DEVELOPMENTS
■ DB CARGO:
While not on site at Stoke as long as Nos. 966041 and 966210 (see lead story), five-unit WIA car carrier No. 85 70 4971 036-4 finally left the former Marcroft Engineering facility on January 7, having arrived way back in May 2020. The 66-metrelong wagon had been clogging up the busy site awaiting parts. Meanwhile, FKA ‘Megafret’ No. 81 70 4908 009-3 has now been recoded FOA following container spigot modification.
■ DIRECT RAIL SERVICES:
With DRS divesting itself of its Class 37 fleet, opportunities to record the popular locomotives on snowplough duties are becoming ever fewer. Enthusiasts in East Anglia had a treat on December 23, when Nos. 37069 and 37425 worked a 7Z98 11.51 Norwich to Norwich via Lowestoft test working with ZZA independent ‘ploughs Nos. ADB 965208 and ADB 965219. Concrete Bob was at it again on January 20, when No. 37425 was partnered with No. 37218 on a 7Z98 11.53 Tonbridge to Tonbridge via Ashford International with Nos. ADB 965211 and ADB 965237. Less rateable traction was provided for a 7Z98 11.04 Taunton Fairwater
Yard circular via Weston-super-Mare shakedown run on December 18, which was formed of Nos. 66421 and 66426 along with ZZAs
Nos. ADB 965223 and ADB 965235 (see February issue, p22).
Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works has been refurbishing two-axle PFA flats. Nos. DRSL 92721/30/3/68 were completed in December and were returned north on the 14th behind No. 68005 running as a 6Z15 09.12 to Crewe Coal Sidings.
■ FREIGHTLINER:
Having arrived in the UK in October, moving to Wembley on the 29th of the same month, new FFA-G container flats Nos. 81 70 4846 006/008/016/019/022/023/025/ 026/033/041/044/051/103/106/ 108/117/118/122/123/126129/131/134/135/137/146/ 148/153/154/156/199/204/ 219/222 finally moved north on January 15 ready to start work.
No. 66598 collected the 36 vehicles, working them down the WCML as a 4Z87 12.48 to Crewe Basford Hall.
■ GB RAILFREIGHT:
There has been a correction to the numbers carried on the Bayer ‘Smart Weed System’ train KFAs. As reported in our August issue, both Nos. VTG 95378 and VTG 95379 also carried the same 12-digit UIC number 99 70 9395 003-5. This has now been amended so No. VTG 95379 now wears No. 99 70 9395 001-9.
No. 95378 is unchanged, as is
No. 95380 (99 70 9395 002-7).
■ NETWORK RAIL:
The second batch of MLAs for the Wascosa/GBRf/ NR deal is now in the UK. Twenty vehicles, Nos. 81 70 5932 231-250, formed the load for No. 66765, which worked a 6Z66 Dollands Moor-Eastleigh on January 11. Meanwhile, the first examples of the JNA/Ealnos fleet have commenced work. On January 14, Nos. 81 70 5932 164-173/181-184/186 were recorded behind No. 70810 on a 6C89 09.18 Mountsorrel-Carlisle Yard loaded ballast job.
The number series for the much anticipated FEA-W module wagons (UIC code Sgns) for the same contract has been released. The fleet, which will comprise ‘Mullet’, ‘Salmon’ and ‘Tench’ variants, will be numbered 81 70 4524 001-4 to 81 70 4524 260-6.
■ TOUAX RAIL:
WH Davis at
Langwith Junction has been steadily working its way through the remainder of the Touax IIA coal hoppers, optimising them (cutting them down) as purpose-built HYA aggregate wagons. On January 25, No. 66782 left the Nottinghamshire workshop with a 4D21 11.37 service to Doncaster Down Decoy comprised of Nos. 37 70 6791 014/016/026/032/043/047/063, along with four more JNA ‘Megaboxes’, Nos. 81 70 5932 120/126/127/128. This leaves just 16 IIAs from the original 94-strong Fastline Freight fleet still in original condition, with all but six at WHD at various stages of length reduction and repainting.
Since the last update from April 2021, the following other HYA/IIA arrivals and departures have been recorded from WHD:
Arrivals
April 20: 37 70 6791 017/022/023/ 029/049/062/084/087/091
Sept 1: 37 70 6791 012/016/026/ 032/041/043/044/054/060/069 Nov 3: 37 70 6791 000/014/038/047/ 048/051/063/068
Departures
Sept 7: 37 70 6791 017/022/023/ 029/049/057/062/084/087/091 Oct 19: 37 70 6791 002/008/019/ 027/045/046/056/058/066/067/ 069/085/086/088/090
■ VTG RAIL:
As well as the Touax fleet, WH Davis continues to chop down former coal wagons belonging to other owners. On August 10, it was the turn of former Freightliner HHAs Nos. 370251/3/7/62/94/359/67/ 72/80/92 to depart for a new life as VTG-branded aggregate hoppers, the 10 vehicles forming the 6D55 to Gascoigne Wood behind No. 66599. Moving in the opposite direction for conversion were HYAs Nos. 371079 (September 7) and 371074/5/80 (October 19).