30/04/06

Toton notes...
37405 (WNTS) spent a fair portion of today on the loadbank being thoroughly tested / thrashed to death being readied for its return to use. France bound 66022 (WBAN) has emerged from the shed sporting the cab enhancements required for European operations whilst 60500 (WNTR) inside undergoing attention is described as being 'in a thousand pieces'.

DRS Gronks...
Information received suggests that DRS have acquired two Class 08s to handle trip workings at Drigg and Ditton. Although the identities of the locomotives concerned has not yet been established it is understood that they are two of the Wabtec fleet and are being overhauled at Doncaster.

Loughborough arrivals...
47326 (CROL) and 56044 (WNSO), the two locomotives noted on the road on the 28th, have both been deposited at Brush Loughborough. It may be speculated that 47326, originally reported to have been Gloucester bound, has been despatched to Brush as a source of spares instead and as to whether 56044 will, at some point in the future, see itself numbered in the 563XX series we shall have to wait and see...

Oversight...
Not previously noted was the transfer, by mid April, of 60042 (WNTR) from Thornaby to Tyne Yard.

29/04/06

37419 (WNTR) partnered 37425 on charter duties to Whitby today.

Disposal...
Having dodged the inevitable for the last couple of weeks or so at Booth's 37686 has finally succumbed to the cutters torch. Only the base frame and a pair of bogies of 37686, stored July 2000 on return from the WKMF expedition to France, remained this morning, RIP.

28/04/06

37419 has been reallocated to WNTR but remains in traffic for the bank holiday weekend. Assigned for storage at Temple Mills by May 2nd 37419 is booked for railtour duties tomorrow.
47245 (MBDL) did enter traffic today from Carnforth as per initial schedule with 33025 being sent along as insurance.
47326 (CROL) is on the move by road being noted on the M1 heading south mid afternoon following extraction from Doncaster.
56044 (WNSO) has been removed from Immingham by road. Last sighted heading south on the M1 it is thought that ultimately 56044 is Loughborough bound.
58048 (WNXX) en route from Toton to Old Oak Common was hauled south from Doncaster Belmont to Wembley overnight in the consist of the 7Z53 service behind 66129.
60036 60049 and 60083 have been reallocated to WNTR, all from WCAN, and all three are due to be stopped by May 2nd at Immingham. 60049 and 60083 are still in active service, working off Peak Forest today, but 60036 is stopped at Immingham already for repairs so that should be it for that one.

27/04/06

31452 and 31454 (both SDPP) have seen Class 1 action on the ECML today. Whilst returning from Scotland, the 31s took an ECS north to Bo'Ness yesterday, they were purloined to rescue the 1E15 Edinburgh to Kings Cross service which had come to a stand near Thirsk after 91112 had succumbed to a pantograph failure. The 31s rescued the GNER formation and hauled it forward to York where the service was terminated.
43154 43155 and 43158 (all FGXP) have, after an overnight stop over at Gloucester, completed their move to Brush being hauled to Loughborough today by 47714 and 47818.
47245 (MBDL) *may not* now be making its mainline return tomorrow as had been scheduled and there are indications that one of the WCRC Class 33s, possibly 33025, will be making the trip to Norwich in its place.
56091 (WZGF) has now arrived at Temple Mills for tyre turning have being tripped over from Wembley Yard where it had been involved in a minor run away incident.
56301 (RCJA) back at Brush Loughborough for wheelset attention should be ready for a return to traffic by mid May.
58048 (WNXX) has been removed from Toton being dragged to Doncaster Belmont mid afternoon in the consist of an early running 14:20 6E20 service from Toton. 58048 is assigned for special tests at Old Oak Common which may initially indicate that it is to be prepared for a trip abroad however the state it is in suggests that it is more likely to become a spares donor after it completes its transfer to London.

