Operations Track Record
Your reports and pictures are most welcome. Highly competitive rates are paid, especially if exclusive to The RM.
FROM about 11.00 on Saturday May 8 the West Coast Main
Line was closed, with further works being undertaken in the Thankerton-Symington area, at Beattock Summit and at Law Junction. The trains involved at Beattock Summit included 6X08/10.45 from Carlisle New Yard, top-and-tailed by Class 66 Nos. 66550+66952; 6K35/09.35 from Millerhill worked by
No. 66302; and the 6U12/11.44 from Abington worked by
No. DR73114.
In the Thankerton area trains included the 6K01/11.40 from Millerhill, top-and-tailed by Nos. 66093 and 66099; the 6K03/10.15 from Carlisle New Yard top-and-tailed by
Nos. 66760 and 66771; the 6U17/15.53 from Carstairs operated with No. DR73111 and the 6J98/16.08 from Carstairs operated by No. DR77001.
In the Law Junction area trains included the 6K10/22.13 from Millerhill, top-and-tailed by Nos. 66025 and 66127; the 6K11/22.43 from Millerhill operated by No. 66706; the 6K12/23.13 from Millerhill operated by No. 66429, and the 6K15/00.43 (Sunday) from Millerhill top-and-tailed by
Nos. 66783 and 66786. FOLLOWING the problems associated with its Azuma fleet, LNER was reported to have had 31 Class 80x sets available to cover 48 diagrams on May 11. Three days later it confirmed that it had 46 of its 65 Azuma sets available for use. On Tuesday, May 11, LNER returned to traffic a number of its IC225 train sets, which had been placed in store pending the end of remodelling work at London King’s Cross in June. A visit to King’s Cross station on the afternoon of Friday, May 14, found No. 91106 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at the buffer stops on platform 5 having brought in the 1A30/12.45 from Leeds. The same set, but with driving trailer No. 82213 leading then formed the 1D20/15.33 to Leeds. The 1A31/13.15 from Leeds was then seen arriving at platform 6 led by driving trailer No. 82223 with No. 91106 at the rear. No. 91110, which is in special ‘Lest We Forget’ livery, was then at the head of the 1D22/16.33 to Bradford Forster Square, which was apparently taken out of service at Grantham “due to an issue with the train crew”.
THE introduction of the new timetable on Sunday, May 16, was overshadowed by the discovery of cracks around the jacking points on the aluminium bodyshells of Hitachi Inter-city trainsets of Classes 800, 801 and 802, resulting in safety checks being carried out on all 182 trains. Over the weekend of May 8/9 a significant number of train services were cancelled and on the morning of Sunday, May 9, it was reported 75 sets had failed inspections at GWR. On the evening of Monday, May 10, GWR was able to extend its Class 387-worked London Paddington to Didcot shuttle service as far as Swindon. Other support included Cross Country’s introduction of a shuttle service between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads. From Monday, May 24, some Class 387 services worked through to Bristol Parkway. To help boost the GWR Class 387 fleet during the Hitachi issues, three c2C units Nos. 387301/02/06 have been temporarily hired to GWR. They were hauled to Reading Traincare Depot on May 12 by Class 57 No. 57306. On Tuesday, May 25, No. 387302 was seen at Reading West working the 2K33/11.06 from Newbury to Reading, while No. 387306 was on the 12.09 from Newbury to Reading. The third unit No. 387301 could be seen in the siding by Reading Traincare Depot.
CLASS 769 No. 769932 was moved from Brush Loughborough to Nemesis Rail, Burton, by Class 37 No. 37800 on May 17, followed by No. 769939 on the same move behind Class 57 No. 57305 on May 21. The Class 57 was in use again on
June 14 moving No. 769922 from Loughborough to Nemesis. On June 16, No. 769943 was on a test run from Reading to Gatwick and return.
CLASS 317 units are gradually coming out of service, and either being stored or sent for scrap. On May 13 Class 57 No. 57310 moved No. 317662 from Ely to Raxstar at Eastleigh Works. This was followed on June 21 when the Class 57 took No. 317722 to Ely. On June 9 Class 37 No. 37800 moved Nos. 317714+317723 from Ilford to Ely. Two days later Nos. 317732+317729 were also moved to Ely, this time by No. 57305.
