On the road...
Latterly in store at Millerhill 08888 (WNTS) has been brought south, possibly to Doncaster Carr, being noted on a low loader heading south on the A1 near Wetherby on the 29th whilst, following a stop over at Heanor's, 37412 (WNSO) has completed its transfer to Barrow Hill meanwhile it has been advised that the proposed movement of 47703 (CREL) from Leeming Bar to Barrow Hill has been deferred indefinitely.

Tugs...
From store at Toton 60019 has been reinstated to the WFMS pool swapping places with 60025 and 60035 which have been stored WNTS at Toton.

Offski...
The despatch of 66586 (DFHG) to Poland is planned to take place shortly with shipment out being facilitated via Hull Docks.

EWS Changes...
60022 from store at Toton has been reinstated from WNTS to the WFMS pool however 92004 and 92011, both had been stopped and allocated to WFMU, have been stored WNTS at Crewe EMD. The EWS Network sector evidently had too many shunters on its books as nine Class 08s and one Class 09 have been stored WNTS, all were previously allocated to the WSSN pool. Purged from the operating fleet are 08495 08922 08994 and 09101 at Doncaster Carr, 08514 at Mossend, 08662 08897 and 08921 at Wigan CRDC, 08804 at Eastleigh and 08886 at Toton.

37412...
En route to Barrow Hill from Margam 37412 (WNSO) has stopped off at Heanor's, Langley Mill.

37412...
On the move at last 37412 (WNSO) has been extracted from Margam and, noted heading north on the M5 mid afternoon is, probably via an overnight stop over somewhere, en route to Barrow Hill by road.

87s away...
87010 87022 and 87028 (all SBXL) sailed overnight from Hull to Rotterdam for forwarding across Europe to Bulgaria by barge.

97302...
Out on test with 97304 between Barrow Hill and Derby today 97302 (QETS) has been released into traffic.

87s convoy...
All three Class 87s were transported across from Crewe to Hull by road today. 87010 87022 and 87028 (all SBXL) being extracted from Basford Hall on three separate low loaders and taken across to Hull in convoy.

Hanson Traction Grids...
56311 (RVLO), which recently has been off its bogies as part of a round of repairs, will be in action on the Nene Valley Railway next weekend, it is scheduled to work twice on both Saturday and Sunday, 1st and 2nd of November, before returning to mainline duties. It and 56312 (56003 MBDL) are scheduled to leave the line the following weekend.
A new pool code group in the HT series is going to be formed for these Class 56s.

60011...
Sidelined since early 2006 60011 has been reinstated to the WFMS pool from store WNTS at Toton.

37604...
From Carlisle Kingmoor 37604 has been reinstated to the XHNC pool.

97302...
37170 officially no longer exists anymore as its renumbering to 97302 (QETS) has been put through the system.

Convoys and transfers...
Several stored locomotives have been on the move today. 37682 (XHHP) has been released from Barrow Hill again, today hauling 47841 (XHHP) from Barrow Hill to Kingmoor whilst 47790 (XHHP) has been removed from Brush Traction leaving Loughborough in convoy with 20309 (now XHNC) and 37218 behind 37603. 47790 has been deposited at Derby RTC.
37413 (WNSO) has been taken north, moved up the WCML in the consist of today's 6S73 service behind 92017 to Mossend. 37413 is to remain at Mossend until 37403 (WNSO), also now Bo'Ness bound, is brought north from Margam, it is being prepared for transit. It is planned to trip 37413 and 37403 to Bo'Ness together.
37412 (WNSO) is still in Margam Yard awaiting movement north by road which now looks set to take place next week. 37412 is to go to Barrow Hill - had been keeping news about its future under wraps until it left South Wales but it's been delayed that long that every man and his dog along with the next crop of magazines all have the story - for repairs and a return to use with DRS, HNRC having secured 37412 from EMR, the original buyer from EWS.
47703 (CREL), another one for a coat of blue and big stickers, is now to be moved south from the Wensleydale Railway to Barrow Hill by road. It's transfer should be taking place next week.
The first transfers by road of the Class 87s from Crewe to Hull looks set to take place on Sunday (26/10) with, it has been indicated, two to be taken across for export.

