31/01/06

08909 (WREM) has, as anticipated, arrived at Immingham depot for attention.
37427 (WKBM) en route to Motherwell for store has been moved south from Inverness to Mossend.
37667 (WNSO) is being prepared for removal from Bescot by rail having being extracted from the scrap lines at the weekend. HNRC greys 20096 and 20905 are to be employed when 37667 is ready for transfer away.
86212 (SAXL) from store at Oxley has been hauled to East Ham behind 31190 where it is to be utilised as a train pre-heat unit for FM Rail's Blue Pullman set.

Disposal...
At Booth's, Rotherham the demolition of 37230 stored from Bescot's WKMS pool in January 2000 has been completed, only its frame on bogies remained this morning, RIP.

Disposal...
A little belated but it has been established that the remains of 08837, stored from Allerton's WSNW pool in August 2000, have been disposed of at Norton's, Liverpool and that final cutting was more than likely to have been carried out during December 2005, RIP.

GBRf 57/3s...?
Further to the note about 87026 being brought south from Scotland yesterday behind 57307 it is understood that there was actually nothing wrong with 87026 as reports suggest that the 57 was taken off at Warrington to return north on the front of Shieldmuir bound 87028 whilst 87026 continued through to Willesden with the southbound working. Although totally unconfirmed it has been indicated that GBRf *may* be looking at utilising a number of surplus 57/3s so based on this and yesterday's activities may it be conjectured that the use of 57307 on the mails *might* have been for evaluation / training purposes...?

30/01/06

08770 (WNTR) which had been receiving repairs at Margam has been has been abandoned and dumped on the scrap line.
37427 (WKBM) earmarked for storage on February 5th has been retired early. Destined to go to Motherwell for storage it went to B ONE status at Inverness on the 28th and is due to be moved south via this evening's 6D66 Inverness to Mossend working.
87026 (SBXL but on hire to GBRf) was, apparently having failed in Scotland, hauled south today by 57307 in the consist of the 1M44 Shieldmuir to Willesden working.

WLAN...
The four EWS / Euro Cargo Rail  / Vossloh G1206 series locomotives recently registered on the UK system as Class 21s in the number range 21544 to 21547 have been reallocated from SCXL to a new pool coded WLAN.

Booth's...
The demolition of 37230 and 37298 is well underway at Booth's Rotherham whilst a start has been made on 37797. The roof sections from 37298 have been set aside destined to re-appear on 37414 at some point whilst 47624 which is understood to be awaiting removal from Booth's into preservation has been dug out indicating that its departure may be in the offing. 47624 was, in its former guises as D1673 and 47087, one of the original WR namers carrying the name 'Cyclops' for some years.
A note for the preservationists who have stripped parts off locomotives at Booth's for re-use but, for whatever reason, have not collected these parts yet Mr Hawley is requesting that these items be collected ASAP or what is becoming clutter will be joining the donor locomotives for scrap...

28/01/06

08909 (WREM) is on the move again. After a brief visit to Doncaster Carr it was noted rejoining the M18 on a low loader yesterday morning and has since been deposited at Immingham Docks probably en route to Immingham depot for attention.
37427 (WKBM) has been assigned for B ONE at Motherwell on or by February 5th. It had been due a B exam but evidently this is not being authorised and the locomotive is to be stored instead. Meanwhile 37405 (WKCK) sidelined with a defective alternator is still languishing at Old Oak Common with a decidedly bleak future.

An oversight apparently...
Further to the notes on the 26th regarding several EWS shunters being transferred between pools but not having their home depot allocations updated these have now been put through as required.

27/01/06

08770 (WNTR) recently involved in a shunting collision at Margam has been authorised for repairs. Also now inside at Margam for attention is 09105 (WSGW).

