47798…
Prince William worked this mornings inbound working to Crewe from Holyhead being replaced by 47776 for the return run out to Holyhead. There was talk of 47798 being rostered for the afternoon working out from Crewe but due to flooding in the Valley area the inbound from Holyhead with 47776 was cancelled. 47798 skulked off into the dark light engine late afternoon.

Disposal…
The demolition of 31296 at LNWR Crewe is all but complete this evening, only its frame and engine block remain. 31296 was withdrawn from Crewe’s Regional Railway’s RCWC infrastructure just over a decade ago in December 1993, RIP.

WHRD 47s…
It is still the general consensus that the two ex Royal Class 47s are to be removed from traffic in the next day or so however neither have assignments for N ONE in place at the moment, indeed, there is some deliberation as to whether they actually were assigned N ONE at all yesterday. 47798 is back on the North Wales passenger circuit this evening however 47799 is at Knottingley, conveniently quite close to Ferrybridge, with a ‘not to be used’ restriction in force.

Willesden 87s…
There has been a sudden burst of activity with the ‘off lease’ Class 87s at Willesden. Yesterday and today there has been much shunting and several have been noted with their pantographs up taking power. Several of these Class 87s are due back in traffic from next week onwards to facilitate the gradual removal from West Coast diagrams of the Class 90s. Whilst 90001 and 90011 were observed outside Willesden today 90003 is reported to be the first to be going off lease.

Missed one…
56095 was also stored on the 27th, WNTR at Thornaby.

More EWS reductions in the pipeline…
WGAI duo 56049 (the last in DCE livery with Transrail branding) and 56104 (the last in Freight livery with coal sector branding) have been assigned for N ONE, no further details at the moment. It is also anticipated that the now redundant ‘Royal’ 47s, 47798 and 47799, will be removed from traffic shortly.

Shunter notes…
08525 (HISL) was transported by road from Neville Hill to Wabtec Doncaster yesterday afternoon for repairs / overhaul. 08834 (RFSH) most recently noted in the Bristol area on a low loader has been located at Merehead keeping company with 08032 08296 08643 and 08731 whilst 08896 (WSGW) has been removed from Bristol to Toton for attention.

WNZX…
No less than 20 redundant EWS locomotives have been transferred to the WNZX pool from variously WNXX and WNYX. These will no doubt be the content of the next tender list.

Disposal…
The remains of 08746 which was stored from Motherwell’s LGML pool in February 1999 have been disposed of at Booth Roe, Rotherham in the past few days. RIP.

NW Class 31 training runs…
It has been indicated that the training runs with a Class 31 off Newton Heath, cancelled last week, are to get underway on the 27th. Any further information and timings will be appreciated.

Toton…
Three scrappers, 37216 47781 and 58046, have been moved away from the depot area to the snowplough siding near the entrance. Three more shunters, 08405 08635 and 08786, have arrived for repairs / attention. Class 08s currently in and around Toton are…

Shunter purge…
EWS have stored five Class 08s, all WSXX. The five casualties are 08442 (Eastleigh) 08506 (Old Oak Common) 08655 (Thornaby) 08792 (Cardiff Canton) and 08884 (Bescot). Most had been out of traffic awaiting attention.

Ghosts in the machine…
Several scrapped locomotives are still showing as extant on the system. RSL2 forms are required for...

Disposal…
The cutting of 37212 on site at Eastleigh has (pending absolute confirmation) been completed. 37212 was stored from Toton’s WKSN pool in April 1999, RIP.

Freightliner Ipswich…
47303 47309 and 47358 were all together at Ipswich this afternoon. Also present was stored 47370 along with 57001 57004 57012 66538 66569 66571 86613 86615 86632 and 90049.

Freightliner notes…
66535 was despatched to Toton for load bank testing following several reports of vibrations over the last few weeks. Whilst on test a fracture was discovered in the bed plate below the alternator. The bed plate on Class 66s is simply a piece of sheet-steel, which has no structural properties, whose main function is to collect oil and coolant in the event of leaks or spillage's. Whilst it is believed that it is not uncommon for Class 66s to suffer cracking of this bed plate due to their engine and associated equipment being mounted directly to the frame, un-damped, the cracks in 66535’s bed plate are quite bad so the opportunity has been taken to remove the alternator and get these cracks welded up whilst it is at Toton.
The Intermodal Class 47s are due to be stood down in the next few days but are not being stored as such because they are required on the Ipswich blockade this summer. 47309 is scheduled to visit Crewe LNWR for mechanical attention whilst 47303 and 47358 which have been out and about in multiple over the last few days are to go on restricted duties. One is to become a super shunter at Garston allowing the release of 08891 for repairs whilst the other is to stay at Ipswich as the branch line loco.
Freightliner have ordered 11 more Class 66/5s. These were the 66s being built for HSBC for lease to Jarvis but Freightliner are taking them over.

