POWERSCENE
Our authoritative class-by-class review of newsworthy locomotive workings.
Key workings, class by class.
CLASS 20
AHEAD of the planned movement of Class 484 ‘D-Train’ electric units for use on the Isle of Wight, English Electric Type 1s Nos. 20007+20142 ran light from King’s Norton to Eastleigh Traction Depot on February 4. A problem with the former, however, resulted in
No. 20142 having to run round at Banbury and run ‘nose first’ to Hampshire. Training with the Type 1s commenced on February 9, with round trips to Fareham repeated on each of the following two days.
The Railfreight grey pairing of Nos. 20118+20132, nicely cleaned following their RHTT work in December last, ran light from Worksop to West Ealing on
February 22. Once in West London they collected Balfour Beatty track machine No. DR73950 and took it to Sussex as the 6Q66/21.34 West Ealing-East Grinstead, returning with plant to West Ealing early on February 24 (passing Kensington Olympia at 07.15) prior to the locos running light to Wembley and back to Worksop next morning.
CLASS 33
WEST Coast Railway’s narrow-bodied
No. 33207 Jim Martin unexpectedly returned to the main line on February 24 when called upon to cover route-proving work at the behest of Network Rail. Setting off from its Carnforth base at 02.40, the ‘Crompton’ ran first to
Preston prior to heading back north over Shap to Carlisle before completing its work with a trip back to Carnforth arriving there at 06.55. No. 33207 had been the last of its class to be seen on the national network more than four months earlier.
CLASS 37
WITH ‘Tilt Bed’ IFAs in tow, the distinctive unbranded Type 3 No. 37422 passed Colton Junction on February 16 forming the 6X21/13.11 DoncasterYork Thrall Europa. This locomotive had spent the early part of February on ‘winter patrol’ in Yorkshire, as did
No. 37402 in the North East and
No. 37425 in East Anglia, where drifting snow caused problems. The Regional Railways-liveried No. 37425 was also used to move a ballast regulator
No. DR77904 on the 6Z92/10.49 West Ealing-High Marnham on February 19. In Scotland, Nos. 37419 and 37423 operated with independent snow ploughs on the Far North Line, while West Coast’s No. 37516 was based at Fort William to plough the West Highland Line and No. 37518 at Perth (covering the section to Dalwhinnie), while No. 37685 did a route proving trip from Perth to Stonehaven and back on February 21.
While No. 97301 (ex-37100) has been at Loram, Derby since last July, the other three Network Rail Type 3s
have been busy. Nos. 97303 and 97304 returned a test train from Cardiff to Derby via Chepstow on February 4, and next day No. 97302 hauled a track machine from Talerddig to Wrexham. February 9 found No. 97304 on the
3Z01 from York to Derby, where it was partnered with No. 97303 once more to take a test train to Shrewsbury (Coleham). The following day, however, it was Nos. 97302 and 97303 in charge of the 3Q17/20.35 from Machynlleth, which ran to Pwllheli before heading back to Shrewsbury. No. 97302 was recorded propelling the 3Q15/09.59 Coleham-Bidston at Heswall on February 16 before taking track machine DR73924 from Wrexham to Machynlleth the following morning. By February 17 No. 97303 was working with No. 37025 on test work visiting Rose Hill and Hadfield overnight. Then, during the afternoon of Sunday February 21, Nos. 97302/3/4 each worked a ballast train off the Cambrian main line and passed Newtown bound for Basford Hall.
Following a spell on the sidelines since last September, No. 37418 returned to action during the month and accompanied No. 37116 on the 1Z01/11.35 Derby RTC-Woolmer Green on February 9, venturing to Liverpool Street station next day. Nos. 37418 and 37421 ‘top and tailed’ the 1Q30/10.55 Derby RTC-Holyhead test train on February 12, substituting for the usual HST set, while its previous colleague
No. 37116 partnered No. 37219 and headed north. The pair took the 1Q18 test train from Mossend to Ayr on the afternoon of February 18 and overnight visited North Berwick, Tweedbank and Milngavie prior to reaching Wemyss Bay and Gourock the next night.
Remaining in harness after returning to Derby, Nos. 37116 and 37219 were Weymouth bound on February 24 when passing Yeovil Pen Mill, yet two days later they were noted at Wrexham General and later at Hednesford.