26/01/06

37298 has joined 37230 and 37797 in the upper yard cutting area at Booth's, Rotherham.
43154 and 43158 (both SBXL) have completed their transfer from Long Marston to Landore being hauled from Gloucester to their destination this morning. Any further transfers, including the movement of 43068 (FGXP) away from Landore, have been deferred until next week.
47309 stored a few days ago at Southampton Maritime has now been transferred to the DHLT storage pool.

Shunter notes...
08786 from store at Temple Mills has been reinstated to WSLN and returned to use in the Wembley area swapping places with 08842 which has been stored WNTR at Temple Mills. 08934 (ATXX) has been moved down from Wembley to Willesden whilst 08909 (WREM) recently displaced from Ketton by 08776 (WNTR) has, via a visit to Brush, Loughborough, been transported up to Doncaster Carr being noted exiting the M18 near Doncaster on the back of a low loader yesterday.
With regards to several recent shunter reallocations by EWS it has been noted that although the pools have been amended as required the home depot allocations have not been amended. The best example of this is the swap of 08786 and 08842 as outlined above as whilst 08786 is reallocated to the WSLN pool from WNTR it is still allocated to WQ whilst 08842 reallocated to WNTR from WSLN remains allocated to TD. Whether this is a new policy or simply an oversight remains to be seen.

25/01/06

08770 (WNTR) in use at Margam although stored has been involved in a shunting mishap whilst 09105 (WSGW) recently returned to South Wales from Crewe EMD where it was despatched to last November for attention is currently ominously parked up in the scrap line at Margam.
47813 (CRRH) returned to Gloucester light engine this morning after successfully hauling last night's sleeper service from Penzance to Paddington.
66147 (WBAN) has been hired to GBRf swapping places with 66175. 66049 and 66147 are now the two EWS Class 66s on hire to GBRf.

24/01/06

60005 (WNTS) has been moved from Thornaby to Toton for attention whilst 60045 is now reinstated to the WCAN pool swapping places with 60089 which has been stored WNTS at Immingham.

Power car transfers, Cotswold Rail 47s and FGW 57s...
43084 and 43123 (both FGXP) were hauled from Gloucester to Long Marston this morning by 47813 which then collected 43154 and 43158 (both SBXL) for transfer from Long Marston to Landore but only taking them as far as Gloucester. As 47813 had been requisitioned by FGW to work the overnight Penzance to Paddington sleeper service due to the unavailability of a Class 57 the power car transfer to Landore was cancelled at Gloucester. 57605 failed near Newbury this afternoon at the head of a London bound working and had to be rescued by 47840 whilst 57604 had been despatched to Brush to receive snowploughs. 57604 hasn't entered Brush though being turned round and returned to London with 57602 in tow which has been released from Brush following the fitment of snowplough equipment.
It was at one point proposed that 47813 would be accompanied by 47828 for the overnight sleeper working but in the end 47813 headed off to the South West solo after depositing 43154 and 43158 at Gloucester to await forwarding to Landore.

Booth's notes...
With the news that Booth's, Rotherham have secured many of the redundant mail vans from EWS for breaking up to create space to deal with the expected influx of vans the disposal of locomotives currently on site is being stepped up. 37230 and 37797 have been moved into position for disposal in the top yard whilst 47146 is being prepared for demolition in the lower 'gantry' yard.

Vossloh 21s...
With regards to the Vossloh locomotives registered as Class 21 on the UK system it has been established that these are Vossloh G1206 series machines dating from 2004 / 2005. As for their European identities 21544 was formally FB1544 (Vossloh works number 5001628) whilst 21545 was FB1545 (Vossloh works number 5001630), 21546 and 21547 have yet to be identified and they appear to be hire locomotives as opposed to being sourced from a European mainline operator.
There are three links below to web sites or pages where further reference to these locomotives can be found. Whilst the fotopic site shows FB1544 (now 21544) at Dollands Moor repainted in EWS maroon, spare paint left over from the EWS executive train perhaps?, the other two sites are European sites where reference to these types can be found.

