NOTES AND NEWS

WEST COUNTRY AREA

Avonmouth

01/04 66043 worked the 4E41 Tyne yard containers. It is interesting to note that this service, which is MO still operates on bank holiday Mondays.

03/04 66233 was observed from the footbridge at St. Andrews Road station on the quayside at Royal Edward No.5 dock. Further investigations has found that mainline locos had been cleared for the dock lines at least six months previous, which had also seen the out-stabled Class 08 shunters reduced from two to one.

04/04 One of the import steel slab trains was recorded being hauled by 56072 (running as 6G90 07.04 Avonmouth-Llanwern steel works). Later 66055 arrived with the morning 6C90 trip from Newport formed of container-barrel tanks and empty container flats.

10/04 As reported in the last magazine, the 6D13 07.21 Avonmouth-Didcot coal service was formed of 28 HTA bogie hoppers, Class 66 hauled and banked by another 66 from Avonmouth to Stoke Gifford down sidings. The train arrived at Didcot at 13.15. Subsequent 'monster' coal trains have used Hinksey yard at Oxford as a run-round point because of a lack of room at Didcot.

16/04 The morning Newport-Avonmouth trip consisting of acid tankers and container wagons headed by 66128 was routed via Gloucester, the reason for this was not known.

17/04 56063 was in charge of the morning trip from Newport.

23/04 37704 arrived light from Didcot to work the return Newport trip freight.

Locos noted on coal trains during April; - 66005/009/027/029/041/128/139/164/196/201/228/236/240.

Binliner

Thirty new refuse containers, in green livery, have been put into service on the Avon area refuse train replacing the work-worn old blue ones, some over 15 years old. They carry a Shanks (the refuse contractor at Calvert)/Freightliner and Bristol City council brandings on a sign on each.

This month's sightings; 02/04 66545. 09/04 66510. 12/04 66512. 17/04 66525

Bristol Parkway

01/04 66015 worked an up loaded MGR service (believed to be one of the new Grange-Didcot coal trains) at 13.48.

02/04 66009 was noted with a MGR from Portbury to the Midlands.

03/04 67010 + 67011 were paired on the 1S81 16.05 Parkway-Glasgow Shieldmuir mails, 66123 worked the stone empties to Tytherington and 20306 + 20307 worked the Bridgwater-Crewe nuclear flasks. 60004 was present in the Westerleigh terminal on the Port Clarence tanks. 60018 was the 6M17 Newport-Wembley freight loco.

04/04 A Freightliner Class 66/5 was seen hauling a FirstGW HST set, the loco and working being unidentified. 66161 was recorded on an up afternoon loaded MGR train.

05/04 37109 was reported to have worked a late running 6V30 Dagenham-Ford Bridgend car parts train (11.30).

06/04 60028 was recorded in charge of the return Tytherington-Westbury stone train.

08/04 66015 headed a Grange-Ironbridge loaded MGR service during the day. An evening of two halves, the early shift up to 21.00 saw 66068 working Avonmouth - Tyne Yard "Boxes", Margam - Fawley "Fuel Train" behind 66215 running exceedingly early and two loaded MGR trains 66119 from Portbury and 66007 from Avonmouth. Night shift saw from 21.57 to 01.00 the following services, 66096 St. Blazey - Bescot "Clayliner", 66014 with tanks from S Wales (Bitumen?), 66073 MGR empties to Margam, 47780 moving around mail terminal, 47750 Newcastle - Bristol, 66041 with postal from mail terminal having arrived earlier light engine from south Wales, 66228 Avonmouth - Didcot MGR, 47150 Felixstowe - Wentloog freightliner, 60002 steel coil from S Wales, 66028 Furzebrook - Hallen LPG and finally 66036 MGR empties to Portbury.

09/04 60100 was over at Westerleigh with the fuel tankers. 60 028 passed at 15.15 with the Theale-Robeston fuel tank empties.

10/04 47756 headed the 1E43 15.09 Plymouth-Low Fell mails and at Westerleigh 60039 was in charge of the Port Clarence fuel empties.

11/04 60100 was again present at Westerleigh on tank duty.

