NOTES AND NEWS

WEST COUNTRY AREA

Avonmouth

01/04 143613 was seen at Hallen Marsh on the 5Z43 Wessex Trains Henbury freight-line route knowledge trainer.
10/04 This was the first day of the passenger diversions via the Henbury freight line, for the first stage of the £15 million track-remodelling scheme at Filton. Observations saw the following pass through the Avonmouth area between 08.30 and 11.45;- 220019+221144 (06.05 Derby-Plymouth), 158 864 (06.00 Portsmouth Hbr-Cardiff Central), 158848+
158 749 (06.48 Swansea-Waterloo), 221 135+221 122 (06.16 Preston-Plymouth), 220 024+221 116 (07.13 Plymouth-Edinburgh), 158870 (09.00 Cardiff Central-Portsmouth Hbr), 158 868 (07.08 Portsmouth Hbr-
Cardiff Central), 221128 (08.13 Plymouth-Newcastle), 221106+220 018 (06.50 York-Plymouth), 158751+158815 (08.24 Portsmouth Hbr-Cardiff Central), 150 233 (10.00 Cardiff Central-Portsmouth Hbr), 220033+221131 (10.37 Exerter St.Davids-Newcastle), 220029 (08.30 Preston-Plymouth). Local Severn Beach branchline Wessex Train services were replaced by road buses along with local Gloucester trains to create more paths and South Coast services from Cardiff were retimed to start on the hour. Some Virgin XC services that normally terminated and restarted at Temple Meads were cancelled. A Network-Rail pilotman was used between Hallen Moor and Avonmouth station as signalling at Hallen Marsh does not 'officially' permit a train to pass from the freight line onto the Severn Beach passenger branch, but signal modifications will see the lines 'properly' connected (and will probably eliminate the use of a pilotman) ready for June 14th, when a further two week blockade at Filton is to take place. The diversions also operated over the following day and some services were further affected by the closure of the Severn Tunnel for work.
26/04 The 4E41 (MO) Avonmouth-Tyne Dock containers were routed via Charfield to the North, due to the Cherwell valley resignalling scheme between Leamington Spa and Banbury.
The following have been recorded on the 6V53 02.53 (mx) Wembley-Avonmouth 'enterprise' freight;- 67023 (06/04), 66063 (09/04), 67022 (21/04), 66 233 (28/04). Also the return 6M33 13.22 (sx) Avonmouth-Wembley has been noted with;- 67004 (06/04), 67004 (07/04), 67022 (21/04). The inward 6V53 has on both Saturdays 14/04 and 21/04 been routed via Box due to engineering work between Hullavington and Westerleigh junctions. On the former date, the train was seen passing Bath at 06.15.
Locos recorded on coal duty during the month include;-
66008/012/021/022/037/038/041/048/063/070/136/145/150/159/175/201/204
66226/229/230/244.
09003 has remained the area shunting pilot.

