The Anonymous Widower

Caledonian Sleeper’s New Locomotives

The excellent Calendonian Sleeper has recently received some new locomotives according to this article in Rail Magazine.

But the Class 73/9 locomotives are not new, but refurbished electro-diesel locomotives built in the 1960s. It’s just that they are a bit smaller than most diesel locomotives and are ideal for moving the sleeper trains around Scotland.

In the 1960s, 49 were built and on a quick count up, I think that nearly thirty are still being used on the UK rail network.

But like other locomotives of that era and a couple of decades after, where there’s a part to play some of these old stagers can still do a reliable turn.

Some like a few Class 47 locomotives have even been rebuilt into new updated Class 57 locomotives, as this is an affordable way to get effectively new  locomotives.

As there still appears to be a shortage of freight locomotives, I think some of our engineers will be creating virtually new locomotives from old ones currently preserved in the strangest of places.

But it certainly seems to be a reliable way to create the needed motive power.

So next time you take a Calendonian Sleeper into or out of the North of Scotland, just look at the locomotive and reflect on the fact that you might not be the oldest thing on the train.

February 17, 2016 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Freight, Sleeper Train, Trains