Railway Herald

The complimentary railway journal

Railway HeraldVolume 1 : Issue 9 Friday 20th May 2005

“Providing a weeklyround up of the UK rail scene”

1

Railway Herald - Volume 1 : Issue 9 2

POWERSCENE MagazineIssue 3 of the magazine includesPendolino naming at Old Dalby � Voyager drags in Devon �Hull Trains Class 222 launch � Gloucestershire &Warwickshire Diesel Gala � D1015 back on the Main Line �Naming of 57316 FAB 1 at Brush � EWS Executive Train �First Great Western Class 47 farewell tour � Naming of‘Royal’ 67006 at Bristol � DRS freight flow to Elderslie �NSE liveried Class 87 launch at Euston � ‘Shanks’ liveriedClass 66/5 � Fleet News and much more!

Our NewsXtra feature looks behind the scenes atTurbostar & Electrostar construction at Bombardier Derby, whichcomes to an end this summer.

Also in this issue, we look at the work that has been taking place on theWest Coast Route Modernisation (including views of Euston and ProofHouse Junction at Birmingham from the air!) We visit one of Europe’s mostadvanced test centres at Wildenrath (featuring the first of the HeathrowConnect Class 360 EMUs) and look at freight traffic around Peak Forest,with the majority of trains featuring Class 60 power.

LocoWatch Video (Dept. RH), PO Box 252,Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.

DN17 2WYProduct Enquiry Line: (07792) 987526

VHS & DVD �� 60 minutes �� £9.99 post free

www.locowatchvideo.co.uk e-mail: [email protected] should be made payable to ‘LocoWatch Video’

Unfortunately we are currently unable to accept credit card payments.

LocoWatch Video are producing the ‘Official’ video programme of the 2005North Yorkshire Moors Diesel Gala - Available on VHS & DVD from mid-June

Elsewhere in this issueFinal Runs for 73109 in SWT Colours

With the sole SWT liveried Class 73destined for repainting into ‘Desiro’colours, 73109 enjoyed a rareplanned outing on passengerservices on 16th April.

Page 3

Freight FocusThe latest from the railfreight sceneincluding traction changes onMidlands trips and a newinfrastructure flow for FHH.

Page 5

Livery changes for Royal Scotsmantraction

A look at the new livery for WCRCmotive power employed on theprestigous Royal Scotsman

Page 7

Notable Workings GalleryA look at some of the more notableand newsworthy workings, in apictorial format, that have occurredover the past four weeks

Page 8

Heritage Colours for the ValleyA look at Type 3 action from theRhymney valley as well as views ofthe newly reliveried Class 37s inHeritage colours.

Page 11

Notable WorkingsA brief look at some of the morenotable and bizzare workings fromacross the whole of the UKNatioanl Network over the pastfew weeks.

Page 12

Editorial

We want to hear from you...

Hello and Welcome to the latest edition of the RailwayHerald. Many people have contacted us over the pastcouple of weeks, enquiring as to why Railway Herald hasnot appeared in their inbox! Our sincerest of apologies forthis. Pressure of work with other projects and, in the caseof the editor, a very heavy involvement in a Diesel Galaweekend on one of the UK Heritage Lines as resulted in asevere shortage of time! However, we do hope to be backto normal now.

With the continual rise in the number of people withdigital camera’s, it is pleasing to record a slight increase inthe number of submissions, but as per all the railwaymagazines, we do welcome more of them!

This issue breaks with the traditional look of RailwayHerald, in that covering a three week period, we’vedecided to give the journal a front cover to provide a better‘package’ to the following twelve pages. Also included asa ‘one-off’ in this issue is a double page spread ofphotographs, featuring Notable Workings. Please do let usknow your thoughts and comments.

From next week, we should be back to the normal size ofaround four pages in the newsletter format!

Regards Railway Herald

PhotographsPhotos reproduced in this journal remain the copyright

property of the photographer at all times. Any pictures notcreditted are the copyright property of the editor.

SubmissionsWe welcome submissions from all readers, especially

photographs from those enthusiasts with a digital camera!Pictures should be sent to the above e-mail address.

Good quality scans of colour slides and prints are alsoacceptable. Please note that as the Herald is free andcompiled on a voluntary basis, we are unable to offer anyfinancial return.

PublicationThe Railway Herald is published every Friday andis available by e-mail subscription from the above |e-mail address.

