30/09/06

08884 (WZTS) is, further to yesterday's report, still in Bescot Yard, this is confirmed. It is suspected that the shunter sighted on the M25 near Brentwood on the 28th may have been 08588 (MOLO) which has been relocated from Peak Forest to the CTRL site near Ripple Lane.
47805 and 47843 (both RTLO) have been out-shopped at Crewe LNWR in Riviera's Oxford Blue colour scheme. 47805 has been named 'Talisman' whilst 47843 retains its 'Vulcan' plates. In addition to these 47847 has been de-named whilst 47769 is now named 'Resolve' and 47839 'Pegasus'.

29/09/06

08884 (WZTS) latterly located at Bescot has been shipped out by road being noted traversing the M25 near Brentwood yesterday evening.
20302 and 20303 (both XHNR) have been released from Brush Loughborough.
37419 (WNTR) has been tripped from Temple Mills to Old Oak Common, transfer taking place behind 66187 yesterday.
60030 from store at Toton has been reinstated to the WCBN pool whilst 60034 which was already in service, 60040 from store at Toton and 60084 from store at Immingham have been reinstated to WCAN.
67002 and 67008 from store at Toton have been reinstated to the WAAK whilst  67026, stored at Motherwell since late 2004, is also back. 67026 was initially reinstated to the WABK pool but it has since been reallocated to WAAK.

Disposal...
The cutting of 47624 at Booth's Rotherham is now at an advanced stage with only the frame on bogies left to be dealt with. 47624 was stored from Immingham and the LWCW pool back in November 1998, RIP.

28/09/06

08813 (WNSO) from Thornaby has been transported to Long Marston.
56081 (WZGF) is back from France being noted in Wembley Yard meanwhile 58004 (WZFF), a returnee some days ago, remains at Dollands Moor.

27/09/06

37422 (WNTR) has been moved from Old Oak Common to Eastleigh, transfer late afternoon taking place behind 67027.
43158 and 43198 (both IWRP) have completed their transfer from Loughborough to Landore behind 47810 after stopping off at Gloucester overnight en route.
87026 (IWCA) undertook its deferred test run out from Wembley today.
90024 (WEFE) has been released into traffic again returning to London yesterday afternoon at the head of the 6L48 from Garston, a repeat performance as it also headed this working on the 22nd when it was initially despatched south from Crewe.

Work in progress...
Any thoughts that 47624 is still set aside at Booth's Rotherham for possible preservation can be dispelled now with the news that its disposal is well underway. Cabs, frame and very little else remain.

DRS shuffle and a couple of additions to the fleet...
In advance of the onset of the sandite season, Network Rail have rescheduled autumn to run a little later than it used to, DRS have reorganised their traction fleet allocation reallocating a number of locomotives to the XHNR (Network Rail use) pool for use on the sandite trains as required. Whilst the bulk of the reallocations are simply transfers over from the other operational pools 20304 20311 37229 and 37261, all recently released from either Brush or Wabtec following attention, have been added to the XHNR pool along with 20302 and 20303 which are still, for the moment, in works. DRS are hiring in 20905 from HNRC and it has been reallocated from ADFL to XHNR whilst 37510 recently released from Wabtec is reinstated from XHSS to XHNR.

XHNR allocation...
Class 20: 20301 20302 20303 20304 20305 20306 20307 20308 20309 20310 20311 20314 20315 20905
Class 37: 37029 37059 37069 37087 37194 37218 37229 37259 37261 37510
Class 66: 66407 66409 66412 66413

26/09/06

43025 and 43183 (both IWRP) have been deposited at Brush Loughborough for re-engineering exchanging places with re-engineered 43158 and 43198 (both IWRP) which are being released for a return to traffic with FGW. 43183 from Landore and 43025 from St Philips Marsh were stabled at Gloucester overnight last night before being forwarded to Loughborough this morning between 47810 and 47813.
43092 (IWRP) released from re-engineering at Brush earlier this month has now entered traffic.
47769 (RTLO) has returned to the mainline venturing out from Crewe to Warrington and back late this morning with 47847 in tow.

More skips...
Reports indicate that the Class 67 fleet is to see some reinstatements, for the sandite season, which ties in nicely with a recent report about 67002 (WNTS) being fettled at Toton and an observation of long term Motherwell incumbent 67026 (WNTR) being noted moving about under its own power within the confines of Motherwell depot yard last week.

25/09/06

37100 at Barrow Hill has been started up HNRC are pleased to announce. Like 37672, also stored on its return from France a few years ago, after some attention 37100 was restarted at the first attempt.
60034 (WNTR) from store at Margam has been returned to use.
66029 (WBEN) was despatched through to France this afternoon.
90024 (WEFE) made its maiden appearance, in First ScotRail colours, on last night's northbound sleeper service from Euston but evidently all was not well with 90024 as it was substituted at Crewe for another Class 90.

