Railway Herald
Brush Class 31/1 diesel electric No. 31106 is pictured stabled at Gloucester Horton Road MPD on 14th June 1985. New from Loughborough as No. D5524 in March 1959 and initially allocated to Stratford MPD (30A), it was renumbered under TOPS in 1973 and withdrawn from service in November 1995. The loco is still in service, now privately owned by Howard Johnston, and has carried the names 'The Blackcountryman' (August 1992-May 1997) and 'Spalding Town' (May 2002-June 2009). Following a period of lease to Fragonset Railways and FM Rail, it is now with RVEL and is in regular use with Network Rail.
Derek Jones