© Copyright Railway Herald.com 2005

FRONT COVER: On Wednesday 13th April, GBRf werecontracted to haul ex-SWT 4CIG unit No. 1399 fromClapham Jnc to Meldon for storage. Due to brake problemson the EMU, the train departed 170 minutes late and ispictured here at Upton Pyne, west of Cowley BridgeJunction on the Barnstaple line. SAM FELCE

Railway Herald is normallycompiled each Friday, with a roundup of the news from the past week,concentrating on the UK RailNetwork.

However, as the readership of thejournal has grown, we would like tohear from you, our readers on howYOU would like Railway Herald toprogress in the future. All we wantyou to do is to send an e-mail [email protected] your thoughts as well as yourlikes and disklikes! Constructivecritism is welcome!

For example do you prefer to see

illustrated or written stories? Is ourNotable Workings column useful andenjoyable or simply a waste of time?Do you want more than moderntraction on the national network?

Although we are not looking tochange the style completely, we dowant to try and ensure that it coverswhat you want to read.

Remember we do welcomecontributions from readers, both in atext and photographic format, so ifyou’d like to see something, speak tous about it, then pick up the keyboardand type it! All we ask is that itsaccurate, factual and not political!


Final runs for SWT liveried Class 73

The end forSWT SlamDoor stock

South West Trains now have no less thanthree Class 73 ‘Electro-Diesel’ locomotivesfor use as Thunderbird engines and forstock movements around the region.

With No. 73235, recently transferred fromGatwick Express painted into the latestSWT ‘Desiro’ colours, classmate No. 73109Battle of Britian 50th Anniversary wascalled the paintshops at Wimbledon to

receive the same treatment.Until recently No. 73109 had been the

only loco to carry the SWT ‘stripe’ colours,so a day of loco-hauled workings wasorganised before the locomotive enteredthe paintshop for application of the Desirocolours.

On 16th April the ‘ED’ was paired withClass 421 No. 1398 and Class 423 No. 3481

for its allocated diagram:1A44 13.44 Alton - Waterloo*2L45 15.12 Waterloo - Basingstoke2L58 16.54 Basingstoke - Waterloo1A57 18.23 Waterloo - Alton1A70 20.14 Alton - WaterlooNo. 73109 was attached to the set at

Woking on 1A44, being removed from thetrain, again at Woking on 1A70.

ABOVE TOP: South West Train’s liveried ‘ED’ Class 73 No. 73109 Battle of Britain 50th Anniversary arrives at Woking on16th April with 2L45 15.12 Waterloo-Basingstoke service. PATRICK SEALE

ABOVE: A sight soon to dissappear. 4CIG Nos. 1395, 1397 and 1316 pass Worting Junction with the 13.39 LondonWaterloo - Southampton on 6 May 2005. CHRIS NEVARD

The end will finallycome for ‘Slam-Door’stock on South WestTrains on Thursday 26thMay with the 11.35London Waterloo -Weymouth.

The train is to beworked by a 12-car set asfar as Bournemouth,where the 1960s stockwill run ECS to thedepot and bewithdrawn.

The final runs for theBlue 4VEP No. 3417Gordon Pettitt will be onthe 11th June (with astaff railtour) and on the18th June (with a publicrailtour). On bothoccasions No. 3417 willbe joined by one of theHeritage liveried 3CIGsfrom the LymingtonBranch.


SAFETY CASE

ISSUED FOR WEST

COAST DESIROSilverlink obtained the

safety case for SiemensDesiro's class 350 fordriver training to beginlast Monday... Sightingsof 350's so far atWolverhampton, HemelHempstead, Rugby andStafford in daytime,although testing stillcontinues at night

GBRAILFREIGHT

TO CONTINUE

WITH MAIL TRAINSMail by rail is set to

return to the UKnetwork permenantlyfollowing the signing ofa year long contract.

Royal Mail has beenusing rail as a trial sinceearly December last year,now the company hassigned a further contractwith freight operatorGBRailfreight totransport around onemillion letters a day.

The new contract,which runs until March2006 (and includes theoption of a twelve monthadd on), will operate anorthbound andsouthbound service eachday on the West CoastMain Line.

The hope is that thenew contract will provesuccessful and will leadto a revival of mail trainsin other parts of thecountry.

CLASS 66/9 LOCOS

GAIN SAFETY CASEA safety case has finally

been issued for Class66/9 Nos. 66951 and66952. The first workingof one of these twolocomotives on theNational Network takingplace on 17th May whenNo. 66951 ran lightenigne from HooJunction - Dagenham.

RMT GUARDS

STRIKE ACTIONThe Rail, Maritime

and Transport Unionhas announced four 24hour strikes on MidlandMainline 27 May, and 3,10 and 17 June.

