DRS Mk2 Coaches and the Nuclear Escort role

[Iskra]

I’m looking for some information regarding DRS Mk2 coaches. When were the DRS liveried ones first introduced, where were they sourced and did they wear any other livery before being repainted into DRS Compass livery?

I’m mainly interested in the DRS coaches that have been used to escort sensitive nuclear materials on the network, rather than those in passenger use. Does anyone know when DRS first operated these and have they always been done with DRS compass Mk2’s?

Thanks for any information

 

[Journeyman]

You do realise there's a huge amount of secrecy around this stuff, don't you? If anyone knows anything, they certainly won't be allowed to discuss it here, and encouraging discussion of sensitive topics in a public forum isn't very sensible.

 

[Iskra]

You do realise there's a huge amount of secrecy around this stuff, don't you? If anyone knows anything, they certainly won't be allowed to discuss it here, and encouraging discussion of sensitive topics in a public forum isn't very sensible.

I’m asking about the history of the coaches, not any security protocol.

 

[Journeyman]

I’m asking about the history of the coaches, not any security protocol.

Fair enough, I just think there's a danger with subjects like these that you'll encourage someone to say far too much, and they'll get into big trouble.

 

[yorkie]

Fair enough, I just think there's a danger with subjects like these that you'll encourage someone to say far too much, and they'll get into big trouble.

We'll cross that bridge if/when we come to it.

If you see anything that causes concern, simply click the report button. Let us know what part of the post is causing concern and provide as much detail as possible. When reporting any post, please make no mention of the post concerned on the forum.

The same principle applies for anything that is causing concern on the forum, thanks

 

[pdeaves]

did they wear any other livery before being repainted into DRS Compass livery?

For clarity, I assume you mean once under DRS's management. They would have carried all sorts of liveries before then! Or, did you have some other specific timescale in mind?

 

[Iskra]

For clarity, I assume you mean once under DRS's management. They would have carried all sorts of liveries before then! Or, did you have some other specific timescale in mind?

I’m looking for where they were bought from, when and what liveries they have worn in service with DRS please

 

[LowLevel]

Certainly 9419 came out of preservation at the Churnet Valley towards the end of the 2000s. Both it and 9428 had an overhaul and repaint into the current livery at Eastleigh Works in 2013.

 

[Iskra]

Certainly 9419 came out of preservation at the Churnet Valley towards the end of the 2000s. Both it and 9428 had an overhaul and repaint into the current livery at Eastleigh Works in 2013.

Thank you very much for the information.

Do you know what rolling stock was used in this role in the 1999-2004 period?

 

[randyrippley]

Thank you very much for the information.

Do you know what rolling stock was used in this role in the 1999-2004 period?

All the nuclear trains I saw back then were top and tailed with locos, with non-driving staff in the spare cabs. Never saw a coach in use.
Typically a 37 or 2x20 at each end, with barrier flat wagons between the locos and the flasks, and between flasks, presumably to spread weight.
However they were virtually all going to Heysham, longer routes may have been different

 

[Iskra]

All the nuclear trains I saw back then were top and tailed with locos, with non-driving staff in the spare cabs. Never saw a coach in use.
Typically a 37 or 2x20 at each end, with barrier flat wagons between the locos and the flasks, and between flasks, presumably to spread weight.
However they were virtually all going to Heysham, longer routes may have been different

So those trains are low-level nuclear waste and don’t require an escort. The trains I’m talking about are a lot more ‘sensitive,’ hence why passenger carriages are included as they probably contain the Ministry of Defence Police. These trains tend to run at quiet times and I don’t think the paths are public. However, there are videos of them on YouTube...

 

[randyrippley]

So those trains are low-level nuclear waste and don’t require an escort. The trains I’m talking about are a lot more ‘sensitive,’ hence why passenger carriages are included as they probably contain the Ministry of Defence Police. These trains tend to run at quiet times and I don’t think the paths are public. However, there are videos of them on YouTube...

OK, I think you're going down a blind alley.
I'm not going to explain why.

 

[dubscottie]

Before DRS was properly on the go, EWS did a lot of nuclear trains using ex LMS built or BR observation coaches.

I once lived near a place that had regular nuclear trains and the escort coaches were very varied over the years.

