NOTES AND NEWS

WEST COUNTRY AREA

Avonmouth

11/06 66069 worked a coal train from Bennett's sidings.

The MGR Report

Locomotives recorded during the month include

60003/007/008/074/077. 66007/165/178/191.

Local pilots: 08500/653 (unchanged).

Bristol Parkway

02/06 37707 + 37896 returned Pathfindre's '0nllwyn Orbiter' (15:00 Ebbw Vale-Crewe) using chocolate/cream Riviera coaching stock. The train was una~ble to visit 0nllwyn however duo to track conditions but Railtrack offered Ebbw Vale instead.

04/06 MGRs recorded this evening were 60007 on empties for Avonmouth and 60008 and 60074 loaded trains for Didcot other freights were 66157 Tytherington "Stone", 66229 Fawley empty fuel tanks and 47279 Felixstowe liner.

07/06 Three MGR services again tonight, 60077 Didcot bound and 60027 and 66250 heading for Avonmouth. 60029 noted on steel empties heading for South Wales and 47114 Felixstowe liner. The highlight of the evening was 37415 & 37428 working a what was believed to the Purfleet steel service either a day early or late or possibly an additional service.

08/06 37 415 + 37428 were paired on the 6V59 Purfleet - Tidal sidings steel empties.

09/06 60063 worked the Tythrington-Westbury stone service.

11/06 Unusual ration of MGRs, 60007 Didcot bound, 66241 and 66189 empties to Avonmouth. 66200 worked the Avonmouth - Teeside "Fertiliser" service, first sighting for a while, 66008 Fawley empty fuel tanks plus 47114 Felixstowe liner.

12/06 37428 powered the 6A21 03:34 Cardiff Tidal Sidings - Didcot power station fuel tankers returning on the balencing 6B24 15:30 empties.

16/06 Deltic D9000 hauled a Fragonset charters 04:30 Lancaster - Weymouth and return excursion, utilising West Coast Carnforth alloacated coaches. Only 4984, 3143 and Buttermere were identified due to the use of small end numbering. The return special passed Narroways Junction, at reduced speed due to speed restrictions at 17.26. Amongst the diversions from the Chepstow line due to engineering works was the 16:30 Cardiff Tidal Sidings - Saltley empty scrap train headed by 60042 at 17:41.

18/06 Quiet tonight no "Fuel Train" or liner, just 60077 Didcot bound with an MGR service and 60056 heading empties for Avonmouth and 66090 on steel empties for South Wales.

19/06 Freightliner 47114 passed just after 13:00 with the 4L56 Wentloog - Felixstowe freightliner running 15 hours. 20/06 56078 was unusual power for the Didcot - Cardiff Tidal sidings tanks in place of the normal class 37 or 66.

21/06 Three MGRs and the "Liner" this evening, 60003 loaded for Didcot with 60028 and 60035 empties for Avonmouth, 47302 Felixstowe bound.

25/06 Three sets of empty MGRs recorded headed for Avonmouth this evening, starting with double header 60023/035, 60003 and 60028. All the other Monday regulars put in an appearance, 66199 Tytherington Stone, 60044 Tyne Yard "Boxes", 66239 Fawley Fuel tanks and 47258 Felixstowe liner. The Warrington - Plymouth "Royal Mail" service lived up to billing this evening being powered by "Royal" loco 47798.

28/06 MGR traffic comprised two empty rakes for Avonmouth headed by 60052 and 60077 respectively. 66176 worked a late running Rugby coal from Avonmouth and 47358 powered the Felixstowe liner. Surprise working was 47727 + 37412 at the head of empty oil tanks heading for South Wales.

Bristol Temple Meads and Barton Hill

01/06 66117 worked Hertfordshire Railtours "Great Britain" (1Z44 18:28 Totnes - Bristol Temple Meads, having run as 1Z43 10:15 Paddington - Totnes the previous day). The train arrived at Temple Meads formed of the newly liviered "Pride of the Nation" coaches now in green/cream around 20:30. The train went forward at 08:45 the next day for Glasgow behind the same engine, via the Severn Tunnel and the Welsh Marches to Crewe.

