News Archive: August 2005

31/08/05
20063 (2002) has left Southampton Docks by road and is to join 20035 (2001) at Goodman’s yard. 20228 (2004) is due back in the UK from France shortly.
47328 (WNSO) has completed its move by road from Wigan CRDC to Booth’s Rotherham.
73210 and 73211 (both SBXL) were to have been removed from Eastleigh Works today but their transfer has been delayed. It is understood that they are to be moved to St Leonard's.

33203...
With the news that the proposed use of 33203 as a static exhibit in conjunction with a themed restaurant at Newton Stewart has fallen through and that the locomotive is due to be removed from Scotland by road to Kingsbury shortly, 33203 is re-listed.

30/08/05
47328 (WNSO) is on the move. Rotherham bound it was removed from Wigan CRDC by road this evening.

Sales re-arranged…
The sales of the Wigan wagon bound duo 37711 and 37715, which were initially to a private party, have been amended and they are now the property of HNRC. 37711 and 37715 will be Kingsbury bound when extracted from the CRDC.

29/08/05

Disposal…
The carcass of 20159 stored from Toton’s FEFN pool back in August 1991 has been disposed of at Kingsbury, RIP.

28/08/05

Choppers repatriated…
Former CFD Class 20s 2001 (20035) and 2002 (20063) have returned from France being unloaded at Southampton this morning. Welcome back.

26/08/05 17:00
60069 (WNTR) has been moved from Immingham to Thornaby for tyre turning.
87013 and 87014 recently taken to Oxley have now been stored SBXL.

44 and climbing…
Six more Class 60s have been reinstated this afternoon increasing the operational fleet total to 44. Reinstated to WCAN are 60057 60066 and 60085 from store at Thornaby along with 60029 and 60040 from store at Toton. Reinstated to WCBN is 60091 from store at Toton.
Although the majority of the Class 60 reinstatements to date have been from those laid up in the last couple of months or so this batch contains three that have been out of circulation for a while. 60029 and 60085, stopped since February and March this year respectively, whilst back after just over a year in store is 60057 laid up since July 2004.

Toton allocated Tugs…
Not picked up on until their allocations were corrected was that all the Class 60s reinstated so far this month, prior to today's batch of reinstatements, had been allocated to Toton on reinstatement as opposed of Immingham. Anyway this anomaly has been corrected now with a recent home depot allocation transfer from Toton to Immingham of 60003 60010 60018 60030 60031 60056 60067 60072 60074 60075 60079 60082 60083 and 60089.

26/08/05 08:15

On the road...
47331 (WNSO) which is Kingsbury bound was extracted from Wigan CRDC by road late yesterday evening.
56061 (WNSO) was removed by road from Toton yesterday afternoon and has been transported to Allely’s at Studley. It is assumed that 47767 (WNSO), earlier removed from Toton by road, has also been taken to Allely’s yard for further storage on behalf of FM / Fragonset.

86249…
The saga continues. Whilst it has now been established that 86249 is indeed Caerwent bound it is not going there just yet and has been diverted to Heanor’s at Langley Mill for the time being before continuing on to South Wales in a few days time where it will ultimately be broken for spares on behalf of its current owners.

Disposal…
The demolition of 37509, still allocated to WNXX and not recorded as being offered for sale, has been completed on site at Cardiff Canton. 37509 was stored from Toton’s WKSN sandite pool in December 2001, RIP.

Patched…
60086 (WCAN) latterly in the erstwhile triple grey freight livery with mainline decals has received a set of EWS bodyside patches as fitted recently to 92016 92030 and 92037.

25/08/05
47767 (WNSO) has been removed from Toton by road and a low loader was back on site this afternoon to collect 56061 (WNSO).
56071 (WZGF) was despatched through to France yesterday morning.
66192 (WBAN) one of the two ‘sheds in the dirt’ earlier this month has arrived at and has been admitted into the CRDC at Wigan for a body lift and inspection.

Disposals…
At Booth’s Rotherham 37334 and 47217 have been disposed of in recent days. 37334 was stored from Bescot’s LBSB pool in March 1997 whilst 47217 was stored from Bescot’s WHBF pool in June 1999, RIP.

