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.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.