12/04 37412 + 66129 passed up light-engine at 12.03.

15/04 66063 passed at 15.40 with the Tytherington stone empties formed of MBA wagons. During the evening the following were noted, 66196 Tyne Yard "Boxes", four MGR services with 66164 HTAs and 66115 HAAs from Portbury, 66218 HTAs from Avonmouth and 66029 empties to Avonmouth and St Blazey - Cliffe Vale "Clayliner" behind 66090.

16/04 60019 worked the Tytherington stone service and 60021 headed the 6B24 15.30 Didcot-Cardiff Tidal sidings fuel tanks. A speed restriction between Parkway and Swindon during the day saw between 15 to 20 minutes late running for some services.

17/04 A track circuit failure at Ruscombe, between Reading and Twyford along with signalling problems at Swindon saw some late running during the morning. 58025 worked the afternoon stone empties into Tytherington returning the loaded train, leaving the quarry before 19.00.

18/04 Five 66s recorded this evening starting with 66233 Severnside - Teeside Fertiliser service, 66087 loaded MGR from Portbury, 66115 empty MGR to Portbury, 66048 empty MGR to south Wales. The other working was 66068 light engine to the mail terminal.

22/04 Six Class 66 worked freights seen this evening starting with 66157 Tytherington "Stone" train, followed by 66009 and 66201 with empty HTAs for Avonmouth, 66116 with HAA empties headed for Portbury with 66243 noted in the reverse direction with a loaded train and finally 66089 with Margam - Fawley empty fuel tanks, known locally as the "Fuel Train".

23/04 Heritage one-car track filming 'bubble' 960011 worked 2Z02 07.10 Cardiff-Round Oak, via Fifoots branch, Parkway, St. Philips Marsh (10.32), Parkway again, and Gloucester to the Birmingham area. A northbound stock move saw back to back HST power cars 43006 + 43093 pass at 15.57 and 66079 worked the Tytherington stone empties passing at 15.10.

24/04 66191 and the 6M17 Newport-Wembley freight was diverted via Gloucester and the Stroud Valley to Swindon, the reason for this being unknown. 60041 had earlier headed the Westerleigh-Port Clarence fuel tank empties.

25/04 66085 passed after 17.00 with an up container train, believed to be a 'relief' for the 6M17 Newport-Wembley freight which was Class 60 hauled, and close behind.

27/04 Pathfinder Tours 'Edinburgh Explorer' from Westbury-Edinburgh (1Z71) called in the early hours behind 47736, and also featured haulage by 92034 and 66040 + 66117 during the day including a visit over the Leith branch line. Also during the trip the 15-coach train was banked up the Lickey Incline by 60052.

29/04 Quiet night with just three freight services recorded, starting with 66199 working Tytherington "Stone", 66172 empty HTAs to Avonmouth and 66085 the "Fuel Train".

30/04 The area refuse container train was seen at Parkway around 17.30, believed to be running early because of overnight engineering.

Bristol Temple Meads and Barton Hill

01/04 158820 + 158847 formed the 11.03 Penzance-Manchester service, the latter carrying a former Central Trains, now Wales & Borders colour scheme.

02/04 158825 + 158847 headed the outward 1V80 06.52 Manchester-Penzance service which departs from Penzance at 11.03 the next day. The 1V38 06.05 Leeds-Plymouth was top n'tailed by Class 47s 47848 + 47817 instead of an HST set, whilst the experimental 57601 worked the regular 1A28 06.30 Plymouth-Paddington and return 1C50 15.42 Paddington-Exeter on this date (also working the same trains on 03/04, 04/04, 08/04, 09/04, 15/04, 16/04, 18/04, 19/04, 22/04, 23/04, 24/04, 25/04 and 26/04). 66206 worked a Westbury bound MGR via Day's curve during the day.

03/04 The Burngullow - Irvine china clay slurry service noted en route at 14.00 powered by 66155.

