Locomotive Services Limited

Locomotive Services Limited
	D1935 moving 34046 Braunton to the West Somerset Railway in 2018
Founded	2018
Headquarters	Crewe
Area served	United Kingdom
Services	Train operating company
Owner	Jeremy Hosking
Website	www.lsltoc.co.uk

Locomotive Services Limited (LSL)[1] is a train operating company in England. The company operates rail tours using heritage steam and diesel locomotives with support from associated companies and trusts.

History

In August 2017, LSL was granted an operating licence by the Office of Rail & Road allowing it to operate mainline trains in the United Kingdom.[2] Based at Crewe Diesel TMD, it is owned by Jeremy Hosking, It operated its first tour from Crewe to Kingussie in March 2018.[3]

It built up a fleet of Class 08s, 37s and 47s, mainly acquired from Direct Rail Services.[4] In December 2017, it purchased two Class 55s: D9000 ROYAL SCOTS GREY and D9016 GORDON HIGHLANDER[5][6]. The former is being restored at LSLs Crewe depot, whilst the latter has been cosmetically restored and transferred to the company's Margate facility.

In August 2018, preserved Class 40 40 013 ANDANIA joined LSL on a three-year lease whilst, in 2020, a Class 86, a Class 87, two Class 90s and an InterCity 125 set were purchased [7].

Related companies, brands, and trusts

Hosking formed Locomotive Services Ltd under RSLGT, a company dedicated to the maintenance and operation of steam locomotives owned by the trust, and also a number of other engines owned by Hosking. The company initially operated from a main base at Southall Railway Centre and also a summer outpost at Bristol Barton Hill.

LNWR Heritage Ltd

In 2013, RSLGT acquired LNWR Heritage Ltd, a company specialising in the overhaul and restoration of steam locomotives, from Pete Waterman. Subsequently, merged into LSL in 2015, RSLGT came to an agreement with Network Rail to lease the former Crewe TMD close to LNWR Heritage's former base, which resultantly became LSL's main base. Having previously had locomotive overhauls undertaken by various companies across the UK, investment in Crewe TMD allows LSL to fully restore and maintain RSLGT's locomotive and coaching stock.

Locomotive Diesels Ltd

Already formed under LSL to handle operations and maintenance of RSLGT's stock of Class 47 locomotives, which were purchased to assist and move both steam locomotives and coaching stock around the UK network, the division took more prominence after Hosking agreed to acquired two Class 55 Deltic locomotives (D9000 and D9016) in November 2017.[8] In January 2018, LSL announced that they had taken out a three-year loan agreement on a Class 40 locomotive D213 Andania to operate on the mainline in the later half of 2018.[9]

Locomotive Storage Ltd

After acquiring the former Hornby factory in Margate, Kent, the Trust formed Locomotive Storage Ltd, to enable safe and weather-secure storage of locomotives awaiting overhaul, away from the busy main site at Crewe. After refurbishment and the installation of seven tracks (the site is only accessible by road), the first locomotive arrived on a low-loader on 1 June 2018, former LNER Class A4 4464 Bittern.[10]

Train operating company

In August 2017, the associated company Locomotive Services (TOC) Ltd obtained the required certifications, license and agreements to become a UK train operating company (TOC) enabling the company to operate trains on the mainline network.[11] The first tour was operated from Crewe to Kingussie in March 2018.[3] It subsequently created the associated company Saphos Trains which runs tours and excursions, starting and ending mainly at present from Crewe railway station. Two Class 90s and an InterCity 125 set were purchased from Porterbrook and will join LSL once no longer required by Abellio Greater Anglia and LNER.[5]

Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust

The Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust owns several locomotives that are now available to be operated by LSL.

Fleet

The Crewe-based fleet of engines vary from steam locomotives to heritage diesel locomotives and from the more modern diesel locomotives to electric locomotives. Not all of the engines listed are owned by Locomotive Services Ltd, as they are under a loan agreement to operate with the company and others are not yet owned by LSL, but are intended to be acquired in the not too distant future.

The site is also expected to become the future home of locomotive sets including BR Class 43 and BR Class 91, which will come with their own Mk3/Mk4 coaches.

Steam locomotives

Not all steam locomotives listed below are owned by RSLGT/LSL, as some are operating with LSL under an agreement. Not all are also mainline certified so are restricted to 25mph on heritage railways, mainline permitted speed listed below.