26/04/06

08484 (ARZG) latterly located at Wolverton has been sold and subsequently transported to Felixstowe where it has been put to use covering for The Colonel / 01531 whilst the latter undergoes repairs.
20096 and 20905 (ADFL) left Doncaster today (without 47528) heading off initially to Derby from where they then undertook an empty stock move to Ilford.
37405 (WNTS) has been on test on the load bank at Toton.
47245 (MBDL) looks set to make its long awaited return to the mainline on the 28th (Friday) when it is booked to accompany a steamer from Carnforth to Norwich. The ensemble is due off Carnforth at 10:50.

Power car transfers...
Cotswold Rail's 47714 and 47818 have been out shuttling power cars around the system again today. After depositing 43194 (FGXP) at Landore following transfer from St Philips Marsh the 47s were marshalled up either side of 43154 43155 and 43158 (all FGXP) and with 47818 leading the power cars have been removed from Landore on transfer to Brush Loughborough where they are to enter the MTU re-engineering program.

25/04/06

37402 (WNTR) awaiting repairs at Toton has been admitted to the main shed. It is to undergo a bogie change.
43078 and 43197 (both SBXL) ran south from Craigentinny to Neville Hill this afternoon with trailer coaches 40805 and 42117 sandwiched between them. After depositing the coaches at Neville Hill 43078 and 43197 then continued south running to Gloucester indicating that Cotswold Rail may now have some involvement with these two.
56091 (WZGF) has been released from repairs at Old Oak Common. Currently located at Wembley 56091 is due to make a trip to Temple Mills for tyre turning before being returned to France.

West Coast 87s...
Following on from the report on the 23rd it transpires that for the Pendolino Modification program cover it is going to be Class 87s and stock however this is still dependant on whether GBRf release the locomotives in time. The nominated traction; 87002 and 87026, have been heavily involved with mail operations for GBRf of late but these last couple of weeks have seen some of the other GBAC allocated Class 87s entering the fray on a more regular basis.
The hire in of a HST may have been an option as it could have been utilised with VTXC at the weekend but it is now understood that this option was discounted early on whilst the use of Class 321 or Class 350 units had been considered but discounted due to speed issues, the cover diagram being timed for 110mph working.
Then there's this business of EWS and their Class 90s which keeps cropping up. A recent comment on the 'Railway Herald' web site about the speculation regarding Class 90s and their potential use being 'utter rubbish' is in itself tosh as the hire in of Class 90s, if the Class 87s don't come available in time, has been evaluated and factored for.

Advenza Choppers...
Besides 87007 the ADFL Advenza Freight pool now has hired in Choppers 20096 and 20905 allocated following their reallocation from HNRL. They were still at Doncaster today and it is theorised that they may be used to move Gloucester bound, or is it now Loughborough bound?, 47528.

24/04/06

20096 and 20905 (both HNRL) latterly domiciled on the East Lancashire Railway are back on hire to Cotswold Rail and made their way over from Bury to Doncaster during the afternoon.

23/04/06

Pendolino cover...
With regards to the forthcoming Pendolino modification program and the covering diagram, in particular what will be working the covering diagram, it would appear that the use of Class 87s and Mk3 stock, an almost certainty when last mentioned a few weeks ago even though only two examples could be made available by Porterbrook, is now pretty much dead in the water. There has again been talk of EWS Class 90s being in the frame which may still turn out to be the case but it is understood that there is now some doubt over whether the use of the Mk3 set, currently stabled at Wembley, is to go ahead at all. Other options may be available including hiring in a HST set as required or negotiating the use of electric units, 321s or 350s being candidates.

Booth's Update...
No disposals to report but 37686 has again been moved out from the cutting area at Booth's, only a short distance though, so this mat prove to be a temporary reprieve. The frame of 37040, listed as scrapped earlier in the month, has finally been disposed of.

21/04/06

08762 (MOLO) has been recovered from Northwich and transported by road to Wabtec for assessment.

Chequebooks out...
EWS are offering ten locomotives for sale by competitive tender. Five of the ten on offer are re-sales, 37137 37217 37358 37897 and 47475, whilst the other five are the remainder of the EWS Heritage Fleet; 31110 37175 37906 47004 and 47306.

