Locomotive Services Limited
Locomotive Services Limited[1] is a train operating company in Great Britain. The company operates rail tours using heritage steam, diesel and electric locomotives with support from associated companies and trusts.
![]() D1935 moving 34046 Braunton to the West Somerset Railway in 2018 | |
Founded | 2018 |
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Headquarters | , England |
Area served | Great Britain |
Services | Train operating company |
Owner | Jeremy Hosking |
Website | www.locomotiveservices.co.uk |
History
In August 2017, Locomotive Services Limited (LSL) was granted an operating licence by the Office of Rail & Road allowing it to operate mainline trains in the United Kingdom.[2] Based at Crewe Diesel TMD, it is owned by Jeremy Hosking. It operated its first tour from Crewe to Kingussie in March 2018.[3]
It built up a fleet of Class 08s, 37s and 47s, mainly acquired from Direct Rail Services.[4] In December 2017, it purchased two Class 55s: D9000 and D9016.[5][6] The former is being restored at Locomotive Services' Crewe depot, whilst the latter has been cosmetically restored and transferred to the company's One:One Collection facility in Margate.
In August 2018, preserved Class 40 D213 Andania joined Locomotive Services on a three-year lease. In 2020, a Class 86, Class 87, two Class 90s and an InterCity 125 set were purchased.[7]
Related companies, brands, and trusts
Hosking formed Locomotive Services under Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust (RSLGT), a company dedicated to the maintenance and operation of steam locomotives owned by the trust, and also a number of other engines owned by Hosking. The company initially operated from a main base at Southall Railway Centre and also a summer outpost at Bristol Barton Hill.
LNWR Heritage Ltd
In 2013, RSLGT acquired LNWR Heritage, a company specialising in the overhaul and restoration of steam locomotives, from Pete Waterman. Subsequently, merged into Locomotive Services in 2015, RSLGT came to an agreement with Network Rail to lease the former Crewe TMD close to LNWR Heritage's former base, which resultantly became Locomotive Services' main base. Having previously had locomotive overhauls undertaken by various companies across the UK, investment in Crewe TMD allows Locomotive Services to fully restore and maintain RSLGT's locomotive and coaching stock.
Locomotive Diesels Ltd
Already formed under Locomotive Services to handle operations and maintenance of RSLGT's stock of Class 47 locomotives, which were purchased to assist and move both steam locomotives and coaching stock around the UK network, the division took more prominence after Hosking agreed to acquire two Class 55 Deltic locomotives in November 2017.[8] In January 2018, Locomotive Services announced that they had taken out a three-year loan agreement on a Class 40 locomotive D213 to operate on the mainline in the later half of 2018.[9]
Locomotive Storage Ltd
After acquiring the former Hornby factory in Margate, Kent, the Trust formed Locomotive Storage Ltd, to enable safe and weather-secure storage of locomotives awaiting overhaul, away from the busy main site at Crewe. After refurbishment and the installation of seven tracks (the site is only accessible by road), the first stock to arrive on the site was a Class 503 in May 2018,[10] followed by former LNER Class A4 4464 Bittern on 1 June 2018.[11]
Train operating company
In August 2017, the associated company Locomotive Services (TOC) Ltd obtained the required certifications, licence and agreements to become a UK train operating company (TOC) enabling the company to operate trains on the mainline network.[12] The first tour was operated from Crewe to Kingussie in March 2018.[3] It subsequently created the associated company Saphos Trains which runs tours and excursions, starting and ending mainly at present from Crewe railway station. Two Class 90s and an InterCity 125 set were purchased from Porterbrook.[5]
Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust
The Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust owns several locomotives that are now available to be operated by Locomotive Services.
Fleet
The Crewe-based fleet includes steam, diesel and electric locomotives.
Steam locomotives
Not all steam locomotives listed below are owned by RSLGT/Locomotive Services, as some are operating with Locomotive Services under an agreement. Not all are also mainline certified so are restricted to 25 mph on heritage railways, mainline permitted speed listed below.
