Operations Track Record
RHTT
THE Railhead Treatment season is well underway. On Thursday, September 2 the 3W75 from Tonbridge West Yard to Tonbridge West Yard was seen passing through Tonbridge station. During the afternoon the train, ‘top and tailed’ by
Class 73 Nos. 73109+73107 visited Paddock Wood, Swanley, Sittingbourne, London Victoria and Sevenoaks.
On Friday, September 24, the 6S99/0612 Carlisle to Inverness was heard passing Thankerton. The train was hauled by Class 66 Nos. 66122 and 66126 and conveyed a number of Railhead Treatment Vehicles.
Class 37 Nos. 37059 and
37425 were noted at Cromer on September 27 working the 09.22 Sandite circuit from Stowmarket. Two days later at East Grinstead, the service there was powered by GBRf ‘ED’ locos Nos. 73107 and 73213. On October 5, this train was topand-tailed by Nos. 73141+ 73128.
DRS Class 66 Nos. 66434 and 66426 were noted in the bay platform at Grimsby on October 1 ‘top and tailing’ a Railhead Treatment set waiting to work the 11.38 to York Thrall Europa.
Observed at Llandudno Junction on October 6, a service was ‘top and tailed’ by Class 56 Nos. 56094 and 56096 awaiting the passage of the 06.45 Cardiff to Holyhead, powered at the rear by Class 67 No. 67014.
AT Doncaster on September 15, Class 91s and Mk.4 stock were still operating: No. 91101 with DVT 82213; No. 91119 with 82205; and No. 91107 with 82208 were all observed on King’s Cross to Leeds services.
Weekends have seen the East Coast Main Line closed between Heaton and Drem. ScotRail provided replacement buses for services to and from Dunbar. LNER services were diverted via the Tyne Valley, Carlisle and Carstairs. Trains were worked by nine-coach bi-mode units and combinations of Classes 800/2 and 801 five coach units in 10 coach formations. Observed on September 18 were Nos. 800103/06-09, 800201-03/0510, and 801101/03/05/09-12.
On September 19 were Nos. 800101-03/07-10/12, 80020103/05-10, and 801103/09-11.
The second weekend of diverted East Coast traffic via the Tyne Valley, Carlisle and Carstairs produced on September 25
Nos. 800102/04-06/08-13, 800201/02/04/07/08/10, and 801102/04-06/08-13; and on September 26 Nos. 800102-06/08/09/11-13, 800201/02/04/05/08, and 801104/05/010-12.
Reported on the third weekend were October 2
Nos. 800101-06/09-11/13, 800201/06/07/09/10, and 801104-06/08/09/12 and October 3 Nos. 80010206/10/11/13, 800203/07/08/10, and 801101-03/05/07/08/10.
Witnessed on September 23 at York as Class 801/2
No. 801223 arrived on time into platform 5 with the 1E14 Edinburgh-King’s Cross, was an unfortunate incident that saw an elderly man fall between the platform and the coach as he alighted. Station staff, quickly alerted by another passenger on the train, rushed to the scene, while one person ran to the front to inform the driver who then alerted the problem to signalling. Within minutes, first aid station staff were assessing the state of the person beneath the carriage while another phoned for an ambulance. Although the gentleman had a cut to his head, staff decided to haul him up from the track onto the platform where he was placed in a wheelchair, had his wound dressed quickly, and was then wheeled to the waiting ambulance. No. 801223 resumed its journey some 20 minutes late in what could have been a much more impacting incident. Hopefully, the gentleman concerned has now recovered. THE influx of Class 387 units from Gatwick Express and c2c has produced an interesting variety of liveries. On September 8, the 2P38/10.13 from Didcot Parkway to Paddington was seen passing Hanwell station formed of red No. 387203 and green No. 387167. A little later the same day, red No. 387202 was seen at Hanwell forming empty stock train 5Z90 from Reading Traincare Depot to Paddington. Making a short hop from Reading to Reading West and back on September 16, the 2K54/17.10 from Reading to Newbury was formed of c2c No. 387301 and the 2K45/17.05 from Newbury to Reading was formed of No. 387306. A third c2c unit, No. 387302, was noted from a passing train at Reading Traincare Depot. Observed while passing
Reading Traincare Depot on September 16, Class 57 No. 57604 Pendennis Castle was noted on the stock of the Night Riviera, with another Class 57 at the rear of the train, obscured by multiple units. No. 57306 Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate 175 was also in the sidings at Reading Traincare Depot.
