A forum post to discuss the Rail Live 2024 exhibition.
Not many inbound workings to mention at present:
Network Rail will be showing off an MMT (no arrival times published yet) and 153 inspection unit (arriving on Monday).
As usual there will be a page so you can easily log your sightings (it's a bit empty at the moment but will fill up with all vehicles being exhibited)... click here for our Rail Live 2024 page.
The MMT inbound timings are here: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U15892/2024-06-17/detailed
There is also due to be the class 93 from Rail Ops group
I see that the Class 153 working on Monday from the RTC to Long Marston is scheduled for a stop at Blackwell from 11.56 - 12.39 for passing trains. I am intrigued as to why they are holding it there as the old southbound loop line has not been used for years, and is disconnected from the main line at the Barnt Green end and is heavily overgrown. I can't remember whether the connection is connected at the Bromsgrove end. The only other place they can put it would be the banker crossover siding between the two main lines. It will be interesting to see if that is the intention, or whether NR have forgotten that the south loop is out of use ! Any body know the answer ?
The Class 153 was 153376 and was not held at Blackwell in the end, but held on the south freight loop between Bromsgrove and Stoke Works Junction running 45 minutes early. Earlier 37608 towed 93001 towards Long Marston.
Warning to anyone using the coach services from Warwick, there has only been 2 this morning and they both were very late departing and as of 10:53 none have yet returned, this is due to extreme congestion at the site. Not sure if the Honeybourne coach is also affected
Good day out as always, fine weather and lots to see.
Will slowly work on adding everything to the page, a few queries to kick us off though!...
Land Recovery Cheiftain trailer.
AJH stand - Explore Liebherr - RRV002 950032. Did anyone confirm build of this please as our lists are a bit muddled.
Bance - flat trolley.
Bance - two seater.
SPL - Basket RR19.
SCT Unimog - a comment suggests it was same as last year, but today's was a shunter and last year was a MEWP?
Track Recording Inspection Systems - was that little thing within scope?
Finally - please can I ask members to hold off from uploading photos for now - don't want to be deluged with hundreds of duplicates! Will advise further tomorrow. Thanks!
Vince
Hopefully the following will fill in some gaps. The LR Chieftain Trailer was RT 1541. The build number for 950032 was 159443. The four Bance Trollies were 344 20, 901231-9, ERV 181 and 2SBAC 058 21. The RR19 basket was PB 14377. The SCT Unimog was 275033. A very good day out as always.
Chatting to one of the managers on the explore stand today revealed they were looking at buying TXM but decided against it due to financial reasons. With then going under they took some of the leadership team and set up the rail division. 3 depots as it stands...Worksop Winsford and Arsley I think it was
Thanks for the notes Roger.
Think we're almost complete with the report page now.
One final query - did anyone identify the McCulloch Turnout Solution machine please? It looks slightly different to the two photod last year.
Just a mention on the Geismar Trailer 009461-3, the builders plate read GRST 224020 04. There was also a 2w R/R trailer on the QTS stand built by Greenmech, and was a Quad Chip 160D with builders number 0230355 and fleet number ARB 105. Is there any intention of putting that on the list ?
Just remembered, also there was QTS Rail Robot RROB 02.
The McCulloch MTOS is a totally brand new machine from the two that were on display last year. So a cop for everyone who saw it.
Regarding the comment relating to the SCT Unimog possibly being the same as the one at last years show I can confirm that it most certainly isn't. Whilst the road registration plate might be the same, this years model is U423 275033 whilst that shown last year was U423 Access Platform 270929. I last saw 270929 in late March of this year where it is now branded as belonging to Network Rail carrying 99709 972011-9 with an ECC 22/03/31.
Comments about the SCT Unimog highlight the importance of very carefully checking identities of vehicles at trade shows and events. My experience of such events is that vehicles often carry a show identity rather than true identity. There are various reasons for this, such as avoiding giving the identity of the intended customer, giving a good customer a free plug, disguising the vehicles true age / specification etc etc. Road registration plates are notorius for being swapped around for show purposes.
Regarding QTS machines, I must admit I overlooked some of the smaller things on the stand. If photos can be uploaded of those, I will assess their viability for inclusion on the website...
I've today started going through my notes and photos but have already got a couple of queries. As no one else has mentioned them I've probably missed something somewhere so apologies in advance if that is the case!
Anyway, is the trailer, 99709 071059-8, which was at the Fitzgerald stand not relevant ? I can't locate it on the website.
I'm also curious about whether the small Geismar machine that was on a very short length of track by their stand is in scope. Sorry I've no further details, I photo'd the works plate but can't read it !
I also noted, and my photos confirm, F10109 and not F10104 is stencilled on the load on top of Force One's 020198-6. F10104 is stencilled on the next bit which was behind TRS 1026 ( I didn't read the 99709 number)
071059 is included and you can search for it by typing in "071059".
A photo of the small Geismar machine has been uploaded and is at the bottom of the report page - it would be good to get more details about it as it may be worthy of inclusion - from memory I think the machine type on the plate was written in French and contained the word "lorry".
Vince, serching 071059 produces the following message:
"There was an error with the search results. The admin team have been made aware of the problem and will look into it when available.
Please try again in the future."
Sorry, perhaps I should've been clearer. I just meant search for it on the Rail Live report page using your browser's search functionality.
From said page you can also quickly log sightings of every machine at the show; or click through to their individual profile pages and log individually if you'd prefer the slow method.
Regarding The Geismar LNR 520 Machine I located a plate on it suggesting it was 23 110 built 2023
Thanks for the details Lee, have now added a record on for this one.
Hi
Quick query. Whereabouts was the MCL ballast brush please? https://www.ontrackplant.com/photo/mcl-99709000169-ed539f
I think I can work out from the photo roughly where it was. Would that be 701052 in the background?
Regards
Chris
MCL's stand was out in the zone near Keltbray/Explore - brush very easy to miss, was almost hiding behind a shed. Yes, I think that was 701052 in the background.
Thanks for confirming Vince. I think I was chatting to someone at that point and got distracted so missed getting a close look / photo, but I'm happy I saw it.
Kind Regards
Chris