News Archive: January 2005

31/01/05

ONE notes…
After some months laid up at Crown Point following transfer from VT 90015, the last Class 90 to do so, entered traffic on Anglia workings on the 28th. All 15 ex WCML 90s have now worked for ONE however they still don’t have all 15 available as 90004 has been away at Willesden for some time now. It is anticipated that the Class 90s still in the defunct VT red colour scheme, 90005 90007 90008 90009 90011 90012 and 90014, will be visiting Willesden for painting in due course.
On the Class 86 front there has been no moves towards resurrecting 86234 which remains dumped in the sidings adjacent to Crown Point although 86218 which doesn't feature on the mainline remains on the depot. 86232 and 86235, the latter is currently sidelined at Norwich for repairs, are holding the fort on the mainline front and it is looking like the retention of Class 86s for Anglia duties is set to continue until at least May.

Willesden 87s…
As far as can be ascertained all the stored Class 87s in the London area can now be found at Willesden. 87008 87026 87031 and 87035 had been recorded as located at Wembley.

MXXX no more…
The MXXX ‘private owner unspecified’ pool has been cleared with the allocated locomotives being transferred to either MBDL or MBEL as appropriate.

Ghosts in the system…
Evidently awaiting the submission of relevant paperwork there are still a number of scrapped locomotives still registered as extant on TOPS...

HNRS: 31174 37341 37404 and 47221
SBXL: 87016
WNSO: 47711
WNZX: 31296 and 31442
XHSS: 37144 37223 and 37262

Ice breaker…
Although 86615 has been on hand at York last week for ice breaking duties as required 86602 has returned following attention at Crewe.

29/01/05

Disposal…
The cutting of 86636 at Booth’s Rotherham was at a very advanced stage this morning, only its severed frame and some internals remaining. Practically all traces of 47207 have been dealt with and a start has been made on 47258 with 47339 being parked in position behind to await its turn. 86636 was stored from Freightliner’s DFNC pool in March 2000, RIP.

CF Booth’s Rotherham…
Please note that from next weekend onwards there will be a £5 admission charge levied on all Saturday morning visitors to their site. Funds raised from this charge is to be donated to various charities, some of which will be railway related.

Ron Hull’s Rotherham…
Please note that there is no admission to this site on health and safety grounds although proceedings can be viewed from a distance. It has been noted that 47471, only recently delivered, is already half dismantled whilst 47285 remains intact.

28/01/05
56007 56031 and 56074 (all WZGF) have completed their protracted move from Immingham to Old Oak Common being hauled from Wembley by 67016 yesterday evening.

27/01/05
37203 (WNTR) is now stopped and stored at Bescot. This leaves EWS with just 12 Class 37s running, WKAD: 37669 & 37427, WKBM: 37401 37406 37416 & 37417, WKCK: 37405 37408 37411 & 37425 along with the WKSN special operations duo: 37418 & 37421.
47471 (SDXL) has completed its move to Hull’s Rotherham being noted on the last leg of its journey traversing the streets of Rotherham mid afternoon yesterday.

Disposal…
In the Training Compound at Toton the demolition of 47702, stored from the ILRA pool in April 2000, is at a fairly advanced stage with only its frame and engine block remaining this afternoon, RIP.

26/01/05
37174 sidelined at Bescot has now been stored WNTS whilst 37203, which was still in traffic this morning, has also been stored, WNTR.
37402 (WNTR) which had been in active traffic has been stopped at Bescot.
37410 and 37676 (both WNTA) remain at Motherwell awaiting transfer to Toton whilst 37427 has, partly offsetting the losses outlined above, been transferred into the WKAD pool from Motherwell’s WKBM fleet.
47471 (SDXL) has been removed by road from Tyseley. Although its current whereabouts are unclear it is presumably en route to join 47285 at Ron Hull Jr Rotherham. Meanwhile it has been indicated that fellow Tyseley incumbents 31549 31558 47547 and 47574 have also bee sold for disposal.
56007 56031 and 56074 (all WZGF) en route from Immingham to Old Oak Common have been forwarded to Wembley from Bescot.

