Class 56s...
At Thornaby yesterday stored 56049 (WNTR) 56088 (WNSS) and 56095 (WNTR) were all powered up, 56119 (WGAI) was on the fuel point, and has been on local Teeside workings pending retirement.
56113 (WGAI) was working off Bescot yesterday but had worked up to Rotherham Steel Terminal today. It is booked for transfer to Knottingley where it is due for storage tomorrow.

Class 60s…
In response to the many rumours that have been doing the rounds regarding Class 60s EWS have stated that no Class 60s are to be stored or re-engineered and there are no plans to store or re-engineer any at this stage.

If it doesn't move scrap it part 2…
EWS have had another purge at their shunters in the last couple of days. A further 18 (16 Class 08s and 2 Class 09s) have been stored, 8 to WNTR and 10 to WSXX. One shunter, 08662, has been reinstated though. The shunters effected are…

Grids to go…
56113 and 56119 have been assigned for N ONE on March 1st at Knottingley and Thornaby respectively. 56059 appears to be getting its B exam after all.

Disposals…
Recent arrivals at Kingsbury 08625 and 37078 have been consigned to history. 08625 is but a pile of pieces whilst 37078 had been reduced to frame and cabs with work in progress earlier today. RIP 08625 and RIP 37078 which was stored from the IISA pool at Motherwell just over a decade ago in December 1993.

Today’s losses…
56062 recently sidelined with fire damage at Cardiff Canton has been stored WNSS. 12 to go…
Freightliner have stored two Class 86s, 86633 and 86635, both with wheelset problems, DHLT at Crewe EMD.
90023 and 90029 have also now been stored, both WNTR at Crewe EMD.

Disposal…
The disposal, sorry demolition, of 47212 is all but complete at LNWR Crewe. One cab, frame and some internals were all that remained late this afternoon. 47212 was stored from Freightliner’s DFLH pool less than a year ago in March 2003, RIP.

Class 56 reduction…
It has been indicated that three more Class 56s are to be taken out of service in the coming days. The current candidates for the chop are 56059 which is due a B exam, 56062 stopped at Cardiff Canton with fire damage and 56119 also coming due a B exam.

More Spanish Bones…
Whilst the French situation is still on going in that contracts have yet to be finalised it has been established, credit to the Class 58 Group [ www.c58lg.co.uk ] for this, that six additional ’Bones’ are to be heading out to Spain on hire to GIF in the near future. The six identified are 58020 (WFGF Old Oak Common) 58024 (WFGF Old Oak Common) 58025 (WFGF Eastleigh) 58026 (WNXX Eastleigh) 58030 (WFGF Eastleigh) and 58031 (WNXX Eastleigh). Hopefully a WFGS pool will be formed to absorb these and the two, 58041 and 58043, already out in Spain which are currently allocated to the WKGS Class 37 Spanish hire pool.

37078…
At Kingsbury the disposal of 37078, recently delivered there from Wigan CRDC, has begun.

IWLA 47s...
47832 has been taken back on lease, again, by FGW till the end of the month. It and 47813 are due to come off at the end of February but whilst the release of 47832 is as good as guaranteed there is a fair chance that the lease of 47813 may be extended beyond this date.

Fragonset Derby…

31105 (QADD) being worked on and transformed into yellow peril #3.
47145 (SDFL) undergoing overhaul which is progressing well. TPWS fitment is all but complete.
47709 (SDFR) TPWS fitting underway.
73204 (GBED) return to running order work has started.
73205 (GBED) started up yesterday, loco now inside for returning to service and TPWS fitment is underway.

Further Class 90 reductions…
90023 (WEFE) which brought the overnight sleeper from Scotland to Euston last night has been assigned for N ONE at Crewe EMD later today whilst 90029 (WEFE) has been taken out of traffic at Crewe EMD and awaits transfer to store.

GBED…
GBRf have reinstated the four Class 73s recently moved across to Fragonset, Derby. 73204 73205 73206 and 73209 have been transferred to a new pool quite appropriately titled GBED.

