NOTES AND NEWS
WEST COUNTRY AREA
Avonmouth
02/01 At 12.30, 67017 + 67019 worked a rake of empty coal HTAs from the east
to the west sidings before departing light-engine for Barton Hill depot.
16/01 The first load for the year of imported Irish stone from Belfast was due
to arrive by sea around this date.
17/01 High winds saw coal loading via the silos suspended at 13.00.
24/01 The Fisrt/GW 06.20 Severn Beach-Weston-super-Mare local service, believed
to be formed of a Class 143 unit struck and killed a horse on the line, not long
into it's journey near Severn Beach. No one was injured in the incident, and the
driver was able to remove the body from the running line and able to continue,
but the line was closed whilst road/railer BCL209 (which was present at Hallen
Marsh) was used to remove the animal's body.
25/01 An announcement was made that will see service and possible station
improvements along the Severn Beach line with Bristol City Council reinstating
its £140,000 subsidy which was withdrawn a year ago. The move follows a
campaign by Friends of Surburban Bristol Railways (formerly known as the Friends
of the Severn Beach Line) who lobbied the council. A half hourly 'off-peak'
service will be introduced from the December 2007 time-table change between
Avonmouth and Temple Meads. A further £450,000 will follow towards the service
for a three year trial period, which could see some stations being equipped with
automatic ticket machines and new arrival/departure screens.
31/01 66136 was recorded with the imported stone, now retimed to run as 6C63
10.17 Westbury-Avonmouth and 6C64 14.20 loaded return.
An incident at Sea Mills, where embankment repairs had been taking place close
to the river over bridge, saw the line closed between 17.30-18.00 whilst fireman
dealt with a blaze which destroyed a contractors digger machine at the worksite.
Locos recorded on coal duty during the month have included;
66006/027/044/059/082/089/100/101/105/108/133/138/165/168/177/184/188
66191/201/212/213/217/222/233.
09003 continues as the area shunting pilot.
Bristol Parkway, Pilning and Westerleigh
08/01 Three freight workings seen this evening, 66100 with MGR empties for
Avonmouth, 66211 working ADJ - Willesden "Enterprise" service and
66222 with a loaded MGR from Portbury.
09/01 Following a period of heavy rain, flooding between Westerleigh junction
and Wootton Bassett saw diversions via Bath and Box.
10/01 Diversions were still operating during the day due to flooding.
11/01 Similar to 08/01, the MGR workings were 66243 from Portbury and 66067 to
Portbury and 66154 with ADJ - Willesden "Enterprise" service.
12/01 Cotswold-Rail 47810 worked a 5Z86 07.05 Landore-Brush Loughborough stock
move formed with HST power car 43017 (being noted in Pilning up loop around
08.00) and returned a 5Z87 16.00 Loughborough-Landore working hauling MTU re-engined
43163.
15/01 Just a couple of MGR services seen this evening, 66191 with a loaded train
from Portbury and empties in the reverse direction behind 66008. MetCam
departmental DMU set 901001 was at Parkway, leaving as 4Z08 17.01 to Penzance.
Earlier 59004 was on the Westbury-Tytherington loaded inward blending stone with
59101 (16/01), 59201 (17/01) and 59101 (19/01) also being recorded during the
month.
18/01 Short stay this evening saw 66191 work through with a loaded MGR from
Portbury.
19/01 The new liveried First/GW 'launch train' to South and West Wales was
cancelled due to safety issues, these workings being booked as 5Z30 09.02 Old
Oak Common-Newport, 1Z30 to Swansea, 1Z31 return to Newport and 5Z31 14.53
Newport-St. Phillips Marsh.
22/01 A rundown at Wentlooge terminal has been reported with the depot opening
times being between 06.00 and 18.00 daily each weekday. Today's 4V50 containers
ex. Millbrook were reported as running 139 minutes late behind a Class 66 loco.
22/01 Four MGRs seen this evening, 66213 stabled in the yard with empties,
loaded service from Avonmouth with 66165, two rakes of empties 66082 heading for
Avonmouth and 66008 bound for Portbury. Also seen was 66507 with a loaded stone
train from South Wales eastbound towards Reading.