Shunters on the road…
Shunting locomotives noted on the move by road in the last few days include 08664 (WSAS) latterly at Toton for attention on the M1 near Daventry this morning, 08786 (WSAS) ex Wabtec on the M1 near the A52 junction yesterday whilst Wabtec hire loco 08834 (RFSH) was sighted on the A4174 in the Bristol area on the 19th.

47640…
Its acquirement by Fragonset has been confirmed.

57601…
The application of WCRC Maroon livery similar to that applied to 47854 has been completed at Carnforth.

66535…
Whatever the reason for 66535 being admitted to Toton on behalf of Freightliner, still getting conflicting reports as to whether it has bed plate problems or is undergoing an alternator change, it has been extensively stripped down. Its bodywork, which is removable for access, is off and all its internals are out. The locomotive resembles something that might have been to the CRDC.

37212…
The demolition of 37212 on site at Eastleigh is underway. Cutting started today.

37379 and some pool allocation observations…
It has been established that 37379 (WNXX) recently moved from Eastleigh to Bristol Barton Hill with 37377 (WKGF) is a replacement for 37519 (WKGF) in the French pool as had been suspected. Can the swap of 37379 into WKGF and 37519 out of WKGF be anticipated?
While we are on the subject it has been noted by a number of correspondents that the WKAD Class 37s are still allocated to the now defunct Crewe DMD as their home depot even though the Class 47s have been transferred away to Toton. Secondly another observation. As all the remaining EWS Class 47s bar the Royal pair are now in a common user pool at Toton surely the pool code WHAN (EWS Class 47s General Toton) could / should have been created rather than concentrating them in WHCD?

Goyle no show…
Today’s Class 31 training runs scheduled to run between Newton Heath and Preston have failed to materialise.

Panic over…?
It would appear that reports about 66535 recently placed on decision at Toton having a cracked bed plate have been a little over the top. Sources have indicated that 66535 at Toton is in need of a replacement alternator, a serious enough fault in itself, but not as sensational.

66535…
Currently at Toton Freightliner’s 66535 (DFGM) was placed on decision a couple of days ago. Reports doing the rounds suggest it has suffered a cracked bed plate.

TJ Thomson’s…
No further cutting has taken place since the demise of 31149 reported as almost complete last weekend. It’s remains were visible today in the pile of scrap metal near the cutting area.

Scrapper notes…
Only 31296 and 47212 are for the chop at Crewe LNWR. 47289 is to be removed to Basford Hall at a later date.
The impending cutting of 37212 at Eastleigh has been delayed slightly and is now expected to get underway next week whilst the demolition of 37262 at Beeston which started mid December 2003 has not progressed at all since Christmas.

Peterborough 37s…
As far as can be ascertained 37077 and 37696 (both WKGF) didn’t make their planned move from Peterborough to Bescot last night .

North West Goyle action next week…
Reported times for Class 31 training runs Monday to Friday (19th-23rd) between Newton Heath and Preston are…

Impending disposals at LNWR…
The disposal on site of 31296 (WNZX) and 47212 (DHLT) languishing at Crewe LNWR is about to get underway. It had been noted that 31296 and 47212 have lost their cab side number panels in recent days but more ominously a mechanical grab has appeared to carry out their demolition. Parked nearby is fellow redundant 47289 (DHLT) but it has not been established if this one is for cutting. It had been suggested that 37383 (RTLS) which was mooted for a move to the Severn Valley Railway last October may be facing the chop as well but enquiries have revealed that 37383 is safe and its planned movement to the Severn Valley Railway is, although now delayed, still very much on.

Freightliner repaints…
08785 (DFLS) has been out-shopped at Wabtec in Freightliner Green whilst 86612 (DFNC) has been admitted to LNWR for cosmetic attention.

