DBS notes...
58006 (WZFF), the last one to go as part of the current contract for 58s in France, left for France on the 24th. 60073 has been stored WNTR but is still in active service whilst 60035 (WNTR) has been returned to use from store at Toton. 60019 (WNTR) latterly at Scunthorpe is now at Immingham whilst 60022 (WNTR) continues to see action as the shunter at Eastleigh. 60041 60071 and 60091 (all WNTR) are still in active service. 67022 has been stored WNTR but is still in traffic, 67028 is reinstated to WAAN from WNTR at Crewe whist 67029 (WNTR) has been stopped again at Crewe EMD.

Tugs...
60045 and 60049 have been reinstated to the WCAK and WCAI pools from WNTR, they were already out and about, swapping with 60054 which has been stored WNTR at Toton.

Tugs...
60035 has been stored WNTR at Toton. The active WC** allocated fleet is now down to twelve but is still being augmented by 60022 60041 60045 60049 60071 and 60091 (all WNTR) which are in traffic whilst allocated to the storage pool. Four stored Class 60s have been tripped round from Crewe EMD to Crewe DMD, see below.

DRS move...
20301 (XHSS) was transferred from Stowmarket to Crewe, for Gresty Bridge, on the 24th in convoy with 37229 37608 37688 and 57007.

Crewe...
67029 (WNTR) is back in use and yesterday was involved with the transfers of 37406 (WNXX) 37670 (still WFMU) 60028 (WNTR) 60043 (WNTR) 60055 (WNTS) and 60082 (WNTS) round from Crewe EMD to Crewe DMD.

70s...
70001 (DFGI) has resumed training runs between Lawley St. and Walsall whilst 70002 (DFGH) has been running trains out of Portbury. 70001 is expected to visit Ipswich and Felixstowe for training shortly.

Tugs and a couple of Skips...
Recently reactivated 60009 60011 and 60035 have been reinstated to WCBK, WCAK and WCAK respectively swapping with 60013, stored at Toton, 60041, still in traffic, 60074, stored at Margam and 60091, still in traffic. All four to WNTR. To balance the books 60049 (WNTR) has been returned to traffic from Toton. 60022 60045 and 60071 (all WNTR) are still 'stored but active' whilst 60048 (WNTR) has been in use on the Toton / Sandiacre pilot job vice 60024 (WNTR). 67029 has been stopped and stored WNTR at Crewe EMD where it has been joined by 67021 (WNTR) from Bounds Green.

Shunter notes...
A three way shuffle sees 08706 (WNTR) being returned to use at Westbury following attention at Toton. It is understood this is the second Class 08 released with remote control working equipment installed. 08995 (WSSN) has been taken from Westbury to Hoo displacing 08802 (WSSN) from Hoo to Toton. 08683 and 08896 (both TTLS) have been moved from Wishaw (Goodman's, Sutton Coldfield), 08683 to Toddington and 08896 to the Severn Valley Railway. It has been advised that the latter of these two has been sold and 08896 has entered preservation.

70001...
In a ceremony today at Leeds Midland Road 70001 (DFGI) has been named 'PowerHaul'.

Tugs...
60010 (WNTR) has been moved from Peak Forest to Toton. 60035 60045 and 60071 (all WNTR) have been returned to traffic from store at Toton joining 'stored but active' 60009 and 60011 (both WNTR) in general use and 60022 (WNTR) which has taken up residency as the Eastleigh Yard shunter.

70s...
Whilst 70001 (DFGI) ran to Midland Road today 70002 (DFGH) has entered the fray being trialled during the night last night with some coal hoppers out of Cardiff Pengam.