23/01 Morning observations at Pilning recorded the following;
66208 with 6B65 Westbury-Newport Adj departmental (10.26), 66503 on 4O51
Wentlooge-Millbrook containers (10.56), 66004 with 6C01 Newport ADj-Bristol East
loaded steel (11.19) and 66202 on 6F27 East Usk-Portbury coal empties (11.27).
Also seen during the morning was newly re-engined 43154 (with working with
43165) on the First/GW 09.55 Cardiff Central-Paddington service carrying crudely
applied yellow & black masking tape over its lower front panelling. Further
investigations found the power car had been involved in a fatality near Frome
several days previous.
The EWS 66 hauled, 6C63 empty gunnells to East Usk were reported in trouble in
the London area with wagons derailed in Acton yard.
25/01 66581 was on a 6V60 12.01 Angerstein Wharf-Newton Abbot Hackney yard
loaded stone and 60038 worked 6B33 Theale-Robeston empty fuel tanks.
26/01 31106 and green-liveried 31190 top n'tailed 1B00 11.57 Swindon-Swansea
test train, passing Pilning at 13.01 (formed with coaches ADB977986, 999550,
ADB977868, 6264), before returning on 1Z94 15.01 Swansea-Derby, also having
worked Paddington-Taunton-Swindon during the morning. This was in place of the
unavailable NRMT HST set.
27/01 Track repair work in the Cheltenham area, saw rail replacement road
coaches running between Parkway and Birmingham New Street.
60038 was on the 6B33 Theale-Robeston empty fuel tankers during the afternoon.
29/01 Three freights seen this evening, 66168 with MGR empties for Avonmouth,
and from this location 66027 with a loaded train. Final working was the ADJ -
Willesden "Enterprise" service powered by 66207.
31/01 A morning landslip, west of Chipping Sodbury, saw 500 tonnes of rubble end
up on the up line. Diversions were initially put inplace, then the down line
reopened with a speed restriction through the site, putting an extra 30-40
minutes on journey times. By 15.00 both lines were reopened.
60017 was over at Westerleigh allocated 6E77 fuel empties to Port Clarence.
Bristol Temple Meads, Kingsland Road and Barton Hill
27/12 This was the final day of not previously recorded engineering work in
the London area which saw First/GW services starting and terminating at Ealing
Broadway instead of Paddington from 12.15 on 24/12/06 until 06.15 today.
29/12 Pathfinder's 'Yo Ho-Ho' spin and win railtour (06.10 Swindon-Preston) via
Day's curve and Parkway was hauled outward through the Bristol area by 66210 and
returned by 66120. In between, 37194 + 37229, 60030 and 86614 had powered the
train.
30/12 A MML HST set with power cars 43073 + 43081 worked the 1V05 06.05
Derby-Plymouth and 1M32 18.25 Plymouth-Derby inplace of a Voyager set.
03/01 Portbury bound MGR empties hauled by 66158 seen at 23.30.
To maintain Freightliner Heavy-Haul driver route knowledge in Cornwall, 66604
ran 0Z50 07.30 Kingsland Road-Kingsland Road via Penzance!
With the Hope-Moorswater cement having finished, during September last year, a
new flow using four-wheel PCA tank wagons from Westbury cement works is due to
commence later this year. Another new service to Theale is also planned to
operate again from Westbury.
04/01 Another new FLHH working was 66559 on 6Z39 12.55 Neath Abbey Wharf-Newton
Abbot Hackney Yard loaded stone working through the area during the late
afternoon. This is expected to become a regular once weekly working.
05/01 Two stock moves recorded during the day were;
47828 on a 5Z74 12.38 Laira-St. Phillips Marsh formed; HST power car 43179,
44059, 6348 (barrier coach), 10219 (noted passing Yatton near enough to time at
14.24) and later GBRf 66709 with a 5Z83 16.05 Derby-Laira with; 6338 (barrier),
42167, 42259, 40231, 6336 (barrier), the HST coaches were all carrying the new
First/GW 'neon' lined livery. The Class 67/7 returned light-engine as 0Z13 00.35
Laira-Willesden.
06/01 Engineering work between Swindon and Didcot saw First/GW passenger
diversions as well as some services terminating and starting at Swindon or
reversing and running via Melksham. This was again the case during the following
day.
