silver bullets and speedlink

[bluedepot]

Hi

Were silver bullets often in mixed speedlink trains?

If yes which variant would be best for mid 80s speedlink train?

Cheers

Tim

[Calnefoxile]

Tim,

I can answer a very definite yes, Silver Bullets were used in Speedlink trains.

But I have no idea of type, I didn't realise there were different types.

Cheers

Neal.

[bluedepot]

cheers neal!

I had seen model layout with them running in mixed speedlink rakes, but never in real life or in a video or book.

anyway cheers, I will buy some!


tim

[37058]

First of all Tim, be careful what era you are modelling if you are wanting to use the Dapol Silver Bullets, as they were built in the early 90s, a date that sticks in my head is 1993 that they entered service, but not 100% on that one.

But for future reference, if you want to model later, In the mid 90s they were called 'Connectrail' or 'Enterprise' as the Speedlink brand was dropped in the early 90s just before the freight sector was privatised in 1994 (The 3 being later known as Loadhaul, Transrail and Mainline) and a couple of services I remember in the Midlands were 6M79 Mossend - Bescot and 6S75 Sheerness - Mossend which had a mix of Cargowagons, VGA vans, china clay (silver bullets) steel etc. There was also a 6O12 Mossend - Eastleigh which had OTA log wagons and BP chemical tanks. I just quickly flicked through my Freightmaster book for the last train (6O12) Quidhampton (Hampshire) was also another destination for clay Speedlink / Enterprise trains.

Hope this is of help to you Tim

Cheers, Anthony

[37058]

I stand corrected, 1989 they first entered traffic.

Cheers, Anthony

[PostModN66]

Doesn't answer the original question, but for those interested in such things here are a couple of examples of them in Enterprise trains in 2009.

See 0:35 and 1:20


Autumn Action - Berko Sept 2009

Cheers  Jon 

[scottishlocos]

Tim

Silver bullets were often seen in mixed trains on the West Highland line and could be seen with cargowagons or Frieoghtliner flats conveying reels of paper the clay slurry the bullets carry is used in paper making also they could be with flats conveying aluminium ingots from the smelter at Fort William.

In addition I am sure they were used in the Aberdeen area for papermills there

Regards

Dave

[SD35]

I don't think I ever saw them individually pre-privatisation in mixed loads although that's not to say they didn't.  I only ever saw them in block on the Burngullow - Irvine trains:

Please excuse the poor scans.

[red_death]

There have been at least 3 versions of silver bullet.

I think SD35s shot shows the first type.
The second ones are the ones Dapol have done.
The third type are the ones currently in use.

Cheers, Mike