31/08/06

08993 (WNTR) proving as usual to be a complete &!*^ to keep tabs on has, it turns out, also left Doncaster in the last day or so having being transferred by road to Washwood Heath. 08993 is standing in for 08706 (WSWM) which has been despatched back to Bescot with contaminated oil. As noted yesterday 08994 (WSEM) also latterly at Doncaster has been despatched to Peak Forest.
31306 (WNSO) at Old Oak Common is heading into history, its demolition on site having begun.
66010 (WBEN) is on its way abroad being hauled initially from Toton to Washwood Heath for forwarding to Wembley then France.

30/08/06

60040 (WNTR) has been dragged from Doncaster Carr to Toton by 66020 today.

Shunter notes...
08994 (WSEM) has turned up at Peak Forest. As 08994 was in the Doncaster area prior to its transfer to Derbyshire then the sighting of a cut down Class 08 leaving Doncaster yesterday morning will most likely have been this one rather than 08993 as earlier reported. Another shunter noted on the move this afternoon was 08706 (WSWM) latterly located at Washwood Heath observed heading north on the M6 near junction 6 towards Bescot.

Ghosts exorcised...
Several HNRS allocated but long since scrapped locomotives have been scrubbed from the system. Deleted are 31174 (Kingsbury July 2001), 37141 (Carnforth February 2005), 37341 (Booth's February 2003), 37359 (Carnforth January 2005 although its frame on bogies is believed to still be extant), 37404 (Booth's January 2002) and 47221 (Kingsbury January 2002). Also deleted from the system are 03170 from MBDL and 37240 from HNRL, these are both in preservation. These deletions leave 01556 (MBDL), 08642 (DHLT), 31154 31411 31417 31462 31524 31558 (all SDXL), 33023 (MBDL), 37509 (WNYX), 47628 (SDXL), 86603 and 86611 (both DHLT) on the ghost list awaiting final removal from the records.

29/08/06

08993 (WNTR) is on the move again, the cut down shunter being noted on a low loader leaving the Doncaster area this morning.
60019 60060 60072 and 60082 have been reinstated to WCAN and all four are back in active service.

28/08/06

47345 has not turned up at Hull's Rotherham yet, this has been confirmed, so if it has left Brush it is reasonably safe to assume that it may be on a trailer in some haulier's yard somewhere.
86101 (ACXX) last noted at Heanor's yard after removal from Ashchurch has been deposited at Barrow Hill.

27/08/06

47345 was, as far as can be ascertained, transferred from Brush Loughborough to Hull's Rotherham by road overnight on the 24th.
60082 (WNTR hired to WCAN) looks set to re-enter traffic from store at Thornaby shortly. Several Class 60 reinstatements are anticipated in the coming days.

WCML 87s, an update...
Further to yesterday's report concerning the return of the WCML Class 87 and stock diagram it transpires that although it had been planned for the set to return on the 29th this has been postponed for a week. Testing of the set will continue this coming week with the return of the passenger carrying diagrams now scheduled to commence on Monday September 4th.

26/08/06

60072 (WNTR hired to WCAN) has again returned to traffic off Margam.

WCML 87s...
It has been indicated that the WCML Class 87 and stock working will return on the 29th with the 16:51 Euston to Birmingham and 19:00 return services being covered. The 06:20 Rugby to Euston looks set to remain Pendolino operated.

25/08/06

43098 (IWRP) has re-entered traffic from Landore.
60072 (WNTR) is stopped again at Margam but remains on hire to WCAN.
90019 (WNTR) and 90024 (WNTS) which left Toton yesterday afternoon have been returned to Crewe EMD.

92028...
Further to yesterday's bit about 92028 and staff training at Wembley it transpires that whilst GBRf are involved it would appear that this is connected with the news some weeks ago that SNCF had applied for licences to operate freight within the UK.

HNRS expanded...
A number of locomotives, 20092 20132 20902 20904 37010 37100 37131 37170 37178 37667 37672 and 37898, that were 'off' the system have been re-registered and allocated to the HNRS pool at Barrow Hill. Other transfers see 20903 and 37680 being reallocated to HNRS whilst 20168, the shunter at Hope, has been reallocated from HNRS to HNRL.

