News Archive: May 2006
31/05/06
Summer dated HST workings...
VTXC are hiring in four HST sets, one from GNER and three from MML, for summer
dated weekend cross country workings.
On Saturday's from July 1st to September 2nd they will be
employed on the 07:24 Manchester to Newquay, 15:22 Newquay to Manchester, 09:40
Newcastle to Newquay, 19:15 Newquay to Plymouth, 06:51 Plymouth to Newquay,
09:40 Newquay to Newcastle, 07:35 Bristol to Paignton, 10:32 Paignton to
Newcastle services. These workings also run on June 17th, 24th and September 9th
but are diagrammed for Voyager operation.
On Saturday June 3rd only HST sets will be in use on the 07:24 Manchester to
Newquay, 15:22 Newquay to Manchester, 10:44 York to Newquay, 19:15 Newquay to
Plymouth, 06:51 Plymouth to Newquay, 09:40 Newquay to York, 07:35 Bristol to
Paignton, 10:32 Paignton to York services.
30/05/06
08077 (DFLS) appears to have now been set aside at
Southampton Maritime. It had been reported back in January that retirement for
the veteran shunter was in the offing but fellow local shunter 08585
subsequently sat down and has been away at LH Plant for repairs. 08585 is back
at Southampton now and consequently since its return 08077 has been parked up
with stored 47309 and 47358.
37411 (WKCK) has been identified for storage being assigned for N ONE at Temple
Mills by June 7th.
43086 and 43159 (both IWRP) along with 43193 (CRRH), one of the two power cars
as yet unused by Cotswold Rail, were hauled from Gloucester to Plymouth today by
47714 and 47813.
57006 (DFTZ) at Crewe Basford Hall, sidelined since early May, has been placed
on decision. Does this development lend any weight to the [totally
unsubstantiated] rumours that the Freightliner Class 57 fleet might be reduced
when the recently ordered Class 66s appear later this year?
87006 (IWCA) is out again with the VTWC training set running between London and
Birmingham. Although initially it had been anticipated that the training
exercise would be wound up on the 26th it has been established that it now runs
until at least the end of this week.
29/05/06
43086 and 43159 (both IWRP) are on their way to Laira
having being extracted from Long Marston today and hauled, in top and tail
formation, to Gloucester between 47714 and 47813.
66411 66412 and 66413 (all XHSS) have been unloaded at Newport Docks. Movement
north to Kingmoor, initially as at least one of these is to go to Glasgow Works
to receive 'Stobart' livery enhancements, is scheduled to take place tomorrow
leaving Newport at around 14:10. 66403 has been provided for haulage.
Godfrey Rd...
Yesterday the point work linking Newport Godfrey Rd. stabling point to the
national network was removed rendering the location defunct as a locomotive
holding point. EWS locomotives are now to stable at Alexandra Dock Junction
instead. With regards to Newport station it is reported that plans are afoot to
extend the little used and undersized platform 4 now that access to the former
loco holding sidings is no longer required.
27/05/06
47197 (DHLT) which had been seeing use as the Basford Hall
shunter after storage last autumn has recently been transferred to 'stored
unserviceable' status. It is understood that 47197 last saw use early to mid
March 2006.
43069 43086 43159 awaiting collection from Long Marston along with 43078 and
43197 recently delivered to Plymouth Laira have been reinstated to the IWRP pool
for use with FGW.
58016 (WZFF) is back from France, the errant 'bone' being noted at Dollands Moor
on the 25th.
Work in progress...
At Booth's Rotherham 47725 is still with us, just, only its frame and cabs
remained when viewed this morning whilst up the road at Hull's a start has been
made on the cutting of 86224.
325s...