CLASS 321 units are also being taken out of traffic and put to store, mostly at Gascoigne Wood. On May 13 Class 57 No. 57305 took Nos. 321439+321443 from Clacton to Gascoigne Wood followed on May 20 by the same loco taking Nos. 321408+321444 on the same diagram. The following week, May 27,
No. 57305 took Nos. 321431+ 321445 on the same route, followed by Nos. 321402+321405 on June 2. A change on June 10 had Class 37 No. 37800 move
Nos. 321428+321432 from Clacton to Worksop.
NUMEROUS moves of Class 720 units have been reported including No. 720554 top-and-tailed from Derby to Wembley by Nos. 66770+56081 on May 19. Returning from Worksop to Derby on May 24 was No. 720555 top-and-tailed by Nos. 47749+ 47739. A double move on May 27 saw Nos. 66781+56081 take
No. 720571 from Derby to Worksop, returning with
No. 720570. A similar diagram on June 2 had Nos. 47749+47739 move No. 720567 to Worksop and return with No. 720565 but to Leicester where 47739 was declared a failure. It was replaced the next day by No. 56081 and the unit returned to Derby. The pairing of Nos. 47727+56081 on June 10 took No. 720533 to Worksop, returning with
No. 720532. A further move employing Nos. 47749+56081 on June 15 took No. 720546 to Worksop and bringing
No. 720512 back to Derby.
OBSERVATIONS of the Class 317 units moving in and out of Harwich Parkeston Quay yard prior to moving to Ely for storage or Eastleigh Works (see above) included the following: visible on the afternoon of May 20, now alone, was Class 317/3 No. 317344, its previous compatriots Nos. 317723 and 317714 having vacated their positions after a stay of some six weeks. Two movements from Ilford EMD to Harwich Parkeston Quay yard on June 1 saw four Class 317/7 units arrive for ‘warm storage’ – namely Nos. 317708 with 317729 and 317710 with 317732. Between June 6-8 the three Class 317s on the re-commissioned line between Harwich International and Dovercourt – namely Nos. 317338, 317883 and 317340 along with No. 317344, had been removed. On June 9,
Nos. 317710+317732 that had been in ‘warm storage’ for just a week departed Harwich Parkeston Quay for Ilford EMUD.
AN AVENTRA Class 720 test run into Harwich Town, with unit No. 720566, was noted at Harwich International on May 21, with station-stopping and door-opening tests taking place en route. June 1 saw the launch of new traction on the Harwich Town-Manningtree branch service, but not as expected in the form of Class 720 Aventra units but with a Stadler Class 755 No. 755405.
A TRIP from Liverpool Street to Hackney Downs on Bank Holiday Monday May 31 was made on the 2O34/13.42 to Hertford
East, which was formed of Class 317 Nos. 317886+317885. At Hackney Downs Nos. 317348 and 317882 were seen forming the 13.39 from Hertford East to London Liverpool Street.
OBSERVED at Platform 3 at Harwich International on June 6 were Class 720s Nos. 720553 and 720536 in what is believed to be the first use of this Class on the 20.30 ‘Boat train’ service to London Liverpool Street.
DURING the week commencing June 7, Renatus-upgraded Class 321s made a return on the Harwich Town-Manningtree branch service, with No. 321309 noted on June 8, and No. 321304 on June 10.
CLASS 43 No. 43012 and Mk3 No. 42029 involved in the Dalwhinnie derailment have been moved on May 13, by road, from Haymarket to Assenta Rail Hamilton for accident damage repairs.
FOLLOWING overhaul at Crewe LNWR Class 170 No. 170430 returned north to Haymarket on May 28, with No. 170452 going south the following day.
THE ScotRail Class 153s commenced crew training on
June 7 with Nos. 153373+153380 working from Eastfield HS-Anniesland-Glasgow Queen Street-Anniesland. On June 13 No. 153380+156458 worked a test train from Eastfield to Oban via Glasgow Queen Street then returning to Glasgow Queen Street and Eastfield HS.
