NOTES AND NEWS

WEST COUNTRY AREA

Avonmouth

02/07 66179 worked the 16.04 enterprise service to Warrington (6M75) consisting only of empty cotainer flats. 66194 worked the Tyne yard container train.

11/07 66005 and 66064 were noted stabled in road 5 as spare locos. An in depth study of MGR workings during July recorded the following locos;- 60001/002/003/011/013/023/026/028/035/042/052/056/064/065/067/068/ 070/074/077/081/088/098. 66006/019/054/064/076/082/083/118/130/131/132/142/165/169/172/181/ 187/204/206/207/249. 08500/653 remained unchanged as the local area pilots. Bristol Parkway

01/07 This date saw the official reopening of the station following a £3.5 million refurbishment, wich has seen the building of a new two-tier station building/booking hall and a new footbridge. The 29 year old station, since the beginning of the Summer timetable now sees a half-hourly London to South Wales service.

02/07 MGRs recorded this evening were 66169 and 60077 with loaded trains, other freights were 66040 Tytherington "Stone", 66172 Fawley empty fuel tanks and 57007 Felixstowe liner. Finally 60096 recorded light engine. Motherwell-based 47756 headed a trial Willesden-Hereford container train for Bulmers, being unusually formed with an MPV DB98904+906 and EWS wagons carrying the payload. The service passed during the early evening, seen later were 60094 + 60067 paired on the 6M17 16.38 Newport ADJ-Wembley freight. 05/07 67020 + 67028 hauled 47004/D1524 and 31110 with five RES vans to Barton Hill for the following weekends openday, at 17.12. 56048 worked an up engineers train from South Wales to Didcot at 17.56 and 47 205 was seen with the 20.34 Cardiff Wentloog-Felixstowe containers. 57601 was also noted diverted this way with the 1C50 15.42 Paddington-Exeter service.

07/07 59204 worked the Tyherington stone service.

09/07 Noted this evening were 66160 Tyne Yard "Boxes", 60068 empty MGR bound for Avonmouth, 66020 Tytherington Stone and 66209 Fawley empty fuel train.

11/07 60062 + 60011 were unusually paired on the Didcot-Cardiff Tidal tanks at 18.52.

12/07 60031 + 60023 were paired on the 6M17 and 47292 headed the Felixstowe liner. Two MGRs noted this evening 60026 Didcot bound, 66056 empties to Avonmouth and 47292 Felixstowe liner.

13/07 66222 worked the 6V70 08.57 Cliffe Vale-St.Blazey freight. 16/07 47744 + 47722 worked a Serco test train to South Wales just after 13.00 in top n'tail mode and 58030 headed the Tyherington-Westbury stone service. Recorded were 60028 with a Didcot bound a mgr and 60043 MGR empties for Avonmouth, star turn was 58030 working Tytherington Stone and lastly 47292 Felixstowe liner.

17/07 Another Serco test train was recorded during the day this time top n'tailed by 47772 + 47787. 19/07 Two MGRs, a "Civils" and the "Liner" noted this evening, 60028 loaded for Didcot with 60002 empties for Avonmouth, 66207 with a rake of 4 wheel stone hoppers and 47289 Felixstowe bound.

20/07 47772 + 47787 again appeared on a Serco test train, and 180103 was seen on test/crew training from the London direction. 23/07 66127 hauled the Tytherington-Westbury stone service and test-unit DB999600/601 passed at 14.45 heading down being later seen at Oldfield Park, Bath passing up through the goods loop non-stop.

23/07 All the expected freights materialised this evening starting with 66127 Tytherington Stone, 66209 Tyne Yard "Boxes", 66222 "Fuel Train" and 47150 Felixstowe liner and a bonus 66186, light engine.

24/07 66162 headed the Tytherington stone and 20308/313 the Bridgwater-Crewe nuclear flask service at 14.25. 26/07 MGR traffic comprised one empty rake for Avonmouth headed by 66107. Other non passenger traffic noted, 60008 "Civils" working comprising 4 wheeled hoppers towards South Wales, Fragonset 47703 towing ecs HST rake northwards and 47334 powered the Felixstowe liner.

