Units News

Great Northern cleared of Class 365s

Commencing in late July, the remaining Class 365s still stored on Great Northern metals were rounded up and taken to Doncaster Belmont for further storage.

On July 28, 37800 removed 365520 and 365522 from the Nene Carriage Sidings at Peterborough and was back the next day to collect 365506 and 365536. On the 31st, it was the turn of 37884 to work the 5A23 14:07 Peterborough Nene Cs-doncaster Belmont with 365508 and 365518. On August 3, 37884 pitched up at Hornsey to retrieve the last set on the Great

Northern, 365510, and head for South Yorkshire.

The transfers to Doncaster were not done though, as 37800 hauled 365539 from Crewe South Yard to Belmont on August 4, gauge clearance meaning the working had to travel via London. 57310 was then provided to clear the four sets from Ely Papworth, it taking 365512 and 365528 to Doncaster on August 10 and 365530/538 the next day.

The only set not at Crewe or Doncaster now is 365525, an attempt by 37884 to remove it from Longsight on August 4 being curtailed by an air leak.

Great Western ‘387’ expansion

GWR now has six Gatwick Express Class 387/2s available for use in addition to 387301/02/06 from c2c, these all helping to cover for the service disruption caused by the cracks on the IETS.

With 387204-06 having arrived at West Ealing sidings behind 57306 on July 13, the locomotive repeated the move from Hornsey seven days later with 387201-03. By early August, the units were seeing service intermingled with GWR’S own fleet.

To provide replacements on Great Northern trains, 387207-209 were transferred to Hornsey during July and were similarly soon in traffic and carrying Great Northern logos.

Final ‘Plastic Pigs’ leave Bournemouth

The last Class 442 Wessex Electric sets were cleared from Bournemouth depot in late July, with the combination of 66722, 73107, 73128 and brake force set 442420 delivering 442422 to

Wolverton for stripping on July 27, followed by 442418 the next day. The evening of July 28 brought the last departure, 442415 being hauled away as the 5Q81 22:00 Bournemouth-wolverton, this including an overnight stop in Eastleigh Yard. Meanwhile, disposals from Wolverton by road to Sims at Newport Docks included 442402 and 442406 during June, with 442403 following w/c 5/7, 442411 the next week and then 442404 from 19/7.

James Stearn On July 29, 66722 Sir Edward Watkin had the dubious honour of hauling 442420 and 442415 on their final journey from Bournemouth Depot to Wolverton Works for stripping, with 73107 Tracy and 73128 O.V.S. Bullied CBE acting as translator vehicles. The units were the final ones to depart from Bournemouth when they started their journey the previous night, 442420 having made several trips back and forth over recent weeks, acting as a brake force runner for the AC traction converted units. The formation is seen at Old Linslade on the West Coast Main Line.

David Hunt 150234 is coupled to 150233 at Dawlish while working 2F22, the 13:55 Paignton to Exmouth service on August 4, 2021. Of note is the addition of a window in the gangway door of 150233, which has been inserted to assist with the training of more staff at the same time. The window is only on one end of the unit, and 150265 has been similarly treated.