25/01/05
08905 dumped at Bescot since removal from Saltley by road a few days ago has now been stored, WNTS.
33002 (XHSS) has completed its move to the South Devon Railway and preservation.
37410 and 37676 (both WNTA) awaiting transfer south from Motherwell to Toton have been booked for movement to Bescot overnight tonight. They are to join 37308 (WNTR) at Toton for air tank re-certification.
47702 in Toton Training Compound is being dismantled on site. Although at one time subject to being acquired for possible re-use on the mainline this has evidently fallen through as its disposal has commenced.
55022 (still allocated to the defunct DNLL pool) was hauled north from Hornsey to Barrow Hill by 40145 this afternoon more or less as scheduled.
56007 56031 and 56074 (all WZGF) en route to Old Oak Common were transferred from Toton to Bescot this afternoon via the 6G45 service hauled by 60005. Following their initial movement, a few days ago, from Immingham to Toton, they had been due to go to Bescot on the 22nd but their transfer was delayed until today. It is anticipated that 56007 56031 and 56074 will be forwarded to Wembley for tripping across to Old Oak Common.
57604 (IWLA) was released from repairs at Brush Loughborough this morning.
92013 and 92041 have been reinstated to WTAE from store at Crewe EMD.

24/01/05
33002 (XHSS) is en route by road from MoD Smalmstown into preservation on the South Devon Railway.
47285 (SDXL), one of several redundant locomotives offered for sale by Fragonset, has been removed by road today from Barrow Hill. It is understood that 47285 has been taken to Ron Hull JR, Rotherham (the people who broke 56002 at Doncaster Carr some years ago) for disposal.

RSG…
Reported times for 40145 and the movement to Barrow Hill of 55022 tomorrow.

40145… Old Oak Common (d) 10:00, Hornsey (a) 11:00
40145 & 55022… Hornsey (d) 11:20, Hitchin 12:00, Peterborough 12:45, Grantham 13:15, Doncaster Decoy 14:00, Masborough Junction 14:24, Barrow Hill (a) 15:00

23/01/05
43019 at Crewe Works since being damaged in the Ufton Nervet collision November last has now officially been written off and deleted from the system records.
47841 has been added to the Freightliner fleet having transferred to the DFLH pool from ATSP.

RSG to go…
On its way back to the ELR 40145 is scheduled to collect 55022 from Hornsey on the 25th and transport it north to Barrow Hill.

22/01/05
56007 56031 and 56074 (all WZGF) are on the move from Immingham to Old Oak Common being hauled from Immingham to Toton last night by 60041.

Disposal…
The cutting of 47207 at Booth’s was at such an advanced stage, frame and some internals but no superstructure, this morning that its disposal can be recorded. Next in line 47258 is positioned behind the remains of 47207 whilst a start has been made on scrapping 86636. 47207 was stored from Freightliner’s DFLT pool in April 2001, RIP.

47782…
It has been recently noted that 47782 (WNXX) at Old Oak Common has been stripped out to little more than a bare shell. Quite possibly connected with this is the news that some Class 47 equipment, power units / bogies etc, has been despatched away for main works attention. Unless EWS are overhauling Class 47s now it must be assumed that this equipment is being repaired for use elsewhere.

Shunter news…
08528 (WSEM) has arrived in the West Midlands to replace 08905 (WRWM) which had been stopped with a defective generator. The omens for the future of 08905 are not good as it was de-named prior to removal from Saltley by road yesterday.
RMS owned 08413 and 08622 have been removed from the storage lists, 08413 currently at Dewsbury as it is now regarded as privately owned and 08622 because it was returned to use on hire in the Middlesbrough area some months ago. 08870 / H024 is currently at Dewsbury for attention.

21/01/05
43086 and 43159 (both SBXL) were hauled from Derby to MoD Bicester yesterday afternoon by 66613.

Work in progress…
The demolition of 47207 at Booth’s Rotherham is underway.

37194…
Freshly out-shopped in DRS colours 37194 (HNRL) has been released from Barrow Hill making its way north to Kingmoor this afternoon via the West midlands, Crewe and the WCML. Although it had been scheduled to pick up 37087 and 37515 (both HNRL) from Crewe en route, only 37515 was collected and taken north to Carlisle behind 37194.

Grids to go…
60041 is to haul three Class 56s, believed to be 56007 56031 and 56074 (all WZGF), from Immingham to Toton this evening.