02/06 37415 worked 6Z25 Aberthaw-Avonmouth MGR. 60532 Blue Peter returned a seven coach Vintage Trains, 15:37 trip to Walsall via Bath. This was to be the locomotives second last mainline outing prior to a ten year overhaul. Later at 16:26, 66204 passed Day's curve on an empty MGR train from the Bath direction followed at 16:39 by 66512 with the refude container train runing today a Saturday, because of the previous Bank Holiday Monday. A view of Barton Hill depot at 16:45 found the following 08896. 47765. 60007. 67001/003/004/010/017/026/030.

03/06 An afternoon stock move between Plymouth and Bristo1 was formed of power cars 43025/132 with barrier vans 6336/348.

04/06 66173 noted at 18.15 heading towards Westbury with a coal train. The 1V35 06:05 Derby - Plymouth and return 1M40 11:50 Plymouth - Liverpool Virgin XC services were top n'tai1cd by 47828 and 47814 so the coaching stock could be turned via Laria triangle. Other locomotive hauled workings of interest during the afterroon were 60091 + 66214 on the 6V70 08:57 Cliffe Vale - St.B]azey freight. 47846 with the 1C50 Paddington - Exeter. 67030 on 5Z57, a Laria - Old Oak Common stock move formed of three Virgin HST coaches. Early afternoon saw four class 67s arrive at Barton Hill, running light engine together from the west.

06/06 47841 failed at Hemerden on 1E61 15:50 Plymouth-Leeds and was assisted to Temple Meads by 67012, where it arrived 110 mins late.

08/06 60091 again worked the 6V70. The afternoon Enterprise service seen heading south a 15:50 behind 60091.

09/06 66168 headed 6M68 Burngullow - Warrington slurry tanks.

11/06 57601 made it's passenger debut with the FirstGW 1A43 09:20 Plymouth - Paddington and return 1C50 15:43 Paddington - Exeter. A number of tecbnica1 staff were in the cabs, but there weere no reported problems.

12/06 60091 worked the 6V70 again. Action replay of 08/06, 30 minutes earlier a 15:20. Later in the day two freights were seen heading south, firstly a 20:40 behind 66027 followed by 66162 at 21:00.

13/06 47725 worked the Bristol - Victoria VSOE service. 66512was on the Calvert - Barrow Road binliner, 57601 was again noted on 1C50 Paddington - Exeter.

14/06 60030 headed the 6B19 Exeter - Cardiff Tidal Sidings scrap.

15/06 66012 replaced the normal class 60 on the 6V70.

18/06 Another 66, this time 66212 on the 6V70.

19/06 66039 headed the Newport-Bridgwater 6C91 trip formed of two VKA vans. 57601 continued working 1A43 and 1C50.

20/06 56051/007 worked Avonmouth-Middlesborough fertiliser empties.

22/06 47827 on 1M56 08:48 Penzance-Manchester Piccadilly had its AWS isolated at T.M., so 47727 was attached to work forward to Birmingham New Street.

25/06 Stone empties noted en-route to Tytherington at 15:35 powered by 66199.

26/06 66140 + barrier coach + 43029 worked 5Z34 13:25 Neville Hill-St Phillips Marsh. 47798 in Royal Train livery worked 1E43 Plymouth-Low Fell.

26/06 The Sellafield - Bridgwater flasks passed by at 05:40 headed by DRS locos 20309/313.

28/06 67020 with 47798 dit worked 1M59 Bristol-Warrington vans.

29/06 60024 + 66205 were paired on the 6V70 and 60010 worked the balencing 6M72.

29/06 Southbound departmental service noted at 18:10, with two locomotives at the helm, 66145/090.

30/06 Two railtours were recorded today. 66078 with an excusionfrom Letchworth to Bath and Bristol organised by Hertfordshire Tours. An earlier Pathfinder Tours "Cornish Excursion" (1Z38 06:18 Worcester Foregate Street - Penzance and 1Z39 15:49 return) was powered by preserved blue class 50s. They carried 50031 Hood and 50049 Defiance on one side, and 431 and 449 on the other side. The train was routed via the Welsh marches and the Severn Tunnel to/from Bristol. The coaching stock was formed of 4963, 5040, 4927, 5009, 1863, 21272, 3098, 3140, 3112, 3122, 1692, 3125 + 3068. This was the first time a pair of 50s had visited Cornwall since the 50 Farewell tour in 1994, although they had made individual visits to the county since

Cornwall

25/06 66096 handled the 6T12 St. Blazey - Bodmin Parkway trip formed of two VKA vans for Fitzgerald Lighting at Bodmin. Preserved 33110 arrived with two loaded VKAs. This was to have been the final working of this service due problems for EWS regarding costs on movement from Cornwall to the north. However, the service is still to continue for the moment, with the hope of more freight traffic (additional chaina clay) from Cornwall.