CLASS 43
FRESH from a repaint into celebratory InterCity livery, power car No. 43102 (latterly No. 43302 but carrying its original number once more) re-entered service on February 24 working in conjunction with No. 43274 initially on the 1C15/05.19 Leeds-St Pancras. A round trip from London to Nottingham followed before the set retired to Neville Hill after covering the 1F70/20.01 St Pancras-Leeds. Next day the pair stormed away from Yorkshire with the 06.34 departure from Leeds.
Great Western power cars Nos. 43162+43192 ran light from Plymouth Laira to Doncaster West Yard on February 16. Three days later, former East Midlands examples Nos. 43048 and 43089 powered the 5Q59/10.07 Rectory Junction-Leicester with six
Mk.3 coaches and DVT No. 82136. The three former HST trailers from 5Q59 were taken to Gascoigne Wood during the early afternoon prior to the power cars returning to Rectory Junction.
CLASS 47
BACK in traffic, the Rail Operations Group’s No. 47812 accompanied by
No. 57312 and two barrier coaches formed the 5E72/12.20 Barrow Hill-Derby and back to Barrow Hill on February 3. Two days later the Brush Type 4 had No. 37510 for company on a move from Ely Papworth to Leicester prior to No. 47812 heading to Scotland with translator coaches to collect four Mk.3 coaches making up the 5E23/12.05 Slateford-Doncaster Wabtec on February 9.
That was a busy day for the class, as Nos. 47593+47501 moved seven HST trailers as the 5Z36/06.31 Crewe HS-Eastleigh Arlington, with the former returning to Crewe that afternoon with Mk.3 No. 12171 and a generator vehicle. Meanwhile, GBRf duo Nos. 47727 and 47739 transferred a Class 720 unit from Wolverton to Derby Litchurch Lane.
Two sets of the sadly unused Grand Central Mk.4s (including DVTs Nos. 82201/30) formed the 5Q86/10.01 Wembley-Eastleigh behind No. 47813 on February 16, joining the sets taken there on February 2 (see Class 57 notes). Their stay was short, however, for all four sets were taken away at the end of the month, with
No. 47813 handling the 5Q86/06.53 Eastleigh-Worksop on February 25 and stable companion No. 47812 removing the other two formations to Worksop the following day.
Aside from its use on the movement of new electric multiple units, No. 47739 was tasked with taking a pair of IGB flats on the 6Z20/08.16 Worksop-Doncaster Roberts Road on February 23.
CLASS 56
IT was pleasing to see two members of the class return to operational status during February. Initially, No. 56312 (GBGD) had a run out with No. 56081 from Leicester to Chesterfield and back to Toton on February 18. Out of use in the UK for many years, Colas example No. 56051 was accompanied by Type 3s Nos. 37099+37240 on a test trip from Nottingham to Loughborough and back on February 23.
Nos. 56081 and 47739 have continued with their recent work moving new electric units around the system. On February 1, for instance, the pair worked the 5Q77/10.10 Crewe CSFLWarrington (Walton Old Junction) ‘top and tailing’ new Stadler Merseyrail sets Nos. 777003 and 777009 for storage. They covered the same service on February 8 with units 777004+777006.
Nos. 56049 and 56090 reached West Wales on February 9 with an engineering train from Westbury to Jersey Marine (Neath). By February 17, Nos. 56049+56094 had joined forces on the 6M32/03.12 Lindsey-CR Ribble (Preston) bitumen tanks, returning east later that morning before both ‘Grids’ took an engineer’s train from Doncaster to Battersby early on February 20.
No. 56049 was similarly employed on the Bridlington line next day and was noted at Darlington late on February 23 atop the 6E36/16.13 MillerhillDoncaster Wood Yard.
February 24 found No. 56090 in Hampshire ready to move nine TDA tank wagons on the 6Z56/12.19 Eastleigh-Gloucester New Yard. Next day the ‘Grid’ went to Newton Abbot (Hackney Yard) to collect six IWAs for transit to Gloucester before all 15 wagons formed the 6Z57/23.00 Gloucester-Carlisle Yard.
On February 26, No. 56090 appeared at Hellifield ready to cross over to gain access to the virtual quarry sidings at Ribblehead where five loaded MRAs awaited collection, having been there for some three weeks. The train left Ribblehead at 13.05 as the 6Z58 bound for Carlisle Yard.