THE final rake of four long-stored HST coaches left Dundee behind Class 37608 on June 16, destined for scrapping at C.F. Booth, Rotherham.
THE 12.13/1M42 Reading-Manchester Piccadilly on June 1 formed of Voyagers Nos. 220003+221130, departed Leamington Spa four minutes late via the line to Solihull rather than its intended route of Coventry and Birmingham International, to reach Birmingham New
Street. This was followed by the 11.45/1M46 Bournemouth-Manchester Piccadilly service, formed by Nos. 220012+220031 which arrived a minute early at Leamington Spa but was then held. The driver reported that there had been a points failure at Coventry which had been fixed, but had failed again. No sooner had he said that than three track engineers appeared and started working on a point at Leamington Spa North Junction, which is only 360 metres from the station’s datum point, but considerably closer to the driver’s cab. Having completed their work, the engineers left the track and 1M46 departed 14 minutes late and like 1M42 was routed via Solihull.
A VISIT to the Settle & Carlisle line on Bank Holiday Monday May 4 found Class 158 No. 158906 with no more than 25 passengers work the 07.45 Leeds-Carlisle heading north, one south-bound service was passed while no freight was seen. Returning to Leeds on the 14.50 service, consisted of Class 158 Nos. 158869+158867, with 70 passengers. It ran to time until Kildwick level crossing, where all signals were red, due to an electrical fault in a sub-station. After a short stop, the train was hand signalled to Keighley. Arrival at Bingley was eight late.
CLASS 155 No. 155342 was a change to the usual Class 158 on the 09.16 Knottingley-Leeds service through Woodlesford on May 27. A further observation on June 1 produced two Class 150/2 units passing at Woodlesford, bringing back memories of the old days with No. 150228 on the 14.38 Leeds-Sheffield and
No. 150203 on 14.16 Knottingley-Leeds services.
NORTHERN Class 153s have been moved from Heaton to Ely for storage with Nos. 153317+153304+ 153315+153378 moving on June 7, followed by Nos. 153301+53351+ 153352 the next day.
WHILST other long-distance operators out of King’s Cross have been struggling, Grand Central has continued much as normal. On Friday 14, May 14, the 1N94/16.25 to Sunderland, was seen leaving platform 3 at King’s Cross formed of Class 180 No. 180103.
THE use of Class 143 Pacers came to a close at the end of May.
Little time was wasted in moving the remaining units to Landore prior to disposal. A number are destined for preservation whilst others were quickly moved by road to Sims Metals, Newport for scrapping, commencing on June 4.
CLASS 730 No. 730002 was returned to Derby from Crewe by Class 37 No. 37608 on May 24.
OBSERVED leaving Northampton for Long Marston on May 28 was No. 350119 hauled by Class 57 No. 57310.
CLASS 323 No. 323221 was hauled from Soho to Doncaster Wabtec by Class 57 No. 57305 on June 4 for overhaul.
AS PREDICTED, Chiltern’s service to West Ealing has not reappeared with the new timetable. In consequence the line between Greenford LUL Bay Junction (South Junction) and Northolt Junction has closed. Apparently, the last Chiltern service to carry passengers on this line ran on March 23, 2020, immediately prior to the first lockdown.
MAKING an unusual appearance on EMR Intercity services on May 6 was EMR purple-liveried Class 170 Turbostar No. 170531, which worked the 1P99/16.27 Derby-Kettering via Oakham and 1F57/18.10 Kettering-Sheffield via Market Harborough. THE use of Class 43 HSTs on the Midland Main Line out of St Pancras came to a close on May 15, after 39 years service on the route. Power cars in operation during the last week were Nos. 43102, 43251, 43257, 43272, 43274 and 43309. The final day saw Nos. 43272+43309 and 43102+43274 operate a Neville Hill-Leeds-London St Pancras-Cricklewood-London St Pancras-Leeds-Neville Hill diagram each; the final passenger service being the 1F70/20.02 London St Pancras-Leeds with Nos. 43102+43274 having the honour. A commemorative Last HST from London headboard was carried by this train, as not only was it the last HST operated by EMR, but also the last timetabled passenger HST service from any London terminal.
