Work in progress..
The cutting of 37904 at Booth’s Rotherham is at a fairly advanced stage having been reduced to cabs and frame only.

VT & Class 47s...
Whilst It has been indicated that 47811 will, on release from repairs at Landore, be joining the VT fleet, 47816 and 47828 (both ATSP) laid up at Willesden for the last week or so have now come off lease, quite probably as a direct consequence of the acceptance into service of 57313 and 57314.

Anglia 87s…?
Whether 87027 at Norwich, which is described as a nail, will feature remains to be seen but word from that end of the world is that a limited training program for the Class has been sanctioned. This being the case then we can expect to see Class 87s on thunderbird duties at some point in the future.

VT & Class 87s…
Although it has been reported that it is intended to have a full Pendolino operation on the West Coast from the December timetable change with two Mk 3 sets and four Class 87s retained for emergency cover there have been indications that as many as five or six Mk 3 sets are to be retained beyond December. This of course will mean that more than four locomotives will be required.

Disposal…
The remains of 08610, stored almost eleven years ago back in November 1994 from Bescot‘s MSNB pool, have been disposed of at Booth’s Rotherham in the last few days, RIP.

29/10/04 22:10

Toton activity…
Seco pair 58009 and 58040 were both visible outside the shed today, 58009 on the fuel point and 58040 still on the load bank. Still allocated to WNXX rather than WZFF, 58009 has been allocated to move from Toton via tonight’s 6V19 Margam service, probably as far as Bescot. 08569 has returned to Toton following a period on hire at Derby whilst 60046, a recent arrival at Toton with traction motor fire damage, has ominously been parked on the scrap line.

Got there in the end…
The four HST power cars stored since June but still allocated to their respective IC pools have now been transferred to SBXL. The reallocation of 43065 43068 and 43084 from ICCS along with the reallocation of 43121 from ICCP to SBXL renders these pools obsolete. 43093 stored on the West Somerset Railway has also now been transferred to SBXL.

Au revoir…
TSO duo 58033 and 58047, the first in this colour scheme to go abroad, were hauled from Wembley to Dollands Moor early today then through the tunnel via the usual 4404 service.

DRS Vans…
After its jaunt to Scotland yesterday 87014 (SBXL) has returned to Willesden whilst 87022 (IWCA) was hauled from Willesden to Crewe yesterday by 20304 and 20312. Looking likely to be the first to get the DRS blue treatment 87022 has been admitted to the LNWR facility at Crewe for a repaint.
Although 87022 wasn’t transferred to SBXL last week with the other Class 87s removed from the IWCA pool it is believed this might have been either an oversight or 87024 was transferred to SBXL in its place by mistake. Either way a DRS pool for 87022 and the other nominated Class 87s should be forthcoming.

Disposal…
The demolition of 47634 at Kingsbury has been completed. 47634 was stored from Crewe’s WHCD pool in March 2001, RIP.

Au revoir…
58035 (WZFF) [corrected, it did say 58033] was hauled from Wembley to Dollands Moor in the early hours of this morning then through the tunnel to France via service 4404.

Torched Tugs…
60037 (WNTR hired to WCAN) was briefly released into traffic off Toton yesterday but evidently all was not well as it has been returned to Toton with fire damage, another one. Meanwhile fire damaged 60006 (WCAN) recently delivered to Toton from Immingham has been assigned for store.

Toton report…
Inside the shed for several days now 58003 (WNXX) is being worked on but it is not known whether it is surrendering spares or being repaired. 58012 (WZFF) which has supposedly been replaced in the French contingent by Seco liveried 58009 (WNXX) is also inside. A pool amendment for 58009, which was running about within the depot confines yesterday, might be a good idea whilst Dutch bound 58038 (WZFH) has been extracted from the main shed and moved over to the Cathedral which indicates that a body lift is in the offing. Lastly 08480 (WZTS) noted in action recently has taken up residence in Toton wagon shops.

Class 87s…
The defective 87015 laid up at Willesden is going to / has come off lease, probably in exchange for 87035 which is back in use with VT West Coast. Fleet survey, as at 06:00 the Class 87 fleet disposition was…

Anglia 86s…
This is the current plan, subject to Class 90 reliability 86232 86234 and 86260 are due to be stood down at the end of the month whilst 86218 86235 and 86246 are scheduled to be retained till the end of December. Some times for the farewell tour 30/10/04…

Work in progress…
The demolition of 47634 at Kingsbury is underway.

37898…
Although it had been planned to despatch 37087 and 37515 to South Wales to collect 37898 from Margam tomorrow this has been put back till next weekend due to the FTR exam on 37898 not being completed in time.

Canton clear out…
It looks like the clear out at Cardiff Canton is underway as nearly all the stored locomotives that were tucked away inside the disused shed have been extracted in the last two days, super shunter 56100 being utilised.

Anglia 86s to continue…?
Although the farewell tour is pencilled in to run a week tomorrow there have been indications that several of the Class are to be retained until at least December 2004.

