NOTES AND NEWS

WEST COUNTRY AREA

Avonmouth

31/05 67028 brought in 56071 + 56094 'dit' as part of the morning 6V53 Wembley-Avonmouth 'enterprise' freight. The Class 56s were then tripped to Barton Hill to receive overseas modifications and Fertis livery.
Locos recorded on coal duty during the month included;- 66026/038/052/101/176/233. 09003 remains the area pilot.
An announcement by the Port of Bristol Authority during the month, stated a new £200 million deep water container port is to be built on 40.5 hectares (100 acres) of reclaimed land near the mouth of the River Avon, by the docks on the opposite side to Royal Portbury dock. A new generation of container ships (that have not been built yet!) will serve the port and will be up to 380 (1,247 ft) or four football pitches long, compared with today's vessels handled at Avonmouth and Portbury currently 300m (984ft) long! Construction will involve building a new quay wall and dredging in the channel area. The existing rail served LPG terminal, which is currently being run-down is expected to form part of new quayside rail sidings and yard that will be built on the land.

Bristol Parkway

01/05 Network-Rail 31285 + 31233 returned failed NMT HST set (with power cars 43062 + 43014) as 5Z19 12.30 Stoke Gifford down sidings-Derby.
02/05 Bank Holiday Monday and Pathfinder's 'Cumbrian Warrior' (04.55 Cardiff-Workington) was worked by 67025 as far as Bescot for 37422 + 37427 to take over. However 37422 failed near Preston, leaving 37427 solo to Workington and back! 66159 was used to top n'tail the train in the Workington docks area, the coaching stock in use being;- 21272, 3069, 3122, 1699, 3112, 3140, 3107, 1863, 5322, 5009, 4927, 5040, 5341. Also during the early afternoon 57303 was seen running westbound light-engine (0Z57) for West Country driver training duties.
03/05 During the afternoon, Freightliner Heavy-haul 66613 (running in place of 47150) hauled 5Z45 12.35 Stewarts Lane-Caerwent scrap units, formed with 1856, 1853, 1854 and an odd coach 70722 (from set 1411).
05/05 60022 departed Westerleigh after 11.00 on Lindsey fuel tank empties, before silver 60033 arrived on the 6B13 loaded fuel tank from Robeston. An HST power car failure involving 43172 at Severn Tunnel junction on the First/GW 14.55 Cardiff Central-Paddington service saw the set held in the station at platform 3, as the passengers were transferred to the following 14.30 Swansea-Paddington service. A 5Z90 08.29 Norwich-Caerwent Anglian stock move was postponed to a later date.
09/05 Three freight workings seen this evening, 66101 with empty MGR for Avonmouth, from Avonmouth 66002 with the Tyne Yard "Boxes" and 66035 with MGR empties bound for Portbury.
10/05 A Yeoman liveried Class 59 passed through on stone empties to Tytherington, but returned empty due to loading problems at the quarry!
11/05 Plenty of interesting activity during the day included;- 57011 with 4O51 Wentloog-Millbrook containers, 66613 on 5Z40 09.15 Ramsgate-Caerwent scrap EMU stock (formed 3492, 3511, 3553) and coal-sector liveried 60091 on the now daily 6F35 Parc Slip-Didcot loaded coal HAAs. The previous day's cancelled Tytherington quarry trip ran behind 59005 as 6C36 14.52 ex.Westbury.
12/05 59205 was on the Tytherington stone trip formed of Hanson JKA bogie stone hoppers. Also during the day; 66016 was on 6A10 Cardiff Tidal-Colnbrook steel, 60062 on 6B33 Theale-Robeston fuel tank empties, 66016 on the 6F35 Parc Slip-Didcot loaded coal, 60083 with 6V60 Angerstein Wharf-Margam empty wagons and 60091 over at Westerleigh on the Robeston fuel tanks formed of 18 Tiphook bogie wagons. Also 67016 worked 5Z40 10.45 Old Oak Common-Caerwent through around 14.00 with coaches;- 5927 (Anglian colours), 6813 (Inter-City colours), 6807 (IC), 5956 (IC), 5852 (A), 3290 (A), 6809 (A), 6827 (A). Evening activity consisted of 66056/059 with MGR empties heading for Portbury, 66035 with loaded MGR from Avonmouth, 66233 with empty MGR from Didcot to Avonmouth and 66024 with the Mod Liner. The final sighting was of 47145 proceeding light engine northbound through the station.