Bristol Parkway

01/04 Four freights recorded this evening, these being 66012 with loaded MGR from Avonmouth, 66103 working the Tytherington "Stone", 66201 with empty mgr heading for Avonmouth and an early run of the "Binliner" behind 66544.
04/04 All services were being diverted via Gloucester due to engineering works in the Severn Tunnel. Noted at Pilning West during the afternoon were 66 234 and 66 243 on a ballast/spoil train with a number of road/railers in attendance working on the down line. Earlier 67 011 worked previous days railtour ecs (stabled overnight in the Railnet depot) as 5Z30 14.06 Parkway-Old Oak Common via Bath and Box.
05/04 Similar to 1/4/04, 66175 with empty mgr to Avonmouth, 66012 with the MoD Liner and 60027 working the "Fuel Train".(Margam - Fawley)
06/04 60056 was on the Theale-Robeston fuel tank empties.
07/04 At 09.50, 66 139 arrived with 13 mail vans for store in the down sidings, from Barton Hill. The coaches were 80322/357/369/386/422/424. 94147/196/423/458/469/481/483.
09/04 67004 called with Pathfinder's 'Lord of the Isles' (1Z35 06.14 Swindon-Inverness) and coaching stock;- 6310, 5009, 1692, 3112, 3122, 3244, 1699, 3240, 3181, 17105, which returned two days later.
10/04 Easter Saturday and diversions took place for the Filton remodelling scheme (see also Avonmouth Notes &News). At nearby Filton Abbeywood the up line was noted realigned south of the station with new point work present and ready to be installed. 66 212 (with another) was present top n'tailing an engineers train. From 00.01 (10/04) to 23.59 (11/04), all passenger services were diverted via Avonmouth on depature from Parkway and arrival from the south. Virgin XC, Wessex Trains and Arriva Wales were the operating companies affected.
14/05 60001 was on fuel tanks at Westerleigh and coal sector liveried 60057 worked the 6H66 17.02 (Q) Swindon-Cardiff Tidal scrap.
15/04 Four freights recorded this evening, 60049 with the Tytherington "Stone", 66164 with mgr empties bound for Portbury, 66037 with a loaded mgr from Avonmouth, 66175 in the reverse direction.
19/04 Quiet evening saw just 66175 with a loaded mgr from Avonmouth, 66204 travelling in the reverse direction and 60032 with the Margam - Fawley empty fuel tanks. (Fuel Train).
20/04 A further 20 former Res vans arrived from the Bristol West and Pylle Hill areas. These were;- 80364. 94103/168/176/209/214/307/311/322
22/04 66059 was on the 6F01 10.28 Cardiff Tidal-Colnbrook steel service. This ThO 'Q' conveys materials for the new Heathrow Airport extension, and ran also on 15/04. The Netrwork-Rail Serco test Hst was also seen with power cars 43014 and 43062 heading up at 20.16.
24/04 The Network-Rail Serco Hst visited South Wales during the morning, but did not later cover the Swindon-Taunton and return part of it's normal diagram. A Pathfinder tours trip from Stratford-on-Avon to West Wales due to call at Parkway with two Class 50, locos was postponed to a later date.
26/04 Three services this evening starting with 66244 with an empty MGR service to Avonmouth, then bring on the 37s - first up 37042 with the MoD Liner followed by 37689 with the "Fuel Train", then game over.
94331/411/413/432/449/455/485/524/503/530/548. At the end of the month, an announcement was made that all the former Tpo coaches were to be removed for possible further use, but with whom was not known. GBRf are reported to be looking at some sort of mail by rail service with a starting date as early as June.
The 6M27, 16.48 Newport ADj-Wembley freight has been a regular sight via Parkway during the month, the following have been noted;- 66 019 (01/04), 66 045 (06/04), 66 172 (07/04 and 08/04), 66 145 (14/04).