22/09/06

37510 (XHSS) along with 20311 (XHMW) have been collected from Wabtec being hauled to Kingmoor this afternoon behind 47815.
60008 60048 60049 60065 which entered traffic yesterday have now been reinstated to the WCAN pool along with 60039 from store at Immingham and 60043 from Toton, also reinstated to WCAN. 60007 60022 and 60041, already in traffic, along with 60096 from Toton have been reinstated to the WCBN pool. The Class 60 operational fleet is now 63 strong.
66029 (WBEN) has left Toton and is on its way south destined to France.
92031 from store at Crewe EMD has been reinstated to the WTAE pool.

21/09/06

08738 (WNXX) from store at Carlisle Currock has been transported south by road to Margam where repairs have been authorised.
08752 (WNTR) fresh from repairs and an exam at Margam has been shipped out to Cardiff Tidal where it has returned to use.
60007 and 60041 from store at Thornaby, 60008 60048 60049 and 60065 from store at Immingham along with 60022 from store at Doncaster Carr have been returned to traffic today but all are still allocated to the WNTR pool.
60091 (WNTR) has been moved up from Margam to Toton via Bescot.
90022 has been stopped and stored WNTR at Crewe EMD exchanging places with 90024 which is reinstated to WEFE. The long awaited debut of a ScotRail liveried Class 90 on the sleeper service shouldn't be too far away now.

20/09/06

08527 (KCSI) latterly dumped out of use at Ilford has migrated north by road to Barrow Hill where its condition is to be assessed by HNRC. 08527, now listed as stored following its arrival at Barrow Hill, has ousted former Norwich incumbent 08869 (HNRL) which has left Barrow Hill being transported by road to Long Marston.

19/09/06

57006 (DFTZ) was released from repairs at Brush yesterday being hauled up to Crewe by 66409, one of the two DRS 66s on hire to Freightliner, an arrangement that comes to an end shortly.
60018 60029 60046 60047 60054 60071 and 60092 were reinstated yesterday afternoon to the WCAN and WCBN pools, all are back into service already.
66051 at Toton has been reallocated to the WBEN 'Euroshed' pool whilst 67001 from store at Toton has been reinstated to WAAK.
66411 (XHIM), now fully 'stobartised', worked the retimed 4S44 north today following its unveiling in its new livery at Daventry this morning.

18/09/06

IWCA 87s...
This week 87006 is allocated to work the afternoon IG21 and 1B05 London to Birmingham and return workings. It is planned, subject to availability, to have 87002 out towards the end of the week on the morning 5Z87 and 5Z88 training runs whilst there is no further news regarding 87026 and its final jaunt.

Still here...
It transpires that the recorded disposal for 31306 published a little over a week ago was a tad premature as although it is in quite an advanced stage of demolition at Old Oak Common it is still very much recognisable as 31306.

17/09/06

Further DRS expansion...
Whilst sources indicate that DRS are exercising an option to order another ten Class 66s, quite likely to be numbered 66421 to 66430 inclusive, there are also additions to their Class 47 fleet with the acquirement of two more locomotives; 47306 from HNRC and 47829 from Riviera.

16/09/06

60018 and 60071 (both WNTS) have been returned to traffic, both were in store at Thornaby, whilst 60092 (also WNTS) at Temple Mills is showing 'normal' status so could be another candidate for a return to use / reinstatement shortly.

Le Gronk...?
It transpires that French railway bureaucracy, of which there is plenty, dictates that any vehicle over 300hp on their system has to be either fitted for multiple working or at least wired through for multiple working. Meanwhile there are indications that a couple of EWS Class 08s, possibly 08770 (WNTR) and 08886 (WNTS), currently at Margam, are being wired up for multiple working. So putting two and two together, as is often the case, have EWS found a need for shunting locomotives in France?

15/09/06
37422 (WNTR) has been removed from Toton to Old Oak Common, a change of destination as it had originally been assigned to be moved to Eastleigh. It was transferred south on the 13th with 66065 and some stock behind 67006.
47769 at LNWR Crewe has been reinstated to the operational RTLO pool indicating that its return to the mainline is now on the cards.
58004 (WZFF) has been returned from France being noted at Dollands Moor this afternoon.
60039 (WNTS) is on the comeback trail having being out for a test run from Immingham to Barnetby and return today.

