Powerscene

Our authoritative class-by-class review of newsworthy locomotive workings.

Rail pool) has been at Loram, Derby since July 2020, its three companions extended their operational sphere during the first weeks of the new year.

Having accompanied No. 97303 (37178) from Derby to Machynlleth and Aberystwyth early on January 5, and to Pwllheli the following morning, No. 97304 (37217) set off from Derby during the evening of January 11, with a test train bound for Middleton Towers and then Cambridge. Next up was a trip from Cambridge to Cromer and Sheringham the latter reached at 02.25 on January 13. That night, No. 97304 departed from Norwich for Colchester via Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and the East Suffolk line, remaining in the Anglian Region until heading back to Derby on January 16.

Meanwhile, No. 97302 (37170) was reported powering the 3Z17/08.55 Stafford-Derby RTC on January 9 and, during the early hours of January 23, ventured to Mexborough, Goole, Grantham and Nottingham with a Doncaster to Derby test trip.

Nos. 37401 and 37402 formed the 7Z37/12.21 Tonbridge-AshfordTonbridge snowplough run on January 6 at either end of Nos. ADB965211/237. Once back in East Anglia, No. 37402 took tamping machine No. DR73115 from Stowmarket to Parkeston

(January 21) before the two large-logo blue Type 3s were reunited to handle the 6P01/21.28 Whitemoor-Harwich International engineers’ train late on January 23. With Nos. 37425+37422 moving from Crewe to Norwich on January 28, Nos. 37401+37402 then ran light from Crewe Gresty Bridge to Carlisle Kingmoor the following day.

No. 37716 took Railvac No. 5 from Toton to Millerhill on January 8 and, amongst several other duties, covered the 6Z20/09.58 York Works-Doncaster Up Decoy and the 12.53 return on January 26.

When No. 66740 failed at Spean Bridge on January 4 in extremely cold and snowy conditions, West

Coast Railways’ Type 3 No. 37516 on weather standby was sent to collect the wagons off the 6E45/08.07 Fort William-North Blyth and haul them back to Fort William.

Nos. 37669+37706 were paired to move crane No. ADRC96710 (due for export) on the 6Z30/10.38 Wigan TMDBurton

Wetmore on January 13. Leaving Burton that day was bi-mode ‘Flex’ unit No. 769930, which was hauled away to Reading by No. 37884, the locomotive then returning to collect No. 769946 similarly destined the following day.

No. 37884 was also used to move EMUs Nos. 317514+317653 from Ilford to Eastleigh on January 21 passing Virginia Water at 16.48.

The Colas Railfreight duo of

Nos. 37116 and 37219 covered much ground on test train duties at the start of the year having initially travelled north to Wick on January 6, returning there two days later. During the afternoon of January 17, the pair reached Saltburn in the course of a test run from Derby to Heaton, and late on January 21 they were noted at North Berwick prior to heading for Tweedbank and Milngavie during the early hours of the next day. Later on January 22, Nos. 37116 and 37219 visited Wemyss Bay and Gourock going on to Ardrossan Harbour and Largs after midnight before traversing the Cumbrian coast route on January 28, thence going overnight to Windermere, Morecambe and Blackpool South.