04/04 158824 + 158853 (Wales & Borders 'Central green') were on the 1V80 06.52 Manchester-Penzance service, 47749 headed the 1E41 17.23 Plymouth-Low Fell mails and 66068 ran light to Bridgwater to return wagons for Newport. A view of Barton Hill depot recorded 66517 and 66545 present. The former had been recorded passing Pilning at 08.42 running up light, having worked the Humber-Baglan Bay tanks. The loco was carrying the 'Bristol Herons' headboard. 66220 passed by at 17.00 southbound with mgrs, possibly bound for Portbury.

05/04 66166 worked a Westbury bound MGR passing Patchway at 13.25 and 47843 a 5Z77 15.30 Neville Hill-Laira stock move formed of two Porterbrook liveried barrier vans with HST stock (pass 20.15). First GW 47813 had worked the 1A99 Penzance-Paddington sleeper earlier in the day. Steam locos 4965 + 4936 worked north as 5Z49 10.00 Paignton-Bristol Barton Hill locos and support coach (W35470), seen passing Yatton at 13.22. Another freight recorded was 60096 on the morning 6V41 Irvine-Burngullow slurry tanks.

06/04 Special passenger trains today included 47783 + 47756 with the 1Z51 06.32 Milton Keynes-Par 'Eden-ex' formed with BN96 green stock (47756 was reported to have failed in the Northampton area, the return 1Z52 16.09 Par-Milton Keynes was headed by 47783 seen passing Yatton at 19.25) and steam locos 4965 + 4936 with Pastime Rail's 'City Express' (1Z49 06.57 Paddington-Nuneaton) taking over from diesel traction at Temple Meads. Coaching stock used on the steam special was; - 35470, 3144, 3131, 3110, 35469, 1813, 4949, 4946+4996. 66174 returned the train from Nuneaton to Paddington during the mid-afternoon. With the Severn Tunnel closed, six engineers trains were booked to run from Westbury to the tunnel area. The times off Westbury were: - 08.59 (6W34), 11.59 (6W35), 13.59 9(6W36), 14.16 (6W37) and 18.16 (6W38). Recorded at Patchway during the morning was 66192, believed to be on the 6W34 working.

07/04 220034 + 220019 were paired on the 1V64 13.05 Newcastle-Exeter service the return 1C68 20.28 Exeter-Bristol was recorded running 16 minutes late. Both trains run via the Weston-super-Mare loop calling at the station in both directions.

08/04 Unspecified problems at Chippenham saw the 1C09 07.45 Paddington-Penzance service arrive over an hour down. 60019 was a stranger on the 6V62 Westbury-St. Philips Marsh fuel tanks, inplace of the more regular Class 66.09/04'Super' Voyager 221102 was recorded on Barton Hill depot in the company of 220034 during the morning.

09/04 Barton Hill was host to 08630, 66510/511 at 01.30.

10/04 66140 worked the 6V41 Irvine-Burngullow slurry tanks and 20308 + 20311 were paired on the 7V52 Crewe-Bridgwater nuclear flasks. The locos returned as 7M53 14.29 Bridgwater-Crewe. 57601 was reported to have failed near Bridgwater on the 1A28 06.30 Plymouth-Paddington and ran ECS to Highbridge loop. The ECS was later seen around 12.00 at St. Philips Marsh being shunted by 57601. 47830 returned the 1C50 15.42 Paddington-Exeter during the afternoon.

11/04 A bridge strike at Par caused some slight northbound late running. IC Swallow liveried 37685 (which had only recently been restored to traffic following storage and time in France) worked the 6C91 08.39 Newport-Bridgwater trip consisting of four wagons (Uphill Junction 10.10). The train arrived at Bridgwater at 10.49, the loco then shunted the yard before departing for Newport light at 11.13. For the record, the trains consist was three loaded bogie roofing flats and a ferryvan, believed to be carrying Italian metal products. All wagons had originated from mainland Europe. The loco had arrived in South Wales via the 6V19 Doncaster-Margam freight (and should have returned on the 6E20 16.45 Trostre-Doncaster), but by the time the loco started on the light-engine return to Newport, 37685 had already been assigned by tops back into store at Eastleigh! 47830 continued on the 1A28 06.30 Plymouth-Paddington and 1C50 15.42 Paddington-Exeter return whilst 47 756 worked the 5V62 20.42 Bristol-Plymouth empty RES vans.

