Next to the brown Beacon Rail 185 599, 600 and 601 and our Railcolor-185 602, railfreight operator HSL Logistik now also has a golden 185 series locomotive: 185 597.

Beacon Rail 185 series locomotives that were still sporting old Crossrail logos, are loosing them. Meanwhile, 185 590 (image) and 594 have been seen without. An overview of the twelve Beacon Rail locomotives of the TRAXX F140 AC3 type (185.2):

185 590, 594: old Allco livery, no logos
185 591, 592, 593, 597: old Allco livery, old Crossrail logos
185 595, 596 are orange-red with current Crossrail logos
185 599-601 are running for HSL Logistik, these are brown with orange
185 602 is HSL Logistik's 'art locomotive'

We will update if anything more changes. Photo: Theo Stolz

We present our newest design project: HSL Logistik 185 602, design by Railcolor. If you want to learn more about how we can help you improve the visibility of your company, take a look at our design portfolio. You can contact us at hello@railcolordesign.com. Not only do we develop the design, we also promote it through our large network and deliver merchandise.

Today Wolfgang Scheer saved our day. These are the first images of the 185 602. We made this design during the past month and last week it was applied on the locomotive. We hope you like it. Nice images of the locomotive are very welcome in the upload or by mail: contact@railcolordesign.com. If you want to know more about the project take a look here.

HSL Logistik has a new 'choco' TRAXX. This time 185 600-4 from Beacon Rail got a brown livery with the orange HSL striping. In 2014-2016, Maquarie Rail 285 103 was the first TRAXX locomotive in this livery.

Beacon Rail is a leasing company that is rapidly expanding. When talking about locomotives, Beacon's fleet predominantly comprises of mainline diesel locomotives. But there are also twelve electrics, inherited from a time the company was still called Allco Leasing (hence the pinkish livery, which was the corporate color of Allco).

Since their delivery in 2008-2009, these twelve machines were all hired to railfeight operator Crossrail, but this is changing. 185 590-597 are still Crossrail machines, but as of 05.07.2016, the designated 185 599-602 are in service of HSL Logistik from Germany. We share some first shots of these locos and their new operator.

The Crossrail logos and striping on many Beacon Rail 185s are outdated. The freight operator from Switzerland now applies a bright red livery to its fleet with white logos.

So it is no surprise the old style logos are taken off the Beacon Rail TRAXX AC2 locomotives (serie 185 590-597, 599-602) that are getting their R1 overhaul at this moment. The picture shows the 185 602-0 in Krefeld on 23.04.2016. We know also 185 599-8 lost its logos recently. (AS/WS)

On a test run today, after having its R1 overhaul completed in Krefeld: Beacon Rail > Crossrail 185 596. Its new REV-date: 18.11.15. (Lothar Weber)

More information about these trains:

145-CL: locomotives for open access operators Alpha Trains / RBSAF 185.2 Beacon Rail 185.2

Beacon Rail Traxx F140 AC2 (185.2)
Beacon Rail class 66
Beacon Rail Euro4000
Beacon Rail UKlight (class 68)
Beacon Rail UKdual (class 88)

The complete press statement:

London/New York - Pamplona Capital Management LLP (“Pamplona”) is pleased to announce that it has signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Beacon Rail Leasing (“Beacon”), a UK locomotive and rolling stock leasing company from BTMU Capital Corporation, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. The consideration, including commitments for firm future deliveries of locomotives is approximately $450 million.

Headquartered in London with additional offices in Boston and Rotterdam, Beacon’s current portfolio includes 77 locomotives, 632 freight wagons, and 20 passenger train units on lease in the UK, France, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Germany. In addition, Beacon has ordered 15 diesel-electric and 10 dual mode locomotives from Vossloh España, S.A.U. for lease to Direct Rail Services in the UK. These locomotives will be delivered from 2014 through 2016 and will increase Beacon’s locomotive portfolio to 102 units.

Beacon currently serves three of the top freight operators in the UK and has strong customer relationships with other leading locomotive and rolling stock lessees including Germany’s RheinCargo, France’s Europorte and VFLI, and Norway’s CargoNet.

Ted Gaffney, President of Beacon, will continue to lead the company supported by the existing management team.

“Pamplona’s support and capital commitment will provide Beacon Rail with the opportunity to grow its portfolio at a time when the market for purchasing and leasing locomotives and freight wagons is strong. With Pamplona’s support, I am very confident that Beacon Rail can fulfil its strategic mission of being a leading provider of high quality rolling stock to the Pan European operator base.” Gaffney said.

“We are delighted to be acquiring Beacon Rail when the prospects for rail leasing in Europe have positive trends. Operators are increasingly leasing locomotives and rolling stock as the rail transportation market grows, driven by deregulation and a growing focus on efficient alternatives to road transportation,” said Robert Warden, Partner at Pamplona.

Debt financing for the transaction was provided by ING Bank NV. Pamplona’s financial advisers were Evercore Partners LLC, and ING Bank NV. Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, Clifford Chance LLP, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided Pamplona with legal advice.

Beacon was acquired through Pamplona’s Private Equity Fund III. Last month Pamplona acquired, through the same fund, a majority stake in Alvogen, one of the fastest growing generics companies in the pharmaceutical industry. Beacon Rail 185.2

BTW, this makes us wonder, how are 436 113 and BLS 485 002 doing? Beacon Rail 185.2

update: units involved are BLS Cargo Re485 002, Crossrail Re436 113 and Beacon Rail/Crossrail 185 596. Striking is the difference in body deformation of the old Re436 compared to the modern Traxx units. Some progress in driver safety has been booked during the last decades... Beacon Rail 185.2

Also Angel Trains leasing, owned by the Bank of Scotland, is for sale. According to Eurailpress.de, a consortium lead by the Deutsche Bank is planning to take over AT. Beacon Rail 185.2