Wagon News
Winfrith return
Nuclear traffic returned to Winfrith, Dorset, for the first time in a decade on March 24 with the resumption of low-level waste traffic. Due to run roughly every three months, more than 1000 drums of waste are to be transported to the Drigg repository during the next two years. The southbound 6Z62 01.03 Crewe-winfrith working was top-and-tailed by 68016 and 68017, being routed via the West Coast, Staines, and Eastleigh. This was formed of 10 two-axle PFA container flats, DRSL92712/21/23/3 0/33/66/79/81/98 and DRSL92801, which were loaded with low-height sheeted containers ahead of the 6Z95 15.40 Winfrith-crewe return.
Wascosa deliveries
Network Rail’s new fleet of infrastructure wagons owned by Wascosa continue to arrive in the UK. On March 22, 66720 worked from Dollands Moor to Eastleigh Yard with the latest rake of MLA ballast boxes, this featuring 81 70 5932 251 to 280. On April 9, 66721 made the same trip with a batch of FEA flats, featuring 81 70 4524 051/52/63/75/76 and 104-07/09/11/13-16/19-21/23/24. The 6Z66 03.50 Dollands Moor-eastleigh ran again on April 15 with 66729 having more FEAS in tow, namely 81 70 4524 035/48/71/78/79 and 103/08/22/25/26/30-35/37-40.
JGAS for Tarmac
With the first batch of new Tarmac JGA cement wagons having arrived at the end of December last year, a rather belated second delivery took place on April 12. GB Railfreight’s 66758 was entrusted with the first leg from Dollands Moor to Wembley, it having 81 70 7829 042-053 in tow. These continued on to Crewe Basford Hall the same afternoon in the care of Freightliner’s 66594.
Shirebrook latest
The latest working of hoppers to WH Davis at Shirebrook for conversion took place on March 22, 66766 arriving from Doncaster with HYA 371073/078 and IIA 83 70 6955 313/19/26/28/34/35/39/48/52 and 37 70 6791 031/50. Medite-liveried 66709 was at Shirebrook on April 13 to collect a mixed rake of wagons and take them to Doncaster. This included shortened HYA 37 70 6791 033/42, newly-built JNA box wagons 81 70 5932 118/30/34 and more FWA Ecofrets for GBRF, the five triple-sets featuring outers 83 70 4520 330-339 and inners 83 70 4521 101-105.
Imerys surplus
Four of the Imerys JIA covered hoppers have been placed in store at Long Marston following a decline in the china clay traffic between Cornwall and the Potteries. April 5 saw 66168 arrive from Bescot with firstbuilt 33 70 0894 000-5, along with 006-2, 011-2, and 020-3.
Latest disposals
The ranks of two-axle ballast opens continue to be decimated as the Wascosa MLA replace them. Dispatched to EMR’S Attercliffe yard in March and April were MFA 391027/101/257/353/483/ 487/509, along with MHA 394017/20/ 24/25/68/69/80/83/84-87/89/92, 394106/20/92, 394209/14/17/29/ 38/49/56/63/89, 394380/ 81/89/93, 394567/86, 394665/ 67/69/85/96, 394706/40/86, 394801/10/59/72/ 77/90, 394905/08/20/43/87/96, 396024/57/67/78/ 81/82/85/ 95/97 and 396103/26/35/56.