DBS notes...
60009 and 60011 (both WNTR) are back in traffic from Toton, 60022 (WNTR) has been noted on shunting duties at Eastleigh whilst 60024 (WNTR) has been the Toton / Sandiacre shunter / trip locomotive of late. Several Class 60s have 'transfer status' on the system which may be an indication of movement pending or a left over from when they were last moved. Those showing T are 60019 (WNTR) at Scunthorpe along with 60028 60043 (both WNTR) 60055 and 60082 (both WNTS) at Crewe EMD. Two Class 37s to move at some point are 37406 (WNXX) and 37670 (WFMU) which are due to be moved around to Crewe DMD from the EMD. 08735 has been stored WNTR at Toton, 67001 was briefly stored WNTR but is now WAAN following the storage WNTR of 67021 at Bounds Green and 92030 has been stored WNTR at Crewe EMD. The WBSN RHTT fleet has undergone several changes in the past week or so. Added to the WBSN pool are 66065 66101 66114 66127 66131 66151 66154 66164 and 67027 whilst 66009 66054 66086 66087 66098 66198 66199 and 67001 have left the pool.

DRS reduction...
20301 and 20305 at Stowmarket have been stored XHSS.

Disposal...
08736, the third and last of the three ex Deanside shunters brought up from Long Marston recently, has been scrapped at Booths, Rotherham. 08736 was withdrawn from Motherwell back in September 1987, RIP.

Freightliner notes...
66584 exported to Poland in August has now been reallocated from DFHG to the DHLT pool, probably an oversight as the other exported Class 66s were reallocated at around the time of despatch abroad. 70001 (DFGI) 70002 (DFGH) along with 70003 to 70030 (all DHLT) inclusive are now all allocated to FD from HQ. 70001 has been out again today between Lawley St. and Walsall and is booked to Leeds Midland Rd. tomorrow. Selected times for its run / transfer / 0Z70 are; Lawley St. 08:58, Water Orton 09:20, Tamworth 09:35, Burton 09:56 - 10:37, Derby 11:04 - 11:11, Chesterfield 12:01, Swinton 12:44, Altofts Jn. 14:10 and Midland Rd, 15:00.

Tugs...
60039 has been reinstated to the WCAI pool from WNTR. It had been out on a training run the other day when released into service from Toton but appears to have failed in the Saltley area before being taken back to Toton for attention. 60039 is reinstated as a replacement for 60035 which has been returned to store WNTR at Toton. 60035 was only recently reinstated as a replacement for 60010 which is still awaiting movement from Peak Forest to Toton. The transfer of 60010, running as 0Z10, is booked to take place in the early hours on the 21st.

70s...
70001 (DFGI) made the mainline debut for the Class yesterday afternoon running twice between Lawley St. and Walsall vice to Crewe in the morning as had originally been planned - flat batteries on 70001, a bit of a learning curve being climbed rather than any mechanical failings, putting paid to the Crewe turn. 70001 is involved with static training today. There may be further mainline tests before 70001 goes to Leeds Midland Road at the weekend for further certification work, naming and being officially unveiled to the Freightliner organisation. 70002 (DFGH) is still at Stoke Gifford, adjacent to Bristol Parkway. Mainline training utilising 70002 is yet to commence but once underway is likely to take place at night so as not to get in the way. 70001 and 70002 are currently subject to a 40mph speed restriction, a restriction that will be removed as the certification process continues rather than one that has been imposed for any reason. The other four built Class 70s are on their way, the MV Beluga Fortune having sailed with 70003 70004 70005 and 70006 (all DHLT) on board. Arrival in the UK is currently estimated as being towards the end of the month / early December, their passage across the Atlantic being very dependent on prevailing weather conditions.

Margam...
The Class 37s latterly in store in Margam Yard have been moved on to the adjacent depot which closes its doors for the final time on the 21st. There has been a stay of execution of sorts, Margam was originally to have closed in the spring, but the axe is now falling. It has been advised that private security is being employed at the site and that any visits to the shed will in future not be permissible.

Booths, Rotherham 21/11/09...
Please be advised that for essential works Booths, Rotherham will not be open to the public this coming Saturday 21/11/09.

Tugs...
60011 (WNTR) has now been stopped at Toton whilst 60022 (WNTR) is stopped at Eastleigh for 'special tests'. 60039 (WNTR) is another returnee being released back into traffic from Toton but 60074 (WCAI) is again suffering with 'engine shut down' problems, failing at Theale today.

DRS bits...
47790 is reinstated to XHAC from store at Kingmoor whilst 66432 collected 57004 and 57009 (both XHCK) from Barrow Hill this afternoon. The modified 57/0s have been taken to Carlisle.

