Locomotive_Services_Limited

Locomotive Services Limited

Locomotive Services Limited

Train operating company in Great Britain


Locomotive Services Limited[2] 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.

Quick Facts Founded, Headquarters ...
D1935 moving 34046 Braunton to the West Somerset Railway in 2018

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.[3] Based at Crewe Diesel TMD, it is owned by Jeremy Hosking. It operated its first tour from Crewe to Kingussie in March 2018.[4]

It built up a fleet of Class 08s, 37s and 47s, mainly acquired from Direct Rail Services.[5] In December 2017, it purchased two Class 55s: D9000 and D9016.[6][7] 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.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10]

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,[11] followed by former LNER Class A4 4464 Bittern on 1 June 2018.[12]

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.[13] The first tour was operated from Crewe to Kingussie in March 2018.[4] 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.[6]

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.

The Steam Dreams Rail Company

In June 2022, it was announced that Locomotive Services had purchased Steam Dreams and LNER Thompson Class B1 61306 from former owner David Buck.[14] Steam Dreams now operates under the LSL umbrella, with the operator continuing to operate its own tours too.

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.

More information Number, Name ...

Diesel locomotives

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
More information Class, Pre-TOPS Number ...
Mainline Diesels

The operational mainline diesel fleet is entirely based at Crewe Diesel Depot. Some locomotives are off site either in storage, on hire or under restoration.

More information Class, Pre-TOPS Number ...

Class 43 Power Cars

Locomotive Services own 7 class 43 powercars, with 5 currently in service. All powercars are used/to be used on the Midland Pullman luxury train service, with the exception of 43083.

More information Class, TOPS Number ...

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

More information Class, Pre-TOPS Number ...

Diesel multiple unit

Bold = Current number

More information Class, Pre-TOPS Number ...

Electric locomotives

Bold = Current number

More information Class, Pre-TOPS Number ...

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. [citation needed]

Steam Rake

More information Number, Description ...

InterCity Rake

More information Number, Description ...

Statesman Rail Rake

More information Number, Description ...

High Speed Train Coaches

More information Number, Description ...

Other Coaches

More information Number, Description ...

Train Operating Company

LSL provides locomotives, stock and crews for railtour organisers. LSL acts as train operating company to the following companies:


References

  1. "LOCOMOTIVE SERVICES LIMITED persons with significant control - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  2. "Licence granted for new operator" Rail issue 835 13 September 2017 page 19
  3. "First LS tour" Today's Railways UK issue 197 May 2018 page 68
  4. "A growing fleet at Crewe Diesel Depot" Rail issue 842 20 December 2017 page 31
  5. ""Deltics sold – and could be put to work on new railtours" Rail issue 842 20 December 2017 page 30
  6. "Two Deltics sold to Locomotive Services" Today's Railways UK issue 193 January 2018 page 67
  7. "Class 40 and 47/8 join Locomotive Service's ranks" Rail issue 858 1 August 2018 page 31
  8. "Deltic Duo Joins the Fleet". Icons of Steam. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  9. "D213 Andania joins LSL mainline fleet". Icons of Steam. 14 January 2018. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018.
  10. 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.
  11. "Locomotive Services LTD Becomes TOC". Steam Railway. 5 August 2017. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  12. Michael Holden (1 June 2022). "Steam Dreams and 61306 Mayflower acquired by Crewe based Locomotive Services Group". Rail Advent. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  13. "4270". Preserved British Steam Locomotives. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  14. "GWR - Gloucestershire's mainline heritage railway - 4270 steams". 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  15. "Update on 5029's overhaul". Steam Railway. No. 549. September 2023. p. 76.
  16. "Progress on 5029's ongoing overhaul at Crewe". Steam Railway. No. 549. September 2023. p. 76.
  17. "'KING EDWARD I' : BR 6024 KING CLASS : 4-6-0". www.theonetoonecollection.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  18. "'RAVENINGHAM HALL' : GWR 6960 HALL CLASS : 4-6-0". www.theonetoonecollection.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  19. Bailes, Kathy (8 September 2021). "Raveningham Hall loco arrives at Margate's Locomotive Storage site". The Isle Of Thanet News. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  20. "34046 Braunton (SR 21C146, BR s21C146 & BR 34046)". Preserved British Steam Locomotives. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  21. "'HOLLAND AMERICA LINE' : BR 35022 MERCHANT NAVY CLASS : 4-6-2". www.theonetoonecollection.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  22. "35022 Holland America Line". Preserved British Steam Locomotives. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  23. "Bulleid Merchant Navy Class locomotive 35027 'Port Line'". www.bluebell-railway.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  24. "'PORT LINE' : BR 35027 MERCHANT NAVY CLASS : 4-6-2". www.theonetoonecollection.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  25. "45231 (LMS 5231 & BR 45231)". Preserved British Steam Locomotives. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  26. "Royal Scot Trust". www.royalscot.org.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  27. Holden, Michael (24 January 2023). "Steam locomotive 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley unveiled in blue livery". RailAdvent. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  28. Gary Boydhope (30 January 2019). "60007 joins Hosking fleet at Crewe". Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  29. Holden, Michael (25 May 2022). "Steam locomotive 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley returns to mainline passenger service after £1 million overhaul". RailAdvent. Retrieved 4 August 2023. With its £1m overhaul complete, LNER A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley returned to the mainline on the 21st May 2022.
  30. "'BITTERN' : LNER 4464 A4 CLASS : 4-6-2". www.theonetoonecollection.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  31. Holden, Michael (9 June 2023). "Steam locomotive 60019 Bittern set for overhaul in North Yorkshire". RailAdvent. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  32. "Blue Peter for Severn Valley testing in BR Blue". Heritage Railway. No. 315. January 2024. p. 7.
  33. "60532 almost ready to run again". Trackside. No. 28. November 2023. p. 20.
  34. "70000 undergoing repairs to motion". Steam Railway. No. 549. September 2023. p. 41.
  35. "Contract work completed on 08631". RMS Locotec. 25 November 2020. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  36. "Five direct rail services class 37s get new owners". Rail Magazine. 27 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  37. "Four day Severn Valley Railway gala to see Class 37 visit". RailAdvent. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  38. "Midland Pullman". Midland Pullman. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  39. Holden, Michael (1 August 2020). "LSL HST set for Pullman Blue Livery as new railtour announced". Rail Advent. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  40. "Lady Diana Spencer". Crewe Heritage Supporters. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  41. 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.
  42. Sale of 86101 and 87002 – AC Locomotive Group. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  43. "89001's return to mainline status secured". The AC Locomotive Group. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

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