Operations Track Record
No. 66710 made the run on April 16. Both departed the yard for Felixstowe on April 19, No. 66730 on 4R43 and No. 66710 booked to leave at 11.07 on 4A03. No. 66760 David Gordon Harris arrived in the early hours of April 19 and duly prepared its consist from the Harwich Refinery to depart for North Walsham under 6P40 at 04.36.
No. 66760 was despatched from Peterborough MPD overnight on April 19 to arrive at the Harwich Refinery and take the empty condensate tanks to North Walsham on 6P40/04.30 and, surprisingly, return the loaded set on 6A32 the same day. With an overnight stay at Ipswich Reception sidings and a return to the Refinery on April 20, it worked the normal 6P41 diagram at 10.30 back to North Walsham and came back the following day with another loaded consist before departing for Peterborough MPD light engine later that same evening. Stopover intermodals in Harwich Parkeston Quay yard were 4L03 (Tinsley) in the hands of
No. 66710 and later in the day on April 23 under 4L28 (Doncaster iPort) with No. 66771 Amanda and, from Peterborough,
No. 66772 Maria added. The latter took 4R43 round to Felixstowe port at roughly 09.30 on April 25, while the former was allocated the 6P41 diagram to North Walsham, leaving No. 66710 to leave the yard at 11.27 under 4A03 round to Felixstowe.
No. 66772 took charge of 6P41 on April 25 from the Harwich Refinery to North Walsham run and made the return trip the following day before staying overnight outside the Refinery gates, and repeated the trip on April 27/28. Since the Ukraine invasion by Russia and higher energy prices, it appears that the double run/week has become a regular feature and if a bank holiday Monday is in the calendar, the GBRf locomotive arrives in the very early hours and uses the 6P40 diagram at 04.30 so that the return trip can be accomplished in the same day, a feat that No. 66731 Capt. Tom Moore A True British Inspiration accomplished on Tuesday, May 3, after the May bank holiday weekend.
Observations at Tuebrook sidings Liverpool produced Class 66 No. 66796 on April 6 and 13 and on May 5 and 6. Over the past few months Nos. 66793, 66794 and 66795 have also been noted here, believed to be working the stone trains from Penmaenmawr.
While at Doncaster for the day on April 6, a correspondent noted Class 66 No. 66775
HMS Argyll with barrier coaches 64664 Liwet and
64707 Labezerin with two
Class 466s Nos 466002/41 between, working 5Q89/08.28 Peterborough-Doncaster
Works Wagon Shops, arriving at roughly 12.30 and had shunted its consist into Wabtec’s compound within 30 minutes of arrival.
Notable also that day was No. 66785 on 4R79 Doncaster Down Decoy-Immingham Terminal empty hoppers for moving of imported coal to the Radcliffe Power station;
No. 66789 British Rail 19481997 on 6E97 Ripple Lane-Scunthorpe Roxby Gullet loaded ballast consist; and perhaps the unusual sighting of Class 60
No. 60087 working light engine through Doncaster’s West yard at 12.30 heading towards York.
On Saturday, April 9 Class 66 No. 66763 Severn Valley Railway was seen on an engineering train standing by platform 13 at Clapham Junction.
Observed at Jarrow Oil Terminal on April 11 at 07.30, Class 66 Nos. 66797+66771 on a weed killing train.
MoD traffic reported included Class 66 No. 66778 on a London Gateway-Donnington RFT turn on April 12. The next day Class 66 No. 66738 on a Bescot-Kineton-Glen Douglas diagram on April 13, with it returning to Kineton the following day. A further move reported was on April 26 when No. 66753 worked a Kineton-London Gateway diagram, going forward the next day to Donnington Rail Freight Terminal.
Engineering works took place on the West Coast Main Line between Euston and Watford Junction over the Easter weekend. On Good Friday,
April 15 Class 66 No. 66704 was noted, from a passing train, on an engineer’s train near Carpenders Park station. On the same day, No. 66778 was seen in use at Watford Junction station.
Class 66 No. 66770 was noted at the Bow Depot Loading Facility between Stratford and Bethnal Green stations at around 09.45 on April 27 and was subsequently noted by the same correspondent at Tonbridge some three hours later on the 6O60/10.27 Bow Depot-Tonbridge West Yard at the same time as Class 69
No. 69003 had drawn into Platform 1 at Tonbridge with the 4Y19/12.30 Mountfield Sidings-Southampton Western Docks consist.
The visit to Tonbridge on
April 27 included a walk round to the footbridge over the West Yard, Class 69 No. 69004 was parked as well as Class 73s Nos, 73109 Battle of Britain 80th Anniversary, 73119 Borough of Eastleigh, 73128 O.V.S. BULLEID C.B.E, 73141 Charlotte, 73201 Broadlands, 73213 Rhodalyn, 73962 Dick Mabbutt, 73963 Janice, 73964 Jeanette, 73965 Des O’Brien, along with Class 66 No. 66795 Bescot LDC with a consist of empty hopper wagons.
