31188...
Component recovery has been underway at Leeming Bar with the power unit and other internals being craned out yesterday. The body shell of 31188 is set to be transported from the Wensleydale Railway to Thomson's, Stockton in due course.

Bulgarian 87s...
At Long Marston work is progressing with the next three locomotives being prepared for transfer across to Eastern Europe. 87022 and 87028 have, due to their superior paintwork, retained the DRS blue but with it being extended around the cab front. 87010 is being repainted from VT into BRC green and yellow and all the other Class 87s to be prepared for export (as runners) are to be repainted into BRC with 87034 next in line for repainting.
Over in Bulgaria 87019 has been fitted with a cow catcher / snowplough type device whilst 87007 87008 and 87026 exported in June have just completed their respective trips across Europe into Bulgaria.

09007...
From store at Doncaster Carr 09007 has been reinstated to the WSSN pool.

56007...
Further to the earlier report it has been advised that 56007 (WZGF) being prepared to leave Old Oak Common is Eastleigh bound where the GSM-R equipment is to be fitted. The rest of the Eastleigh bound Class 56s that are to be moved from Old Oak Common to Eastleigh will follow on in due course.

MTU...
43104 accompanied 43178 to Loughborough this morning before being returned north behind 43303, newly released from re-engineering. 43178 has been admitted into the MTU program at Brush Traction.

97/3s...
97304 has been back to Barrow Hill for minor repairs and is expected back out on test tomorrow with both 97301 and 97303. Meanwhile at Barrow Hill the conversion / overhaul of 37170 into 97302 is about 80% complete.

Immingham...
08509 (WNYX) and the twelve Class 56s; 56025 56027 56043 56052 56064 56076 56082 56084 56086 56089 56101 and 56114 (all WNXX) latterly dumped in the former C&W yard near Immingham depot have been returned to the depot and several of the Class 56s have been placed inside the now closed shed.

56007...
At Old Oak Common 56007 (WZGF) has been noted in the running shed being prepared for transfer to Crewe EMD where the GSM-R equipment is to be fitted.

08077...
It has been indicated that 08077 (DFLS) is to be removed by road from Southampton Maritime at some point to LH Plant Services, Barton under Needwood.

97304...
Into service today 97304 (QETS) undertook some test runs between Chesterfield and Derby. Welcome back.

55016 / Peak Rail...
The go ahead to use 55016 at Peak Rail during the September Diesel Gala has been negotiated. Shortly after the gala 55016 will be leaving the line.

47813 / 47818...
Changing ownership from Cotswold Rail to DRS by all accounts...

37s binned...
37405 and 37411 at Toton have been stored WNTS. Both had been languishing, since April and February respectively, out of traffic in the WFMU pool.

37217 / 97304...
The official renumbering of 37217 to 97304 has been put through the system. The impending return to traffic of 97304 will be the first time this locomotive has turned a wheel in anger since being stored from the FDRI pool back in March 1995.

47145...
Seemingly passed from pillar to post since the FM Rail break up 47145 (XHHP) is now not required by DRS and ownership passes back to HNRC who have advised that it is going to be made available for sale.

37676 & 47786...
Recently out-shopped in WCRC maroon 37676 (MBDL) has today been named 'Loch Rannoch' and 47786 (MBDL) has been re-named 'Roy Castle OBE' at Carnforth as part of the weekend's site open days.

Disposal...
As far as can be ascertained the scrapping of 09021, the first of the Class to go, has been undertaken at Booth's, Rotherham. 09021 was stored from Allerton and WSNW in February 2004, RIP.

56128...
At Wansford the return to mainline operation has been started with all 16 pistons being removed as part of its power unit overhaul. 56128 is set to become 56313 in due course.

Rotherham arrival...
09021 latterly dumped at Immingham on an isolated track panel has been recovered and transported to Booth's at Rotherham. It has been noted sat in the cutting area about to become the first Class 09 to be broken up.

Crewe departures...
Both 92040 and 92045 (both WNWX) have been removed from Crewe EMD today. 92040, extracted early this morning has been transported to Loughborough whilst 92045 left the EMD early evening and should be deposited at Brush Traction tomorrow.

92s to Loughborough...
Further to yesterday's report about 92020 being the first of the five Class 92s being moved by road from Crewe to Loughborough it transpires that this was in fact the second to go following 92021 (WNWX) which was delivered to Brush Traction on the 21st. Allely's are striving to transfer one a day and today it was the turn of 92046 (WNWX) to make the journey on a trailer from the EMD to Brush Traction. To recap of the five being moved 92020 92021 and 92046 have been transferred leaving 92040 and 92045 to be collected from Crewe.