20/01/05
08698 (WNTS) was moved to Doncaster Carr from Peterborough on the 17th as suspected.
20132 has been transported from MoD Smalmstown to Barrow Hill by road overnight. It was noted en route, near Crewe, early this morning.
60055 (WNTR) is now stopped and stored at Immingham.

Class 87s for heritage repaints…
It is as good as confirmed that two Class 87s are to be repainted in heritage colour schemes to mark their eventual passing from WCML passenger duties. Although what colour schemes are in the pipeline is unclear at the moment, Inter-City or two variations of Inter-City (as the 87s have carried several) or one being a re-hash of the large logo black scheme as sported by 87006 at one time, have been suggested. 87012 and 87019 are understood to be the intended recipients.

DRS Class 66 fleet...
The DRS Class 66/4 fleet has been temporarily withdrawn from traffic for attention to their braking systems following the issuing of a safety defect notification by another operator. This has resulted in the traffic flows normally handled by the 66s going over, in the main, to pairs of DRS Class 37s. To help cover the shortfall 47298 and 47802, which had been languishing at Crewe for spot hire work, have been pressed back into use.

37194…
It has been indicated that DRS blue 37194 (HNRL) is booked to run from Barrow Hill to Crewe tomorrow morning. No further details available.

Anglia Cans…
Although one of the Class 86s is out most days both 86232 and 86235 were in traffic this morning but 86232 failed and has been despatched to Crown Point for repairs.

19/01/05
20105 and 20121 (XHSS) have been removed from MoD Smalmstown, both by road overnight last night. 20105 has turned up at the Battlefield Line whilst 20121 has been deposited at Barrow Hill.
37308 (WNTR) has completed its transfer to Toton from Doncaster Belmont whilst 37798 (WNTA) has been moved south from Bescot to Margam. Both transfers taking place last night.
37402 (WNTR) is still in active traffic and has been hired to the WKAD pool until 25/01. Evidently standing in for the defective 37174 (WKAD) sidelined at Bescot are we going to see 37402 reinstated proper at the expense of 37174 or are EWS going to persevere with the latter?
47316 (CREL) has made its way to Brush Loughborough today for minor mechanical attention rather than to collect 47828 as has been suggested elsewhere.
56007 56031 and 56074 (all WZGF) at Immingham have been assigned for movement to Old Oak Common for preparation for export.
60007 (WNTR) has now been stopped for store at Immingham whilst 60055 (WNTR) was still in traffic this afternoon albeit on a Humberside bound working so it too should be stopped and stored at Immingham by now. Meanwhile 60056 (WNTR) has been hauled north from Doncaster Belmont to Thornaby for ‘special tests‘.

67029…
The EWS executive ensemble is due out on tests again this Friday, 21/01/05. The following times have been received…

Toton (d) 05:50, Nottingham 06:18, Grantham 06:53, Peterborough 07:27 Kings X (a) 09:08
Kings X (d) 09:25, Peterborough (a) 10:40 (d) 10:47, Kings X (a) 12:23
Kings X (d) 12:55, Peterborough 14:29, Grantham 15:04, Nottingham 15:46, Toton (a) 16:35

18/01/05 22:15
37308 and 60056 (both WNTR) have left Healey Mills being dragged to Doncaster Belmont this evening with 67011 by 67009. From Doncaster 37308 is to be forwarded to Toton whilst 60056 is to be tripped north to Thornaby.
37402 (WNTR) has again been returned to use from Bescot, being turned out with 37669 on a working to Sutton Bridge.
37798 (WNTA) at Bescot awaiting transfer to Margam is booked to be taken to South Wales overnight tonight.
43094 and 43198 (both FGXP) have been extracted from MoD Bicester being hauled to St Philips Marsh this afternoon by 47805.
60007 and 60055 (both WNTR) are on their way north from South Wales for storage at Immingham, 60007 via an Immingham bound working whilst 60055 is at the head of a Hartlepool bound service.

EWS Class 37s…
All the stored Class 37s, bar 37402, that had been pressed back into use over the last two weekends are now showing as N ONE status. That appears to be that.