Bubble car joins the South West Trains fleet

New look for Lymington Pier branch

South West Trainsofficially launched itslatest railway vehicleinto the operational fleeton 11th May.

Class 121 ‘Bubble Car’No. 960012 (previouslyNo. 55028) has beenconverted at the LNWRworkshops in Crewe toprovide a dedicate

vehicle for drivertraining and routefamiliarisation. The newDMU, based at SWT’sSalisbury depot wasnamed John Cameronon 11th May after adirector of SWT and amember of thecompanies safetycommittee. Mr

Cameron will be betterknown to most as theowner of LNER A4 No.60009 Union of SouthAfrica and more recentlythe new owner of LNERK4 No. 3442 The GreatMarquess.

The vehicle itself willoperate over the entireSWT network and has

been extensivelymodified at Crewe.TPWS has been fittedalong with a newgenerator for heating.The seating within thevehicle has also beenaltered with three benchseats fitted at each endbehind the drivingpositions.

ABOVE: Modified Class 121 No. 960012 stands in the sun at Salisbury depot on the 11th May, shortly after having beennamed John Cameron. BRIAN MORRISON

ABOVE: The two 3CIG units purchased by South West Trains from HSBC Rail have been completly refurbished andrepainted into heritage liveries, No. 1497 (previously 1883) now carries BR Green with yellow ends whilst No. 1498(previously 1888) carrying BR Blue and Grey colours. The two units were launched into traffic on 12th May on the 51

4

mile Lymington Pier branch. The two units were named after historic paddle steamers Freshwater and Farringfordrespectively. No. 1497 is pictured at Lymington Town on 17th May MARK BEARTON


LEFT: Recent months have seen the Birch Coppice trip from Bescot gain popularity due to the use of a Bescot based Class 37 on the train. The 20thApril however saw the working change to a Class 67 diagram, ended the Type 3s association with Midlands Freight. The Class 67 diagram for the trainis now quite interesting as it works south from Scotland on the overnight Express Parcels train to Walsall, from where the locomotive heads lightengine to Bescot to work the Birch Coppice trip out and back. The day is concluded by working the Wolverhampton Steel trip from and to BescotYard. On 17 May, ‘Royal’ Class 67 No. 67005 Queens Messenger was pictured inside Wolverhampton Steel Terminal preparing to work 6G63 to BescotYard. RAILFOTO (WITH PERMISSION)

Tractor duty for Birch Coppice trip withdrawn

RAILFREIGHTUPDATE

RIGHT: A new freight flowfor Freightliner HeavyHaul is the conveying ofballast from MeldonQuarry to Westbury forNetwork Rail. The flow iscurrently a trial contractfor eight weeks, but initialindications are that thetrial has been successful.The service is currentlyworking Tuesdays -Thursdays departingMeldon around 10.30amand running round atExeter St. Davids. Class66/5 No. 66516 stands atthe restored Okehamptonstation on 27th April withthe first train. KEVIN WILLS

New freight flow for DRSCarlisle based Direct

Rail Services havestarted to operate a newrailfreight flow fromDitton to Purfleet. Theservice, which is Class66 hauled throughoutcommenced operation inthe week beginning 8thMay and runs daily.

The trains conveyscontainerised traffic for

customers AHC(Warehousing) Ltd andNovatrans UK and linksinto the Cobelfretshipping operation atPurfleet.

The flow is the latestaddition to the DRSfreight portfolio sincethe start of theGrangemouth-Aberdeenservice last year.

LEFT: Class 66/4 No. 66404 passes Purfleet and approachesits destination with 4Z46 12.05 Ditton - Purfleet DRSworking on 20th May. PATRICK SEALE


Traction change for Horbury stock move

ABOVE: GNER’s Mark 4 fleet are currently being refurbished as part of the ‘Mallard’ project by BombardierTransportation at Horbury, near Healey Mills. The stock movements from Doncaster West Yard to Horbury have beenundertaken by EWS since the start of the project. On 12th May however the movement contract transferred toFreightliner Heavy Haul. Class 66/5 No. 66559 passes Healey Mills on the first run. Due to the track layout at Horbury,the train has to run through to Dewsbury to run-round! JAMES ROSE

ABOVE: Leaving New Malden on 17th May 2005, are refurbished Class 455/7 EMU Nos. 5733 and 5711, with the 12.11Shepperton-Waterloo service. The new look Class 455s, which bring a brighter look to SWT services, are beingrefurbished and repainted by Bombardier at Chart Leacon Works. BRIAN MORRISON

The first of the newHull Trains’ Class 222‘Pioneer’ fleet will makeits maiden passenger-carrying journey on 23May.