Observed at Eastleigh on Thursday, April 7 at around 15.40 Class 66 No. 66848 was at the rear of the station. On Saturday, April 9 Class 66 No. 66850 David Maidment OBE was seen approaching Clapham High Street station working light engine from Eastleigh East Yard to Hoo Junction Up Yard. Later the same day No. 66848 was noted, from a passing train, on an engineering train at Clapham Junction. Colas Rail Tamper No. DR73922 John Snowden was moved from Millom (dep 09.37) to Preston on April 8. Later on April 13 this same Tamper was moved from Preston (dep 09.58) to Carlisle. It was observed again on May 4 moving from Maryport (dep 11.53) to Guide Bridge via Carlisle and Burnley. Class 70 No. 70812 pulled a train of 20 empty log carrying vehicles from Chirk (dep 04.58) on April 12 over the WCML via Shap to Carlisle. This is an occasional but not regular working. Class 70 No. 70806 provided variety to all the multiple units when it visited Waterloo station on Easter Monday, April 18. Working into platform 16, No. 70806 was running light engine as train 0Z20 from Eastleigh East Yard to Acton Main Line. A little later it was seen again, pausing by platform 4 at Willesden Junction, on its way to Stratford where it was scheduled to reverse before returning along the North London Line to Acton. The regular Sinfin-Grangemouth empty tank train ran on April 25 worked by Class 56 No. 56094. Tamper No. DR73942 was moved on May 2 from Guide Bridge (dep 09.11) to Carnforth.
WCR’s Class 47 No. 47802 pulled an ECS rake of maroon Mk.1 and Pullman liveried coaches on April 21 from Carnforth (dep 12.58) to Southall. The formation returned north to Carnforth on May 5.
Blue liveried but unbranded Class 47 No. 47813 ran light on April 23 from WCR’s base at Carnforth (dep 15.37) to Preston. The Class 47 later took over at Preston a Telford bound rake of Northern Belle coaches which had been pulled from Carnforth to Carlisle and then to Preston via Settle, by Bulleid Pacific No. 34067 Tangmere. The 4-6-2 later returned to Carnforth along with maroon livered Mk.1 No. 99035, observed through Lancaster at 18.35.
On Friday, April 29, the 5Z44/04.26 Carnforth Steamtown to Fort William Junction with Class 47 No. 47245 hauled a rake of stock with support coach No. 99035 and LMS ‘Black Five’ No. 45212 on the rear. In the event, at Carstairs the steam locomotive was detached from the train after the tender suffered a hot axle box. The tender was then taken away by road for repairs to be carried out. On Friday, May 6 the locomotive was reunited with its repaired tender, and left Carstairs Engineering Sidings running as the 5Z45/13.33 Carstairs to Fort William which departed 48 minutes late.
A number of stone trains reported included Class 60 No. 60028 on an empty train from Willesden to Machen quarry on April 26 and again on May 10. Also, on April 26 No. 60046 worked empty wagons from Chaddesden to Aldwarke, going forward on April 28 to Brandon, reportedly with slag.
Locomotive Services Ltd
Looking in pristine condition, LSL’s retro green liveried Class 40 No. D213 (40013) Andania was seen running light through Lancaster at 14.37 on April 19 en route to Carlisle from Crewe. Two days later, No. D213 returned south to Crewe from Longtown MoD (dep 14.00) being seen at Lancaster pulling three blue liveried but unbranded Class 37s Nos. 37603+37604+37609 along with unbranded Class 57 No. 57004. LSL’s Class 37s Nos. D6817 (37688) Great Rocks and No. D6851 (37521) Flopsie doubleheaded an ECS rake of maroon and cream coaches on April 19 from Alnmouth (dep 17.24) via Shap to Crewe. LSL’s green liveried Class 47 No. D1935 (47805) and large logo blue No. 47593 Galloway Princess top-and-tailed a Carnforth (dep 06.02) to Windsor excursion train made up of chocolate and cream Statesman Rail coaches on April 20.
Class No. 50008 Thunderer was out on Thursday, April 21 working from Princes Risborough to Kidderminster SVR where it collected No. 50007 Hercules, the pair then running through to Nemesis Rail, Burton. Two days later, the pair top-and-tailed the Branch Line Society’s ‘Ore and More’ tour from Eastleigh to Eastleigh via Southsea, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Brighton, Newhaven, Eastbourne, and London Cannon Street.