Following repairs to the motor coaches several Class 325 postal units have been
restored to four car sets which can run under their own power. 325001 325004
325008 325011 325012 325016 and the hybrid set 325017 are all now self propelled
and are to be joined this week by set 325015. With regards to the Class 87s
obviously the requirement for the locomotives will decrease, GBRF currently
employ four examples; 87012 87019 87022 and 87028, but it remains to be seen if
they will be able to dispense with their use completely. The general consensus
is that a couple may be retained, being used on top of units a couple of times a
week to keep staff familiarisation current in much the way things were some
months ago before the motor coaches were removed from all the 325s rendering
them as un-powered sets en masse.
XHSS Sheds...
The ten new DRS Class 66s, 66411 to 66420 inclusive have, following registration
a few days ago, been reallocated to the XHSS storage pool. Three of the ten are
en route to the UK at the moment and are expected at Newport any day now. The
other seven are to follow at a later date.
26/05/06
08993 (WNTR) now at Doncaster Carr is showing as undergoing
a D exam.
43008 (IECP) has been released from accident damage repairs at Brush
Loughborough being taken away by road early this morning. It had been sidelined
since early January after being involved in a collision with the Voyager at
Craigentinny.
47829 (RTLO) was on the move again today being noted being shunted about at
Crewe in convoy with 47848 and some coaches behind 47843. 47829 has been dumped
back on the holding sidings adjacent to Crewe DMD.
25/05/06
20016 and 20057, the latter not previously noted on the
move, have been deposited at Long Marston following transfer south by road from
the MoD base at Smalmstown. Only 20032 20072 and 20215 await extraction now.
37057 37682 (both WNTA) 47749 (WNXX) and 47760 (WNTR) have been returned to
Healey Mills being hauled from Knottingley early afternoon behind 60046.
24/05/06
20016 has been extracted from Smalmstown by road being noted on the M42 near Birmingham en route to Long Marston.
FGW Power Car additions...
33056...
Although the decidedly derelict shell of 33056 was offered for sale over a year
ago its fate has only recently been sealed. Sold as is, its shell, once final
stripping has been completed, is to be despatched to Booth's Rotherham for
breaking up. The bogies are being retained for 33102.
Work in progress...
The demolition of 37889 on site at Crewe DMD is underway.
23/05/06
43078 and 43197 (both SBXL) have been collected from
Evesham. 47818 collected the power cars this morning taking them initially to Long Marston
where they were reported to be being joined by 43086 and 43159 (both also SBXL)
for transfer to Plymouth Laira. In the event only 43078 and 43197 were moved on
from Long Marston to Laira behind 47818.
56303 (still SDFL) and 56301 (RCJA) ran in multiple today from Barrow Hill to
Rugby before going their separate ways, 56301 later returned to Barrow Hill
whilst 56303 has ran light engine to London.
60009 (WNTR) has completed its transfer to Toton being dragged from Doncaster
this morning in the consist of the 7M18 service.
66411 to 66420 inclusive have been registered on the system allocated to
Kingmoor and pool XHIM.
22/05/06
08993 (WNTR) after its stop over at Heanor's has been on
the move again today being noted heading north up the M1 early this morning.
37405 after stopping over at Warrington last night was despatched north to
Scotland in the consist of this afternoon's 4S61 to Mossend behind 92041. Still
assigned to Motherwell for attention 37405, which has been reinstated to the
WKBM pool, is on arrival at Motherwell set to receive the RETB equipment from
37416 which was overdue a B exam and has been stopped and stored WNTS at
Motherwell.
37427 (WNTR) recently stored at Motherwell looks to be on its way back as
repairs have been authorised but 37402 (WNTR) at Toton, awaiting a bogie change,
has reverted to status N ONE indicating that moves towards its resurrection have
been cancelled.
60009 (WNTR) stored late last week had been sidelined at Thornaby but is en
route to Toton being dragged south from Thornaby to Doncaster this afternoon.
21/05/06
37405 (WNTR) has been released from Toton but is to go to Motherwell for further attention. Hired to WKBM, perhaps a clue as to it's pending allocation once reinstated, 37405 ran initially from Toton to Saltley before heading north being noted on the WCML near Stafford shortly after 21:00.