30/07 66211 powered 6V70 and the Bulmers containers, complete with headboard! was worked by MPV DB96805+804 (this week running WFO, having last week run MWFO). The normal passing time for Parkway is around 15.30. 60010 worked the 6M17 Wembley freight.

30/07 Early evening highlight at 18.30 was Freightliner loco 66606 heading westbound light engine. The more routine part of the evening saw 60039 Tytherington Stone and 66003 "Fuel Train", there was no sign of any MGR services or the Felixstowe liner. Passenger services were disrupted with an average of 30 min delay on many services, problems near Bath resulted in a couple of services being diverted via Parkway, Oxford-Bristol service worked by 165133 and a Bristol-Paddington HST.

Bristol Temple Meads and Barton Hill

02/07 66139 arrived with the MO fuel tanks ex. Westbury being tripped to St.Phillips Marsh depot by 47 727 this being until recently a Class 08 duty. An afternoon view of Barton Hill depot recorded the following;- 08896. 47727/765(withdrawn). 67009/019/022/026. 60010 headed the 6V70 08.57 Cliffe Vale-St.Blazey freight loaded to 24 wagons. 03/07 57601 has continued to work the 09.20 Plymouth-Paddington and 15.42 Paddington-Exeter, the latter on this date being recorded running 70 minutes late.

04/07 20308/315 powered the Bridgwater-Crewe nuclear flasks.

05/07 66162 noted heading south light engine at 02.00.

06/07 20309/313 headed the Bridgwater-Crewe flasks and 66 222 the 6V70. 60024 powered the balancing 6M72 16.55 St.Blazey-Cliffe Vale freight. A stone train recorded at 21.10 heading south powered by 66009.

07/07 47772 + 47703 were paired on the 1M31 15.08 Paignton-Preston and Thames liveried 166210 replaced the normal Class 165 on the 09.50 service to Oxford. The 1V37 06.08 Preston-Paignton was worked by 47742 and stock with DVT 82141 at the rear. During the afternoon 47787 worked a return VSOE trip to Newton Abbot and loadhaul liveried 60059 headed the 6B19 Exeter-Cardiff Tidal scrap metal. A view of Barton Hill depot during the morning, on the day of a low key staff/family and friends open day recorded the following;- 08896. 31110. 37350/D6700. 47004/D1524. 50035. 60081. 66250. 67010/023/026. 90037. D172. D1015. Steam loco;- 5029 Nunney Castle. Reported to be inside the sheds were;- 08904. 47765 (withdrawn). 67004/027/028. C/stock present was;- 17056. 35461. with two chocolate/cream catering vehicles. During the day 47725 was named Bristol Barton Hill Depot (ex. Railway Mission), 67010 Unicorn and TPO Coach 80384 C.W.Dennel MBE.

09/07 At 07.30 all the exhibits had gone from Barton Hill except 60081 (which departed light at 07.45 north and steam loco 5029 which was booked to work 12.12 loco and support coach to Didcot. Also present was 08896. 47725/787. 67004/009/020/026/028/029, and withdrawn 47765 removed from its shed hiding place. Later 47725+67 009 were paired on the 1M59 09.40 Temple Meads-Warrington vans, 67023 the 1E41 17.23 Plymouth-Low Fell parcels (one of the locomotives first duties excluding test runs)

10/07 Two stock moves during the day were;- 47787 with 5Z48 Barton Hill-St.Blazey returning light to Bristol and 47846 which hauled a St.Phillips Marsh-Laira working formed of barrier van 6330 and power car 43027. In the early hours 60068 was noted southbound with a coal train at 00.25, and ten minutes later 66071 headed north with the Furzebrook - Hallen lpg tanks.

11/07 20309/311 worked the Bridgwater-Crewe flasks.

12/07 A broken rail between Ivybridge and Hemerdon caused delays to northbound services following the introduction of single line working. Amongst the delayed trains were the 10.57 Plymouth-Wolverton Royal Train ECS top and tailed by 47 798+47799 with coaches 2921/904/923/917/915/920. The 6C92 13.46 Bridgwater-Avonmouth trip headed by 66 201 was formed with three empty HAA/HBA Coal hoppers, two German registered bogie flats, and three empty MEA wagons. It was learnt the coal wagons were acting as brake runners as the bogie flats were operating with isolated brakes. The LPG again seen in the early hours at the same time, motive on this occasion was 66209.

