Recent content by Dave Bower

I spent many years working on the test trains out of the RTC, wish I'd taken more pics, but there's some in my Flickr album:- https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/albums/72157700566416475 Also wrote about 20 years experience of testing in 'Rail Vehicle Testing' book.

WOW ! - This weekend we (the Quorn Wagon & Wagon group) attended the 2020 HRA Annual Awards dinner in Birmingham. We were already aware we had been awarded the Mortons Media (Rail Express Magazine) Modern traction Award, and that we had been nominated for two others. We collected our first...

In addition to the shortlisting for the Morgan Award for Preservation (#32), Test Car 2 has been awarded the 2020 Mortons Media (Rail Express) Modern Traction Award. This will be presented at the 2020 Heritage Railway Associations Awards dinner in February. :) :)...

From all of us at the Quorn Wagon & Wagon Group, it gives us great pleasure to announce we have been nominated for not one but two Heritage Railway Association awards. Test Car 2 has been shortlisted for the 2020 Morgan Award for Preservation and our website for the 2020 Communications Award...

Back in July the Quorn Wagon & Wagon group at the GCR obtained two of the six fibreglass BD containers built by Mickleover Transport in 1959. Over the last few months despite the weather, we've restored the first one along with a container flat wagon. Half way there, but seeing one finished...

43159 record run = https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/47597887271 A few more photos in my album - https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/albums/72157708134998284

For anyone who's been following the progress this year with Test Car 2 at the Great Central Railway, take a look at the December issue of Rail Express magazine that has a four-page article covering this unique coach. https://www.railexpress.co.uk/category/latest-issue/

The coach which will be normally be stabled at Quorn on static display, but will be available for the GCR to operate as a spare brake coach. It will be opened to the public during special events and available for photo charters. We are also hoping to be able to operate in trains formed as...

UPDATE Test Car 2 (ADB975397) resplendent in it's 1980s DM&EE livery, drew a lot of attention during the recent GCR Diesel Gala; thanks to all who visited and took an interest in this special piece of railway history. The internal set-up is preserved as the test coach, the layout hasn't changed...

I was doing some digging this afternoon and found this, was this the coach? http://www.departmentals.com/search.php?searchValue=977469&fs=1

Here's our latest update from the Quorn Wagon & Wagon group:- https://quornwagonandwagon.co.uk/news-and-updates/ All is in place for our first public opening for Test Car 2. 6th, 7th and 8th September at Quorn and Woodhouse station behind the signal box...

Hi, departmentals webpages suggest it was scrapped in 1991, http://www.departmentals.com/departmental/975089 http://www.departmentals.com/departmental/975090 As you say it's duties were replaced by the Class 150 TRU, which had newer technology equipment.

Hi Ian, thanks for the info, do you know if there are any plans for the coach in the future ? Dave

Yes, the coach was a little un-cared for, it had stood at Old Dalby for 5 years, then after transfer to GCR it stood at Rothley for another 2 (as seen here in 2018), https://www.flickr.com/photos/82085846@N02/48654471588 There's a lot more pics of the coach during it's life in my Flickr album...

Hi Peter, thanks for your kind comments, yes I'm part of the Quorn Wagon group that has been restoring TC2, I also worked on the coach for many years in the 1980s & 90s at the RTC doing slip/brake testing; so this has been a fantastic time for me re-creating a unique piece of railway history...