20/05/06
08993 (WNTR) recently returned to operational status at St
Blazey has been removed and transported north by road initially to Heanor's at
Langley Mill.
66049 (WBAN) has, for the record as not noted anywhere else, been in France for
static training purposes since early May.
Disposal...
The scrapping of the shell of 47756 at Hull's Rotherham has been undertaken in
the last fortnight. 47756 was stored from Crewe's WHDD pool in October 2003,
RIP.
Work in progress...
The demolition of 47725 at Booth's Rotherham has commenced with one cab and some
bodywork removed by this morning.
Grid passenger action...
56302 (RCJA) becomes the first Class 56 to see mainline passenger action since
the farewell tour at the end of March 2004 after being scrambled from Doncaster
today to rescue a northbound tour headed by FM Rail's 33103 and 33202 which had
come to a stand at Newark. Although the tour was Keighley bound, for a spin over
the K&WVR, 56302 was only utilised to drag the stricken service into Doncaster
where the tour was terminated.
18/05/06
08454 (ATXX) has made its move north from Wembley to
Longsight being noted on the M6 north of Birmingham en route during the
afternoon.
08630 (WSGW) is another shunter on the road yesterday being
noted traversing the M56 near Chester in the morning. Although still allocated
to the South Wales pool 08630 had been in use at Dee Marsh.
56125 has been reinstated to FM Rail's SDFL pool to facilitate
its transfer to Doncaster. Although its identity on the system was only changed
from 56125 to 56303 late afternoon today its physical identity including its
repaint into Fastline colours and re-numbering to 56303 was completed yesterday
at Barrow Hill. With 56301 in attendance for insurance 56303 ran to Doncaster
from Barrow Hill early evening today.
87006 (IWCA) has again been out on the VTWC Class 87 and stock re-training runs
today. The training diagram is in place until the 26th.
17/05/06
60009 has been stored WNTR but is still in traffic assigned
to be stopped at Toton on the 19th whilst 60069 noted out on test from Toton
yesterday is now reinstated to the WCAN pool. Other returnee candidates include
60500 (WNTR) which was on the load bank at Toton this afternoon and 60073 (WNTS)
being tested yesterday. Worth noting at this point, as it has not yet been
recorded, is that 37422 (WNTS) was being run up on the Toton load bank at the
end of last week.
87006 (IWCA) plied the southern sections of the WCML today with the 5Z87 etc.
VTWC re-training runs between London and Birmingham.
56303...
56125 / 56303 (SDXL) is due to be collected from Barrow Hill tomorrow and
transferred to Doncaster.
Shunter notes...
Maintrain have undertaken a shunter swap at Derby, 08690 (HISE) was removed by
road yesterday and 08908 (HISL), its replacement from Neville Hill, was unloaded
this morning.
08770 (WNTR) latterly recorded as being in store at Margam has recently been
noted in active service in the nearby Knuckle Yard complex whilst Temple Mills'
recently reinstated 08921 (WSLN) has been put to work on contract hire at
Sheerness Steel Works.
08752 (WNTR) has been transferred by road from Doncaster Carr to Toton whilst RT
Rail's 08573 (MOLO) has left Wabtec for London being noted heading south on the
M1 late this afternoon.
Alstom's 08617 (ATXX) it transpires, has been up at Longsight for an E exam and
collision damage repairs. It's trip north from Wembley going unrecorded. However
it is on its way back south by road to Wembley where it is set to exchange
places with 08454 (also ATXX) which is due to move north to Longsight for
attention.
16/05/06
58048 (WNXX) has completed its move to Old Oak Common being
hauled there from Wembley today by 67005.
60069 (WNTR) looks to be a candidate for a return to use having being noted out
on test today from Toton.
90024 (WNTS) which is to be repainted into the new First Group Sleeper style
livery has been dragged over from Crewe EMD to Toton for cosmetic attention.
Training runs deferred...
