REFURBISHED Class 50s were chosen by Heljan for its first ‘O’ gauge model of the locomotive, dating it from the late 1970s until withdrawal from BR capital stock between 1987 and 1994, allowing for the handful of preserved locomotives currently cleared for operation on the mainline.
Refurbishment arose from the poor availability of the class during the late 1970s which was as low as 40%, prompting Western Region management into taking action to rectify a host of problems with the class.
Class 50s were technically advanced when built, incorporating sophisticated electronics and a variety of innovations including slow speed control system and rheostatic braking. During refurbishment, which was undertaken at BREL Doncaster, redundant systems including automatic traction control and part of the complex anti-wheel slip device were removed. Wiring conduit was relocated to simplify future repairs, alongside rewiring with upgraded cables to meet fire resistance standards of the time.
Design faults were tackled, including revision of the cooling air intake to fix a problem where filters became quickly clogged with moist dust and oil particles, preventing air from reaching the parts where it was most needed.
Externally, the appearance of the locomotive changed and is the version represented by the brand-new Heljan ‘O’ gauge model. The distinct cut-in section at the No.2 end where the dynamic braking equipment was housed was plated over to match the roof profile. One window on each side became an intake grille and at the cab ends, sandbox filler hatches were removed. On the cab front, the headcode boxes of those locomotives not already treated, were plated over.
Denne historien er fra March 2020-utgaven av Rail Express.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra March 2020-utgaven av Rail Express.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
LNER puts remaining ‘91s' into warm store
The ongoing pandemic restrictions and major engineering works have resulted in the complete withdrawal of the last remaining ‘Electras’ from passenger service, although the plan is to resurrect them in the summer.
Mk.1 Restaurant-Buffet (RBR) cars
A SURPRISING number of Mk.1catering cars have survived to see service on the privatised railway, in private operator and charter trains. They may turn up on anything from an enthusiast special to higher-end dining trains and have been formed in trains as prestigious as the locomotive-hauledBlue Pullman’ set, the ‘Great Britain’ tours operated by West Coast Railways and the ‘Northern Belle’ tour train.
Powerscene
Our authoritative class-by-class review of newsworthy locomotive workings.
End for Freightliner Class 86/6s
The company’s Class 86/6 fleet down to just two examples as seven locos are stored.
Service reductions as Covid cases increase
An increase in Covid-19 cases in early January saw the governments in Ireland and Northern Ireland impose stricter lockdown measures that impacted on public transport.
East West Rail funding go-ahead
Although it was expected, £760 million of funding has now been confirmed to build the Western Section of the East West Railway scheme.
Travellers-Fare with Hornby's Mk.1 Restaurant-Buffet car
Hornby expands its range of retooled ‘OO’ gauge Mk.1 coaches with a brand new tooling for the Diagram 24 Restaurant-Buffet car (RB) and the Diagram 33 refurbished version (RBR). It models the vehicles in both original form, finished in BR maroon and Southern Region green, together with the RBR refurbished coaches. They remained in frontline service well into the 1990s, including Cross-Country workings.
Class 92 revolution
Despite its complex shape and high detail ratio compared to other modern six-axle locomotives, Revolution Trains chose the Class 92 to be its first 'N' gauge locomotive model.
Bottling it!
A dig into the Rail Express archive has revealed some rarely-seen photographs of the former rail-connected Express Dairy bottling plant in South West London, which today is the site of a large mosque.
1990s ‘N' gauge Class 950
Work on the ‘N’ gauge Class 950 Track Recording Unit project, a conversion based on a standard Graham Farish Class 150/1 model, is concluded by finishing the model in 1990s condition.