12/04 47759 headed a morning 5C36 Cardiff-Barton Hill stock move formed of two vans, the loco then running 0M65 Barton Hill-Plymouth light. 47830 + 57601 were paired on the 1A28 06.30 Plymouth-Paddington, the 47 being removed to work an ECS move from St. Philips Marsh to Paddington for use on the 16.33 departure to Plymouth. 66072 worked the 7B66 Westbury-Newport engineers passing Day's curve at 10.55 and 47756 headed the 1E43 15.09 Plymouth-Low Fell mails. Some late running was recorded during the morning with the failure of the 06.52 Penzance-Manchester Wales & Borders service between Truro and St. Austell. The train was eventually started 67 minutes down followed by the 1S71 09.22 Penzance-Edinburgh 72 minutes late. Also affected was the 1M56 08.42 Penzance-Manchester service headed by 47817 which was only 10 minutes in front of the 1M40 11.50 Plymouth-Liverpool being hauled by 47750, the gap is normally around an hour and 10 minutes!

13/04 47757 worked the Northern Belle excursion (1Z56 08.00 ex Manchester Victoria) to Bath, interestingly the departing 12.56 (5Z56) ECS ran onwards to Yeovil Pen Mill to run round! The train returned as 1Z57 16.15 Bath-Manchester. Southbound civils train logged at 21.00 behind 66212.

14/04 57601 ran light from Laira-St. Philips Marsh to collect HST power car 43152 and two barrier vans. Also recorded during the evening were: - 47815 on the 1C56 15.15 Paddington-Plymouth service, 220006 + 220026 on the 1V64 13.05 Newcastle-Exeter and 47814 on the 1M41 20.15 Bristol-Derby, this being the locos final duty having been called to Loughborough for Class 57 conversion.

15/04 A bridge strike at Twyford caused some early afternoon late running, being cleared by 13.00. Afternoon observations at Twerton near Bath saw 66028 with 11 TTA tanks from St. Phillips Marsh to Westbury, 66166 and a Westbury bound MGR service and 180104 with a westbound test-run.

16/04 47780 + 47851 were paired on the 1S48 07.15 Bristol-Glasgow service, 47780 returning on the rear of the 1V39 07.11 Leeds-Bristol TM behind 47844 which continued the diagram as 1E33 12.10 to Newcastle. Today's FirstGW sleeper locos were 47813 (1C99) and 47 815 (1A99).

17/04 IC livery 47826 and the 1M56 08.46 Penzance-Manchester was cancelled due to a lack of driver. The train was to have run ECS (5Z56) to Temple Meads to restart the service here, but was seen passing Parkway at 18.10 as 5M56 ECS heading north. A Central green livery, Wales & Borders 158817 was reported to have worked the 1F25 15.30 Cardiff-Portsmouth Harbour and 1F34 19.24 return from Portsmouth. 60079 worked the afternoon Exeter City Basin-Cardiff Tidal sidings scrap service and 47770 was recorded on the 1E41 17.23 Plymouth-Low Fell mails. One passenger working of note was 47844 on the 1S48 07.15 Bristol-Glasgow, which it worked throughout (Carstairs 46 minutes late). 221102 was also recorded on a test/driver training run to Plymouth.

18/04 The following were noted stabled at Barton Hill at 19:15, 47780, 66525/544/602 and 220031.

19/04 47770 worked the 1V33 15.58 London-Plymouth mails and 60019 the 7B66 Westbury-Newport engineers, leaving Westbury at 11.40. 20/04 47854 failed at Plymouth with the 1M31 15.55 Manchester service, so the train was cancelled, whilst 43094 plus a coach (believed to be MkII 1213) worked a 5Z77 14.35 Derby Etches Park-Laira stock move.

21/04 Early evening passenger workings were 47816 0n the 1C56 15.15 Paddington-Plymouth and 220034 + 220019 on the 1V64 13.05 Newcastle-Exeter service and 1C68 20.28 return.

