Marnham departures
Although DATS has recently sold a number of its Mk.3 coaches to Eastern Rail Services (see page 19), of the Mk.3s remaining in DATS ownership, RFM 10237 and DVTs 82115 and 82306 departed Network Rail’s High Marnham test track on April 17 bound for Burton, with HST power car 43076 leading and 43050 and 43066 also in the formation.
The ensemble had been present for further testing of the troubled prototypes for London Underground’s new fleet of Chinese-built infrastructure wagons, the coaches serving as coupling adaptors and brake force runners.
However, the working got no further than Toton Yard, where it was halted with an issue. Burton was not reached until April 21.
Meanwhile, the company’s third DVT, 82136, made the journey from High Marnham to Burton by road in mid-April.
West Coast news
The latest assortment of Mk.2s to visit Hamilton for fitting of retention tanks by Assenta Rail arrived from Carnforth on April 18, 37516 delivering Mk.2f FOs 3392 and 3395, Mk.2 Pullmans 99671, 99674, 99677 and Mk.2a BFK 99680. The locomotive later returned south with newly-modified Pullmans 99672 and 99676, and standard Mk.2s 5229, 5239, 5419 and 9391.
Meanwhile, the two chocolate and cream Mk.1 FOs acquired from Riviera Trains a year ago – 3098 and 3120 – have been repainted into maroon and were back in charter use by late April.
Translator moves
Four translator coaches converted from Motorail vans by Meridian Generic Rail in 2021 were released into traffic on May 9, 43465 and 43484 collecting 96602/603/605/607 from Burton and taking them to Kings Norton for use with Rail Adventure. Their only previous rail move since co