Work in progress…
The derelict shell of 37509 abandoned at Cardiff Canton is in the process of being broken up on site.

23/08/05
56071 (WZGF) is on its way to France being moved to Wembley from Bristol Barton Hill in the consist of this afternoon’s 6M33 from Avonmouth behind 67024 and 67016 meanwhile 58018 (WZFF) has departed to France being hauled from Wembley to Dollands Moor then through the tunnel this morning.
86249 (SAXL) is still on the move by road being noted heading south near Ashby de la Zouch early this afternoon. Obviously Barrow Hill can be ruled out now and Wembley as a destination is looking unlikely however there has been an indication that Caerwent are to shortly take delivery of a Class 86 which may well be a pointer to its actual destination.
87013 and 87014 (both GBAC) which are now off lease pending developments were hauled from Willesden to Oxley today by Cotswold Rail’s 47828.

Sales…
The following sales by EWS have been advised.

HNRC: 08481 47778
Private sale: 37414

More silver banana’s…
Cotswold Rail have advised that they are taking on 43080 and 43157 as well as the previously mentioned 43070 43087 43193 and 43196 when VTXC have finished with them. Transfer is expected to take place early next month. Besides the prospect of seeing a HST set or two sets re-liveried in CR silver, a mock up has already been prepared, there is a possibility that one set may receive a heritage repaint into the original ‘flying banana’ yellow blue and grey colour scheme.

22/08/05
56124 (WNSO) currently languishing in the yard at Healey Mills is due to be on the move shortly, by rail to Horbury then by road from Horbury to Loughborough.
86249 (SAXL) left Wilton by road this afternoon southbound via the A1. In addition to the earlier reports that it is ultimately Wembley bound there are now speculative reports that it is destined to go to Barrow Hill.

21/08/05
37370 (WNSO) did make it to Booth’s Rotherham yesterday. Even though it had been anticipated that it would be spending the weekend at Heanor’s Langley Mill 37370, on arrival from Wigan via an overnight stop-over at Uttoxeter, was delivered late morning.

20/08/05
37370 (WNSO) is on the move by road from Wigan to Booth’s Rotherham having being extracted from the CRDC yesterday evening. As with other locomotives despatched on Friday’s it is probably spending the weekend at Langley Mill.
47767 and 56061 (both WNSO) at Toton have been repositioned to the road transport loading point indicating that they may be on the move at some point.
86249 (SAXL) confirmed as still being at Wilton is awaiting collection and removal south, reportedly to Wembley, by road.

And then there were 38…
Three more Class 60s, 60003 60018 and 60075, all from store at Toton, have been reinstated.

Silver Banana’s…
It has been indicated that following the cessation of the VTXC summer dated cross country HST workings, provisionally to finish on the last weekend of this month, Cotswold Rail are to take onto their books two HST sets including power cars 43070 43087 43193 and 43196.

19/08/05
56036 has completed its move by road from Wigan CRDC to Booth’s Rotherham.

Disposal…
At Booth’s Rotherham the cutting of 37068, stored in May 1995, just over a decade ago, from Immingham’s FDKI pool, has been completed, RIP.

18/08/05
Having been away for the past week or so the following update is a review of changes from this period.

Reinstatements…
The transfer to MOLO of 08588 which has been undergoing repairs at Wabtec is regarded as a reinstatement whilst the EWS Class 60 fleet is now up to 35 operational examples with the reinstatement from store on the 12th of 60010 60030 60056 60074 and 60089. More to follow…

Stored…
Only one to report, that of 33030 stopped with engine trouble which has been stored XHSS at Kingmoor.