22/04 66247 worked the 6C62 Westbury-St. Philips Marsh fuel tanks. Large-logo 47847 was reported on the 1V39 07.11 Leeds-Bristol and 1E33 12.10 to Newcastle, the loco was said to be carrying 'correct' style large-numbers-but this was unconfirmed! The 1A42 09.30 Plymouth-Paddington service was 47832 and coaches instead of an HST set. A visit at 19.10 found the following present at Barton Hill, 08630, 66525/544/602, 220019/031/034.

23/04 66024 worked the 6V41 Irvine-Burngullow slurry tanks west during the early morning. Southbound MGR recorded at 16.30 worked by 66056.

26/04 66246 worked the 6V41. The 1V61 15.08 Newcastle-Plymouth was 47841 hauled with coaches instead of an HST set.

27/04 47841 returned north as 1E36 15.00 Plymouth-Leeds and earlier 47749 worked west with the latest Eden project excursion, 1Z48 05.45 Manchester Piccadilly-Par.

28/04 A 6Z20 12.00 Cardiff Canton-Plymouth Tavistock yard was worked by 67010 and conveyed a saloon DM45020, for use on a Keyham-Sellafield flask train. The loco returned to Barton Hill light-engine.

29/04 66091 headed the 6V91 overnight Hope-Moorswater cement train. The 1V65 15.50 Newcastle-Plymouth HST was piloted onwards from Bristol by 47846 departing at 20.15.

30/04 220019 + 220017 worked a 1Z22 Plymouth bound test-run which en-route checked platform clearances at Dawlish Warren and Dawlish stations. The 1S71 07.19 Penzance-Glasgow HST arrived at Bristol 90 minutes late, having been hauled between Plymouth and Exeter by 47756. During the afternoon 66160 was an unusual sight on the 6M91 21.25 St. Blazey-Earles sidings empty cement wagons, which had been retimed presumably due to engineering work. 66157 worked south with the "Enterprise" freight at 14.25.

Devon & Cornwall

01/04 66179 worked the 0G71 Westbury-Ernsettle driver training trip.

02/04 66123 was on today's 0G71.

04/04 58045 was on the 0G71 trip.

06/04 66096 was on Newton Abbot standby 'thunderbird' duty and again on the next day.

10/04 66090 was the Newton Abbot thunderbird and again on 13/04.

14/04 At 13.00, the following were visible on St.Blazey depot 08499. 47756. 66250. 67006/013/025/030. 67019 + 66135 later worked a St. Blazey-Pontsmill ballast trip top n'tail.

17/04 66127 was today's Newton Abbot standby loco.

19/04 47756 was the Newton Abbot standby loco and again on 22/04.

20/04 Class 52 D1015 Western Champion worked it's second mainline outing Pastime Rail's 'Western Sunrise' (1Z52 08.39 Paddington-Paignton arrive 12.37 and 1Z15 18.00 return). This was the first mainline Class 52 working in Devon for 25 years.

23/04 60040 was the Newton Abbot standby loco, later running 0Z76 13.38 Newton Abbot-St. Blazey, being replaced by 47 756.28/04At 15.15, the following were visible at St. Blazey, yard; 08499. 66024. depot; 47756 66007/246. 67009/011/013/016/025/028. 153380. 158829. coaching stock;- 80373/376/401/405/424/431. 94326/546. stored internal user;- 061208. 47739 passed Lostwithiel at 14.10 with the return 1Z88 13.35 Truro-Victoria VSOE. The train had arrived in Cornwall two days previous as 1Z82 09.56 Victoria-Truro, again behind 47739. The ECS stabled at St. Blazey, running empty to Plymouth to work a return trip (1Z49) to Exeter.

29/04 66024 passed Lostwithiel during the morning hauling saloon DB999509 from St. Blazey to Keyham via Tavistock yard for a forthcoming nuclear flask working to Sellafield. At Devonport, HST power car 43164 was removed following overhaul and 43182 was an arrival. Midland Mainline power car 43062 was also an arrival being recorded heading south-bound near junction 23 (Bridgwater) on the M5 on a road low-loader on 17/04.