18/01/05 14:40
60007 and 60055, both still in active traffic in South Wales this afternoon, have been stored WNTR. They are assigned to Immingham for storage.
60042 has been reinstated to the WCAN pool but is still on a B exam at Thornaby whilst it has been established that 60056 (WNTR) currently at Healy Mills is Thornaby bound.
60075 and 60090 both at Immingham along with 60092 at Toton have been stored WNTR. These losses leave the Class 60s with 88 allocated to the operational pools.
90016 (DFLC) is scheduled to visit the Toton paintshop early next month.

18/01/05 13:00
08698 (WNTS) was removed by road from Peterborough yesterday, possibly to Doncaster Carr. 08698 had been in almost daily use since storage a week or so ago due to the general unreliability of Peterborough stable mate 08512, now all they have left to use.
43159 (SBXL) is located at Derby Etches Park, not Neville Hill as reported yesterday.

EWS Class 37s…
37047 and 37109 (both WNTA) have been stood down at Hither Green whilst 37668 and 37712 (both WNTA) are now back in store at Warrington. 37689 (WNTA) has also arrived at Warrington but 37419 and 37896 (both WNTA) have made their move to South Wales going south to Newport from Warrington overnight before running light engines to Margam this morning. 37798 also awaiting transfer to Margam remains at Bescot. Meanwhile 37308 along with 60056 (both WNTR) have been removed from Crewe to Healey Mills to await forwarding to Toton.

For the record a review of the stored Class 37s (and 60056) returned to use over the past two weekends for infrastructure duties or cover…

Both weekends: 37047 37419 37516 37517 37521 37668 37685 37689 37706 37707 37709 37710 37886 37893 37895
First weekend only: 37042 37503 37890
Second weekend only: 37109 37308 37402 37410 37517 37674 37676 37712 37798 37896 60056

Cotswold Rail and 87s…
It has been noted that Cotswold Rail are now advertising the availability of hiring Class 87s on their website [ http://www.cotswoldrail.com ] in the hire fleet section. Although no Class 87s have as yet been allocated / reinstated to the CR pool group it has been indicated that 87007 and 87008 may be heading their way.

17/01/05 17:15

More Class 87s Stored…
Five of the six Class 87s stood down at the end of 2004, 87021 87023 87026 87031 and 87035, have now been officially stored SBXL. These losses leave the IWCA pool with just nine Class 87s allocated, 87001 87002 87003 87004 87010 87012 87019 87030 and 87033 of which 87003 remains off lease at Oxley.

EWS Class 37s…
Further to the earlier update several of the stored Class 37 stopped again after their weekend engineering use have had their status amended to NONE which may imply that that‘s it now. Those showing N ONE are 37042 37419 37503 37516 37521 37709 37798 37886 and 37896. Meanwhile 37410 37674 37676 37710 37893 and 37895 are still showing as allocated for store whilst 37517 37685 and 37706 still have ‘not to be used’ restrictions in place.
37419 and 37895 at Warrington have now been assigned for movement to Margam as has 37798 currently at Bescot whilst 37308 has had it assignment for movement to Toton for attention reinstated.
Lastly, not previously noted, has been the test run from Margam to Llanwern and back in the early hours of this morning by 37692 with 37890 in tow for insurance.

HST power cars binned…
43086 and 43159, both thought to be sidelined at Neville Hill, have been returned to store, SBXL.

Royal repaint…
67006 (WAAK) has been out-shopped in Royal Plum livery at Toton.

Early AC Electric Classes back on the system…
Classes 81 83 and 85 are now back on the system with the renumbering from the Class 89 TOPS Private Owner series of 81002 (from 89503) 83012 (from 89535) and 85101 (from 89561).

17/01/05 14:05
20303 and 47237 (both XHMW) have completed their movement to Brush Loughborough for attention whilst 60095 (WNTR) is now at Toton for tyre turning having being moved across from Doncaster Carr.

EWS Class 37s, back to store…
Most of the stored EWS Class 37s returned to use for weekend engineering duties have been stopped again and returned to store. 37402 37707 37798 37893 and 37895 have been retired at Bescot, 37410 37674 and 37676 at Motherwell, 37419 37710 and 37896 at Warrington, 37516 and 37521 at Doncaster Carr, 37517 37685 and 37706 at Toton whilst 37709 and 37886 are at Millerhill.
37047 and 37109 are still in traffic in the South East working a Serco test train whilst 37308 37668 37689 37712 along with 60056 were to be found at Crewe DMD this morning. Of these 37668 and 37712 are still technically active as they are booked to run to Warrington with the defective 37689 in tow at some point whilst 37419 and 37896 already at Warrington are on ‘transfer’ which indicates that they might be heading back to South Wales.