47212…
The disposal of 47212 at LNWR Crewe has begun. Its bodysides were removed yesterday.

Eurotunnel refurbishment's…
Eurotunnel shuttle loco 9825, the former 9025, has been released from Brush Loughborough following overhaul and up-rating from 5.6 MW to 7 MW. This is the first of 37 shuttle locomotives that are to pass through Brush between now and 2009 for refurbishment.

GBRf 73s…
Change of plan. The four recently moved across from Norwich to Peterborough have been moved again, to Derby, whilst the remaining two from Norwich have been moved to Peterborough. 66710 first hauled 73204 73205 73206 and 73209 from Peterborough to Derby yesterday morning before doubling back to Norwich to collect 73203 and 73207 and remove them from Crown Point to Peterborough.

Grids to go…
Reports indicate that the EWS Class 56 fleet is to be further reduced by two examples in the coming days with 56059 and 56119 being nominated as candidates for the chop.

TJ Thomson’s 19/02…
01556 (Hudswell Clarke D1196 / 1960) otherwise known as MSC6 has arrived at Thomson’s from Trafford Park, Manchester. 37139 has been located to the siding adjacent to the cutting area whilst 56039 in on the siding under the gantry near the offices. 31155 31237 and 47318 remain parked in the middle of the yard.

Old Oak Common 20/02...
A follow up to the OC report dated 12/12/03…

Disposal…
Only a cab, a wheelset and very little else remained of 08957 earlier today at Kingsbury. Is this the first EWS liveried locomotive scrapped? 08957 was stored from Cardiff’s WSGW shunter pool in August 2001, RIP.

Peterborough 73s again…
Clarifying the clarification! The initial listing for the four Class 73s moved to Peterborough on the 17th was correct in that it was 73206 not 73207 that was moved along with 73204 73205 and 73209. The confusion has stemmed from an incorrect entry on the system stating that 73207 has been relocated.

Peterborough 73s…
Further to the earlier report it has been established that it was 73204 73205 73207 (not 73206 as stated) and 73209 which were moved to the GBRf depot at Peterborough yesterday. 73203 and 73206 remain at Norwich awaiting their transfer to Fragonset Derby for attention.

GBRf 73s…
Four of the six GBRf Class 73s, believed to have been 73204 73205 73206 and 73209, were removed from Norwich to the GBRf depot at Peterborough yesterday evening. It has been indicated that they are to remain at Peterborough until the remaining pair, 73203 and 73207, which are scheduled to be taken to Derby on the 20th, have been overhauled. Two of these four at Peterborough will then be taken to Derby for attention. The fate of the remaining two will be decided at a later date.

Disposal amendment #1…
47212 is still with us, for now. Since reporting its demise yesterday confirmation of its continuing existence at LNWR Crewe has been received.

Disposal amendment #2…
Originally listed as disposed of on the Lavender Line back in December 2002 the partial remains of 73004 were finished a few days ago at Kingsbury.

Another EWS fleet reduction…
EWS have further reduced their operating fleet by 18 locomotives.

Disposals…
As far as can be ascertained the disposal of 47212 at LNWR Crewe has been completed. 47212 was put to store from Freightliner’s DFLH pool in February 2003, RIP.
The remains of 47565 have been cut at Booth’s, final disposal taking place this morning. 47565 was stored from Crewe’s WHDT pool back in January 2000, RIP.

37019…
A little later than originally planned but 37019 is due to be transported by road from Brush Loughborough this afternoon to Beeston for disposal.

Toton, shunter report 15/02…

Ballast sidings shunter: 08516 (WSXX)
Yard shunter: 08703 (WSMD)
On the depot: 08480 (WSMD but possibly now stored) 08765 (WSXX) 08786 (WSAS) and 08798 (WSWX)
South of the depot: 08414 (WSWX) 08500 (WSXX) 08910 (WSXX) 08912 (WSXX) and 08942 (WSXX)
Head shunt siding: 08635 (WSXX) 08683 (WSXX) 08896 (WSXX) and 08915 (WSXX)

73s to Derby…
Reports indicate that 73204 73205 73206 and 73209 (all GBZZ) are to be moved from Norwich to Derby tomorrow morning. Four of the six stored 73/2s are to be returned to working order for use with GBRf on Southern engineering duties based at Eastleigh.