Movements...
08844 (WNTR) recently moved up to Crewe EMD from Old Oak Common for attention has been moved again to Daventry where it has replaced 08907 (WRWM) which has been returned to Bescot.
20904 has made its move from Kingmoor to the East Lancashire Railway where it has joined fellow HNRC ‘chopper’ 20901.
The Wigan CRDC clearout has continued with 37298 47217 and 47566 being shipped across the Pennines to Booth’s Rotherham by road whilst 56036, also Rotherham bound, has left the CRDC for Booth’s being noted at Uttoxeter on a low loader this morning. Also removed from the CRDC by road is 56029 which has been taken to Brush Loughborough where it is to provide spares for the Jarvis Class 56 overhaul program.
The four Class 56s most recently added to the WZGF French program have been recovered from Healey Mills being despatched south for attention with 56037 and 56103 going to Old Oak Common whilst 56104 and 56115 have been moved to Bristol Barton Hill. Meanwhile whilst Fertis liveried 56007 and 56071 are still awaiting despatch to France at Old Oak Common and Bristol Barton Hill respectively 58018, the last Class 58 in the French program, is on its way having being dragged from Eastleigh to Wembley this afternoon.
60029 (WNTR) latterly in store at Immingham has been moved to Toton for repairs whilst 60066 (WNTS) has been transferred up to Thornaby from Margam for attention.
86249 (SAXL) removed from Polmadie on the 9th is, as far as can be ascertained, still at Wilton.

Disposals...
The Ferrybridge / Hull’s situation has been resolved in that only 08740 and 08867 remain in store at Ferrybridge which means that by deduction, in addition to the shunters already known about, 08758 08882 and 08893 have also made the trip to Rotherham and have been dismantled. So its RIP for 08758 stored from Stratford’s EWSF pool October 1997, RIP for 08882 stored from Motherwell’s WSSC pool in October 2001 and RIP for 08893 stored from Bescot’s MSNB pool back in January 1994. In addition, assuming that it was finished off, its RIP for 08901 stored from Bescot’s MSNB pool October 1993.
Besides the above the carcass of 47764 recently extracted from Wigan CRDC to Kingsbury has been disposed of so its RIP for 47764 stored from Crewe’s WHCD pool in March 2001.

Safe cans…
With the news that the AC Loco Group have secured 86101 at Ashchurch and 86213 currently at Wembley for preservation these two have been removed from the storage lists pending developments.

09/08/05
20904 currently at Carlisle Kingmoor is due to be on the move shortly and is to join 20901 on the East Lancashire Railway.
37408 which completed its move by road from South Wales to Toton last night has been stored WNTR. It is replaced in the WKCK fleet by 37419 which has been reinstated from WNTA at Margam.
56045 (WNSO) has been extracted from Immingham by road and is heading to Brush Loughborough. This is the first of at least two Class 56s understood to be being refurbished for use by Jarvis.
86249 (SAXL) has been removed from Polmadie today heading for the North East with a rake of coaches bound for Wilton behind 47811. It is not clear at the moment whether 86249 is to remain at Wilton or carry on elsewhere.

And then there were 30…
Although a few days ago it had been indicated that the Class 60 fleet was facing further reductions quite the opposite has happened with six ‘Tugs’ being reinstated to WCAN today. Besides 60031 60072 and 60079, the three 60s returned to use yesterday 60067 and 60083 from Doncaster Carr along with 60082 from Thornaby have been reinstated.

WZGF Grids to go…
56007 is booked to move to Wembley by the 23rd for forwarding to France. Meanwhile from Healey Mills 56037 and 56103 are due to be move to Old Oak Common by the 19th whilst 56104 and 56115 are due to move to Bristol Barton Hill, again by the 19th.

Another shed in the dirt…
Not content with ditching 66057 at the weekend 66192 has had a minor spill ending up in the ballast at Ashburys near Manchester yesterday. Once recovered 66192 is to go to Warrington for inspection.

08/08/05
37408 (WKCK) has been recovered from Rhymney this morning and is on the move by road to Toton whilst 37425 (WKCK) is to visit Corus at Port Talbot for a spot of heat treatment to its bent buffer beam.

Returning Tugs...
Three stored Class 60s have been returned to normal traffic today although each are still allocated to the storage pools.

60031 (WNTR but now on hire to WCAN) from store at Immingham is allocated to work 6N04, 0N04, 6N13 and 6D44.
60072 (WNTR but now on hire to WCAN) at Warrington is available.
60079 (WNTR but now on hire to WCAN) from store at Immingham is already out working today’s 6M57 Lindsey to Kingsbury service.