|  R Tranmer fotopic  |  G1206 Lieferliste  |  Loks-aus-keil  |

23/01/06

08776 (WNTS) latterly in store at Crewe EMD has been deposited at Ketton and pressed back into service displacing 08909 (WREM) which has been removed elsewhere.
43094 (FGXP) was hauled, running a little later than advertised, from Reading to Landore by 47813 today. After depositing 43094 at Landore 47813 hauled 43084 and 43123 (both FGXP), two of the buffer fitted examples, away from Landore to Gloucester. The plan for tomorrow is for these two to be hauled to Long Marston from Gloucester exchanging places with two SBXL HST power cars, 43154 being one of them, which are to be hauled from Long Marston to Landore after which 43068 (FGXP), the third buffer fitted example at Landore, will be removed to Gloucester etc.
60045 (WNTR) has been out and about today working from Immingham to Welton and back on test.

Class 21...
This classification, last used for the North British (NBL) locomotives numbered in the D61XX series but which were eliminated from service in 1968, has been resurrected for the four Vossloh locomotives recently acquired by EWS which have been registered on the system as Class 21 and given numbers in the 21544 to 21547 range. Can anyone supply the European numbers, and more importantly which was which, for 21544 21545 21546 and 21547?

22/01/06

47309 sidelined at Southampton has been stored (unserviceable) although for the time being it is still allocated to the DFFT pool.

37405...
Although a repair may yet be authorised the general consensus at the moment is that repairs to 37405 (WKCK) stopped at Old Oak Common with an alternator problem since failing at Didcot on the 16th whilst at the head of the Appleford bins working will not be forthcoming. If it is curtains for 37405 this puts the proverbial spanner in the works as it is understood that 37405 is / was earmarked to be one of the six 37s being retained beyond the end of February when the snowplough standby contract comes to an end. High hours 37411 37419 and 37427 are the three likely to go to store although in light of 37405's current predicament this may change.

HST Power Car moves 23/01...
There are some more HST power car transfers booked for tomorrow from Reading to Landore and Landore to Gloucester. Selected reported timings for these transfers are...

5Z44 Reading to Landore: Reading 11:45, Swindon 12:49, Bristol Parkway 13:21, Newport 13:50, Cardiff 14:06, Aberthaw 14:31, Neath 15:16, Landore 15:29.
5Z45 Landore to Gloucester: Landore 16:40, Neath 16:49, Cardiff 17:36, Newport 17:54, Chepstow 18:23, Gloucester 18:41.

The consist from Reading to Landore will be from or all of 43094 43153 and 43155 whilst it is likely that the Landore to Gloucester working will be the buffer fitted power cars, chose from or all of 43068 43084 and 43123, which are leaving FGW. Cotswold Rail are understood to be carrying out these moves which *may* be a clue as to the future for 43068 43084 and 43123.

21/01/06

66022 (WBAN) has been stopped at Toton for special tests having being selected as the second Class 66 for use in France whilst 66049 (WBAN) is now on hire to GBRf following the failure and subsequent un-hiring of 66063.

Disposal...
The cutting of 37185, stored from Toton's WKMS pool in April 1999, has been completed at Booth's Rotherham, RIP.

20/01/06

37405 (WKCK) could be in trouble as it has been stopped at Old Oak Common with alternator problems and an ok date set at 06/06.
60037 has been stored WNTS at Margam whilst 60041 returned to traffic a few days ago is now reinstated to the WCBN pool. 60045 which has also been out and about has been back at Immingham for attention but has been reallocated from WNTS to WNTR.
92036 from store at Crewe EMD has been reinstated to the WTAE pool.