Railgrinder unit DR79251/252/253/254/255/256/257 worked 6Z03 09.58 Derby-Exeter
(Riverside yard), working 8Z03 10.00 Exeter-Meldon quarry the following day.
07/01 An HST set was used in place of the booked loco and coaches on the
overnight First/GW 1A40 23.00 Penzance-Paddington sleeper service.
09/01 Departmental stock moves during the day saw test unit 950001 work 2Z08
08.17 Bristol TM-Penzance and the rail-grinder set return north as 6Z03 10.29
Exeter (Riverside yard)-Derby, noted passing Yatton at 12.31.
10/01 47810 ran light-engine as 0Z70 13.30 Temple Meads-Laira, returning on 5Z70
17.06 Laira-Old Oak Common formed of eight HST coaches flanked by a barrier
coach at each end. The return was assumed route via Westbury.
Diversions were noted in operation due to flooding between Westerleigh and
Wootton Bassett (see Bristol Parkway Notes & News);
66177 with a Didcot-Avonmouth train of empty coal HTA wagons being seen rounding
Day's curve at 15.10. A view of nearby Barton Hill depot found Arriva Trains
Wales 142083 present for overhaul, this being reported as the final Welsh pacer
set for treatment. Over at Kingsland Road sidings, 66529/530/604/613 were all
stabled and at 15.21, 66551 + 66581 passed them heading towards Bath
light-engine.
11/01 Test unit 950001 returned as 2Z08 Plymouth-Swindon, covering the Severn
Beach and Portbury branch lines en-route. 66506 worked a further 6Z39 12.55
Neath Abbey Wharf-Newton Abbot, Hackney yard loaded stone, returning
light-engine to Crewe.
13/01 FM Rail black liveried 47832 worked Hertfordshire Railtours 'Welsh Marches
Express' (1Z52 07.52 Euston-Shrewsbury) Blue Pullman via Day's curve, being
noted passing Pilning early at 11.16 instead of the booked time of 11.51 for
this location!! The train was originally booked as a top n'tail operation but
the second loco 47703 failed on the ECS, passengers having to join the excursion
by travelling on EMU service trains from Euston to Willesden junction so time
could be recovered! A run over the Melksham line and a reverse move booked for
Westbury (between 10.10-10.40) were also left out. The tour returned to London
during the evening via Birmingham and Oxford. The two dedicated Pullman liveried
locos 47709 and 47712 were not used due to them not having OTMR safety equipment
fitted.
A stock move, a GBRf 5Z82 14.35 Derby-Laira was diverted away from the area due
to engineering works in the Midlands, running via the Berks & Hants and
Westbury. The train was top n'tailed by newly delivered 66726 and 66727 and
formed with barrier coaches 6336 and 6338 with 41167, 42259, 44068 all in the
new First/GW 'neon' lined livery.
15/01 Following the 4th December 2006 timetable change and generally unhappy
travelling passengers, First/GW made changes, with the 06.47 Frome-Cardiff
Central service, from this date, now formed with an extra two coaches (an
additional 106 seats) and the 07.40 Highbridge-Paddington HST now extended to
start at Exeter St. Davids. Other workings were strengthened, using sets drafted
in from Cornish branch lines to Looe and St Ives.
17/01 Still suffering from customer timetable and overcrowding complaints,
First/GW were still able to launch their new £63 million redesigned HST
complete with new 'neon line' livery with a seven coach set running as 1Z30
08.35 Plymouth-Paddington, calling at platform 11 around the booked times of
10.40-11.10, before continuing onwards via Parkway. The train's formation was
recorded as; 43021, 44068, 42187, 42259, 40231, 41167, 43125.
Also recorded during the day were; 57307 running from Birmingham NS-Laira
light-engine for West Country 'thunderbird' duties and Arriva Trains/Wales unit
142083 which departed from Barton Hill depot following completion of its C6
overhaul.
18/01 High winds caused problems, First/GW restricting it's high speed services
to 50mph as a safety precaution and at Chippenham, part of the station roof was
damaged.
On the freight side; 66514 worked a Neath Abbey Wharf-Plymouth Tavistock yard
loaded stone. 59001 returned via Day's curve light-engine for Westbury during
the day following wheel turning at Cardiff Canton.