Portbury Branchline

15/04 Filming unit 960011 visited the branch as 2Z02 06.32 Didcot-St. Philips Marsh, during the afternoon.

17/04 66164 was seen near the Clifton Suspension bridge at 14.10 with an up train of HTA EWS bogie hoppers. This was believed to be a first for this wagon type over the line, the working not being established and could have been a trial. Some residents at the village of Pill are still very unhappy about the noise and dust from passing coal trains. The use of this wagon type could reduce both of these problems.

19/04 66164 was again seen at the terminal with HTA wagons departing at 16.40.

20/04 66155 with the Saturday morning departure was banked up the Lickey around 09.00 by 60055. At Bedminster work continues on relaying the relief line from Parsons Street station to Bristol West junction. This line is the main route for all outward Portbury traffic. Steel sleepers have been used to replace old worn wooden ones.

Locos recorded on MGR traffic during April. 60040. 66007/012/015/056/061/063/086/087/152/155/164/170/214/219.

Wessex Area

03/04 37695 worked 1Z06 19.45 Eastleigh-Weymouth structural gauging train.

10/04 58021 was in charge of the morning Quidhampton trip to/from Eastleigh.

12/04 58030 worked the Quidhampton trip, whilst 58021 headed the 6Y20 09.00 Eastleigh-Ludgershall (11.00) MOD trip.

13/04 50031 + 50049 worked an afternoon 1Z99 Paddington-Westbury and return Vintage Trains railtour, whilst steam loco 6024 was serviced in London having arrived on an excursion from Birmingham. 47772 was power for the 4Z08 Swindon-Longbridge car parts train in place of a Class 66. The following were visible at Westbury at 11.15, 08947. 58025. 60007/019/028/057. 66006/048/062/064/072/233.

14/04 At 10.00 the following were visible at Westbury, 08947. 60007/057/079. 66006/041/048/054/062/072/196/212/234.

16/04 58050 + 37685 were paired on the 6Y39 09.46 Hoo junction-Eastleigh, the 37 was en-route for store (serviceable).

22/04 58030 was in charge of the 6W41 06.35 Eastleigh-Wool sand train returning 0W41 light and 37 372 worked the 6Y26 08.22 Eastleigh-Quidhampton trip and 6Y27 10.27 return.

27/04 Westbury was viewed again at 12.00;- 08947. 60019/057. 66029/075/126 were all visible.

Local Freight Watch

6V70 08.57 Cliffe Vale-St. Blazey 

02/04 66096. 04/04 60011 + 66018. 05/04 66090. 08/04 60072. 09/04 60011. 10/04 66250. 11/04 60011. 12/04 66250. 15/04 60011. 18/04 66090. 19/04 66152. 22/04 60040. 23/04 66152. 24/04 60057. 25/04 66152. 26/04 66070. 28/04 66091. 

6M72 16.55 St. Blazey-Cliffe Vale 

02/04 66141. 03/04 66096. 04/04 66090. 05/04 60011. 08/04 66096. 09/04 60072. 10/04 60011. 12/04 60011. 15/04 66090. 16/04 60011. 17/04 66078. 19/04 66090. 22/04 66152. 24/04 66152. 25/04 66024. 26/04 66152. 29/04 66007. 

6M68 (SO) Burngullow-Warrington 

06/04 66189. 13/04 66071. 20/04 66127. 

6S55 (WO) Burngullow-Irvine 

03/04 66155. 10/04 66018. 17/04 66250. 24/04 66123.

Notes. 6V70 on the 15/04 was double-headed onwards from Exeter with 66135, 17/04 the 6V70 was cancelled. 6M72 on the 03/04 failed near Bodmin, 66 024 assisted the train onwards. 16/04 The train was routed via the Weston-super-Mare loop.

The Class 47 Count 

47741/744/747/749/750/756/757/759/770/780/783/793/805/810/814/817/ 47818/826/828/829/839/840/841/843/844/847/848/851/854/813/815/846. 57601.