Cardiff Canton…
A new tenant, the Pullman Railway Company, currently operating out of Cardiff Cathay’s, have been lined up to take over the currently disused part of Cardiff Canton depot. We can therefore expect the removal elsewhere of the stored locomotives currently languishing at and inside Canton.

DRS 87s…
It has been indicated that the Class 87s for DRS that are still at Willesden are to be prepared, including repainting?, for DRS at Willesden hence why only 87032, which is understood to be for staff familiarisation at Carlisle, was taken north to Kingmoor the other day.

Au revoir…
58027 and 58034 (both WZFF) were hauled from Wembley to Dollands moor in the early hours this morning before being despatched through the tunnel to France in the consist of the 4404 service.

20/10/04 22:55
08480 (WZTS) has been noted in use at Toton, reinstatement to follow or just another stored shunter being used?
37904 at Carnforth was loaded this afternoon for transfer by road to Booth’s Rotherham. It is therefore re-listed on the storage lists.
60006 (WCAN) is on its way from Immingham to Toton for attention to the fire damage incurred recently. It was hauled to Doncaster in the consist of the 6D66 service from Immingham.

Advenza…
Are now quoting next Monday 25/10/04 as the start date for the overnight Willesden to Mossend service. No clues as to what traction is going to be employed although EWS Class 90s have been mentioned.

Au revoir…
56090 (WZGF) and 58032 (WZFF) were despatched to France sometime yesterday.

Class 87s…
Five Class 87s, 87006 87013 87014 87024 and 87032, have been stored SBXL. All bar 87032 which was hauled north from Willesden to Kingmoor by 66403 last night are on Willesden.

86401…
The AC Locomotive Group owned 86401 currently at Crewe EMD has been transferred to the MBEL, private owner electric locomotives, pool. This development is regarded as its formal transfer into preservation / private owner status.

47811…
A replacement power unit for fitment into 47811, currently out of action at Landore, has been despatched from Brush Loughborough.

Class 87s…
At Willesden late yesterday afternoon it was noted that 87006 87022 87028 and 87032 appear to have been grouped together whilst reportedly GBRf bound 87013 and 87014 are also positioned together nearby. Class 87 fleet report taken yesterday morning…

DRS van movement…?
There are indications that 66403, currently at Willesden, is to take the Class 87s for DRS north sometime tomorrow. Further enquiries indicate that four Class 87s are to be taken to Kingmoor. Off lease but still IWCA allocated 87006 87022 and 87032 along with SBXL allocated 87028 are understood to be involved.

Freightliner sales…
It has been established that 47114 47157 47193 47205 47207 47258 47287 47334 47339 47353 86603 86618 86634 and 86636 have been sold to Booth’s Rotherham for disposal. 86611 and 86631 which were offered for sale with these have been withdrawn from this tender as they were subject to a separate tender and their disposal is currently underway at Crewe.

Toton repaints…
58009 (still WNXX) has been repainted in Seco orange and yellow whilst 58035 (WZFF) has received Fertis grey. Meanwhile 58040 (WZFF) has been admitted to the paint shop for attention.

DRS vans…
DRS have announced that they are to take on three Class 87s, two for traffic use and one for static training.

47528…
Cotswold Rail have announced that they are prepared to sell 47528. Full details on the for sale pages.

Fragonset notes…
Although it has been indicated in the national press that the Wessex top and tail Class 31 operation is to cease shortly it has been indicated that one set, most likely the Inter-City set with 31128 and 31454, is to carry on in use for the foreseeable future.
As for the Manchester / Blackpool job, as far as can be ascertained, this service will be reviewed towards the end of the year.

Electrics…
A brief round up of some recent activities.
73208 put in an appearance on the Gatwick Express circuit on the 13th
Anglia had 86232 86234 86235 and 86246 out yesterday and although 86232 failed at Chelmsford in the morning necessitating a drag by Cotswold Rail’s 47813, 86232 was back in action by the afternoon. Today 86234 86235 and 86246 have been in action between London and Norwich.
On the EBW circuit 87001 87002 87004 87008 87012 87019 87026 87031 and 87033 have all been in action this last day or two however 87026 and 87004 made the breakthrough to Scotland either end of the late running 11:40 1S56 Euston to Glasgow service today in place of the booked Pendolino.
90036 appears to have been hired to VT working between London and Wolverhampton both yesterday and today whilst 90022 and 90027 have recently been the EWS pair employed on the Silverlink Euston – Northampton service.

Au revoir…
58004 and 58007 (both WZFF) were hauled to Dollands Moor from Wembley early yesterday via the 6B23 service. 58004 went through the tunnel this morning in the consist of 4480 whilst 58007 left yesterday in the consist of the 4404 service.

Disposal…
The demolition of 47844 at Crewe works has been completed and the scrapping of 86631 is now underway. Stored from the ILRA pool in May 2002 47844 was initially admitted to Brush Loughborough for conversion to a Class 57 but once stripped it was deemed unsuitable for rebuilding. 47844 was then despatched to Crewe to become a gate guardian but it is thought they were expecting something a little more complete and this was never proceeded with, RIP.