19/01 66514 returned north on 6Z21 13.52 Tavistock yard-Crewe (via Bristol
Parkway) stone empties.
Freightliner have leased two sidings from Network-Rail in Tavistock yard to deal
with this stone for West Country distribution having been previously off loaded
at Burngullow. The train is still split at Newton Abbot, Hackney yard and runs
onwards in two portions due to weight restrictions over the Devon banks.
Two morning freight moves recorded were; 66096 on 6C01 Newport ADJ-Bristol East
depot loaded steel and 66208 on 6B65 Westbury-Newport ADJ departmental.
22/01 More protests to First/GW saw around 2,000 passengers, including members
of the 'More Trains Less Strain group' take part in a ticket strike!! Fake
'Saver' style tickets carrying the wording 'cattle class', '12% fare increase'
and 'to hell and back' were distributed at stations between Frome and Bristol,
which were unchallenged by First/GW staff at ticket barriers during the day,
although the company did state ''in the future passengers would face prosecution
if found travelling with an invalid ticket''.
Recorded during the day were; 60034 with the 6C01 Bristol East depot steel (the
loco returning as 0C02 light-engine to Newport) and five unidentified Class 66
locos were seen ascending Filton bank in the distance near Ashley Hill on the
6B65 Westbury-Newport ADj departmental!!
Anglian liveried 47714 was later used on a Laira-St. Phillips Marsh stock move
hauling HST power car 43022.
23/01 The return 6C02 Bristol East depot-Newport ADj steel empties, has been
reported retimed now booked to leave at a more realistic 12.56 instead of 14.06,
66004 handling today's working.
66208 was on the 6B65 Newport departmental 'single handed' and 47714 continued
north with an 07.30 St. Phillips Marsh-Brush Loughborough works stock move
hauling power car 43022 to be ne MTU engine fitted. Signalling problems in the
Yatton area affected some services during the day.
24/01 EWS 66196 failed on a 6Z59 08.00 Newport ADJ-Merehead train of empty 'Mendip-Rail'
box wagons between Pilning and Patchway being rescued and moved to Bristol East
by Freightliner's 66581.
25/01 Further action by First/GW protest groups has been to encourage passengers
to add a signature to an e-mail petition to Prime Minister Tony Blair regarding
the December timetable changes, overcrowding and cancellations; over 800
signatures were reported on the Downing Street website in 24 hours!
66171 was on the 6C01 Bristol East depot steel and 66187 headed the 7C79 Parc
Slip-Westbury cement works coal.
The newly reliveried First/GW set was booked to be hauled by 47714 as 5Z87 14.00
Old Oak Common-Laira (via Melksham) following safety issues with the loss of the
door vestibules to increase seating capacity (now seating 35), and space for the
conductor to work from. However the Class 47 failed on the mainline near
Reading, being rescued by 66581. 47828 assisted the train onwards having run
light-engine to Reading from Gloucester, but also failed at Temple Meads! The
HST set remained here the following day on the up through line, with the Class
47s attached.
25/01 Westbury coal empties seen at 14.15 heading north behind 66243 and 15
minutes later 66208 working light engine headed south.
26/01 31128 + 31452 arrived light to collect the failed 47714 + 47828, running
as 0Z02 18.00 Temple Meads-Gloucester and the HST set was eventually moved on to
Laira by two back to back HST power cars.
A late morning light-engine move saw four Freightliner Class 66s run together
from Kingsland Road-Taunton Fairwaters yard.
31106 and 31190 were also recorded during the morning between Bristol and
Taunton on 1C00 Paddington-Taunton and 1A01 Taunton-Swindon, in place of the
unavailable NRMT HST set.
30/01 66187 noted working southbound with a departmental service at 11.00.
Former FM Rail, but now Cotswold Rail owned 47703 ran 0Z68 Gloucester-Burngullow
light-engine.
31/01 47703 returned on a 6Z68 11.05 Burngullow-Gloucester New yard wagon
storage move formed of 10 JIA china clay bogie wagons, originally introduced to
replace the four-wheel china clay 'hoods' at one time used between
Stoke-on-Trent and St.Blazey. However the working did not leave until 12.55 (110
minutes late) and was seen passing Yatton at 16.40 (111 minutes late) still
having not made up any lost time!