13/05 47145 was seen heading into the Severn Tunnel around 16.30 on an FM Rail driver route learning circular trip, believed to have run via Gloucester.
16/05 66542 was on the 4O51 Wentloog-Millbrook containers, 66192 headed the 6C36 Tytherington stone empties and 66617 worked a Dagenham-Morton-on-Lugg train of stone empties. The EWS executive train was noted mid-morning running as 1Z05 07.22 Paddington-Cardiff formed DVT 82146, 10546, 10211, 11039 and silver Class 67, 67029. Eveening workings consisted of 66008 empty MGR bound for Portbury, 66016 loaded MGR from Avonmouth to Didcot and 66056 empty MGR heading for Avonmouth.
18/05 Further south Wales bound scrap unit trains were;- 67016 on 5Z23 Stewarts Lane-Caerwent formed with Connex EMU sets 3484, 3524, 3531 and Freightliner Heavy-Haul 47816 hauling 5Z40 08.42 Ramsgate-Caerwent with 3494, 3589, 3424. The latter caused problems when it failed in Chipping Sodbury tunnel (arriving at Parkway at 16.43 and recessed) with EWS 67030 being used as the rescue loco. The Class 67 had been in the area on a Northern Belle working to Bath from Lincoln, the return north being delayed due to the rescue. Whilst the failed train remained in the tunnel, a number of First/GW services were diverted via Bath, the 6M33 16.22 Avonmouth-Wembley freight (formed of empty flats) was held in the up loop with 66 223 (leaving at 16.23) and was followed by the 15.55 Cardiff-Paddington First/GW service. Also recorded were 59004 on Tytherington stone empties (15.48) and earlier 66 150 with the 6F35 Didcot coal HAAs. The EWS executive train returned, having been turned on the Newport Maindee triangle (so the DVT was again leading) as 1Z05 19.00 Cardiff-Toton (via Swindon) and seen passing Pilning at 19.14.
19/05 66531 hauled failed 47816 and EMU stock at around 12.30 to East Usk, where the Class 47 was removed from the train for the remaining journey to Caerwent following a loco run-round. Another EMU stock move was reported to be running, but ran to Shoeburyness, not Caerwent as expected. Other freight movements during the day included;- 57002 with the 4O51 Millbrook containers, 60012 on the 6B33 Theale fuel tank empties and 60047 over at Westerleigh on the Robeston fuel tanks.
20/05 66617 was noted in Pilning loop at 16.50 on Dagenham-Tower stone empties, complete with 'Stone liner' headboard.
23/05 For a British & Irish v Argentina rugby game at the Millenium stadium, an unidentified Class 67 passed during the late afternoon on a London-Cardff VSOE extra working. Just a couple of workings this evening, firstly 66605 noted light engine heading for South Wales and 66222 with MGR empties for Avonmouth.
24/05 66703 was on a further EMU scrap stock move from Wimbledon-Caerwent formed with former SWTs 1309, 1312, 1316. Class 60s recorded during the afternoon were;- 60023 on 6C23 Hayes-East Usk stone empties, 60004 on 6B33 Theale-Robeston fuel empties and 60014 with 6B11 Thorney Mill-Margam. News from Tytherington is an expected new daily stone-flow to Exeter to commence soon, although further workings to Allington have finished. Train length was expected to be increased from 17 to 24 wagons in the future.
26/05 59205 was over at Tytherington quarry loading a stone train. Three workings to report this evening starting with 66222 working a loaded MGR from Avonmouth to Didcot, followed by the NR HST using power cars 43014/154 and 66201 with MGR empties heading for South Wales.
30/05 For the West Ham v Preston North-End, Division 1 football play-off final at the Millennium stadium;- 67030 and 67022 top n'tailed coaches 2833, 4996, 4949, 4999, 1658, 4998, 5002, 4991, 4956, 5005, 4959, 21246 as 1Z67 08.15 Stratford-Cardiff Central and 50031 + 50049 double-headed 1Z58 09.15 Stratford-Cardiff Central with coaches;- (3340), 3325, 3333, 3304, 3384, 3390, 3348, 1699, 3330, 3397, 3386, 9509. The lead loco was noted carrying a West Ham scarf draped over its front below the cab window!