CLASS 57
FOLLOWING a period in store at Wembley, two sets of erstwhile Grand Central Mk.4 coaches (with DVTs
Nos. 82200/27) were moved by
Nos. 57305+57303 on February 2 as the 5Q85/11.42 Wembley-Eastleigh.
No. 57305 was also noted on February 19 moving a Class 317 EMU between the same points, while that same day saw No. 57312 hauling EMU No. 323215 as the 5Q23/09.22 Soho LMD-Doncaster via Sutton Park and Derby. The same locomotive was used to transfer a Class 442 unit between Wolverton and Bournemouth on February 23, while the next day
No. 57305 had a pair of Class 317s in tow heading past Bishops Stortford with the 5E46/11.09 Ilford-Ely Papworth stock move.
CLASS 60
HAVING last worked a train in August 2020, the Cappagh blue-liveried
No. 60028 accompanied DB Cargo example No. 60001 as the 6E02/12.20 Toton-Boston Docks on February 3.
The following day No. 60028 was active once again, this time at the head of new FWA container flats forming the 6Z08/12.30 Shirebrook (WH Davis)-Gascoigne Wood.
Stable companion No. 60046 had charge of the 6Z57/13.51 BostonCarlisle on February 2 and passed Sleaford four days later with the 6Z60/13.38 Boston-Chaddesden prior to moving two dozen FWAs from Shirebrook to Gascoigne Wood on February 15.
Apparently ‘furloughed’ at Toton depot since March 10 last year, an immaculate No. 60002 emerged for a test run to Doncaster and back (with 66200 on the outward journey) on February 26. No. 60002 is the third of GB Railfreight’s former Colas Class 60s to gain GBRf blue livery.
Having hauled the 6E37/14.58 East Usk-Scunthorpe on February 3,
No. 60020 was sent from Toton to Cambridge two days later to rescue
No. 66076 and the 6Z56/18.50 Chesterton Junction-Toton Yard. A similar combination of motive power in the shape of Nos. 60054+66085 hauled the 6M41/11.45 Margam-Round Oak on February 17, both locomotives now bearing the slogan ‘Powered by
HV. Reducing our carbon footprint’.
They had reached South Wales early the previous day as part of a quartet of locomotives, with Nos. 66039+66206, on the 6V81/18.10 Rotherham-Cardiff Tidal Sidings.
CLASS 66
IN addition to several lengthy light engine combinations of Class 66s, a few freight trains have seen multiple motive power on occasions, such as the 6K05/12.46 Carlisle YardBasford Hall back on February 1 which traversed the Settle & Carlisle line behind the quartet of Nos. 66303+ 66520+66572+66518. What must surely be approaching unique was the sight of the consecutively numbered 66951+66952+66953 at the front of the 4M58/09.30 Southampton Maritime-Garston FLT on February 22. The 6X01/10.18 Scunthorpe TrentEastleigh Yard rail train produced a ‘threesome’ on February 24 (passing Tamworth at 14.10) with Nos. 66705 and 66750 either side of the imported No. 66793, which bore a temporary plain grey bodyside. A colourful trio featuring Nos. 66746 (‘Royal Scotsman’ maroon)+66084+66783 (Biffa orange) powered the lengthy 6Y48/08.59 Eastleigh Yard-Hoo Junction on
February 15. Heading in the opposite direction that day was the other ‘Royal Scotsman’ locomotive No. 66743 taking a pair of Class 317 electric units from Ely Papworth to Eastleigh.
The last pair of Class 332
‘Heathrow Express’ electric units for scrap left Old Oak Common bound for Newport Docks (Sims Metals) on February 16 ‘top and tailed’ by
Nos. 66775 and 66708 (see also pages 85-87). Similar moves earlier in the month had involved Nos. 66748 and 66757 (on February 2) and Nos. 66726 and 66791 on February 10, while on February 22 Nos. 66783 and 66749 could be found at either end of the 5Q51/09.13 Gascoigne Wood-Newport Docks conveying 10 former East Midlands HST trailer coaches.
Elsewhere, No. 66771 ‘top and tailed’ with No. 59003 on the 6Y19/11.20 Mountfield-Southampton Western Docks via Hastings, Orpington and Richmond on February 9, DRS examples Nos. 66427 and 66433 between independent snowploughs ADB965210/243 formed the 7Z99/08.05 Carlisle Yard-Hellifield and the 7Z98/10.45 return to Carlisle Kingmoor (February 11), while
No. 66737 ventured from Fort William to Mallaig and back on a route review trip on February 19 and repeated the activity seven days later.