9016 update...
News of its *possible* demise has, as expected, generated a lot of interest in 55016 and HNRC have advised that several firm offers with a view to keeping the locomotive intact have been tabled including at least one from potential overseas buyers. The situation with Peak Rail is now described as fluid and offers from other lines, which have a good relationship with HNRC, to host 55016 for its farewell run/s, have been advised. As stated earlier any and all options for 55016 are still open.

92 on the road...
The first of the five Class 92s being transferred from Crewe to Loughborough by road is 92020 (WNWX) which has been extracted from Crewe EMD being noted on the move near Stafford en route to Brush Traction this afternoon.

DRS Transfer...
In convoy with 47832 and 37610 behind 37609 this afternoon 57003 (XHHP) has been transferred north to Carlisle Kingmoor.

Eurotunnel 92s...
Further to the report February 2007 that Eurotunnel had purchased five of the seven long term stored Class 92s at Crewe EMD (apologies if the following has been covered in the press) it would appear that 92045 and 92046 have been acquired as well. 92032 and 92044 (both WNWX) have already been transported from Crewe to Brush Traction at Loughborough where they are set to be joined by 92020 92021 92040 92045 and 92046 (all WNWX), the movement of which from Crewe by road is to get underway in the coming week. All seven have been in store since April 2001.

9016...
HNRC has revealed further information regarding the future of recently purchased 55016 and it looks set to be broken up for spares. HNRC advise that they have received numerous personal enquiries regarding the possible purchase of 55016's component parts. 55016 has been purchased from preservation purely as a business venture. Currently any and all options are open for consideration however HNRC discount the idea that 55016 could become a company flagship or pet locomotive. The rest of the Deltic Preservation movement will benefit from the dismantling of 55016 as some parts are now at a premium. HNRC wish to remind enthusiasts that back in the early 1980s 55016 was initially purchased as a source of spares for 55022 but was later repaired and returned to working order. Whilst in Porterbrook ownership this included a spell of mainline running.

08077...
A shunting mishap at Southampton Maritime involving 66572 08575 and 08077 resulted in the latter being pushed through the stop blocks where it had been standing in store and out onto the road. It is said to have suffered enough damage to write it off which, ironically, comes just after Freightliner had reportedly sanctioned 08077 for repairs and a return to active service.

Gordon evicted...
Due to the change of ownership Peak Rail no longer want 55016 to remain on site to fulfil its running day and gala commitments. The Peak Rail web site had been advertising a running day on August 30th for 55016 as well as being part of their diesel gala set to take place on the 20th and 21st of September. Removal from Rowsley to Long Marston has been mooted.

Returning Eurosheds...
At least five WBEN allocated Eurosheds are to be returned to UK spec and mainland workings this autumn when traffic levels (sandite) increase.

47826...
The WCRC mobile hoarding / 47826 has taken up position at York.

EWS Changes...
08909 at Doncaster Carr and 92005 at Crewe EMD have been reinstated from WNTS to WSSN and WFMU respectively. 08909 has received an E exam at Doncaster. 92005 swaps places with 92013 which has been stored WNTS at Crewe EMD.

EHPC Power Cars...
43007 escorted 43184 from Craigentinny to Loughborough this morning where the latter has been admitted into the MTU re-engineering program at Brush Traction. 43007 later returned north to Scotland behind 43301, the first XC MTU power car and the first in Cross Country's maroony burgundyish colour scheme. 43301 (as 43101) had been sidelined since October 2003.

87002...
Out on test today (yes, a little earlier than mid August as earlier mooted) between Crewe and Carstairs 87002 (ACAC) made its mainline return today with 86101 in tow as insurance.

37515...
Having lain at Kingmoor since being returned from the collision with a lorry on a level crossing near Blackford early January 37515 (XHHP) has been hauled from Carlisle to Barrow Hill by 57009 today. As far as is known 37515 is a write off as 57004 has been provided to DRS as its replacement.

Stobart curtailment...
Possibly connected with the news that the Stobart Rail venture into the charter market has been abandoned was the convoy from Wembley to Crewe today of DRS charter favourites 47501 47802 and 47832 (all XHNC).

Gordon Highlander...
HNRC have purchased Peak Rail resident 55016 from preservation. The sale of 55016 to HNRC does not affect its current agreed running duties and gala commitments at Peak Rail. HNRC have advised that there are no plans to return 55016 to mainline standards which, in view of their current lack of interest in getting involved with rail tours, comes as no surprise.

No Hanson Traction Grids for the NVR autumn gala...
Although it had been anticipated that Hanson Traction's 56128 (to be 56313) would feature in this autumn's diesel gala on the Nene Valley Railway it has been advised that due to changing circumstances at Wansford the Class 56 will not be taking part.

Roberts Rd stand in...
DRS have hired 08892 (XHSH) to HNRC at Fastline's Doncaster Roberts Road to cover for 08527 (HNRL) whilst it is stopped for repairs. These are being carried out on site.