16/01/05
37308 (WNTR) from Bescot and 60056 (WNTR) from Warrington have also been pressed into traffic today on infrastructure duties. True to form 37689 (WNTA) has expired again spending most of today dumped at Sandbach awaiting a tow.

15/01/05

EWS Class 37s…
Since yesterday’s report the following stored Class 37s have been pressed into service for weekend infrastructure jobs or cover: 37410 37674 and 37676 off Motherwell, 37516 37517 and 37521 off Doncaster Carr, 37685 off Toton, 37689 off Warrington along with 37706 37707 37712 37798 and 37893 off Bescot.
37042 at Doncaster Carr has been hired but as far as is known has not entered traffic yet whilst 37308 at Bescot has been returned to *normal* status and 37372 at Motherwell has reverted from N ONE to ‘stored serviceable’.

Barrow Hill Repaints…
37194 (HNRL) has been out-shopped in DRS colours whilst 47575 has had it’s ‘Parcels Red’ livery re-applied.

14/01/05 22:00

EWS Class 37s…
37668 and 37710 have been released into traffic from Warrington whilst 37896 has been released from Margam. 37896 appears to have replaced 37890 which was to have been returned to use with 37419, 37890 remains at Margam.

Movements in the pipeline…
58006 58010 58011 and 58018 (all WZFF) at Eastleigh are being prepared for removal elsewhere. A trip to Toton is thought to be a strong possibility. Meanwhile 60095 (WNTR) at Doncaster Carr has been assigned for movement to Toton for tyre turning.

XHMW…
DRS have added 20301 20303 and 47237 to the XHMW repair pool. Whilst 20301 has been deposited at Glasgow Works for attention 20303 and 47237 were hauled south from Kingmoor to Crewe by 66402 yesterday afternoon where they remain awaiting transfer, possibly to Loughborough.

Another Anglia Can…?
There are indications that consideration is being given towards resurrecting 86234, sidelined since the end of October at Norwich, for use alongside 86232 and 86235.

VT Class 47s…
47830 and 47841 are set to come off lease when 57311 is released from Dellner fitment at Brush and 57316 is fully accepted into traffic. Four Class 47s, 47810 47826 47840 and 47851 are to remain with VT till (at least) the end of 2005.

14/01/05 15:10
56051 (WZGF) has been moved from Eastleigh to Bristol Barton Hill.

EWS Class 37s…
Further to the earlier report 37047 (ex Hither Green) 37109 (ex Temple Mills) 37419 and 37890 (ex Margam) 37709 and 37886 (ex Millerhill) along with 37895 (ex Bescot) have been returned to use whilst 37042 37410 37503 37516 37517 37521 37674 37675 37676 37684 37685 37692 37698 37706 37707 37712 37798 37893 and 37896 are all showing *normal* status.

14/01/05 13:25

EWS Class 37s…
This coming weekend (again) sees a massive requirement of traction for ballast and infrastructure jobs so like last week, although probably more this time, a number of stored EWS Class 37s are to be returned to traffic for the duration. So far only 37402 (WNTR) has re-entered traffic off Bescot but 37042 at Doncaster Carr, 37893 at Bescot, Motherwell trio 37410 37674 and 37676 (all WNTA) along with Millerhill duo 37709 and 37886 (both WNTA) are due to enter traffic this afternoon. There will no doubt be others…

Disposals…
Two to report, both at Booths Rotherham. By yesterday afternoon 47287 was down to a frame and one cab, which was due to be removed this morning, whilst 86425 had been reduced to a frame and a pile of bits. 47287 was stored from Freightliner’s DFLM pool in September 2002 whilst 86425 was stored from Crewe’s WEOE pool in February 2002, RIP.

DRS, 87s and the WSR…
The *official* line from DRS is that they are not having any more Class 87s and that none are to go to the WSR for repainting.

