Operations Track Record
66776 Joanne and 66774. It was the latter, a week later, which brought in 4L43 at 08.30 as the sole freight inhabitant of the yard that weekend. In the interim, there was only one trip from the Harwich Refinery to North Walsham and back on January 12 and 13 in the hands of No. 66713 Forest City.
The Harwich branch and Manningtree-Ipswich section of the GEML were closed over January 22/23 and no stopover intermodals occurred. The only Class 66 in Harwich Parkston Quay being No.
66716 Locomotive and Carriage Institution Centenary 1911-2011, which on January 19 was seen attached to four container wagons left in HPQ yard from the previous weekend but was then noted at Ipswich at 11.17 on 6P41 empty condensate tanks movement to North Walsham returning the following day under 6A32.
The four containers left in Harwich PQ yard were removed by an unknown GBRf traction between the afternoon of January 25 and the morning of January 26, presumably taken to Felixstowe, and on that latter day the Belmond Royal Scotsman livery No. 66743 arrived at the Harwich Refinery for the weekly condensate tank trip under 6P41 to North Walsham, running some 110 minutes late on departure, but returning reasonably on time with the loaded tanks under 6A32 the following day.
Class 66 No. 66708 Jayne turned up at the Harwich Refinery on January 31 and duly took the empty tanks to North Walsham but then went light engine to Peterborough MPD the same day rather than the normal overnight stay at Ipswich Reception Sidings, and it was not until February 3 that twotone grey heritage Railfreight liveried No. 66793 went to Ipswich then North Walsham and brought the loaded tanks into Harwich PQ yard and very slowly manoeuvred two tranches of nine tanks round the spur and reversed into the Refinery grounds. On the following Monday, February 7, No. 66787 turned for the empty tank run and proceeded to follow the same course as No. 66708, returning to Peterborough in the afternoon.
With the Harwich branch closed on Sunday, February 6, only No. 66777 Annette turned up with a stopover intermodal 4L28 from Doncaster iPort on February 5, but surprisingly on Wednesday, February 9
No. 66743 turned up in
Harwich Parkeston Quay yard on 4L20 00.55 Masborough GBRf-Felixstowe South GBRf instead of at the latter port and remained split across two sidings in the yard all day.
The 4Y19 from Mountfield Sidings to Southampton
Western Docks was seen passing Barnes station on Friday, January 14 behind Class 66
No. 66758 The Pavior.
MoD traffic reported includes Class 66 No. 66736 on a Glen Douglas to Kineton diagram on January 14. A change of power on January 17 had No. 66751 on a Kineton-DonningtonBicester move. The same loco was reported the following day on a Kineton-Marchwood turn, working from Marchwood to Southampton Western Docks on January 19. The next day it powered a Southampton Western Docks-Kineton-Bicester diagram. A further change on January 24 found No. 66778 on a Marchwood-Southampton West Docks-Kineton move.
A new traffic flow for GBRf has started from Newhaven Marine to Thorney Mill. The diagram is empties from Tonbridge to Newhaven, loaded box wagons to Thorney and empties to Tonbridge. This train ran on January 23 and 24 hauled by Class 66 No. 66793 in Railfreight Grey livery with Construction sector decals. On January 30 the train was double headed by
Nos. 66786 and 66741.
On January 31 it was again double headed but by Nos. 66799 and 66741. No. 66799 is in brand-new condition and really showed up superbly even though No. 66741 was also clean. The diagram is still there but the service did not run on February 9 or 10. For a line that had no freight south of Haywards Heath in the 2000s, there is now one diagram on most weekdays and sometimes two or three. Freightliner operate to and from the Day Aggregates terminal close to Newhaven Town and DBC also operate to the terminal at Newhaven Marine.
A Snow and Ice Treatment Train (SITT) working from Tonbridge West Yard to Purley Down Siding was seen pausing by platform 3 at West Croydon station on Friday, January 21. The train ran via Redhill, Horsham, London Bridge, East Grinstead, London Bridge
(again) and Tattenham Corner.
A little later it was seen again during its afternoon visit to London Bridge where it reversed by platform 10. On departure from London Bridge the train consisted of Nos. 66794 Steve Hannam top-and-tailing with 66791.
It is reported Class 69
No. 69004 left Longport on Monday, January 24. It was observed on January 28 passing Chichester at 11.56 en route to Eastleigh Works paint shop.
GBRf Class 66 No. 66717 pulled, on Saturday, January 29, a fully loaded train of 28 containers from Doncaster (dep 05.28) via Toton and Crewe to Elderslie (Renfrewshire).
