37079...
Noted both on the M1 and the M42 motorways this morning en route on a low loader 37079 has been transported from Barrow Hill to Kingsbury for breaking up.

97303...
Now officially recognised as such the renumbering of 37178 to 97303 has been put through the system.

NX91...
91111 (IECA) has been out shopped in National Express colours at Doncaster.

Eurosheds...
66049, a recent returnee from the Continent, was at Wembley today awaiting transfer. Since the last look at the WBEN Euroshed fleet the final four for modification to Euro spec at Crewe EMD; 66217 66219 66220 and 66235, have been released and despatched abroad. Also sent back to France and beyond are 66038 66045 and 66209. Present in the UK for exams / attention at the moment are 66010 66028 and 66036 at Toton, 66042 and 66049 in transit, 66190 at Dollands Moor and 66222 at Eastleigh.

31467...
Removed from the East Lancashire Railway yesterday 31467 has been weighed in at Kingsbury for disposal. It was noted en route on a low loader traversing the M6 near Knutsford en route south from Bury.

33207...
Jim has been reinstated to the operating fleet following the fitment of OTMR equipment at Carnforth.

47791...
HNRC have acquired Colas reject 47791 (MBDL) currently residing in Eastleigh Yard. It is to be transported by road to Barrow Hill, the move is pencilled in for early next week, to be returned to mainline running order pending re-use.

57005...
Having suffered a seized wheelset 57005 (CRRH) has been extracted from Darlington by road for transfer to Barrow Hill for repairs.

57007...
Latterly languishing at Crewe Gresty Bridge 57007 (XHHP) has recently gravitated to Carlisle Kingmoor.

LaFarge...
This coming Friday night (30th) sees 20901 and 20905 (both HNRL) work the twelfth and final Mountsorrel stone working into LaFarge at Hope concluding the shipment of approximately 15,000 tons of stone. Tomorrow (29th) 20905 is due to run to Barrow Hill to collect 20168 and return it to Hope.

47s...
47145 (XHHP) at Kingmoor has been traded again and, with regards its current future user, it appears likely to be staying blue. 47550 currently residing at Immingham Railfreight Terminal is to be weighed in for scrap and should be on the move shortly meanwhile 47309 (CREL) presently at Thomson's, Stockton looks set to escape the cutters torch with a deal being brokered for its re-use...

Disposal...
As far as can be ascertained the scrapping of 47528 (CRUR) at Hull's, Rotherham is as good as complete, only the outstanding recovery of the power unit from the frame awaiting completion. 47528 was stored from Immingham and the LWCW pool back in June 1998, RIP.

HNRC 37s...
Carnforth resident 37165 has been acquired by HNRC and it is, along with 37222 and the frame on bogies of 37359, set to be extracted from Carnforth for transfer across to Stockton and scrap at Thomson's. 37672 37683 and 37696 have been removed from sale, a development which may indicate their future, or lack of, is decided...

87s to go...
Somewhat later than originally advertised it would appear that Bulgaria bound 87007 87008 and 87026 (all SBXL), currently at Crewe LNWR, should be on their way in the coming week.

Tugs...
60055 has been stopped and stored WNTS at Toton, its place in the operational fleet being taken by 60085 which has been reinstated to WFMU at Toton. Recently returned to Toton following attention at Crewe EMD 60085 had been sidelined since April 2006.

More HNRC 31s...!
HNRC have acquired East Lancashire Railway residents 31467 and 31556.

Rotherham Gronks...
08529 and 08819 have been transported from Wabtec to Booth's, Rotherham.

Doncaster Gronks...
08493 08529 and 08819, latterly located in the West Yard adjacent to Doncaster Station, have been sold to Booth's, Rotherham. 08493, already relocated into Wabtec for removal by road has been transported to Rotherham whilst 08529 and 08819 were dragged into Wabtec this afternoon for collection and transfer to Rotherham. Another shunter believed to now be Rotherham bound is 09021 at Immingham, the initial buyer no longer taking it.