16/07 Two workings noted within 10 minutes this afternoon were 60024 with the southbound "Enterprise" service at 15.50, then northbound was 58030 with empty stone wagons for Tytherington.

18/07 66215 worked the 6S55 Burngullow-Irvine china clay slurry tanks and 60010 the 6V70. Another Virgin Voyager set was reported to have visited the West Country, returning as 11.30 Exeter-Barton-under-Needwood the set being unidentified. Burngullow-Irvine clay slurry service noted at 14.45 behind 66173.

19/07 Bridgwater-Sellafield flasks noted en-route at 15.05 behind 20314/315.

20/07 66605 noted at the Marsh at 15.00, noted later in the evening heading northbound through Stapleton Road in the company of 665??. (Replacement locos noted at Parkway earlier in the evening these being 66525 + 66604)

21/07 45112/D61 and 31459 top and tailed a 04.30 Lancaster-Penzance (1Z45) Fragonset charter using West Coast, Carnforth based stock. The train passed Yatton to time at 10.03 outward, and 19.56 on the return (1Z38 15.54 Penzance-Lancaster) at Flax Bourton where all was not well with the Peak with smoke and flames coming from the exhaust vent. A very smoky departure from Temple Meads followed but problems were encountered on Ashley bank requiring the Class 31 to push from the rear to Parkway. At Parkway the 31 ran round and piloted the train onwards to Cheltenham where the 45 took on water, the engine being restarted for the run over the Lickey to the north. No other problems were encountered, but quite an eventful debut mainline run!

22/07 Class 180 No 180103 made a class debut at St.Phillips Marsh depot arriving during the afternoon. .

23/07 A publicity launch for a new 180 bus service operated by First Group alongside the wheel lathe at the Marsh, with 180103 and 43001 (alias 43029 with a second class coach) all carrying the First Group colour scheme took place during the afternoon, the 180 then running the short distance to Temple Meads. A number of buses along with dignitaries were viewed in the car park by the wheel lathe. 67010 tripped the depot fuel tanks into the depot around 14.45. The 6V70 was later seen double-headed with 66148 + 60027.

24/07 57601 continues working the 09.20 Plymouth-Paddington and 15.42 Paddington-Exeter First/GW services. 60072 powered the 6M72 16.55 St.Blazey-Cliffe Vale freight.

25/07 166211 worked the 09.49 Oxford -Bristol service in place of a Class 165 and 180103 returned to London at 18.45 again via Bath. Also recorded were;- 66105 with the 6S55 slurry tanks, 47 845 hauling a west bound Virgin HST set, 47736 with the 1V62 16.44 Warrington-Plymouth mails and earlier the 6V70 loaded with nine wagons, which was reported to have run west via the Weston-Super-Mare loop. At 23.50, 66199 observed heading north with a stone train.

26/07 Stone train noted today at 15.35 also heading north behind 66200.

27/07 An afternoon session by the main London line saw four locomotives pass by, 58025 civils service towards Bath, 59001 light engine, 57601 Paddington - Plymouth and 66525 with the Binliner. Bristol-Oxford services noted utilised 158.862 and 165.124. There were operating problems as only a couple of trains were noted between 15.50 - 16.40 followed by a mass of arrivals and departures. Two workings recorded near Lawrence Hill were 66227 at 16.35 with the southbound "Enterprise" and 66200 with a coal train at 17.45.

31/07 67028 worked a 5Z74 10.12 Barton Hill-Exeter and 11.52 return stock move, 20314/315 the Bridgwater-Sellafield flasks and 66138, having run west light, collected seven VKA vans from Bridgwater for Avonmouth.

Portishead Branch

04/07 66172 worked a further 7W18 ballast drop from the Pill side of No3 tunnel to a point near enough opposite Sea Mills. 18/07 66048 worked another ballast train dropping the load between the point opposite Sea Mills to the Chapel Pill farm cutting (before Ham Green tunnel). The sidings at Bristol West are rumoured to be returning back to use as all the cars have now been moved away from the site an GTRM engineers have been noted carrying out repairs on the manline connection.