Postals

4s (PCV) 

94335 94177 94222 94322                     94331 94176 94214 94321 

94340 94150 94103 94307                     94315 94197 94217 94336 

94318 94138 94160 94317                     94332 94226 94119 94319 

94337 94147 94198 94338                     94324 94132 94168 94344

4s (BG) None seen as the Warrington - Plymouth service has been withdrawn.

5s 

94446 94224 94121 94106 94462          94422 94182 94203 94116 94486 

94481 94113 94133 94102 94540          94441 94195 94104 94101 94461 

94464 94107 94180 94191 94543          94478 94228 94212 94225 94524

SOUTH WALES AREA

Cardiff Canton

07/04 08493/576/756/801/819/955/957. 09016. 37222/422/901/904. 66004/014/015/129/192/196. 67012/020/022.

14/04 08481/493/576/756/801/819/955/957. 37222/402/408/422/901/904. 60049/069/089. 66055/143/167.

21/04 08481/493/576/756/801/819/955/957. 37222/408/412/901/904. 47784/787. 60009/043/060. 66021/055/060/143/167/212. 67006/018.

28/04 08481/493/576/756/801/819/955/957. 37222/418/901/904. 60005/015. 66060/105/121.

Cardiff Tidal

14/04 08466/653/854/856.

21/04 08653/854/856/951.

28/04 08854/856/951.

Margam

The following were noted on the 6B48 Margam - Trostre steel coil trains. The same locomotive also works the 6E20 and 6V19.

02/04 66011. 04/04 56083. 05/04 56129. 08/04 66061. 09/04 66073. 10/04 56033. 11/04 60004. 12/04 66187. 16/04 60059. 17/04 60002. 18/04 60070. 19/04 56033. 22/04 66028. 23/04 56098. 24/04 60055. 29/04 60030. 30/04 66077.

Newport

12/04 47292. 56027. 60003/040/041/049/100. 66007/013/041/063/086, 66103/154/161.

24/04 At 00.00 Godfrey Road S.P. held the following 37418, 56133, 60021/049, 66041.

26/04 60022/061/067/070/079/083/087. 66146/191/243.

Units noted during the month. 156401. 170639.

STOCK ALTERATIONS

Locomotives

Transfers 08483(PM)-OO, 08822(OO)-PM, 37601/602/603/604/605/606(OC)-KM*. * Purchased from EPS by DRS.

Store 08662/910. 56025/059/100/100. 58031/037/042/045. 86102.

BH: 20168. CE: 86102. EH: 58031/037/042/045. FB: 08662/910. IM: 56025. IP: 47295. LH: 37043. SP: 08666. TE: 56059/100/110.

Traffic 08625 -MM, 08735 -IM, 08924 -ML, 37108/158 -CS, 47760 -CD.

Disposals S&D (Yeovil): 20059.

Renumbered 91002 - 91102, 91026 - 91126. 91029 not yet renumbered.

Diesel Multiple Units

Stored 51185/224/428/511 @ZH.

Withdrawn 51179/201/426. 53228. (Immingham RFT).

New Stock 180110 -OO. (Presently at Alstom, Wembley). 221103/106/107/109/110/111/112/114 -CZ (Testing) 221102/104/105/113/115/117 -CZ (Traffic)

Electric Multiple Units

Stored 303019/085. 1507/12/81. 9101/03/07.

BD: 508120. BM: 1512. CJ: 1507/81. GW: 303085. SL: 9101/07. West Kirby: 508108. YO: 303019. ZG: 9103.

Traffic 303088.

New Stock Class 333 74481/482/483/484 -NL. (Additional Cars) 375311/312/314/315/317 -BI* (See Notes below). 390009 - MI.

* Part of an order placed by Connex now ceded to South Central, to be retro converted to Class 377, to match the new order placed which is; 377.101-165 - 4-car dc operation. 377.201-215 - 4-car ac/dc operation. 377.301-328 - 3-car dc operation. (Formerly 375.311-338)

Coaching & NPCC Stock

Transfers 6312 -SL.

Store L+NW: 9489. LA: 5791. ZN: 6168. MA: 1200/03. 5796/859/903/13/65. 6013/35/115/24/35/50/54. 9526/37. OY: 1253/56/58. 5916/25/58/81. 6014/50/52/66. 6148/78. 9509/39. WB: 94304/618/327/343/503/505/506/521/523.