CLASS 67
WITH no Pullman work in the offing,
No. 67024 took a single WIA doubledeck car transporter to the Potteries as the 6K32/12.22 Warrington ArpleyStoke Marcroft on February 3. Eight days later the same locomotive had charge of the 6G51/07.44 Warrington Arpley-Donnington RFT with a couple of IPA flat wagons.
On February 17, No. 67024 took a lengthy train of IKAs and two dozen shortened hoppers (HRAs) as the 6Z78/04.25 Arpley-Bescot, before hauling AC electric No. 92011 from Crewe to Wembley on February 22.
Later that day, having returned to Crewe, No. 67024 was sent to work the 1S55/23.30 Warrington RMT-Shieldmuir mail with EMUs Nos. 325005+325006 in tow.
Pullman-liveried No. 67021 has been undergoing maintenance at
Crewe IEMD since the start of the year ready for a return to
Belmond Pullman use when the programme resumes.
Sporadic trips with Transport for Wales’ former LNER Mk.4 coaches have continued during February, with No. 67015 (between Holyhead and Crewe) and No. 67025 (Crewe, Chester and Newport) providing the motive power. Both locomotives appeared at Crewe station on February 16.
CLASS 68
OSTENSIBLY regarded as standby power for Chiltern Trains services, Nos. 68008 and 68009 handled freight work at the beginning of the month before heading to Wembley LMD. Both hauled the regular 6K05/12.46 Carlisle YardBasford Hall via the Settle & Carlisle line, No. 68009 on February 4/5 and
No. 68008 on February 8/9. Amongst other work, No. 68008 powered the 6G94/12.22 Basford Hall-Bescot with Kirow crane DRK81625 on February 4 and the 6U76/08.59 Basford HallMountsorrel and 13.54 on February 11.
Chiltern’s No. 68012 also got in on the act taking charge of the 6G94 on February 8 with 18 loaded JNAs, and repeating the duty next day prior to running light to Doncaster Roberts Road on February 15 with TPE classmate
No. 68032.
CLASS 69
WHILST covered elsewhere in this issue (see page 26), the opportunity to introduce a ‘new’ class of locomotive to this column ought not to be overlooked. No. 69001 (pool code
GBGS), constructed from the shell of the former No. 56031 (the first Class 56 to be built at Doncaster Works 44 years ago) was hauled from Longport to the Severn Valley Railway behind No. 66702 on February 15. Up to 16 such Class 69 rebuilds are in the pipeline and No. 69002 (56311) is likely to be the next.
CLASS 70
ENGINEERING work closed the Wrexham to Bidston ‘Borderlands’ line to passenger trains between February 6 and 14, with rare visitors in the shape of several Colas Railfreight Class 70s finding their way onto the route. On February 6, Nos. 70801/5/9, 70810/15 all handled trains from Basford Hall, via Bushbury Junction and Shrewsbury in the case of Nos. 70805/9, the others travelling via Chester. The following weekend found Freightliner Class 66 locomotives involved, although
No. 70004 passed Chester at 16.00 on February 14 with the 6Y41/16.00 Wrexham-Basford Hall.
CLASS 73
FOLLOWING attention at the Brush Works in Loughborough, No. 73964 returned light to Tonbridge on February 3. A week later classmates Nos. 73961+73965 appeared at Toton depot and having similarly returned to Kent all three Electro-Diesels returned north on February 13 with the 1Q79/09.09 Tonbridge West Yard-Derby RTC comprising coaches Nos. 6392, 72639, 977974 and 72612.
On February 15, Nos. 73961 and 73965 ‘top and tailed’ the 1Q41/13.16 Derby RTC to Crewe CSFL via Buxton, Altrincham, Wrexham, Bidston the Liverpool Loop and Merseyrail terminals on the Wirral before the pair were rejoined by No. 73964 to head back light to Tonbridge on February 17.
Whilst Network Rail’s No. 73951 has not worked since before Christmas, its partner No. 73952 Janis Kong (formerly E6019, 73113 and 73211) ventured from Derby to Warrington Bank Quay on
February 7, passing Stafford at 11.40. Two mornings later, No. 73952 ran light to Chester then to Hooton and Birkenhead Central before heading back to Warrington and returning to Derby via Stoke-on-Trent on February 10.