Westbury

04/07 Observations between 16.00 and 17.10 recorded the following locos;- 08664. 58043. 59001/004/101/206. 66048/058/162/605. Track machine;- DRC78228. The Class 66/6, was present in the Up yard on a ballast working in the 'virtual quarry' recently setr up there. 66604 was present the previous day, the location being served by an as required working from Southampton currently in the hands of Freightliner traction.

Weston-super-Mare

Engineering works during early July saw the platform 2 line replaced, between 21.00 and 06.00, on 2nd-5th, 9th-12th and 16th-19th. This invovled a 19.30 top n'tail ballast working via Bristol, arriving around 22.00. Locos noted were;- 58016 + 58050 (10th), 58 050 + 66 xxx (12th), 58050 + 66116 (13th), 66040 + 66 127 (16th). Road/rail machines present were;- Hughes;- 382/N683HPO, 679, 729 and caterpillar 164.

Weymouth

07/07 47793 worked a 'Nenta' 1Z93 05.48 Norwich-Weymouth railtour with Anglian coaching stock;- 9705, 6812, 6818, 6123, 6042, 5944, 5922, 10233, 3399, 3368, 10214, 3417 WHICH returning as 1Z94 16.58 to Norwich. Also recorded was a very cleaN 47712 with the 1M81 17.15 to Manchester.

28/07 Both Weymouth Virgin XC suffered loco failures today! 47741 with the 1M13 09.20 to Liverpool required assistance from Southampton by 47 817 and the 1O10 09.17 Liverpool-Plymouth failed on arrival at Reading being helped forward by EWS 47793. The arrival at Weymouth was 90 minutes late with a dead 47847 still attached to the rear complete with a bardic lamp! This will be the final Summer of loco-hauled services to the South Coast with a Voyager take over next year.

Avon to Calvert Binliner

This month's sightings are as follows: 02/07: 66511. 15/07: 66524. 24/07: 66525/604. 27/07: 66525.

Locomotives and Units

RES (CD): 47725/727/744/772/736/787. VT (TO): 47722/741/742/747/806/807/810/822/827/828/829/831/841/ 47844/845/847/849/851/853/854. F (DF): 47701/703/712.

67001/003/004/005/007/009/011/012/013/014/015/016/017/018/019/020/ 67022/023/024/025/027/030.

143601/610/611/612/613/614/617/618/619/620/621/622/623. 150219/221/230/232/236/238/239/240/241/242/243/246/247/248/249/251/150261/278. 153303/327/353/370/380. 158745/815/817/819/821/822/823/825/826/827/828/829/830/831/832/834/158835/836/837 158839/840/841/843/857/860/863/864/866/867/868/869/871.

Postal Sets Noted

4s (PCV)

94309 94198 94147 94327

94304 94176 94205 94306

94334 94108 94202 94318

94338 94132 94137 94344

94326 94116 94192 94321

94335 94138 94160 94317

94316 94177 94172 94305

94311 94211 94208 94315

4s (BG)

94420 94182 94111 94413

94510 94229 94213 94512

94411 94155 94190 94446

94410 94148 94107 94517

94403 94123 94222 94499

94479 94133 94104 94496

5s

94499 94222 94123 94121 94403

94463 94195 94164 94106 94451

94447 94180 94119 94101 94473

94443 94214 94227 94200 94408

94454 94196 94225 94221 94486

94462 94118 94203 94168 94485

SOUTH WALES AREA

Cardiff Canton

Cardiff Canton was viewed on several occasions during the month and the following observations were made:-

01/07 08493/756/801/819/955. 37222/229/403/412/414/415/898/901/904. 47365. 60027/067/069. 66181. 67028.

08/07 08493/756/801/819/955. 37222/403/415/419/425/898/901/904. 47365. 60013/027/059/062/070/072/088. 66062/135/181/187/207/250.

15/07 08493/756/801/819/921/955. 37222/419/901/904. 47365. 60011/013/059/062/069/088. 66117/132/148/187/223. 67022/026.

22/07 08493/756/801/819/955. 09203. 37222/901/904. 47365/744. 60004/022/097. 66057/112/131/197/208/222.

29/07 08493/756/801/819/955. 37222/412/428/901/904. 47365/744. 59001. 60009/011/050/077/079/080/098/099. 66145/151/154/157. 67016.