27/06 At 11:45 St. Blazey depot held 08798/953. 60037. 66069. 67009. 08941 was in the yard along with coaching stock 80354/374/378/411/413/457. 9432/492/501. and internal user 061208.

Portishead Branch

06/06 66191 worked 6W18 03:55 Westbury - Parsons Street Junction welded rail train, onto the branch as far as No 3 Sandstone Tunnel, the rail being carried and dropped by 89113 on the Portishead side of the tunnel the locomotive remaining on the Ashton side.

13/06 A further 7W18 ballast working was headed by 66058 being top up run to a point a quarter mile short of No 3 Tunnel.

27/06 66058 again worked 7W18, dropping ballast just passed N0 3 Tunnel (before the small stone viaduct).

At Royal Portbury track has been laid in the dock area, with a junction under construction, tracks splitting into the coal terminal and running near the quayside where a number of sidings with head shunt and loco release are to be laid. The embankment from the branch at Pill is well advanced this is to include a pedestrian/cycle path subway as well as two drainage underbridges. The new shunters cabin, to house the branchline's token equipment has been put into position below the M5 road overbridge. A railtour is planned to run over the line on 29/12/01 to be operated by Pathfinder Tours.

Westbury

23/06 At 12:15 the following were present, 08593/664. 58020/042. 66009/054/119.

Avon to Calvert Binliner

This month's sightings are as follows: 01/06: 66512. 18/06: 66511.

Locomotives and Units

RES (CD): 47635. 47744/770/798. VT (TO): 47742/769/810/814/822/827/828/829/831/841/843/844/ 47849/854. F (DF): 47701/703.

67001/003/004/005/007/009/010/011/012/013/014/015/016/017/018/019/ 67020/022/025/027/028/029.

143601/603/610/611/612/613/614/617/618/619/620/621/622/623. 150219/221/230/233/239/240/243/244/246/249/253/254/261/263/266/267. 153305/318/327/353/370/374/377/380. 158745/746/815/817/820/821/824/825/826/827/828/829/830/831/832/838/ 158841/847/865/866/868/869/870/871.

Postal Sets Noted

4s (PCV)

94305 94172 94177 94316

94342 94223 94215 94343

94304 94176 94205 94317

94326 94116 94114 94321

94334 94108 94202 94318

94340 94117 94103 94307

94325 94468 94211 94311

94338 94132 94137 94344

94335 94138 94160 94308

4s (BG)

94410 94148 94107 94517

94418 95743 95762 94422

94461 94182 94111 94413

94512 94196 94229 94510

94454 94196 94225 94486

5s

94408 94200 94204 94112 94443

94463 94195 94164 94106 94451

94496 94104 94133 94155 94411

94462 94118 94203 94168 94485

94473 94101 94146 94180 94447

94403 94121 94123 94119 94499

SOUTH WALES AREA

Cardiff Central

04/06 37412 worked 2F06 07:44 from Rhymney and 2R42 17:11 return.

05/06 158859 was on the 06:54 from Worcester. 66504 was at Wentloog. 37412 worked 2F06.

06/06 37412 worked 2F06 and 2R42.

07/06 The Rhymney diagram was a repeat of the previous day.

08/06 37415/428 worked 6V59 09:48 Purfleet-Cardiff Tidal steel empties. 37412 again performed on the Rhymneys.

11/06 158845 worked the 06:54 from Worcester. 37415 hauled 2F06 and 2R42.

12/06 37428 worked 6A21 03:34 Tidal-Didcot power station oil tanks and 6B24 15:30 return empties. 37415 was again on the Rhymneys.

13/06 37415 made it three days in a row on the Rhymney diagram.

14/06 For the fourth successive day, 37415 was on the Rhymneys.

15/06 58024 + 58042 worked Cardiff-Hamworthy scrap empties and 6V99 return. 37674 was on 6V14 07:30 Hull Saltend-Baglan Bay. 37415 again appeared on the Rhymneys, making it a complete week! 158788 worked the 07:40 to Lincoln.

18/06 A new week brought a new loco on the Rhymney diagrams - 37419. 158789 was on the 05:40 from Worcester.

19/06 Due to loco difficulties, 37415 assisted 37419 on 2F06. 47114 worked 4L56 Wentloog-Felixstowe 15 hours late. 58045 was noted at Canton.