FOLLOWING the end of the use of the HST sets, EMR wasted no time in sending the sets away from Neville Hill with power cars Nos. 43309+43295 moving Nos. 44061+40750+42146+ 42238 to Ely on May 17. Two days later Nos. 43102+ 43272 moved Nos. 41095+ 40701+42110+42109+40702+ 41165+40701+41095 to Nemesis Rail, Burton. The following day, May 20, Class 66 No. 66781 moved Nos. 44075+42237+ 42326+42159+44057 to Newport for scrapping by Sims Metals.
OBSERVATIONS of Class 360 units working between Corby and St Pancras during the evening of May 20 produced Nos. 360108 + 360106 18.40 Corby-St Pancras; 360120+360115 19.15 St Pancras-Corby; 360102+360112 19.11 Corby-St Pancras; 360101+360110 20.15 St Pancras-Corby; 360117+360111 19.40 Corby-St Pancras; and 360113+360119 20.11 Corby-St Pancras.
NORMALLY on Saturdays and Sundays c2c services into London routinely run into Liverpool Street station. On Sunday, May 30, with platforms 5 to 12 at Liverpool Street out of use, some c2c services ran from Stratford to Fenchurch Street station. Running into London these trains, having called at platform 8 at Barking, took the line towards Woodgrange Park from Barking station Junction crossing over the District Line on the flyover. They then took the curve from
Woodgrange Park Junction to Forest Gate Junction to join the Great Eastern slow lines now normally used by TfL Rail.
At Stratford, the stop was at platform 5 from where, continuing towards London, the c2c train left the Great Eastern at Bow Junction, which is close to the entrance to the new Crossrail tunnel entrance, before running on the single line to
Gas Factory Junction, where the line into Fenchurch Street was regained for the final run through Limehouse.
In the reverse direction the c2c trains called at platform 8 at Stratford and platform 7 at Barking.
PASSENGERS in the rear coach of the 20.12 Great Northern service from London King’s Cross on May 22 found the train stopped short of the platform at Welwyn Garden City, a scheduled stop. The doors did not open, no announcement was given, and
the train then departed nonstop to Cambridge.
Around 10 passengers had to make their own arrangements to take taxis back to Welwyn Garden City – about an hour’s drive. Overall, a journey that should have lasted 30 minutes took over three hours!
THREE more Class 387 units Nos. 387204-06 moved from Brighton to Hornsey on May 24, for use by Great Northern following the cessation of the Class 365 units.
CLASS 707 No. 707003, in distinctive SWR red livery, was noted from a passing train on Tuesday, May 4, at Slade Green Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot.
MAY 28 was not a good day for Southern, with delays, cancellations, diversions and even a line closure. Class 313 No. 313210 found itself trapped in the sidings at Littlehampton with no power, causing the cancellation of the 05.29 service to Bognor Regis and trapped the 06.47 stock Nos. 377455+377437+377420, for London Victoria, for most of the day. The 06.47 service was stepped up with Nos. 377408+377134+377135 and likewise the 07.12 was also stepped up with Nos. 377441+377141+377159.
This left a shortage of stock for the 07.42 which was borrowed from Bognor Regis with units 377149+377403. Worse was to come when the 06.12 Portsmouth Harbour to Littlehampton failed at Emsworth with an air leak on unit No. 313214, resulting in the 07.26 to Bognor Regis being cancelled and the line being closed for a few hours, between Chichester and Havant, while fitters attended to the unit, with buses replacing the trains until the removal of No. 313214. Services were diverted to Littlehampton and Bognor Regis as a result. No. 313201 was provided as the assisting unit at around 09.50 and when on the move to Brighton Depot was diverted via Littlehampton for turn round purposes with the line reopened around 10.00. Even by 13.30 services were still disrupted with train crew being displaced. Meanwhile, back at Littlehampton, No. 313210 was declared a failure and the 12.55 service to Portsmouth was Class 377 No. 377155 with Nos. 377433 and 377146 used as alternatives on the Littlehampton-Bognor Regis shuttles, as no other Class 313s were in the area.