Power Cars...
Cross Country power cars 43085 43101 43103 43121 and 43157 at Brush Traction, Loughborough for re-engineering, overhaul and MTU fitment have all been renumbered using the same format as the East Coast 43s, 200 added to the original number, becoming 43285 43301 43303 43321 and 43357 respectively. First Group (FGW) didn't carry out any renumbering exercise when their power cars passed through  Brush for re-engineering whilst GNER / National Express and now Cross Country have. Will Network Rail be renumbering the NMT power cars when these enter Brush for MTU?

Ped 465...
At Derby RTC 31465 has been re-registered and allocated to the QADD pool.

57005...
Sidelined at Barrow Hill repairs are underway now that a replacement wheelset has been sourced for it.

Crewe DMD...
After several years outside in the open 56077 and (what's left of) 58022 (both WNXX) have this morning been pushed inside the depot.

87002...
Its mainline testing now looks likely to take place early to mid August.

DRS...
Recently reinstated 20311 (XHNC) along with 20308 (XHNC) have been hauled up from Crewe to Carlisle for attention. with 37218 (XHNC) accompanying 37197 (XHHP) to Brush Traction on the 3rd only 37069 (XHNC), sidelined with defective wheelsets, remains dumped in Crewe Coal Yard sidings.

EWS...
It has been indicated that 56007 (WZGF) at Old Oak Common has been selected as the Class 56 for trial fitment of GSM-R radio communication equipment. With regards to the pending closure of Old Oak Common (EWS) and the rest of the stored Class 56s (along with the other stored traction on site) it is understood that it will all be heading out to Eastleigh for further storage. No word on the redeployment of Class 56s to Poland (or Saudi Arabia for that matter, another one that crops up from time to time). At the moment on the European hire front only the four Class 58s recently added to the Spanish hire fleet are being worked on with 58015 58021 58027 and 58050 (all WZFS) being prepared at Eastleigh to join the other eight Class 58s already on hire in Spain. It has been indicated that these four will be repainted into 'Continental Rail' livery vice GIF.

DRS Fleet changes...
20311 (languishing at Crewe), 20312 (returned to traffic in March), 20315 (returned to traffic in April), 37229 (returned to traffic in June), 37667 (returned to traffic in March), 37688 (returned to traffic in January) and 57011 (returned to traffic in April) have all been reallocated to the XHNC pool. All were allocated to the XHSS storage pool.

08632 / 92010 / 92016...
Latterly sidelined at Bescot 08632 has been stored WNTS. 92010 recently despatched back to France has been reinstated to the WZGF pool whilst 92016 has been reinstated to WFMU from store at Crewe EMD.

South Wales developments...
57002 and 57003 (both XHHP) have been collected from store at Barry and have been taken north to Crewe, 57009 was provided for haulage. 08770 (WNTS) has been returned to Margam from Newport Docks, it was moved on the 2nd, whilst 08782 (WSSN) has turned up in the Newport area from Fowey. 08752 (WSSI) has been transported away being noted traversing the M4 in a westerly direction on a low loader yesterday.

86233...
Although it had originally been proposed to get 86233 (SRLO) out for testing late May it's now anticipated that testing should be underway by mid August. Swift Rail have advised that the work being done at Crewe EMD has been upgraded from what was initially proposed to F exam status, things consequently taking a little longer than first advertised.

37197...
Along with 37218 (XHNC), which has been sidelined at Crewe for some weeks now, 37197 (XHHP) has been deposited at Brush Traction. Officially (sort of) it has been taken to Loughborough for 'improvements'.

47295...
A day later than planned 47295 has been transported from MoD Ashchurch to Long Marston.

37222...
The transfer east by road of 37222 from Carnforth to Thomson's at Stockton has taken place today.

Spares or repairs...?
37197 (XHHP), still yet to work for DRS, has been hauled south from Carlisle to Crewe. It is booked to go on to Brush Traction, Loughborough tomorrow.

Disposal...
As far as can be ascertained the disposal of 50040 has been completed at Sims Metals, Halesowen. For the record 50040 was stored from Laira and the DCWA pool back in November 1989, RIP.

Transit compete #1...
37425 (WNTS) was hauled south from Warrington to Eastleigh overnight last night.

Transit complete #2...
60064 (WNTS) was offloaded at Toton this morning following overnight transfer from Immingham by road. 60070 (WNTS) was then collected and transported from Immingham to Toton where it was offloaded this evening.

Transits pending...
37222 has been loaded for removal from Carnforth by road. HNRC have weighed 37222 in with Thomson's for scrap and it should be on its way to Stockton in the morning. The collection of 47295 from MoD Ashchurch, with is to go to Long Marston, is also pencilled in to take place tomorrow.

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