Bristol Temple Meads, Kingsland Road and Barton Hill

01/04 66070 worked through Day's curve on a six-wagon 7Z42 from Newport ADj-Westbury which included a hooded steel carrier (in use as a barrier wagon) and an MBA stone carrier. Noted stabled at Kingsland Road were Network Rail's Class 31 locomotives, these being 31233/285.
02/04 Steam 34045 Ottery St.Mary (alias 34027 Taw Valley) ran as 5Z28 10.15 Bishop's Lydeard-Kidderminster with support coach 99405. The loco, which was running tender first, was seen leaving Yatton loop at 12.24 and was turned in Bristol via Day's curve leaving the support coach on the up through line (the loco and support coach had run west as 5Z51 09.44 Kidderminster-Bishop's Lydeard on 22/03, leaving Temple Meads at 14.00 and passing Worle at 14.23). Later, 67 022 was on a 1Z30 13.45 Par-Leeds return 'edenex' and 66 549 was stabled in Kingsland Road sidings. A westbound back-back Virgin red power car move saw 43067+43153 passing Bath at 19.26, running to Laira
04/04 Pastime Rail's 'Citadel Express' (06.45 Bristol TM-Carlisle) was worked by 67 011 outward via the Severn Tunnel and Hereford. The booked steam traction 6201 Princess Elizabeth however failed en-route, delaying the 15.55 return. The 6B80/6C80 Westbury-Machen and return stone, was worked by 60 077 out and back via Day's curve. There were diversions during the day via Yeovil with the mainline closed between Tauton and Exeter and 150 230 was reported to have worked the 1E36 14.13 Plymouth-Birmingham NS Virgin XC service as far as Exeter in place of a Voyager unit. Seen at Montpelier at 22.40 were 66061 + 60077 top 'n' tailing a ballast train.
05/04 66038+66 061+66 147+66 022+66 230 departed Temple Meads at 05.27 forming a 0W72 05.15 Westbury-Margam light loco move and later a 5V97 Longsight-Laira full Hst stock move was formed with power cars 43065 and 43122 and Vxc set 46. Another northbound Hst move was seen with 43084 and 43097 and a single centre coach.
06/04 Having arrived two days earlier at Newport (as 0Z56 18.45 Crewe-East Usk headed by 66 101) the move of 56 090, 56 115, 56 119 was set to take place as 0F74 14.00 Newport East Usk-Barton Hill depot. With loco 37707, the train was caped at 16.00!
07/04 67027 was on the 1V79 09.44 London Victoria-Temple Meads VSOE and 1O92 15.54 return. An unidentified Class 159 unit was seen heading towards Bath at Twerton at 12.37 on a route-learning trip. It has been reported that Arriva Wales are to drop their Bristol-Salisbury-Waterloo services at the timetable change, but SWTs are to take over these running up to three trains a day. This route is now no longer part of the Arriva franchise. During the early evening two interesting moves were;- 66250 with 56090+56117+56 119 on an 0F74 16.54 Newport ADj-Barton Hill (Pilning 18.00) and 59 001 on three bogie empty stone ' box' wagons and a steel coil barrier (via Day's curve).
10/04 Early start with 66145 seen at 08.05 with a southbound departmental service, also in the same direction were 66212/244 with a stone train at 18.50.
14/04 Mainline-blue 60044 was in charge of the 6C79 Parc Slip-Westbury cement works coal (Pilning 13.50) and petrol liveried 60054 was on the 6B66 Westbury-Newport ADj departmental. Three coal trains seen in the space of 3 hours, 66166 at 16.10 northbound from Portbury, 60044 northbound at 18.50 from Westbury and 66041 Portbury bound at 19.05.
15/04 Running as 0Z30 08.07 St.Phillips Marsh-Swindon, 10.01 Swindon-Gloucester and 11.33 Gloucester-St.Phillips Marsh were ex.works First/GW power cars 43037+43143, the latter with covered nameplates Stroud 700. The plates were unveiled at an official ceremony held at Stroud station between 10.33 and 11.03.