Cardiff Tidal Sidings

During the month the following observations were made.

01/07 08466/481/770/907/951. 09003.

08/07 08466/481/770/72/907/951.

15/07 08481/752/770/907.

22/07 08466/481/770/752/907/951.

29/07 08466/752/951.

Newport

06/07 09203. 37412. 47303. 56094. 60002/035/052. 66012/013/034/061/160/181/192.

13/07 09203. 37412/419/706. 47287. 60002/042/063/075. 66021/118/131/132/138/143/181/208/232. 67016.

20/07 09003/101. 37419. 47303. 56131. 60015/050/065. 66006/027/154/209/223. 67011.

27/07 09203. 37419. 47197. D9000 60010/050/072/073/096. 66088/131/153/172/200/201/207/226.

Units noted during the month

143610/612/619/623. 150219/230/233/234/238/239/240/241/242/244/249/251/253/263/266. 153303/305/318/327/353/362/368/373/382. 156405. 158746/782/794/796/815/816/817/819/820/821/822/826/827/828/830/832/ 158834/835/836/837/838/839/840/841/845/860/863/864/865/868/869/870/ 158871/872. 170508/631.

Severn Tunnel Junction

11/07 Observations dyring the afternoon recorded the following points of interest;- 37706 with the 6V14 Saltend-Baglan Bay vinegar tanks at 15.31, 67005 + 67017 top n'tailing the Swansea-Bristol RMT parcels and 37419 with up steel empties towards Gloucester at 19.03. Central units noted;- 158788/792. 170518/530. A 'tango orange' 153353 with 158826 worked towards Bristol with a local service at 17.28.

STOCK ALTERATIONS

Locomotives

Transfers 08593(OC)/599(AN)-IM, 08665(IM)-AN, 08783(IM)-OC, 57601(LA)-LE.

Store 08578/806. 47775. 86424. 73235.

BH: 08517/634. BQ: 08445. BS: 37702/802 (en-route GIF-Spain). BW: 37229/403/425. CD: 47775. CE: 86424. CH: 47449. FB: 08685/893/914/924/942. ML: 08578. PM: 43029. SD: 20016/057/066/073/081/092/132/138. SP: 37185/225/264/414. SP: 47146/241/312. SS: 73203/206/209/213/235. TE: 08806. TO: 56100. WB: 37893/895 (en-route to Italy). DML(Plymouth): 37111.

Component Recovery 73104/132/139.

Traffic 08402 -ML, 37350 -WK, 47349 -FD, 47770 -CD, 67023 -CF, 86210 -CE.

Withdrawn 33019/025/030/116/202. 73105/114/140/141.

Disposals CRDC: 31432. 37140. H Needle: 31174. 33038. Cotswold Rail: 08625.

Renumbered 91010 - 91110.

Diesel Multiple Units

Transfers 158797(TS)-HA. 170399(TS)-HA.

Stored 51177/185/224/226/506/511/533. 53160/164/269. Dept: 977866/873 @AL. LO: 51177/185/224/511/533. 53160/164/269. SS: 51226/499/505. 53256. 54408.

Withdrawn 141106/112 - Connexxion(Holland).

New Stock 175113 (50763 + 56763 + 79763) -CH. 220006/021 -CZ.

Electric Multiple Units

Stored 310047/049/051/052/057/060/077/085/086/101/102/104/105/107/108 312728

Traffic 334006/010/011/012/019/020/021/022/023/028. 357006-020/022-046. 375610/613/615-618/620/622-627. 4588005-16/21/22. The above are advised as being units available for daily use.

New Stock 334031/032/033/034/035 -GW.

Coaching & NPCC Stock

Transfers 4940 -FW, 80217. 99125/312/318 -CS.

Stored 95300/301. 95400/410.

CF: 35515. KI: 4849/54/66/75/76/80. 5278. 5412. 35513/516/518. TO: 95300/301. ZB: 95400/410.

Traffic Pullman 349 -TM, 10601 -PZ, 17105 -CP.

Disposals HNRC @Carlisle: 975695/696/712/722/732/742/904/905.

PRESERVED AND INDUSTRIAL

West Somerset Railway

06/05 The following locos were in use were 4144. 9466. 80136. D7017.

