Class 197 Civity

The Class 197 is part of the CAF Civity family like the Class 195 and 196. It is being built to allow Transport for Wales to withdraw and supplement a number of older classes of diesel multiple unit.

Transport for Wales 197 013 arrives at Warrington Bank Quay

Information
Number built:	180 (77 2 or 3-car sets)
Built:	2020-
Builder:	CAF Newport
Motor:	Rolls-Royce MTU 6H1800R85L diesel per car
Power:	(2-car) 1, 010 hp (750 kW) (3-car) 1, 509 hp (1, 125 kW)
Formation:	(197/0) DMSL (Driving Motor Standard Lavatory)+ DMS (Driving Motor Standard) (197/1) DMSL+MSL (Motor Standard Lavatory)+ DMC (Driving Motor Composite) or DMS

The Class 197 is being built in two sub-classes. A two-car formation with all standard class seating and a three-car formation which has some first class provision. All cars are powered. Some units from each sub-class have been fitted with support for ETCS (European Train Control System) signalling.

The first Class 197 was completed in 2021 and entered service in late 2022.

197 014 at Crewe

A Class 197 departs Warrington Bank Quay

Nottingham Express Transit Citadis 302

The launch stock for the Nottingham Express Transit light rail system was the Bombardier Incentro. For phase two of NET with extensions to Beeston and Clifton, NET needed more trams and ordered a fleet of twenty-two Alstom Citadis 302s, a very successful type of tram used throughout the world.

Tram 237 departs Compton Acres

Information
Number built:	22
Built:	2013-14
Builder:	Alstom
Motor:	Alstom traction system (4 motors) (750v DC OHLE)
Power:	480 hp (358 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	Bo-2-Bo

Deliveries of the trams began in 2013 with an entry into service in 2014. The Citadis introduced a new livery for NET trams which the older Incentros also received when they were refurbished.

Like the Incentros, the Citadis trams are made up of five short articulated sections. The trams have seats for fifty eight passengers [1].

Arriving at Clifton Centre

One of the driver's cab

Tram 224 departs Bulwell

Tram 226 arrives at Nottingham Station

A tram arrives at Southchurch Drive North

[1] Robert Prichard & Alan Yearsley, UK Metro & Light Rail Systems (Platform 5, 2019) p. 134

Yorkshire Engine Company Taurus

Taurus was a diesel-hydraulic locomotive developed by the Yorkshire Engine Company trip freight work and heavy shunting. It had two Rolls Royce diesel engines, only one being used at very slow speeds. Taurus was demonstrated on British Railways in 1961-2 though no orders arised, but in any event the kind of duties a locomotive such as Taurus could be used for were soon to disappear.

Taurus on test [1]

Information
Number built:	2
Built:	1961-63
Builder:	Yorkshire Engine Company
Motor:	2 Rolls Royce C8SFL diesels
Power:	600 hp (450 kW)
Formation:	0-8-0DH

With a glut of ex-BR shunting locomotives entering the market in the late 1960s, the Yorkshire Engine Company found it difficult to sell Taurus to any industrial users. A second Taurus was built however, this was for the Spanish railway operator RENFE and was to 1668mm gauge. No other orders were forthcoming though the Spanish Taurus has survived into preservation.

A similar type built by the Yorkshire Engine Company was the Indus. This was very similar to the Taurus though had a similar gearbox (the differential compound gearbox of Taurus having proved to be problematical - indeed the Spanish Taurus was given the Indus gearbox). Two Indus were built for industrial users and survived into the 1980s.

Taurus under construction [1]

[1] "The Taurus multi-purpose locomotive", International Railway Journal Vol. 1 Issue 5 (1961) p. 16

Sheffield Supertram (Siemens-Duewag)

The Supertram is a fleet of trams built for the Sheffield Supertram light rail network which began operation in 1994. At nearly thirty five metres long the Supertrams are one of the longest articulated vehicles built for public transport in the UK [1].

Supertram 120 departs Spring Lane

Information
Number built:	25
Built:	1993-4
Builder:	Siemens-Duewag
Engine:	4 Three-Phase Siemens traction motors (750v DC OHLE)
Power:	1, 420 hp (1, 060 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	B-B-B-B

The trams were built at Siemens-Duewag and first tested on Düsseldorf's Rheinbahn network before being shipped over. The Supertrams consist of three articulated sections [2] and have all powered axles due to the steep gradients on part of the network [3].

The Supertrams underwent a full refurbishment in 2006-08 which included interior an exterior changes including the replacement of the original destination boards with LEDs to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Tram 117 arrives at Attercliffe

Aboard a Supertram behind the cab

Tram 118 at Fitzalan Square / Ponds Forge

Tram 119 at Hyde Park

Tram 118 again, passing a sister tram at Woodbourn Road

[1] Supertram Vehicle Information <https://www.stagecoachbus.com/supertram/vehicle-information>
[2] Colin J. Marsden, Rail Guide 2016 (Ian Allan, 2016) p. 282

[3] Robert Pritchard & Alan Yearsley, UK Metro & Light Rail Systems (Platform 5, 2019) p. 138

CIE A Class / 001 Class

These locomotives were built for the Córas Impair Éireann (Irish Railways) in the 1950s and became the backbone of the CIE locomotive fleet performing mixed traffic duties for several decades. However, as built they had Crossley 2-stroke diesel engines which turned out to be very unreliable. Finally in the late 1960s, CIE had the fleet rebuilt with EMD engines which proved much better, though had to be downrated from 1, 650 hp due to stresses on the cooling and transmission systems.

CIE A3 in service [1], this locomotive is now preserved

Information
Number built:	60
Built:	1955-56
Builder:	Metropolitan-Vickers
Motor:	Crossley HSTV8 diesel (rebuild) EMD 12-645E diesel
Power:	(Crossley) 1, 200 hp (890 kW) (EMD) 1, 325hp (988 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	Co-Co

The locomotives remained in service until final withdrawal in 1995. Four have been preserved.

A10 in the workshop [1]

[1] "New look for Irish transport", International Railway Journal Vol. 1 Issue 4 (1961) p. 28

Class 777 Metro

The Class 777 is an electric multiple unit for the Merseyrail network replacing Classes 507 and 508. The Class 777 is part of Stadler's Metro family and is designed for high capacity and rapid acceleration on the busy Merseyrail network. The first Class 777s were delivered in 2020, with the official hand over and public unveiling at Birkenhead North in September 2021 [1] though the type did not enter service until January 2023.

Merseyrail 777 142 in battery mode at Headbolt Lane

Information
Number built:	212 (53 4-car sets)
Built:	2018-2021
Builder:	Stadler Rail
Motor:	Stadler traction system (750v DC third rail or battery)
Power:	2, 800 hp (2, 100 kW)

The Class 777 is designed to work with the Merseyrail 750v DC third rail network, though can be fitted for AC overhead operation if required in the future. Seven of the units have been fitted with batteries for operation to the new station at Headbolt Lane which opened in 2023, the line at the station not being third rail electrified. Merseyside could order a further fifty nine trains in future for future service enhancements and extensions.

The Class 777 has all of the usual features of a modern multiple unit, including walk-through wide gangways, electronic information screens and seats of questionable comfort! The Class 777 was phased into operation on the Merseyrail network, starting with the branches to Kirkby and Ormskirk in early 2023 but by late 2023 has largely taken over from the 507s and 508s.

777 018 at Orrell Park

777 009 at Moorfields

777 018 at Sandhills

Aboard a Class 777 showing the cab end

777 011 arrives at Bidston

[1] "First Class 777s handed over", Modern Railways (October 2021) p. 72