Unit Focus
13/2 – 153317 Bristol Barton Hill to Bury, East Lancashire Railway, by road for further testing of its railhead treatment modifications.
CLASS 158
6/2 – 158856 working 1L15 15.51 Liverpool Lime Street-norwich hit a tree near Thetford, suffering cab damage and derailing the leading bogie. Initially recovered to Brandon, and then on 12/2 hauled by a sister 158 as 5Z99 12.00 Brandon-ely Papworth. From here, it was removed on low-loaders by road on 14/2 to Millenium Site Services, Derby, for assessment.
CLASS 166
20/1 – 166211 5Q81 08.50 Wolverton-st Philip’s Marsh.
20/1 – 166217 5Q70 14.03 St Philip’s Marsh-wolverton.
7/2 – 166218 5Q81 08.50 Wolverton-st Philip’s Marsh.
7/2 – 166214 5Q70 15.04 St Philip’s Marsh-wolverton. CLASS 170
28/1 – 170208 5M57 10.20 Cardiff Canton-derby Etches Park, last Transport for Wales Turbostar to transfer to East Midlands Railway.
CLASS 175
15/1 – 175108 5Q42 11.02 Ilford-bletchley.
CLASS 180
26/1 – 180105 5Q50 10.14 Crofton-ilford.
CLASS 319
24/1 – 37884 + 319433 + 319457 5Q76 07.58 Northampton Kings HeathSims, Newport, loco failed at Bristol Parkway and was rescued by 66539 which worked through to destination.
6-7/2 – 319214 moved from Northampton Kings Heath to Cockshute Sidings, Stoke, by road, it subsequently being stripped for parts, although the bodies are still expected to go to Newport.
7/2 – 37800 + 319369 5Q79 07.58 Allerton-sims, Newport.
14/2 – 37884 + 319379 + 319386 5Q77 07.58 Allerton-sims, Newport. CLASS 321 16/1 – 175108 5K42 15.45 Bletchley-crewe South Yard.
24/1 – 175116 5Q60 06.33 Crewe Gresty Green-central Rivers.
12/2 – 37800 + 175114 + 37510 5Q60 09.54 Holyhead-central Rivers.
26/1 – 321341 + 321428 5Z03 15.00 Wolverton-northampton, both units emerging from store to join the Varamis Rail fleet. However, 321341 failed almost immediately and was dumped in the thunderbird siding at Crewe. It was still awaiting recovery in mid-february. Both units retain their former National Express colours, with 321428 also still named The Essex Commuter.
CLASS 334
18/1 – 334040 undertook a 5V16 23.19 Shields-yoker transfer with 334011, this being the first run of the unit since September 2021 when it was stopped with a major transformer failure and subsequently became a depot ‘Christmas tree’. The following night saw it undertake a 5Y00 19.30 Yoker-yoker test run via Helensburgh Central with 334006 for insurance and following further tests, it was back in traffic by the end of the month.
CLASS 379
16/1 – 69010 + 379008 + 379022 5Q22 10.45 Worksop-doncaster RMT.
17/1 – 69010 + 379008 + 379022 5Q23 13.58 Doncaster Rmt-worksop.
25/1 – 69010 + 379013 + 379015 5Q22 10.45 Worksop-doncaster RMT.
26/1 – 69010 + 379013 + 379015 5Q23 13.58 Doncaster Rmt-worksop.
31/1 – 69010 + 379007 + 379010 5Q22 10.45 Worksop-doncaster RMT.
1/2 – 69010 + 379007 + 379010 5Q23 14.30 Doncaster Rmt-worksop.
7/2 – 57310 + 379017 + 379026 5Q22 10.45 Worksop-doncaster RMT.
8/2 – 47727 + 57310 + 379017 + 379026 5Q23 14.30 Doncaster Rmt-worksop.
15/2 – 57305 + 379006 + 379025 5Q22 10.45 Worksop-doncaster RMT.
16/2 – 57305 + 379006 + 379025 5Q23 14.30 Doncaster Rmt-worksop. CLASS 387
6/2 – 37510 + 387162 5Q53 10.34 Ilford-reading.
6/2 – 37510 + 387152 5Q50 13.42 Reading-ilford CLASS 455
30/1 – 5732 + 5863 2L25 10.48 Waterloo-basingstoke, 2L34 12.23 Basingstoke-waterloo, 2L41 14.48 Waterloo-basingstoke, 2L50 16,23 Basingstoke-waterloo. Very rare passenger use of Class 455s beyond Woking due to SWR operating additional services on account of ASLEF strike action.
