The results of the company’s final clear-out of Class 08/09 shunters were still largely awaited in late November.
November was expected to bring the results of DB Cargo’s last shunter sale, the company having put its remaining 23 Class 08s and solitary Class 09 up for grabs to considerable interest. However, as the month ended, the winners were still largely unannounced, apart from a handful of sales into preservation.
Indications are that Network Rail has objected to having its key infrastructure yards across the country left bereft of shunters with consequential impact on operations. Negotiations appear to be ongoing behind the scenes to resolve these contractual obligations, but it is unclear whether this involves a third party supplier becoming involved or whether Network Rail will be content with main line locos being provided.
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All 24 locos are believed to have found buyers with most expected to be released during December.
Of the confirmed sales, No. 08888 at Hoo Junction has been announced as destined for the Kent & East Sussex Railway following a private purchase, while No. 08907 was collected from Bescot on November 28 and delivered to the Great Central Railway.
Meanwhile, the embryonic Trawsfynydd & Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway has successfully tendered for No. 08757 at Crewe Electric, but needed to raise more than £19,000 by early December to complete the purchase – it having created a crowdfunding page to try and achieve this.
No. 08605, located at Wigan Springs Branch, was transferred to Riviera Trains’ RTSO shunter pool around November 25, suggesting it is destined for further main line use with the charter stock provider.
Read more News and Features in January’s issue of Rail Express