Healey Mills…
As far as could be visually ascertained this morning 47733 47734 47793 56051 56065 56069 56070 and 56133 have arrived at Healey Mills for store. 56038 and 56056 were still at Doncaster Carr.

Le grid…?
56078 has been operating on the Southern today working an engineers train off Eastleigh. It has been indicated that the reason for this has something to do with a delegation from France coming over to see a Class 56 in action. Putting two and two together one can only assume that the *possibility* of redundant Class 56s working abroad may be on the cards.

Norwich 73s...
The Class 73s stored at Norwich have been undergoing inspection over the last few days. It has been indicated that several of the 73s are to be removed from Norwich to Derby shortly.

Cotswold Rail notes…
47033 has at last entered the paint shop at Wabtec and the fitting of TPWS to 47200 at Norwich has been completed.
31206 currently receiving attention at Brush Loughborough should if all goes to plan be ready by the end of the month.

Toton Gronks…
08765 (WSXX) and 08798 (WSWX) on exams at Toton have been out-shopped in EWS livery whilst 08896 (WSXX) recently stored at Toton has now been de-named.

Pathfinder & 56s…
Pathfinder tours have, via a press release today, confirmed that EWS are to keep two Class 56s available for their farewell tour from Bristol to York scheduled for March 31st.

To store or not to store…?
The four EWS Class 47s which were to of been stored yesterday are still eluding the inevitable. After working a local trip in the Nottinghamshire area yesterday afternoon 47750 (WHCD) was despatched to Crewe during the night. 47733 47734 and 47793 were removed from Toton to Doncaster in convoy with 56133 and 60033 but instead of being moved on to Healey Mills as per plan A 47793 (WHCD) has re-entered traffic on Humberside freight workings. The EWS Class 47 WHCD fleet still contains nine locomotives.

Class 47 notes…
47750 (WHCD) was rostered for the Toton (Sandiacre) to Nottingham ballast working this afternoon whilst 47733 47734 and 47793 (all WHCD) have been booked from Toton to Doncaster for Healey Mills and store. 47749 (WHCD) remains out of use at Warrington with no ok date since failing on the North Wales diagram a couple of days ago.

Class 56, endgame…
Seven of the remaining 21 Class 56s, 56038 56051 56056 56065 56069 56070 and 56133, have been earmarked for store at Healey Mills on the 14th.

Disposal…
The carcass of 86206 has been scrapped by Sims at Cardiff, disposal taking place shortly after delivery. 86206 was stored from Longsight's ICCA pool October 2002, RIP.

Old Oak Common 09/02/04…

Carriage Sidings: 31113 31306 31308 31420 31465 31514 73108 73110 73131 & 73133
Turntable: 37719 & 47004
Factory Yard: 31207 31466 37023 37175 & 37892
Nature Reserve Perimeter Fence: 08541 31427 33116 37513 47535 58033 58045 58047
Not viewable (Inside Factory / other buildings) 37701 47782 58020 & 58024

Toton notes...
60033 (WCAT) has been returned to traffic following attention to its alternator.
There is a Class 67, assumed to be 67005, in the paint shop rubbed down ready for a repaint. Royal Plum?
47781 (WNXX) and 58046 (WFGA) have been moved into the compound whilst 08635 08683 08896 and 08915 (all WSXX) along with 37220 (WNXX) have been repositioned to the snowplough head shunt near the entrance.

EWS notes…
It has been established, well as far being able to reliably establish anything EWS related in the current climate, that several Class 47s are to be retained till the end of March to service the North Wales contract.
News has been doing the rounds today that EWS are to dispense with all their non ETS fitted Class 37s and all the Class 56s by the end of March.
Regarding the Class 37s this is understood as being somewhat in the air but desired from on high. There is the issue of services that traverse RA5 lines to be resolved but a reduction to the Class 37 fleet of about 12-15 examples was on the cards anyway for March. Whether all the 37/0, 37/3, 37/5 and 37/7 variants are to be removed from traffic by the end of March should for now be regarded as something that ‘remains to be seen’.
As for the elimination of the Class 56s by March 31st, if they even last that long, unfortunately, this is so.