24/08/06

31107 (QETS), none the worse for its altercation with a car the other day, has been returned to Derby by road being noted arriving at the RTC on a low loader mid afternoon. Component recovery then away for breaking up is quite likely the plan.
47345 at Brush Loughborough is to be removed by road to Hull's at Rotherham.
60072 (WNTR) latterly stored in South Wales has been returned to traffic from Margam.
86101 (ACXX) until recently located at Ashchurch was noted aboard a low loader near Birmingham this morning. Although possibly Barrow Hill bound 86101 has stopped off at Heanor's at Langley Mill.
87006 (IWCA) and stock has been out on WCML training / test runs today and yesterday. With the news that the Pendolino modification program is set to resume any time now, if it hasn't already, the resumption of the Class 87 and stock cover diagram looks likely to be returning sooner rather than later.
90019 (WNTR) and 90024 (WNTS) were removed from Toton mid afternoon behind 66114.
92028 (WNWX) has been moved south from Crewe EMD to Wembley Yard being noted there yesterday evening. Whether there is any substance in the theory that GBRf are looking at taking on some of the type and the appearance of 92028, one of the SNCF owned examples, at Wembley for staff training remains to be seen.

23/08/06

31206 (CROL) has made the move from Gloucester to Booth's at Rotherham by road being noted today heading north on the M1 en route.
43092 (now IWRP, see below) did make it through to Landore with 47828 as planned following its release from Brush yesterday meanwhile 47714 has removed 43068 (SBXL) from Landore to Long Marston.
92004 from (brief) store at Crewe EMD has been reinstated to the WTAE pool in exchange for 92031 which is stopped for a light overhaul at Crewe EMD and has been stored WNTR.

FGXP disbanded...
The eleven First Group owned power cars latterly allocated to the FGXP pool have en masse been reallocated to the IWRP active pool however this development is not regarded as reinstatement for all eleven as only the three power cars, 43092 43097 and 43098, that have been through Brush for re-engineering can realistically be viewed as reinstated whilst 43094 43122 43153 43154 43155 43158 43194 and 43198 scattered variously between Loughborough, Laira and Landore remain regarded as stored pending developments.

22/08/06

43092 (FGXP) has been released from Brush today being hauled westwards at least as far as Gloucester behind 47828 which had earlier delivered 43141 and 43164 (both IWRP) to Loughborough for re-engineering.
47365 (CROL) moved north from Gloucester yesterday has been delivered to Booth's Rotherham. 31206 is to follow in due course.

21/08/06

47365 (CROL) latterly located at Gloucester has been transported north by road being noted both on the M5 and M1 motorways during the course of today. Reports indicate that this and possibly others have been sold to Booth's at Rotherham.
60020 and 60058 from store at Thornaby along with 60026 and 60073 from store at Toton have been reinstated, 60073 to WCAN, the others to WCBN.
66042 becomes the seventh Euroshed following its reallocation to the WBEN European pool. It is still in normal traffic at the moment.
87003 and 87023 (both SBXL) have been transferred from Oxley to Long Marston being hauled there this morning behind 47813 and 47828 with a rake of coaching stock.
92039 from store at Crewe EMD has been reinstated to the WTAE pool.

Crash test dummy...
The staged level crossing collision involving 31107 took place today at Scawby Crossing on the B1206 near Brigg on the little used Wrawby Junction to Gainsborough line. After a couple of dummy runs with 31233, the propelling engine, and after an almighty rain storm, 31107 was shoved at speed into a car placed on the level crossing to illustrate quite graphically exactly what happens when cars and trains collide.

20/08/06

08776 (WNTR) has been moved up to Thornaby being noted there yesterday parked with 08813 in the space recently vacated by 37680.
87003 and 87023 (both SBXL) again have a path booked, tomorrow morning, for their removal from Oxley and transfer to Long Marston.

19/08/06

08776 (WNTR) latterly in use in the Doncaster area has been shipped out on a low loader. Its current whereabouts are unclear.
43089 and 43160 at Brush Loughborough have been reinstated to the NMT QCAR pool. Of note is that 43160 has been stopped and stored since October 2003 when VT released it from service.