Class 60 Nos. 60085 and failed 60087 were seen passing through Stockport on February 3 with the 6E24 from Northwich to Drax with loaded Biomass.
No. 60085 had been despatched from Liverpool Biomass to aid No. 60087 at Northwich after its failure on 6E10 Biomass in the afternoon.
Observations at Berwick on Tweed produced on January 3 Class 70 No. 70814 heading north with a Network Rail maintenance train. On January 10, Class 56 No. 56113 ran north light engine. Four days later Network Rail Class 950 DMU No. 950001 ran north through Berwick. Finally, a week later on January 21 Class 56
No. 56087 also worked north with a maintenance train, consisting mostly of ballast.
Class 70 No. 70803 moved eight log carriers from Baglan
Bay to Hackney Yard, Newton Abbot on January 17. Two days later the consist ran loaded to Abergavenny.
Class 70 No. 70810 passed through Lancaster at 12.08 running light from Carlisle to Bescot on January 20.
The Grangemouth-Sinfin oil train ran on January 23 hauled by Class 56 No. 56049.
Two Tamper moves reported include No. DR73909 Saturn moved on January 28 from Sellafield (dep 08.01) to Guide Bridge, followed on January 31 when No. DR73942 was moved from Carnforth (dep 10.38) to Wigan.
The Carlisle (dep 12.53) to Chirk loaded log train made a return to the WCML over Shap rather than via Settle on Saturday, January 29, hauled by Colas Rail Class 70 No. 70815.
WCR Class 57 No. 57316 pulled a single Pullman liveried coach plus two maroon Mk.1 coaches on a 5M43/10.12 from Southall to Carnforth on February 7.
Following test runs, a full train of wagons was worked by Class 60 No. 60029 from Willesden to Chessington South where it was loaded prior to returning to Willesden on February 1.
Locomotive Services Ltd
LSL’s Inter-City ‘Swallow’ liveried Class 87 No.87002 Royal Sovereign hauled a rake of empty coaching stock, made up of matching Mk.3 coaches with
DVT No. 82139 on the rear, from Crewe (dep 09.00) to Carlisle on January 13. Later that afternoon, the formation returned south from Carlisle (dep 14.57) with the DVT leading. Later, on January 26, the formation was out again on the WCML working a 07.10 Euston to Glasgow Central and back, the train seen passing through Lancaster at 11.25 and 18.06. It was later observed arriving back at Euston at
21.30. Thirty minutes later the formation departed back to Crewe.
LSL’s green and silver Class 43 HST set Nos. 43058+43059 ran ECS on January 20 from Crewe (dep 10.10) to Carlisle and back, seen passing through Lancaster at 11.14 and 13.50. On Friday, January 28 Class 20 Nos. 20096+20107 passed Thankerton while working the 0Z16/08.18 Carlisle High Wapping Sidings to Bo’ness via Bo’ness Junction Exchange Siding to collect Class 20 Nos. 20302+20305+Class 37 No. 37703 (37067). The convoy left Bo’ness Junction at 12.42 formed of Class 20s Nos. 20096+20107+Class 37 No. 37703 (37067)+Class 20 Nos. 20302+20305. A further move followed on January 31 when LSL Class 40 No. 40013 Andania took the Class 37 through to Barrow Hill for Harry Needle Railroad Co. LSL’s green retro liveried Class 37 No. D6817 (37521) ran light from Crewe (dep 08.20) to Appleby via Carlisle and back (dep 14.19) on January 31. On the outward journey the Class 37 was looped into Platform 3 at Lancaster at 11.05. This was to allow an additional one day-only Avanti WC service (1T63) running from Wolverhampton (dep 09.03) to Carlisle worked by Class 390 No. 390153 to overtake. On Wednesday, January 5 Class 37 No. D6851 (37667) Flopsie in immaculate BR green livery, was seen held at signals by platform 13 at Reading station while working light engine as train 0Z20 from Crewe Holding Sidings to Didcot Terminal Complex. The Class 37 is apparently being used for route learning. LSL’s large logo Class 47 No. 47593 ran light from Crewe (dep 08.40) to Dundee via Shap on February 8. On the following day the Class 47, along with green liveried Class 37 No. D6817 (37521) returned to Crewe, arriving at 14.30.