17/04 67026+67006+Royal 67005 arrived before 13.00 on Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z44 08.10 Letchworth-Bath/Temple Meads outing formed with Pride of the Nation coaches;- 21269, 3119, 3149, 1698, 3141, 3123, 1679, 3121, 3147, 1680, 3146, 3120, 2834. The return was at 17.45 (as 1Z45) with 67 026 leading the train and 67 005 on the rear. It was reported that the third loco 67006 was needed on Barton Hill as a driver training loco. A view of Barton Hill at 17.00 found the following;- 37 379/696. 56 090, 66012, 67006. A Very Special Trains outing planned for this date using a Fragonset Class 47/7, from Chichester to Temple Meads was cancelled. Another excursion featured 37047/057 on 1Z37 07:38 Milton Keynes-Minehead charter, returning as 1Z38 16:45 from Minehead.
20/04 A mainline steam trial for Pete Waterman's 5553 between Taunton and Cardiff was cancelled. The loco was due to work some trains in West Wales, but these trips have now been put back to October.
21/04 60041 was on the Parc Slip-Westbury cement works coal.
23/04 A 5M98 Laira-Longsight stock move was formed with un-branded red 43122+43065. Portbury mgr empties seen at 15.15 behind 66153..
24/04 67007 arrived at 11.29 (departing at 11.42) with a 1Z70 07.18 Hooton-Paignton excursion carrying an 'English Riviera' headboard and during the train's stop the mixed liveried coaching stock had it's water supply topped up. During the evening, the return was 1Z30 16.34 Paignton-Hooton, both out and back workings being via the Severn Tunnel and the Marches to Hereford. On the freight side, 60 054 was on the 6C80 13.13 Machen-Westbury loaded stone and 60010 was seen near Keynsham late at 18.45 with the 6Z52 10.45 Penmenmawr-Westbury partly loaded and empty Hanson stone wagons. This is an irregular SO 'Q' working.
25/04 A further day of diversions, with West of England trains again routed via Yeovil. Work was centred on the Wellington area where the loop and the cce siding were disconnected and lifted. During the evening following the failure of the booked Voyager set at Craigentinny, the 1V67 12.10 Edinburgh-Temple Meads Virgin XC service was started at Leeds at 15.35 using a Midland Mainline Hst set. Old livierd 43047 and 43055 were the power cars in use with a newly liveried set of RIO coaches in between.
25/04 A MML HST with 43055/047 did 15:35 Leeds-TM and 1E40 18:58 TM-York.
26/04 60044 was on a Newport ADj-Westbury departmental service.
27/04 67020 and 67028 top n'tailed a 1Z52 Euston-Westbury train of empty Virgin liviered coaching stock for a BBC filming contract, being reported via Bristol. Arriva 'green' 158844 was on the 06.10 Cardiff-Penzance service, this livery has again made a come-back during the month particularly on this train. Other regulars noted have been 158 842 and 158846.
28/04 Having stabled overnight on the Heathfield branchline, Royal 67005 and 67006 returned the empty Royal train north via Bristol (Parson's St. 12.35) as 10.15 Plymouth-Wolverton. The coaching stock in use was;- 2921, 2922, 2923, 2916, 2917, 2915, 2920. Noted on Barton Hill during the afternoon was MPV DB98910+DB98960, for the annual West Country weed-killing duties. A steam load and spark arrester test for 3440 City of Truro provisionally booked for today between Bristol and Gloucester and return was cancelled, as the loco was not ready. Southbound stone train seen at 15.10 powered by 60032.
30/04 Enterprise service seen this afternoon at 16.40 southbound behind 66198. Seen later at Kingsland Road was 66548 stabled up for the weekend. Three Class 58s passed through the area during the early hours as 0Z84 21.55 Eastleigh-Cardiff Canton, for wheel-turning before export to Spain for use, from Newport docks. The locos were 58025, 58029 and 58030, all carrying a new blue livery.
The Hst set worked back, a few minutes late on the 1E40 18.58 to York.