57602 on test (again)…
Following its release from Loughborough 57602 has been out on test again off Old Oak Common. On the 14th it has 57603 in tow for insurance whilst yesterday it took 47832 along for the ride.

SDFL…
Fragonset have created another new pool coded SDFL. Freight Locomotives? Two Class 47s have been reallocated to it, 47145 from SDXL and 47355 from SDFR. The transfer of 47145 currently undergoing repair at Derby to SDFL can be regarded as a reinstatement so welcome back.

Further Class 56 reductions in the pipeline…?
It has been indicated that there is to be a reduction in diagrams to 17 for Class 56s from the end of the month. In line with this it is understood that another four Class 56s will be selected for storage potentially reducing the fleet from the current level of 25 to 21 operational examples.

Royal 47s no more…?
It is also understood that the ‘Royal’ Class 47s, 47798 and 47799, will be technically redundant from the end of January and will more than likely be facing the chop as both are high on hours, nearly 13,000 and 11,500 respectively.

Goyle on the road…
31200 (QADD) has been on the move from Carnforth to Throckmorton overnight by road. It was noted near Preston late last night, in the lay-by off the M6 at Junction 16 between 03:00 and 11:00 this morning then on the M5 early this afternoon. 31102 (QADD) has made the move sometime in the last couple of days.

WKGF Tractors...
37077 and 37696 at Tyne yard have been booked for movement south via 0P43 to Doncaster Belmont whilst 37377 and 37379 are still at Westbury this afternoon awaiting completion of their transfer to Bristol Barton Hill.

Can on the road…
Inter-City liveried 86228 (SAXL) has been transported north from Crewe EMD to Glasgow works by road. Heading south is 86206 (SAXL) which is to be removed from Glasgow works, possibly tomorrow morning, to Shoeburyness for scrapping.

SDPP…
Fragonset have reallocated their ETS fitted and ETS wired Class 31s to a new pool coded SDPP. PP for push pull presumably. The six transferred into the pool are 31452 31454 31459 31468 31601 and 31602.

Shunter news…
08886 (WSNE) is showing as available at Immingham on completion of repairs whilst 09008 (WSGW) and 09024 (WSAS) have been released into traffic following attention at Cardiff Canton and Toton respectively. 09024 has been TPWS fitted. 08514 and 09202 (both WSNE) are receiving TPWS at Doncaster Carr. It is understood that EWS have negotiated a dispensation to use non TPWS fitted shunters on the mainline until sometime this summer and that about 70 are to be equipped. Another visitor to Toton is Allerton’s 08915 (WSNW) which has arrived by road.
According to the system 08715 (WSWX) latterly located at Ferrybridge has been relocated to Carlisle Currock although no positive sightings of it at Currock or on the move there by road. 08715 which is vacuum braked only and hasn’t been overhauled since the early 1980s shouldn’t be too hard to sight as it is in Day-Glo orange livery.

Fragonset 31s…
31459 (SDFR) and a coach have arrived at Newton Heath for staff training purposes in connection with the resurrection of locomotive hauled passenger trains in the North West. For anyone who hasn’t picked up details of this working elsewhere the diagram due to commence early next month is for two Fragonset Class 31s in top n tail mode on the following…

08871…
Cotswold Rail have advised that 08871 currently at Wabtec Doncaster for attention will be receiving a new power unit shortly. On completion of repairs 08871 will be going to Ilford for tyre turning.

Disposal…
The cutting of 31149 at TJ Thomson’s Stockton is at a fairly advanced stage as only one cab its engine and generator bock and frame was viewable this morning. 31149 was stored from Toton’s ENTN infrastructure pool in June 1996, RIP.

Fragonset notes…
31233 (QADD) undergoing restoration to mainline standards at derby on behalf of Network Rail is nearing completion. 31233 has been treated to copious quantities of yellow paint. 31105 and 31107 (both QADD) recently moved across to Fragonset’s workshops in the former RTC buildings from Etches Park are next in for attention. It is anticipated that 31105 and 31107 will replace 31190 and 31601 on the ultrasonic test train once their restoration has been completed.
Work is also in progress towards returning former Tinsley favourite 47145 back to mainline standards. Start up is expected in the next two weeks or so. Hopefully 47145 will retain its unique livery on release.

