Pickersgill-Kaye’s experience and design capabilities in the global railway industry clinched an order to supply locomotive cab internal door locks for a leading rail freight company refurbishing a fleet of locomotives.

DB Cargo UK (formerly DB Schenker Rail UK), the country’s largest rail freight provider, turned to the Leeds-based lock manufacturer because it needed to replace the original cab locks during a major overhaul of its 30-strong fleet of Class 67 diesel-electric locomotives. Andy Hewitt, Pickersgill-Kaye’s Rail Products Sales Manager, said: "DB Cargo UK approached us because our experience and bespoke design capability is well known within the rail industry. We
took a sample of the lock, re-engineered it and fitted the product to the first five locomotives as part of a rolling programme of work planned for the fleet.

"We produced a perfect fitting lock that will last for its design life of at least 30 years." Pickersgill-Kaye’s strengths lie in higher quality, more robust products. Its locks work in sub-zero temperatures and can last the lifetime of the locomotive so many operators are now specifying the company’s locks to guarantee the standards they need.

Demand for Pickersgill-Kaye’s rail products continues with further orders in the pipeline. It has previously designed and manufactured cab door locks for a North American supplier and Irish Rail’s 201 class locomotives, used for hauling passenger rolling stock on intercity routes, as well as its freight locomotives.

With over 150 years’ experience supplying the rail industry and tram systems with door locks, including custom-built products to match exact specifications, Pickersgill-Kaye’s manufacturing flexibility and commitment, backed up by excellent levels of service, has helped the company win new business against often tough overseas competition.

It has supplied Axion Technologies with emergency talkback units for fitting to Toronto Transit ‘Rocket’ subway cars, loco locks for the Bombardier Traxx locomotives in Germany, Italy and Switzerland plus locks for Swiss Railways and also Polmor based in Poland.

Emergency door release access panels were also exported to IFE, based in the Czech Republic, to be installed on the new build Siemens vehicles, for use by Austrian railways. The company has also supplied under-frame side skirt locks to SAPA in Belgium and emergency hammer boxes to Siemens and Bombardier for new build tram vehicles in Belgium.

Elsewhere at the other end of the globe, Pickersgill-Kaye supplied prototype retrofit locks to a supplier for field trial testing on a train in Australia. Whilst in Asia, the worldwide exporter supplied Meggitts’ plant in China with specialist hose connector equipment. Pickersgill-Kaye’s rail products include external LED train door status indicators, internal and external cab door locks and internal egress and external access devices.