Sam Hewitt
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Innotrans 2018: Battery power and new technology on show
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THE biennial Innotrans global rail trade fair saw more than 160,000 people visit from 110 countries, with more than 3,000 companies from 61 countries exhibiting. The event was held in Berlin in September. As well as the 145 different items of rolling stock on show, which ranged from entire eight-coach trains to individual freight wagons,…
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Threat to Australia’s long-distance ‘Overland’ service
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ONE of Australia’s iconic long-distance passenger trains is threatened with withdrawal in 2019 as politicians cannot agree on future funding. ‘The Overland’ has run between Adelaide and Melbourne since October 1887 when it was known as the ‘Intercolonial Express’. At that time South Australia and Victoria were separate British colonies. In 1926 it became ‘The…
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Eastern European railways celebrate 100 years of independence
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NOVEMBER marks 100 years since the end of the First World War, and for several Eastern European countries this signals the centenary of them gaining or regaining independence. The national operators in several countries are marking this major anniversary, which led to the establishment of state railway companies to replace the former Austrian, Russian or…
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Electrified North Island main line to convert to diesel as more new locos arrive
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FIFTEEN more DL class locomotives ordered by KiwiRail in 2016 from CRRC in Dalian, China arrived at the port of Mount Maunganui, near Tauranga, on October 10. They were transferred to Te Rapa (Hamilton) for commissioning two days later. KiwiRail now has 63 of the Chinese-built locos and eight more are on order. The 108-tonne…
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Baldwin diesel survivors in France
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IN SEPTEMBER there was a rare opportunity to travel in a passenger train operated by one of the 70-year-old former French Railways (SNCF) Baldwin-built diesel locos at the Chemin de Fer Touristique du Rhin heritage line, near Colmar, in Alsace. The train was organised by the UK-based enthusiasts behind the European Traction website. American loco…
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Class 504 restoration project making progress at East Lancs Railway
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CLASS 504 Preservation Society members have been progressing the restoration of EMU trailer car No. M77172 at the East Lancashire Railway (ELR). Work started early in the year outside in the sidings near the carriage and wagon shed at Buckley Wells. Several jobs had been tackled, including making the unit watertight and generally smartening its appearance. It…
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Devon diesels swapped
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THE Dartmouth Steam Railway (DSR) and South Devon Railway (SDR) have exchanged locos to better suit their needs. South Devon Diesel Traction Ltd (SDDTL), which keeps its stock on the South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh, has sold Class 37 No. 6975 to the Dartmouth Steam Railway at Paignton. The DSR has sold Class 25 No. D7535 Mercury…
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Devon diesels swapped
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THE Dartmouth Steam Railway (DSR) and South Devon Railway (SDR) have exchanged locos to better suit their needs. South Devon Diesel Traction Ltd (SDDTL), which keeps its stock on the South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh, has sold Class 37 No. 6975 to the Dartmouth Steam Railway at Paignton. The DSR has sold Class 25 No. D7535 Mercury…
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Superb restoration work on APT power car at Crewe
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APT-P motor power car No. 49006 has been restored to its former glory. It arrived at the Crewe Heritage Centre (CHC) from storage at the now-closed Electric Railway Museum, Coventry in dreadful external condition at the beginning of the year. Restoration started in mid April when the former National Collection vehicle was formally handed over to…
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East Lancs ‘Grid’ back in service after repair
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CLASS 56 No. 56006 returned to traffic on the Saturday of East Lancashire Railway’s September 21-23 gala when it moved Class 47 No. 47765, which had failed. The ‘Grid’ then worked its rostered trains the rest of the weekend without any problems. It last ran at the 2017 summer diesel gala, but developed an auxiliary alternator fault,…