Disposal...
The demolition of 47775 on site at Crewe DMD has been completed and 47515 could be next in line for cutting. 47775 was stored from Crewe's WHDD pool in July 2001, RIP.

20/04/06

08628 has been transported from Goodman's to a private site at Blackrod near Bolton. Information received indicates that 08628 is now in the hands of the same people who own 08700 currently domiciled on the Embsay Railway near Skipton.
56125 (SDXL) at Derby being prepared to become 56303 has been started up being noted up and running at the RTC this afternoon.
90001 (IANA) out-shopped from an F exam at Crewe EMD is booked to work its passage home at the head of tomorrow's 6L48 14:49 Garston to Wembley service.

47528 transfer...
The proposed transfer of 47528 from Doncaster to Gloucester which was to have taken place mid afternoon today was cancelled due to 47714 and 47818, which were to have been the hauling locomotives, being purloined by FGW control for HST power car transfers between St Philips Marsh and Laira. 43041 43042 and 43142 were hauled from St Philips Marsh to Laira with 43152 and 43161 making the return journey.

19/04/06

37686 is again in the cutting area at Booth's. Following on from a report a week or so ago that 37686 had been moved into position for scrapping it transpires that this was either erroneous or the loco had been repositioned away from the cutting area at some point. Either way the end beckons this time.
43197 has been stored SBXL although its current location is unclear.
47528 (CRUR) should, if all goes to plan, be on the move from Wabtec to Gloucester tomorrow. In top and tail mode sandwiched between another pair of Class 47s 47528, which had been available for purchase from CR for quite some time, is due to leave Doncaster mid afternoon and is routed via Derby, Tamworth and Bromsgrove to Gloucester.
47840 currently sidelined at Brush Loughborough with engine problems has interestingly / ominously / curiously (delete as applicable) been reallocated to Cotswold Rail's CRRH pool.
56125 (SDXL) at Derby along with 56301 and 56302 (both RCJA) have been reallocated to RR, a new depot code for Doncaster Robert's Rd.

18/04/06

37405 (WNTS) undergoing repairs at Toton has been noted up and running on the depot this afternoon.
60093 (WNTR), reportedly on hand for driver training, is still to be found in sat in the holding sidings at Didcot.
87012 (GBAC) out of use since late last year has been repaired at Wembley and undertook an evening test run to Bletchley and back meanwhile due to the northern section of the WCML still being closed for engineering works today the Anglo-Scottish mail services, 87002 working the northbound service and 87026 handling the southbound working, have been diverted via the ECML.

14/04/06

37418 (WNTR) has again been despatched to the dump in the compound at Toton however 37422 (WNTS) has now joined 37405 (WNTS) inside the main shed for attention.
60093 (WNTR) currently at Didcot is no longer in active use and is on transfer, possibly back to Toton.

Disposal...
The carcass of 20073, stored from Toton's FEFN pool way back in February 1992, has been disposed of at Booth's Rotherham, RIP.

Shunter notes...
08015 (D3022) has left Toton, presumably heading back to the Severn Valley Railway. 08220 latterly tucked away out of sight at Carnforth has recently appeared at Wrembury adjacent to the Crewe to Whitchurch line. 08588 (MOLO) latterly at Wabtec has turned up at Peak Forest whilst 08578 (WSWM) recently removed south from Bescot by road has been put into action at Forders Sidings, Stewartby near Bedford.

13/04/06

08628 appears to have survived its stint at Kingsbury. Extracted this afternoon on a low loader 08628, the former Saltley ever present, has been moved the short distance to Goodman's to await forwarding in a few days time to a private location in the North West and into preservation.
31206 (CROL) has, following a stop over at Allely's, been transported by road to Gloucester being noted heading in a south westerly direction along the M5 and being unloaded at Horton Road depot during this afternoon.
43175 (IWRP) has been admitted to Brush Traction for MTU treatment. This is the first Angel leased power car to go in for re-engineering.

Disposal...
The demolition of 47478, stored from Bescot's LBCB pool back in July 1995, has been completed at Kingsbury, RIP.