Bristol Temple Meads and Barton Hill

01/05 Kingsland Road held 47150 66516/531/613.

02/05 A Green Express (1Z66 05.27 Leeds-Dawlish and 1Z67 15.30 return) was top n'tailed by 57601 and a newly repainted 47854 (now in all over 'West coast' maroon with small yellow ends) with West Coast stock;- 99673 Rydal Water, 99125, 3143, 3136, 99121, 21266, 4960, 5035, 1861, 99328, 99327, 99329. The train was recorded at Yatton at 11.13 and the return near Pilning at 17.13.
05/05 47703+45112+37190+31271+50007 ran 0Z53 12.30 Condor Park (MRT Butterley)-Bishop's Lydeard (WSR), the Class 47 being removed at Derby for the journey south behind the Peak. The colourful convoy, for use at the forthcoming West Somerset Railway diesel gala, was noted passing Yatton not far off it's booked time at 17.31.
09/05 Locos returning from the WSR, saw 45112 haul 50007 (which had failed the previous day) as 0Z54 09.55 Bishop's Lydeard-Butterley, passing Yatton at 10.57. The other two locos, 31271 and 37190 were hauled behind other visiting GBRf locos 73204+73205+73209 as 09.00 Bishop's Lydeard-Old Old Common, the 31 was due to be swapped with a 31 from the Nene Valley Railway before returning north. The 6C01 09.15 Newport ADJ-Bristol East loaded steel was worked by 66017 and one-car departmental unit DB977968 ran 10.17 Newport-Taunton. 57308 worked 0Z57 Oxley-Laira via Kidderminster & Westbury.
10/05 66516 passed Uphill junction at 04.14 with Oxford Hinksey yard-Meldon stone empties, the return loaded train running via Westbury.
11/05 66030 was on the East depot steel working and 67012 worked a VSOE outing to Bath/Bristol from London. Newly liveried 56051 and 56065 in French 'Fertis' colours were present at the north end of Barton Hill depot together until 23rd May. Over at Bath, 59005 passed at 13.00 with Hanson wagons in the up direction.
12/05 66199 was on the East depot steel and 66204 worked Westbury-Tower stone empties. Having stabled at Gloucester overnight FM Rail 47 145 collected stored coaches;- 6002, 6181, 5920, 3402, 3425, 3387, 3411, 3354, 3353 from Caerwent as a 5Z59 12.45 departure to Meldon. The train passed Patchway at 14.51, most of these coaches having arrived at Caerwent behind 66703 from Shoeburyness on 24th November 2004.
14/05 A Heartland Tour's, 1Z61 06.58 Crewe-Kingswear was double-headed by 47316+47 14, the latter carrying Anglian colours using MkIII stock. The return was 1Z82 17.15 Kingswear-Crewe. Another special to pass through the area via the Severn Tunnel, Patchway and Day's curve was 67022 on a Mid Cheshire Users 'Two Avons Express' 1Z58 06.25 Altrincham-Eastleigh using coaching stock;- 9504, 5963, 5984, 6054, 5987, 5910, 1203, 3426, 3356, 3261, 3229, 3244, 3228. Steam 6024 King Edward I was noted passing near Parson's street as 12.00 Bishop's Lydeard-Tyseley loco and coach W35333, following the cancellation of a proposed Watford-Minehead return excursion. The first Nationwide Community-Rail day saw the Wessex Train's Class 31s working 08.42 and 14.40 Bristol TM-Weymouth and 11.10 and 17.16 returns with 31 459 and 31601 top n'tailing coaches;- 6122, 6117, 9506, 6173, 9525. Also, to promote the importance of rail to local villages and city suburbs, 143 621 worked the 'Treasure Train', 11.53 Bristol TM-Severn Beach and 12.34 return, complete with window stickers. Wessex Train's staff gave out presents to traveling passengers and goody bags to the children.
15/05 Visible on Barton Hill were 37077/379/696 56049/051/065 66053 and at Kingsland Road was 66613.
16/05 Green liveried 37411 ran 0Z80 Margam-Cardiff Tidal, 6Z80 Cardiff Tidal-Newport docks and 6C01 09.15 Newport ADJ-Bristol East loaded steel, running around two hours late, a most unusual choice for this working! The loco returned 6C02 14.06 Bristol East-Newport ADJ empties, as booked. 60027 was on the 7B66 Westbury-Newport ADJ departmental and 47816 + 66531 arrived at Kingsland road light-engine from Crewe (via the Marches and the Severn Tunnel) during the late afternoon.
17/05 47816 was noted stabled on Kingsland road.
18/05 67030 worked 1Z67 08.23 Lincoln-Bath Northern Belle (and 1Z68 return), the return was however delayed due to the Class 67 assisting a failed train at Chipping Sodbury (also see Bristol Parkway Notes & News). Also 67017 was in charge of 1Z48 06.10 Nottingham-Penzance and 1Z28 15.45 return. On the freight side;- 66182 was on the East Depot steel, 59205 worked 7B66 Westbury-Newport ADJ engineers (Pilning 12.35) and 60003 was on 6T29 Taunton Fairwaters-Newport ADJ departmental.
19/05 59002 worked an 'extra' 6Z70 20.15 Westbury-Machen train of empty stone via Day's curve.
21/05 EWS silver 67029 was back in the area on Pathfinder's 'Eden Flyer' (1Z67 06.50 Swansea-Penzance and 1Z68 15.15 return,being noted near Weston-super-Mare at 19.12). The coaching stock formation was reported as;- 5969, 5955, 1842, 3384, 3390, 3348, 3330, 1699, 3397, 3386, 17077. 67019 was later recorded on 1Z82 11.25 Victoria-Bath VSOE, 5Z81 15.03 Bath-Bristol TM (via Bristol West and St.Phillips Marsh) ECS, 5Z82 17.53 St.Phillips Marsh-Bath ECS and 1Z82 18.51 Bath-Victoria.