Portbury Branchline

The 4V03 Washwood Heath-Portbury and return 6M04 09.20 Portbury-Rugeley coal service has been noted with;- 66081 (05/04, running as 02.11 Toton-Portbury), 66126 (08/04), 66209 (09/04).
Also recorded during the month were;- 66 147 on the 6F27 10.31 Margam TC-Portbury coal empties (05/04) and 66 115 on 6V22 Washwood Heath-Portbury empties during the evening of 06/04. The 6X52 17.33 (TO) Portbury-Washwood Heath loaded Honda cars ran on 06/04, the hauling loco was however unidentified.

SOUTH WALES AREA

Cardiff Central

29/04 66086+58025/029/030+66182 worked 21.55 Eastleigh-Canton

Cardiff Canton (viewed from the footbridge)

04/04 08955. 37412/413/509/676/798. 47761.
11/04 08955. 37412/413/509/676/798. 47761. 60050.
18/04 08955. 37412/413/509/676/798. 47761. 66058. 67002 + Northern Belle Stock.
25/04 08955. 37412/413/509/676/798. 47761. 66037/142.
30/04 58025/029/030, in new light blue GIF livery.

Newport

02/04 (23.40) 60045/050/063. 66019/048/051/148/150/187/224.
04/04 66101 hauled 56118/090/117 as 0Z56 18:45 Crewe-East Usk. It was understood the 56s were for store at Barton Hill.
05/04 The three 56s were visible in East Usk yard.
07/04 66250 moved 56117/090/118 from East Usk to Barton Hill at 17:30.
08/04 31128/454. 60057/067. 57004. 66101/145/150.
16/04 31128/452. 31128/452. 60023/046/052/063/086. 66058.
19/04 MV Stellanova arrived at Newport Docks and 66575/576/577/952 were unloaded. 66952 is an experimental loco ordered by Freightliner for evaluation.
20/04 66575/576/577 were lined up three abreast being commissioned on the south quay. It was learnt that 66952 will not go directly into service, but will go to Derby for evaluation. This loco has a side door in the body for access to the engine room!
23/04 (23.40) 60014/020/073. 66026/043/146. 66577/576/575 worked as 0Z66 20:00 Newport Docks-Basford Hall.
30/04 (23.55) 60016/031. 66013.
30/04 66952 was still in the docks. It is alleged there are problems in getting Network Rail permission for it to move to Toton, even towed dead by another loco!


LOCO AND UNIT NEWS

CLASS 31
01/04 Network-Rail's 31 285+31 233 were present in Bristol Kingsland Road on the structural gauging train formed;- 975280, 975081, 460000, 977985, 977986. 31 128, 31 452 and 31 454 were all present at Westbury during the day.
02/04 31 452 and 31 454 departed from Westbury at 11.25 with 5O98 ecs, but failed in platform 13 at Bristol TM before departing on the 1O98 12.52 service to Brighton. The locos and stock were later able to return to Westbury at 14.45.
05/04 31 128 ran 0Z31 09.10 Westbury-Swindon (via Melksham) and 0Z32 10.20 Swindon-Westbury (via a reverse in Bathampton loop) light-engine route learner.
08/04 31 128 and 31 454 top n'tailed the 1O98, 1V96 17.00 Brighton-Cardiff and 2C96 22.52 to Westbury services, operating on a Thursday due to the Friday Bank Holiday. The 5O98 ecs was reported as leaving Westbury at 12.11, 31 128 was standing in for 31 452 which was out of service.
16/04 31 128 and 31 454 were again on the 5O98, 1O98, 1V96 and 2C96 Wessex Trains services. They again performed the same diagram a week later.
17/04 31 128 and 31452 with the Bristol-Brighton Wessex trains stock and 37 674 saw use at the two day East Somerset diesel gala.
23/04 31454/128 hauled/pushed 1V96.
30/04 31454/452 hauled/pushed 1V96.

CLASS 37
01/04 37417 worked 2V07 06:59 Rhymney-Radyr, 37425 2F05 07:19 from Rhymney and 37402 2F06 07:40 from Rhymney.
03/04 37402/417/425 worked most of the day on Rhymney line Saturday services.
05/04 37417 hauled 2R38 16:50 to Rhymney, 37402 2R42 17:11 to Rhymney and 37425 2R46 17:47 to Rhymney.
06/04 The evening Rhymney services were a repeat of the previous day.
09/04 37402 did 2V07, 37425 2F05 and 2R38, 37417 2F06 and 2R42.
07/04 37689 worked 6M75 ADJ-Warrington.
10/04 As 37402 was defective, 37203 in Mainline blue livery hauled 2R10 08:59 to Rhymney (30 minutes late) and continued on Rhymney services all day, finishing with 2R62 21:05 to Rhymney. Also in use were 37417 and 37425.
12/04 To handle crowds on Easter Monday, 37203/417/425 worked all day on the Rhymneys.
13/04 37425 did 2V07 and 2R38, 37203 2F05, 37417 2F06 and 2R42, 37406 2R46 (37406 having been sent from Motherwell to cover the 37/4 shortage in South Wales).
14/04 37417 hauled 2V07, 37406 2F05, 37425 2F06.
15/04 37425 operated 2V07, 37417 2F05, 37406 2F06.
16/04 37406 did 2V07, 37417 2F05, 37425 2F06. 17/04 37406/417/425 were on the Rhymney Saturday services.
20/04 37417 hauled 2R38, 37406 2R42, 37425 2R46.
21/04 37425 operated 2R38, 37417 2R42, 37406 2R46.
21/04 37689 was on 6M75.
22/04 37417 did 2R38, 37425 2R42, 37406 2R46.
23/04 37425 did 2R38, 37417 2R42, 37406 2R46.
24/04 37406/417/425 did the Saturday Rhymney services.
26/04 37425 did 2V07 and 2R42, 37406 2F05 and 2R38, 37417 2F06 and 2R46.
27/04 37667/419 worked 6V08 07:10 Wolverhampton-Margam steel empties. 37425 did 2R38, 37417 2R42 and 37406 2R46.
29/04 66086+58025/029/030+66182 worked 21.55 Eastleigh-Canton
30/04 37417 did 2V07, 37425 2F05, 37406 2F06.