CLASS 458
22/1 – 57306 + 458404 + 57305 5Q57 16.37 Alstom, Widnes-wembley, renumbered from 458504.
23/1 – 57306 + 458404 + 57305 5X73 07.28 Wembley-bournemouth.
23/1 – 57305 + 458520 + 57306 5Q58 17.11 Bournemouth-alstom, Widnes.
29/1 – 47749 + 458424 + 57305 5Q58 17.11 Bournemouth-alstom, Widnes, unit for rectification work.
12/2 – 57305 + 458416 + 57303 5Q62 18.46 Alstom, Widnes-wembley, renumbered from 458516.
13/2 – 57305 + 458416 + 57303 5X62 05.24 Wembley-bournemouth.
13/2 – 57303 + 458515 + 57305 5Q64 13.21 Bournemouth-alstom, Widnes.
CLASS 465/466
20/1 – 69010 + 465930 5Q89 11.30 Slade Green-wabtec, Doncaster.
26/1 – 66756 + 466023 + 466035 5Q88 21.33 Wabtec, Doncaster-slade Green.
27/1 – 66756 + 466003 + 466042 5Q89 11.30 Slade Green-wabtec, Doncaster.
10/2 – 37884 + 465930 5Q88 07.34 Wabtec, Doncaster-slade Green. CLASS 701
1/2 – 69008 + 701526 5Q75 09.25 Arriva, Eastleigh-mod Bicester.
2/2 – 69008 + 701002 5Q20 09.12 Derby Litchurch Lane-arriva, Eastleigh.
7/2 – 69008 + 701010 5Q09 08.56 Worksop-wembley.
7/2 – 69008 + 701003 5Q11 15,04 Wembley-arriva, Eastleigh.
14/2 – 69008 + 701521 + 701527 5Q75 09.21 Arriva, Eastleigh-mod Bicester.
CLASS 710
5/2 – 37884 + 710374 + 37510 8Q71 10.10 Ilford-willesden TMD.
CLASS 720
18/1 – 69010 +720102 5Q50 09.12 Derby Litchurch Lane-worksop.
1/2 – 69010 + 720138 5Q52 09.06 Derby Litchurch Lane-worksop.
8/2 – 69008 + 720101 + 720502 5Q52 09.08 Derby Litchurch Lane-worksop.
8/2 – 69008 + 720102 5Q12 14.24 Worksop-derby Litchurch Lane.
15/2 – 69008 + 720143 + 720519 5Q52 09.09 Derby Litchurch Lane-worksop.
15/2 – 69008 + 720138 5Q12 14.29 Worksop-derby Litchurch Lane. CLASS 730
30/1 – 37510 + 730210 5Q67 10.00 Derby Litchurch Lane-oxley.
1/2 – 37510 + 730023 + 730024 5Q16 07.32 Doncaster Belmont-gascoigne Wood.
7/2 – 37510 + 730038 5Q16 10.21 Doncaster Belmont-gascoigne Wood.
8/2 – 37510 + 730030 + 730031 5Q68 08.59 Old Dalby-soho.
8/2 – 37510 + 730010 + 730021 5Q58 14.46 Solo-old Dalby.
9/2 – 37510 + 730212 5Q67 10.00 Derby Litchurch Lane-oxley.
14/2 – 37510 + 730206 5Q99 12.57 Oxley-loughborough.
16/2 – 37510 + 730217 5Q67 10,00 Derby Litchurch Lane-oxley. CLASS 800
2/2 – 800018 5Q81 11.45 Paddington-westbury, 5X81 15.18 Westbury-eastleigh Works, for crack repairs.
5/2 – 800112 5G13 11.09 Inverness-craigentinny, rare empty stock routing of an Azuma via Elgin after flooding on the Highland Main CLASS 802
16/2 – 802011 5X80 16.38 Eastleigh Works-westbury via Basingstoke and Salisbury, 5Q81 18.50 Westbury-paddington via Newbury, 5Q82 20.21 Paddington-north Pole, ex crack repairs, away since July 14, 2023.
CLASS 805
15/1 – 805009 5Q32 09.21 Merchant Park-oxley, delivery run via Peterborough and Leicester. During February, 805010 was recorded on overnight tests from Merchant Park to York.
15/1 – 805006 5Q90 19.48 OxleyBounds Green via Leicester and Peterborough, first visit of the class to Bounds Green for tyre turning. Returned on 17/1 as 5Q92 13.24 Bounds Green-oxley. CLASS 810
29/1 – 810001 5D10 14.07 Merchant Park-peterborough, 5Q10 17.00 Peterborough-old Dalby. Unit thereafter carried out regular daytime test runs to Peterborough and Newark Northgate.