73201...
Back in traffic 73201 (still SBXL) worked up to Bletchley today with 73107 on a 442 transfer which ended up being cancelled.

37403...
The Bo'Ness based SRPS have announced that they have secured 37403 at Margam.

66502...
Still sidelined at Garston since its altercation with some coal hoppers last month it has been advised that following inspection 66502 is eventually to be moved up to Glasgow Works for straightening out.

Brush / Barrow Hill departures...
43309 (IECP) left Brush Traction today, running north to Craigentinny with 47375. Tomorrow a DRS Class 37 and a DRS Class 47 are due to leave Brush, Loughborough. The Class 37 will be either 37197 (XHHP) or 37218 (XHNC), probably the latter, as both have been reported wearing Compass livery whilst the Class 47 will be 47790 (XHHP). 37682 and 47841 (both XHHP) are due out from Barrow Hill tomorrow.

Resistance is futile...
The next batch of Class 66s, comprising 66302 66431 66432 66433 66434 66954 66955 66956 and 66957, are on their way.

37413...
En route to Scotland 37413 (WNSO) has arrived at Bescot Yard from where it will be forwarded at some point to Mossend.

56302...
Following repairs at Brush Traction, Loughborough 56302 (RCJA) has been released running light engine to Derby this morning.

37413...
After some delays in getting its transfer north for preservation underway 37413 (WNSO) has left Margam and, in the consist of the 66096 hauled 6E20 working to Doncaster as far as Bescot from where it can be forwarded to Scotland, is on its way to Bo' Ness.

Cans on repair...
It has been indicated that both fire damaged 86501 (DFGC) and 86609 (DFNC) are to be repaired and returned to use.

EWS notes...
08393 has been stored WNTR at Doncaster Carr whilst 60027 is on its way back having being reinstated to WFMU from WNTS at Toton.

87s...
87010 87022 and 87028 (all SBXL) have been moved round from Crewe LNWR to Basford Hall, top and tailed between 66506 and 66616 in the early hours, from where they can be transferred across to Hull by road.

47810...
Released from Barrow Hill yesterday 47810 (CRRH) has been returned to service.

More shed news...
66131 (WFMU?) has been returned to use today after almost 18 months out of use at Toton at where a new power unit has arrived for 66031 (WFMU). Yesterday's arrivals at Midland Road from Kingmoor; 66401 66402 66403 66404 and 66405, have now been reallocated to the SBXL storage pool.

37412 & 37603...
37603 has been reinstated from XHHP to XHNC, the first returnee of the three recently out-shopped by Brush Traction. 37412 (WNSO) is still at Margam awaiting removal by road, apparently the delay has been due to H&S issues / fanatics rather than anything mechanical.

31106...
Sidelined at Derby for some time 31106 (RVLO) is ready to return to traffic.

87s to go...
The transfer of 87010 87022 and 87028 (all SBXL) from Crewe LNWR to Crewe Basford Hall for road movement onwards is imminent. Transfer from Crewe to Hull by road for export is set to get underway late next week.

Shed news...
Ex DRS 66s; 66401 66402 66403 66404 and 66405 (all XHIM) have run from Carlisle to Leeds Midland Road on transfer to Freightliner. They are to be stopped for modifications and are to be stored until the commencement of some freight flows they have been earmarked for, it has been advised. 66586 (DFHG) has also been stopped at Leeds Midland Road, to be modified for use in Poland. At Toton 66131 (WFMU) has been seeing use as depot shunter whilst the next boatload across the pond is to contain some Class 66s for Freightliner, some for DRS and the last one for Fastline.

EWS notes...
60052 has been stopped and stored WNTS at Toton, it was briefly WFMU, whilst 90039 has been reinstated to WFMU from WNTR at Crewe EMD. 37799 and 37801 in Spain, along with a number of Class 08s stored in the UK, all recently offered for sale have been reallocated to WNXX from variously WNTS, WNYX, WZKS and WZTS.