18/08/06

08921 (recently reallocated to WSAW) has been transported by road from Temple Mills to South Wales being observed at several locations en route via the M25 and M4 motorways yesterday afternoon and evening.
31107 (QETS) has been extracted from Barrow Hill by road for transportation to Barnetby.
37680 (WNSO) has been transported to LaFarge Cement Works at Hope for further storage. After unloading 37680 at Hope yesterday the opportunity was taken, using the road trailer, to turn resident super shunter 20168 to even out its tyre wear. HNRC and more specifically LaFarge would like to make it quite clear that as 37680 is now within the confines of the cement works, a very busy industrial concern, it is, for the duration of its stay at LaFarge, out of bounds. In the fullness of time 37680 is expected to be making its way to Barrow Hill but this is dependant on progress with 37667 and 37672 which are being repaired and overhauled at Barrow Hill for re-use on the national network.
66038 stopped at Toton has been reallocated to the WBEN Euroshed pool whilst 66412 (now XHMW) admitted to Glasgow Works on the 16th is there for investigation into why it often activates line side hot axle box detection equipment.

17/08/06

58033 58040 and 58047 (all WZFF) were hauled from Wembley to Eastleigh by 66060 yesterday evening.
66412 (XHIM) has been admitted to Glasgow Works. Delivered to Springburn yesterday by 66404 can it be assumed that, providing it's not faulty, another repaint could be in the offing?

16/08/06

37680 (WNSO) has been collected and removed from Thornaby by road being noted heading south near Thirsk then Wetherby late afternoon.
58033 58040 and 58047 (all WZFF) have been hauled from Dollands Moor to Wembley. They are booked to be forwarded to Eastleigh.
87003 and 87023 (both SBXL) remain at Oxley, today's booked transfer to Long Marston being called off.
87006 (IWCA) has been out on test following an exam at Wembley and the WCML Class 87 with stock diagram is set to return shortly.

Shunter news...
08587 sidelined at Margam, thought to have collision damage, has been stored WNXX whilst 08924 out of use with wheelset problems at Motherwell has been stored WNTS. 08842 and 08854 already in traffic at Carlisle and Sheerness respectively are now reinstated, 08842 to WSSC and 08854 to WRLS. 08933 from store at Temple Mills but now in use at Hoo Junction has also been reinstated to WRLS and has displaced 09005 (WRLS) relocated to Temple Mills. 08776 08993 and 09001 currently in traffic but allocated to storage pools remain as such.

Crash test dummy...
The staged collision involving 31107 is set to go ahead and movement to Barnetby by road is being reported. This in turn indicates that the little used Wrawby Junction to Gainsborough line is to be used for the collision and as the locomotive itself is non operational 31107 will be propelled up to speed by an FM Rail locomotive then released.

15/08/06

37672 (WNSO) recently transported to Barrow Hill from Thornaby has been started up, first press of the button by all accounts, meanwhile 37680 (WNSO) remains at Thornaby, its extraction now delayed somewhat.
47843 and 47848 (both RTLO) are PNT (paint) on the system indicating that they are in the process of loosing their VT red colours in advance of their going on hire to DRS.
87003 and 87023 (both SBXL) awaiting removal from Oxley to Long Marston are booked to make the move tomorrow. As per the original but cancelled trip they are due to leave Oxley at about 12:30.

13/08/06

09001 (WNTS) until recently located at Margam has been put into traffic at Barry.
58033 and 58040 (both WZFF) have been returned to the UK from France being noted at Dollands Moor this afternoon with 58047.

11/08/06

37248 (MBDL) has returned to the mainline making a test run out from Carnforth yesterday evening with 33029 and 57601.
58047 (WZFF) is back from France, being noted at Dollands Moor yesterday afternoon. Two more returnees 58033 and 58040 (both also WZFF) are also en route to the UK. It may appear that the repatriation of the locomotives involved in the LGV East construction project is about to get underway.
90019 (WNTR) at Toton has been out-shopped in First Blue so is set to follow 90024 into the sleeper allocation.

10/08/06

08886 (WNTS) despatched south from Motherwell by road on the 7th has been transported into South Wales, presumably to Margam, having being noted en route on the M5 near Gloucester early afternoon yesterday and near Newport heading west mid afternoon today.
47004 (WMOC) has completed its transfer by road to the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway near Skipton and into preservation.
86901 (QACL) engaged in staff training runs has been running between Carlisle and Carnforth for the last two days.