WCRC additions...?
Further to last month's mention about 47772 (WNSO) awaiting recovery from Margam being sold on it now appears that WCRC have acquired it and 47770 (MBDL) currently residing at Tyseley.

Nearly...
The cutting of 47528 at Hull's, Rotherham is at an advanced stage with only one cab, frame, engine and generator block in evidence when viewed today.

47832...
From store at Kingmoor 47832 has been reinstated to XHNC.

HNRC acquirements...
Several locomotives have recently been purchased by HNRC, the acquisitions of 31166 (Wensleydale Railway), 31188 (Wensleydale Railway), 31423 (MRLS Long Marston), 47145 (XHHP Carlisle Kingmoor), 47829 (XHHP Crewe Gresty Bridge), 56011 (MRLS Long Marston) and 56021 (MRLS Long Marston) being complete. With regards to 47145 HNRC have advised that there is a certain amount of interest in it, including from the preservation sector.

Kingsbury...
47737 has survived the week, it and 20145, the latter probably to be removed at some point, were still extant at Kingsbury this morning.

47309...
Having completed its transfer north to Stockton 47309 (CREL) has been deposited at Thomson's.

57010 & 57012...
DRS have reinstated 57010 and 57012 from store at Crewe. Both have been reallocated to the XHNC pool.

GC Tractors...
The 10:14 York to Sunderland was cancelled this morning although 37401 and 37417 were in York with the stock in readiness to work this service they ran north ECS. 43065, recently returned from Crewe, has re-entered service working with 43084 on the Grand Central HST set that worked through to London this morning.

Disposals...
In line with the indication that all the locomotives at Kingsbury for scrap were to be broken up by the end of this week 37047 and 37430 have been disposed of, 37047 being dismantled today whilst 37430 was finished off by the close of play yesterday. 47737 should be meeting its end tomorrow. 37047 was stored in January 2005 whilst allocated to the WNTA pool after a brief return to use for engineering cover and 37430 was stored from Motherwell and WKMB back in March 2000, RIP.

60085...
From Crewe 60085 (WNTS) has been returned to Toton.

66404...
With 66402 (XHIM), 66404 (XHHP) has been transported up from Kingmoor to Glasgow Works for collision damage repairs. 66402 is for wheelset attention. Evidently DRS haven't released 66401 to 66410 for re-deployment elsewhere yet, it had been mooted that they were to become surplus at the end of April, however it has been suggested that it could now get to September or even towards the end of the year before we see any changes...

As you were...
Bought by Cotswold Rail from Thomson's October last year whilst at Heanor, en route to Stockton, and diverted initially to the Wensleydale Railway, before recently being dragged down to deepest Devon to guest at the South Devon Railway, before being packed off to Gloucester, 47309 (CREL) has been sold back to Thomson's for scrap. 47309 was tripped from Gloucester to Cardiff this afternoon before heading north in the consist of the early evening Cardiff Tidal to Stockton empties behind 57005. The sale for disposal of 47309 will probably be balanced by, possibly, the purchase of another Class 57 or even a former 'celebrity' Class 47...

47703 / 47714...
HNRC have advised that the transfer of 47703 and 47714 (both CREL) to DRS has now been completed. With regards several locomotives recently purchased by HNRC an announcement is anticipated shortly...

GC Tractors / GC Woes...
It transpires that 37401 and 37417 are to go on hire to Grand Central with the stock taken north yesterday. They should have entered the fray today working a shuttle in top and tail mode between York and Sunderland designed to connect with Grand Central's only working HST set at York on arrival from London however 43123 failed this morning with an electrical cubicle fire. 43067 and 43068 are still away at Brush Traction however 43065 has been released from Crewe Works being noted on a low loader on its way back to Heaton yesterday.
Although Class 67s and stock have been hired in from EWS and used in lieu of a HST set recently there is apparently a paperwork issue with the use of Class 67s which needs to be straightened out hence 37401 and 37417 being employed. The GC Tractor duo undertook a test run from the North East to York and back this afternoon and if all goes to plan they should be in use tomorrow. It is unclear how long this arrangement will last. Reported times for the York to Sunderland shuttles are; 10:14 York to Sunderland, 12:30 Sunderland to York, 14:29 York to Sunderland and 17:30 Sunderland to York.