Eastleigh Works
A report from Eastleigh Works in early April included the following: Class 317 Nos. 317714 and 317723 arrived on March 8 for disposal, behind Class 57 No. 57310, followed by Nos. 317729 and 317732 on March 10 behind Class 37 No. 37884. Class 08 No. 08451 arrived for repainting. It came by road to East Yard and had been there a few weeks awaiting tripping over to the Works. Class 66 No. 66708 arrived for repainting. Its Jayne nameplates were removed between March 16-18. Repainted in Ukraine flag livery, it has been well reported and it was released on April 6. Class 59 No. 59205 was derailed in Eastleigh Yard on the night of Sunday, March 13. It was moved into the Works during w/c March 21, on a wheelskate, for repairs. During the same week No. 59203 was also delivered for repairs following a failure at Botley. Class 43 power car No. 43047 was in the paintshop being prepped for a coat of blue and white, currently in primer. Class 37 No. 37716 arrived for wheelset repairs. Class 73 No. 73965 received new wheels and was released at the end of March. Class 69 No. 69005 arrived on April 7 for repainting while Class 66 No. 66792 arrived on April 19 for a spruce-up and fitting of nameplates for a naming ceremony at Felixstowe on April 27. On the multiple unit front, Class 142 No. 142007 was almost prepped ready for repainting. Class 360 No. 360101 is now in EMR purple and departed behind Class 47 No. 47739 on April 7. No. 360102 arrived behind No. 47749 on March 8. This one has had its wrap removed and has been repainted in EMR purple, departing behind No. 57306 on April 14. Further EMR arrivals have been No. 360116 brought in by No. 47739 on April 7 and No. 360113 behind No. 57306 on April 14. Class 313 No. 313121 departed for Hertford and GSMR training on 11th, sporting new ‘destinations’ each end. ‘Pan up Pete’ referring to a particular Driver’s tendency to ‘break’ the unit whenever he puts the pan up onto the overhead. ‘Torrevieja’ being said driver’s favourite holiday destination!
With regard to coaching stock, Mk.3 TF No. 41169 arrived on March 29 behind Class 37 No. 37521 (D6817) with Mk.1 BCK No. 35465 as coupling translator. This is the next one for controlled emission toilet fitment for Midland Pullman. Mk.3 TF No. 41176 departed behind No. 37521 with No. 35465. No. 43049 was tacked on the back for return to Crewe. Mk.1 TSO No. 4959, RMB No. 1832, FO No. 3149 and BCK No. 21269 departed for Burton behind No. 66013 on April 19. Wagons are also dealt with at the Works and IPA Nos. 4375 018-0 and 050-3 are now converted and painted in Groupe CAT blue. Two-car set No. 4392 690-5 is also converted and painted blue. No. 4375 046-1 is currently being converted and repainted. LU FEAS wagons Nos. 640931/37-41 have been stripped of their additional frames and equipment and returned to standard FEA configuration, with Nos.
640936/42/43 are also to be done.
Sims Metals, Newport
The last two Class 365 units have now arrived at the yard with
No. 365536 being delivered by Class 37 No. 37800 on April 13 followed by No. 365506 top-and-tailed by Nos. 37601+37608 on April 25.
A rake of Mk.3 HST coaches Nos. 42167+42231+42563 +42565 arrived on April 14 hauled from Worcester by
Class 37 No. 37800, having been moved the previous day by
No. 37601 from Long Marston to Worcester.
Also delivered by road during April were Class 319 Nos.
319218, 319363/74/78.
Derby RTC & Network Rail
Test train 1Q79 from Tonbridge West Yard to Derby R.T.C. was seen approaching Clapham High Street station on April 9, formed of Class 73 Nos. 73964 Jeanette and 73963 Janice + 6264+5981+ 977983+977868+Class 73 Nos. 73961 Alison and 73962 Dick Mabbutt. The train was operated by Colas. Windhoff MPV Nos. DR 98911 and DR 98961 passed Thankerton working the 10.32 Wigan LIP to Slateford Yard on Thursday, April 14. An unusual visitor down the Harwich branch on April 19 was ‘Minion’ Class 73/9 No. 73951 Malcolm Brinded on 0Z12. It had originated its day from Manningtree’s Down Siding after coming up from Peterborough the previous day and its schedule was to work from Manningtree-Witham-Norwich and back up to Colchester before returning down to Norwich and seemingly the trip down to Harwich Town in the late afternoon was unscheduled. It waited in Harwich Parkeston Quay yard for the 16.26 service from Harwich Town to clear the yard before it trundled down to Harwich Town terminus and returned immediately passing Harwich International at 17.00.
On the afternoon of April 20, SB Rail’s tamper No. DR 73903 was stabled in the downside long siding south of Lancaster station.
Network Rail’s track grinders Nos. DR 79401+79402+ 79403+79404 were stabled in Lancaster’s downside south long siding on Saturday, April 23 having earlier arrived at 01.19 from Rugby.
Colas Rail’s tamper No. DR73910 Jupiter was stabled on Lancaster’s down side long siding on April 26.
Our thanks
THE Railway Magazine’s thanks for information go to: John Atkinson, Paul Atkinson, Fred Barker, Peter Boyce, Gene Collins, Mike Cooper, Kevin Driscoll, David Gurr, Barry Knock, Richard Moore, Paul Moxon, Martin Osman, Roger Phillips, Mark Reynolds, R D Richardson, Terry Smart, Les Sullivan, John Thompson, Craig Wellum and Nick Wilcock.