HERITAGE TRACTION ON THE MAIN LINE

Railway writer Fred Kerr details the many classes of BR diesel locomotives that have been preserved, noting that some purchases had been made with the hope of operating them on the National Network. The Railways Bill of 1993 provided opportunities that allowed this to happen. This book showcases such locomotives at work during the early part of the 21st century up until December 2016 and during this period many new train operators entered the market. Their early operations used elderly locomotives withdrawn from service by their original operators until new locomotives could be purchased. When British Railways was privatised in 1994 it included the right of any locomotive owner or operator to operate locomotives on the National Network subject to them being fitted with the necessary equipment to work trains and being approved by Network Rail to be fit to do so. Whilst this right was geared to the continued operation of steam traction, it also opened the doors to the owners of modern traction, both diesel and electric, to operate their locomotives subject to the same operating conditions. ROSCOs then leased stock to the individual TOCs and new railway companies served niche markets such as Train Operation and sought to reduce start-up costs by either hiring preserved locomotives as exemplified by Cardiff Valley Railways hiring for peak-hour services or buying withdrawn locomotives as exemplified by DRS. Later new operators such as Colaf Railfreight also found it economic to use 'heritage traction'. This special album celebrates and illustrates their continuing work and notes the rise and fall of some new companies through changes of locomotive ownerships. A case in point is Class 47/8 47832 which has been operated by Fragonset, Victa Rail, DRS and WDRC since being withdrawn from service by First Great Western in 2004. Spectacularly clear colour photographs with extended captions showcase the Class 33 Birmingham RC&W, Class 37 English Electric Company, Class 43 BR Workshops, up to Class 86 BR Doncaster, Class 87 BREL Crewe and the Class 92 Locomotive which began powering the Caledonian Sleeper service. Hundreds of colour photos, 128pp in landscape format. A Pen & Sword publication.