Lombard funds loco firm

THE Manchester office of asset finance firm Lombard – part of NatWest – has provided a £72,000 loan to help North Derbyshire based rail services firm HNRC buy three shunting locomotives.

HNRC was started by founder Harry Needle in 1990. The company owns and operates more than 110 shunting locomotives, which are based at the Barrow Hill Shed depot near Staveley.

The company hires locomotives, stock and crew to other companies operating within the rail industry.  Clients include Lafage Cement, Tata Steel and Bardon Aggregates. The company also provides a locomotive rescue and refurbishment service designed to return older trains to active service.          

Mr Needle said: “We provide spot and contract hire services to customers throughout the country and pride ourselves on being able to quickly respond to each request.  We can only achieve this by regularly investing in our fleet to ensure we have enough locomotives available to meet customer demands.”