22/05 A proposed trip using 71000 Duke of Gloucester from Paddington-Plymouth (via Bristol) was cancelled due to pathing problems. Noted on Barton Hill during the early evening, amongst the 'regulars' were 158859 and MPV DB98909 + DB98959. 66527 was stabled over at Kingsland road. All the Class 56 locos were reported to be inside the depot buildings pending a move to Old Oak Common. An item of stock which has remained stored alongside the Class 37s has now been identified as NKA 94190. Stabled on Kingsland Road was 66527.
23/05 Having run, 0Z21 06.33 Old Oak Common-Barton Hill light-engines (originally planned to bring in 56071 and 56094), Silver 67029 and 67017 top n'tailed 56065+56049+(56051) as 0Z22 11.38 Barton Hill-Old Oak Common (being noted near Bath at 12.14), via Trowbridge, Westbury Hawkridge curve and the Berks & Hants. 37425, unusually ran 0V41 23.59 Newport Godfrey Road-St.Blazey (09.38) light-engine and worked the 6C21 Penzance fuel tanks the following day. 47150 was seen stabled in Kingland road sidings. Furzebrook - Hallen LPG service noted en-route behind 66228 at 23.20.
25/05 37069 + 37612 worked a single FNA Bridgwater flask train and unusually returned to Crewe light-engine. 47150 ran 0Z47 08.33 Kingsland road-Margam and 13.00 return light-engine, for driver route learning purposes. 37425 returned from Cornwall 'dit' as part of the 6B99 St.Blazey-Exeter freight. The loco then ran 0A59 02.15 Exeter-Newport Godfrey road the following day.
26/05 Newly re-engined First/GW HST power car 43009 was 'on test' running from St.Phillips Marsh-Plymouth and return in a 'mini-formation' consisting also of 44059+43027. Stabled on Kingsland Road were 66527 and 66503.
27/05 A 4Z08, ultra sonic test working arrived at St.Phillips Marsh formed Dmu 901 101 (977391 + 999602 + 977392.
28/05 The Wessex Train's Class 31s, 31459 and 31601 were top n'tailing the regular Bristol-Weymouth passenger diagram. This was the first weekend of Virgin XC HST operation, using 'hired in' sets, also proposed for Summer Saturdays on 04/06, 11/06 and from 02/07-27/08. Power cars recorded during the day and their workings were as follows;-
GNER; 43112+43113. 1C02 07.35 Bristol TM-Paignton (via Westbury) and 1E33 10.32 Paignton-Newcastle. MML; 43104+43178. 2C64 06.51 Plymouth-Newquay and 1E34 09.40 Newquay-Newcastle. Porterbrook; 43157+43193. 1V49 09.41 Newcastle-Newquay and 2C75 19.15 Newquay-Plymouth' the latter failing at Lostwithiel, being assisted forward by 57 605. The 1V29 07.23 Manchester-Newquay and 1M28 15.22 Newquay-Manchester was also operated by a MML HST set but was unidentified. An evening view of Kingsland road found; 47150. 66527/603. Plenty of railtour activity during the evening featuring 'heritage' locos saw;- steam 34067 Tangmere, having arrived on an 08.46 Victoria-Bath/Bristol VSOE, depart on the 17.05 return to Victoria, steam 71000 Duke of Gloucester (standing in for 60009 Union of South Africa and making only it's second mainline preservation passenger train visit to Bristol) leave on Steamy Affairs 1Z61 18.32 Temple Meads-Worcester (via Bristol Parkway and Charfield), having arrived an hour late running via Hereford and the Severn Tunnel with 1Z60 'Welsh Marches Express' from Worcester (taking over the train at Bescot) and D1015 Western Champion returning a 1A52 17.15 Kingswear-Paddington 'English Riviera' Pastime Rail trip, being diverted via Badminton and not the booked Bath route. The Western had taken the outward 1C52 08.46 Paddington-Kingswear via Westbury earlier in the day.
29/05 Ultrasonic test DMU, 901 101 arrived on the up through at 22.06, departing at 22.16 (3 minutes early) on a 4Z08 St.Phillips Marsh-Swindon and return working. Stabled on Kingsland Road were 47150 66527 and 66603, on Barton Hill were 66201 and 66206.
30/05 All Voyager Class 220 and 221 sets were taken out of service following a fire 'risk' problem discovered on set 221101 (stabled with 221137), at Barton Hill depot late the previous evening. Porterbrook HST set 43157 (red) and 43193 (Rio) with Rio liveried centre coaches worked 07.25 Plymouth-Birmingham NS, 1V45 12.13 Birmingham NS-Plymouth and 17.25 Plymouth-Birmingham NS in place of Voyager units. During the evening, another Voyager incident saw a set strike concrete placed on the mainline near Yate station. The 19.40 Plymouth-Birmingham NS was held for 45 minutes and suffered front-end equipment damage eventually going forward at 40mph as far as Cheltenham, arriving at Birmingham 105 minutes late. It was reported there were diversions whilst BT Police carried out an investigation at the scene. A special 'Somerset Coast Express' working for Compass Tours was powered by FM Rail 47 832 as 1Z24 06.35 Acton Bridge-Minehead and 1Z25 17.30 return to Mossley Hill using coaches;- 9496, 5897, 5779, 5788, 1221, 3360, 3362, all in Inter-City colours. Another additional working was the first of the Virgin sponsored former Rover Car workers trips, 1Z17 08.01 Longbridge-Paignton and 1Z84 17.00 Paignton-Longbridge being worked by 67 019 using former Virgin liveried, Riviera owned MkIIs.
31/05 The Wessex Trains Class 31 set worked, 2R02 07.25 Warminster-Filton Abbey Wood and return 5R02 09.11 to Bristol TM (09.28) for the 09.40 to Weymouth. The locos then worked 12.10 Weymouth-Bristol TM, 14.40 Bristol TM-Weymouth and 17.16 Weymouth-Bristol TM (19.51) before 20.30 Bristol TM-Barton Hill ECS. 67019 was again on the Virgin trains former Rover car workers specials. The 6M37 Moorswater-Hope sidings cement working was reported as running early behind 66613.

