Operations Track Record
A SERIOUS incident at Euston station on the morning of July 8 had a significant impact on Avanti West Coast services. According to press reports, armed police arrested a man after a rail worker and another person were stabbed on an Avanti West Coast train at about 07.00. Trains were stopped from leaving the station while the search for the assailant was taking place. That morning, a journey was made from Rugby to Birmingham New Street on the 9P47/07.43 London Euston to Blackpool North formed of Pendolino No. 390138, which made an unscheduled stop at Rugby. This service had reportedly originated at Watford Junction and terminated at Wolverhampton. Arrival at Birmingham New Street was 50 minutes late. The following week on July 12, services on the West Coast Main Line were badly affected by flooding at Euston. A journey from Crewe to Rugby was made on the 1M18/17.30 Glasgow Central to London Euston, which was formed of No. 390016. The train left Crewe just under 25 minutes late and was meant to run nonstop to Rugby, but was held at both Stafford and Nuneaton, where the doors were released so passengers could stretch their legs. At Stafford the train was held at platform 6, which is normally used for down rather than up trains. Arrival at Rugby was more than three hours late.
Speed restrictions were imposed on July 20 around Nuneaton/Tamworth area due to hot weather as the rails were getting too hot with the resultant possibility of expanding and going out of gauge. MOVEMENTS of Class 769 units reported included No. 769940 being hauled from Loughborough to Wolverton by Class 37 No. 37800 on July 15. The next report was on July 26, when Class 37 No. 37884 moved No. 769939 from Nemesis Rail, Burton to Wolverton. The same Class 37 was in use again on July 28 to move No. 769928 from Nemesis Rail to Reading. Class 37 No. 37800 was in use again on July 30 moving No. 769935 from Brush Loughborough to Wolverton. A move on August 5 involved Class 57 No. 57310 moving No. 769947 from Nemesis Rail to Wolverton. This was followed on August 12 when No. 57310 took No. 769922 from Nemesis to Wolverton. Great Western Railway is temporarily subleasing six Govia Thameslink Railway Class 387/2 EMUs to provide extra capacity while the problems with cracking on Hitachi Class 80x trainsets are addressed. On July 20,Class 57 No. 57306 moved Nos. 387201+387202+ 387203 from Hornsey to West Ealing, where they were later noted from a passing train in the sidings at West Ealing. On July 22, Nos. 387202 and 387204 were seen leaving the sidings at West Ealing and then passing through Hanwell station forming the 5Z81 from West Ealing EMU Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot. A little later on the same day, Nos. 387205 and 387206 were noted from a passing train in the sidings at West Ealing. GWR continued to use the hired-in c2c Class 387s in July. On July 20, the 2K42/12.12 Reading to Newbury was cancelled because of a brokendown freight train, but No. 387301 was seen at platform 1 at Reading station and most probably would have worked this service. Later that day, a short hop was made from Reading to Reading West and back using the 17.10 Reading to Newbury and 17.05 Newbury to Reading, which were formed of Nos. 387301 and 387306 respectively. That evening No. 387302 was noted from a passing train in the sidings at Reading Traincare Depot. A visit to Paddington during the evening of July 22 found the Night Riviera train to Penzance in platform 1 headed by
Class 57No. 57605 Totnes Castle. No. 57603 Tintagel Castle was at the rear of the train, having worked in the empty stock from Reading Traincare Depot. The hire of No. 57310 Pride of Cumbria by GWR from ROG is reported to have ended on Wednesday, July 28. A SHORT visit to Colchester on July 3 produced Class 321 Nos. 321333+321328 departing at 12.05 on a Liverpool Street to Ipswich service, while later Nos. 321409 and 322484 were working the 14.20 to Colchester Town. Nos. 321431 and 321433 were on the 14.15 departure for Clacton on Sea. Numerous reports continue to come in regarding the Class 720 units. No. 720532 was top-andtailed from Derby to Worksop on July 15 by Class 47 No. 47727 and Class 56 No. 56081. On July 22, Class 47 Nos. 47727+47749 moved No. 720579 from Derby to Worksop. Two days later, No. 47727 hauled No. 720578 from Derby to Worksop. The pairing of Class 56 No. 56081+Class 47 No. 47727 moved No. 720569 from Wembley to Derby on July 27, the following day taking No. 720531 from Derby to Worksop. More of the Class 720 units have been accepted by Anglia and entered traffic in recent weeks, with No. 720563 working on August 11, followed by
No. 720557 the next day.
Class 37 No. 37800 was seen hauling Class 317 No. 317891 through Reading station on
July 20, on its way to Sims Metals scrapyard at Newport Docks.
