MOST of the 10 Class 88 electro-diesels for Direct Rail Services (DRS) have now been completed at Stadler’s Valencia plant and are starting to receive their final livery and nameplates.
In a move likely to find favour with enthusiasts, several of the fleet carry names previously applied to BR ‘EM1’ and ‘EM2’ Woodhead Route electrics in the 1950s. Of those already treated, No. 88002 is named Prometheus (‘EM1′ No. E26055), while Nos. 88003-005 and 88008 are Genesis, Pandora, Minerva and Ariadne, respectively.
The three latter names were carried by ‘EM2′ Co-Cos Nos. E27006, E27005 and E27001 until their sale to Netherlands Railways in 1968.
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DRS was unable to confirm the names of the remaining four locomotives when The RM enquired in February. The four other possible ‘EM2’ names are Electra (E27000), Aurora (E27002), Diana (E27003) and Juno (E27004).
Read more in the March issue of The RM – out now!