Wigan CRDC and access…
It has been established that permission to gain access to remove the stored locomotives being offered for sale at the CRDC was granted to EWS in October 2004. However, as far as is known, there has not been any progress towards the re-offering of the locomotives that had been tendered for sale and subsequently embargoed. It has also been suggested that unless there are developments soon then there may be a change of heart by the local council.

37194…
HNRC wish to advise that 37194 will not be on public view at Barrow Hill this coming weekend.

13/01/05
37308 (WNTA) at Bescot appears to be in line for reinstatement, again, having being assigned for movement to Toton for attention whilst 37712 (WNTA) has completed its move to Bescot.
56096 56099 56105 and 56106 (all WZGF) were hauled from Immingham to Toton by 60044 during the night.

Anglia 86s…
Only 86232 is out today, 86235 is stand by at Norwich.

West Country Electrics…?
Details are sketchy for the following but there are indications that three Class 73s are to be moved to Meldon for storage and that two Class 87s are to be moved to the West Somerset Railway for repainting at Williton. The Class 87s for re-painting are understood to be being carried out on behalf of DRS which in turn indicates that they are in the process of adding to their electric fleet.

12/01/05 23:15

More for France…
Another five locomotives have been identified as candidates for a trip to France. Added to the Class 56 WZGF pool are 56007 56031 and 56074, all at Immingham, whilst added to the Class 58 WZFF pool are 58021 and 58026 at Eastleigh. 56007 is the first Romanian built example to be selected.

12/01/05 16:35
37047 (WNTA) has been returned to Hither Green from Hoo Junction whilst 37689 (WNTA) is now at Warrington having being moved north from Crewe.
37712 (WNTA) has been released from repairs at Wigan CRDC making its way to Bescot at the head of the 7G28 Castleton to Bescot service this afternoon.

Anglia Cans…
Yes plural. Both 86232 and 86235 have been out on Anglia workings today.

11/01/05 21:45
08698 at Peterborough has been stored WNTS as has 08802 at Allerton having being displaced at Dee Marsh by 08593 (WSWM) moved out from Warrington by road yesterday.

11/01/05 16:50
37047 (WNTA) is still at Hoo Junction allocated 0Y95 (wherever that goes to) whilst 37712 (WNTA) is still on Wigan CRDC awaiting transfer to Bescot. 37668 and 37710 (both WNTA) are located at Warrington, not Speke as indicated yesterday.
60056 (WNTR) at Warrington has been stopped with a ‘not to be used’ restriction in place.
86232 (IANA) re-entered traffic this morning taking over the Norwich / Liverpool St. diagram from 86235.

10/01/05 21:35
08593 (WSWM) was removed by road from Warrington this afternoon.
86622 (DFNC) has entered traffic being noted at York earlier today with 86614. 86637, also recently reinstated, remains at Crewe EMD being prepared for a return to the mainline.

EWS Class 37s…
The five stored 37s reported as still out and about earlier have been stopped. 37047 at Hoo Junction, probably on transfer back to Temple Mills, whilst 37503 has been retired back at Doncaster Carr as planned. 37668 and 37710 are still at Speke where, it turns out, they have been located since the 8th whilst 37689 has failed at Crewe Basford Hall and is awaiting transfer to Warrington.

10/01/05 12:20
60056 (WNTR hired to WKSN) is out and about again having made it to Warrington this morning.

EWS Class 37s, back to store…
Most of the EWS Class 37s resurrected for infrastructure duties have been returned to store although five were still in traffic this morning. 37042 37516 and 37521 have been returned to Doncaster Carr, 37419 and 37890 have been returned to Margam, 37685 has been returned to Toton, 37706 37707 and 37895 have been returned to Bescot along with 37893 which was at Crewe EMD before being pressed back into use whilst 37709 and 37886 have been returned to Millerhill.
37047 37503 37668 37689 and 37710 were still active this morning, 37047 being noted in the Eastleigh area. 37503 is on a diagram which will get it back to Doncaster for store whilst 37668 37689 and 37710 are out and about in the North West and should all end up at Warrington for store.

Anglia Cans…
86235 is, again, today out on the Norwich / Liverpool St. diagram whilst 86232 is ready to go showing as ‘stand by’ at Crown Point.

