Looking Good for Transmart Trains

The company with a fleet of half century old Class 73s has a bright outlook and a long main line future.

Transmart Trains

Transmart Trains, formerly the Class 73 Locomotive Preservation Company, is looking forward to the new year under the direction of John and Oliver Buxton.

The company, who lease main line capable Class 73 locomotives, have recently welcomed back to service 73133, which has been overhauled by Joe Guisippi and Jim French at Selhurst Depot, in South London.

First Time to Whitby!

Last year was particularly interesting, not least because of 73133 returning to the rails, but also because 73136 made history by being the first of its class to run to Whitby, thanks to the North Yorkshire Moors Diesel Gala.

The company has four locomotives in its custody, three owned and one on indefinite lease. 73109, which retains its South West Trains livery, is the first of these. It is fully capable of work on the main line, and has assisted GB Railfreight in some instances. It is based at Stewarts Lane, where it regularly shunts Class 442 units and the Orient Express stock.

Also in the fleet is 73118, which is on indefinite loan from European Passenger Services. It is noted for its rather ugly appearance thanks to the many couplings it is adapted to carry for rescuing Eurostar units, a task it is no longer required to do. It is, mechanically and electrically, in good condition, but requires a repaint.

First to Taunton

73133 is the most interesting. It has worked as a power shunter with the High Output Ballast Cleaner at Fairwater, in Taunton, similar to 73207 at Whitemoor. It was purchased from Booths in 2006, in good condition. It may not have equipment for main line running, but thanks to an exquisite job, and fresh paint, the loco will return to Barry where it will earn revenue for the Barry Tourist Railway. It carries the wonderful green livery of Transmart Trains.

73136 is the final locomotive, which is named “Perseverance”. It is also based at Stewarts Lane, doing equivalent work to 73109. It is possibly the most aesthetically pleasing of the main line capable Class 73s, thanks to its carrying of the imaginative Transmart livery.

The logo for Transmart Trains incorporates aspects of British Rail – the lion is the centre piece, and in Latin reads “VIRES ACQUIRIT EUNDO” or “Gathering Strength as we Go”. Mister Buxton notes that this reflects the outlook of the company.

External Links

• Transmart Trains