Traffic 5863/69/74. 92908 -CF.

Withdrawn 1697. 3381. 5266. 5304/84. 5449/50/62. 5739. 5879.

Disposals Cotswold Rail: 10530/533/535/537/540/546/550/560/567/578/602/653/654, 10668/686/708/711/712/713/715/717/730/734.

Departmental & Track Machines

24/03 Bristol West depot r/r excavator FR603. 28/03 Bristol TM DR73906. 01/04 Pilning r/r excavator Hydrex 3691 CGG0232135. 11/04 Passing W-S-M DR73805. 22/04 Newport 73264. 28/04 Par Station DR73305. 30/04 Truro Yard Landrover R204NAU.

Preservation & Industrial

17/04 Steam loco 3802 was seen on the M5 motorway heading north on the Avonmouth bridge at 17.20.

22/04 A cab of green liveried 40088 was visible in a car breakers yard at Iye, Birmingham.

Freight Flow News

Freightliner A new Freightliner service commenced during the month;- 4Z50 05.02 Southampton-Wentloog and return 4Z51 09.55 Wentloog-Southampton. The return normally passes Bristol Parkway around 10.45.Locos recorded have been. 03/04 66504. 04/04 66541. 08/04 66543. 09/04 66539. 10/04 57011. 11/04 66502. 15/04 66543. 16/04 66535. 22/04 66503. 23/04 66542. 25/04 57012. 26/04 66534.

China Clay Traffic Works sites at Treviscoe and Goonbarrow/Rocks are reported to be set for closure by Imerys.

MOD Traffic A 7X40 18.45 Haverfordwest-Ludgershall train was hauled throughout by 37418. The train which commenced it's journey on 29/04, recessed at Didcot overnight between 02.21 and 06.55, arriving at Andover at 08.26(30/04).

Steel Traffic The Avonmouth-Llanwern import steel flow, which began running in March, is reported to be ongoing for at least a year. At Port Talbot the No.5 furnace, destroyed by fire a year ago, is now being rebuilt and will be back in use by January 2003. This will probably see the end of current import slab flows via Avonmouth and Swansea.

Stone TrafficSpoil trains from the Channel Tunnel rail-link are now booked to arrive at Calvert from King's Cross goods at 08.30 and 13.30 (both Sux). Both trains run via Aylesbury.

Mail Traffic The 1V64 14.06 Low Fell-Plymouth mails now runs as 5V64 Tyne Yard-Plymouth empty vans! The 1V62 16.44 Warrington-Plymouth mails finished on 05/04. The 1M59 09.12 Temple Meads-Warrington mails have also finished.

Coal Traffic Loco 60075 has been reported to be fitted with 'knuckle' couplings, at Toton, for use with HTA coal hoppers and could see use on Avonmouth-Didcot MGR trains. Further to past reports of the routing of these trains via the Berks & Hants route, this now seems very unlikely because of a lack of paths at Southcote curve/junction near Reading.

Automotive Traffic A new freight terminal at Castle Bromwich, Birmingham is to be opened following a £53 million freight grant. The facility is expected to open by July 2003 and will deal with the outward movement of Jaguar cars as well as inward car-parts.

Miscellaneous

Diversions Notice For the first 7 weeks of the new Summer timetable, which starts on 03 June the Chepstow line will see weekend diversions of all trains, including freight, via Bristol Parkway and Westerleigh to the north.

Loco-Hauled Trains The Wales & Borders Cardiff-Fishguard Class 37 hauled trains, previously reported in a past Magazine will run M-F from 05/07 to 30/08. The current Fragonset Midland mainline trains out of St. Pancras are set to finish on 05/07. Part of the Summer timetable will still see Virgin Class 47 hauled passenger trains before a complete Voyager take-over. The weekend of Saturday 17/08 and Monday 19/08 look like being the final day of Class 47 hauled trains with the 1M40 08.46 Penzance-Manchester expected to be hauled by two of the celebrity repaints complete with headboard on the Monday this being the last.

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