19/01/06

08891 (DFLS) following repairs at Wabtec has been deposited at Southampton Maritime. It is anticipated that 08891 is to replace veteran 08077 (DFLS) which is to be stood down from traffic at some point.
20096 and 20905 (both CREL) left Gloucester late morning working light on 0Z20 to the East Lancashire Railway, Bury for the English Electric theme day on the 21st. It is planned, subject to the usual availability disclosures, to have 20096 20901 20904 and 20905 out working as a quartet on the late afternoon Bury to Rawtenstall working at the event with the Class 31 bringing up the rear. The move to the ELR from Gloucester today of 20096 and 20905 has been facilitated by FM Rail rather than Advenza who were originally to undertake the transfer.
37668 37689 37710 and 37712 (all WNTA) have been removed from Warrington to Healey Mills to await onward transfer to Knottingley. Moved across the Pennines in two pairs 37710 and 37712 went east early this afternoon behind 67015 whilst 37668 and 37689 followed a few hours later behind 67016.
60005 (WNTS) at Thornaby has been booked for transfer south to Toton. Movement is expected to take place sometime this evening.

Power car notes...
47830 has hauled 43093 43097 43098 and 43198 (all FGXP) from Landore to Brush, Loughborough where they are to be re-engineered including the fitment of MTU power units. These four power cars are the first batch for conversion for First and the rest of their fleet, bar the buffer fitted examples, is to be converted in due course.
First Group own three buffer fitted power cars, currently stored at Landore, but due to electrical modifications undertaken when they were converted for use as DVT trailers to work with Class 91s these have been discounted from the rebuild program. It is understood that 43068 43084 and 43123 may be swapped for three suitable power cars at some point in the future. With regards to the other buffer fitted power cars 43013 and 43014 are in use as part of the NMT fleet whilst 43065 43067 and 43080 are currently stored SBXL at Long Marston where the transfer of 43103 (SBXL) from Bicester via a stop over at Gloucester to was completed yesterday.
Reports also indicate that GNER are to shortly make an announcement with regards to what they propose to do with their HST power cars.

37100...
HNRC are pleased to announce that they have secured the purchase of 37100 currently located at Thomson's, Stockton.

58051...
The Class 58 Locomotive Group |  website  | have launched Project 58051 which involves the purchase of an unused spare Class 58 cab unearthed from the stores at Doncaster Works. Details regarding this venture can be found in a PDF file at the following link |  Project 58051  |

18/01/06

57602 (IWLA) has arrived at Brush, Loughborough for fitment of snowploughs and 57603 (IWLA) now fitted was released yesterday.
73138 (ACED) 84001 (MBEL) and 89001 (ACXX) have completed their transfer to Barrow Hill. Although 47709 was despatched to Peterborough to collect them yesterday transfer to Barrow Hill wasn't effected until this afternoon.

17/01/06

37419 (WKCK) at Old Oak Common sine late December last year has had its NTBU (not to be used) restriction lifted so a return to use can be anticipated.
43103 (SBXL) plus two coaches have been extracted from store at MoD Bicester and hauled to Gloucester for forwarding to Long Marston in due course.
60041 and 60045 (both still WNTS) have been returned to traffic from store at Toton and Immingham respectively. Whilst 60041 was noted working a coal train away from Toton this afternoon 60045 has been observed heading west light engine through Barnetby.
87026 (SBXL) has been returned to use on hire to GBRF. After its jaunt into Euston from Willesden yesterday it made its way to Willesden RMT before being despatched to Scotland at the head of the 1S96 mail service to Shieldmuir. Neither 87006 or 87022 have entered traffic yet with GBRf since being reinstated to GBAC which is possibly why 87026 has been taken back on lease.

The convoy...
73138 (ACED) 84001 (MBEL) and 89001 (ACXX) were recessed at Peterborough last night pending completion of their move to Barrow Hill sometime today. 47709 was sent to collect the 'sparkies' this afternoon.

More MTU...
There is a movement scheduled to take place on the 19th from Landore to Loughborough conveying four power cars earmarked for re-engineering at Brush Traction.

West Coast 87s...
It is understood that the situation with regards to the prospective temporary return of several Class 87s for WCML duties is still ongoing. Unconfirmed reports doing the rounds initially suggested that 87010 87026 87030 and 87033 were in the frame to make a return however the Bosnia scenario has raised its head again and plan A, if these were part of plan A, is in the proverbial bin so to speak. As noted above 87026, one of these four, has been returned to use but with GBRf.