09/08/06

90024 (WNTS) at Toton in its new colour scheme is to be unveiled to the press tomorrow.
92029 (WNTR) has been moved up from Dollands Moor to Crewe EMD, transfer being completed by the 3rd.

08/08/06

47004 (WMOC) has left Old Oak Common and is on its way into preservation. It left London yesterday evening being noted on the M25 then on the M1 in the early hours en route north but more recent sightings of it on or near to the M1 in the Nottingham area seem to suggest that the transport has broken down. It's ultimate destination, as far as is known, is the Embsay Railway near Skipton.

Fastline 47...
With 56303 (SDFL) back at Derby for repairs FM Rail have made 47703 (SDFR) available for use by Fastline as required.

43070 & 43087...
Further to yesterday's report about CRRH duo 43070 and 43087 going to Lang Marston it transpires that although the HST set did run into Long Marston only the coaches have been deposited there off lease and the power cars have returned to Gloucester. In due course 43070 and 43087 are to run to Laira where they are to become part of the FGW fleet whilst to meet future tour requirements Cotswold Rail have advised that they will hire in a set as and when required from FGW.

08993...
Hopefully wrapping things up with this one it turns out that 08993 was briefly despatched to Castleton before being returned to Doncaster Carr and subsequently put to use in the Doncaster area.

86901 & 86902...
With 86901 currently stationed at Carlisle Kingmoor for crew training and 86902 back at Barrow Hill for repairs it has been advised that it is planned to use these two this winter for ice breaking duties on the ECML with personnel being provided by DRS.

07/08/06

08886 (WNTS) was loaded and removed from Motherwell by road this afternoon, current whereabouts unknown.
43070 and 43087 (both CRRH) plus the associated coaching set have ran into Long Marston and off lease.

Disposal...
The scrapping of 31524 (31424 on the system) can be regarded as complete as only its frame remains to be dealt with at Hull's Rotherham. 31524 was stored from the LBDB pool at Bescot in May 1996, RIP.

06/08/06

DRS / Riviera 47s...
Further information has come to light regarding the hire of several Class 47s from Riviera by DRS. The hire is understood to be for seven locomotives in total and with two, 47815 and 47839, on hire already but the full compliment is not required until early October when the sandite season goes into full swing. With regards to the livery situation only the three Class 47s currently in the obsolete VT Red colour scheme, 47805 47843 and 47848, need to be repainted and quite conveniently Riviera's house colour scheme of Oxford Blue, as worn by 47839, is practically the same as DRS Blue.
47829 currently dumped at Crewe DMD is, after spares recovery, facing the chop but its loss could mean the return to the active fleet of 47575 currently on the East Lancashire Railway and or 47769 at Crewe.

More trading...?
Although earlier listed as sold to Hull's for breaking up there are now indications that 47236 is staying at Carnforth, transferring to WCRC, whilst 47345 at Brush Loughborough, which appears to have slipped over to WCRC jurisdiction at some point, is to go to Hull's at Rotherham in its place.

More 66s for France...?
As is known WBEN allocated 66010 66022 66029 66032 and 66215 are part of a batch of 10 Class 66s being prepared for European operations, 66022 in France whilst the others are being modified at Toton, it's starting to look likely that following on from these a second batch of 10 will also be equipped for Europe in due course. In addition to these, the alleged 20 new Class 66s being ordered by EWS are being built to European spec and as such are for traffic on the continent as opposed to UK use.

05/08/06

37406...
Has taken the sleeper from Edinburgh to Fort William again this morning.

37906...
Now in the hands of the 'Ruston 906 Group' 37906, which is to stay on the Severn Valley Railway is now regarded as preserved. A press release is available at the link below...

|  Ruston 906 Press Release  |

04/08/06

37672 (WNSO) has been deposited at Barrow Hill and 37680 (WNSO) is set to follow from Thornaby early next week.
67004 at Toton, now RETB fitted, has been reinstated to the WABK pool for use in Scotland where, due to another failure involving 67011 the old guard, in the shape of 37406 again, was turned out for this mornings sleeper working up to Fort William.