Two further Class 321 units Nos. 321419+321429 were moved from Clacton to Worksop by Class 37 No. 37884 on
July 22.
Stadler ‘Flirt’ units visit Hornsey on a regular basis for tyre turning. On July 22, Nos. 755336+755424 travelled south from Crown Point, followed on July 28 by Nos. 755421+755332. On August 4, No. 745101 made the journey from Crown Point. DISRUPTION occurred on the Highland Main Line on July 12 when a mudslide was discovered just south of the Killiecrankie Viaduct (between Pitlochry and Blair Atholl). The 1S25/21.01 (Sunday) from London Euston to Inverness was held at Edinburgh, departing behind Class 66 No. 66743 and Class 73 No. 73966 some 78 minutes late. ScotRail’s 05.03 Perth to Inverness was replaced by buses, with the 05.36 Inverness to Perth being delayed by 17 minutes in the
Pitlochry area. The line was later reopened with an emergency speed restriction of 5mph, and Network Rail provided a member of staff to monitor the ground conditions.
Newly-refurbished Class 320 No. 320305 was returned to Yoker depot from Brodies, Kilmarnock by Class 37
No. 37800 on July 21.
THE Caledonian sleeper hauled by 66736 Wolverhampton Wanderers piloting Class 73
No. 73970 on July 2 was observed from the A82 between Spean Bridge and Fort William. THE majority of CrossCountry services between Birmingham New Street and Leamington Spa call at Coventry, but a handful take the unusual line from Birmingham Grand Junction through St Andrew’s Junction, Bordesley Junction and Small Heath South Junction, and then run through Tyseley. On July 8, a journey was made on one of these services, the 11.33 from Birmingham New Street to Banbury, which was formed of Voyager No. 220016.
OBSERVED through Woodlesford (West Yorkshire) on July 21 was Class 150 No. 150270 replacing the booked Class 195 on the 09.17 Nottingham-Leeds service. CLASS 185 No. 185105 was noted working the York Siemens Trans System-Manchester Victoria empty stock service on July 21. The following week on July 28, also at Woodlesford,
No. 185128 was noted working empty stock as the 11.17 York Siemens-Manchester Victoria via Castleford-Leeds-Wakefield Kirkgate service.
Class 802 No. 802206 passed Thankerton (South Lanarkshire) whilst working the 5Z03/08.19 Craigentinny TRSMD to Preston on August 3 and 4. A JOURNEY was made from Hereford to Chester on July 8 on the 17.12 from Cardiff Central to Holyhead. The train was formed of Mk.4 stock and was headed by Class 67 No. 67008. At Chester the train reversed, and from there Driving Van Trailer No. 82229 was at the front. The summer Saturday 14.45 Crewe to Bangor was powered by Class 67 No. 67008, running 15 minutes late through Prestatyn, on July 10. The following week on July 17, the summer Saturday 10.05 Holyhead to Crewe was worked by No. 67008 and the 14.45 Crewe to Bangor by No. 67013. No. 67013 was also noted on the 17.12 Cardiff to Holyhead on July 19. The summer Saturday Holyhead to Crewe and Crewe to Bangor Class 67 services were cancelled on July 24 and July 31 because of staff shortage. The normal 17.12 Cardiff to Holyhead Class 67 service was cancelled en route on August 3, and Class 175 No. 175110 was provided to run in its path from Chester. The same evening’s 19.22 Holyhead to Birmingham New Street was 16 minutes late at Prestatyn, formed of Class 153 Nos. 153325+153968 instead of the usual Class 158 unit. A crew member was ‘pinged to isolate’ by the NHS Covid-19 app on the way to work at Pwllheli on July 17. As no one else was available, the 15.37 to Birmingham was cancelled, a coach being used as a replacement, which got to Machynlleth just before the next train arrived. More cancellations followed due to Pwllheli crews isolating.
A RETURN journey was made from Ridgmont to Bedford on the Marston Vale Line on July 7 using the 2S09/10.18 from Bletchley to Bedford and the 2S10/11.10 from Bedford to Bletchley, which were formed of Class 230 No. 230004. No. 230004 was still in use on July 15 when it was seen arriving at Kempston Hardwick station on the 15.10 Bedford to Bletchley.
Services on the West Coast Main Line were badly affected by the flooding at Euston on
July 12 (see Avanti West Coast notes). The 1U44/19.35 Crewe to London Euston, formed of Class 350s Nos. 350231+350129, was first announced as delayed and was then cancelled.