OBSERVATIONS of the Class
701 units found Nos. 701006 and 701023 both noted from a passing train on Tuesday, May 4, at Wimbledon EMU Depot. On Monday, May 10, No. 701028 was seen standing at platform 13 at Waterloo forming the 5Q51/11.24 from London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop.
DELIVERIES of new Class 701 units saw No. 701022 brought south from Derby to Eastleigh by Class 47 No. 47749 on May 12. This was followed on May 18 when the Class 47 delivered
No. 701029 from Old Dalby to Eastleigh. Two days later it brought No. 701022 from Derby to Eastleigh. A change on May 27 found Class 47 No. 47739 move No. 701005 from Derby to Eastleigh. Returning to Derby, the Class 47 moved No. 701032 south to Eastleigh the next day.
THE new Class 701 units are being sent to Widnes for modifications prior to entering traffic. On May 13, No. 701007 was moved north by Class 47 No. 47749. No. 701005 which arrived at Widnes in April was returned south by Class 47
No. 47739 on May 26 which had arrived with No. 701008.
NO LONGER required by SWR, the Class 442 units are now passing through Wolverton Works where they will be stripped of any reusable components before being sent at a rate of one set per week by road to Sims Metals, Newport. On May 26, Nos. 2419+ 2410 were top-and-tailed from Bournemouth to Wolverton by Class 73 Nos. 73212+73213. These were followed two days later when Nos. 2402+2420 were moved by Class 66 No. 66759 top-and-tailed with Class 73
Nos. 73212+73213. The next reported move was on June 14 when Nos. 2403+2409 were moved by Nos. 66703+73119 and 73201. The first reported moves to Newport commenced during the week commencing June 7 when vehicles from 2416 were reported on the road.
Charter Trains
THE steam hauled rail tours got underway in May. Observed during the morning of May 18 was Bulleid Pacific No. 35018 British India Line steaming up Ripley Bank (1 in 98) with 1Z52, the WCR’s Lancaster to Carlisle (via Blackburn) Pendle Dalesman special. The same Bulleid Pacific was in action again on May 22, noted leaving Carlisle on The Cumbrian Mountain Express to Preston. Following its departure south from Carlisle, A1 No. 60163 Tornado arrived on The Pennine Explorer from Leicester which had started the day hauled by Class 47 Nos. 47813+47832, the former on its first outing with West Coast Railway.
WEST Coast Pullman liveried
Class 57s Nos. 57313 Scarborough Castle and No. 57601 Windsor Castle top-and-tailed a rake of Northern Belle-liveried coaches on the ‘Crewe Circular’ rail tour (1Z86) on Sunday, May 23, taking in Liverpool and Blackburn, the train being seen passing south through Lancaster at 17.14.
THE Scarborough Spa Express with Class 37 Nos. 37685 and 37706 was observed through Woodlesford on May 27.
THE Locomotive Services Charter forming the 08.08 Settle & Carlisle Circular from Newcastle was top-and-tailed by Class 47 Nos. 47593 and 47614 through Woodlesford on May 29.
LSL Class 40 No. D213 (40013) brought the ‘Welsh Marches Whistler’ excursion train from Bristol into Lancaster at 21.53 on June 3. Later, the Class 40 took the ecs on to Carnforth, before returning south to Crewe, being seen passing through Lancaster at 22.47.
THE 14.24 Liverpool (Seaforth) to Mossend container train on May 13, pulled by Class 66s
Nos. 66089 and 66127, was seen passing through Lancaster at 20.24 235 minutes late.
A CONVOY of three Class 66s, Nos. 66055+66142+66168, headed south at Euxton on Friday afternoon May 14. Apparently, Nos. 66142 and 66168 were working on 0K27 and failed near Lancaster.
No. 66055 arrived from Arpley to rescue them.
