Thus far DBS Shenker's dwindling shunting needs has been satisfied by the seemingly indestructible ex-BR Class 08 and 09 designs. An alternative strategy would be to use new or refurbished industrial designs, possibly leased through a third party. These refurbished Sentinels are possibly older than they look, but nevertheless more modern in appearance than the veteran 08s and 09s. Once again, I'm grateful to Justin Foulgar for the source image taken at Cranmore on the East Somerset Railway (18-Feb-12).
see also GB Railfreight version:
www.flickr.com/photos/northernblue109/6897379261/in/photo...
STRICTLY COPYRIGHT: You may download a copy of any image for your personal use, but it would be an offence to remove the copyright information or to post it elsewhere without the express permission of the copyright owner
Tags: Sentinel diesel shunter DB-Schenker
© All Rights Reserved
I rarely come into contact with modern trains, so photo opportunities and the opportunities for derived works are rare. This image is based on London Underground S8 Stock photographed at Baker Street. 191units of S (sub-surface) stock were constructed by Bombardier Transportation in Derby to replace 177 existing trains on the Metropolitan, District, Hammersmith & City, and Circle lines to effect what is probably the biggest transformation ever seen on the London Underground. The design is part of Bombardier’s ‘Movia’ family of metro train, which can be seen in many countries around the world. The structure and body shell of the S Stock are unique to London Underground.
The Merseyrail network includes some of the most heavily used lines outside of London and, like the former, it includes significant sub-surface and underground sections. The Northern and Wirral lines, which are electrified at 750DC on the third-rail system, are exclusively operated by Class 507 and 508 electric multiple-units, which are due to be replaced shortly. Various proposals have been made and I don’t know the outcome (if indeed any decision has been made). This image is purely speculative, suggesting what an ‘S’ stock-derived unit would look like in the current Merseyrail livery (14-Aug-13).
See my complete set of British Trains in the Privatisation Era here:
www.flickr.com/photos/northernblue109/sets/72157629369950...
Strictly Copyright: You are encouraged to provide links to this image but it would be an offence to post it elsewhere (or to publish or distribute it by any other means) without the express permission of the copyright owner
Tags: Bombardier Electric Multiple-Unit Merseyrail
© All Rights Reserved
Introduced in 1982, Class 58 represented an entirely new approach to locomotive construction in the UK - an innovative modular design with a load-bearing underframe and American-style narrow body and full-width cabs. Intended to appeal to the export market, only 50 examples were constructed for British Rail at its Doncaster plant. In their day, Class 58s were powerful and capable freight locomotives, although not without their flaws. However, by the turn of the century they compared unfavourably with the new generation of locomotives and were quickly supplanted by Class 66s. In comparison, Class 58s were expensive to maintain and operate, and delivered much lower availability. All were withdrawn by 2002, some (ironically) seeing further work with Dutch operator ACTS and various infrastructure companies in France and Spain.
I have deliberated over this image, which is not of the technical standard that I aim to achieve, but I am very grateful to Mark Bowman for supplying the source image so promptly after my appeal. I should say that the issue is not with Mark's photography, but with the very poor condition of the locomotive depicted. There are plenty of real and fictional livery options, so if anyone can supply a good quality image of a (clean) Class 58, I would be very pleased to hear from you. Meanwhile here is a taster of what might have been (27-Aug-13).
Strictly Copyright: You are encouraged to provide links to this image but it would be an offence to post it elsewhere (or to publish or distribute it by any other means) without the express permission of the copyright owner
Tags: Class 58 Freightliner
© All Rights Reserved
Following a very positive response to the Virgin Trains Class 55 and 92 images, I've decided to apply the same scheme to Ben Wheeler's picture of 92009 (renumbered here as 92001). This locomotive would not look out of place with Virgin's 'Pretendalino' rake of MK III stock on West Coach services or on Virgin-operated Anglo-Scottish sleeper trains. For Virgin fans I have at least one (possibly two) Virgin-liveried Class 50 in the pipeline (18-Jan-12).
See also Class 67 in Virgin Trains livery:
www.flickr.com/photos/northernblue109/6568428501/in/set-7...
STRICTLY COPYRIGHT: You may download a copy of any image for your personal use, but it would be an offence to remove the copyright information or to post it elsewhere without the express permission of the copyright owner
Tags: Class 92 Virgin Trains
© All Rights Reserved
There has been a recent and very welcome trend for rail freight operators to paint or ‘wrap’ locomotives in the liveries of their principal customers. DB Schenker and GB Railfreight both have Class 66s in the livery of Maritime Transport, the UK’s leading container transport company. It was a logical step to apply this scheme to a Class 70, even if there is no obvious explanation for Freightliner’s 70019 being operated by GB Railfreight. Long-term leases involving temporary repaints have occurred - as in the case of the Freightliner Class 66 leased to DRS - and it is quite possible the GBRf chose to apply a customer scheme rather than its own house colours (20-Jan-24).
All rights reserved. Follow the link below for terms and conditions, additional information about my work; and to request work from me:
www.flickr.com/photos/northernblue109/6046035749/in/set-7...
Tags: Class 70/0 diesel locomotive GB Railfreight Maritime Transport
© All Rights Reserved