AMONGST the most impressive items of on-track plant currently in use are the two AFM 2000-RT track finishing machines owned and operated by Swietelsky Babcock Rail. Built in 2006 by Plasser & Theurer as Nos. DR 77001-002, design code ZW 100A, they are triple element units carried on five bogies. Total weight is 150 tonnes and overall length is 47.2 metres; maximum speed is 60mph and they have RA6 route availability.
Two functions are combined in these machines. Firstly ballast regulation, the ability to plough and sweep ballast (aided by an on-board hopper able to carry 18 tonnes of stone), and dynamic track stabilisation. This allows track to be returned to line speed in reduced time following relaying. However the weight, size and cost of the machines has so far stopped other trackwork companies from acquiring them.
■ Six-wheeled wagons were never numerous in either the grouping or post-Nationalisation years, and few made it into the TOPS era, but curiously a new batch of TMV 35 ton six-wheel milk tanks appeared in 1981 when WH Davis (Langwith Junction) refurbished 40 existing vehicles for the Milk Marketing Board as Nos. MMB 42800-839.
All had roller bearings and sloped stainless steel tanks.