The Class 47 was later to re-appear in the area running light-engine from
Gloucester-Penzance to assist the 1A40 23.00 Penzance-Paddington First/GW
sleeper service on which 57603 had failed at the Cornish terminus.
Also recorded during the day was a MML HST set with power cars 43052 + 43074 on
the 08.25 Plymouth-Edinburgh Virgin XC service inplace of a Voyager set and
Royal 67005 which worked a Victoria-Bristol TM VSOE dining special.
The Cardiff - Barton Hill ECS Voyager continues to reverse at Bristol Parkway
and travel to its destination via Avonmouth, passing through Montpelier after
21.30.
Gloucester
08/01 47828 moved HST power cars 43161 + 43179 from Gloucester-Loughborough
for new MTU engines to be fitted, returning with completed power cars 43130 +
43176.
13/01 47810 hauled power car 43163 from Loughborough-Landore.
15/01 The First/GW 21.52 Swindon-Cheltenham Spa service, formed with 158750 was
partially de-railed on the single line approach to Kemble tunnel having struck a
landslide.
Around 30 passengers were eventually led to safety along the track, when it had
been illuminated by engineers, to Kemble station where refreshments were given
in a nearby public house.
Some passengers were able to continue their journey by specially arranged taxis,
the line remaining closed for several days.
The unit was eventually moved on a wheel-skate to Gloucester Horton road
(blocking in some Cotswold locos!), prior to a road movement for repair.
18/01 45112 was present on Horton Road stabling point.
23/01 31452 hauled 33202 as 0Z31 10.30 Derby-Gloucester both having been
purchased along with 31128, 31461, 47703 by Cotswold Rail from FM Rail. 33202 is
reported to be a non-runner, but is to be returned to service in BR blue livery.
47714 returned power car 43135 to Gloucester from Loughborough.
25/01 47853 collected Peak 45112, and picked up 50044 from the Severn Valley
Railway on a move to Crewe.
The Peak was booked to work a York-Holyhead railtour on 27/01, said to be it's
final mainline passenger outing whilst the Class 50 was to donate it's engine as
a replacement for a failed 50031.
A new station has been proposed for a site at Elmbridge Court on the mainline to
Cheltenham.
30/01 47828 headed power cars 43024 + 43169 on a Landore-Loughborough move
returning with re-engined 43179 + 43158.
Portbury Branchline
11/01 Test unit 950001 ran 2Z08 12.32 Temple Meads-Portbury and 13.00 return
to Swindon.
20/01 Signalling problems at Ashton junction level crossing saw 66243 switched
off at signal B335 on East Usk-Portbury coal empties as engineers were sorting
out a link between this signal and the operation of the level crossing barriers
in the relay room building.
It appeared to be only a problem for inward trains, as an outward loaded coal
service passed at 12.16 behind 66200 for Aberthaw.
31/01 At 06.23, a further consignment of Landrovers from Solihull were seen
arriving at the dock for export behind 66108, using wagons on the inward mainly
empty car carriers from Washwood Heath.
Locos recorded on coal duty during the month have included; 66076/101/200/202/212/238/243.
Locos recorded on the 6X52 16.30 loaded car service to Washwood Heath have
included;-
03/01 66223. 16/01 66060. 23/01 66001. 30/01 66221.
05/01 66076. 17/01 66175. 24/01 66001. 31/01 66108.
10/01 66203. 19/01 66014. 27/01 66100.
Taunton
As reported in last months Magazine 73133 arrived at the new engineers
facility in Fairwaters sidings on 20/01. The £1.7 million depot now forms the
base for the new £50 million West of England high output track maintenance
machine which can carry out rail sleeper replacement, level ballast, lay new
sleepers, install new rail all in one continuous process and deal with ballast
cleaning in a separate operation.
The 2006 National Rail award winner works three times faster than conventional
renewal machines and can replace five metres of track, sleepers and ballast
during a single night time operation.
With the new machine in use, the length of line closures for engineering work
will be reduced, there will be improved passenger comfort on smoother track and
a reduced number of speed restrictions.