The train is due todepart from HullParagon at 15.32, boundfor London Kings Cross.The new £24m fleet of125mph trains areexpected to be in fullservice by mid-June,from when the existingClass 170/3 fleet willstart to migrate north toFirst ScotRail.

The ‘Pioneer’ fleet willallow Hull Trains toachieve a first, for thecompany, with trainsbeing timed at 125mphon the East Coast MainLine. Not only will thisprovide better timingsfor passengers, but willalso allow the HullTrains service todovetail easier with theGNER 125mph paths.

Pioneer’senter traffic

Virgin Trainsspecials forLongbridge

staff

UK leasing company AngelTrains has unveiled the first whatcould eventually be a fleet of re-engined power cars.

Brush Traction in Loughboroughhave been undertaking the work tore-equip two Class 43 locomotiveswith MTU 16v 4000 engines at acost of £1.5 million.

The work is part of a trial thatcould see the life-expantance of theHST extended until the proposedHST2 project reaches fruition. The

power cars concerned are Nos.43004 and 43009, the latter ofwhich is now at Bristol St. PhilipsMarsh with First Great Western fortrials to commence.

The project is being undertakenin conjunction with German enginemanufacturer MTUFriedrichshafen. Both power carswill be based with First Group fora six month testing period, duringwhich time, the new MTU powerunit will be closely watched and

monitored whilst a variety ofstatistics are collected includingexhaust smoke, fuel and oileconomy, engine maintenance.The engine itself is the first of thisdesign to be used on the UKs railnetwork.

Current plans suggest that oncethe HST 2 project is suitablyadvanced with orders in place,Angel Trains will announce the go-ahead for the Class 43 lifeextenson project.

Re-engined HST power car released

Virgin Trains hasoffered free train travelto the seaside resorts ofDevon to families ofMG Rover workersrecently maderedundant at theLongbridge car plant.

During the half-termweek from Monday30th May until Friday3rd June, an additionalservice will depart fromLongbridge bound forDawlish Warren,Dawlish, Teignmouth,Torquay and Paignton,before returning hometo the West Midlands inthe early evening.

The trains will providemore than 2,000 freeseats and will useRiveria Trains rollingstock and EWS Class 67locomotives.

Support for theventure is also beingprovided by CentralTrains and WessexTrains at the stationsinvolved.

Livery changes for Royal Scotsman traction

ABOVE: FM Rail�s newly repainted Class 31/1 No. 31190 Gryphon is pictured arriving at Paisley Gilmour Street on 16thMay (with Class 37/0 No. 37261 out of sight on the rear) with 1H97 07.00 Taynuilt - Wemyss Bay Royal Scotsman trip.GARY LENNON

Railtrack Green andBlue colours (seeNotable WorkingsGallery) but has alsobeen repainted into allover maroon with smallyellow warning panels

on each end. No. 31190has retained its Gryphonnameplates.

The new looklocomotives certainlypresent a striking imageat the front of the Royal

Scotsman train, with thelocomotives liverymatching the coachingstock.

Between runs, thecoaching stock is beingserviced and stabled at

Bo�ness on the Bo�ness &Kinneil Railway. Inprevious years, underEWS�s operation, thestock was outstabled atMillerhill Yard,Edinburgh.

Several locomotives,currently being used byWest Coast RailwayCompany to operate theprestigious RoyalScotsman touring trainduring 2005 haverecently undergoing atotal repaint.

First to appear wereWCRC operated Class47/8 No. 47854 andClass 37/0 No. 37197,which provided thetraction for the firstworking of the RoyalScotsman stock during2005.

Also repainted wasClass 37/0 No. 37261.This locomotive hasonly just returned totraffic having suffereddamage to the bogieand wheelset areawhilst on a charterworking inMarch.