New Class 730 No. 730102 was top-and-tailed from Derby to Crewe on July 22 by Class 37 Nos. 37608+37800.
The latest Class 350 to go to Long Marston for refurbishment, No. 350127, was moved from Northampton on August 2 by Class 37 No. 37611.
CLASS 170 No. 170503 was seen entering and leaving Norwich station on July 7, involved with driver training.
A journey from Barton-uponHumber to Cleethorpes and back on July 13, using the 13.54 from Barton and 14.56 return, were both worked by Class 153s Nos. 153308+153379.
THE off-lease Class 365 units have all been moved to Doncaster Belmont for further storage. Movements reported included Nos. 365534+3655514 from Letchworth to Doncaster by Class 37 No. 37884 on
July 15. An attempt was made to move Nos. 365522+365520 from Peterborough to Doncaster by Class 57
No. 57312 on July 21. However, the ‘57’ failed as it left Nene Sidings and the units had to be employed to pull themselves and the Class 57 back into the sidings. They were later moved on July 28 by Class 37 No. 37800. The next day, the Class 37 moved Nos. 365536+365506 north from Peterborough.
A further move on July 31 employed No. 37884 to take Nos. 365518+365508 from Peterborough to Doncaster. The Class 37 was back on August 3 to take No. 365510 from
Hornsey to Doncaster.
The following day No. 37800 moved No. 365539 from Crewe South Yard to Doncaster, travelling by the WCML to London and then north on the ECML. Four Class 365s have been stored at Ely, and these were moved to Doncaster by
No. 57310 with Nos. 365512+ 365528 moving on August 10 followed by Nos. 365530+ 365538 on August 11.
From July 26, the service between Sutton and St Albans via Wimbledon and Hackbridge has been halved, and only one train per hour will now run via Wimbledon and one train per hour via Hackbridge. This timetable will be in place until further notice but will be reviewed weekly. JULY 12 was a nightmare for Southern when services came to a standstill between Brighton and Barnham, and Horsham and Barnham, from mid-morning practically until the end of service following a major power failure, leaving no communication at all. Buses were brought in to help, but they were restricted due to school runs. The following day was no better when there was a shortage of train crew and Class 313s. The 06.01 Littlehampton to Bognor Regis and 07.08 Littlehampton to Portsmouth was formed of Class 377 Nos. 377457+377463 as Class 313 No. 313216 was taken out of service at Bognor Regis. The 07.21 Brighton to Littlehampton formed of Nos. 377452+377471, which were used for the 08.55 service to Portsmouth instead of the 08.43 service to London due to a crew shortage, whilst Class 313 No. 313202 berthed at Littlehampton for the 12.55 service to Portsmouth. The Class 377s continued working the Class 313 diagram until the 12.43 to London, then the Class 313 came back into use. Things improved on July 14, but the 06.01 Littlehampton to Bognor Regis and 07.08 Littlehampton to Portsmouth were again in the hands of Class 377 units, with Nos. 377132+377146 in use due to the Class 313 shortage. The following day Class 377 No. 377105 worked the 06.01 and 07.08 from Littlehampton. Observed at Portsmouth & Southsea on July 16 was Class 313 No. 313213, arriving seven minutes late on the 1S24/14.00 Brighton to Portsmouth Harbour, while No. 313209 later departed on the 2S21/15.57 Portsmouth & Southsea to Littlehampton. The Class 313s are proving less than reliable, as seen above. Unit No. 313214 was taken out of service on July 24 prior to working the 14.09 Littlehampton to Bognor Regis service with a series of faults. Class 377 No. 377103 replaced the ‘313’ for the remainder of its diagram. Later in the evening, No. 313214 was taken to Brighton Depot for attention. Class 377 No. 377103 again covered the Class 313 diagram all day on the LittlehamptonBognor Regis shuttles. The continued shortage of Class 313 units and crews resulted in changes on the Littlehampton, Bognor Regis and Portsmouth services, with Class 377 Nos. 377127, 377404 and 377415 being used on August 2; Nos. 377159 and 377415 on August 3 and Nos. 377159 and 377463 on August 4. The 11.14, 15.14 and 19.14 Littlehampton to London Victoria services were formed of four coaches instead of the usual eight, worked by a dual voltage unit No. 377205 on July 25.
From July 26, the service between Clapham Junction and Milton Keynes has been withdrawn, except for one return working early in the morning and another return journey in the evening peak. Also, the Southern service between Beckenham Junction and London Bridge via Dulwich has been withdrawn. These changes will be in place until further notice but will be reviewed weekly
Class 377 No. No. 377463 was declared a failure prior to working the 08.55 Littlehampton to Portsmouth on August 4. The unit was taken to Brighton Depot for attention, and No. 377133 was used as the replacement for the remainder of the day.