The high output system was successfully used during the three week closure of
the Bristol-Taunton mainline in the Highbridge & Burnham area during
December last year. An official press day for the opening of the new depot and a
demonstration of the new machine's operation was to have been held on 15/02.
Units noted this period included
143603/611/617/618/621.
150219/232/234/238/243/247/248/265/266.
153382.
158745/750/751/762/765/766/768/769/776/778/790/798/815/816/855/872/966
158967/968.
220004/006/012/017/019/020/025/026/028/031.
221101/102/104/105/106/114/117/122/124/125/129/131/134/136/137/140/141
221142.
SOUTH WALES AREA
Newport
08/01 66506 was noted running light engine towards Cardiff at 06:54.
09/01 47828 hauled 43130 and 43176 from Loughborough to Landore.
22/01 Today's Westbury - ADJ had no less than five 66s in the consist, 66187 +
66193 + 66053 + 66184 + 66013.
26/01 31190 and 31106 top and tailed 6264, 977868, 999550 and 977986 on a
Swansea - Derby Network Rail test train.
27/01 66520 was in charge of a Beeston - Tidal scrap train.
LOCAL FREIGHTLINER WORKINGS
Avon "BinLiner"
04/01 66514 12/01 66581 18/01 66559 29/01 66530 31/01 66551
4V08 Crewe Basford Hall - Wentlooge.
10/01 66574. 12/01 66570. 15/01 66567. 17/01 66571.
4V50 Southampton - Wentlooge.
02/01 66533. 03/01 57011. 04/01 66537. 05/01 57011. 08/01 57010.
09/01 57011. 10/01 57004. 11/01 66503. 12/01 66501. 15/01 66537.
16/01 66504. 17/01 66580. 18/01 66535. 19/01 66579. 23/01 66503.
24/01 57011. 25/01 66502. 29/01 66502. 30/01 66535. 31/01 66534.
LOCAL EWS WORKINGS
6M33 16.23 (SX) Avonmouth-Wembley 'enterprise' freight service
02/01 67017 + 67019. 16/01 67017 + 67019. 19/01 67017 + 67019.
26/01 67018.
6B13/6B47 Robeston - Westerleigh
02/01 60026. 03/01 60026. 04/01 60066. 05/01 60066. 08/01 60072
09/01 60072. 10/01 60059. 11/01 60059. 12/01 60072. 15/01 60076.
16/01 60076. 17/01 60076. 18/01 60076. 19/01 60026. 22/01 60026.
23/01 60026. 24/01 60074. 25/01 60074. 26/01 60045. 29/01 60038.
30/01 60038. 31/01 60038.
FREIGHT REVIEW (By Pete Merry)
Here we go again with another little epistle (if that's the right word) from
yours truly. Unfortunately, I haven't been about as much as I normally am during
the month - I know I don't get about as much as I would like anyway - due to a
family illness. But there should still be something of note to include in this
report.
The normal haunts have been frequented during the month, plus a few sightings at
Leicester. The steel services to and from Corby have been a tad erratic in their
timings. Normally heading north through Leicester loaded in the early hours (I
think it should be about 05.30), I noted it on 12th December at 07.15 in the
charge of 60026 and at 07.20 on 4th January hauled by 60002. The former sighting
was followed five minutes later by 66601 on the Freightliner Heavy Haul
aggregate service to Mountsorrel.
Parked in the up siding at Leicester station on 5th January was Network Rail
Rail Grinder 79261. An evening at Nuneaton on 8th January noted the normal batch
of Freightliner workings along with two W. H. Malcolm workings hauled by 66409
and 66410.
A couple of Freightliner class 66s noted - 66531 and 66541 - are not among the
most common examples seen on the Freightliner services through Nuneaton.
A week later an evening at Rugby was spent and the northbound Enterprise, at
19.14, hauled by 92025, consisted of the following new Freightliner bogie
vehicles: 370535, 370529, 370515, 370533, 369079, 369081, 369080.