Gloucestershire

09/05 The second 'heritage' Valley Lines Class 37, No. 37411 returned in 'old' BR green colours from Toton to Cardiff.
12/05 Steam 34027 Taw Valey (still carrying 34045 Ottery St.Mary) ran with support coach via Kemble and the Stroud valley from the Mid Hants railway to the Severn Valley railway. The loco had worked a Waterloo-Littlehampton-Portsmouth Harbour-Waterloo trip the previous day.
15/05 60014 was on 6E47 Newport ADJ-Tees yard steel empties followed by 66025 on a relatively new service 6M99 Margam-Wembley empty steel vans.
17/05 Having visited the Evesham line the previous day, 66111 and 66125 top n'tailed 1Z14 Worcester-Cardiff-Swansea Serco track recording train.
18/05 FM Rail 47145 ran 0Z59 11.05 Gloucester-Gloucester (via Chepstow) driver route learner.
19/05 The 1Z14 Serco test train returned north via the Vale of Glamorgan line, Cardiff, Newport and Lydney. 60088 was on 6E09 Margam-Lackenby steel empties and 60 062 worked 6V35 Lackenby-Llanwern loaded steel bars.
21/05 Steam 6024 King Edward I returned a Cathedral Express (1Z97 12.32 Worcester-Alton) via Stroud and Kemble, the outward trip having run via the GW mainline and Oxford.
22/05 EWS silver 67029 headed 5Z69 14.24 Margam-Old Oak Common ECS from the previous days Pathfinder's Swansea-Penzance trip. The diverted train was seen near Stroud not far off it's booked time at 16.25. A new cross-over for the Sharpness branchline was noted assembled and waiting to be put into position in the old yard area at Berkeley road.
23/05 FM Rail 33 103 ran 10.00 Clapham junction-Derby light-engine (via Kemble and Stroud), but did not leave until around 13.00. 60088 was on the 6V92 Corby-Margam steel empties.
25/05 37218 + 20308 ran light-engine, Crewe-Swindon the previous evening, stabling overnight then returning a 4Z56 13.35 Swindon-Carlisle train of 11 KSA car parts 'cube' wagons assumed for possible reuse by the Malcolms group. The train passed Stroud at 13.33 and is believed to be a first for DRS over the Swindon-Standish junction (via Kemble) mainline. The wagons had been used on Longbridge-Swindon traffic, but had been stored, when their use finished towards the end of last year at the Swindon car plant believed to be part of a large number present. Also seen earlier in the day was 66214 with a return Ashchuch-Didcot train of empty MoD flats.
27/05 60025 + 60017 were reported on the 6V97 Beeston-Cardiff Tidal sidings loaded scrap JNAs and 60014 worked the balancing 6M74 Tidal-Beeston formed of 14 empties. 66146 was also recorded on the 6V70 Cliffe Vale-Newport ADJ china clay empties formed of 14 wagons.
28/05 An 'extra' Pathfinder's railtour 'The Swansea Flyer' (1Z47 Wolverhampton-Swansea) was headed by Cotswold Rail 47810 (still in old Virgin red colours) + 47714 (Anglian livery) via Chepstow, the return 1Z48 being via the North and West route to Hereford.

Units noted during the month

143620.
150219/233/234/236/239/241/243/244.
153305/369.
158747/817/870/962/966/967.
220001/005/010/011/015/016/019/022/026/029/030/033.
221102/109/112/113/114/118/119/121/123/124/126/134/137/139/140/144.

SOUTH WALES AREA

Cardiff Canton (from footbridge)

14/05 08499/651/792/955/994. 09008. 37509.
29/05 08499/651/792/955/994. 09008.

Tidal Sidings/Celsa steel works.

08/05 08689. 15/05 08869.