Toton...
37418 (WNTR) only recently shunted into the compound and 58048 (WNXX) a long term resident in the compound have been extracted and returned to the main shed area where 58048 has been admitted to the shed. It is quite possible that component recovery is underway as 58023 (also WNXX) is now out of the shed and has been despatched into the compound.
08015 (D3022) normally domiciled on the Severn Valley Railway has appeared at Toton, probably for tyre turning.

12/04/06

37408 (WNYX) has been moved back to the main shed at Toton from the compound, no doubt for further component recovery. 37422 (WNTS) is still sat outside at Toton without an engine.
60093 (WNTR) didn't last long in store being released back into traffic from Toton late yesterday.

On hire...
66407 and 66409, the two DRS Class 66s on hire to Freightliner, have now been reallocated from XHIM to the DFHH pool for the duration.

Work in progress...
The demolition of BR blue 47478 at Kingsbury is underway.

Romanian Cans...?
Make of this what you like but it has been indicated that a new lease of life in Romania, where some routes are electrified with 25Kv, could be in the offing for several redundant SAXL Class 86s currently in store for HSBC.

11/04/06

20901 (HNRL) has followed 20904 to Scunthorpe being transported east by road from the East Lancashire Railway today.
31206 (CROL) removed from Brush Loughborough a few days ago is stopping over at Allely's in Warwickshire pending delivery to Gloucester at a later date.
37669 and 37670 (both WNTR) were retired to store on arrival at Margam last night.
56302 (RCJA) is out and about today on training runs between Doncaster and Derby.
60066 (WNTR) has been booked for movement to Toton and is now at Worksop en route from Doncaster Carr whilst 60500 (WNTR) has completed its transfer to Toton from Thornaby via a stopover at Doncaster. 60091 (WNTR) was pressed back into service in South Wales yesterday with the intention of it working its passage northwards, 60091 is due to go to Toton, however it had been returned to store at Margam by early morning.
66718 66719 66720 66721 and 66722 (now reallocated to GBCM [correction]) left Newport early this afternoon and headed in convoy to Willesden.

10/04/06

20904 latterly located on the East Lancashire Railway at Bury has been transported to Scunthorpe by road and deposited at the Corus plant where initially it is to be engaged as a training locomotive. In the longer term 20904 may well become one of the four, earlier reports suggested two, locomotives to be put to use on hire with Corus at this site.
37669 and 37670 have been stored WNTR but both were still active during the afternoon working back to South Wales from Westbury. It was anticipated that 37669 and 37670 would be removed from traffic on arrival at Margam.
56302 (RCJA) has been released into traffic from Brush leaving Loughborough for Doncaster mid afternoon today.
87011 and 87017 (both SBXL) have been hauled from MoD Bicester to Long Marston today. In the event only 47818 was turned out for their transfer which ran somewhat earlier than advertised.

Tugs...
60040 60042 60043 and 60066 (all WNTR) are all now stopped and stored, 60040 and 60066 have been retired to Doncaster Carr whilst 60042 and 60043 have been stood down at Thornaby and Immingham respectively. 60033 at Margam and 60085 at Immingham have also been stored, both transferred to WNTS today, exchanging places with 60076 from store at Toton and 60094 from store at Thornaby, which are both reinstated to the WCAN pool. 60009 60047 and 60049 have been reprieved, their assignments for storage have been cancelled.

09/04/06

31206 (CROL) has been removed from Brush Loughborough by road being noted late yesterday heading south on the M1 near Northampton. Its current whereabouts are unclear.

Disposal...
At Booth's Rotherham 37040 is now devoid of any bodywork above solebar level although its power unit and auxiliary equipment is still in place and 37686 has been moved into position for demolition. 37040 was stored from Toton's WKBN pool in February 2000, RIP.

Tugs...
60053 (WNTR) has now arrived at Toton whilst 60500 (WNTR) en route to Toton from Thornaby was still at Doncaster this morning. 60091 (WNTR) appears to have been stopped at Margam but 60040 60042 60043 and 60066 (all WNTR) are still active.

