Nudear waste has been a staple rail traffic for decades. SIMON BENDALL examines operation under Direct Rail Services following the release of Accurascale’s superb ’OO’ gauge wagons.
Above: On a glorious June 4, 2013, the DRS pair of 20305 Gresty Bridge and 20309 roll through St Bees top-and-tailing the 6Z44 Workington Docks to Sellafield. This is formed of five PFA wagons, three of which are carrying low level waste containers of the TC01 or 2910 half-height design. With Accurascale already producing the wagons and containers, the arrival of Bachmann’s Class 20/3 around the end of this year will allow the entire formation to be modelled in ‘OO’ gauge. These containers were synonymous with the Drigg trip workings and also saw haulage by DRS Class 33s, 37s, 47s, 57s and 66s. Gordon Edgar.
THE 1990s SAW THE transport of low-level nuclear waste transformed by the introduction of containers, which were introduced by Direct Rail Services (DRS). This requirement was largely fulfilled by surplus Cawoods PFAs, which have gone on to be an important part of the company’s fleet to this day.
As the 1990s drew to a close, changes were afoot with the transport of nuclear waste to Sellafield. DRS had taken over an initial batch of workings o…