CLASS 47/57
03/04 47712 hauled 1Z84 07:29 Canterbury-TM excursion and 1Z85 16:55 return. Fragonset 47 712 worked 'Vey Special Trains' first railtour a 1Z86 07.29 Canterbury West-Bristol Temple Meads excursion, the return being 1Z85 16.55 Temple Meads-Canterbury. The train was routed inward via the GW mainline through Didcot instead of the Berks & Hants, arriving in Bristol 30 minutes early at 12.19.
09/04 First/GW 47 811 worked a 5Z74 15.00 Laira-St.Phillips Marsh stock move formed with two barrier vans+44049+43165. The train was noted passing Long Ashton at 17.39, the loco then returned as 5Z77 to Laira with 43132+44024+6338 during the evening.
22/04 57604 was very busy during the day, running 5Z74 07.55 Laira-St.Phillips Marsh with barrier coach 6338 (Yatton loop just before 10.00). The loco and coach then worked power car 43029 west as 5Z77, and then returned north with power car 43129 (Yatton 19.22). To complete the day, 57604+6338 headed west back to Laira later in the evening.
26/04 57604 was again in action on the 1A70 14.35 Paddington-Plymouth, hauling an Hst set with power cars 43024 and 43170 leaving 59 minutes late and passing Taunton at 17.18.
29/04 57604 was booked to work an Old Oak Common-Old Oak Common (via Parkway) run with a 12.30 Bath passing time. This mileage accumulation run was to be repeated the following day.
Locos recorded on the First/GW sleeper service during the month have been;- 47 811/813. 57 602/603/604.

LOCAL DRS WORKINGS

6V74/6M67 Crewe-Bridgwater-Crewe nuclear flasks.
01/04 66405 + 66410. 05/04 37611 + 37612. 27/04 20305 + 37608.

LOCAL FREIGHTLINER WORKINGS

4V50 05:03 Southampton-Wentloog & 4O51 10:08 Wentloog-Southampton
05/04 57007. 06/04 47309. 08/04 47309. 14/04 57007. 15/04 57001.
16/04 57005. 19/04 66504. 21/04 66569. 23/04 57003. 27/04 57012.
29/04 57004.
4V30 Ipswich - Wentloog & 4L56 Wentloog - Ipswich
01/04 66569. 07/04 57008. 20/04 57003. 21/04 57003. 22/04 66573.
28/04 57010. 29/04 57010. 30/04 57010.
6V14/6X42 Crewe Gresty Lane/Mossend-Portbury and return cars.
08/04 66609. 16/04 66601. 19/04 66564. 20/04 66564. 21/04 66564.
22/04 66549. 23/04 66609. 26/04 66557. 27/04 66557. 29/04 66557.
30/04 66607.
4V60/4M60 Calvert - Avon - Calvert Binliner
01/04 66544. 14/04 66544. 21/04 66548. 22/04 66616.
6V20/6M37 Hope Sidings-Moorswater-Hope sidings cement.
15/04 66523. 26/04 66601. 28/04 66601.