Rhymney 37s…
Further to the ‘speculative’ notes issued on 31/12/03 it has been established that the use of Class 37s on the Rhymney services is to continue till at least December this year not March as had been indicated at the time.

EWS Class 47s, endgame…?
It has been established that EWS Class 47s are diagrammed for North Wales Coast workings for the duration of the winter timetable which runs until May 22nd. As there doesn't appear to be any other work for the type beyond this date we can, for the moment, assume that May 22nd or thereabouts is when use of the type by EWS will come to an end.

Kingmoor observations…
20901 and 20905 have been moved round to the south end of the shed whilst 37902 is now outside with 20903 and 20904 at the north end of the shed. It would appear that DRS have finally called it a day with 37902.

Eastleigh notes…
37212 (WNSO) has been moved into position in the Airport Sidings area for scrapping. It is anticipated that this will begin midweek next week. 37377 (WKGF) and 37379 (WNXX) are being prepared for removal from Eastleigh to Bristol Barton Hill. It has been noted that the latter of these two is not allocated to the WKGF French pool but 37519 which is allocated has been looked at in recent weeks but has been returned to the scrap lines. 37519 is in very poor condition. On the Class 58 front the engine room doors from 58025 58029 and 58030 (all WFGF) have been removed ready for despatch to Toton for painting.

08448 / 08723…
It has been established that one of the two shunters scrapped at Kingsbury back in July 2002 was 08723 and not 08448 as previously recorded. So a sort of welcome back for 08448 but a belated RIP for 08723 which was stored from Toton’s ENSN pool in March 1995. A mention of thanks is due for those involved with sorting out this anomaly which due to the identities of most of the shunters at Kingsbury having being obliterated was no easy task.

West Coast 87s…
Noted parked up at Willesden on the 4th were 87035 87018 and 87004 in one row with 87009 87028 87005 87034 87027 87020 and 87011 in another. A fleet survey reveals that as of this morning all 35 Class 87s are still allocated to the IWCA pool however nine of these are currently off lease, all at Willesden. The nine concerned are 87005 87011 87017 87018 87020 87027 87028 87034 and 87035.

Shunters on the move…
09013 (WSGW) has been returned to Plymouth swapping places at Tavistock with 09016 (WSGW) which was noted heading north on the M5 this morning near Taunton. Wabtec hire loco 08596 (RFSH) was noted heading south on the M5 on the 5th but its destination is unknown.

101s on the move…
The redundant North West units 101676 101678 101680 101685 and 101693 were removed from Longsight yesterday by 37682. Destined eventually for Shoeburyness the convoy were recessed last night at Temple Mills and are expected to complete their journey today.

WHDD & WHTN disbanded…
All the remaining active EWS Class 47s bar 47798 and 47799 which remain allocated to the WHRD pool have been concentrated into the WHCD pool rendering the WHDD and WHTN pools obsolete. All the 47s have also been reallocated from Crewe DMD to Toton reflecting the closure of the depot at Crewe.

05/01/04 22:55
37065 (WKAC) recently moved to Toton for repair assessment has been placed on decision.

Overnighters…
37692 and 47786 (both WNTR) are booked for movement from Bescot and Warrington to their respective destinations overnight tonight. Crewe DMD bound 37692 is due to go north in the consist of the 02:48 6H28 Bescot to Castleton as far as Crewe whilst Cardiff bound 47786 is booked to go south in the consist of the 01:05 6V71 Warrington to Newport.

Shunter news…
08495 (WSNE) which was the final shunter to be overhauled at Ferrybridge can, following its recent release into traffic, be found at work at Knottingley whilst 08910 (WSXX) has been removed from Ferrybridge to Toton by road. At Cardiff Canton 09008 (WSGW) has been stopped and placed on decision.

Today’s losses…
EWS have stored seven more locomotives.

Oops…
47634 currently lying derelict at Saltley was briefly reinstated to the WHCD pool today. After about an hour it was returned to WNXX.

HNRC 37s…
37037 awaiting recovery from Wigan CRDC to Barrow Hill has been secured for preservation meanwhile 37214 and 37227 which are available for purchase for preservation are expected to be back in operational condition in the next few weeks. 37214 and 37227 are to be sold on a first come first served basis. [ www.hnrc.co.uk ]

On their way…
No change for the three Class 56s awaiting transfer to store but 73136 at Hither Green is now N ONE but still allocated to WPAG.

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