The VTWC Class 87 and stock training runs have not materialised today. It is now
anticipated that the first runs will take place tomorrow with a suitably livery
enhanced 87006 at the helm.
14/05/06
20088, it transpires, has after transportation south from
Cumbria been delivered to Long Marston, not Barrow Hill as previously reported.
43078 and 43197 (both SBXL) have left Gloucester for Long Marston but haven't
completed their journey yet as the GNER liveried power cars were noted parked
near the signal box at Evesham yesterday awaiting forwarding into the nearby
Long Marston complex.
VTWC 87s, training runs to
commence...
Crew re-training and familiarisation runs are set to commence between London
and Birmingham, initially scheduled to start tomorrow information received
indicates that these will now start on the 16th, Tuesday. The reported timings
are...
5Z87 09:06 Wembley to London Euston then Birmingham
International
5Z88 11:21 Birmingham International to London Euston
5Z89 14:00 London Euston to Birmingham International
5Z90 15:40 Birmingham International to London Euston then Wembley
City of Birmingham...
87009 (SBXL) currently languishing at Long Marston is set to be shortly be moving
to the Central Trains depot at Tyseley. Although it has always been anticipated
that 87009, the former City of Birmingham, would be twinned with its steam
namesake in the Birmingham area the official line is that 87009 is going to be
utilised for 'apprentice training' with Maintrain at Tyseley.
12/05/06
20088 was removed by road from MoD Smalmstown this morning
and is understood to have been transported to Barrow Hill.
47365 (CRUR) latterly located on the East Somerset Railway has been transported
to Gloucester.
87021 (CREL) 87025 (CRRH) 87030 (SBXL) and 87033 (CREL)
were hauled from Oxley to Gloucester on the 10th then on to Long Marston
yesterday behind 47810. They have been
joined at Long Marston by 87027 (SBXL) from Norwich which, with a rake of stock,
was moved over from Norwich to Oxley on the 10th before being hauled south to
Long Marston via Gloucester, also yesterday.
Disposal...
The demolition of 47515 at Crewe DMD is at an advanced stage so the disposal of
the last built but not highest numbered Class 47 can now be recorded. It was
also the longest time stored mainline locomotive on the lists and with its
demise this accolade now falls to 33203, stored since April 1991. 47515 was
stored from Bristol Bath Road and the RXLC pool back in January 1991, RIP.
DRS Gronks...
It has been indicated that the two Class 08s now in the DRS fleet are 08834
(HBSH) and 08892 (RFSH).
Chequebooks out again...
FM Rail are offering some Class 31s and some Class 47s for sale, several of
which had been advertised earlier. Being made available for sale are 31154 31407
31412 31426 31433 31462 31524 47236 47704 and 47803.
09/05/06
08921 at Temple Mills has been reinstated to the WSLN pool.
37057 37682 (both WNTA) 47749 (WNXX) and 47760 (WNTR) made the scheduled move
from Healey Mills to Knottingley today for de-fuelling etc. 67024 again being
provided as traction.
37406 returned to use a few days ago has now been reinstated to the WKBM pool at
the expense of 37427 which has been stored WNTR at Motherwell.
56125 (SDXL) has been hauled from Derby to Barrow Hill where a repaint and
transformation into 56303 is to take place.
60020 which was already in active service is now reinstated to the WCBN
pool swapping places with 60057 which has been stored WNTR at Toton.
87004 87010 87013 and 87014 (all SBXL) were hauled from Oxley to Long Marston
today behind 47810. Four more Class 87s are scheduled to make the same journey
tomorrow, similar timings, meanwhile it has been noted that 87027 is no longer
on Crown Point having being moved to the sidings near Norwich station sometime
in the past few days.
Fastline 56s...
56301 and 56302 ran from Doncaster to Scunthorpe and back in multiple today to
test the equipment. The Thamesport flow is due to commence tomorrow with 56302
being rostered.
On the road...