Of the remaining 24 WCAN / WCBN allocated Class 60s four are currently stopped for attention.

Another runaway…
66057 (WBLN) ran away whilst stabled overnight on an engineering possession at the weekend near Lichfield. It travelled over ten miles reaching speeds estimated at 60 mph before coming to rest in the ballast at Alrewas on the line towards Wichnor Junction. Fortunately, apart from a couple of sets of level crossing gates, 66057 didn’t hit anything on route. 66057 was recovered in the early hours yesterday and taken to Toton between 67013 and 67020 for inspection.

RT Rail shunters…
08523 (MOLS) latterly located at the heritage Centre at Crewe following repairs at LNWR has re-entered traffic at Albion Chemicals Sandbach, this is regarded as a reinstatement.
08529 (WNSO) initially recorded as a sale to Hull’s is an RT Rail machine and was moved across to Wabtec from Doncaster Carr during July.
08815 (WNSO) recently extracted from Wigan CRDC has been deemed surplus to requirements and is passed on to Booth’s for disposal.

07/08/05

EWS 37s...
Besides 37421 (WNTR) being resurrected at Motherwell 37419 (WNTA) at Margam has been receiving attention with a view to it also being returned to traffic. 37425 (WKCK) now at Margam is slightly damaged so is in need of repairs before returning to use whilst 37408 (WKCK) once recovered from Rhymney is looking likely to be heading to Toton which, if so, and assuming repairs are not forthcoming for 37408, may pave the way for its internals being transplanted into the troublesome 37422.
With 37408 as good as condemned at Rhymney, 37411 37416 and 37427 stopped at Toton and 37425 sidelined at Margam EWS only have 37401 37406 and 37417 in traffic in Scotland along with 37405 available for use in South Wales at the moment.

Ron Hull’s…
Noted yesterday at Hull’s Rotherham was 08901 in a half cut state so that’s another of the ex Ferrybridge 08s accounted for. Now there is a certain amount of confusion over the situation with these shunters sold for scrap. It is known, or appears to be known, that four Class 08s have been despatched to Hull’s to date which means that three have been scrapped already. Two have been reported, still subject to absolute confirmation, 08914 and 08931, whilst conflicting reports suggest that either 08882 or 08893 has been moved from Ferrybridge for disposal.
So the situation is… Hull’s: 08882 or 08893 along with 08914 and 08931 scrapped, 08901 part scrapped whilst still at Ferrybridge are: 08740 08758 08867 along with 08882 or 08893. Clarification anyone…

Now for sale…
It has been noted that the most recent EWS sales list has been amended and now includes the two Allerton shunters, 08739 and 08837, that were previously missing from the list. Just 08880 to sort out now which shows as located at Bescot instead of Allerton :~)

06/08/05
37162 (WNSO) has completed its move to Booth’s by road. Although it arrived in Rotherham yesterday it was not unloaded till this morning after which the trailer was due to go to South Wales to collect 37408 from Rhymney.
47764 (WNSO) is at Kingsbury as suspected where, it has been noted, 20108 is now tipped on its side.

De-listed & re-listed…
Having noted that Class 10 D4092 at Barrow Hill, which was at one time a candidate for the chop, is now in the process of being ‘done up’ for this autumn’s gala it is removed from the storage lists as its future is, for the time being at least, a little brighter than it was some months ago meanwhile 47033 (CRUR) recently moved out from Wabtec with the other ‘surplus’ CR Class 47s is being re-listed as stored.

05/08/05
08815 (WNSO) has, although earlier reported as sold to RT Rail, been delivered to Booth’s Rotherham following its removal by road from Wigan CRDC yesterday afternoon.
37162 (WNSO) is on the move from Wigan CRDC by road to Booth’s Rotherham, it set off at 05:30 this morning, meanwhile 47764 (WNSO) extracted from the CRDC yesterday evening remains missing although it is thought to have been destined for Kingsbury.

Disposals…
Subject to absolute confirmation the two shunters noted recently being moved to Ron Hull’s at Rotherham from Ferrybridge have been dismantled already. So its RIP for 08914 stored from the LBBS pool at Bescot back in April 1994 and RIP for 08931 stored from Thornaby’s FMSY pool in May 1997.