86609...
Another for the suspect list, 86609 (DFNC) caught fire in Crewe Basford Hall yard yesterday.

Toton GMs...
66131 (WFMU) was noted up and running at Toton yesterday, the first time in a very long time, about two years, and Long Eaton was no where to be seen as a result meanwhile reports indicate that fellow Toton demic 66031 (WFMU) is receiving attention at last. 67010 (WNTS) is also being worked on at Toton for reinstatement.

47145...
Further to yesterday's report 47145 (XHHP) is to be brought south from Carlisle to Gloucester for further storage pending the completion of sale to CR / Advenza.

37412...
Problems with its transport has seen its removal from Margam delayed.

20107...
Moved south from the Weardale Railway to Barrow Hill by road today 20107, another HNRC acquisition, is to be returned to working order. It is anticipated that it will be up and running again by the end of the week.

Margam 37s...
37412 (WNSO) has been moved out from the shed and loaded for removal north by road. 37413 (WNSO) also awaiting removal from Margam, also going north, a lot further north, is set to go out by rail.

Myrddin to go west...?
Subject to the completion of its sale 47145 (XHHP) currently at Carlisle could be Gloucester bound.

MTU...
43277 (IECP) has been released from re-engineering at Brush Traction running up to Neville Hill with 43049 this morning.

Disposal...
The scrapping of 37677, stored from Toton and WKSN in December 2002, has been completed at Booths, Rotherham, RIP.

DRS Notes...
20314 (reinstated to XHNC) and 37604 (XHHP) have been hauled from Brush Traction, Loughborough to Carlisle Kingmoor, 37229 being provided for traction whilst 37682 (XHHP) has been transported back to Barrow Hill from York today by road.

60066...
Another addition to the Class 60 active fleet is 60066 which has been reinstated from store at Toton to the WCAN pool from WNTS.

92s...
92037, recently moved up to Crewe from Dollands Moor, has been reinstated to the WFMU pool swapping places with 92029 which has been stored WNTS from WFMU.

37510...
From store at Carlisle Kingmoor 37510 has been reinstated to the XHNC pool.

Toton 20s...
Toton is hosting a pair of active Class 20s for the first time in well over a decade with 20901 and 20905 (both HNRL) fresh from testing at Old Dalby visiting the depot today.

EWS Locomotive Sale...
A tender list has been issued by EWS on which they are offering for sale 44 locomotives - 16 Class 08s, 16 Class 37s and 12 Class 56s - along with the ex DMU route learner dumped at Thornaby. The locomotives being offered are; 08402 08489 08509 08510 08582 08587 08665 08670 08694 08715 08775 08890 08900 08919 08933 and 08955, 37046 37058 37077 37196 37221 37238 37293 37294 37377 37421 37516 37692 37796 37798 37799 and 37801 along with 56025 56027 56043 56052 56064 56076 56082 56084 56086 56089 56101 and 56114.

56311...
Back to Wansford for some TLC 56311 (RVLO) has been returned to the Nene Valley Railway by road.

47580...
Now officially recorded as such as it has been renumbered back to its former identity of 47580 from 47732 it made its mainline return out on test today from Tyseley with 47773, but only as far as Banbury.

EWS 37s...
Moved up to Warrington overnight from Eastleigh 37401 and 37417 (both now back to WKBN) re-entered traffic with this morning's Warrington to Blackburn and back workings before being despatched east at the head of an Immingham service.

37682...
In readiness for collection and movement back to Barrow Hill by road 37682 (XHHP) has been taken on to York Works from where it can be loaded for transfer.

9016...
DRS have released a press statement confirming that they have purchased 55016 (MBDL) from HNRC and that it will be receiving repairs, probably at Barrow Hill. At least now this year's worst kept secret is official...