Other Freightliner workings.
02/04 66 512 arrived at Westbury with a stone train from Southampton during the afternoon.
07/04 47 303+47 309 were paired on the 4O14 04.32 Garston-Southampton liner and 66 617 was on the 6V55 11.06 ('Q') Dagenham-Tower empty stone box wagons, complete with 'Stoneliner' headboard, passing Pilning at 15.55.
08/04 An interesting stock move during the day involving 'hire' 47 812 was;- 6Z19 06.00 St.Phillips Marsh-Laira with barrier vans 6330+6336 (noted passing Yatton at 06.22) to collect a full Virgin Hst set of centre coaches running as 4Z20 09.30 Laira-Eastleigh via Bristol (Yatton 12.18), Swindon and Reading. The 47 then ran 6Z51 16.51 Eastleigh-Laira via Salisbury with the two barrier vans (Castle Cary 18.33), before returning light-engine to Bristol Kingsland road.
09/04 'On hire' 66 410 from DRS worked the 4O14 04.32 Garston-Southampton liner.
14/04 47 309 was noted standing in for a Class 08 at Millbrook for shunting duties.
17/04 Already having suffered a failure en-route, the 4V30 18.43 (Fri) Ipswich-Wentloog liner with 57 008 failed near Chippenham. The following 6V53 02.53 Wembley-Avonmouth freight with 66 100 was used to push the service onwards to Bristol East depot loop, running over 700 minutes late! Both trains had been running this way due to weekend engineering works between Hullavington and Westerleigh. Later in the day 66 537+57 008 were noted with train passing Lawrence Hill at 12.45. The Class 66 was reported en-route to the East Somerset railway's diesel gala, but was used to move the container train onwards instead.
19/04 47 197 passed Bristol Parkway at 13.00 running Kingsland Road-Saltley route learner. The loco performed the same duty the following day.
21/04 57 009 with Cotswold Rail 47 316 were both noted present at Mendip Rail's Merehead depot for attention.
23/04 47 197 was again stabled at Kingsland Road at 08.00 and 66 617+47 805 were paired on the 6M16 Southampton docks-Crewe automotive.
24/04 66 532 was noted passing Saltford (near Keynsham) with a diverted 4Z30 10.12 ('Q') Thamesport -Wentloog liner at 16.32 running this way due to engineering work between Hullavington and Westerleigh. Earlier 66 548 had passed on an additional Saturday 'binliner' due to the Bank Holiday on the previous Monday.
26/04 66 564 and the 6M16 automotive was noted diverted via Reading (along with a number of other Freightliner services) due to engineering work in the Banbury area.

Stock Alterations

Locomotives
Transfers
08561(AN)-TO, 08685(CF)-ML,

Store
AN: 08737. AY:08511. BK: 73141. BS: 08418/757. CB: 47289. 86623. CE: 08842. 47749. 86633/635. 90021/023/029. CF: 56062. DC: 08587/752/953. 09007/021. DF: 73204/205/206/209. EH: 08510. HM: 56038/113/119. IM: 08401/689/886. 56018. KM: 08485. KY: 08578. ML: 08670. 09103. 09205. 90033. NL: 43099/160. OC: 08694.PB: 08528. 73203/207. SP: 47778. TE: 56088. TI: 08633. TO: 47635/733. ZB: 08493/756/819. ZG: 73210/211. Goole: 08888. Northampton: 08742. Port Talbot: 08900. Temple Mills: 08854. Tyne Yard: 08512. Westbury: 08947. LNWR: 08523/535. 47224.

Traffic
08738/922 -AN, 08941 -CF, 31233/285 -DF, 56095 -IM, 08933 - ML, 86260 -NC, 43005 -PM, 47732 -TO.

Disposals
Sims(Nott): 37019. 47308.
Booths: 47565.
HNRL: 08625/666/957. 37078. 73004.
Thomson: 37139.
Garrett: 31296. 47212.

Diesel Multiple Units
Transfers
158757(NH)-HT, 759(HT)-NH.

Stored
205012/025 -SU.

Disposal
Sims(CF): 54350.
Pump House Steam & Transport Museum, Walthamstow: Car no: 60138.

Formations
156412 (57410 + 57412) - 156410 Disbanded.
170304 (50303 + 79304) - 170303 Disbanded

New Stock
170393/394/395/396 - Hull Trains.
222409/410 - HQ.