Disposal…
The carcass of 37072 recently despatched to Kingsbury from Barrow Hill has been dismantled. 37072 was stored from Immingham’s FDRI pool in October 1999, RIP.

Au revoir…
56059 and 56060 (both WZGF) have been despatched to France. They were hauled to Dollands Moor by 92003 during the night then despatched through the tunnel in the consist of service 4404 this morning.

Grey bones...
58034 (WZFF) has been out-shopped in Fertis livery at Eastleigh whilst 58035 (WZFF) has been admitted to the paint facility at Toton for cosmetic attention.

43093…
Booked for collection and transfer to the West Somerset Railway from Derby Etches Park on the 15th is 43093, one of the twelve power cars recently sold to First Group.

Edette’s…
The four operational GBRf Class 73s have been involved in a mass naming ceremony at London Victoria today; 73204 Janice, 73205 Jeanette, 73206 Lisa and 73209 Alison

Class 60s…
Four Class 60s have been reinstated from WNTR, 60014 to WCAN from store at Thornaby, 60026 to WCBN from store at Thornaby, 60043 to WCAN from store at Immingham and 60089 to WCBN which re-entered traffic today from store at Margam.

HNRC notes…
Now TPWS fitted 37087 and 37194 have been returned to mainline action running from the ELR to Crewe today. They are booked to be involved with an ECS working from Manchester to Crewe tomorrow but speculative reports this evening suggest that they might see passenger action tomorrow.
20168 has made its move to Hope from Barrow Hill and has entered traffic with Lafarge at Earle’s sidings.

Anglia Sparkies…
Although there are now no booked diagrams for the type 86232 86235 and 86246 were in action yesterday between London Liverpool St and Norwich. 90004 failed yesterday and with 90003 proving to be a bit of a rogue, failing almost daily of late, there are plenty of opportunities for substitutions with the remaining cans.

Au revoir…
56038 (WZGF) and 58015 (WZFF) were hauled from Wembley to Dollands Moor this morning in the consist of the 04:50 6B23 service behind 92041 then the went through the tunnel to France in the consist of 4404.

Work in progress…
The cutting of 47844 and 86631 at Crewe works in underway. 86611 is also to be dismantled on site.

Au revoir…
Fertis duo 56087 and 56117 (both WZGF) went through the tunnel to France yesterday.

Anglia 86s…
Four of the six remaining Class 86s were out yesterday.

Redundant 86s…
Firstly a correction, it was 86230 in the formation hauled from Norwich to Willesden yesterday not 86238 as stated. 86238 is still on Norwich Crown Point.
Secondly, it has been established that the six recently stored Class 86s, 86209 86215 86227 86230 86238 and 86242, are not, due to space constraints, now Barrow Hill bound as had been originally planned.

First Group power cars…
It is understood that First have purchased the following HST power cars from Porterbrook, 43068 43084 43092 43093 43094 43097 43098 43122 43123 43153 43155 and 43198. All bar 43123 and 43155 on the West Somerset Railway and 43093 which has been in use with Midland Mainline are located at Bicester.

Norwich cans…
Stored 86s, 86215 86227 86230 86238 and 86242, have joined 86209 in the engineers sidings adjacent to Norwich Crown Point depot. In preparation for their planned movement north to Barrow Hill in a few days time 86227 and 86242 have been de-named. 86215 and 86238 still had their plates on when viewed today.

Newbies…
57313 is reportedly due to leave Brush Loughborough tomorrow morning whilst 66951 was unloaded at Newport Docks this afternoon

Disposals…
Two more locomotives, 56130 and 86243, have been dismantled at Booth’s Rotherham in the last few days. 86243 which was but just a pile of bits when viewed this morning was stored from Crewe’s WEOE pool in November 2002 whilst 56130, frame and bogies only this morning was stored from Immingham’s WGAI pool in June 1999, RIP.

HST notes…
It is understood that, pending official announcements on both the following items expected in the next few days, the re-engineering project for 43004 and 43009 at Brush Loughborough has been given the green light to go ahead and that 43123 and 43155 currently resident on the WSR are being looked after on behalf of ‘First’. Regarding the second item in particular speculation doing the rounds that the First Group have purchased a number of HST sets, this should remain regarded as *speculation* until such time as an official announcement, confirming or otherwise, is made.

Canned cans…
Six Anglia Class 86s, 86209 86215 86227 86230 86238 and 86242, have been transferred to store, all SAXL at Norwich Crown Point. 6 to go…

Au revoir…
56069 and 56118 (both WZGF) were hauled through the tunnel to France early yesterday evening.

One in one out…
In compliance with Barrow Hill’s strict policy of one in, one out there has been an exchange at the roundhouse. 20066, the second of two Class 20s sold to HNRC by DRS some time ago, 20902 being the other, has arrived at Barrow Hill from Smalmstown swapping places with the carcass of 37072 which has been removed by road to Kingsbury for disposal.

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