20/06 Sticking with a reliable loco, Canton turned out 37415 for 2R42. 37674 worked 6V14 and 37419 6V59.

21/06 37415 did the Rhymneys. 56078 worked 6V66 St Helens-Cardiff tanks.

25/06 37428, in maroon livery, worked 2R42.

26/06 156408 worked the 06:54 from Worcester and the 17:05 to Nottingham.

27/06 56046 hauled 37185/264/225 from Canton to Wigan for parts reclamation and possible scrapping. 37415 worked 2R42.

28/06 150266 worked the 07:30 to Portsmouth and 158848 the 07:40 to Lincoln. 37415 did the Rhymneys.

29/06 37415 was again on the Rhymneys.

Cardiff Canton

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

03/06 08493/756/801/819/921/955. 37185/222/225/229/264/308/403/406/414/415/898/901/904. 47365/770. 60037/052/053. 66007/063/089/176/234. 67005.

10/06 08493/756/801/819/921/955. 37185/222/225/229/264/308/403/406/414/415/428/898/901/904. 47365/739. 60072/079. 66008/033. 67021/030.

17/06 08493/756/801/819/921/955/957. 37185/222/225/229/264/308/403/406/414/419/898/901/904. 47365/727. 60030/037. 66017/032/043/102/123/127/229/239. 67001/015.

24/06 08493/756/801/819/955. 37185/222/225/229/264/403/406/414/415/428/898/901/904. 47365/770. 60011/053/070. 66065/135/150/187/193. 67003/018/024.

Cardiff Tidal Sidings

During the month the following observations were made.

03/06 08770/951. 09011.

10/06 08481/752/770/951. 09011.

17/06 08481/752/907/951.

24/06 08466/481/752/951. 09011.

Newport

01/06 37419 hauled a ballast train to Machen quarry, with 37428 at the rear. Also noted were 09101. 37419/428. 47114. 56090. 60002/037/072/096. 66013/057/076/086/187/199/238. 67004.

02/06 37707/886 worked 1Z41 07:04 Crewe-Ebbw Vale railtour, with 60026 attached to the rear at Newport. The train also visited Margam.

07/06 60013/018/026, 66001/007/108/141/145 were at Godfrey Road.

08/06 09101. 37419/895. 47279. 60005/029/048/052/062/096/097. 66027/042/063/068/108/121/134/144/145/160/185/203/216/229. 67017

11/06 47114 in BR green livery worked an eastbound freightliner. 37412/419, 60063/072, 66035/088/121 were at Godfrey Road.

14/06 170504 on the 16:12 Nottingham-Cardiff failed just south of Caldicot level crossing, when it came to a sudden halt. The driver's combined brake/power controller wouldn't respond and, despite several inspections of the train from trackside level, he was unable to find the fault. Central Trains maintenance control were contacted via the cab telephone, but were unable to diagnose the problem. After one hour, with trains starting to stack up behind the failure, Railtrack were about to initiate single line working when the driver suddenly found the controller would work again. The train proceeded, cautiously at first, and then at normal speed, to Newport, where it was caped. 37412/419/428, 60013/067/069/072, 66121 were at Godfrey Road.

15/06 09203. 37419. 58024/042. 60011/044/059/096/097. 66007/029/033/040/121/138.

18/06 37412 and 37428 were at either end of a ballast train to Machen. 37667 was at Pontrilas with a timber delivery.

22/06 60011/043, 66036/147/165/195/197/241/244 were at Godfrey Road. Also noted 09203. 37419.47114. 60045/053/069/070/072/096. 66021/060/065/091/108/179/235.

25/06 37412/415 pulled/pushed a ballast train from East Usk to Machen.

26/06 37412/428, 60019, 66096/130/169/202/218/249 were at Godfrey Road.

29/06 37688 passed west through the station on Tiphook wagons. Noted also 09203. 37419/428. 47302. 60011/015/035/069/070/072/083. 66006/032/043/062/108/134/172/179/215.

30/06 37717/401 worked 6V35 Lackenby-Llanwern. 09203, 37419/428, 60031/042/083, 66047/061/117/172/179/224/235 were at Godfrey Road.