Continuing its policy of naming IET units, GWR named set No. 800317 Freya Bevan in a ceremony at Paddington on September 22. Freya is a young girl recently diagnosed with a third brain tumour. She is the latest to be chosen in a campaign that recognises remarkable people from across the network. GWR’s head of external communications Dan Panes said that “having shown such courage throughout her young life”, Freya was “a brilliant example and the company was proud to name one of its units in her honour”.
Movements of Class 769 units reported included No. 769925 being hauled from Nemesis Rail, Burton to Wolverton Works on September 22, followed by
No. 769949 on the same diagram on September 28 behind Class 37 No. 37884. A further move on October 7 had No. 769923 taken to Nemesis Rail from Brush Loughborough by Class 57 No. 57312. AFTER an official announcement on September 13 that Class 720s would now extend down to the Harwich and Walton-onthe-Naze branches, initially the daily Harwich branch service appeared to be still in the hands of Class 321 ‘Renatus’-upgraded units, although at 05.30 on the morning of September 23, Class 720 No. 720540 was in platform 1 at Harwich International with scheduled empty stock movement to Witham under a
5F61 headcode at 06.23. Over the weekend of September 25/26, the four Class 317s that had resided in Harwich Parkeston Quay yard were moved out and over to the recommissioned second line from Harwich International-Dovercourt, with No. 317340 the southernmost unit. ‘Aventra’ Class 720 No. 720511 was noted working the Harwich Branch service most of the day on October 9, and is the first time that this class has been seen on this particular diagram.
Not often reported are the ‘Flirt’ units. No. 755407 returned to Norwich Crown Point from Hornsey on September 14 after tyre-turning, followed by
No. 755405 returning north on September 23. Significantly,
No. 755403 has been out of use for many months, being used as a source of spares to keep others in traffic. However, it has itself now been returned to traffic making a number of test runs on October 6 accompanied by
No. 755333, the pair running from Crown Point to Lowestoft and back, Norwich to Thetford and back, followed by a return run to Great Yarmouth.
Increasing numbers of the new Class 720 units are being delivered south and gradually increasing service as the class extends its range. No. 720570 was taken south from Derby to Wembley by Class 47 No. 47749 and Class 56 No. 56081 on September 17. The same locomotives moved No. 720514 back to Derby from Worksop on September 23. This was followed by No. 720574 making the move from Derby to Wembley on September 30 behind Class 47
No. 47727. Also on September 30, No. 720501 was returned to Derby from Worksop by
Nos. 56081+47749. Newly built No. 720577 was delivered from Derby to Wembley on October 6. Two days later No. 720578+720532 were returned from Worksop to Derby by Class 56 No. 56081 top-and-tailed with Class 66 No. 66797. The final move reported in the period under review was that of new unit No. 720580 taken from Derby reportedly to Old Dalby but in fact only as far as Melton Mowbray before it was then taken to Wembley top-andtailed by Class 56 No. 56081 and Class 47 No. 47749.
OBSERVED on August 27, the 10.34 train from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban, formed of unit No.156446, was very full when leaving Glasgow, with over a quarter of the seats being occupied by a pre-booked group. This resulted in some passengers having to stand for long periods on the 200-minute journey, and there were also long queues for the sole toilet while the refreshment trolley quickly ran out of hot water. Overall, this gave a very poor impression of ScotRail to those who were sampling the service for the first time. On August
29, ‘Bike Train’ No.153370 was noted in a siding at Oban in company with Class 156
No. 156465.
ScotRail finally introduced a five-car HST set on September 27 when sets HA10 and HA11 became available for traffic.
THE train services operated by Northern have suffered from a lot of criticism, but journeys made with Northern between September 22-29 all worked well. None of the train services in the itinerary were cancelled and, although there was some late running, this was never enough to result in a missed onward connection. The trains were generally clean and staff friendly.
