DRS Mark 3s

[43096]

A question back from the mists of time, although I suspect there are some knowledgeable people on here who may know the answer....

As far as I recall it, DRS have had ownership of two tranches of Mark 3s. An initial batch of first class vehicles that were used to form a short-lived "Stobart Pullman" train - around 2007? - and (perhaps?) first class hire vehicles.

There was then a second batch of vehicles they took on later (including 11006/011, 12047/063/065/087/134), around 2013(?).

I'd be interested in confirmation as to which vehicles were involved in each tranche and approximate dates when DRS bought and sold them (I know the sell dates for the final batch). What the intended use was would also be interesting to know!

Thanks in advance!

 

[theblackwatch]

From Rail Express issue 171 (August 2010) under the heading "DRS disposes of its Mk. 3 coaches":

Since its acquisition of a small Mk. 3 fleet in late 2006, the rake has had limited success. The first charter outing occurred on July 7th 2007, when DRS ran a charter from Carlisle to Newcastle and back, hauled by 66405/11, in connection with an Open Day at Kingmoor. Early the following year, it began to see regular service on ‘Stobart Pullman’ railtours, but these came to a sudden end after only six months, when Victa Westlink Rail pulled the plug on running charter trains. Although some occasional further charter work took place, plans to use the set with UK Railtours under the ‘Ocean Liner Express’ name came to nothing, although some vehicles did receive branding for this operation. More recently, the coaches have seen use on the ‘Floodex’ services between Workington and Maryport.

The coaches (10237, 11013/19/28/30/33/44/46/54) were all sold to DB Regio. 11013/33 had previously been Cotswold Rail vehicles, being sold to DRS in early 2008. Am pretty sure the others from this first batch were purchased direct from Porterbrook.

I have the second batch as having been purchased around March 2013. I can recall being told they would be overhauled if there was a business case for it. Clearly there never was!

 

[43096]

From Rail Express issue 171 (August 2010) under the heading "DRS disposes of its Mk. 3 coaches":



The coaches (10237, 11013/19/28/30/33/44/46/54) were all sold to DB Regio. 11013/33 had previously been Cotswold Rail vehicles, being sold to DRS in early 2008. Am pretty sure the others from this first batch were purchased direct from Porterbrook.

I have the second batch as having been purchased around March 2013. I can recall being told they would be overhauled if there was a business case for it. Clearly there never was!

Splendid, thank you for that!

Thought you might be the man with the gen!

 

[43096]

Interesting that the second batch of vehicles are all from those originally earmarked to go to National Express East Coast when they took over the franchise. Presume they were sold by Porterbrook once they had sorted out the contractual stuff with National Express.

 

[fgwrich]

Interesting that the second batch of vehicles are all from those originally earmarked to go to National Express East Coast when they took over the franchise. Presume they were sold by Porterbrook once they had sorted out the contractual stuff with National Express.

I remember that very story. They were of course due to be reliveried into NXEC livery and to be operated as part of a 90+Mk3+DVT rake in a very similar fashion to Virgin's Pretendolino rake. However, the then ex FGW Adelante's appeared to provide a more lucrative option for NXEC at the time with those launching NXEC's Lincoln services. For reasons unknown - Possibly due to the failure of the franchise, none of this came to fruition with the 180s ending up being subleased to Northern Rail.

I believe some of the ex FOs are now operating as TSOs with Arriva Trains Wales.

 

[43096]

I remember that very story. They were of course due to be reliveried into NXEC livery and to be operated as part of a 90+Mk3+DVT rake in a very similar fashion to Virgin's Pretendolino rake. However, the then ex FGW Adelante's appeared to provide a more lucrative option for NXEC at the time with those launching NXEC's Lincoln services. For reasons unknown - Possibly due to the failure of the franchise, none of this came to fruition with the 180s ending up being subleased to Northern Rail.

I believe some of the ex FOs are now operating as TSOs with Arriva Trains Wales.

The vehicles earmarked for (and indeed leased to) NXEC were:
RFM: 10231/240/253/259
FO: 11006/007/011/018/026/040
TSO: 12008/017/022/029/036/045/047/054/059/063/065/083/087/092/094/095/101/124/134/139/142/144/156/158/160/163
DVT: 82111/124/125/140

Of the FOs, I have 11006/011 as being sold to DRS (as above), 11007/018 in the Pretendolino (now with TPE), 11026 scrapped and 11040 sold to Arriva and converted to 12605.

Hopefully I have that right, "The Black Watch" is the expert on this subject!