16/01/06

87026 (SBXL) has been out and about, presumably on test, from Willesden being noted at Euston this afternoon.

Barrow Hill convoy...
73138 (ACED) 84001 (MBEL) and 89001 (ACXX) left Norwich for Barrow Hill this morning behind 47145 but the convoy ran into trouble at Ilford and was recessed to await a replacement hauling locomotive. 47709 was despatched to Ilford and the convoy was on the move again mid evening, somewhat later than advertised.

15/01/06

Norwich move...
The movement (if it goes ahead this time) of 73138 84001 and 89001 from Norwich to Barrow Hill is now set to take place tomorrow. Provisional timings for the movement are; Norwich 10:00, Ipswich 10:56, Colchester 11:20, Ilford 12:37, Finsbury Park 13:28, Peterborough 15:00, Grantham 16:06, Nottingham 16:49, Toton 17:03, Chesterfield 17:43 and Barrow Hill 17:50.

14/01/06

43067 and 43154 (both SBXL) have been hauled from Derby to Long Marston this afternoon, Cotswold Rail's 47813 being provided for traction.

Disposal...
Having lingered at Booth's, Rotherham in a semi cut state for the last few weeks the disposal of 47241 can now be recorded as it was little more than a frame and bogies when viewed this morning. Work has also been in progress during the last week on 37185 which has been reduced to two cabs and frame on its bogies. 47241 was stored from Bescot's WHBF pool in February 1999, RIP.

37411 / 37419...
Reports have been doing the rounds that 37411 and 37419 are being / have been stored at Old Oak Common. At the moment both are still allocated to the WKCK pool and whilst 37411 has been there since the 11th 37419, which has a not to be used restriction in force, has been sidelined at Old Oak Common since December 24th.

13/01/06

37668 37689 37710 and 37712 (all WNTA) at Warrington have been assigned for transfer to Knottingley by the 14th.
60005 sidelined at Thornaby has been stored WNTS and is replaced in the active fleet by 60026 which is reinstated to WCBN from store at Toton.

West Coast 87s...?
Following on from the report on the 11th that several Class 87s are in the frame for a return to use along with the news that a program of modifications, including the fitment of sanding equipment, to the VTWC Pendolino fleet is in the pipeline, how safe is it to assume that we can anticipate a temporary return of the Class to passenger work on WCML metals? Reasonably safe apparently. As always though subject to further developments / confirmation etc.

12/01/06

43070 and 43087 (both CRRH) plus set have returned to Tyseley today following their exam at Laira.

Resolved...
It is understood that the *situation* surrounding 37197 (MBDL) and its delayed transfer to DRS has been or is in the process of being resolved. Without going into too much detail the upshot of this is that 37197 is to be available for transfer from WCRC to DRS whilst 37158 (TTTC) transfers to WCRC swapping places with 37248 (MBDL) which transfers to the Type Three Traction Group. As a consequence, with regards to the storage lists, 37158 is re-listed as stored whilst 37248 comes off the lists as it is now regarded as preserved.

11/01/06

08824 (WSXX) at Crewe EMD has been out-shopped in BR black and now carries the identity IEMD01 rather than 08824. This appears to be becoming a trend with WSXX shunters that are in internal use in that the reverse EWS liveried 08480 at Toton bears only the legend TOTON No 1 whilst the Tyne Yard depot pilot 08701 has had its number and 'The Sorter' nameplates removed and has been marked up as Tyne 100. 
08934 (ATXX) has been transported south by road from Longsight to Wembley where it was unloaded this morning. 08617 (ATLO) is expected to be going north from Wembley to Longsight by return.
37688 (WNSO) was removed from Healey Mills this morning and has been transferred to Brush, Loughborough via Toton.
57605 (IWLA) now fitted with snowploughs was released from Brush, Loughborough yesterday. 57603 (IWLA) is now at Brush for snowplough fitment.
87006 (GBAC) at Willesden is now ready to be released into traffic with GBRf.