Northern operates some routes with very limited services. The five-mile line from Ellesmere
Port to Helsby sees one pair of trains early in the morning and another pair in the evening. On September 23, a journey was made from Ellesmere Port to Warrington Bank Quay on the 2F17/19.10 from Ellesmere Port to Liverpool Lime Street with Class 150 No. 150129.
Our correspondent was the only passenger on the train on departure from Ellesmere Port, while another passenger boarded at Stanlow & Thornton.
Most trains on the Styal lines run into Manchester Airport, where they reverse before continuing, but a handful run direct from Heald Green South Junction to Heald Green North Junction, missing Manchester Airport. On September 25, a journey was made on the 2F29/16.17 from Crewe to Liverpool Lime Street, formed of Class 323 No. 323228. Due to the emergency services attending an incident at Manchester Airport, the service ran direct from Heald Green South Junction to Heald Green North Junction without serving Manchester Airport. Having left Crewe 16 minutes late, by missing Manchester Airport the service was on time at Heald Green station.
Class 323 No. 323229 ran from Allerton to Wolverton Works on September 29.
A journey from Southport to Wigan Wallgate on September 24 provided an opportunity to sample one of Northern’s Class 769 ‘Flex’ bi-modes. The 18.16 from Southport to Alderley
Edge was formed of No. 769458, which ran in diesel mode as far as Bolton. On September 28,
No. 769431 was seen at Wigan Wallgate forming the 07.49 from Alderley Edge to Southport.
Heysham Harbour station sees just one arrival and departure per day. On September 27, a journey was made from Lancaster to Heysham Harbour on the 12.49 from Lancaster, formed of Class 156 No. 156491. After reversal at Morecambe station the train stopped at Morecambe Junction ground frame, where the driver left his cab to phone the signaller for access to the Heysham branch. The return journey was made as far as Morecambe on the 13.20 from Heysham Harbour to Lancaster.
Out of traffic for some considerable time, Class 155
No. 155341 was returned to Neville Hill from Wolverton on October 7, accompanied by Class 150 No. 150218.
IT IS reported from the August 16 timetable change that TransPennine Express ceased overnight servicing of its
‘Nova 3’ push-pull trainsets at Scarborough depot, following repeated complaints from nearby residents about the noise created by the Class 68 locomotives. The work will now be carried out at Longsight depot in Manchester, and consequently the new timetable includes additional workings for the ‘Nova 3’ trains west of York.
TPE is expected to announce a change to the deployment of the ‘Nova 3’ sets shortly, which will enable it to get the full fleet of 13 sets into service. Class 185 DMUs will be used more extensively on services to Scarborough. These create much less noise when running overnight or started up in the early hours.
On September 22, Class 68
No. 68025 Superb was seen at the head of empty stock the 15.06 from Longsight Carriage Maintenance Depot, which arrived at platform 3 at Manchester Piccadilly. The
‘Nova 3’ trainset then formed the 1E41/15.29 from Manchester Piccadilly to Scarborough, which was propelled by No. 68025 with driving trailer No. 12806 at the front of the train. The same formation was in use on September 27 on a journey from Leeds to Manchester Victoria on the 15.34 from Scarborough to Manchester Victoria.
Training on the West Coast Main Line continues on an almost daily basis, with the Class 802s working from Craigentinny to either Preston or Carlisle.
The train then runs to Glasgow, returning to either Carstairs, Carlisle or Preston. The Carstairs trips return again to Glasgow before heading to Carlisle. The unit finishes the diagram by returning to Craigentinny. This is all in preparation for the Class 802s working some EdinburghManchester services from the December timetable change.
A visit to York on September 23 revealed a number of Class 68s throughout the morning with Nos. 68023 Achilles, 68025 Superb and 68030 Black Douglas, working the Scarborough hourly runs and Nos. 68026 Enterprise and 68027 Splendid on route-learner trips, the former on Scarborough and back while the latter was on a Scarborough-Leeds-York movement. There was also a wealth of Class 802/2 units on predominantly the Liverpool Lime Street-Newcastle route with 802201/3/4/8/9/16/17 in evidence.