08/01/05
60056 (WNTR hired to WKSN) only made it to Rotherham Steel Terminal yesterday but all is not well as it has since been admitted to Doncaster Carr for attention.

EWS Class 37s…
37042 37503 37516 and 37521 (ex Doncaster Carr) 37668 (ex Bescot) 37707 (ex Bescot) 37709 (ex Millerhill) 37710 (ex Bescot) 37886 (ex Millerhill) 37893 (ex Crewe EMD) and 37895 (ex Bescot) have been pressed into service for this weekend’s engineering duties whilst 37689 and 37706 from Warrington and Bescot respectively have been returned to active use. Several more Class 37s are added to the list of those 37s made available for use but as far as is known haven’t worked yet, 37410 (Motherwell) 37798 (Bescot) and 37896 (Margam). 37402 remains available at Bescot and hasn’t worked yet but has been or is to be fitted with RETB equipment whilst 37712 at Wigan CRDC remains available with its assignment to Bescot for an oil change still in place.

Work in progress…
The cutting of 86425 at Booth’s Rotherham is underway.

07/01/04 23:30
60056 (WNTR but now hired to WKSN) has been pressed back into traffic from store at Thornaby being despatched to Peak Forest this evening.

EWS Class 37s…
The situation is extremely fluid at the moment but 37685 (WNTA) has been released into traffic this evening from Toton whilst it has been established that fellow WNTA duo 37689 and 37706, both released into traffic on the 5th, have been stopped again for minor repairs at Warrington and Bescot respectively. 37706 is booked out on infrastructure duties from Bescot in the early hours of tomorrow morning as are 37402 (WNTR), which was hauled to Bescot today rather than re-entering traffic as first thought, and 37895 (WNTA). Meanwhile 37042 (WNTR at Doncaster Carr) 37692 (WNTA at Margam) 37712 (WNTA at Wigan CRDC) and 37893 (WNTA at Crewe EMD) have joined the list of Class 37s available for use.

07/01/05 16:30

EWS Class 37s…
At least four WNTA allocated Class 37s have been returned to use today. 37047 from Hither Green, 37402 from Toton along with 37419 and 37890 from Margam. In addition to these the following were at 14:00 showing as available for use / normal status: 37109 (Temple Mills) 37674 (Motherwell) 37676 (Motherwell) 37684 (Margam) 37685 (Toton) 37698 (Margam) 37709 (Millerhill) 37886 (Millerhill) and 37895 (Bescot).

06/01/05 20:00
56096 56099 56105 and 56106 (all WZGF) at Immingham have been assigned for movement to Toton and special tests.
86232 (IANA) sidelined at Norwich Crown Point since October is being repaired for a return to use as required on Anglia diagrams alongside 86235 which has been out on the Norwich / Liverpool St. circuit all day today. Evidently 86218 and 86246 have been deemed unusable.
92013 (WNTR) has been out on test today from Crewe EMD to Trafford Park and back.

EWS Class 37s…
A number of WNTA and WNTR Class 37s are showing as ready for or being readied for reinstatement. Several have received exams and or repairs whilst others are still undergoing attention. Currently the list, which is more an educated guess as opposed to anything official, of candidates for reinstatement includes 37042 37047 37109 37402 37419 37422 37503 37516 37517 37521 37668 37670 37674 37676 37682 37684 37685 37689 37706 37710 37712 37717 37798 37890 37893 and 37896.

06/01/05 11:20
20108 and 20159 have been extracted from MoD Smalmstown near Carlisle by road. Kingsbury bound, they were noted heading south on the M6 yesterday evening.
37689 and 37706 (both WNTA but hired to WKSN) have been released into traffic from store at Warrington. These are the first of several anticipated Class 37s to be returned to use due to a heavy requirement for traction for infrastructure duties over at least the next two weekends. It is understood that over 100 ballast trains, possibly an all time record requirement, are booked to run at various locations across the UK this weekend alone.
47828, now reinstated to Cotswold Rail’s CREL pool, has left Willesden running to Brush Loughborough this morning.