70s...
70001 and 70002 have been reallocated from DHLT to two new pools, 70001 to DFGI for Intermodal, 70002 to DFGH for Heavy Haul. Certification has progressed and mainline testing is ready to get underway. 70001 could / should, providing all goes to plan, be out on the Lawley St. to Crewe training runs from tomorrow onwards.

Tugs...
60010 at Peak Forest on wheel skates has been stored WNTR, 60035 is reinstated to WCAK as a replacement. 60011 (WNTR) was still out and about over the weekend whilst 60022 (WNTR) has been returned to use from Toton. 60071 (WNTR) is back at Toton from Scunthorpe having being displaced by 60019 (WNTR) sent over from Toton for shunting duties.

DBS changes...
08737 and 08742 at Toton along with 08993 at Doncaster have been stored WNTR whilst 08495 recently despatched from Toton to Mossend has been reinstated to the WSSN pool. 60054 which had remained in traffic whilst allocated to WNTR has been reinstated to the WCBI pool. 67016 is reinstated to WAFN swapping places with 67028 which is now stored WNTR at Crewe EMD.

DRS 47s & 57s...
Two new pools have been created for the DRS Class 47 and DRS Class 57 fleets. XHAC for the Class 47s has had 47501 47712 47802 and 47832 added to it whilst XHCK for the Class 57s contains 57002 57003 57004 57007 57008 57009 and 57012. These have all been reallocated over from XHNC. 57004 and 57009 are ready for collection from Barrow Hill where they have been undergoing modifications whilst 57010 and 57011 have been stored XHSS at Carlisle Kingmoor.

WBSN...
Changes relating to the WBSN sandite allocation over the past couple of weeks see 66007 66018 66063 66153 and 67022 being removed from the allocation swapping with 66012 66054 66070 66086 66148 66157 66177 66199 and 67003 which have been added to the WBSN pool.

Disposal...
08345, withdrawn from Ayr back in November 1983, has been disposed of at Booths, Rotherham, RIP.

Tugs...
60009 has been stored WNTR at Toton, it is replaced by 60073 which has been reinstated to the WCAK pool from WNTR at Toton. 60011 and 60054 (both WNTR) continue in traffic.

70s...
Although schedules had been entered into the system for training runs between Lawley Street and Crewe it has been discovered that these are a tad premature as the 70s are not yet cleared for independent mainline use. Once the paperwork is in and they are certified to go then mainline training runs will commence. At present this is anticipated to be in at least a weeks time. Meanwhile here's some YouTube video footage of 70002 on the go in Stoke Gifford Sidings adjacent to Bristol Parkway.

DRS convoy...
37087 collected and hauled 37259 and 37667 (both XHNC) from Derby to Crewe Gresty Bridge today. Both have been out of use at Derby for some months.

Tugs...
60011 has been stored WNTR but is still in traffic whilst 60084 has been reinstated from Toton and WNTR to the WCAI pool. 60045 (WNTR) has been stopped at Bescot for transfer to Toton but 60054 (WNTR) latterly recorded as stopped for store at Margam has either remained active or has been returned to traffic.

70s...
Hauled north by 66585 last night 70001 (DHLT) has been despatched to Lawley Street, Birmingham whilst 70002 (DHLT) has been positioned at Stoke Gifford, Bristol. Staff training will commence shortly with runs between Lawley St and Crewe being pencilled in for 70001.

87s away...
As anticipated Bulgaria bound 87004 87013 and 87014 (all SBXL) sailed on the night of the 9th. 

Shunter notes...
08495 (WNTR), the first of several being remote control fitted has been released and has been taken north from Toton to Mossend displacing 08993 (WSSN) to Doncaster. 08735 (WSSN) noted on the road ex Doncaster Carr the other day has turned up at Toton whilst 09106 (WSSN) has been despatched from Doncaster Carr to Trafford Park replacing 08737 (WSSN) which has been taken to Toton. 08691 (DFLS) has been released from attention at LH Group Services to Tilbury displacing 08585 (DFLS) from there to Southampton.

66842...
Now also in Colas-Rail livery 66842 (COLO) has been released from painting at Eastleigh Works.