More Class 87s to return...?
There are strong indications that several currently stored Class 87s are to be prepared for a return to use.

Another CR HST trial...
Cotswold Rail's HST set has been out on trial again running from Tyseley, where incidentally their other set is now based, to Plymouth. Hornby liveried 43087 shut down shortly after departure from Tyseley and the problem was attended to on the move however a flat battery on 43087 left it out of action, it was planned to charge the batteries on 43087 from 43070 whilst on the move, and a signal check on the gradient approaching Snow Hill compounded the situation as 43070 was then unable to surmount the bank on its own. To clear the line the HST was then set back to Bordesley whilst the batteries took charge and once 43087 was up and running again the ensemble set off again for Plymouth where the set is to undergo maintenance at Laira.

10/01/06

08737, reallocated to WSWM yesterday, has left Doncaster Carr being noted traversing the M62 near Bradford and the M60 near Manchester late this afternoon on the back of a low loader.
60031 (WNTS) was moved to Immingham on the 3rd following storage at Doncaster Carr that morning.

Barrow Hill convoy...
The delayed transfer of 73138 84001 and 89001 from Norwich to Barrow Hill is now set to go ahead on the 18th.

09/01/06

37668 37689 37710 and 37712 (all WNTA) have been moved again at Warrington, back to the shed area.
47150 (DFLH) has been released back into traffic following attention at Crewe LNWR. This is its first outing, running to Leeds Midland Road, since its reinstatement last November.
66047 at Toton has been reinstated to the WBAN pool but is still receiving mechanical attention at the East Midlands depot.

EWS shunter shuffle...
There have been a few changes and reallocations with the EWS shunter fleet. Into store go 08580 at Bescot (WNYX), 08770 at Margam (WNTR), 08921 at Temple Mills (WNTR), 08953 at Doncaster Carr (WNXX), 09001 at Toton (WNTS) and 09202 at Doncaster Carr (WNYX). These storages are offset with the reinstatements of 08775 at Warrington (WSWM) and 08994 which had been active in the Doncaster area but has since been transferred to Tinsley (WSEM).
Toton's multi-coloured 08480 is still allocated to a storage pool but has been reallocated to WSXX.
08689 08714 and 09020 have been reallocated internally between the South Wales shunter pools whilst 08587 and 08941 already at work in South Wales have now been reallocated to Margam. Lastly 08737 and 08888 have been reallocated away from Toton to Bescot and Thornaby respectively although both are recorded as still being located at Doncaster Carr.

Prospective re-sales...
The sales of 37137 at Toton, 37217 at Ayr, 37358 at Immingham and 47475 at Healey Mills have evidently been cancelled at some point and these four have been reallocated from WNSO to WNZX pending their being re-offered for sale.

Tug changes...
60070 60081 and 60098 have been reallocated to the WNTS pool from WNTR. All the stored Class 60s are now allocated to this pool no matter what their current predicament is.

08/01/06

47358 (DHLT) at Southampton has been attended to mechanically but is in need of a B exam, the authorisation of which is awaited, before it can be returned to service.

Norwich convoy...
Due to paperwork issues the anticipated transfer of 73138 84001 and 89001 from Norwich to Barrow Hill on the 6th didn't materialise (again).

07/01/06

87006 and 87022 (both GBAC) have been released from Oxley making their way to London yesterday evening. Both have had their DRS branding removed.

Disposal...
The demolition of 31417, stored from Bescot's LBDB pool in July 1995, has been completed at Hull's, Rotherham, RIP.

