Shunter News
Freightliner
Out of traffic since September last year, 08624 can once again be found working at Felixstowe following the completion of an exam at LH Group Services and road movement to East Anglia. In turn, 08531 has been stopped for attention and dispatched to the Midlands.
Hunslet Engine Company
After an absence of some nine months, 08401 was noted back at work at Hams Hall in early February following repairs at LH Group Services. As a result, 08669 has returned to the Barton-underNeedwood workshops of the latter to await its next duty.
Railway Support Services
A flurry of shunter transfers occurred in late February and early March, beginning with the expected removal of 08922 from Longport around February 25, it being taken to the Chasewater Railway to wait for its next deployment with RSS. Next to move was 08752, it arriving at the Crewe Heritage Centre from Wishaw on the 25th so that it could use the preservation site for unloading the following day. With this completed, 57307 was provided to haul the shunter, minus its coupling rods, to the Arriva Traincare depot, where it is now on hire.
A busy start to March saw 08480 extracted from Wolverton Works and taken to the unlikely location of Killingholme, just to the north of Immingham Docks, where spoil trains have previously run to in order to make car parks for imported German vehicles. With the Class 91s and Mk 4s having left Bounds Green, only one shunter is now required, this prompting the transfer of 08441 to Norwich around March 3, which in turn allowed 08683 to leave Crown Point for Eastleigh Yard. With 08511 ousted, it headed north to Wishaw for maintenance on March 5. Also on the move in this period was 08846, departing Neville Hill to Whitemoor Yard to assist a poorly 08730.