08573 (MOLO) from Inverness and 08822 (HJXX) from St Philips Marsh have been
delivered to Wabtec, both being noted on the road en route, whilst
Freightliner's 08785 (DFLS) latterly at LNWR Crewe was observed heading south on
the M6 this afternoon. 56003 from the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway has
also been noted on the motorway being observed en route to the Churnet Valley
whilst EWS are undertaking the necessary bogie work on 56040 at Immingham in
readiness for its transfer into preservation on the Mid Norfolk Railway.
08/05/06
Prospective movements...
37057 37682 (both WNTA) 47749 (WNXX) and 47760 (WNTR) recently transferred to
Healey Mills from Crewe via Warrington are booked to go to Knottingley tomorrow
where they are to be de-fuelled etc. before being returned to Healey Mills
whilst, also tomorrow, four stored Class 87s are scheduled to be making their
way from Oxley to Long Marston, due off Oxley at around 12:30 behind a Cotswold
Rail Class 47. Also due to move at some point is 87027 (SBXL) from Norwich Crown
Point which is awaiting collection and removal elsewhere, possibly also to Long
Marston.
4O90...
56302 (RCJA) ran from Doncaster to Rugby today in the path of what will become
the 4O90 Fastline service from Doncaster to the Isle of Grain (Thamesport). It
had been construed that the revenue service had been due to commence today as
the path through from Doncaster to Grain had been entered on the system as
active from the 8th onwards however training appears to be ongoing and Rugby
seems to be as far south as things go at the moment. 56301 (RCJA) released from
Brush a couple of days or so ago was noted in action at Doncaster this morning. For anyone who hasn't seen the full timings for the 4O90
and 4E90 services which run south Monday, Wednesday and Friday, selective timings are below...
4O90 Doncaster to Grain
Doncaster 11:01, Aldwarke 12:11, Rotherham 12;16, Barrow Hill 12:35, Derby
13:14, Burton 13:37, Tamworth 13:54, Kingsbury 14:01, Water Orton 14:11, Walsall
14:52, Bescot 14:57, Aston 15:07, Birmingham International 15:31-15:50, Coventry
16:04, Rugby 16:25, Northampton 17:06, Bletchley 17:29, Watford Junction 18:05,
Wembley 18:18, Mitre Bridge Junction 18:37, North Pole 18:39, Kensington Olympia
18:44, Lewisham 19:27, Sidcup 19:40, Dartford 19:57, Hoo Junction 20:18 and
Grain 20:55.
4E90 Grain to Doncaster
Grain 00:05, Hoo Junction 00:42, Dartford 01:06, Sidcup 01:16, Lewisham 01:29,
Kensington Olympia 01:57, North Pole 02:00, Mitre Bridge Junction 02:02, Wembley
02:18, Watford Junction 02:29, Bletchley 02:59, Northampton 03:18, Rugby 03:56,
Coventry 04:10, Birmingham International 04:22, Aston 04:36, Bescot 04:45,
Walsall 04:51, Water Orton 05:25, Kingsbury 05:29, Tamworth 05:35, Burton 05:48,
Derby 06:04, Barrow Hill 06:42, Rotherham 07:08, Aldwarke 07:13 and Doncaster
08:07.
07/05/06
08331 (RFSH) at Wabtec reported to have been sold has been
sold but not to DRS as earlier speculated, RT Rail have now claimed this one as
an addition to their fleet. Besides the announcement regarding the purchase of 08331 RT Rail have advised
that 08573 to come south from Inverness and 08750 at Wabtec (both MOLO) are to
go on a two year hire contract with Tubelines Ltd.
37057 37682 (both WNTA) 47749 (WNXX) and 47760 (WNTR) have been on the move
again today being hauled from Warrington to Healey Mills behind 67024.
37406 (WNTS) has been returned to use from store at Motherwell as a replacement
for 37427 (WKBN) which has been sidelined with contaminated oil, quite often a
sign of engine problems, and allocated for store. 37406 with local working only
and test restrictions in place worked to Holytown Junction this morning with
37416.