Number	Name	Class	Livery	Owner	Tops No	Max Speed	Air Brk's	Location	Present Status	Mainline Certified	Notes
4270		GWR 4200 Class 2-8-0	GWR Lined Green	Jeremy Hosking	N/A	25 mph (50 mph)	No	Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway	Operational	No
5029	Nunney Castle	GWR "Castle" 4-6-0	N/A	Jeremy Hosking	98728	75 mph	Yes	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Awaiting Overhaul	No, to be certified	Overhaul to commence on completion of 60532 Blue Peter
6024	King Edward I	GWR "King" 4-6-0	BR Green, Late Crest (on completion)	Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust	98824	75 mph	Yes	Minehead	Under Overhaul	No, to be certified	Return to service anticipated for late 2020. Maintained and operated by 6024 Preservation Society.
6960	Raveningham Hall	GWR Modified Hall 4-6-0	GWR Lined Green	Jeremy Hosking	98560	25 mph (60 mph)	No	Severn Valley Railway	Operational	No	Now based at Severn Valley Railway, due to weight restrictions at usual West Somerset Railway base.
34046	Braunton	SR "West Country" 4-6-2	BR Green, Late Crest	Jeremy Hosking	98746	75 mph	Yes	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Operational	Yes
35022	Holland America Line	SR "Merchant Navy" 4-6-2	N/A	Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust	98822	75 mph	N/A	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Stored	No	Awaiting restoration from scrapyard condition.
35027	Port Line	SR "Merchant Navy" 4-6-2	BR Green, Late Crest	Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust	98827	75 mph	N/A	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Stored	No	Awaiting major overhaul. To be fitted with boiler from 35022.
45231	The Sherwood Forester	LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0	BR Black, Late Crest	Jeremy Hosking	98531	60 mph	Yes	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Operational	Yes
46100	Royal Scot	LMS "Royal Scot" 4-6-0	BR Green, Early Emblem	Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust	98702	75 mph	Yes	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Operational	Yes
60007	Sir Nigel Gresley	LNER A4 4-6-2	BR Blue (on completion)	Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust	98898	75 mph	No (I/H)	York NRM	Under Overhaul	No, to be certified	On ten-year partnership with SNGLT.[12]
60019	Bittern	LNER A4 4-6-2	LNER Garter Blue	Jeremy Hosking	98819	75 mph	Yes	LSL Margate	Static Display	No	Currently stored at Margate.
60532	Blue Peter	LNER A2 4-6-2	N/A	Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust	98832	75 mph	I/H	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Under Overhaul	No, to be certified
70000	Britannia	BR Standard Class 7 4-6-2	BR Green, Late Crest	Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust	98700	75 mph	Yes	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Operational	Yes
92212		BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0	BR Black, Late Crest	Jeremy Hosking	N/A	25 mph (50 mph)	No	Mid-Hants Railway	Under Overhaul	No	Not allowed on mainline due to flangeless centre wheels. Withdrawn for 10 Year overhaul in late 2019.

Diesel locomotives

Not all diesel locomotives listed below are owned by RSLGT/LSL as some are on loan to the company for use on railtours.

Bold = Current number

Class	Pre-TOPS Number	TOPS Number	Name	Livery	Current location	Current status
Class 08	D3598	08483	Bungle	BR Black	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Operational. Used as a pilot at the LNWR Heritage site.
Class 08	D3905	08737		BR Green	LSL Southall	Operational. Used as a pilot at Southall.
Class 08	D3948	08780	Zippy		LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Operational. Used as a pilot at the LNWR Heritage site.
Class 20	D8096	20096			Barrow Hill	Operational, mainline registered
Class 20	D8107	20107			LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Operational, mainline registered
Class 37	D6890	37190		BR Blue	Severn Valley Railway	Operational.
Class 37	D6817	37521		BR Green	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Operational, mainline registered
Class 37	D6851	37667		BR Green	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Operational, mainline registered
Class 37	D6905	37688	Great Rocks	Trainload Construction grey	Barrow Hill	Operational. On long-term hire from D05 Preservation Ltd.[13]
Class 40	D213	40013	Andania	BR Green	Barrow Hill	Operational, mainline registered. After being located at Barrow Hill Engine Shed, the engine was moved to Crewe Diesel Depot in July 2018 for fitment of AWS, TPWS, On-Train Monitoring Recorder and GSM-R.[14] On three-year loan to LSL from 2018.
Class 43	-	43046	-	To be repainted into Blue Pullman livery	Eastleigh Works	Operational, mainline registered. Acquired from East Midlands Railway in 2020 following their withdrawal from service.
Class 43		43055
Class 43		43083
Class 45	D67	45118	The Royal Artilleryman	BR Blue	Barrow Hill	Stored. Currently located at Barrow Hill awaiting an overhaul, recently acquired by RSLGT for use on railtours. Fitment of AWS, TPWS, On-Train Monitoring Recorder and GSM-R required before it can work on the mainline once again.
Class 47	D1944	47501	Craftsman	BR Green	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Operational, mainline registered.
Class 47	D1973	47593	Galloway Princess	BR Large Logo Blue
Class 47	D1948	47712	Lady Diana Spencer	BR Scotrail Blue
Class 47	D1935	47805	Roger Hosking MA 1925 - 2013	BR Green
Class 47	D1924	47810	Crewe Diesel Depot	BR Green
Class 47	D1719	47811		Freightliner green	Basford Hall, Crewe	Stored, spares donor
Class 47	D1650	47816		Freightliner green	Basford Hall, Crewe	Stored, spares donor
Class 47	D1726	47841	The Institution of Mechanical Engineers	BR Inter-City	LSL Margate	Static Display
Class 47	D1733	47853		BR Blue	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Operational, mainline registered.
Class 55	D9016	55016	Gordon Highlander	BR Green	LSL Margate	Static Display. Recently acquired from former owners alongside 55022 for use on mainline railtours.[15] Select parts on loco (traction motors, engine, etc) were taken off 55016 to be used on 55022 to return the engine to service. Following a cosmetic overhaul the engine was moved to LSL's museum in Margate where it will be placed on display awaiting its turn in the overhaul queue.
Class 55	D9000	55022	Royal Scots Grey	BR Blue	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Under Repair, mainline registered. Recently acquired from former owners alongside 55016 for use on mainline railtours.
Class 60	-	60081	Bleaklow Hill	-	-	Purchased for display at Margate. Will undergo a cosmetic restoration before being placed on display. Will be overhauled at a later date for use on future LSL run railtours.
Class 73	E6001	73001		BR Blue	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Purchased from the Dean Forest Railway in 2019 for a potential return to mainline service.
Class 121	55034	121034		BR Green	LNWR Heritage, Crewe	Operational. Acquired from Chiltern Railways following withdrawal from service.
Class 141	-	141108		BR Blue & Grey	Eastleigh Works	Purchased for display at Margate[16]. The unit is currently stored awaiting a cosmetic restoration prior to its transfer to Margate.

Electric locomotives