37023 for preservation...?
It has been indicated that 37023 currently residing at Brush Traction, Loughborough has been secured for preservation and is destined to go to the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway.

56311...
56311 (RVLO) has been out on test again from Derby to Duddeston Junction and return today. It was accompanied by 47769.

Work in progress...
37430 is being dismantled at Kingsbury.

Disposals...
At Kingsbury the demolition of 47733 and 47734, both stored from Toton and WHCD in February 2004, has been undertaken, RIP.

Shunter notes...
EWS have reallocated almost all their active shunter fleet to TO (Toton) from variously ML (Motherwell), TE (Thornaby), BS (Bescot), MG (Margam). OC (Old Oak Common) and WQ (EWS Headquarters) whilst the stored shunters that were still showing as allocated to a depot have, with a few exceptions, been reallocated to WQ. 08653 (WSSN) and 08646 (WSSI) are (providing one has the database up to date) still allocated to Bescot and Margam respectively whilst 08389 (WSXX), 08500 (WNTR), 08512 (WNTS), 08775 (WNTS) and 08909 (WNTS) have yet to be reallocated to WQ from variously Bescot or Toton. Eurogronk 08939 (WSEN) has been reallocated to WQ joining 08738 whilst recently returned to traffic 08995 has now been reallocated from WNTR to WSSN.
Alstom have stored 08617 and 08934 ATXX at Wembley HRD.

60085...
Latterly residing at Crewe EMD 60085 (WNTS) is on the move being noted in Basford Hall yard early evening.

09006 / 09009...
Further to the earlier report about 09009 (WNXX) being moved north from Stewarts Lane it transpires that the shunter was actually the errant 09006 (WSSN) en route to Doncaster Carr from Hoo Junction.

56003 / 56312...
On schedule at Wansford 56003 being prepared for mainline use as 56312 is mechanically complete and has been on test. Painting, TPWS and OTMR fitment to follow over the coming weeks then it will be transferred to Derby for re-certification.

Shunter notes...
Noted traversing the M25 then heading north on a low loader onto the M1 yesterday 09009 (WNXX) from Stewarts Lane has been moved north, possibly to Doncaster Carr, meanwhile 08512 (WNTS) recently stored at Immingham has been transported across to Doncaster Carr.

Disposals...
Another purge at Kingsbury and four more locomotives have been broken up in the past few days, one Class 37 and three Class 47s. Despatched into history are 37673 stored from Toton and WKSN December 2000, 47307 stored from Bescot and WHBF in February 1999, 47741 stored from Toton and WHTN in January 2003 and one time Colas target 47750 (MBDL) stored from Toton and WHCD in June 2004, RIP.

Convoys pending...
Two loco convoys still pending are the overdue transfer of 87007 87008 and 87026 (all SBXL) south from Crewe for export and the movement of 37406 37410 (both WNTS) and 37416 (WNXX) from Toton to Eastleigh.

Shunter notes...
08995 (WNTR) has turned up at Hoo Junction where it is being returned to use to replace a defective 09006 meanwhile 08994, returned to use last month from store at Doncaster Carr, initially at Worksop but recently moved to Hams Hall, has now been returned to the operational fleet with a reallocation from WNTR to WSSN.
WSEN, a new pool code for Euro Cargo Rail shunters has been created with 08738 and 08939 at Toton being allocated to it.
EWS have had a purge with the entire WSSF allocation being transferred to the WNTS storage pool. The twelve shunters stored are 08709 at Bescot, 08765 at Eastleigh, 08775 at Bescot, 08783 at Toton, 08842 at Bescot, 08854 at Margam, 08941 at Doncaster Carr, 09003 at Margam, 09013 in Toton Compound, 09024 at Eastleigh, 09103 at Ayr and 09205 at Thornaby.

