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Freightliner to use Class 73 for shunting?

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Humberside

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From TheRailwayCentre

Reports are that Class 73 electro-diesel No. 73133 from the Pontypool & Blaenavon is to move to Freightliner Taunton Fairwater Yard next week for shunting duties. Hopefully they know that the ED on diesel power with only 600hp will have a job in shifting the HOBS or its sections!
 
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Turbostar

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What's the point in putting in the yard a large loco that is gonna be under utilised, when all it's being used for is shunting? Hence using the 73. Anyway, 73133 arrived last night in Fairwater Yard (19/1) by low loader. See www.tauntontrains.co.uk for further details.

Mart
 

theblackwatch

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On diesel, a 73 is basically just a big shunter at 600hp. The engine in one is actually the same as a 'Thumper' power unit. They don't half stagger on diesel - I had a pair from Crewe to Chester via Middlewich several years ago, and it seemed to take for ever...as did a run along the North Wales Coast to Llandudno Junction on another occasion!
 

Hentis

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Perhaps the West Somerset Railway was charging more to hire their shunter than the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway's Class 73?

Besides I think it would look nice with Freightliner Cabside Branding!!!

The point at the end of the day is that its something different, would it be getting this amount of coverage if it were just a Gronk in the yard? Possibly not.

With all the cull of loco powered passenger services just 7 Class of locomotive available for various freight trains there is not a lot to be picky about. In BR Days you could have had any number of loco shutning in there. So a 73 is different and something to be grateful for that its not a plain old Gronk!!!
The other thing it makes the news, whether it be Railway Herald Rail Express, Railways Illustrated WNXX.com or Rail.

Hentis

Hentis
 

southy39

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Lanarkshire, Scotland
has anyone considered the fact that the loco was being under utilised on the railway it was based.. maybe its owner can make more money hiring it to freightliner for use in a freight yard so freightliner can use the 66's or 57's on a revenue earning train rather than shunting the Network rail HBOS when they have the loco in place rather than having the stock ready.

remember its better the loco is being utilised and earnign its keep or earning money for an overhaul or maybe a return to the mainline... than sitting dumped out of use.
 
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