NOT yet in use with Merseytravel, the new Class 777 units are attracting attention as they are moved around the North West. On September
14, Nos. 777002+777009 were ‘top and tailed’ from Walton
Old Junction, Warrington to Crewe LNWR by Class 37 Nos. 37601+37510. The following week on September 21, Nos. 777005+777007 followed
‘top and tailed’ by Nos. 57312+37510. Working solo, Class 37 No. 37510 took Nos. 777018+777016 on the same diagram on September 28.
AS part of the timetable change from September 13, and the reintroduction of an all-day Cardiff-Holyhead service, two Mk.4 sets are now booked in service on weekdays, working three round trips between them.
A journey was made from Colwyn Bay to Chirk on September 29 using the 11.33 from Holyhead to Cardiff
Central. This was headed by Class 67 No. 67008 in TfW livery. At Chester, the train reversed and from there DVT No. 82216 was in the lead. Returning from Chirk to Chester the same day, the 11.22 from Cardiff Central to Holyhead was headed by
No. 67015 in DB red livery. After reversal at Chester, the train was headed by DVT No. 82226.
The new CAF-built Class 197s are making various moves.
No. 197001 was taken from Donnington RFT to Crewe by Class 66 No. 66551 on September 15, followed by
No. 197003 being moved to Crewe by Class 66 No. 66589 on October 1. Class 197 units are continuing to be tested along the North Wales coast.
The three-car variant began testing on October 5 when unit No. 197101 worked through to Llandudno.
Vivarail Class 230s are planned to take over operation on the Wrexham to Bidston Borderlands Line. No. 230008 and another unidentified Class 230 were noted from a passing train on September 25, in the sidings at Birkenhead North
EMU depot. For now, services on the Borderlands Line remain worked usually by Class 150 units. A journey from Bidston to Wrexham General on September 25 made on the 10.33 from Bidston found it formed of Class 150 No. 150208.
CLASS 323 No. 323214 was returned to Soho from Doncaster Wabtec on
September 18 by Class 37
No. 37884. Its place at Wabtec was taken on October 1 by
No. 323211 was taken to Doncaster by Class 57
No. 57310.
Class 730 unit moves reported included No. 730001 ‘top and tailed’ by Class 37 No. 37510 and Class 57 No. 57312 from Old Dalby to Oxley on September
27. The same pair then took
No. 730102 from Crewe to Old Dalby on September 30. Four days later on October 4, they were in use again to move
No. 730003 from Oxley to Derby.
THE branch line from Factory Junction, just to the west of Wandsworth Road station, to Battersea Park (platform 2) has a very limited service, with trains normally only operating in the early hours of the morning and late at night. On September 19, with engineering works taking place between Wandsworth Road and Clapham Junction, London Overground operated a train at 15-minute intervals from Dalston Junction to Battersea Park.
In an incident on October 12, Class 710 No. 710124 over-ran the buffers at Enfield Town resulting in reportedly relatively minor damage to the front of the unit. Two passengers received minor injuries. AFTER a break of several months, Class 465 units are again moving to Worksop for storage. On September 27, Class 37 No. 37884 moved Nos. 465241+465244 from Gillingham. These were followed on September 30 when the Class 37 moved No. 465250 on the same diagram and No. 465247 on October 4.
Two further units Nos. 465242+ 465248 made the journey behind No. 37884 on
October 11, with the Class 37 taking Nos. 465010+465019 back to Gillingham the next day. Reports indicate that all the Class 465/2s will cease operating at the end of Friday, October 15, and be transferred to Worksop over the next two weeks.