CLASS 86
THE last freight train to be hauled by Class 86/6 locomotives ran on February 5 when Nos. 86613+86632 hauled the 4M45/02.50 Felixstowe FLT-Garston
FLT from Ipswich to Crewe Basford Hall, from whence No. 66508 went forward to Liverpool (see also page 27). Both
‘86s’ subsequently undertook some light engine training runs the following week, with No. 86613 running from Basford Hall to Northampton and back on February 8 as the 0Z90/07.50 from Basford Hall and 0Z91/11.17 return, covering the trip again the following day as did No. 86632
on February 10. The latter locomotive was back in action on February 12 passing Stechford with an 0Z90 before a trip from Crewe to Trafford Park and back on February 15. With its serviceable life dwindling, No. 86632 undertook a final run from Crewe to Northampton and back on February 16, passing Stafford at 13.00 on its way back to Crewe. Only the preserved Nos. 86101, 86259 and 86401 remain as Class 86 locomotives likely to be seen out on the main line in the future.
CLASS 88
OUT of service since last summer,
No. 88007 Electra returned to the main line in early February handling Daventry traffic for four days up to February 12. It was noted at Northampton on February 20 in the company of Nos. 37424 and 68012 as the 0A68/06.42 Gresty Bridge-Wembley light engine move. From Willesden Brent, No. 88007 ran light to Dagenham Dock to take up work on the car traffic between there and Merseyside, powering the 6X41/04.00 Dagenham Dock-Garston on February 22.
Meanwhile, No. 88002 Prometheus accompanied No. 68002 on the 6V73/04.33 Crewe CLS-Berkeley flask train on February 16, while Nos. 88006+88009 passed through Hexham on the morning of February 23 running light from Carlisle Kingmoor to York Holgate – No. 88006 being destined for Doncaster Roberts Road depot.
CLASS 90
DESPITE not yet having powered a Freightliner train, No. 90005 was sent out on two return training runs between Basford Hall and Trafford Park on February 1. Late the following night, however, its ‘liner debut came about with the 4M98/23.09 Basford HallGarston FLT, returning to Crewe next morning a top the 4 O14/05.04Gars ton Southampton Maritime( with No .70015 forward from Basford Hall).
On February 9, No. 90005 was dispatched from Crewe to Shap to assist a Class 70 that was struggling to take power with the Hardendale to Tunstead aggregate hoppers. The unlikely pairing of Nos. 90005+70008 passed Warrington Bank Quay shortly after 17.00 with the 4H51/15.12 ShapBasford Hall (see photo on page 26).
No. 90005 reached Ipswich for the first time in nine months or so when it arrived on the morning of February 22 with the 4L91/09.03 WembleyFelixstowe.
A pair of Class 90s were noted at Hebden Bridge on the morning of February 15 when No. 66951 hauled Nos. 90009+90014 as the 0Z55/09.50 Gresty Bridge-Doncaster Roberts
Road, the AC electrics being taken for tyre turning. The two Class 90s were returned to Crewe on February 22 behind No. 66513.
Also returning to Crewe (this time on February 25) was Locomotive Services’ No. 90002, which passed Watford Junction as the 0Z89/09.49 Euston-Crewe HS run having gone south earlier that day.
CLASS 91
ON February 2, the last Class 91 and Mk.4 coaching set in London (locomotive No. 91109, DVT
No. 82223 and set BN26) was hauled past Stevenage at 10.48 by No. 67001 forming the 5Z60/10.10 Ferme ParkDoncaster.
One of the sets stored at Neville Hill left behind No. 91107 on February 12 running as the 5Z12/11.00 Neville Hill-Doncaster Belmont. Unfortunately, prior to reaching Leeds station, 5Z12 failed and was rescued by No. 67006 Royal Sovereign.
Apart from the two Class 91s on DATS work (Nos. 91122 and 91128) and the two ‘Europhoenix’ examples at Leicester (Nos. 91117 and 91120), the remaining examples of the LNER Class 91 fleet are now residing in Yorkshire at the end of February:
Nos. 91105/6, 91119, 91124 and 91127 at Neville Hill and the other 22 at Doncaster.