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R40152BR, Mk4 Open First, Coach G, 11213
Built at Metro-Cammell's Washwood Heath factory, 314 Mk4 coaches were produced between 1989 and 1992. They were built specifically for use on the newly electrified East Coast Main Line, along with hopes that a second order for the West Coast Main Line would be placed at a later date, although this second order never transpired. Mk4 coaches featured many improvements over the Mk3s such as push-button operated plug-type doors, fully sealed gangways and a designed top speed of 140mph. Much of the Mk4 design was based upon the Advanced Passenger Train. In particular, Mk4 coaches feature sides profiled to allow a tilt of up to 6° with newly fitted tilting bogies.
R30073BR, Class 56, Co-Co, 56047
The British Rail Class 56 Type 5 Co-Co diesel locomotive was first introduced in 1976 to cope with the increased requirement for heavy freight. British Rail awarded the contract to design and build these new engines to Brush Traction in Loughborough, who subsequently sub-contracted the construction to Electroputere in Romania, due to the lack of capacity in their own works. The initial 30 locomotives to be delivered from Romania suffered from transit damage and construction deficiencies and had to be extensively rebuilt before entering service.
With this in mind the decision was made to build the remaining 105 locomotives in England, British Rail Engineering Ltd manufacturing them at their Doncaster Works (nos. 56031 to 56115). The design specification was based upon the Class 47 bodyshell, with the omission of redundant features such as the headcode panel. Power came from a Ruston-Paxman unit that was similar to that fitted in the Class 50 locomotives, which provided the capability for heavy haul freight. Air brakes were fitted for the first time in a British Rail engine and the electrics were improved in a number of areas, resulting in a more robust power unit.
Nicknamed as Gridirons or 'Grids', the Class 56 displaced the Class 20 and Class 47 locomotives and commonly undertook the transportation of iron ore, coal, aggregate and steel across the Eastern and London Midland Regions and on the Western Region for aggregate duties. Strong and reliable performers, the locomotives were popular but needed heavy maintenance, particularly when compared against the Class 66 locomotives that came to displace them in service. The introduction of the Class 60 locomotives saw a gradual reduction in the use of the Class 56 locomotives and with the arrival of the Class 66 locomotives, with their greater availability and lower maintenance, the Class 56 fleet were placed into storage between 1998 and 2004.
Most of the locomotives remain in depots around the UK, despite being variously sold for scrap and then re-acquired and reinstated in service. Colas Railfreight operate a small fleet on a rotating basis and British American Railway Services and UK Rail Leasing have a number available for working.
Five locomotives, 56006, 56097, 56098, 56301 and 56302 have been preserved. No. 56060 was built in June 1979 by BREL in Doncaster. The locomotive received the name 'The Cardiff Rod Mill' in December 1992 and ran under this name until March 1997.
R30040TTSRailRoad Plus BR, Class 47, Co-Co, 47583 ‘County of Hertfordshire’
Built between 1962 and 1968, the British Rail (BR) Class 47 Co-Co Diesel-Electric locomotive was once the most numerous class of mainline diesel in Britain with 512 examples. 310 locomotives were constructed by Brush in Loughborough, and the remaining 202 at Crewe. The locomotives were used for passenger and freight operations.
In 2020, 24 of the class remain operational on the national network with more in storage and an additional 31 preserved. Built in October 1964 as D1767 the locomotive was initially assigned to the Tinsley depot. Under TOPS the locomotive was initially numbered 47172. The locomotive received the name 'County of Hertfordshire' in 1979 before being reclassified a class 47/4 and renumbered 47583 in November 1980.
In 1981 the livery of the locomotive was updated to mark the wedding of HRH Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer featuring a large BR arrow uniquely lined in Red and Blue.
R30042TTSRailRoad Plus ROG, Class 47, Co-Co, 47813 ‘Jack Frost’
Built between 1962 and 1968, the British Rail (BR) Class 47 Co-Co Diesel-Electric locomotive was once the most numerous class of mainline diesel in Britain with 512 examples. 310 locomotives were constructed by Brush in Loughborough, and the remaining 202 at Crewe. The locomotives were used for passenger and freight operations.
In 2020, 24 of the class remain operational on the national network with more in storage and an additional 31 preserved. Built in October 1964 as D1767 the locomotive was initially assigned to the Tinsley depot. Under TOPS the locomotive was initially numbered 47172. The locomotive received the name 'County of Hertfordshire' in 1979 before being reclassified a class 47/4 and renumbered 47583 in November 1980.
In 1981 the livery of the locomotive was updated to mark the wedding of HRH Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer featuring a large BR arrow uniquely lined in Red and Blue.
31-265AClass 419 MLV S68002 BR (SR) Green
CLASS 419 MLV HISTORY
Ten single car Motor Luggage Vans (MLV) were built between 1959 and 1961 to provide additional luggage carrying capacity for boat trains operating on the newly electrified Kent Coast line from London to ports on the South Coast which connected with cross-channel ferries. They were designed to be fully compatible with units that operated services on the stretch of the South Eastern network between London and the Kent ports, principally 4CEP and 4BEP units (later Class 411 and 410 respectively).
Each MLV was also fitted with two sets of batteries which were charged by a motor generator during operation on the third rail electrified lines - this enabled the vehicles to work independently and away from electrified routes which was particularly useful upon reaching the ferry ports in the south. The MLV would be detached from the train and could then traverse the dockyard to enable direct loading of luggage onto the ship, with the vehicle added back onto the London end of the train for the return journey.
Originally numbered S68001-S68010, with the implementation of TOPS (Total Operating Processing System) the MLVs were designated Class 419 with numbers in the series 419001 – 419010. When renumbered, the units retained their original numbers on the bodysides (albeit without the ‘S’ prefix) and the last four digits of the new TOPS number were applied to the unit ends.
As boat traffic reduced, the vehicles saw increased use on other services, particularly carrying parcels and mail, or in departmental use where they served as tractors units on electrified lines. Their use on mail traffic saw two examples (Nos. 419001 and 419004) receive Royal Mail livery, however this livery made the units obvious targets for thieves and No. 419004 was the subject of a robbery in March 1989 whilst working a Brighton to London Bridge service. Withdrawals commenced in 1994 and all had been retired by 2004, although remarkably only two examples were lost – the other eight having been preserved.

















