Boden Rail Engineering and Class 50 Diesels

BREL and DCR/RMS/BARS are two separate entities, on different parts of the site. There is minimal interaction to be honest.

Neil and some of the other fitters at BREL have worked for DCR when it was Hanson Traction.
BREL have done some work for DCR in the past.
Neil is a fully qualified driver who has driven for DCR in the past but now only drives for Colas.

 

I can only reiterate that there are 2-3 Heritage locos being worked on at the moment, and there will be more in future.

 

Thanks for this very informative reply. I and hopefully others are much clearer now about the Washwood Heath situation.

Taking heritage traction, by my reckoning the locomotives at BREL are 20001, 33201, 40106, 50007 & 50017 and the locomotives at DCR/TMS/BARS are 25909 & 50008 but I am happy to be corrected.

 

Having a mainline approved preserved diesel might not be such a bad thing if the economy picks up with these new EU new build diesel locomotive restrictions.

 

Interesting comment in the latest Railway Magazine suggesting that the EU has shot itself in the foot with the latest ruling because "grandfather rights" means that older diesel locomotives (i.e. the most polluting) can be used whilst the newer (and LESS polluting) diesel locomotives cannot be sold unless they meet the new standards. So John Smith can't buy any more Class 66s (built from the 1990s) for GB Railfreight but he can use any number of Class 20s and 37s which can claim "grandfather rights".

Could DB now be feeling the downside of the EWS policy of withdrawing so many locomotives when they bought the Classes 66 and 67 ?

 

Just watch all those 60's come off the tender lists!

 

37190, 20188 and 20177 also in BREL at the moment.

 

But that's nothing different from cars, a new Golf will have a less polluting engine than an old one.

The European Parliament adopted Stage III/IV standards in 2004, phased in between 2006 and 2014, so it's not a big surprise?

Patrick

 

You have obviously failed to note the direction of the comment; because of the availability of diesel locomotives with "grandfather rights" operators are looking to hire the more polluting locomotives rather than buy new hence the decreased purchase of new locomotives whereas with cars there are FEWER old cars with "grandfather rights" hence the growing sales of new cars.

 

I guess new designs of locos which comply with the new regs would require new approval/testing to work on the network. Compare the Class 68s with the recent Class 66s.

 

Though it's fun to see 'heritage' locos being brought back to life, without a major re-engineering like the 57s or 73/9s they are not a long-term solution and we will probably see more European 66s cross the channel and perhaps see the DBS/ECR examples re-repatriated.

However the longer term future is electrification which is surely a success for the new rules - we are already seeing GBRf refurbish long-stored 92s and DRS have ordered some electro-diesel 88s.

Chris

 

So, due to Grandfather rights, could you build a fleet of Class 37's from existing documents without having to jump through the same EU Compliances loops as a complete new Class of diesel locomotive would attract?

 

I believe the 'grandfather rights' refer to the continued use of non-compliant engines, rather than the building of new ones to an old design - otherwise EMD could continue to churn out 66s for example.

Chris

 

How does this EU emissions affect potential new builds.. Ivatt 10000, Baby Deltic etc ?, does it affect new build Steam ?

 

As none of them involve a new engine (using spark or compression ignition) built from scratch there should be no impact at all - as the name suggests 'Euro stage IIIb' is only the latest in an ongoing tightening of emission standards so this is not something new or unforeseen.

The following looks like a good summary of the situation: Railways & Law: EU Emission limits bite for new freight locomotives

Chris

 

Hmm,

So no importing the engines from Sri Lanka to make a class 30 ?
(Did that scheme ever have legs ?)

 

For reasons already stated that shouldn't be an issue.

Chris