THE Class 325 Royal Mail units are visiting Toton for tyre turning. Moves reported included
No. 325012 being towed across from Crewe ETD by Class 67
Nos. 67016+67028 on May 17. This was returned to Crewe on May 21 by Class 67 No. 67025 plus Class 66 No. 66175. On the same day Nos. 325013+325015 went to Toton hauled by Nos. 67005+66162+66142. No. 325013 was returned to Crewe by Class 67 No. 67017 on May 26, and No. 325015 by No. 67013 on May 28, the latter being replaced by No. 325009 which had been delivered by No. 67013 earlier in the day.
A BURTON to Immingham scrap train ran on May 18 hauled by Class 66 No. 66139. Other scrap moves included No. 66199 on a Cardiff Tidal-Saltley-Cardiff Tidal diagram on May 21. Two days later No. 66155 worked a Liverpool-Saltley-Liverpool turn. On May 26 No. 66119 had charge of a Liverpool-Kingsbury-Liverpool diagram. The following day No. 66185 was on an Immingham-Stanton GateCardiff Tidal diagram. No. 66176 was noted working the regular
Cardiff Tidal-Saltley-Cardiff Tidal diagram on May 29. It was
No. 66155 in use again on
June 1 on a Cardiff Tidal-BurtonImmingham turn. On the same day No. 66131 had charge of a Toton-Beeston-Cardiff Tidal working.
The following day No. 66155 worked back from Immingham to Stanton Gate and through to Cardiff Tidal. June 3 found
No. 66131 work off Cardiff Tidal to Attercliffe and then through to Liverpool.
The next day No. 66176 was observed leaving Liverpool bound for Swindon, returning the loaded wagons later in the day. A similar move on June 5 had No. 66007 on a LiverpoolSaltley-Liverpool diagram.
THE regular moves of concrete segments for London’s Supersewer found Class 66 No. 66061 returning empty wagons from the Isle of Grain to Tallington on May 27. Two days later, No. 66149 took a loaded rake south.
OBSERVED at Dollands Moor
Yard on June 9 were the following three DBC France locos all in EWS colours, Nos. 66010+66028+66190, awaiting a move to Toton. A CONVOY of three Freightliner Class 66s, Nos. 66951+66554+ 66536, headed north from Crewe to Carlisle on Saturday afternoon May 8. A further convoy of five Class 66s Nos. 66503+66518+ 66566+66569+ 66951 made the same journey north on the afternoon of Saturday, May 22, for overnight engineering works.
The following day Nos. 66566 and 66593 top-and-tailed a train of low sided engineers’ trucks from Shap (dep 09.58) to Crewe.
CLASS 66 No. 66597 Viridor was seen approaching Motspur
Park station at the head of the Acton Terminal Complex to Tolworth Day Aggregates train on Wednesday, May 12.
Returning to Motspur Park on Wednesday, May 26, Class 66 No. 66549 was seen at the head of 7O02 from Acton Terminal Complex to Tolworth Day Aggregates.
CLASS 59 No. 59204, still in DB red, but without logos, was seen at platform 15 at Reading station on Thursday, May 13, on 6L91 from Whatley Quarry to Dagenham Dock A.R.C.
CLASS 90 Nos. 90024 and No.90031 together pulled the ‘runs-as-required’ Tesco container train from Mossend (dep 07.03) to Daventry on May 14, seen passing through Lancaster on time at 11.11.
On the same day, the
4M87 from Felixstowe North Freightliner Terminal to Trafford Park Freightliner Terminal was noted from a passing train near Caledonian Rd & Barnsbury station double-headed by Class 90 Nos. 90014, in orange livery, and green 90043.
MAKING an unusual move on May 24, Class 66 No. 66510 worked a rake of box wagons from Stoke Gifford to Machen where they were loaded before going to Appleford, nr Didcot. NOTED at Wigan North Western on June 2 was Freightliner Class 66 No. 66563, dragging Class 90 No. 90013 from Crewe to Leeds for tyre turning.
CLASS 90 Nos. 90019 and
90036 pulled a runs-as-required Mossend (dep 07.07) to Daventry container train on June 7. This same Class 90 duo returned to Mossend later that same day from Daventry (dep 18.39) with another fully loaded container train.