06/01/06

08696 at Longsight has been transferred to the ATXX pool swapping places with 08721 which is returned to ATLO from ATXX.
37688 (WNSO) has not been removed from Healey Mills to Loughborough this morning as had been planned due to paperwork issues.
43090 and 43100 (both SBXL) have completed their move to Long Marston from MoD Bicester via a stop over at Gloucester. 47316 and 47813 were provided for their movement from Gloucester this morning.
60020 and 60068 (both WNTS) have now been stopped for store at Toton. Whilst 60020 was brought to Toton behind 66217 in the consist of the 7M18 from Doncaster 60068 brought 60086 (also WNTS) across from Immingham for attention.
87006 and 87022 at Oxley have been reinstated to the GBAC pool but 87026 sidelined at Willesden with a faulty transformer has been returned to the SBXL storage pool.

HNRC Choppers...
At the East Lancashire Railway 20901 and 20904 are to be prepared for the ELR 'English Electric' day event on the 21st. They are to be joined for the event by 20096 and 20905, their move north from Gloucester being sponsored by Advenza, and after the event it is planned that all four will go to Barrow Hill where 20901 and 20904 are to be prepared for a return to mainline use. HNRC have advised that an announcement will be made shortly regarding their Class 20s and forthcoming contracts.

05/01/06

60051 (WNTS) is back in store at Thornaby where it has been joined by 60094 (WNTS) which is now stopped. Regarding the remaining two active but stored Class 60s, late morning 60020 (WNTS) was on hand at Doncaster Carr whilst 60068 (WNTS) was en route to Immingham with the 6E52 from Peak Forest.

56057...
The sale of 56057 to Cotswold Rail has been cancelled and it will be staying on the Nene Valley Railway, Peterborough.

56118...
It has been indicated that fire damaged 56118 (WZGF) currently laid up at Ocquerre is to be returned to the UK and that a replacement is to be sourced for it.

Tomorrow's prospective movements...
Loughborough bound 37688 (WNSO) has been extracted from the storage lines at Healey Mills and should be on its way in the early hours. The deferred transfer back to Barrow Hill of 73138 84001 and 89001 from Norwich looks set to go ahead tomorrow behind 47145 which has been at Norwich for the last fortnight or so waiting to move these electrics whilst the completion of the movement of 43090 and 43100 to Long Marston looks set to take place tomorrow.

Another VTXC hire in HST diagram...?
Reports doing the rounds suggest that a second hired in HST diagram is set to commence from next week. Provisional details supplied are 1N01 Doncaster - Newcastle, 1V47 09:36 Newcastle - Bristol, 1E48 14:58 Bristol - Newcastle and 1M11 Newcastle - Birmingham (as far as Sheffield) with MML being quoted as being the probable suppliers of this HST although further speculation elsewhere suggests otherwise. It should be noted however that the official line from VT is that this is not happening.

Cotswold HST...
Cotswold Rail's multicoloured power cars CR sliver 43070 and Hornby red 43087 and a full MML set of stock went out on test from Tyseley to Bristol yesterday.

Anglia 90s revisited...
Further to the report regarding the state of play with the ONE Anglia Class 90 fleet at the end of December it transpires that several of the restriction entries as recorded in that report were out of date and shouldn't have still been on the system. Anyway things have been updated and although it is acknowledged that the Class 90s they inherited from VTWC are not living up to their potential at the moment a lot of effort is being put in at Crown Point to try to improve this situation. Below is the fleet disposition as of yesterday afternoon...

90001 IANA In traffic
90002 IANA Stopped at NC since 31/12
90003 IANA In traffic
90004 IANA Stopped at NC since 04/01
90005 IANA In traffic
90006 IANA In traffic, number 1 end leading only
90007 IANA Stopped at NC since 21/12
90008 IANA In traffic
90009 IANA Stopped at NC since 24/12
90010 IANA Stopped at NC since 22/12
90011 IANA In traffic, 3 traction motors
90012 IANA In traffic
90013 IANA In traffic
90014 IANA In traffic, 3 traction motors
90015 IANA In traffic

04/01/06

43090 and 43100 (both SBXL) en route from MoD Bicester to Long Marston were still to be found at Gloucester late this afternoon.
57003 has been reinstated to the DFTZ pool thus returning the fleet to full strength.