The former SWR Class 707 units began entering service with Southeastern trains on September 27, when Nos. 707009+707010 were working off Cannon Street. Later in the day, they were joined by Nos. 707011+707012. The units have now been branded ‘City Beam’. THE service between Clapham Junction and Milton Keynes, which was withdrawn from July 26 with the exception of one return working early in each of the morning and evening peaks, was reinstated in September. On September 7, the 2O37/12.12 from Milton Keynes Central to Clapham Junction was seen rolling into Harrow & Wealdstone formed of Class 377 Nos. 377213+377208. A journey was then made from Harrow & Wealdstone to Clapham Junction on the 13.12 from Milton Keynes Central to Clapham Junction formed of Nos. 377202 and 377209. Class 313 No. 313215 was taken out of service at Brighton prior to working the 08.01 service to Portsmouth Harbour on September 14 with a series of faults. No. 377108 was used as the replacement with a 10 minute late start. However, No. 377108 was in trouble itself with a door fault, which was rectified whilst the train was standing at Shoreham-by-Sea, losing a further 10 minutes, and the service was finally
terminated at Havant. The 08.14 Brighton to Littlehampton service, normally formed of eight coaches, was reduced to four carriages with No. 377430 running single while No. 377470 was used for the 08.32 service to Southampton as a step up. In a move on September 26, Class 377 No. 377703 ran from Selhurst to Hornsey on September 26 for an interior overhaul, to be followed over time with all the ‘377/6’ and ‘377/7’ units. Class 313 No. 313203 was berthed in Littlehampton sidings over the weekend of October 2/3 waiting to go to Brighton Depot for attention due to numerous faults. No. 313205 was sent to Littlehampton on October 4 to take No. 313203 to the depot. Meanwhile Class 377 No. 377443 was employed on No. 313203’s diagram, working on the Littlehampton, Bognor Regis and Portsmouth services. October 5 was a nightmare for the travelling public trying to get to London and Brighton when overnight engineering work between Worthing and Hove overran by two hours.
Two services from Portsmouth Harbour were diverted into Littlehampton. The 06.16 Littlehampton to London departed 40 minutes late and ran fast to Three Bridges to make up the lost time. It still arrived there 55 minutes late, however, resulting in the service being terminated at Gatwick. The return 08.18 Victoria to Eastbourne started at Gatwick. This service also lost time due to flooding between Pulborough and Billingshurst. The line was closed, and Arun Valley services were diverted via Worthing and the Brighton Mainline until the water started to recede. ENGINEERING work between Richmond and Feltham, first noted on the August Bank Holiday but continuing into September, closed all lines. The half-hourly shuttle service between Waterloo and Richmond ran at weekends until September 19. On September 4, a journey from Richmond to Clapham Junction was made on the 2V18/08.34 from Richmond. The train, formed of Nos. 455718+455737, departed from platform 1 at Richmond, normally only served by down trains, it then used the crossover to the east of the station to get over to up line. The new Class 701s continue to attract attention, even though the class has yet to enter traffic. No. 701507 was ‘top and tailed’ from Derby to Worksop on September 14 by Class 47 No. 47749 and Class 56 No. 56081. This was followed on September 29, when No. 701510 made the same journey with the same locos. On the same day, No. 701030 was moved from Derby to Wimbledon by Class 47 No. 47727. Testing continues, and on September 20 No. 701031 was seen pausing at platform 9 at Clapham Junction whilst working as test train 5Q51 from London Waterloo to Staines Up Loop. Extensive engineering works in the Basingstoke area on October 3 meant that trains were unable to proceed west of the station onto the lines to Winchester and Salisbury. Bus services were provided for some destinations.
SWR services from Weymouth were diverted to run to and from Southampton, via
Fareham, Guildford and Woking and then on to Waterloo. CrossCountry services between Bournemouth and Manchester Piccadilly were also diverted to follow the same route, running nonstop from Southampton Central to Guildford. This gave the very unusual sightings of Class 220 and 221 units running between Fareham and Havant, and thence to Guildford. SWR services followed the more usual diversion service by stopping at Fareham and Havant.
Charter Trains
THE British Pullman made a trip to Chesterfield for a coach connection to Chatsworth House on September 1, with Class 67 Nos. 67024 in Pullman livery and 67001 in Arriva Trains Wales blue ‘top and tailing’ the 1E02/08.46 London VictoriaChesterfield and 1O07/17.09 return. The following week on September 7, the same formation was observed on the 1Z40/15.00 departure from
Victoria to Folkestone West, seen leaving platform 2. No. 67001 was left at the buffer stops having worked in the empty stock from Stewarts Lane Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot.
