Marcus' Model Railway Journey

Avanti West Coast Class 390 Pendolino train. 11th July 2026

British Rail Class 37 diesel locomotive .11th July 2026

SR West Country Class 34028 “Eddystone” at the NRM in York on the 11th of July 2026

A little of Llangollen today 11th of July 2026

GWR 5700 Class 0-6-0 pannier tank engine, number 7754.

The engine was originally built for the Great Western Railway and later operated under British Railways until the 1950s.

169018 / 169229 staging through Cardiff Airport 10/7/2026.

11th July, 2026

Colas expands its On-Track Machines fleet​

Colas Rail UK has added two new tampers to its fleet of On-Track Machines (OTM).

Constructed by Plasser & Theurer at Linz in Austria, the tampers are Plasser & Theurer type 08-4×4/4S, and have fleet numbers DR73953 and DR73954.

These latest additions represent the latest in tamping technology and demonstrate Colas Rail UK’s continued commitment to the railway industry.

They also consolidate the company’s position as the key supplier to Network Rail, with a market share of over 40%.


With 29 machines, Colas also has the UK’s largest fleet of On Track Machines.

Plasser & Theurer type 08-4×4/4S tamper No. DR73905


Construction of the tampers began in 2025, and they were delivered to the UK at the beginning of this year.

After delivery, the tampers went to the Severn Valley Railway and the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway for a period of rigorous testing and operator training.


In April, they were returned to Colas for operational use and are being used for critical maintenance and renewal work in Network Rail’s Anglia Region.

Colas Plasser & Theurer Ballast Regulator


As well as being used as a test bed for the new tampers, in April, the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway hosted a two-day infrastructure plant exhibition of equipment used throughout the wider rail industry for the maintenance of the railway network.

In 2024, a tamper used by Colas Rail’s Northwest On Track Maintenance Team was named in honour of one of their colleagues who passed away whilst carrying out machine maintenance in London.


“These latest additions to our OTM Fleet underline Colas Rail’s intentions to be the very best supplier for our customers. They highlight our dedication to investment in the railway maintenance sector and will allow us to maintain our excellent operational delivery record. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of two new 08 tampers in the second half of 2026”

Shaun Brown, National Operations Manager, Colas