Tugs...
Shortly after being transferred to store yesterday 60051 (WNTS) was resurrected to active service at Thornaby and despatched to South Wales with a working from the North East. It is due to (it may already be returned) return to Thornaby and store. 60020 60068 and 60094 (all WNTS) are still in traffic but 60028 and 60035 (both also WNTS) have been retired at Toton.

GBRf 87s...
It has been indicated that 87006 and 87022 (both SBXL) are being prepared at Oxley for a return to use with GBRf. There are a couple of reasons behind this, one being that 87026 (GBAC) has transformer problems and is likely to be returning to the bin whilst several Class 325 postal sets have had their motor coaches removed and additional traction is now required to haul these sets as required.

03/01/06

Storage day...
Evidently the powers that be are back from their holidays and the axe has been wielded.

EWS have reduced the Class 60 fleet by 15 and the Class 90 fleet by three examples. Many of these were on the 'hit list' anyway and had been stopped late December but there are a few additions. Stored WNTS are 60007 60020 60023 60028 60031 60035 60038 60051 60055 60064 60068 60073 60076 60077 and 60094 along with 90021 90024 and 90030.
Of the 18 EWS Class 60 and Class 90 casualties listed above 60020 60028 60035 60068 and 60094 are still in traffic. 60007 60064 and 60077 are at Immingham, 60023 60038 60055 60073 and 60076 are at Toton, 60031 is at Doncaster Carr, 60051 is at Thornaby whilst 90021 90024 and 90030 are located at Crewe EMD.

43197...
GNER had released 43197 which was transferred to the SBXL storage pool this morning but by this afternoon 43197 had been reinstated to IECP. This about turn may have something to do with 43008 (IECP) being involved in an altercation with 221139 and suffering damage to its cab.

Bon Voyage or Good Riddance...
Depends on your point of view really but 66215 (WBEN) was shipped through the tunnel from Dollands Moor to France yesterday evening.

Another Bicester extraction...
43090 and 43100 (both SBXL) have been removed from store at Bicester and are en route to Long Marston via Gloucester, where they are to make an overnight stop over, behind Cotswold Rail duo 47316 and 47813.

33021...
It is understood that 33021, laid up since the end of 2003 due to not being TPWS fitted and recently offered for sale by its owners, is to become / has become an FM Rail locomotive outright. Prior to December 2003 33021 saw use with FM, Fragonset as they were then known, on a hire arrangement which saw it operate as part of the normal fleet.

02/01/06

Tugs...
60023 (WCBN) and 60094 (WCAN) have been added to the list of Class 60s to be stopped for store or already stopped awaiting transfer to store. 60023 is currently already stopped showing B ONE at Toton whilst 60094 is in traffic with an assignment for N ONE at Thornaby on the 5th in place. Meanwhile 60073 (WCAN hired to WNTR) has been moved to Toton from Thornaby for storage.

A survey of the Class 60 fleet from early this morning, bearing in mind that today is for many still part of the New Year break, revealed the following...

In traffic or allocated to workings:
60008 60011 60013 60020 60021 60022 60031 60036 60074 60080 60083 60085 60091 60092 60093 60094 60095 and 60500.

Available but nothing allocated, several of these are scheduled to receive A or B exams:
60003 60004 60005 60009 60010 60017 60018 60024 60025 60027 60028 60029 60030 60032 60033 60035 60039 60040 60042 60043 60046 60047 60048 60049 60050 60052 60053 60054 60057 60059 60060 60061 60063 60065 60066 60067 60068 60071 60072 60075 60078 60079 60084 60089 60090 60096 60097 and 60100.

Stopped for exams:
60001 60002 60007 60019 60037 60038 60058 and 60062.

Stopped awaiting storage:
60023 60038 60051 60055 60064 60073 60076 and 60077.

Stored:
60006 60012 60014 60026 60034 60041 60044 60045 60056 60069 60070 60081 60082 60086 60087 60088 60098 and 60099.

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