06/05/06
37214 (MBDL) now mainline registered was released from
Carnforth yesterday in maroon and has ventured north with 47854 for Scottish
charter work.
37057 37682 (both WNTA) 47749 (WNXX) and 47760 (WNTR) have been hauled from
Crewe EMD to Warrington, 90020 being provided for traction. The four 'demics'
are eventually to go to Healey Mills.
86606 86615 and 86620 (all DHLT) at Crewe EMD, the latter two of which are
burnt, are being offered for sale by Freightliner.
04/05/06
08308 (MOLO) has returned to Scotland being noted en route
to Inverness from Doncaster by road at several different locations yesterday
afternoon and evening.
47829 (RTLO) has been removed from the holding sidings adjacent to Crewe DMD and
taken across to the LNWR depot.
56301 (RCJA) is due to be released tomorrow from rectification repairs at Brush
and will be running light engine from Loughborough to Doncaster.
Barrow Hill charters...
As part of the Barrow Hill open weekend early July there are circular charters
being run from the open day to Deepcar (on the 8th) and to Derby and Toton (on
the 9th). Full details and a downloadable booking form can be found at the
following link,
Barrow Hill Goes Mainline
03/05/06
56091 (WZGF) has returned to France. Having being noted in Wembley Yard yesterday following tyre turning at Temple Mills 56091 was hauled through the tunnel this morning in the consist of service 4404 behind 92013 and 92041.
Tugs...
60020 (WNTS) has been returned to use from store at Toton, hired to WCBN, it has
been out on the Forders turn today meanwhile 60049 and 60083 (both WNTR) were
retired to Immingham late yesterday afternoon running light engine from the
Scunthorpe area after working the Roxby bins.
Shunter notes...
08466 (WSEM), ousted from Peterborough last week by former South Wales resident
08662 (WSGW), has itself, after spending a few days at Langley Mill, been
transported to South Wales being noted en route earlier today. Further north
08593 (WSWM) from Dee Marsh was on the move near Warrington this morning. At St
Blazey 08993 (WNTR) has been receiving attention with a view to returning it to
an operational condition.
RT Rail's 08308 (MOLO), having had an E exam at Wabtec, is due to return north
this week to Inverness where it is set to displace 08573 (MOLO) for exam and
shipment south to work in the London area. 08756, undergoing overhaul at Wabtec
for RT Rail, has been fitted with a refurbished power unit / generator set and a
return to traffic in July is anticipated.
Lastly regarding the report about DRS acquiring Class 08s further information
received suggests that three have been secured one of which is thought to be
08331 (RFSH) currently at Wabtec.
02/05/06
37419 (WNTR) was stopped and retired to store at Temple
Mills yesterday evening as planned.
60049 and 60083 (both WNTR) are still out and about but not for long. Having
spent the weekend at Peak Forest they were deployed to work the 6E06 Roxby bound
bin liner today to get them to Humberside for storage at Immingham. 60049 and
60083 were in the Scunthorpe area late afternoon.
West Coast 87s are go...
The IWCA pool has regained an allocation of 87s with three members of the Class;
87002 87006 and 87026, being transferred from the GBAC pool this afternoon
following their release by GBRf. 87002 and 87006 are in London but 87026, the
scruffy one that could do with a repaint, was still out and about on mail
workings. As an aside the depot allocation for 87006, which had erroneously been
showing as allocated to Barrow Hill for the last few months, has now been
corrected.
Double Grid...
With 56003 due to visit the Nene Valley Railway this autumn for the diesel gala
the opportunity to run 56003 double headed with resident 56057 has arisen. The
6th & 7th of October (Friday & Saturday) are a couple of dates for your diary...
01/05/06
37419 (WNTR) has spent most of today shuffling between Acton and Wembley on training trips and is scheduled to retire to Temple Mills for store during the evening.
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