UK Railtours’‘Shrewsbury in Autumn’ special for King’s Cross on September 25 was seen arriving at Shrewsbury ‘top and tailed’ by Class 67 Nos. 67002 (in Arriva Trains Wales blue livery) and No. 67007 in shabby EWS livery at the rear. OBSERVATIONS of the Tytherington to Calvert stone train produced Class 66 No. 66168 on September 8. It was seen again on September 16 at Burnham hauled by No. 66053. On the same day, the Northolt Sidings to Severnside Sita ‘Binliner’ was seen passing Burnham behind Class 66 No. 66176. Noted on September 20, Class 66 No. 66078 was seen pausing at platform 17 at Clapham Junction whilst working the 6O13 from Acton Terminal
Complex to Newhaven Marine Aggregates Terminal.
‘Tug’ No. 60020 was noted on the 07.20 Lindsey Oil Terminal to Neville Hill loaded oil tanks through Woodlesford on September 22.
Working a scrap train from Liverpool to Kingsbury (Tamworth) and back on September 22 was Class 66
No. 66070. No. 66050 was reported working a LiverpoolSwindon-Liverpool diagram on October 1. A further scrap move on October 4 saw No. 66056 on the same Liverpool-SwindonLiverpool circuit. Then No. 66070 was out again on October 8 and 11 on the Liverpool-SwindonLiverpool diagram.
Noted on September 29 at Warrington Bank Quay station was Class 60 No. 60015 at the head of train 6Z19 from Ravenhead Sidings to Chaddesden.
Observations of the LindseyJarrow oil trains saw Class 60
No. 60066 in use on October 8 and No. 60074 on October 11.
The regular Tallington-Isle of Grain sewer concrete segments service was observed on
October 11, hauled by Class 66 No. 66125. CLASS 66 No. 66572 was seen passing Raynes Park on September 1, at the head of the Acton Terminal Complex to Tolworth Day Aggregates train. The service was seen again on September 6, this time between Raynes Park and Motspur Park hauled by No. 66622. An hour at Harrow & Wealdstone on September 7 saw three container trains, all hauled by Class 66s: No. 66537 was on the 4L99 from Lawley Street Freightliner Terminal to Felixstowe North Freightliner Terminal; Nos. 66549 and 66539 double heading the 4O35 from Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime Container Terminal; and No. 66536 heading north on the 4M58 from Southampton Maritime to Garston Freightliner Terminal. Two container trains were seen in quick succession passing Hanwell station on September 8. Class 66 No. 66529 was on the 4L36 from Wentloog to Felixstowe North Freightliner Terminal and No. 66515 was on the 4M58 from Southampton Maritime Container Terminal to Garston Freightliner Terminal. The same two container trains were seen again at Burnham on September 15, when Class 66 No. 66539 was on the 4L36 from Wentloog to Felixstowe and No. 66565 was on the Southampton Maritime to Garston Freightliner Terminal. The 7A09 ‘jumbo train’ from Merehead Quarry to Acton was seen approaching Hanwell on September 8, headed by Class 59 No. 59104 Village of Great Elm in Hanson livery. No. 66536 worked light engine on the 11.15 Leeds Midland Road to Crewe Basford Hall through Woodlesford on September 22. Freightliner’s distinctive, pinkliveried ‘Ocean Network Express’ Class 66 No. 66587 As One, We Can ran light from Carlisle to Crewe on September 24. On Thursday, September 30, the 4M80/16.33 Coatbridge FLT to Basford Hall passed Thankerton with Class 90 Nos. 90016 and 90047 hauling the train. Tucked in behind the train locomotives was No. 66587, dead in train.
Class 66 Nos. 66531+66561 were noted on October 6 light engine on the 10.18 Belmont Down Yard-Leeds Midland Road train, while No. 66570 was noted on the 11.15 Leeds Midland Road-Crewe Basford Hall light engine move. THE northbound Daventry to Mossend Tesco train on the morning of September 15 passed Euxton some 58 minutes late. This train is usually an immaculate timekeeper, but it seems that Class 88 No. 88010 had a problem and Class 66 Nos. 66422 and 66433 had been attached to the front of the train leaving No. 88010 tucked inside. On September 17, the 6S50/12.16 Carlisle New Yard to Millerhill saw Class 66 No. 66050 working in multiple with No. 66426 hauling Nos. 66432 and 66430 plus a lengthy and heavy ballast train. Observations of the ‘Thunderbird’ locos on the WCML found Class 57 No. 57304 Pride of Cheshire in the engine siding at Rugby station on September 21. It was noted again on September 30 in the same place at Rugby, apparently not having moved in more than a week. On September 25, the appropriately named 57309 Pride of Crewe was seen stabled at Crewe station. No. 57308 was seen stabled at Carlisle station on September 28. The 0Z66/10.12 Kingmoor to Millerhill was observed passing Thankerton on Friday September 24 with Class 66 No. 66302 hauling Nos. 66434, 66426 and 66432.
