Shunter News
Alstom
Fresh from repairs, 08954 ended its near eight-month stay at Eastleigh Works on February 16, the low-loader making the long journey north to Polmadie, where the shunter was last based in 2020. Two days later, the lorry was back on the south coast with 08451 on board for attention by Arlington Fleet Services.
Meanwhile, at Longsight, 08790 has become the latest recipient of the Longsight TMD nameplates, these transferring between the Alstom fleet depending on which locomotive is resident at the Manchester depot.
HNRC
A busy start to March saw 08924 returned to Cardiff Tidal on the 2nd after repairs at Barrow Hill. The low-loader then headed to Long Marston collect 08701, where it had resided since January 2016 following purchase from DB. Having not worked since 2009, this was taken to the Battlefield Line, arriving on March 4. Finally, 08799 was collected and taken to Barrow Hill, this having seen extensive contract repairs to return it to active status. Later in the month, it was the turn of 08630 to leave Cardiff Tidal, arriving at the slightly unusual location of Burton Wetmore on March 17, presumably due to HNRC’S own workshops being full.
Meteor Power
The stay of 08649, and indeed 37207, at the Very Light Rail test facility at Dudley was unexpectedly cut short during February, with both locomotives moving to Wolverton Works mid-month. Both arrived at the under-construction depot in September last year, and this was expected to be a base for their conversion into hybrid locomotives once finished.
Railway Support Services
Sadly, the sight of a Class 08 in full Europhoenix regalia will remain computer renders only following the sale of 08629 to RSS. Only acquired last June, the former Wolverton pilot was tripped from Leicester depot to the road loading point at Knighton Junction on February 21 and immediately transferred to the EMD depot at Longport to take up pilot duties. This in turn has allowed the hire of privately-owned 08784 to come to an end, and it was returned to Ruddington on February 22.
The other Class 08 currently on hire to RSS as part of this agreement, 08922, was back at Wishaw by March 10, having been displaced from the Asfordby test centre by the arrival of an industrial.
Preservation
The Bodmin & Wenford Railway has hired 08359 from The Diesel Electric Shunter Company for a few months while resident 08444 is stopped for an overhaul. The BR blue machine duly departed from the Avon Valley Railway on March 10, arriving at Bodmin the following day.
Meanwhile, 08377 was released from cab refurbishment and engine attention at Ropley on March 17, departing for the South Devon Railway three days later for tyre turning before returning to the Mid-hants.