Railway Herald
Pirdop, Bulgaria on 14th October 2017. A busy scene as shunting manoeuvres are performed to form the first of two early evening departures of Sulphuric Acid trains to Razdelna. In this view three Class 87's are visible, 87029 already attached to the tanks while a Romanian built Class 40 is edged into position to couple up and ultimately head the train. In the shunting consist, still wearing it's former Network Southeast livery is 87012 which eventually will be attached to the tanks just visible in the background which will form the second Razdelna departure which will also be headed by a Class 40. Copper ore is imported for processing at the German owned AURUBIS plant at Pirdop. A by-product of the copper extraction process is sulphuric acid which in turn is shipped back out to Razdelna. A third British exported Class 87 No. 87028 is also visible stabled in the far left distance.
Stephen Ginn