DRS Class 66 No. 66091 ran light from Carlisle (dep 16.15) to Crewe on Sunday September 26.
Class 68 Nos. 68002 and 68004 were noted in the sidings at Sellafield on Tuesday, September
28.
An assortment of DRS-liveried locomotives passed through Lancaster at 18.33 on September
30. Moving from Crewe (dep 16.06) to Carlisle with Class 68 No. 68009 Titan leading were Class 37 No. 37716, Class 66s
Nos. 66091+66430 and, at the rear, Class 88
No. 88010 Aurora.
Observed at Dungeness
EDF Energy stabling point on October 6, the flask train was hauled by Class 68 No. 68018 and Class 88 No. 88006. Sightings of Class 88s on this service have not been observed by our correspondent before, so using them on this diagram may be relatively new, two
Class 68s are the usual. The front of the Class 88 was very scratched from passing through the undergrowth on the branch from Appledore. CLASS 66 No. 66755 Tony Berkeley OBE, working the 4Y19 from Mountfield Sidings to Southampton Western Docks was seen stood at platform 1 at Tonbridge station on September 2. The 6Y48 from Eastleigh East Yard to Hoo Junction Up Yard, headed by Class 66 No. 66792, was seen between Barnes and Putney on September 7. Later the same day, No. 66792 was seen approaching Brentford running light engine from Hoo Junction Up Yard to Eastleigh East Yard. Noted at Edge Hill (Liverpool) on September 14 were Class 66 Nos. 66794 on a Drax biomass train and 66797 on the Shap to Tuebrook stone train. Just the one run from Harwich Refinery-North Walsham and back on September 15 and 16 under the control of Class 66 No. 66759 Chippy was reported. On September 18, the Doncaster iPort stopover was again in the hands of Class 66 No. 66713 Forest City, while that evening’s Hams Hall arrival was behind No. 66763. GBRf Class 73 No. 73962 Dick Mabutt was seen running light engine on September 15 from Wimbledon to platform 3 at Twickenham, where it reversed to run to Shepperton. No. 73962 was working as a 0F23 from Woking Up Carriage Holding Sidings to Woking Up Carriage Holding Sidings. The purpose of this working is not clear but may have been route learning.
Class 66 No. 66775 HMS Argyll was observed passing Clapham High Street station at the head of the 6O88 from Acton Yard to Foster Yeoman Grain on September 20.
No. 66707 Sir Sam Fey Grand Central Railway came down from Peterborough on September 22 to work the empty condensate tanks from Harwich Refinery to North Walsham and returned the following day. On the afternoon of September 23, Class 69 No. 69001 Mayflower was noted in Peterborough MPD along with Class 66/7 No. 66764, both of which had worked from Tonbridge Yard the same day. With the power crisis evolving nationally, on September 23, another Tyne Dock Coal Terminal-Drax PS coal shipment passed through York as Class 60 No. 60095 took 6H70 via the avoider line round York station at roughly 15.00. Class 60 No. 60076 Dunbar was noted from a passing train stabled by Edge Hill station on September 25. No. 60076 still wears Colas colours, although the word Colas has been removed from the lettering on the locomotive. It is understood to have later worked train 6E17 from Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax PS. Class 66 No. 66707 arrived at the Harwich Refinery on September 29 for a second week of single runs on consecutive days on the North Walsham tanks. The following week, it was No. 66747 Made in Sheffield with its blue-white-red Newell & Wright livery that turned up on October 4 and did two trips back and forth over four days during the week finishing on October 7, returning that night to Peterborough MPD. GBRf-liveried Class 60 No. 60021 was seen passing through Rochdale while working 6E24 Liverpool to Drax loaded Biomass working on October 6.