EWS fleet changes...
37668 latterly on decision at Toton has been stored WNTR. It is replaced by 37685 which has been reinstated to WKAD and released into traffic off Cardiff Canton this afternoon.
The Class 47 fleet has been further reduced by six today. 47635 has been stored WNTR, initially at Willesden Railnet but later it made its way to Old Oak Common. 47733 has been stored WNTR at Peterborough, 47737 has been stored WNSS at Temple Mills, 47757 has been stored WNXX but its current whereabouts is unclear although Longsight is a probability. 47757 failed in Blackburn last night on the S&C diversions and although now stored remains on hire for passenger work. 47760 has been stored WNTR at Crewe EMD and 47787 has been stored WNTR at Bescot. This reduction leaves but nine EWS Class 47s on their books. The general consensus is that the Class 47 fleet will be reduced to but five examples to service the North Wales Coast contract and VT hire for diversion work in the coming days however there is unconfirmed talk that EWS are trying to pull the Class out of traffic altogether. As far as can be ascertained EWS are to keep five running for the duration of the current contracts which run till the end of March, that is unless another operator with ETS Class 47s is willing to step in and take over from EWS.
56072 has been stored WNSS at Doncaster Carr being replaced in the WGAI pool by 56094 which has been reinstated from store at Thornaby. The Class 56 fleet remains 21 strong. For now.
The three Class 90s assigned for store have been stored as planned. 90030 90032 and 90038 have been stored, all WNTR at Crewe EMD.

Disposal…
The protracted disposal of 37262 at Beeston has been completed in the last couple of days or so. 37262 was stored from Bescot's WKMS pool December 1999, RIP.

EWS storage pool amendments…
A number of transfers of Classes 37, 47 and 56 between the WNSS, WNTR and WNXX pools have gone through. Full details in the RSL section.

Other news…
37214 undergoing restoration to running order at Barrow Hill has been repainted into standard BR blue whilst 47375 (SDXL) being repaired on contract for Fragonset at Barrow Hill is in primer.
37225 (WNZX) was loaded for removal from Wigan CRDC this afternoon for transfer to Booth Roe. Rotherham.
66535 (DFGM) is back together at Toton and has been on the load bank today.

Disposal…
08702 which was little more than frame and cab with wheelsets on arrival at Booth’s from Doncaster a few days ago has been all but finished off. It consisted of little more than mangled cab and a section of bulkhead when viewed at Rotherham today. 08702 was stored from the PXLS pool at Old Oak Common in May 1998, RIP.

Toton…
Shunter locations in and around Toton 07/02/04…

EWS 90s facing a purge…
Three EWS Class 90s, 90030 90032 and 90038, have been assigned for N ONE at Crewe EMD on the 9th. Two of these, 90030 and 90032 are already at the EMD whilst 90038 was in the Crewe area early this afternoon. There may yet be others, one candidate being 90024 currently at Carlisle with a ‘not to be used’ restriction in place.

If it doesn't move scrap it!
Evidently EWS had a few surplus shunting locomotives as no less than 37 (34 Class 08s and 3 Class 09s) have been placed into store, all WSXX. They are...

Class 47 reduction…
EWS have stored five more Class 47s. The latest casualties are 47727 WNTR at Willesden Railnet, 47732 WNTR at Temple Mills, 47747 WNTR at Millerhill and 47770 WNTR at Bescot. The fifth unsurprisingly is the return to store of yesterday’s reinstatement 47786 WNTR at Warrington. Of note is that 47786 was initially transferred out of WHCD to WSXX (stored shunter pool) before joining the others in WNTR!!

EWS Shunter fleet facing decimation…
There are strong indications that the EWS shunter fleet which currently consists of just under 160 operational examples (Classes 08 and 09) has been under review and is facing a quite substantial reduction in size. Exactly how many are facing storage is not clear but it is believed that the fleet reduction could be somewhere in the region of between 30 and 50 locomotives.