Also noted on this particular evening was new DRS class 66, 66419 on the second
of the W. H. Malcolm services. The evening was going along rather swimmingly
until 350115 proceeded to bring the overhead wires down just after 19.30,
stopping everything travelling southbound for quite some considerable time! It
was quite a sight. The unit was on a Birmingham-Northampton service and was just
crossing over to the Northampton line south of Rugby station when it looked as
though Bonfire night had arrived again. Coupled to this was a dull thud and all
the platform lights momentarily went out on the station! Fortunately the
northbound services were unaffected.
A few different bits of information which have come to fruition recently have
been that the four vehicles at Kirkby Stephen - 983527, 983658, 992967 and
993151 (two 'Dogfish' and two 'Catfish') - are going to preservation; the
following vehicles have gone into Internal Use at Celsa (Tremorfa): 950052/ 071/
119/ 162/ 192/ 317/ 418/ 442/ 552/ 635/ 681/ 692/ 738/ 762/ 780.
Regular trains of the new Metronet bogie vehicles are being noted on the Midland
Mainline travelling to and from Wellingborough.
A couple of colleagues spending a day in the Walsall/Bescot area on 1st February
noted quite a few freight workings including a rake of 'Octopus' vehicles and
associated track machines in the virtual quarry. Identities will be obtained for
the next report.
Now on to a location for viewing freight. This month a bit of a strange one.
Stainforth & Hatfield is the first station out of Doncaster on the Goole/Hull
branch and benefits from services which use the Doncaster avoiding line and a
freight only branch from Stainforth Junction to Ardwick Junction on the
Doncaster-Leeds line. A couple of friends recently spent about five hours
positioned there and noted just under thirty freights. I know that, as with
other locations, the services can be hit and miss, but this location certainly
appears to be a winner. Apologies for the sparse information this time.
Hopefully, everything will be back to normal next time. Have some good days out.
STOCK ALTERATIONS
Locomotives
Transfers
31452/461. 33202(DF)-GL, 43023/035(PM)/163/168/177/185(LA)/196(EC)-LE,
66045/052/062 - France.
WBAI: 66003/020/023/039/043/051/078/160/166/168/182/201/231/245/248
WBAM: 66005/132/140/183/198/226/234 WBAN: 66026/184
WBAK: 66066/090/097/117/124/159/177/188/205/221/235 WBBM: 66111
WBEN: 66229
Stored
08451/776/887/934. 60004/007/013/014/015/018/023/025/027/031/039/040,
60044/047/048/049/051/058/060/065/075/077/078/079/084/091/093/094.
67008/013. 87002/006/007. 92008.
BH: 47298. BK: 67013. DC: 08561/776.
DM: 56038/069/091/104. 58009/015/032. CE: 92008.
IM: 08872. 60004/007/013/031/048/051/058/060/079/091/093/094.
KM: 37029. LO: 08451/887. LM: 86231/251. MG: 60027/039/044/078.
TE: 08597/888/995. 60014/015/023/040/049/065/075/084.
TO: 08738. 60018/025/047/075/087/089. 67008. WN: 08934.
Wembley Alstom: 87002/006/007. Wembley Yard: 56031/095. 58004.
Worksop: 09007. DML Devonport: 43065/067/068/080/084/123(Then HT).
Traffic
47810 -GL, 60036/056/063/066 -IM, 92030 -CE
Disposals
Bulgaria: 87012/019
Diesel Multiple Units
Transfers
143603/611/612/617/618/619/620/621(EX/CF)-PM
150219/221/232/233/234/238/239/243/244/246/247/248/249/261,263/265/266
(EX/CF)-PM
153305/318/329/368/369/370/372/373/377/380/382(EX/CF)-PM
156488(NH)-NL
158745/746/747/748/749/750/751/760/761/762/763/764/765/766,767/768/769(EX/CF)-PM,
771 (PM)-HT, 776/778(EX/CF)-PM, 787/792/794/797(HT)-NL,
815/816/817/855/870/871/872/961,966/967/968(EX/CF)-PM
170301/302/304(SA)-XW
Stored
158842/843/844/845/848/849/850/851/853/859/860/861 @ZG 742/743/808 -HQ
Traffic
159103 - SA
185141/143/145/146/147/148/149/150/151 -AK
Disposals
Booth: 51496
East Lancs: 51435. 54061 (Spares then scrap)
Formation
158814 (2 Car)
Electric Multiple Units
Transfers
321408/428(BY)-EM
458001/002(SL)-WD
Stored
442403/04/06/08/17/22 @ZG
508201/202/205/206/209 @AF, 212 @GI
Traffic
450124 -NT,
458003/004/008/009/011/014/022/025/027 -WD
Disposals
Booth: Cars: 70742. 76195(310057), 76136/191(310052) 71036(1850), 72603(8303),
72640(8203), 76774/845(1889)
New Stock
450125/126/127 -HQ
Coaching & NPCC Stock
Stored
1211. 5779/88/89. 5812/24/27/88/98. 5912/48/83/89/91. 6001/45/49.