CLASS 70 No. 70801 pulled the Sundays-only Chirk (dep 10.12) to Carlisle log empties over Shap on the WCML on September 19. When observed on September 26, the train was hauled by No. 70814.
Locomotive Services
TYPE 4 No. D1935 (47805) Roger Hosking MA was seen powering through Harrow & Wealdstone on September 7, at the head of empty stock from Crewe Holding Sidings to Southall.
LSL’s Class 47s Nos. 47805 (D1935) and 47828 doubleheaded a rake of Statesman
Rail Pullman liveried Mk.2 coaches from Wolverhampton (dep 06.07) to Edinburgh and back (dep 16.00) on September 22.
On September 25, Class 86 No. 86101 Sir William A Stanier FRS was seen stabled in the sidings beside Crewe station. On the same day Class 47 No. D1944 (47501), and Class 90 Nos. 90001 and 90002 were noted, from a passing train, at Crewe Diesel Depot.
Sims Metals, Newport
FOLLOWING a relatively quiet time, the yard ramped up deliveries in September. The daily deliveries of Class 442 vehicles from Wolverton Works continued. Then the first of several rakes of HST vehicles moved from Ely on September 22 when Class 37 No. 37884 conveyed Nos. 40705+40740+41 099+42116+42186+44077+440 80. Two days later, the same Class 37 moved Nos. 42191+42193+42 192+42146+42128+42238+421 99+42198+42239 south from Ely. The third rake followed on October 8 when Class 57 No. 57310 hauled Nos. 41120+41150+40748+42091+4 2150+42154+42407+42586.
The Class 365 units stored at Crewe are also now moving to Newport, there no longer being any future use for these units.
The first move on
October 5 had Class 57 No. 57312 move Nos. 365537+
365505. Two days later Class 37 No. 37884 took Nos. 365519+365527. The following week Nos. 365503+365513 were taken south by Class 37 No. 37884 on October 12 followed by the same Class 37 taking Nos. 365517+365531 on October 14.
Derby RTC & Network Rail
NOTED on September 1, the 1Q53 from Eastleigh Arlington to Southampton Up Yard was first seen passing platform 1 at Surbiton station ‘top and tailed’ by Class 37 Nos. 37219 and 37057. The train then reversed at Wimbledon Park Carriage Servicing Depot and was seen again approaching Raynes Park station. The train consisted of Brake force runner No. 72612, Radio survey coach No. 977868, Special vehicle No. 5981 and Generator No. 6264. The four-weekly 1Q23 test train from Welwyn Garden City to Cambridge Reception Sidings on September 15 was noted at Dovercourt on the Harwich branch with Colas Rail’s Class 37/0 No. 37175 leading a consist of Nos. 9523+977997+72631+977969, with Europhoenix Class 37/6 No. 37611 Pegasus on the rear. Two track machines, Plasser & Theurer 08-16/4x4C80 tampers numbered Nos. DR 73921 and DR 73922 John Snowdon, were seen stabled at Wrexham General station on September 25. The New Measurement Train was noted arriving at Leeds on September 27 whilst working from Darlington Up Sorting Sidings to York. The train was headed by No. 43062 in yellow livery with No. 43299 in red at the rear. Colas Rail’s tamper No. DR73910 Jupiter ran from Stoke-on-Trent to Oxenholme on September 28. Class 37s Nos. 37116 and 37219 ‘top and tailed’ a rake of Network Rail Track Inspection rolling stock from Derby to Carlisle via Whitehaven, the train being observed passing Ulverston.
Our thanks
The Railway Magazine’s thanks for information go to: Paul Atkinson, Mike Bechley, Gene Collins, Mike Cooper, Graeme Elgar, Peter Fletcher, David Gurr, Christopher Hinch, Barry Knock, Sean Morris, Richard Moxon, Martin Osman, Mark Reynolds, R.D. Richardson, Terry Smart, Roy Thurley, Jake Wallace, Ian Walton, Craig Wellum, Chris West.