Margam Depot

15/05 The following locos were stabled 08770/995 60017/035/084/087 66030/038/072/135/154 67003/025. The stored locos in the yard were 09102 37248/403/412/413/415/419/428/675/684/692/698/704/798/890/896/898 47761/772 56062/100.

Newport

11/05 Another scrap train to Caerwent consisting of 3553 3511 3492 was hauled by 66613.
13/05 At 23:40 the following where noted 66026/030/174/199/533.
17/05 The EWS company train hauled by 67029 consisting of 11039 10211 10546 82146 passed on 1Z05 Paddington - Cardiff special, the train then returned to Newport and turned on the Maindee triangle before stabling overnight on Godfrey Road.
18/05 Possibly the first visit of a Class 59 to the East Usk Yard fueling point was made by 59205 during the afternoon. 67029 returned to London with the EWS company train. A Stewarts Lane - Caerwent scrap train consisting of 3494 3589 and 3424 was hauled by 47816.
20/05 37425 was employed on trips between Llanwern and ADJ/Newport Docks. Other locos noted were 09015. 60012/052. 66157/160/165/172/199
66569.
21/05 Godfrey Road held 37425 60058/088/069 66062/160/172/199. Two football specials from Manchester for the FA cup final were noted top and tailed by 67028/027 and 67015/020. A Swansea - Penzance special was headed by 67029. Freight services noted were 60082 66035/065/101/205.
23/05 Noted on freight were 09015 60012 66008/021/030/049/142/143/187
66205/515.
24/05 66703 hauled scrap units 1312 1319 and 1316 to Caerwent, running round in East Usk Yard.
26/05 Noted today were 57003 60012 66012/032/049/131/150/198/205.
27/05 Noted today were 09015. 60025. 66089/154/160/167/542.
28/05 47714/810 headed on 1Z47 08:00 Wolverhampton to Swansea and 1Z48 14:00 return.
29/05 Engineering work between Parkway and Gloucester resulted in Virgin cross-country services running via Newport and the Severn Tunnel.
30/05 Noted today on freight were 60014/020 66045/049/117/131/160/194/
60197/166/201. For the last of the play offs West Ham fans were bought by 67030/022 top and tailing 1Z67/1Z68 Stratford - Cardiff formed of 4996 4949 4999 5002 1658 4998 4991 4956 5005 4959 21246 and 50031/049 double heading 1Z59/1Z60 consisting of 3340 3325 3333 3304 3384 3390 3348 1699 3330 3397 3386 9509. Preston fans were brought by three specials, 1Z63/1Z64 Preston - Cardiff hauled by 67012 with stock 9526 5794 5748 5791 5769 5776 1203 5792 5796 6113 6142. 1V77 Manchester - Cardiff top and tailed by 47843/815 formed of 9507 1250 6101 5986 5905 5773 6067 9529 and 1V75/1V47 Manchester - Cardiff top and tailed by 47847/853 formed of 9503 3356 6138 6171 1258 6177.

Units noted during the month included

142002.
150208/244/245/258/259/281/284.
153305/312/327/368.
158780. 818/826/835/836/844/847/860/861/962/964/965/968.
170101/103/104/105/107/109/115/117/397/501/504/507/510/511/514/515/517
170520/631/635/637
180102
220001/005/006/007/008/009/016/018/020/034
221101/103/106//119/124/127/129/130

LOCO AND UNIT NEWS

CLASS 37

09/05 37411 freshly painted in Green livery returned to south Wales as 0Z37 Crewe - Canton. It was in service on the Rhymney line the next day.
14/05 The Saturday Rhymney's were in the hands of 37405/408/425.
16/05 37411 was on the ADJ - Bristol East Girder train today. 37425 worked 7M82/7V82 ADJ - Crewe - ADJ departmental services.

LOCAL FREIGHTLINER WORKINGS

4V60/4M60 Calvert - Avon Binliner
03/05 66531. 10/05 66531. 11/05 66505. 13/05 66613. 16/05 66613.
17/05 66531. 18/05 66531. 19/05 66527.

6V20/6M27 Earles - Moorswater Cement
26/05 66620.

4V08 Crewe - Wentlooge
20/05 66569. 24/05 66514. 26/05 57001.

4V30 Ipswich - Wentlooge
26/05 66573.

4051 Southampton - Wentlooge.
03/05 57008. 04/05 57006. 05/05 66567. 06/05 57011. 09/05 66567.
10/05 57011. 11/05 57011. 12/05 57012. 13/05 57010. 16/05 66542.
18/05 57002. 20/05 57004. 23/05 66515. 26/05 57003.

LOCAL EWS WORKINGS

6M33 16.22 (sx) Avonmouth - Wembley 'enterprise'
16/05 66176.

4B24 Didcot - Wentlooge MoD Stores
16/05 66222.

6M17 ADJ - Wembley 'enterprise'
16/05 66204.

