NEWS ROUND-UP
COLAS RAIL
WITH its current fleet of Type 3s stretched to the limit, Colas has trialled Class 70s on a Network Rail formation, Nos. 70810 and 70812 bookending a 5Z70 Eastleigh Works-Waterloo and back ultrasonic test train. No. 70812 led the up service, which was some 90 minutes late by the time it reached London, although otherwise, indications are that the duo – with 7,400hp on tap to move five Mk.1 and Mk.2 coaches – performed well.
DB CARGO
TWO reinstatements to note during the period under review, with No. 67007 moving from WQAA to the WABC pool (RETB Class 67s) and No. 90020 rejoining WEDC (DB Class 90s) after being sidelined since February in the WFMS fleet management pool. Nos. 90026, 90034, 90036, 90039 all transferred in the opposite direction in March but were reinstated before the month ended.
DIRECT RAIL SERVICES
ONE of five Class 66s on long-term hire from DB Cargo, No. 66122, has been reported in DRS blue following a repaint at Toton, the third to be so treated.
FREIGHTLINER
AS THE end of March approached, No. 90015 was observed outside the shed at Crewe Basford Hall, repainted into the company’s G&W inspired colours, the third ‘90’ to go orange and black. Oddly it retains its Anglia-themed and redpainted Colchester Castle nameplates.
GB RAILFREIGHT
LOCO No. 92044 was released from Brush, Loughborough, on March 2 – the ‘92’ having been at the Wabtec-owned workshops for 14 months undergoing a major overhaul, which included reliability modifications, new wheelsets and the removal of its cast Channel Tunnel ‘polo’ branding. It was collected by recently reliveried No. 60002, which has been given Graham Farish 50th Anniversary 1970-2020 nameplates, the pair working to Crewe under a 0Z61 headcode. Still wearing its original Railfreight grey scheme, it was given GB Railfreight cabside branding at the EMD before working a series of test runs along the West Coast Main Line on March 4. It is now scheduled for a visit to Fréthun before returning to work.
Also back from works attention is No. 47749, which has been repaired at Arlington Fleet Services, Eastleigh. It departed the Hampshire facility on March 16, working 0F94 back to its usual home at Leicester depot.
NETWORK RAIL
THE two former LNER Class 43s, Nos. 43290 and 43299 – selected as cover for NR’s existing NMT power cars while they undergo overhauls and ERTMS fitment – both saw action in March. The pair worked a back-to-back test run on the 5th, an 0Z43 out and back jolly from the Derby RTC via the Midlands. This was followed two days later on the 7th when No. 43299 was let loose on the NMT with No. 43062 for a 1Q28 Derby RTC-Heaton. The pair were still together at the end of the month on the usual tour of the network. This has enabled No. 43013 to be released, and this worked to Neville Hill on the same day (March 7).
UKRL
FOLLOWING the return of No. 56312 in February (see last issue), the Class 56 Loco Group’s No. 56301 – on hire to UKRL – has also been reactivated having not turned a wheel under its own power since the middle of 2019. It returned to the main line on March 19, working a 6Z56 Chaddesden (Derby)-York Holgate with No. 60055 and a long string of JNA boxes. Sadly the ‘Grid’ developed problems part way through the trip and was stopped at Aldwarke Junction (near Rotherham), where No. 60055 took over to drag the poorly BREL Type 5 back to Chaddesden.
WCRC
STORED WNTA at the end of 2004 from the WKSN EWS sandite Class 37 pool, scrapping of Loadhaul-liveried No. 37710 at Carnforth has begun. Always intended to be a spares donor, it moved from Toton to West Coast Railway’s base of operations in 2008 and has spent the last 12 years donating key components. Disposal was partially completed by month’s end, with all underframe gear removed and several sections of the grounded body missing.