Tugs...
60054 has been stored WNTR, stopped at Margam, swapping places with 60013 and 60074, reinstated to WCAK and WCAI respectively, following repairs at Toton. Of the 'stored but active' trio 60045 (WNTR) continues to see use but 60004 and 60035 (both WNTR) have been stopped at Toton.

37670...
Languishing out of use at Crewe EMD 37670 (still WFMU) is now status N/ONE thus regarded as stored.

87s to go...
On three Allely's low loaders Bulgaria bound 87004 87013 and 87014 (all SBXL) in convoy have been transported from Long Marston, departure from the former military establishment taking place shortly before noon, to Hull Docks for export. The three Class 87s were ushered directly into the port facility on arrival shortly after 20:00 hours, possibly to sail on the overnight crossing to the continent.

70s...
After arriving at Newport yesterday aboard the BBC Kusan, unloaded and unveiled, 70001 and 70002 (both DHLT) made their UK debut today.

DBS changes...
08735 and 09106 fro store at Doncaster Carr have been reinstated to the WSSN pool. 08735 has left Doncaster being observed on a low loader in a lay by off the M1 this morning. 58006 (WZFF), the final Class 58 being prepared for duties in France, is in ETF livery at Eastleigh. 60035 and 60045 have been stored WNTR but remain active swapping places with 60063 and 60096 which are reinstated to the WCAI and WCBM pools respectively. Whilst 60063 has been reinstated without actually being stopped this time around 60004 (WNTR) soldiers on in service but 60024 60039 and 60084 (all WNTR) are now stopped at Toton. 67002 has been stored and reinstated, 67016 is stored WNTR at Crewe EMD whilst 67017 has been reinstated to WAFN from store at Crewe EMD.

70s...
70001 to 70030 inclusive have been registered, all are allocated to the DHLT pool pending their arrival in the UK. The first two, shipment across the Atlantic being delayed by bad weather en route, their arrival is a couple of days behind plan, are due to dock at Newport tomorrow.

Booths arrivals...
Four locomotives have been delivered to Booths, Rotherham for disposal, all from Long Marston, two of which have been scrapped already, see below. Moved north by road yesterday and today have been 08345 08728 and 08736, the three non repaired ex Deanside Transit 08s, and 20215 weighed in by HNRC.

Disposals...
Broken up almost immediately on arrival at Booths are 08728, stored from Motherwell September 1997, and 20215, stored from Toton's FEFN pool back in March 1992. Both were in advanced stages of cutting by this afternoon with little remaining of either, RIP.

Back from the dead...
Some months ago there was mention of an unidentified Class 08 at Thomsons, Stockton which presented a bit of a conundrum at the time as it was suspected that either a shunter had been delivered or that one recorded as scrapped was still extant. The recent re-appearance of this Class 08 at Stockton, it had been tucked away out of sight, confirms the latter scenario. The shell of 08402, thought to have been disposed of late April, is still to be broken up.

08460...
Moved from the Colne Valley Railway to Felixstowe 08460 (TTLS) has returned to active traffic.

Tugs...
60040 from store at Toton has been reinstated to the WCAI pool at the expense of 60084 which, although still active, has been stored WNTR.

08605...
The only shunter at Toton in the remote control program that wasn't allocated to WNTR now is, 08605 being reallocated to WNTR from WFMU.

67017...
Stopped for attention at Crewe EMD 67017 has been stored WNTR.

GBRf 92s...
92043 is now in the GBRT pool in addition to 92038.

Tugs...
60019 60021 and 60040 (all WNTR) are now stopped at Toton, 60004 60024 60039 and 60063 (all WNTR) are still out and about.

Not for painting...
66124 (now back in WBAN) has been put back to traffic as was.

Painted...
66841 (COLO) is now in Colas-Rail livery at Eastleigh Works.

60s culled...
Eight Class 60s have been stored this morning leaving 12 in the operational fleet. Removed from the active WC** allocation to WNTR, all bar one of these are still out and about, are 60004 60019 60021 60024 60039 60040 60063 and 60073. Whilst 60073 is at Toton the other seven are still in traffic with various assignments for storage at Toton in place.

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