Class 50 No. 50008 Thunderer and Class 20 Nos. 20205+20189 top-and-tailed Merseyrail Class 777 No. 777005 from Crewe to Kirkdale on January 18. The following day, the locomotives ran from Kirkdale to Kings Norton. The Class 50 was observed in the yard at Kings Norton with two barrier vehicles on February 2. It was out again on February 10 moving Class 196 No. 196108 from Tyseley to Long Marston.
A move on February 8 found Class 20 Nos. 20142+20007 and 20205+20189 top-andtail Merseyrail Class 777 Nos. 777007+777009 from Crewe to Kirkdale.
Sims Metals, Newport
Deliveries to the yard reported include Class 365 No. 365502 brought from store at Doncaster Belmont by Class 37 No. 37800 on January 13. The next arrival was No. 365540 on January 20, also moved by No. 37800 from Doncaster. However, vehicle No. 65974 was removed from the yard on January 21 and taken by road to the East Kent Railway.
Class 365 No. 365512 arrived from Doncaster on January 25 behind No. 37800 and No. 365524 on January 27. Once again, two vehicles Nos. 65917+ 72287 from 365524 being taken by road to the East Kent Railway.
Derby RTC & Network Rail
DR 73950 Plasser & Theurer track machine was seen stabled in the sidings at Barnham on January 17 and 18. Colas Rail’s Class 37s Nos. 37116+37219 top-and-tailed a rake of Network Rail track inspection coaching stock on January 18 from Derby to Carlisle via Whitehaven being seen passing through Lancaster. Class 73 Nos. 73965+73963 top-and-tailed vehicle Nos. Generator 6261 + Track Recording Coach 999550 + Special Vehicle 1256 + Staff coach (former Royal Saloon) 977969 were observed twice at Littlehampton on January 10 while working on the Tonbridge to Tonbridge via Littlehampton and Brighton diagram. They were next reported on Saturday, January 22 on a 1Q78 from Tonbridge West Yard to Woking Up Carriage Holding Sidings, being seen at platform 19 at Waterloo station. It was déjà vu a week later on Saturday, January 29 when train 1Q69 from South Croydon to Derby RTC was seen at platform 19 at Waterloo station. On departure from Waterloo the train was headed by No. 73964 with No. 73965 at the rear and had the same consist as the week earlier. Although using GBRf locomotives these trains are operated and crewed by Colas. An unusual sighting through Woodlesford on January 19 was Volker Rail No. DR 75401 running the 10.52 Holbeck Loco Sidings to Peterborough Eastfield Junction. Colas Rail HST Class 43 Power cars Nos. 43272+43251 were seen in Stockport while working 1Q45 Crewe C.S-Derby R.T.C overnight Network Rail Test Train on January 21. Colas Rail’s Tamper No. DR 73942 was moved from Stoke (dep 08.53) to Carnforth on January 21. Matisa B41UE Tamper No. DR 75411 and Matisa B66UC Tamper No. DR 75501 were noted from a passing train in use at Vauxhall station on Saturday, January 22. A little later Matisa B66UC Tamper No. DR 75502 was noted in the siding north of East Croydon station.
On Monday, January 24 the New Measurement Train with power cars Nos. 43299 and
43290 was seen arriving into platform 1 at Kings Cross forming train 1Q04 from Darlington prior to then forming train 1Q05 to Cambridge Reception Sidings. The same formation worked from Derby (dep 06.11) to Edinburgh via Shap on February 1.
Network Rail Class 73 No. 73951 Malcolm Brinded formed a 10.14 Derby RTC-London Euston light engine move on January 24. Two days later it worked light engine around west London for route learning from London Euston to Kensal Green turnback, via Kensington Olympia, Clapham Junction and Streatham Hill on Wednesday January 26. It was first seen pausing at platform 17 at Clapham Junction and then running into platform 1 at Streatham Hill, before reversing and heading back towards Clapham Junction.
Later in the evening No. 73951 was seen stabled at Euston. The crews being trained were on the Colas payroll.
SB Rail’s Tamper No. DR75013 was moved on January 28 from Walsall (dep 09.18) to Carnforth. It was later observed on February 7 working from Carlisle (dep 12.14) to Lichfield.
Our thanks
THE Railway Magazine’s thanks for information go to: John Atkinson, Paul Atkinson, Mike Bechley, Mike Blomeley, Gene Collins, Mike Cooper, Kevin Driscoll, Malcolm Hutcheson, Martin James, Barry Knock, Andrew Lambert, Sean Morris, Richard Moxon, Dorian Porter, Mark Reynolds, R.D. Richardson, Terry Smart, Tim Stentiford, Craig Wellum and Chris West.