There was a complete closure of the West Coastway between Chichester and Havant on August 3, with reports of smoke coming from underneath unit No. 313214, which turned out to be a false alarm. The 08.02 Brighton to Portsmouth service was terminated at Fishbourne, tripping the live rail and causing the line closure. Services from the Brighton direction were diverted to Littlehampton and Bognor Regis. The 09.00 GWR service to Great Malvern was terminated at Worthing and remained there until the line reopened, and the Merehead to Chichester Yard stone train was held at Farlington Junction for approximately four hours until the line reopened. Southern trains from Southampton were diverted into Portsmouth as the line to Havant was occupied by the stone train. No. 313214 was eventually rescued by
No. 313213, which then had to go via Havant to gain access to the up line with the units later seen passing Angmering at around 14.00. More variations and a failure followed on
August 5. Class 377 Nos. 377159 and 377208 were noted on 313 diagrams at Littlehampton.
A pair of Class 377 units
Nos. 377439 and 377470 failed to attach at Redhill on the morning of August 5, resulting in the service being cancelled and the units sent to Brighton for attention, while the following 09.15 London Victoria to Littlehampton being cancelled throughout. The
11.13 Littlehampton to London service was formed of four coaches only, unit No. 377420, and was attached at Victoria to Nos. 377410+377463 for the 13.15 service to Littlehampton. NEW Class 701 No. 701022 was noted at Eastleigh on a test run to Waterloo at 19.00 on June 29. On the same evening, viewing from the road bridge south of the station, three of the same class were noted in nearby sidings and were identified as Nos. 701023, 701018, and 701015. No. 701011 was seen in the carriage sidings at Clapham Junction on Sunday, July 18.
Movements of Class 701 units reported included No. 701033 being top-and-tailed from Derby to Worksop on July 19 by Class 50s Nos. 50007 and 50049, the pair then returned No. 701024 to Derby. Two days later, the Class 50s took
No. 701017 from Derby to Worksop, returning with
Nos. 701508+701509. A further move on August 5 involved Class 56 No. 56081+Class 66
No. 66732 top-and-tailing
Nos. 701506+701505 from Derby to Worksop. New
No. 701019 was moved from Derby to Eastleigh on August 12 by Class 47 No. 47727.
The Class 442 units have all now left Bournemouth for stripping at Wolverton, with
No. 2422 being moved on July 27 in the formation Nos. 66722+ 73107+2422+ 2420+73128, followed the next day by
No. 2418 in the same formation. The final unit move was on
July 29, when No. 2415 left Bournemouth for the last time.
Charter Trains
RTC’s ‘Welsh Mountaineer’ from Preston to Blaenau Ffestiniog on July 20 passed Prestatyn eight minutes early behind former LMS ‘Royal Scot’
No. 46115 Scots Guardsman.
As usual for this tour, the loco had been taken off the train at Chester to run round the triangle, then reattached to run tender first to Llandudno Junction. This left it ready to run up the steep branch chimney first.
Class 57 Nos. 57313+57601 were observed passing Thankerton when working the 1Z33/06.30 Crewe to Edinburgh charter train on Friday, July 23.
LSL Class 47s No. D1935 (47805), in two tone green, and No. 47828, in BR Swallow livery, top-and-tailed a rake of Pullman coaches from Hereford (dep 05.39) to Ravenglass and back on July 28. The charter was seen passing through Lancaster at 10.36 and again at 18.29.
Pathfinder’s ‘Blue Boys Merrymixer’ tour from Eastleigh to Crewe was hauled by Class 68 No. 68002, then Class 37 Nos. 37069+37716. The return had Class 66 No. 66431, followed by Class 88 No. 88006, and finally Class 57s Nos. 57003+57002. SCRAP metal trains reported included Class 66 No. 66117 on a Cardiff Tidal-Sunderland-Cardiff Tidal diagram on July 15. On the same day, No. 66068 worked a regular LiverpoolSaltley-Liverpool diagram. The following day No. 66011 worked a Liverpool-SwindonLiverpool turn. Reported on July 21 was No. 66107 on a Cardiff Tidal-Beeston-Cardiff Tidal diagram. The LiverpoolSaltley-Liverpool diagram was worked by No. 66165 on July 29 and 31, with No. 66011 again on the Liverpool-SwindonLiverpool turn the following day. Kingsbury was the destination on August 4 with No. 66130