Renumbering for MTU power cars...?
Although very much still conjecture there has been some recent discussion regarding whether the MTU engine fitted HST power cars are to be / ought to be renumbered with the 433XX number range seemingly being favoured. Whilst the need to renumber the power cars doesn't seem to be a requirement for First who now have several re-engineered 43s in service it is understood that GNER, who had their Class 91s reclassified and renumbered on refurbishment, are considering whether to renumber the power cars being re-engineered on their behalf. No doubt this situation will become clearer when GNER destined 43090 and / or 43100 which currently are in Brush being rebuilt are ready for release.

13/09/06

Caped...
The test run from Wembley to Crewe and back which was to have featured 87026 didn't run.

12/09/06

20901 (HNRL) has been put into action at Flixborough Wharf following transfer from Corus at Scunthorpe.
37069 (XHNC) hauled 20304 and 37229 (both XHMW) from Loughborough to Carlisle this afternoon. 20304 and 37229 had been in Brush for attention.
87026 (IWCA) is scheduled to make a run from Wembley to Crewe and back tomorrow, 10:00 or thereabouts off Wembley. It is understood that this is a test run prior to it being returned to Porterbrook.

EWS restructuring...
Some details have emerged regarding the pending sectorisation of EWS and its UK operations. The various sub divisions are coming into being at one monthly intervals with the first entity being EWS Energy which is set to begin on October 1st. EWS Industrial, EWS Construction then EWS Network follow at the beginning of November 2006, December 2006 then January 2007 respectively.
With regards to the locomotive fleet it would, for the moment, appear that on the face of it not much will change in that each business unit will utilise traction assets from the whole fleet as required however wagons, staff and depots are being split between the new sub divisions for which the basic depot arrangements are set out below...

EWS Construction: Temple Mills
EWS Energy: Ayr, Knottingley, Warrington
EWS Industrial: Immingham, Margam, Thornaby
EWS Network: Bescot, Dollands Moor, Doncaster Carr, Hoo Junction, Motherwell, St Blazey, Wigan CRDC

Crewe EMD and Toton will come under the jurisdiction of the FMU (Fleet Maintenance Unit or Fleet Management Unit?) maintaining the electric and diesel fleet requirements for the sub divisions.

More ghosts exorcised...
Seven scrapped Class 31s have been deleted from the system with the de-registration of 31154 31411 31417 31424 31433 31458 and 31462. It should be noted that although 31424 and 31458 had been officially renumbered as such these two were still carrying 31524 and 31558 respectively when broken up. Also de-registered are 31407 31412 31426 47236 and 47704, all of which are at Hull's Rotherham for breaking except for 47236 which is at Carnforth.

11/09/06

37220 has completed its movement by road to Long Marston from Kingsbury via a stop over at the haulier's yard near Sutton Coldfield.

HNRC Choppers...
20901 (HNRL) currently at Scunthorpe is to be relocated by road overnight tonight to Flixborough Wharf to provide shunting cover there. The resident shunter, 08423 has been on fire and is reportedly described as being in quite a bad way. Meanwhile 20016 20057 20081 20088 20105 and 20138 have been re-registered and are back on the system allocated to BH and the HNRS pool.

09/09/06

Chequebooks out...
Cotswold Rail are putting Gloucester incumbents 47033 and 47200 (both CROL) up for sale. Contact details in the 'For Sale' section.

08/09/06

37220 latterly dumped at Kingsbury has been extracted and taken to a nearby road haulier's yard. Ultimately 37220, which is regarded as a reasonable source of spares, is Long Marston bound.
37261 (now XHNC) and 66412 (now XHIM) ran from Glasgow Works to Carlisle Kingmoor behind 66411 (also now XHIM) this afternoon, a little later than anticipated.
37422 (WNTR) at Toton has been assigned for transfer south, to Eastleigh. It has been through air piped already so movement could be sooner rather than later.

Tug news...
Eleven Class 60s have been reinstated to the WCAN and WCBN pools. Joining 60028 and 60078 which were already back in traffic are 60002 and 60051 from store at Immingham, 60017 and 60035 from Thornaby, 60025 60042 and 60095 from the line up at Toton along with 60053 from Doncaster Carr and 60062 from Margam. Also noted back in traffic is 60047 (WNTR) from store at Margam.

Disposal...
On site at Old Oak Common the cutting of 31306, stored in August 1999 from the WMAN pool, is as good as complete, RIP.

07/09/06

37261 66411 and 66412 (all XHMW) are due to leave Glasgow Works for Carlisle tomorrow, lunchtime or thereabouts, and it is anticipated that 66411 which is currently in Stobart undercoat without decals, these are to be added at Kingmoor, will be the hauling locomotive for the convoy.
47840 (CRRH) at Brush Loughborough is showing 'test' on the system indicating that a test run is on the cards.
87002 (IWCA) was turned for the morning London to Birmingham test run, 09:06 off Wembley then 09:48 from Euston, with 87006 in the consist as insurance. After returning to London (11:21 from Birmingham International) 87002 returned to Wembley leaving 87006 on the set for the afternoon passenger turn.
87032 (SBXL) has been removed from Glasgow Works to Long Marston by road.

