New loco hire company?

***New company EuroPhoenix in deal to buy 23 cl86 electric locos from HSBC for work in Europe and the UK***

View the EuroPhoenix website here

Scarborough Spa Distress

Good news for passengers aboard today's Cromwell hauled 'Scarborough Spa Express'.

There will be additional time to savour the delights of Yorkshire's premier seaside resort whilst train operator, West Coast Railway, works out how to rerail coach A, the leading bogie of which is currently sitting "in the dirt".

Here's hoping there are no photographers from Steam Railway about...

UPDATE 16:45: NR on site but progress slow due, in part, to the appalling weather.

The Fact Compiler understands that the thunderbird loco normally stabled at York was returned to Carnforth only this morning...

On and on!

A Railway Eye reader in Birmingham has leapt to the defence of London Midland following yesterdays piece about the new "ON" branding applied to LM's fleet:

"The ON is for Network West Midlands the crap new name for Centro. We are subjected to this brand everywhere and no-one really gets it!

"I guess that LM have little option but to put this on the commuter stock in the nation's second city."

To see further examples of Brummie burghers back of fag-packet design click here.

The Fact Compiler wonders how much this "roundel-light" design has cost rate-payers.