Number | Name | Class | Livery | Owner | Tops No | Max Speed | Air Brk's | Location | Photograph | Present Status | Mainline Certified | Notes |
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4270 | GWR 4200 Class 2-8-0 | GWR Lined Green | Jeremy Hosking | N/A | 25 mph (50 mph) | No | Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway | ![]() |
Operational | No | ||
5029 | Nunney Castle | GWR "Castle" 4-6-0 | N/A | 98728 | 75 mph | Yes | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | ![]() |
Awaiting Overhaul | No, to be certified | Overhaul to commence on completion of 60532 Blue Peter | |
6024 | King Edward I | GWR "King" 4-6-0 | BR Green, Late Crest (on completion) | Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust | 98824 | 75 mph | Yes | Minehead | ![]() |
Under Overhaul | No, to be certified |
Maintained and operated by 6024 Preservation Society. |
6960 | Raveningham Hall | GWR Modified Hall 4-6-0 | GWR Lined Green | Jeremy Hosking | 98560 | 25 mph (60 mph) | No | One:One Collection | ![]() |
Awaiting overhaul | No | Boiler ticket expired July 2021. Moved to Margate in September 2021 |
34046 | Braunton | SR "West Country" 4-6-2 | BR Green, Late Crest | 98746 | 75 mph | Yes | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | ![]() |
Operational | Yes (20## - ongoing) | ||
35022 | Holland America Line | SR "Merchant Navy" 4-6-2 | N/A | Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust | 98822 | 75 mph | N/A | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | ![]() |
Stored | No | Awaiting restoration from scrapyard condition. |
35027 | Port Line | SR "Merchant Navy" 4-6-2 | BR Green, Late Crest | Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust | 98827 | 75 mph | N/A | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | ![]() |
Stored | No | Awaiting major overhaul. To be fitted with boiler from 35022. |
45231 | The Sherwood Forester | LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 | BR Black, Late Crest | Jeremy Hosking | 98531 | 60 mph | Yes | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | ![]() |
Operational | Yes (2013 - ongoing) | Returned to traffic in May 2021 following repairs due to wheel flats. |
46100 | Royal Scot | LMS "Royal Scot" 4-6-0 | BR Green, Early Emblem | Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust | 98702 | 75 mph | Yes | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | ![]() |
Operational | Yes (2016 - ongoing) | |
60007 | Sir Nigel Gresley | LNER A4 4-6-2 | BR Blue (on completion) | Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust | 98898 | 75 mph | Yes | Severn Valley Railway | ![]() |
Running In | No, to be certified | On ten-year partnership with SNGLT.[13]
Proposed to move to Severn Valley Railway in late March or April 2022 for running in and gala appearance.[14][15][16] |
60019 | Bittern | LNER A4 4-6-2 | LNER Garter Blue | Jeremy Hosking | 98819 | 75 mph | Yes | One:One Collection | ![]() |
Static Display | No | Currently stored at Margate. |
60532 | Blue Peter | LNER A2 4-6-2 | BR Apple Green | Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust | 98832 | 75 mph | I/H | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | ![]() |
Under Overhaul | No, to be certified | |
70000 | Britannia | BR Standard Class 7 4-6-2 | BR Green, Late Crest | Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust | 98700 | 75 mph | Yes | LNWR Heritage, Crewe | ![]() |
Operational | Yes (2022 - ongoing) | |
92212 | BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 | BR Black, Late Crest | Jeremy Hosking | N/A | 25 mph (50 mph) | No | Mid-Hants Railway | ![]() |
Under Overhaul | No | The entire 9F class is banned from mainline running due to flangeless centre wheels.
Withdrawn for 10 Year overhaul in late 2019. |
Locomotive Services Ltd & RSLGT Owned Diesels
The locomotives owned by Locomotive Services Ltd and Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust are listed below.
Note: Marked names indicate that the loco is not presently wearing them.
Loco numbers in bold mean their current number.
Shunting Engines
Class | Pre-TOPS Number | TOPS Number | Name | Livery | Owner | Image | Current location | Current status |
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Operational. Used as a pilot at the LNWR Heritage site. | |||||||
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Operational. Returned to Crewe following contract repair work undertaken by RMS Locotec.[17] Use as a pilot at the LNWR Heritage site. | |||||||
BR Green | ![]() |
Operational. Used as a pilot at Southall. | ||||||
Operational. Used as a pilot at the LNWR Heritage site. |
Mainline Diesels
Class | Pre-TOPS Number | TOPS Number | Name | Livery | Owner | Image | Current location | Current status |
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Operational, mainline registered | |||||||
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Stopped due to an engine fault in 2020 while at the Severn Valley Railway. Moved to Margate in August 2021. | |||||||
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Operational, mainline registered | |||||||
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Operational, mainline registered. | |||||||
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Stored, spares donor | |||||||
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Static Display | |||||||
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Operational, mainline registered. | |||||||
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Operational, mainline registered | |||||||
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Purchased from the Dean Forest Railway in 2019 for a potential return to mainline service. |
Class 43 Power Cars
Locomotive Services operates three pairs of Class 43s, each with a rake of Mk3 vehicles in matching liveries. An additional power car is also owned by Locomotive Services.