30/07 47 727 worked a Cheshire Tours 1Z80 0758 Redhill-Minehead excursion throughout returning as 1Z81 17.20 to Redhill.

Dean Forest Railway (19/05/01) The Newport Open Day Committee held what was to be their final charity fund raising at Lydney Junction on the DFR during the day. Locos present were;- 56111. 58042. 60081. 66250/524. Preserved;- D172. 37906. 47306. In use during the day operating a passenger service were preserved Class 37s;- 37029/308 hauling coaches;- 4923 + 21129 + 4891 + 4862 + (DW80943) on separate trips between Junction and Norchard stations. Also in use on passenger duties during the day were;- steam 5541. D3937 and DMU 50619+56492. Planet FH3947/60 was also in use with a GWR toad brakevan, but failed. Also noted at Lydney Junction were 08 625/769, both heavily stripped and track machine DX98101 under overhaul. A new station had been opened at Lydney Town just south of the A48 road crossing, on 22/04/01, this being the fourth on the line. National Waterways Museum, Gloucester City docks. (28/05/01)

A repainted dark green 0-4-0F 2126/42 was visible on display. Also three cranes are present;- Balmforth (c. 1880) 4wvb. Gibbens 1.25ton. Smith/Rodley 4wvb No.1624 (Booth 4973/24). Bristol Harbour Railway (09/06/01)

Parry railbus No.10, which has not seen any passenger work since October last year, ran along the Wapping Wharf branchline as far as the Ashton Swing bridge to attend an exhibition on the enviroment at the Create centre (which now occupies the B bond, former tobacco warehouse). This was a rare outing for this vehicle which relies on a shore supply to top up power a facility not being available at the end of this line. Henbury (P1940/37) was in use on the quayside during the day giving the regular passenger trips, the previous day Portbury (1764/17) was sucesssfully steamed, for the first time for around three years following an extensive overhaul. The loco has lost it's nameplates and carries a grey with yellow lining former Port of Bristol livery with the lettering on the saddle tanks LW&D34. The quayside in front of the industial became a giant 'prop' for a Bristol Old Vic 'Up the Feeder, Down the 'mouth and back again' play which featured the steam locos on short goods trains 'on stage' as well as a specially brought in vessel the 'Lucie' certainly the biggest ship to visit the city docks for a number of years. ESSO/Conoco (Bitumen), Cattewater, Plymouth. (25/06/01)

HC D1373/45 and RR10199/64 (OOU) were visible. Hayle Station, West Cornwall. (30/06/01) Rail Holiday Co. Ltd., the family run business who operate the 'Old Luggage Van' a self-catering holiday venue at St. Germains (East Cornwall), have set up a second camping coach alongside the Cornish mainline on land leased from Railtrack on the downside at the station. SK 25355, Formerly of the South Devon Railway and latterly Bodmin arrived at the beginning of the month and is to be converted to sleep six persons for self-catering accomodation.

Steam Trips Cancelled.

A proposed "feast" of Didcot based mainline steam hauled passenger trains, proposed to rin in mid July to train EWS drivers was cancelled by Railtrack a week before they were due to run. They are now planned to operate at the end of September, running from Bristol Temple Meads, Gloucester, Newport and back to Bristol. With locomotives 5029, 4930 and 6024.

DEPARTMENTAL & TRACK MACHINES

31/03 Bristol Kingsland Road DR73805 03/04 Weston-superMare 73264 04/04 Ashton (and Portishead b/line) R/R S604LUG. S605LUG. 13/04 Redwick (Severn Tunnel) BCL Services S620JLM. 05/05 Bristol East Depot 73253 C/Stock DW150144. 09/05 Portishead b/line (additional) R/R R834DUB. Jarvis Bruff/rail MPP7136. 19/05 Tidenham (near Chepstow) R/R BCL Services 017. 23/05 Weston-super-Mare 73906. 31/05 Ashton (in use) 73414. 02/06 Kingsland Road, Bristol 73906. 26/06 Trerulfoot (near Liskeard) R/R Atlas R/R H925BCP. Alan Pitts. 27/06 Liskeard Station sidings R/R Atlas R/R S499RCV. Roseland.

 

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