6C01/6C02 ADJ - Bristol East "Girders"
03/05 66031. 05/05 66175. 09/05 66017. 11/05 66030. 12/05 66199.
13/05 66222. 16/05 37411. 17/05 66204. 18/05 66182. 23/05 66049.

STOCK ALTERATIONS

Locomotives

Transfers
47840(WN)-LA.
DFGM: 66508/514/515. DFHH: 66506/509/512/513. DFRT: 66502/505/522/523/526/539/550.
GBCM: 66708/709. GBRT: 66705/706/713/714/715. QCAR: 43067.
Fertis: 56018/096/105/106. ACTS: 58038.

Stored
60009/011/018/073/081/087.
HM: 56124. IM: 60009/011. MG: 60087. NL: 43087. OC: 56071/094/095/113/133. TE: 60073. TO: 56091. 60018/075/081. WB: 87024.
Crewe Gresty Road: 47270/279/292.

Traffic
08699-MM, 33029-KM, 43069/070-NL, 87003/007/008/021/023/025/026/033-OY.

Withdrawn
33116. 86209/238/240. 87005/015/035.

Disposals
JT Land: 87005/015/035. (Store or Scrap - further info awaited)
S Wheeler: 86209/238. Ron Hull: 86240. Great Central: 33116

Diesel Multiple Units

Transfers
150213/227(NC)-TS 156409/417(TS)-NC

Traffic
156490 -NL

New Stock
170478 -HA 171729 -SU. 222007 -HQ

Electric Multiple Units

Transfers
315844-861 inc (HE)-IL. 465905/920/925(SG)-GI.

Stored
AF: 3905/18. BM: 1309. 1890. 3401. CJ: 1881. 3520. FR: 1312. 3516. SL: 1858. 3484. 3521/24. 3902. SS: 3403/82/88. WD: 1304. 3576.

Withdrawn
(S): 1302/93. 1411. 1853/54/56. 3402/07/58/66/68/92. 3511/39/40/42/53. 3809/10/12/43. 3904.

Disposals
JT Land: 1302. 1853/54/56. 3402/07/58/66/68/92. 3511/39/40/42/53. Car: 70722 (x1411). IMRFT: 1411. 3809/10/12/43. 3904. G Central: 1393.

Renumbered
(S): 1883 - 1497, 1888 - 1498 allocated BM for Lymington Branch.
465205-905, 220-920, 225-925. (Official Term is "Refreshed" not Refurbished)

New Stock
350110/112/115/119/120/121 -HQ 376036 -SG 377459/460/461/462 -BI 444003/034/035/041/042/043/044 -NT 450110 -NT

Coaching & NPCC Stock

Transfers
10202/212/217. 11026/027/028/036/048/064/079/083/089. 12010/028/043/045/053/054/063/066/067/069/089/117/119/133/161 -WB.

Stored
LT: 10222. 11019. 82110. OM: 3292. 3318. 6036. 6139/52. PC: 10219. ZD: 11068/088. 12097. 12137.

Traffic
3150 -BT, 11291. 11322/422 -BN*(See renumbered), 94101/102 -OM, 94106 -ML, 94107/112 -OM, 94150/155 -ML 94157 -OM, 94170 -ML, 94200 -OM, 94213/225 -ML.

Withdrawn
3290. 5852. 5927/56. 6807/09/13/27. 10207/209/210/220/221/234/238/248/251/252/254/258. 17039. 977.788/792.

Disposals
Booth: 1703. JT Land: 3290. 5852. 5927/56. 6807/09/13/27. 10207/209/210/220/221/234/238/248/251/252/254. (Store or Scrap - further info awaited) HNRL: 17039. S&DJR: 10258. Derwent Valley: 977.788/792.

Renumbered
11228 - 11322, 11233- 11422, 12535 - 11291.

Pool Codes
QETS Network Rail European Train Signalling 31102/200/319

FREIGHTFLOW NEWS

Stone Traffic
The new outward West Wales flow is 6B07 12.46 Waterston-Cardiff Tidal sidings (evening arrival), being noted in Cardiff on 27/05 formed of 15 KEA wagons headed by 66089. Freightliner Heavy-Haul's new Meldon stone contract uses;- 6F94 03.16 Westbury-Meldon empties and 6F95 09.06 Meldon-Westbury initially running for 8 weeks. From the 18/05, the trains were re-timed to leave Westbury at 04.45 (arriving Meldon at 08.17) then 10.03 to Westbury or Oxford Hinksey yard, the train headcodes remain unchanged.


DRS
The company are reported to be looking at more Class 37s to puchase and are believed to be involved in a possible weedkillig contract. Inter-modal freight traffic could return to Class 37 haulage again as Network Rail has put up access charges by 40% for electric locos, thus the company Class 87 locos could see their workings replaced by Class 66/4s.