Class | TOPS Number | Name | Livery | No of Coaches | Owner | Image | Current location | Current status |
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Steam Preservation and Computerised Track Recording Pioneer |
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Preserved Locomotives
Not all diesel locomotives used by Locomotive Services are owned by them, some are on loan to the company for use on railtours. The privately owned locos are listed below.
Bold = Current number
Class | Pre-TOPS Number | TOPS Number | Name | Livery | Owner | Image | Current location | Current status |
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Diesel multiple unit
Bold = Current number
Class | Pre-TOPS Number | TOPS Number | Livery | Owner | Image | Current location | Current status |
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Electric locomotives
Bold = Current number
Class | Pre-TOPS Number | TOPS Number | Name | Livery | Owner | Image | Current location | Current status |
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Mainline Rolling Stock
Operational coaching stock currently based at Locomotive Services. The fleet also comprises Mark 3 loco hauled coaches and DVTs, as well as a number of Mark 3 HST Trailers.
Number | Description | Current Status | Livery | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
No. 35317 | BR Mk1 BSK | Operational | Blood and Custard | Support coach for LSL Locomotives. |
No. M35451 | ||||
No. M35465 | ||||
No. W35461 | Chocolate & Cream | 5029 'Nunney Castle' Support coach. | ||
No. W35467 | Stored | Maroon | ||
No. 13227 | BR Mk1 FK | Operational | Blood and Custard | |
No. M3122 | BR Mk1 FO | |||
No. M3100 | ||||
No. E3148 | ||||
No. M3125 | ||||
No. M3045 | Returned to traffic in July 2020, now painted in Blood and Custard Livery. | |||
No. 5366 | BR Mk2a TSO | |||
No. M3330 | BR Mk2e FO | |||
No. M5991 | BR Mk2e TSO | |||
No. M17159 | BR Mk2e BFK |
References
- Company no 5237785 Companies House
- "Licence granted for new operator" Rail issue 835 13 September 2017 page 19
- "First LS tour" Today's Railways UK issue 197 May 2018 page 68
- "A growing fleet at Crewe Diesel Depot" Rail issue 842 20 December 2017 page 31
- ""Deltics sold – and could be put to work on new railtours" Rail issue 842 20 December 2017 page 30
- "Two Deltics sold to Locomotive Services" Today's Railways UK issue 193 January 2018 page 67
- "Class 40 and 47/8 join Locomotive Service's ranks" Rail issue 858 1 August 2018 page 31
- "Deltic Duo Joins the Fleet". Icons of Steam. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- http://www.iconsofsteam.com/2018/01/andania-class-40-joins-growing-diesel-fleet/ D213 Andania joins LSL mainline fleet
- Bailes, Kathy (30 May 2018). "Last surviving Mersey Rail Class 503 train arrives at Locomotive Storage in Margate". The Isle of Thanet News. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- "Record-breaking steam train arrives in Kent". June 2018.
- "Locomotive Services LTD Becomes TOC". Steam Railway. 5 August 2017. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
{{cite magazine}}
: Cite magazine requires|magazine=
(help) - https://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/no-60007-joins-hosking-fleet-at-crewe 60007 joins Hosking fleet at Crewe
- "Severn Valley Railway to carry out running in tests on steam locomotive 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley". 18 January 2022.
- https://www.therailwayhub.co.uk/62708/60007-joins-svrs-gala-line-up/ 60007 Lined up as guest for Spring Steam Gala
- "Full steam ahead for steam locomotive 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley". 18 March 2022.
- "Contract work completed on 08631". RMS Locotec. 25 November 2020. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- "Deltic Duo joins the fleet". 29 November 2017.
- "Midland Pullman". Midland Pullman. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- Holden, Michael (1 August 2020). "LSL HST set for Pullman Blue Livery as new railtour announced". Rail Advent. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- "https://twitter.com/mrtimdunn/status/1288963589911580674". Twitter. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
(help)|title=
- "D05 Preservation Limited Facebook page 27 January 2020". D05 Preservation Limited. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Facebook.
- "Class 40 Andania joins the LSL TOC diesel fleet". 14 January 2018.
- Stephens, John (24 August 2020). "Breaking News". The Class 40 Preservation Society. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- Evans, Gareth (12 June 2020). "Class 141 Pacer joins Margate museum collection". Heritage Railway. No. 268. Mortons Media Group Ltd. p. 25. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- Sale of 86101 and 87002 – AC Locomotive Group. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
- "89001's return to mainline status secured". The AC Locomotive Group. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.