OBSERVATIONS of flask trains included Class 68s Nos. 68003 and 68004 pulling a two-flask payload from Sellafield (dep 17.30) to Crewe on May 11. Class 68 Nos. 68002 and 68006 pulled a two-flask payload from Sellafield (dep 16.44) to Crewe via Carlisle on May 24.
DRS Class 88 No.88006 Juno (with pantograph raised) and Class 68 No 68016 (with engine running) double headed the 12.18 Daventry to Mossend container train on May 31.
NOTED passing Willesden Junction on the Daventry to Tilbury Riverside Container Terminal on Monday, May 31, was Class 66 No. 66430 at the head of a Tesco train.
CLASS 68 No. 68016 hauled Class 66 Nos. 66428 and 66109 on the 0Z16/08.12 Motherwell TMD to Kingmoor through Thankerton on Tuesday, June 1. GBRf Class 66 No. 66764 pulled three covered wagons and two open trucks from Carlisle (dep 19:33) to MoD Kineton on May 10, seen passing through
Lancaster 47 minutes early at 21:47. A further MoD move occurred on May 17, when
Class 66 No. 66774 worked a Kineton-Donnington service. The next reported move was on June 2 and involved No. 66750 on a Marchwood-BicesterBescot diagram, continuing to Donnington and Kineton the following day. The same locomotive was out again on June 7 on a Ludgershall-Kineton diagram. A further change on June 15 found No. 66767 on a Southampton-Donnington turn.
A NEW traffic flow commenced on May 12 when Class 66
No. 66786 worked a spoil train from Renwick Road, Barking to Roxby Gullet, Scunthorpe. A further run was reported on
May 17 worked by No. 66791.
No. 66755 was in charge when the train was observed on June 15.
A RAKE of empty scrap wagons ran from Mantle Lane (Coalville) to Stanton Gate on May 13, hauled by Class 66 No. 66778. Here they were loaded and continued through to Immingham.
CLASS 66 No. 66753 was noted passing through Richmond station on Thursday, May 13, at the head of train 6Y48 from Eastleigh East Yard to Hoo Junction Up Yard. The train, which was mainly loaded JNA wagons, was running about 10 minutes early. ELECTRO-DIESEL Class 73 Nos. 73119 and 73141 were seen passing through Staines station on Thursday, May 13, forming train 0Y73 from Tonbridge West Yard to Eastleigh Works. The two Class 73s are understood to have later collected barrier vehicles at Eastleigh and taken them to Tonbridge.
NOTED from a passing train just to the north of Gasworks Tunnel on Friday, May 14, were Class 66 Nos. 66725 and 66768. At around 16.00 the same day No. 66730 was seen working into platform 7 at King’s Cross station on an engineers’ train. No. 66730 was reported to have worked train 6G20 from Whitemoor Yard Local Distribution Centre to Belle Isle with No. 66752 reported as on the rear of the train.
NORMALLY, the locomotive allocated to the now predominantly weekly Harwich Refinery-North Walsham run, does the outward and return journeys. However, on May 19 it was No. 66765 on 6A41 to North Walsham but 6A32 return on
May 20 was worked by No. 66718 Sir Peter Hendy CBE, with the former going from Felixstowe to Masborough with an Intermodal on the night it had taken the tanks to North Walsham, and the latter moving from Felixstowe to North Walsham the following morning.
Noted mid-afternoon on Friday, May 21, at Harwich International was No. 66762 bringing in an unexpected 4E20 Intermodal from Felixstowe, rerouted into Harwich Parkeston Quay yard because of gusting high winds affecting the container port operations at the latter site. With the winds having calmed down, it left in the early hours of May 22 to leave the yard vacant for the normal two stopover Intermodal occupants expected later in the day. The Doncaster i-port was powered by No. 66741 Swanage Railway while the Hams Hall was behind No. 66781. CLASS 59 No. 59003 was observed waiting outside the south end of Eastleigh station with an aggregate freight at