Disposal...
The demolition of 31433 at Hull's Rotherham has been completed. 31433 was stored from Bescot's LBDB pool a little over eleven years ago, in July 1995, RIP.

06/09/06

08482 (WRLN) noted on the move by road yesterday has been unloaded at Eastleigh and put to work in Eastleigh Yard covering for 09024 (WSLS) which has been stopped with a generator problem.
47848 (RTLO) has been released from LNWR at Crewe and despatched north to Kingmoor and hire to DRS, noted through Preston behind 37612 en route mid evening.
60078 (WNTS) is due to return to traffic from store at Toton with an evening working to Bescot and return. Another batch of Class 60 reinstatements is pending and no doubt 60028, already returned to use, and 60078 returning to use will be included.

05/09/06

08482 (WRLN) has been on the road today being noted on the M3 near Fleet in Hampshire late afternoon.
43097 (IWRP) is the latest re-engineered power car into service being noted at Exeter today.
47200 sidelined with 47316 at Gloucester for some weeks now has been stored CROL. Also transferred to CROL is 47033.
47345 is still at Loughborough it transpires. It would appear that road transport had been sent to collect it some days ago but as 47345 is currently well blocked in at Brush its removal didn't take place.
60028 (WNTS) from store at Margam has been returned to service.
66036 has been added to the WBEN Euroshed pool but 66042 which was reallocated to WBEN last month has been returned to WBAN.
87006 (IWCA) again, like yesterday, undertook an empty stock training run between London and Birmingham this morning / early afternoon before handling the 1G21 and 1B05 workings between Euston and New Street.

04/09/06

43094 (IWRP) completed its transfer to Landore yesterday behind 47810 from Gloucester.
87006 (IWCA) went out on a training run again this morning running with empty stock from London to Birmingham and back before hauling the returning Class 87 and stock 1G21 16:51 passenger service from Euston as booked.

02/09/06

43094 (IWRP) has been collected from Brush Loughborough being hauled to Gloucester this afternoon behind 47810 to await forwarding to Landore.

01/09/06

43094 (IWRP) ready for release from re-engineering at Brush Loughborough is scheduled for collection and removal to Landore lunchtime tomorrow. First Group power car survey below...
47848 (RTLO) at LNWR has been repainted from VT Red to Riviera's Oxford Blue scheme as sported by 47839. 'Titan Star' as it is now known as is being prepared for hire to DRS.
66010 (WBEN) on its way abroad was taken south to Wembley this afternoon.
92028 at Wembley has been reinstated (?) to the GBRf GBAC pool. For the moment it remains on 'special tests' and allocated to WQ.

First Group power cars...
With the re-engineering program well and truly under way a quick survey relating to the power cars that have or had been bought outright by First Group.

43068: Purchased October 2004, FGXP November 2004, to Porterbrook February 2006, SBXL Long Marston.
43084: Purchased October 2004, FGXP November 2004, to Porterbrook February 2006, SBXL Long Marston.
43092: Purchased October 2004, FGXP November 2004. Released from Brush and re-engineering August 2006, IWRP Landore.
43093: Purchased October 2004, FGXP November 2004. Released from Brush and re-engineering June 2006, IWRP in service.
43094: Purchased October 2004, FGXP November 2004. Re-engineered and ready for release. IWRP Brush Loughborough.
43097: Purchased October 2004, FGXP November 2004. Released from Brush and re-engineering July 2006, IWRP Landore.
43098: Purchased October 2004, FGXP November 2004. Released from Brush and re-engineering July 2006, IWRP in service.
43122: Purchased October 2004, FGXP November 2004. IWRP on hold at Plymouth Laira.
43123: Purchased October 2004, FGXP November 2004, to Porterbrook February 2006, SBXL Long Marston.
43153: Purchased October 2004, FGXP November 2004. Admitted for re-engineering June 2006, IWRP Brush Loughborough.
43154: From Porterbrook SBXL to FGXP February 2006. Admitted for re-engineering April 2006, IWRP Brush Loughborough.
43155: Purchased October 2004, FGXP November 2004. Admitted for re-engineering April 2006, IWRP Brush Loughborough.
43158: From Porterbrook SBXL to FGXP February 2006. Admitted for re-engineering April 2006, IWRP Brush Loughborough.
43194: From Porterbrook SBXL to FGXP February 2006. IWRP on hold at Landore.
43198: Purchased October 2004, FGXP November 2004. Admitted for re-engineering January 2006, IWRP Brush Loughborough.

top  |  August 2006  |  news archives  |  wnxx