E W S
It is reported the Class 60 fleet could be down to around 50% by the end of June with locos 60014, 60032, 60058, 60068, 60088 and 60093 the latest due for storage. The storage of Class 66 locos could also become reality with 66047, which has been out of service for sometime, being the first.

TRACK MACHINES

16/04 North Somerset Junc (Network Rail depot);- road/rail; Hydrex 3857.
01/05 Weston super Mare Hydrex 4162-ST/02/27 4163-ST/02/28 both Geismar E-GO4`s
09/05 Filton Bank Amey scorpion S 948 DWL. Patchway Hiremee 05 R 435 GMJ Thwaites dumper 6-92930 1997, 09 S 182 UNM Mecalec 14 MXT 030422 1997, 83 Case 988P Mega CGG0232268 2002, 89 Thwaites dumper A2120 2003, 94 Case WX170 Mega CGG0232758 2004. Pilning BCL 201 Komatsu PW170 K30295 1999, 354 Komatsu PW170 K34010 2002, 356 Komatsu PW170 K34057 2001, 821 Komatsu PC 128 9002 2003, 842 Komatsu PC 128 9013 2003
11/05 Berkeley Road junction;- road/rail; 653, 655, CX135SR.
18/05 Stoke Gifford sidings ;- DR73920.

PRESERVATION & INDUSTRIAL MATTERS

West Somerset Railway Diesel Gala (R.W.Giles) 6th,7th,8th May 2005
The following were noted in use during the final day;- 6566, 7017, 31271, 37190, 45112, 50007. 73204/205/209. 'Stored' HST set;- 40422. 41114/162. 42233. 43094/123. 44074. Steam;- 6412.
Notes;- D3462 + D2133 were top n'tailing shuttles between Bishop's Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren using coaches; 59505, 59515, 80736. Problems during the day saw the Class 50 fail at Blue Anchor on the 09.55 Minehead-Bishop's Lydeard with a minor fire. Hymek 7017 was the rescue loco from Minehead, but this too failed! Standby loco 6566 then moved the train onwards to Williton where the two failures were removed (they were later hauled by steam 5553 back to Minehead!) and the Class 33 continued the working onwards to Bishop's Lydeard nearly two hours late. Trains were slightly rearranged, but the timetable continued in an 'amended' form for the rest of the day. The Class 31,37,45,50 locos were from the MRT at Butterley, whilst GBRf provided the Class 73s, planned to originally as being two, but the third arrived 'for running in' having only just been returned to traffic.

Cotswold Wildlife Park, near Burford, Oxfordshire (R.W.Giles & F.J.Neate) 10/05/05
No4 Bella (Ak 68/03) was in use, whilst No3 (Ak 17/85) was found in the loco shed area.

DRCS Caerwent (R.W.Giles)
11/05 MoD loco 01530 hauled former Connex emu sets 3492,3511,3553 over the M48 near Chirk, at 18.54 with Ruston/Hornsby Army 422 bringing up the rear to assist with train braking on the climb into the army base. This was the first daylight run along the branchline following repairs to the A48 rail overbridge which was in poor condition. Early hours movements with traffic control during a quieter time of day for the main road had taken place for the many rail movements along the line, mainly for J.T.Lanscapes scrapping yard.
12/05 Army 422 delivered stored coaching stock from Caerwent to the exchange sidings at Caldicot for movement to Meldon quarry and futher store. Coaches;- 6002, 6181, 5920, 3402, 3425, 3387, 3411, 3354, 3353 were collected by FM Rail 47145 departing as 5Z59 12.45 Caerwent-Meldon quarry (via East Usk yard and Exeter Riverside, both run-round locations). Also see Bristol Notes & News for this working.

Barry Festival of Transport Sunday 12th June 2005

Vale of Glamorgan Railway

Barry Depot (ex-EWS), Static exhibits "The Barry 10" (inside)
LMS Black5 5MT 4-6-0 No 44901, BR Modified Hall 4-6-0 No 7927 Willington Hall (*scheduled to be cannibalised for spares), GWR 28xx Class 2-8-0 No 2861, LMS 8F 2-8-0 No 48518, GWR 56xx Class 0-6-2T No 6686, GWR 2-6-2T No 4115, GWR C1 2-6-2T No 5539, BR 9F 2-10-0 No 92245, BR Class4 Standard Tank 2-6-4T No 80150, GWR 2-8-0T No 5227. Coach bodies: Barry Railway Third Class No 45 (built 1896), Royal Saloon GWR No 234

Barry Depot, Static exhibits (outside)
Class 73: 73133 DMU Class 115: 51655 + 59664 + 51677

Working exhibits
DMU Class 108: 52048 + ANO(unnumbered, presumably 51919). DMU Class 117: 51382 + 51339. DMU Class 108: 54279 + Mk1 coaches 9010, 4300. Class 14: D9521. Pannier Tank No 6430. LNER Saddle Tank No 8809

Plymouth Road site
Not visited.

Hood Road and Heritage Centre sites
Not open to the public.

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