Class 805 AT300

The Class 805 is part of the Intercity Express Programme family like the Class 802 and 810 and are bi-mode units for Avanti West Coast to replace the Class 221 on services between London Euston and north Wales. A big advantage of the 805 over the pure diesel 221 is that electric traction can be used while travelling under wires which a fair amount of the route is under.

805 001 on test at Stafford, it had yet to receive Avanti WC livery


Information
Number built: 65 (13 5-car sets)
Built: 2021-
Builder: Hitachi
Motor: Hitachi traction system (25kV AC OHLE) & MTU 12V 1600 R80L diesel

Testing of the units began in 2022 ahead of an expected entry into service by the end of 2023 but that has now been pushed back until Summer 2024.

805 003 at Stafford

805 001 and 005 coupled up

805 004 passes through Stafford


Class 172 Turbostar

The Class 172 diesel multiple unit is a member of the Turbostar family (which also includes the Classes 170 and 171). It is similar to the Class 170 but has diesel-mechanical transmission and a more austere interior to suit inner-suburban routes. They also have lighter bogies than other Turbostars.

WMR 172 214 arrives at Old Hill


Information
Number built: 117 (39 2 or 3 car sets)
Built: 2010-11
Builder: Bombardier Derby
Engine: MTU 6H1800R83 diesel per vehicle
Power: 968hp (720kW) / 1, 449hp (1, 080kW)
Formation: Driving Motor Standard (DMS)+DMS or
DMS+Driving Motor Standard Lavatory (DMSL) or
DMSL+Motor Standard (MS)+DMS

They were ordered for London Overground, Chiltern Railways and London Midland (now West Midlands Railway). [1] The London Overground sets (Class 172/0) were cascaded to West Midlands Railway once electrification of the Gospel Oak-Barking Line which they operated on was completed. Chiltern's 172s (Class 172/1) were also transferred to strengthen the West Midlands Railway fleet, so all Class 172s are now operated by the same company.

The 172/3s are 3-car sets with the other sub-classes being 2-car. Most Class 172s have gangway doors (like most Electrostars) though some have a standard Class 170 style Turbostar front-end.

In London Midland days, 172 335 arrives at Earlswood

Inside a WMR 172

172 337 at Acocks Green

172 008 (ex-London Overground) at Nuneaton

172 218 at Wilmcote

[1] Colin J Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 162

English Electric / Cravens Motor Cars for the La Guaira and Caracas Railway

The La Guaira and Caracas Railway was a narrow gauge (914mm gauge) line that linked Caracas to the port of La Guira. The line was electrified in the 1920s and used a combination of Swiss built locomotives and British built passenger motor cars. The latter were built by Cravens with electrical equipment by English Electric. The motor cars could carry passengers and also haul other carriages.

One of the motor cars [1]


Information
Number built: 4
Built: 1927
Builder: Cravens / English Electric
Motor: 4 DK109 traction motors (1500v DC OHLE)
Power: 264 hp (197 kW) 
Wheel arrangement: Bo-Bo

The motor cars served into the 1940s but the line suffered from competition with road transport, and was a different gauge to other railways in Venezuela, after a period of financial difficulty it was nationalised. After storm damage in 1951 the railway was not repaired due to a lack of government finance and closed. The motor cars managed to survive stored at Caracas until the end of the 1950s but were scrapped. Little trace of the railway now remains.

[1] "Electrification of the La Guaira and Caracas Railway", English Electric Journal (4/1928) p. 74

Class 66

As the LMS/BR Black 5 and Class 47 were to previous generations, the Class 66 is to this one: the universal locomotive that can be seen pretty much anywhere on the national railway network. With a huge fleet of 480 built (most of which are still in service) available it handles the bulk of freight traffic. Indeed more than any other class it is the face of British rail freight. The Class 66 was based conceptually on the Class 59, a US/Canada built freight locomotive bought in small numbers by private companies to haul trains in the latter days of British Rail. The 66 uses the same body shell meaning there are many aesthetic similarities to the 59 but the 66 has a different engine model and traction equipment [1].

EWS liveried 66 221 passes through Stafford


Information
Number built: 480
Built: 1998-2016
Builder: Electro-Motive Diesel
Engine: EMD 12N-710G3B-EC diesel
(66/9) EMD 12N-710G3B-T2 diesel
Power: 3, 300 hp (2, 461 kW)
Wheel arrangement: Co-Co

The Class 66 was initially ordered by EWS (now part of DB Cargo) in the early days of rail privatisation, the first order was for 250 with subsequent carry-on orders continuing until 2016 when the final batch arrived in the UK. No further new 66s are likely due to changes in EU emission rules. Similar locomotives have been built by EMD for operators in Europe and elsewhere, some of these being later imported to join the British fleet.

The very final Class 66, 66 779, was painted in British Railways lined green and named "Evening Star" after the last steam locomotive built for British Railways [2].

Sub-class Details
66/0 Original 250
66/3 Extra locomotives now operated by DRS
66/4 DRS and Freightliner operated
66/5 Freightliner operated
66/6 Freightliner operated, re-geared for heavier trains, lower top speed
66/7 GB Railfreight operated
66/8 Colas operated 
66/9 With lower emissions engine

The Class 66 is currently operated by DB, Colas, Freightliner, GB Railfreight and DRS. The vast majority are still in service, two have been written off following accidents.

DB 66 041 waits for a signal at Sandbach

Freightliner 66 538 heads through Rugeley Trent Valley

Freightliner 66 517 passes Water Orton

Freightliner 66 543 and 566 rest at Crewe

Another Freightliner loco, 66 545 passes Brondesbury



[1] Colin J. Marsden, Traction Recognition 2nd Edition (Ian Allan, 2008) p. 66
[2] "GBRF Names Last 66 Evening Star", Railways Illustrated No. 161 (July 2016)

Ruston and Hornsby 223741 (20DL)

Ruston & Hornsby built many 20DLs over a lengthy period. The example here, with the works number 223741 is now preserved at Crich Tramway Museum. The 20DL refers to the power rating (20hp) and DL means narrow gauge. However, 223741 is now a standard gauge locomotive having been converted from 600mm gauge in 1963. A similar locomotive at Crich is 326058.

223741 at Crich


Information
Number built: 1
Built: 1944
Builder: Ruston & Hornsby
Motor: Ruston & Hornsby 2VSHL diesel
Power: 20 hp (15 kW) 
Wheel arrangement: 4wDM

The locomotive was formerly operated by the Accrington Corporation.

Nottingham Express Transit Incentro AT6/5

These trams were the first built for the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) metro which began operations in 2004. The trams are a variant of the Bombardier Incentro design, this was originally an ADtranz design but by the time production began Bombardier has taken ADtranz over.

Tram 211 at Southchurch Drive North


Information
Number built: 15
Built: 2002-3
Builder: Bombardier Derby
Motor: 8 Bombardier asynchronous electric motors (750v DC OHLE)
Power: 480 hp (360 kW) 

The trams have five short articulated sections. The trams were refurbished in 2012-13 and have been supplemented by a fleet of Alstrom Citalis trams as the NET has expanded.

204 at Nottingham Station

Behind one of the driver cabs

214 at Compton Acres

In the other direction, 211 arrives at Compton Acres

211 stands at Nottingham Station