The following units were noted at Newport during the month: -

143611/617/622/623. 150105/219/230/233/234/238/241/246/247/253/254/261/267. 153302/303/308/353/355/362/368/370/374/377/380/382. 158788/790/815/816/817/818/819/820/821/822/823/824/825/826/827/829/ 158830/832/833/834/835/836/838/839/840/841/842/843/852/859/864/865/ 158866/867/868/869/871. 170630/632/636/637.

STOCK ALTERATIONS

Locomotives Transfers

08631(TM)-DF, 08802(CF)-AN, 08907(AN)-CF, 31105/107/190/289/301/415/422/423/424/426/437/439/449/452/458/459/ 31461/462/468/601/602(TM)-DF, 33021/103/108.(TM)-DF, 45112(TM)-DF, 47488/701/703/709/710/712(TM)-DF, 47736(CD)-TO, 47775(TO)-CD, 55022(TM)-DF.

(All Fragonset locos regardless of status have been allocated DF)

Store 08854. 47345/762. 73207.

CB: 47301/345. CD: 47762. CF: 08854. KM: 33002/008/023/029/053/057.(DRS) NL: 43029. SL: 73207. SP: 08661. 37013. 47236/368. ST: 47376. TO: 37702. ZC: 67002.

Traffic 08669 -LA, 08682 -DF, 08847/871. 31206/210 -MM, 33207 -KM, o/l Freightliner @CB, 47782 -CD, 57601 -LA, 86234 -WN.

Disposals CRDC: 37107/371. H Needle: 31548.

Renumbered 91006 - 91106.

GIF Locos (Additional Numbers): 37799+LO30, 37888+LO24.

Diesel Multiple Units Transfers

142010/069(NH)-CF.

Stored 51505/800. 53256. 54408. @LO. ZH: 51179/210. 53228/746.

Traffic 51185/224/511/533. 53160/164 -LO, 55029 -RU.

Disposals 51363/405 - Mid Hants Railway.

Formations 170110 (50110 + 55110 + 79110)

New Stock 170: 55110 -DY. (MML Centre Cars), 170470/471 -HA.

Electric Multiple Units Stored

308145/153. 310046/058/066/067/079/084/091/094/095/110/111/112 -@SS

(S): 8205/06. 9110. SS: 310.057/089/103.

Traffic 308158 -NL. (S): 8311/13 -SL.

Dept: 960.101/102 -West Coast High Speed Test Units. (Ex 309.617/624)

Disposals Car 70576 - Snibston Colliery Railway.

Renumbered 313019 - 119.

Dept: 309617 - 960101 75643 - 977962, 61938 - 977963, 75982 - 977964. 309624 - 960102 75965 - 977965, 61928 - 977966, 75912 - 977967.

New Stock 334006/019/022/028 -GW. 357006/009/017/018/020/029/030/041/042/043 -EM. 458022 -WD, 8026/27/28 -HQ.

Coaching & NPCC Stock Transfers

1860. 4958/60 -FW, 5463/78/91. 5569. 9440 -CF, 80217. 99125/128/304, 99312/318/326/329 -FW, 99710 -CS, 99723/995 -FW.

Stored 4849/54/66/75/76/80. 5278. 5412. 35513/515/516/518.

Dept: 977895/896/899/900/901/902 @DY.

Traffic 1981 -HQ, 40619 -LA, 99349 -HQ.

Disposals 4797 - Nene Valley, 10681 - Mid Hants, 84382 - Great Central, 975758 - Keith & Dufftown.

Booths:- 975553/693/694/711/731/741/751/752/762/766/770/923/ 924/928/946/947.

Codes DF - Derby (Fragonset) KM - Kingmoor (DRS) MM - Moreton in Marsh (Cotswold Rail) RU - Rugby

NEW STOCK

07/06 220004 worked a Birmingham New Street-Reading and return test run. 220017 was noted at Reading depot.

13/06 334031 and 458028 were in the testing area at Alstom Washwood Heath.

20/06 375602/605 were reported at Selhurst depot, for test running over the Connex South Central network.

28/06 Class 357s now operate the majority of services on the LTS line, the reliability problems with these units having apparently been overcome. During a two hour observation of the evening rush hour, 357006/007/008/009/010/012/014/016/019/020/022/023/024/025, 357026/027/029/031/032/035/034/036/037/039/040/042/043/044 were all noted in service. Only 357002/005/021 were awaiting acceptance on 20/06. A second batch of 28 Class 357s is due to start arriving at East Ham from Bombardier Derby from July - presumably c2c are satisfied these will perform satisfactorily upon arrival!

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