 

[Iskra]

Before DRS was properly on the go, EWS did a lot of nuclear trains using ex LMS built or BR observation coaches.

I once lived near a place that had regular nuclear trains and the escort coaches were very varied over the years.

Excellent information, thank you

 

[Dr_Paul]

So those trains are low-level nuclear waste and don’t require an escort. The trains I’m talking about are a lot more ‘sensitive,’ hence why passenger carriages are included as they probably contain the Ministry of Defence Police. These trains tend to run at quiet times and I don’t think the paths are public. However, there are videos of them on YouTube...

That reminds me of the strange convoys of unmarked, blue-painted lorries with low rounded trailers that used to drive at considerable speed, with a police escort, down the A316 towards the M3, some time back. All other traffic was halted whilst they sped through red traffic lights. I saw them a few times at the big roundabout in Richmond. Of course, such a peculiar spectacle attracted attention and all sorts of lurid rumours spread about them, the favourite being that they were carrying munitions for the navy or air-force. Then they finished as suddenly as they had started. Had they been normal vehicles driving normally, nobody would have taken the slightest interest in them...

 

[QueensCurve]

That reminds me of the strange convoys of unmarked, blue-painted lorries with low rounded trailers that used to drive at considerable speed, with a police escort, down the A316 towards the M3, some time back. All other traffic was halted whilst they sped through red traffic lights. I saw them a few times at the big roundabout in Richmond. Of course, such a peculiar spectacle attracted attention and all sorts of lurid rumours spread about them, the favourite being that they were carrying munitions for the navy or air-force. Then they finished as suddenly as they had started. Had they been normal vehicles driving normally, nobody would have taken the slightest interest in them...

Did they looks like a plain-clothes Argos Delivery wagon?

 

[Dr_Paul]

Did they looks like a plain-clothes Argos Delivery wagon?

No, they were a tug with a separate trailer with a rounded-cornered body about three or four feet high. They came down from Kew Bridge, presumably off the North Circular Road or maybe the A4 or M4, then off down the A316.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

No, they were a tug with a separate trailer with a rounded-cornered body about three or four feet high. They came down from Kew Bridge, presumably off the North Circular Road or maybe the A4 or M4, then off down the A316.

I don't think it is all that secret what these, or similar, road journeys are/were! The relevant protestors seemed to find out easily enough (even in the days before mobile phones, never mind smartphones), and I'm sure your favourite online search facility will bring up historic dates, times and pictures, plus numbers of arrests.

I have previously read articles in the press (railway or national newspapers) about the trains, their purpose, and their travelling companions.

 

[172007]

Think the poster is talking about KUA wagons, the two for ministry of defence vehicles and their escort coaches.

Revolition Trains having made an N gauge model last year and have stacks if information on these including examples of formations with the escort coaches etc. Rmweb and N gauge forum also have plenty of photos of these workings and also details of which escort vehicles have been used and when.

All public domain information.

KUA Archives - Revolution Trains

www.revolutiontrains.com

 

[Iskra]

Think the poster is talking about KUA wagons, the two for ministry of defence vehicles and their escort coaches.

Revolition Trains having made an N gauge model last year and have stacks if information on these including examples of formations with the escort coaches etc. Rmweb and N gauge forum also have plenty of photos of these workings and also details of which escort vehicles have been used and when.

All public domain information.

KUA Archives - Revolution Trains

www.revolutiontrains.com

Excellent, thank you that answers all of my questions

 

[Peter Mugridge]

That reminds me of the strange convoys of unmarked, blue-painted lorries with low rounded trailers that used to drive at considerable speed, with a police escort, down the A316 towards the M3, some time back. All other traffic was halted whilst they sped through red traffic lights. I saw them a few times at the big roundabout in Richmond. Of course, such a peculiar spectacle attracted attention and all sorts of lurid rumours spread about them, the favourite being that they were carrying munitions for the navy or air-force. Then they finished as suddenly as they had started. Had they been normal vehicles driving normally, nobody would have taken the slightest interest in them...

That sounds very much like the Greenham Common cruise missile convoys. My school was adjacent to the A34 about three miles north of Newbury and we would often see these convoys when they went out on excercise.

At the risk of going off topic, what year(s) were you seeing these? Did the timescale match the deployment at Greenham Common?