Trading...
Whilst the sales of 31110 and 37358 from Thomson's has been confirmed it has been advised that 33109 currently languishing at Crewe LNWR is now an FM Rail machine.

03/08/06

37672 (WNSO) didn't actually leave Thornaby yesterday as reported although it had been loaded onto a trailer ready for departure but was extracted for transfer to Barrow Hill this afternoon.
43093 (IWRP) entered traffic yesterday thus becoming the first First owned re-engineered HST power car into service.
47815 and 47839 have been reallocated to the DRS XHKM pool.
56128 (WNSO) removed from Toton by road yesterday has been deposited at Long Marston.
60020 (WNTR) is now stopped and in store at Thornaby.
66010 66022 66029 and 66032, the latter of which is newly identified as a European locomotive, have been reallocated to the WBEN pool joining 66215.
92004 and 92030 (both WNTR) have been stood down to store at Crewe EMD.

Disposal...
The carcass of 73132 was scrapped at Hull's shortly after delivery several days ago however 31524 is still with us, just. 73132 was stored from Hither Green and the EWRB pool back in November 1998, RIP.

02/08/06

08994 (WSEM) has been returned from Scotland being noted heading south on a low loader on the M6 yesterday.
37100 as anticipated has been delivered to Barrow Hill whilst 37672 (WNSO), quite likely about to join 37100 at Barrow Hill, has been loaded and removed from Thornaby by road.
56128 (WNSO) is on the move from Toton by road being noted on the M1 late this afternoon.

DRS & Spoons...
47815 and 47839 (both RTLO) ran north from Crewe to Carlisle today to go on hire to DRS for the foreseeable future and other Class 47s from Riviera look set to follow. This fits in quite conveniently with recent indications that DRS were looking at either hiring or buying a number of Class 47s from Riviera who have eight of the Class, 47805 47812 47815 47839 47843 47847 47848 and 47853 on their books as operational. These are also multiple working wired which appears to be a requirement. Also on the Riviera books are 47575 47769 and 47829.
DRS are understood to have a lot of work in the pipeline this autumn with an increased sandite burden to cater for being one reason for the need to increase their fleet. Potentially a sign of things to come was the deployment of 47501 and 47802 in multiple to work today's 4M44 Mossend to Daventry service however, and hopefully not a sign of things to come, was the rescue of the working with 66410 at Rugby after the Class 47s ran into trouble.

Saved...?
Although unconfirmed it is indicated that 31110 and 37358, both currently located at TJ Thomson's, Stockton, have a future.

Coast job cancelled...
The use of a hired in 57/3 and stock on the North Wales Coast came to an end yesterday as, for the time being at least, with the return to service of 175103 Arriva now have enough units to cover the diagrams.

01/08/06

37100, which is presumed to be Barrow Hill bound, has left Thomson's on the back of the low loader that delivered 47326 at Stockton this afternoon.
37401 (WNTR) was moved north overnight as planned from Warrington to Motherwell via Mossend.
60020 (WNTR hired to WCAN) remains in active service whilst 60032 and 60100 (both WNTR) have been dragged south from Thornaby to Toton. 66216 being utilised for haulage this morning.
67001 at Toton, stopped for a B exam, has been stored WNTR.
87003 and 87023 (both SBXL) didn't leave Oxley today as had been planned due to 47714 being commandeered to transfer some power cars between St Philips Marsh and Laira instead.
92004 and 92030 (both WNTR hired to WTAE) remain in traffic pending storage at Crewe EMD.

Ghosts on the system, a revised list...
Periodically we have a look at what scrapped locomotives are still showing as extant on the system awaiting de-registration and below is a revised list updating that posted a few days ago. 37344 which was listed has been de-registered already however 01556 scrapped late 2004 is still on the system allocated to MBDL so now appears on the revised list. One other amendment is 37509 which is currently allocated to WNYX, the reallocation from WNXX taking place after it was scrapped on site at Cardiff Canton.

DHLT: 08642 86603 86611
HNRS: 31174 37141 37341 37359 37404 47221
MBDL: 01556 33023
SDXL: 31154 31411 31417 31458 31462 47628
WNSO: 47515
WNYX: 37509

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