EWS Class 47 reductions in the pipeline…
At least three EWS Class 47s have been identified for the bin with 47732 47747 and 47770 being allocated for store. It has also been indicated that of the remaining fleet all bar those required for passenger hire contracts are to be removed from traffic as soon as possible. However, and quite surprising considering its current condition, 47786 at Warrington has been reinstated to the WHCD pool.

Sales…
The following sales by EWS have been advised.

TPWS update…
Further to yesterday’s comments regarding several locomotives not yet TPWS fitted the following has been established.
37197 has just been equipped at Bury whilst 37261 is being fitted out at the moment. Once the IR Class 37s are finished attention will then turn to the fitting of TPWS to 37194 on behalf of HNRC.
Cotswold Rail’s 47316 was fitted with TPWS during mid December whilst 47200 is being equipped at the moment.
50031 and 50049 arrived at LNWR Crewe late December for attention including the fitment of TPWS whilst 50044 currently undergoing repairs at Old Oak Common is also to receive TPWS. These three Class 50s should be available again for mainline running from March onwards.

Club Train…
31468 and 31602 are out today in top n tail mode with the St Annes - Greenbank & Chester - Blackpool.

87s & 90s…
Now that the Anglia franchise has been sorted out (at last) it is anticipated that a fair proportion of the Class 87s that have been languishing at Willesden will be returning to use to allow the displacement and redeployment of the West Coast Class 90s to Anglia. 90003 has already come off lease and 90007 is due to come off lease after its diagrammed workings today. Of course the robbed 87005 will not be one of those returning to use and has consequently now been listed as stored. Whether the EWS Class 90s currently employed on Anglia workings will be gravitating north at the end of April for North Berwick duties as has been indicated remains to be seen.

Goyle no show…
This mornings scheduled service utilising top n tail Class 31s and stock from Blackpool to Greenbank has failed to materialise. An apparent problem with the stock at Newton Heath has resulted in substitution by a pair of Class 156 units today. Maybe tomorrow then…?

TPWS or the lack of it…
One month or so on from the TPWS fitment deadline the following mainline registered and operational pool allocated locomotives have not been TPWS fitted so cannot currently operate on the mainline under their own power. Any clarifications / additions to this list will be appreciated.

Class 57 rebuilds…
The Class 47 donors for the VT 57/3 (57313 to 57316) conversions have been decided upon.

Class 56 notes…
It has been confirmed that 56039 did go to TJ Thomson’s Stockton when removed from Thornaby the other day. The reason it was seen to the west of Stockton was that to avoid having to make a right hand turn off the A66 the loco was taken west to be turned at a roundabout before returning east to access Stockton and Thomson’s yard.
56049 (WGAI) currently assigned for N ONE at Thornaby tomorrow is now in the North East working on the Redcar to Wilton circuit yesterday.
56094 (WNTR) at Thornaby, stored since July last year, which has shown as undergoing wheelset repairs is now showing on decision. Whilst this indicates that a possible return to traffic for 56094 has been abandoned it was noted outside and running undergoing tests at Thornaby this morning.
56104 (WGAI) has arrived at Immingham for storage. Assigned for N ONE at Immingham tomorrow it worked into Humberside yesterday on the 6D65 service from Doncaster Belmont.

Royal duo…
47798 went to Warrington after leaving Crewe yesterday and has been assigned to Ferrybridge whilst 47799 which remains at Knottingley is also now assigned to Ferrybridge.

Sparkies…
87009 87012 and 87035 have been taken back on lease whilst 90003 is now off lease at Willesden.

North West 31s…
Trials and training runs using 31459 which reportedly failed near Kirkham on one occasion, have been undertaken during the last few days but yesterday 31459 and 31468 (both SDPP) were out with four coaches in top n tail mode from Newton Heath to Chester and return. Unfortunately 31459 is still proving problematical as it had been shut down before reaching Chester on the outward run. 31602 is on hand at Newton Heath just in case so roll on tomorrow...

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