31452 Derby Station 18 11 2006
A lucky photo between showers on the wet Derby platforms.
Fragonset's 31452 sits in the platform as the Serco driver swaps ends to head back to the RTC.
In 2006, 31452 was one of the last Class 31s on the mainline.
The good news in 2022 is that it is still mainline registered 😊.
Built by Brush Traction, Loughborough at their Falcon Works as D5809 (Works No. 310), it was delivered to BR on 27/07/1961.
These were originally classified as Class 30, but all their Mirrlees engines were replaced between 1965 and 1969 with more powerful English Electric 12SVT engine after a successful trial.
Renumbered under TOPS to 31279, it was further modified with Electrical Train Heating to become 31452.
Renumbered again later when the ETH was isolated for Civil Engineering duties, it became 31552.
When bought by Fragonset after it was retired, they re-connected the ETH and it became 31452 again.
Fragonset supplied locos to Network Rail and their Serco contractors for their test trains - 31452's main role with them.
Following the collapse of Fragonset's successor FM Rail, it was bought by the various companies under BARS (DCR Rail, RMC locotec. Hanson Traction, etc).
Ownership was always messy on who owned what, but when BARS pulled out of the UK in 2020, 31452 was sold to ERS - Eastern Rail Services based at Great Yarmouth where it is available for spot hire.
31452 Derby Station 18 11 2006
A lucky photo between showers on the wet Derby platforms.
Fragonset's 31452 sits in the platform as the Serco driver swaps ends to head back to the RTC.
In 2006, 31452 was one of the last Class 31s on the mainline.
The good news in 2022 is that it is still mainline registered 😊.
Built by Brush Traction, Loughborough at their Falcon Works as D5809 (Works No. 310), it was delivered to BR on 27/07/1961.
These were originally classified as Class 30, but all their Mirrlees engines were replaced between 1965 and 1969 with more powerful English Electric 12SVT engine after a successful trial.
Renumbered under TOPS to 31279, it was further modified with Electrical Train Heating to become 31452.
Renumbered again later when the ETH was isolated for Civil Engineering duties, it became 31552.
When bought by Fragonset after it was retired, they re-connected the ETH and it became 31452 again.
Fragonset supplied locos to Network Rail and their Serco contractors for their test trains - 31452's main role with them.
Following the collapse of Fragonset's successor FM Rail, it was bought by the various companies under BARS (DCR Rail, RMC locotec. Hanson Traction, etc).
Ownership was always messy on who owned what, but when BARS pulled out of the UK in 2020, 31452 was sold to ERS - Eastern Rail Services based at Great Yarmouth where it is available for spot hire.