Tugs…
60036 and 60094 (both WCAN) have been hired to the WNQX quarantine pool which may or may not be of any consequence however there have been indications that the fleet is facing further reductions from the current level of 24 in the coming days.

Recovery…
Preparations are underway to facilitate the recovery and removal from Rhymney of 37408 and coach 6124 both of which are being removed by road.

Autun 20s…
It would appear that the issues in France that have delayed the return of the four Autun Class 20s have been resolved with the news that it is anticipated that all four will be back in the UK by the end of the month. 2001 (20035) and 2003 (20139) are to go to Goodman’s Yard. 2002 (20063) has not been placed yet but 2004 (20228) is destined to go to the Vale of Glamorgan Railway at Barry.

Rumours scotched…
Regarding the recent reports doing the rounds that DRS and WCRC were to trade traction this has been officially denied by those involved.

Not for sale…?
It has been noted that the sales list issued by EWS yesterday didn’t include Allerton shunters 08739 and 08837 even though they were two of the 39 locomotives transferred to WNZX a few days ago.

04/08/05 22:20
08815 and 47764 (both WNSO) have been extracted by road from Wigan CRDC today and there is every chance that 37162 (also WNSO) will be on its way overnight tonight. Meanwhile 37376 (WNSO) has completed its move by road from Wigan to Booth’s Rotherham.
37425 (WKCK) has left Rhymney to Pullman’s at Cardiff Canton for checks but 37408 (WKCK) is still there. It and the coach it collided with are likely to be awaiting collection by road.

04/08/05 08:25
37376 (WNSO) was removed from Wigan CRDC by road yesterday evening and was to be found parked up in the usual lay-by on the A50 near Uttoxeter first thing this morning en route to Booth’s Rotherham.
37421 (WNTR) at Motherwell is understood to have been authorised to receive a B exam indicating that a return to use is in the offing. No doubt a development connected to the recent mishap with 37408 which is still dumped at Rhymney awaiting developments.
60066 (WNTS) currently at Margam has been assigned for transfer to Thornaby whilst 60089 (WNTR) is now at Toton having made its move from Doncaster Carr a few days ago.

03/08/05
37376 (WNSO) has been loaded at the CRDC for despatch by road from Wigan to Booth’s Rotherham.

Wabtec clear out…
A number of shunters and locomotives, some stored, have been cleared out from Wabtec to the adjacent West Yard siding that runs alongside. These are clearly visible from Doncaster station. From the south the line up comprises 08892 08756 08819 H012 Industrial H021 01551 47528 47338 47326 47033 H014 08594 H013 two Industrials 08517 and 08493.

UID 08…
An unidentifiable partially dismembered Class 08 was noted heading south by road on the M1 this morning and subject to further investigation was quite probably another shunter from Ferrybridge en route to Ron Hull’s at Rotherham.

02/08/05
47725 (WNSO) has made its move from Wigan CRDC to Booth’s Rotherham by road.

Bump…
In what was initially described as a heavy shunt but now appears to be a run away locomotive incident 37408 collided with a rake of coaches last night at Rhymney pushing the stock into 37425. Whilst the damage sustained by 37425 is not clear by all accounts it’s relatively minor compared to 37408 which now has a reasonably battered and bent nose end.

Shunter notes…
Two 08s have been moved out from Old Oak Common, 08482 (WNTR) to Tilbury and 08844 (WNTR) to Crewe EMD whilst 08913 (WZTS) recently removed from Didcot has turned up at Doncaster Carr. Meanwhile there has been a report that an 08, possibly 08914, has been collected from Ferrybridge and transported to Ron Hull’s Rotherham for disposal.

01/08/05
47765 (WNSO) has been removed from Wigan CRDC, extraction taking place early this afternoon, and transported into preservation at Ruddington.
56004 (WNSO) is now, following its weekend stop over at Heanor's, at Booth’s Rotherham.
87007 (CRRH) has been out-shopped in Cotswold Rail livery at Oxley.
90031 (WEFE) was the only Class 90 in action on the North Berwick circuit today, all the other diagrams have gone over to units.

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