Bicester 87s...
A path has been booked for the transfer of 87011 and 87017 (both SBXL) from MoD Bicester to Long Marston tomorrow. Selected timings for 0Z03 two Cotswold Rail Class 47s plus the two Class 87s are; Bicester 11:20, Oxford 11:46, Challow 12:14-12:34, Kemble 13:03, Ashchurch 13:57, Worcester Yard 14:21-14:40, Evesham 15:02 and Long Marston 15:24.

Toton...
There has been a bit of a shunt round at Toton resulting in 37065 37408 and 37418 being pushed off the depot into the compound. The current disposition of the stored locomotives in and around Toton from south to north is...

Toton Training Compound

Virtual Quarry siding: 58028 37308
Line 1: 37418 47742 47741 37429 47721 47722 58014 37137
Line 2: 37408 58048 58008
Line 3: 37065 47789 47781 47758 47726 58036

Toton Depot

Paintshop siding 1: 58019 08540 56046 08915 58012
Paintshop siding 2: 56073 58003 37375

Depot south line 1: 60001 60088 60081 60006
Depot south line 2: 37402

Inside depot: 09001 37405 37422 58023 60020 60026 60069 67010

Depot front: 60068 60073 60076 60086 60093

Breakdown crane line: 60056 60024 60005 60011
Snowplough headshunt: 56128 08896 08635 08683 08942 08912 08910 08414

08/04/06

47033 (CRUR) has completed its move from Wabtec to Gloucester.

Tugs...
60094 (WNTS) is back in store at Thornaby although it has been engaged as the depot pilot of late. 60053 (WNTR) has been dragged from Peak Forest to Peterborough whilst 60500 (WNTR) has left Thornaby and is on transfer to Toton for a B exam.
60040 60042 60043 60066 and 60091 (all WNTR) are still in active service and these five are now assigned to be stopped on the 9th (tomorrow) at various locations. In addition to these, four more Class 60s have been identified for store with 60009 60047 60049 and 60085 being assigned for N ONE at either Thornaby or Immingham.

And the point was...
37669 and 37670 (both WKAD) have been assigned for N ONE at Margam on the 10th. It transpires that their 'sponsorship' by Network Rail has come to an end.

Disposal...
At Hull's, Rotherham the demolition of 86207, stored from Longsight's ICCA pool in July 2002, has been completed, RIP.

56091...
Cam shaft repairs, a bogie swap (with 56112) and a B exam then its back to France for 56091 currently undergoing attention at Old Oak Common.

56302...
56124 can now be officially referred to as 56302, its renumbering having being put through on the system.

New sheds...
GBRf Class 66s; 66718 66719 66720 66721 and 66722 (all SAXL) have arrived at Newport Docks and unloading was underway during the afternoon.

07/04/06

47033 (CRUR) is heading west being removed from Doncaster during the afternoon sandwiched between 47714 and 47818 for its transfer to Gloucester.
47756 (WNSO) has been transported north by road, being noted at several locations on the M1 today, en route from Old Oak Common to Hull's at Rotherham for disposal.
56302 / 56124 (RCJA) has not been released from Brush Loughborough today, a path for it to run to Doncaster had been scheduled, however it has been indicated that its release may go ahead on Monday the 10th.
92023 (WNWX) still out and about when it and its SNCF owned classmates were stored on the 3rd was retired from traffic to store at Crewe EMD the following day.

06/04/06

37410 (WNTA) has been transferred to Thornaby as planned being shunted onto the depot this morning by 66048.
37510 (XHSS) sidelined in Doncaster West Yard for the last five weeks has been admitted into Wabtec for attention being shunted in by 08669 this morning.
47033 and 47528 (both CRUR) are to shortly be transferred from Doncaster to Gloucester by rail. 47326 (CROL) and 47338 (CRUR) will, if they are to follow, probably have to go via road.
56301 (RCJA) ran light engine from Doncaster back to Brush today. It is reported to be in need of attention to an axle box problem.

