68030
Converted from a Matisa ballast consolidator, this machine spent its later years in Scotland as an inspection trolley.
The machine was initially built by Matisa in 1971 as D8 005 / DX 72104 and was also allocated DB 965369 although it is doubtful it ever carried this number. Conversion took place at Kilmarnock workshops between 1977 and 1979 along with 68028 and 68029 (and 68031 later in 1981.) Some other conversions took place in 1980 at Newton Heath and these were numbered 68025-7.
DX 68030 spent its first years as an inspection trolley on the Tay Bridge with sister machine DX 68031.
By 1984 it had moved to the West Highland Line - allocated to Crianlarich with DX 68028. At the same time DX 68025 was based at MOD Longtown whilst DX 68026 & DX 68027 were based at Newtown in Wales. DX 68029 was also based on the West Highland Line at Spean Bridge while DX 68031 had migrated north to spend time allocated to Georgemas Jcn.
By 1986 the fleet of conversions was looking decidedly forlorn with most stored out of use. Our machine was officially out of use at Spean Bridge although it is not known how long it stayed there in that state. DX 68028 & DX 68029 were out of use at Crianlarich while DX 68026 & DX 68027 were out of use at Newtown and DX 68031 was out of use at Georgemas Jcn. DX 68025 remained at MOD Longtown and was presumably still used at this point.
1988 saw a change in fortunes - our machine now allocated to Dalmally on the Oban branch and presumably used again. However DX 68025 was out of use at Carlisle Kingmoor yard and DX 68028 & DX 68029 were stored back at Kilmarnock out of use. DX 68026 was sold from Newtown to the Mid Hants Railway in May 1986. DX 68027 was not so lucky - being scrapped at Newtown at the same time. DX 68031 was back at Dundee Tay Bridge.
By the early 1990s DX 68030 had reached Slateford OTPD in Edinburgh and spent some more time out of use. DX 68031 was still holding on at the Tay Bridge but DX 68028 and DX 68029 were scrapped on site at Kilmarnock in May 1988.
Following this DX 68030 had a brief reprieve when it was allocated to the Stranraer area. However by the mid 1990s it was stored out of use where it stayed inside the shed at Stranraer Town yard until 2004 when it was rescued by the OTPPG! Sadly by this point it had been robbed of some key components and also damaged by the local youth!
DX 68031 was scrapped at MCMetals in Glasgow in April 1999 while the remains of DX 68026 were scrapped at the Mid Hants Railway in 1994. This of course means that our machine is the sole survivor from this batch of conversions and therefore unique in the UK - if not the world!
If anyone can fill in any gaps in the history of any of these vehicles please let us know! Photos would also be welcome to accompany the shots in our gallery!
A lot of the information above is gleaned from the various Platform 5 / SCT Publishing OTP books so we are very grateful to the publishers.