RTLO additions…
Riviera now officially have nine Class 47s on their books following the reallocation of 47805 47812 47829 47843 47847 and 47848 from Freightliner’s DFLH pool and 47815 from First Great Western’s IWLA pool to the RTLO pool. All are operational bar 47848 which, following a period on decision, is undergoing repairs at LNWR Crewe utilising parts from 47224.

Margam…
On the 3rd the following were noted in one long line in the yard adjacent to the depot (in order): 37684 37890 37419 37698 37415 37412 37692 37704 47772 47761 56100 37428 37248 37413 and 56062. 37896 was parked on its own on an adjacent siding whilst 37403 was to be found in the ballast yard. Over by the shed, still awaiting collection by HNRC, was 37898.

05/01/05 17:00
47270 recently sidelined at Crewe LNWR with engine defects and worn tyres has been stored DHLT.
60011 and 60018, both from store at Toton, have been reinstated to the WCAN pool swapping places with 60042 and 60097 which have been stored WNTS at Thornaby and Toton respectively.
60072 (WCAN) out of use with traction motor problems is on the move this afternoon from Port Talbot to Toton by road.

05/01/05 09:10
67006 (WAAK) has been assigned for a trip into the paint booth at Toton presumably to receive its long awaited application of Royal Plum.
86235 (IANA) is out again working the 06:22 Yarmouth to Liverpool St. from Norwich.

04/01/05
37712 (WNTA) was hauled from Warrington to Wigan CRDC this morning for repairs.
86235 (IANA) has again been out on Anglia workings working today’s 07:40 Norwich to Liverpool St and 10:00 return.

Disposal…
The demolition of 47334 at Booth’s Rotherham is at a fairly advanced stage, only its frame, bogies and very little else remain. Although most of the work had been undertaken before the Christmas break the completion of its disposal is to take place shortly. 47334 was stored from Freightliner’s DFLT pool in October 2001, RIP.

02/01/05

87s stood down…
87003 87021 87023 87026 87031 and 87035 have been taken off lease. 87012 and 87019 which were initially listed to go off lease have been retained at the expense of 87003 and 87021 which were stopped and in need of attention. Eight to go...

01/01/05 17:40

The fat lady has lost her voice altogether…
Although yesterday’s ONE workings with 86235 (IANA) were, barring major disruption, supposed to be the last use of the Class on Anglia workings the lease for 86218 86235 and 86246 has, at the eleventh hour, been extended for the foreseeable future on a hire by the day basis. Indeed 86235, the only one of these three currently mainline operational, has been out on passenger work already hauling the 15:00 from Norwich to London Liverpool St this afternoon.
87019 (IWCA) one of the six Class 87s due to have been going off lease is still in action, possibly being retained in lieu of the defective 87003, whilst 87033 (IWCA) has been up to Preston today returning south with the 15:20 to Euston service.

EWS Class 37s…
37109 (WNTA) has been moved from Hither Green to Temple Mills for repairs whilst 37682 and 37893 (both WNTA) have been removed from Warrington to Crewe EMD for attention including tyre turning whilst 37712 (WNTA) at Warrington has been pre-assigned to make a trip to the CRDC at Wigan for repairs.
Other Class 37s currently showing signs of being on the comeback trail include 37042 37402 37668 37670 37710 and 37798. No doubt there will be others…

WNTR Class 60s…
60011 at Toton is now showing as ‘stored serviceable’ indicating that its restoration to health is complete and a return to use may be imminent whilst 60018 60056 60057 and 60095 are all showing signs nearing completion of repairs.

01/01/05 14:10
86622 and 86637 recently removed from LNWR to Crewe EMD were reinstated to the DFNC pool yesterday.

DFLH 47/8s…
The two 47/8s recently added to the Freightliner fleet, 47811 and 47816, are on special tests whilst the other 47/8s which are transferring to Riviera are all now, apart from 47805 which is out and about again, in the Crewe area.

47805 DFLH In traffic, North Wales Coast diagram
47811 DFLH Crewe Basford Hall, special tests
47812 DFLH Crewe Basford Hall, available
47816 DFLH Crewe Basford Hall, special tests
47829 DFLH Crewe Basford Hall, available
47843 DFLH Crewe LNWR, repairs
47847 DFLH Crewe Basford Hall, available
47848 DFLH Crewe LNWR, repairs

top  |  December 2004  |  news archives  |  wnxx