Train Truckers Series 2

Train Truckers Zak Bancroft and Nathan Glover are taking on the monumental challenge of hauling a fully restored 1960’s Class 47 diesel engine, known as ‘Basil’ from its home at Crewe Heritage Centre in Cheshire to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway in Derbyshire where it be the star attraction at their forthcoming Gala Festival.

With just 24 hours to complete the move, hauling this 115 ton colossus will be made even harder as the crew are forced to treble their journey to avoid weak bridges on route.  

Challenged with mechanical mishaps and crowded towns along the way, this task will test the metal of these experienced Train Truckers. 

This episode follows truck crews as they transport a £1 million pound battery powered  locomotive that symbolises the very future of railway engines, the CBD 80.

Train Trucker Ian Bagladi, assisted by Luke Beaman, need to haul the CBD80 battery-powered loco 20 miles from the factory in Burton on Trent to the heritage Chasewater Railway in Staffordshire where it will undergo many tests before being handed over to its new owners.

While the journey, mostly on main roads, seems straightforward, navigating the access site without damaging the expensive goliath will be a titanic task, even for the world’s toughest Train Truckers.

Meanwhile Rick Windsor and Harry Dingwall need to haul a class 20 type 1 diesel electric locomotive, number 2-0-1-4-2, the Sir John **Betjeman resplendent in London Metropolitan livery 116 miles north to the North Yorkshire Moors heritage railway line at Pickering.   But the abnormal sized, 70 tonne load means the team won’t be able to travel during rush hour...to add to the pressure the engine must arrive tonight.

At the Severn Valley Railway in Shropshire one of its most loved locomotives, a Great Western Railway ‘Modified Hall’ steam engine and its tender,  is being taken out of service as it needs  a safety inspection. 

Worth over a quarter of a million pounds it needs to be in safe storage while it waits but just one thing stands in the way – two hundred and fifty miles of busy motorways and winding roads.

Heading up this colossal convoy are truck drivers Zak Bancroft and Colin Chisnall  but even before they hit the road a lack of pulling power, and space in the loading yard, will test the metal of these experienced Train Truckers. 

Train Truckers Kevin Norris, Gavin Josephs and new recruit, escort driver Sebastian Randzio are taking on the monumental challenge of hauling a cherished wartime iron workhorse, born in the USA, from its home at the Churnet Valley Railway in Staffordshire 160 miles across country to be the star attraction at a winter extravaganza in Oxfordshire. 

To do so the crew must battle crowded towns, country lanes and the tightest of turns to deliver this valuable 1940’s former American military steam train – designated the S160 – without a scratch. 

At the Crewe Diesel Depot in Cheshire one of the most elegant steam locomotives to grace British railways  - the A4 LNER Pacific Locomotive, Sir Nigel Gresley, has undergone a six year, 1 million pound restoration. 

Fully restored the engine and tender must be hauled to the Severn Valley Railway in Shropshire where it will undergo a series of tests before it can take its place as the star attraction at their upcoming Steam Gala.

Heading up the colossal five vehicle convoy are truck drivers Kevin, Lukas, Jamie, Harry and Seb but with a combined weight of truck and engine of 126 tons the procession can’t travel faster than 30 miles an hour and they must take diversions to avoid bridges that have weight restrictions so the 46 mile journey from Crewe to Bridgnorth will take half a day.   

At the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire heavyweight haulers Zak and Harry and ramp man Dave, are loading a 100 ton Deltic diesel engine, no 19, Royal Highland Fuselier, ahead of a titanic move to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway in Wirksworth, Cheshire. 

Along the 40 mile route the team must trawl the colossal convoy through Derby city before negotiating the notoriously difficult access to the heritage line at Wirksworth, without damaging the engine’s pristine paintwork, in time for a Diesel Gala.

A fully restored Class 37 diesel locomotive, D6700, is set to be the star attraction at a spring diesel Gala but first heavy hauliers Zak, Harry and Dave need to truck the engine through the steep hills and winding roads of the Derbyshire countryside. 

Meanwhile, in Burton on Trent a 175 ton rail crane is destined for a new life in Egypt.  It’s down to the Train Trucking crew, Eric and Chris , to transport this goliath of the rails to the Port of Southampton.   But first the team must use all their experience to load this mega machine and to add to the pressure, the boat departs the following morning. 

Having suffered a massive electrical fault the iconic Deltic number 55009, called Alycidon, has since undergone a half a million pounds restoration over the past 3 years.   Now ready to return to duty the Alycidon has an important appointment at the heritage Great Central Railway in Leicestershire but there’s just one thing standing in the way – over 45 miles of winding roads and treacherous traffic.

Taking on the monumental challenge are heavy hauliers Zak, Harry and Dave but after three sedentary years on rails loading the super long colossus with limited site access will be a titanic task, even for the toughest Train Truckers.