"Direct Rail Services can confirm that it has recently acquired 55016 (D9016) named ‘Gordon Highlander’ from Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC). The future of this locomotive is secure and the company is working with HNRC to return the locomotive to operational condition. Although this locomotive has not been planned for an immediate return to service, DRS is confident that the locomotive will be returned to mainline service in the future. DRS is intending to retain the name ‘Gordon Highlander’. DRS can confirm that as part of a wider commercial agreement that will see further locomotives being refurbished by HNRC."

92037...
Noted on its way north on a low loader this afternoon 92037 (WNTS) has left Dollands Moor for Crewe.

47580...
Due out on test tomorrow 47732 (47580 MBDL) is to take a spin from Tyseley to Oxford and back.

Spanish 37s scrapped...?
Confirmation required but it has been advised that 37702 and 37888 have been broken up in Spain. Can anyone confirm / supply further details?

EWS 37s and ex EWS 37s...
37401 and 37417 at Eastleigh have been reinstated, both to the WFMU pool from WNTR. 37683 being repaired for DRS at Barrow Hill has been re-registered and allocated to XHHP whilst 37413 (WNSO) has been dragged out of the scrap line at Margam to be prepared for transport away into preservation.

59101...
There was a mishap on the Whatley branch yesterday with 59101 and GM switcher 120 colliding after the latter ran away. Both locomotives have been damaged.

Moves pending...
Besides 37413 mentioned above 47703 (CREL) is due to be brought down from the Wensleydale Railway to Barrow Hill, 37682 (XHHP) is to be returned to Barrow Hill from York, probably by road. 56311 (RVLO) is booked for transport from derby back to Wansford and 92037 (WNTS) is awaiting movement up to Crewe from Dollands Moor.

Three Tugs and a Skip...
60038 60055 and 60095 along with 67008 have been reinstated, to WFMS, WFMS, WCAN and WAAN respectively, from store at Toton.

37677...
After spending quite some time tucked away out of sight at Booths, Rotherham 37677 has been positioned into the cutting area ready for disposal.

37682...
Collected from Barrow Hill today 37682 (XHHP) was taken north by 37602 on transfer to Kingmoor via the North East. Problems encountered in the Church Fenton area saw its transfer being curtailed at York pending an inspection.

EWS 37s...
It would appear that some / a couple of examples are to be returned to use in due course...

9016...
The Gordon Highlander Preservation Group have, in a news update on their website, acknowledged that they have been unsuccessful with their bid to purchase 55016 from HNRC. As they are on record as having bid in the region of £70K for it and having been outbid then its looking very much like the locomotive is subject to some bigger offers which certainly implies that it is now safe from being pulled apart for spares.

08921...
Another Class 08 has arrived at Wigan Springs Branch (CRDC) in the shape of 08921 (WSSN). On site now for attention are 08662 (WSSN) 08897 (WSSN) and 08921 along with the resident demic / pilot 08877 (WSXX).

47709...
On an A exam at Kingmoor following transfer north on the 2nd 47709 (XHHP) is being readied for a return to traffic.

9016...
Expressions of interest are in and it's future is being evaluated.

EWS 37s...
37401 and 37417 (both WNTR) have now been retired to store at Eastleigh, stored serviceable, following transfer south from Bescot. There is still a lot of talk regarding occasional returns to traffic if / as / when required, the Scottish snowplough contract and booked railtour commitments being the most prominent scenarios however there is also talk about that being it and no more Tractor action under the EWS banner. So for now they are in the bin but only time will tell if the lid stays on...

Tugs to return...?
A bit of a punt as to which Class 60s are currently in line for reinstatement; 60004 60011 60019 60022 60027 60033 60037 60038 60050 60055 60061 60066 60067 and 60080. This is by no means a definitive or exhaustive list as some of the above may not return and others may.

Spoon 709...
47709 (XHHP) has been released from RVE Derby being hauled away from the RTC by 37607 which had earlier brought 47712 in from Crewe.

37023...
Destined eventually to go to the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway for preservation 37023 was removed from Brush Traction at Loughborough by road this afternoon to Allely's, Studley at where cosmetic restoration is to be undertaken.

37401...
Out again. 37401 (WNTR) went on a jolly from Bescot to Long Marston and back today with a rake of vans.

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