6117/6121/22/34/51/64/73. 9479/96. 9506/25. 9701/08/11/14.
10212/217. 11048/064/079. 12011/054/078/122/133/138. 82101/126.
99602/603/604/605/606/607/608/609.
KI: 9701/08/11/14. LM: 6146/60/67/68. 6806/17/20/23. 9704/09. 99602-609. OY:
5912/83/89/91. 6121. WY: 6117/22/73. 9506/25.
ZI: 40402.
Derby(Chaddesden): 1211. 3285. 5824/27. 9496.
Wembley(Alstom): 10212/217. 11027/048/064/079. 12011/054/078/122,
12133/138. 82101/126.
MoD Bicester: 6166. 6828/29
Heaton(Grand Central Stock)
11017/023/036/045/055. 12033/044/058/088/104/112/121/136/149/152,
12155/156. 40424/426/433. 44065/088/089.
Traffic
3241. 5669. 5700/10. 6722. 9493. 11013/029 -GL,
40901/902. 41085/086/160/167. 42103/167/168/169/302/303/304/305.
44055/068 -LA, 82131 -NC, 94428/513/518/543.
Withdrawn
3246. 3373. 3520/22/23/24. 5744. 13498. 975476. 977470/695.
Disposals
JTLand: 3373. 3520/22/23/24. 5744. 5410/43/54/71/75 - awaiting delivery
5800/31/36. 6155. 6807/09/13/16/25/27. (On site for spares recovery - now for
scrapping)
Booth: 80321/326/346/347/351/352/359/363/368/379/419/430/431.
94447/500/509/510/511. 975476. 977470/695.
On-Site: 3246. 13498 @Carnforth
D-Cargo: 9508. Nene Valley: 80327. Gwili: 94404.
Buckingham RC: 80394. GCR Nottingham: 80438. Rushden HTS: 80457.
Pool Codes
EFBB FGW Class 143 PM
EFBC FGW Class 153 PM
EFBV FGW Barrier Vehicles
EFPM FGW Class 158 (3 Car) PM
EFPP FGW Class 180 OO
EFPZ FGW Sleeper Stock
EFRG FGW Classes 165 & 166 RG
EFSK FGW Class 158 (2 Car) PM
EFSK FGW Class 150 PM
EFTC FGW HST Trailers
Track Machines & Departmentals
10/01 Kingsland Road DR73911 Puma. DR73912 Lynx.
22/01 Hallen Marsh Junction road/rail; BCL36, 43(or45?), 209. trailers; TRR1279+
1 other?
23/01 Pilning (passing) DR73925.
26/01 Pilning (passing) DR73912.
Miscellaneous
East Sussex
A Ford Fiesta was driven onto a railway line following sat-nav directions!
A 52 year old woman was waiting in her car at a level crossing at Pevensey, near
Eastbourne when the in-car unit told her to turn left, which she did onto the
track and blocking the Hastings-Eastbourne mainline!
The woman has been reported for driving without due care and attention and
obstructing the railway.
Corrections and Additional Information
The following have been reported to that published in recent Magazines;-
February 2007;
Page 7 under 11/12; Virgin's XC Voyager 14.21 service.....should have read
Virgin's XC Voyager 14.21 Newcastle-Cardiff Central service.
Page 9 under 03/12; The King was not repaired in time for the
Paddington-Worcester excursion ('The Christmas Elgar Explorer'). Class 67 locos,
Royal 67005 and 67016 were used instead in a top n'tail formation. 67023 was the
loco which had assisted the King from Bristol during the previous day.