Tugs...
60074 and 60100 (both WNTR) have been stopped and stored at Thornaby whilst 60095 (WNTR) has been stood down at Immingham. 60053 (WNTR) is stopped at Peak Forest awaiting transfer to Toton whilst 60093 (WNTR) has arrived at Toton from Rotherham Steel Terminal. 60040 60042 60043 60066 and 60091 (all WNTR) are still in normal traffic.
More bad news, it has been indicated that another batch of Class 60s are to be removed from traffic shortly.

05/04/06

37410 (WNTA) has been tripped to Doncaster Belmont Yard from Doncaster Carr to await transit north overnight tonight via the 6S52 to Tyne Yard then 6E33 to Tees Yard for transfer to Thornaby for further attention.
47528 (CRUR) currently languishing in Doncaster West Yard with 47033 47326 and 47338 has been assigned for movement to Gloucester. Whether its just 47528 or if all four are to be moved to Gloucester, indeed if all four are fit to travel by rail, remains to be seen.
56091 (WZGF) is now at Old Oak Common following transfer from Wembley Yard. It would appear that repairs are to be carried out.
60066 (WNTR) has been returned to use but 60067 (WNTR) is now stopped at Margam being dragged west from Newport yesterday. 60093 (WNTR) made its way from Thornaby to Rotherham Steel Terminal yesterday and was still there mid afternoon today awaiting transfer. 60040 60042 60043 60053 60074 60091 60095 and 60100 (all WNTR) are still in normal service.

Disposals...
Two more to report, both from Kingsbury, one recent and one from last month. The disposal that has slipped through the net is the final cutting up of 37711 early last month, it was partially dismantled during November last year, whilst 08542 has been scrapped in the last couple of days or so. 37711 was stored from Toton's WKGN pool in December 1999 whilst 08542 was stored from Bescot's WSWM pool in April 2000, RIP.

Quirks...
Every now and then developments throw up what are usually referred to as quirks of fate. Whilst compiling the data for the disposals section update yesterday one such quirk came to light in that the three Class 47s scrapped during March, 47628 at Hull's along with 47778 and 47779 at Kingsbury, were all originally part of the small but elite Western Region batch which carried names and were almost, in their initial D series guises, consecutively numbered in sequence;

D1663 / 47628 Sir Daniel Gooch
D1664 lives on as 57009
D1665 / 47779 Titan
D1666 / 47778 Odin

04/04/06

08649 (ARZG) was removed from Eastleigh on a low loader this morning, probably to Wolverton. Eastleigh Works closed at the end of last week.
20073 has been removed from Barrow Hill to Booth's Rotherham for disposal. It was originally Kingsbury bound. On a historical note seeing as it won't be returning again 20073 and 20197 were the last locomotives off Barrow Hill in January 1991 when the depot was closed by BR.
33053 (MBDL) has also left Barrow Hill being noted on the M40 yesterday en route to the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway and into preservation.
56301 (RCJA) is out on test / training runs between Doncaster and Derby today.
60066 and 60093 (both WNTR) have now been stopped at Doncaster Carr and Thornaby respectively but 60094 (WNTS) has been released into active service from store at Thornaby. 60040 60042 60043 60053 60074 60091 60095 and 60100 (all WNTR) are still in normal traffic whilst 60067 (WNTR) in South Wales this morning is 'on transfer' awaiting a tow from Newport.

Disposal...
As far as can be ascertained the shell of 47778 has been disposed of at Kingsbury with cutting taking place in the last week of March. A belated farewell then for 47778 stored from the WHCD pool and Toton in February 2004, RIP.

03/04/06

37087 (XHMW) has been released from Glasgow Works being collected by 37607 and taken south to Kingmoor.
56091 (WZGF) en route to Old Oak Common has been moved up to Wembley Yard from Dollands Moor.

60s clobbered...
Thirteen Class 60s have been stored, all to WNTR. Of the thirteen 60069 is stopped at Toton and 60500 is stopped at Thornaby but the other eleven, 60040 60042 60043 60053 60066 60067 60074 60091 60093 60095 and 60100, are still in active traffic.