Electric Multiple Units
Stored
312702/705/713/715/719 @SS, 703/714 @IL.
325001 @OM, 002//009/012 @WN, 003/005/006/007/010/011/015 @CE, 004//016 @ Crewe Station Area, 008/013/014 @WN Railnet.
365501/502/505/506/508/516 @ZB, then to traffic at HE.
411517/35/50/55 pending transfer to RE, 1553/63 @FR.
421713/24/35/44/53 @SS, 1719. 1904 @West Worthing, 1722. 1832/57 @Newhaven, 1870 @RE.

Traffic
375145/146/152/153/154/155/156/158/159/160/161/162/163 -BI, 901-915 -RE.

Withdrawn
421707/09/36/37/45. 1809/10/13.

Disposals:
Sims(CF): Cl309 cars 61927. 75639/641/978/980. (613/623)
Cl421 cars 62025/026/044/062/065 (1707/09/36/37/45)
IMRFT: Units 1809/10/13.

Renumbered
375312 - 377302, 375332 - 377322.

New Stock
375912/913/914/915 -HQ* (See Above)
377201/202/203/204/205/206 -HQ.
444018/019/020 -HQ.
450003/060/069/071/072/073/074/075/076 -HQ.

Coaching & NPCC Stock
Transfers
12005/014/019/038/092. 12128/139/156/166/172. 82109/120/147 -PC.

Stored
LT: 10205/213/220/234/250/252. 11085/094. 12023/042. 82135. NC: 82119/133. OM: 11073. 82122. WB: 94137/228. ZN: 10230. 11023/038. 12082/088/116/148/154.
Tavistock Junc: 80333/340/372/384/406/416/425.

Traffic
6262 -ZA, 11276/278/279/304/306/404/406 -BN, 12032/040/041/046/065/100/134/137/147/151 -PC.
94133/166/221/225. 94333/340. 94408/424/431/443/475/539/544 -??

Withdrawn
3256. 5180. 6335. 92530. 975691/701/702/710/715/725/730/735/745/908/909.

Disposals
Sims(CF): 3256.
HNRL: 92530. 975701/702/715/725/735/745/908/909.
DNL: 975691/710/730.
RPS of Ireland: 5180.

Renumbered
11202 - 11404, 11205 - 11406, 11257 - 11304, 11276 - 11306, 12479 - 11278, 12521 - 11279. 92928 - 6262.

Eurotunnel
Renumbered
9025 - 9825 (Up-rated)

Codes
GBED GBRF Electro-Diesels HAPC Scotrail Mk3 Push-Pull Coaches.

Road Movements

03/02 Not previously reported, 86 206 (SAXL pool) was seen at the New Severn road crossing M4/M49 junction on a road low-loader awaiting, a police escort around 08.30.
07/04 Auto-coach W228W was seen heading south on the M5 between junctions 21 and 22.
28/04 09013 was seen heading west on a low-loader near Exeter and 08 904 was noted heading north-bound near junction 21 (Weston-super-Mare) at 14.55. This loco was also seen later between Chippenham and Swindon (M4) at 16.45.

Preservation and Industrial Matters

Avon Valley Railway (R.W.Giles)
01/05 The railway officially opened its third station at Riverside (near Saltford) the first train to call being the 11.20 ex. Oldland Common. A Government ruling stated the new platform had to be offered to other rail operators despite it not being connected to the main network, this delaying a planned Easter opening by the AVR! 'Unofficially' the halt with run-round loop was used for the first time on the previous Sunday 25th April, but the day's workings were cut short with the failure of steam loco 7151 (RSHN 7151/44)! 7151 was noted in use two days later with coaching stock Ruth (S3745), M35255, M25299, M25040, during the late morning. Plans to operate two passenger trains at the same time, for the first time over 8th and 9th May during the Thomas Tank weekend, using Bitton station as a passing place, had to be cancelled due to a waterlogged field which was to be used as a car-park.

Correction;- Preservation & Industrial Matters (March Magazine 2004) page 15;- under Meldon Quarry (21/01), 9006 should have read 9005 (GW saloon).

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