Disposal...
The demolition of 47200, stored from CRRH in September 2006, is as good as complete at Thomson's, Stockton, RIP.

Shunter on the move...
Noted heading south on the M18 on a low loader early this afternoon was 08995 (WNTR) latterly located at Doncaster Carr.

Tractors to go...
At Toton last night the Class 37s for transfer to Eastleigh were being prepared for despatch.

GC Power Cars to Loughborough...
Two Grand Central power cars 43067 and 43068 (both GCHP) were taken from Heaton to Loughborough on the 6th by 47818. GC have been experiencing a number of reliability issues with their power car fleet in recent weeks and 43067 and 43068 have been despatched to Brush Traction for 'investigation purposes'.

Old Oak Common to close...
With the Cross Rail development on the horizon EWS are to close their facility at Old Oak Common by early April next year. Old Oak Common is currently host to quite a number of stored locomotives which will either have to be moved elsewhere or sold off for removal and / or disposal.

Gala convoys...
To the Swanage Railway 66724 has taken 20096 (HNRL) 37275 37906 (both MBDL) and 50044 (CROL) from the Severn Valley Railway, 20096 and 37275 were brought south from Barrow Hill to Kidderminster yesterday. For the do this weekend on the north Yorkshire Moors Railway D1015 has been utilised to haul 46045 (MBDL) from the Midland Railway Centre, 55009 and 55019 (both DBLX) from Barrow Hill up to Grosmont.

Disposal...
The demolition of 08541, stored from Old Oak Common and EWOC back in July 1999, has been carried out at Kingsbury, RIP.

Work in progress...
At Hull's, Rotherham 47528 is being dealt with whilst 47200 has entered the cutting bay at Thomson's, Stockton.

Tractors for Eastleigh...
Three stored Class 37s at Toton; 37406 37410 (both WNTR) and 37416 (WNXX), have been assigned for transfer to Eastleigh, where there is capacity, by the 9th. Of the three only 37406 is showing as having had repairs authorised, 37410 and 37416 still show N ONE, for now.

Eurosheds...
66045 (WBEN) latterly back at Toton for attention has been released for transfer back to Europe whilst 66220 (WBEN) was noted at Warrington yesterday en route south from modification for Euro use at Crewe EMD.

Tugs...
60048 sidelined at Toton has been stored WNTS meanwhile 60030 and 60090 stored at Toton a few days ago have now been reallocated to the WNTS storage pool.

07007...
Almost 35 years on since it missed gaining a TOPS identity D2991 has now officially been renumbered to 07007. D2991 was one of the four Class 07s withdrawn from traffic in May 1973 which didn't receive their intended TOPS numbers although gaps were left in the numbering sequence where D2988 D2991 D2992 and D2998, which would have become 07004 07007 07008 and 07014 respectively, were missed out when the rest of the Class were renumbered from the D series to 07XXX.

08541...
By road 08541 has been transported from Old Oak Common to Kingsbury for disposal.

56311...
The former 56057 returned to the mainline as 56311 (now RVLO) today running on test from Derby to Leicester and back with 31106.

West Coast  jolly...
As it's a bank holiday weekend the West Coast Mk3 set and a Class 90 is diagrammed to run to Preston tomorrow; London Euston 13:43, Crewe 15:39, Warrington 15:56, Preston 16:24 - 17:02, Birmingham NS 19:00, London Euston 20:37.

Re-registrant...
46045 (D182 at the Midlands Railway Centre) has been re-registered on the system in pool MBDL.

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