92s, a few changes...
All the SNCF owned Class 92s have now been stored following the transfer of 92010 92014 92018 92023 92028 92033 and 92038 to WNWX. All bar 92023 which is still in traffic are located at Crewe EMD. To try to balance things out EWS have reinstated 92017 and 92035, the latter being stored for almost two years, to the WTAE pool and now don't have any Class 92s in store.

Disposal...
The demolition of 86225 at Hull's Rotherham is at an advanced stage so its disposal can be recorded whilst 86207, reduced to little more than a pair of cabs and frame on bogies, is still lingering on. 86225 was stored from Longsight's ICCA pool In July 2002, RIP.

02/04/06

Grid news...
56091 (WZGF) has been returned to the UK from France being noted at Dollands Moor this afternoon. It is understood that three defective locomotives are being sent back to the UK and are destined to go to Old Oak Common. 56091 had been sidelined at Ocquerre with 56118 and 58016 and these two are most likely to be the other returnees.
Reports indicate that tomorrow's proposed test runs for 56301 have been postponed.

Tug notes...
The assignments for N ONE and store for 60042 60069 and 60093 have been rescinded but 60054 has been added to the list and is now assigned for N ONE at Toton on the 3rd meanwhile 60094 (WNTS) went for a spin out on test from Thornaby and back yesterday.

SNCF 92s...
Following on from 92033 being stopped N ONE at Crewe EMD four of the remaining six active SNCF 92s, 92010 92018 92028 and 92038, have also been stopped at Crewe EMD but for 'special tests' leaving just 92014 and 92023 in normal traffic.

01/04/06

92004 and 92011 have been reinstated to the WTAE pool. 92004 was returned to traffic early March but has remained allocated to the WNTS storage pool whilst 92011 is a recent returnee from store at Crewe EMD.

85B: Horton Road, Gloucester...
Gloucester Horton Road depot (GL) is now technically active again following track testing with 47813 today, the first locomotive, barring a special exercise with a pair of DRS 20s in 2002, on shed since 1992. The depot area can now be prepared for a return to use as an operational facility which will include the replacement of the current shed building with a more modern structure. |  47813 Horton Rd Gallery  |

RT Rail notes...
08754 (MOLO) has been despatched to Whitemoor displacing 08588 (MOLO) which has been transported to Wabtec for wheelset examination. 08762 (MOLO) meanwhile awaits recovery from Northwich where it was involved in a shunting mishap a few days ago.

56/3s...
56301 (RCJA) is booked for several runs out from Doncaster during the coming week. Monday (3rd) 56301 is set to visit York Yard before heading south to Barrow Hill then back to Doncaster whilst from Tuesday to Thursday (4th to 6th) 56301 is booked to undertake several trips between the Doncaster area and Barrow Hill. On Friday (the 7th) subject to 56302 (56124) being ready to be released from its overhaul at Brush Traction 56301 is to run to Loughborough to accompany 56302 north to Doncaster. 56303 undergoing transformation from 56125 at FM Rail Derby is expected to appear later in the month.

Scrapping update...
At Booth's Rotherham the frame and bogies of 37697 have disappeared completely and 37040 has been dug out and placed into the scrapping area. Down the road at Hull's 86207 is still with us although missing most of its bodysides.

Made in China...
Partly due to the length of time it's now taking to get Class 66s built in Canada, GM having moved on to other mainstream build projects, and possibly something to do with EWS and their intended foreign campaign and a potential need for more of the type for them and other users, the feasibility of having additional Class 66s built under licence in China is being investigated. If proceeded with EWS could have additional 'sheds' for its UK and European aspirations, the potential need to return Class 56s and Class 58s to use therefore being negated, other users currently using the design such as Freightliner, GBRf, DRS would have an option to have extra locomotives built as required whilst other UK operators, some new to the freight market, such as Fastline, FM Rail and Cotswold Rail may in the longer term see 66s as the way forward. No doubt by early April next year this situation will be much clearer...

top  |  March 2006  |  news archives  |  wnxx