUST Like The Real Thing has announced that it is to release the Class 47 in its range of ‘O’ gauge locomotive kits. The company has long resisted adding the Brush Type 4 to its line-up owing to the availability of the ready-torun Heljan model but as the latter is now long discontinued and not universally liked because of its inaccuracies, JLTRT has now relented. As shown by the render reproduced here, work on designing the model is already well underway with the company set to produce several different versions of the kit to cater for the various modifications made over the years. JLTRT has also announced that it is working on a 7mm scale kit for the Derby Lightweight DMUs with the first model due to be on show at Guildex on September 5-6. Now on sale are the kits for the Prestwin wagon, which is available in both the 10ft and 12ft wheelbase versions (£89.95 each), and the BR independent snowplough (£124.95). www.justliketherealthing.co.uk

THE Danish manufacturer, Heljan, has released the first images of its forthcoming Brush Type 4 prototype Falcon in decorated form. Due for release next year, only 750 examples of the 7mm scale model will be produced. Liveries will be as-delivered green/brown (200 examples), BR twotone green (350) and BR blue (200) while the retail price is expected to be around £699. The forthcoming ‘O’ gauge ZEV ‘Catfish’ and ZFV ‘Dogfish’ ballast hoppers have also appeared in a fully finished state. Expected around the end of the year, both types are priced £99.95 and will appear in BR black, olive green and engineers’ grey/yellow. www.heljan.dk

Tribometer van commissioned in 2mm by Invicta ENJOY RAIL EXPRESS MODELLER IN EVERY ISSUE SUBSCRIBE ON PAGE 84

THE next limited-edition model from Invicta Model Rail will see the retailer venture into 2mm scale for the first time with an exclusive Graham Farish wagon. This will take the form of the airbraked VBA van decorated as the Tribometer vehicle No. RDB999900 and finished in the BR Research red and blue

M6 RAIL EXPRESS Modeller September 2015

livery. It was a common sight on the network during the late 1970s and much of the 1980s in this livery, working between two lab coaches. The model, which will not feature any of the bespoke features of the real vehicle, is priced £14.95 and due for release early next year. www.invictamodelrail.com

Supplement No.137

NEWSDESK

Dapol unveils decorated ‘OO’ Class 73s Pre-production livery samples of the much-anticipated electro-diesels have arrived with the manufacturer. THE start of August saw Dapol release the first images of its ‘OO’ gauge Class 73 in decorated form, no fewer than eight pre-production samples being unveiled. However, modellers were quick to spot that a number of substantial errors, such as incorrect roof colours, had escaped notice at the artwork stage and made it on to the samples.

Fortunately, the manufacturer has indicated that it will take note of corrections it receives with a second set of pre-production livery samples to be produced as a result. This does mean that the release of the models will be delayed until the end of the year though. Pictured here are four of the samples, these being No. 73102 Airtour

Suisse in InterCity Executive (complete with BR arrows and nameplates at the wrong ends; an error that Dapol is aware of), No. 73105 in BR large logo blue, ‘JA’ No. E6003 in as delivered BR green condition and early BR blue No. E6039. The other liveries to be unveiled were No. 73124 in BR standard blue (as pictured two issues ago), ‘Dutch’ grey/yellow No. 73138, GB Railfreight’s

No. 73206 and plain BR green with yellow warning panels No. E6001, the latter being exclusively for the Dapol Collectors’ Club. In other news, Dapol has stated that its much delayed ‘O’ gauge Class 08 is now undergoing tooling while the first engineering sample of the 4mm scale Class 68 should arrive shortly. www.dapol.co.uk

Hornby releases Class 71 details

Revolution Trains shows oﬀ ﬁrst CAD images RECENT weeks have seen Revolution Trains unveil largely complete CAD images of its two upcoming ‘N’ gauge models, the Class 390 ‘Pendolino’ and the modern TEA tanker. Both models are being produced in conjunction with Rapido Trains and it is hoped to have the first pre-production samples on display at the International N Gauge Show on September 12-13 with a working version of the Virgin Trains EMU following in time for Warley. The ‘Pendolino’ CAD pictured here still requires further work around the cab, including adding the windscreen wipers, panel details and lower valance. After a customer vote, the nine-car sets to be modelled are Nos. 390001 Virgin Pioneer, 390005 City of Wolverhampton, 390006 Tate Liverpool and 390045 101 Squadron. Meanwhile, the 11-car sets will be Nos. 390104 Alstom Pendolino complete

Supplement No. 137

with Alstom vinyls, 390114 City of Manchester, 390122 Penny the Pendolino, 390138 City of London and 390151 Virgin Ambassador with ‘Business is Great Britain’ adornments. Additionally, there is No. 390103 Virgin Hero with its poppy vinyls, where every model sold will bring a donation to the Royal British Legion with pre-orders currently signalling that more than £1000 has already been raised. The TEA CAD files are all but complete, this including the detail variations between the various batches of the current-day tanker design. Both models remain available to pre-order in all liveries via www.revolutiontrains.com

THE new ‘OO’ gauge Class 71 electric loco being produced by Hornby has been given a provisional release date of May next year. The company has also announced the liveries that will appear on the first batch of models, these encompassing Nos. E5022 in BR green without yellow

panels, E5001 in BR green with small yellow panels and 71012 in BR blue with full yellow ends. The recommended retail price has also been set at £149.99 with a fully working engineering sample now undergoing testing at Hornby’s offices. www.hornby.com

IN BRIEF ■ In a not entirely unexpected move, DJ Models has revealed that it has dropped its plans to produce the Class 59 in both 2mm and 4mm. Announced just over 12 months ago, the decision has been blamed on one of the type’s owners refusing to discuss a licence to reproduce its two liveries. Without these popular schemes, the model was said to be unviable, while the recent unveiling of CAD images by Dapol of its rival ‘N’ gauge model cannot have helped either. It remains to be seen whether anyone else will claim the popular GM class for production in ‘OO’. www.djmodels.co.uk ■ Due for release in the next few months is a 4mm scale kit for the Class 508 EMUs. Produced by Ayjay Models, the kit will be comprised of one-piece resin bodyshells,

underframes, seats and bogies. Nickel silver window frames will also feature with either a Tenshodo or Black Beetle motor bogie required to complete. Prices are expected to be in the £260-£270 range for a four-car set with three-car versions also available at a lower price. www.southernregionmodels.co.uk ■ PH Designs is now offering a set of 3D printed bodies in 2mm scale of the Hunslet-built Class 323 EMUs. Available as three-car packs, the bodies are designed to be used with a Graham Farish Class 170 ‘Turbostar’, the latter providing the bogies, mechanism and some internal parts. The bodies can either be supplied cleaned and ready for painting (£100) or with primer also applied (£105). www.phd-designetchings.co.uk

September 2015 RAIL EXPRESS Modeller M7