With both of WCRCClass 37s having beenout of traffic for a shortperiod for repairs, thecompany hired twoClass 31 locomotivesfrom FM Rail. One ofthese, Class 31 No.31190 Gryphon,previously carried

BELOW: Also carrying Royal Scotsman unlined Maroon colours is WCRC No. 47854. Here the Type 4 passes Larbert on 12th May with 1H92 13.38Edinburgh Waverley - Kingussie. GARY LENNON

Notable WorkingsZtÄÄxÜç


ABOVE: Mid-May saw therare sight of a Class 37locomotive employed onengineers duties inYorkshire. Due to therequirement for the trainto traverse the line fromEsholt Junction (on theLeeds-Ilkley route) toDockfield Junction, overwhich Class 66s arecurrently banned, a Type 3was required. Here Class37 No. 37416 passesStourton, near Leeds, with6T68 09.00 Dockfield Jct toDoncaster Up Decoy Yardon 15th May. JAMES ROSE

MIDDLE LEFT: BR Blue Class45 No. 45112 The RoyalArmy Ordanance Corpswas used on 3rd May tomove two MidlandMainline liveried ‘Rio’HST power cars from theNRM at York, where theyhad been stored sinceNovember, to DerbyEtches Park. The ‘Peak’ ispictured at Derby onarrival, with Class 43 Nos.43069 Rio Enterprise and43070 Rio Pathfinder.CORPORAL PIKE/RAIL PR

BOTTOM LEFT: Royal Class67 No. 67005 Queen’sMessenger worked its firstfreight service in Scotlandon 9th May, when the locowas used on the Deansidetrip working. Here No.67005 approachesKirkwood with 6D98 15.40Deanside - Mossendenterprise trip.GARY LENNON


RIGHT: The rare sight of a FM Rail operated locomotive working an EWS freight train! Class 47/3 No. 47355 was called on to drag Class 60 No. 60041,which had been declared a failure at Stalybridge, to Healey Mills Yard. The train converned was 6E06 10.00 Bredbury - Roxby containerised wasteservice, which was taken forward from Healey Mills by No. 60049. The ensamble is seen at Dewsbury East Junction on 12th May. MARK ALLATT

BELOW: With both of West Coast Railway Company’s Class 37 locomotives out of service for repairs, two Class 31 locomotives from FMRail were usedinstead! On 7th May, Fragonset liveried Class 31/6 No. 31602 leads Railtrack liveried Class 31/1 No. 31190 Gryphon towards Heatherbell LevelCrossing with 1H87 08.48 Stirling - Edinburgh. The train had been diverted via Coatbridge and Shotts due to engineering work taking place betweenCamelon and Falkirk Grahamston to replace a swing bridge. GARY LENNON


BELOW: One item of track machinary not often seen is the new Speno rail grinder No RR48M2. The unit is pictured atSinglewell Loops on Phase One of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link on 15th May 2005. Work is now well underway onCTRL Phase Two which will link the existing section with Stratford International and London St. Pancras. Thecompany building Phase Two, London & Continental Railways (LCR) has admitted that the project is now overbudgetafter construction costs spirialled. PATRICK SEALE

LEFT: The first Class 150unit to appear in ArrivaTrains livery was releasedinto traffic on 19th May.The unit is pictured,between duties, at Chesteron 22nd May. DAVE BRAMLEY

Virgin goes 125 for Summer Saturday trainsAdditional Summer Saturday services on the

Cross-Country network are to operate again during2005.

Virgin Trains have confirmed that the trains willmainly serve Newquay this year, although one setwill terminate at Paignton.

Two HST sets have been hired on a short-termbasis from leasing comany Porterbrook, whilst athird set has been hired from Midland Mainline anda fourth from Great North Eastern Railway (GNER).

The additional services will supplement theexisting summer service, with the HST sets formedinto eight or nine coach formations.

Summer Saturday services run on 28th May, 4thJune and the weekly from 2nd July until 28th Augustinclusive as follows:

XC91 - GNER HST5V04 03.14 Neville Hill - Bristol Temple Meads1C02 07.35 Bristol Temple Meads - Paignton1E33 10.32 Paignton - Newcastle5E33 17.42 Newcastle - Heaton

XC92 - MML HST5V29 04.58 Neville Hill - Manchester Picc1V29 07.23 Manchester Picc - Newquay1M28 15.22 Newquay - Manchester Picc5E28 22.51 Manchester Picc - Neville Hill

XC93 - Virgin Hired in set 2+9 with 2 x TGS5V49 07.27 Neville Hill - Newcastle1V49 09.41 Newcastle - Newquay2C75 19.15 Newquay - Plymouth5C75 21.30 Plymouth - Laira TMD

XC94 - Virgin Hired in set 2+9 with 2 x TGS5C64 06.00 Laira TMD - Plymouth2C64 06.51 Plymouth - Newquay1E34 09.40 Newquay - Newcastle5E34 18.42 Newcastle - Neville Hill

Also in operation will be a Voyager operatedSunday service, departing Newquay at 11.35destined for Glasgow Central.

FORTH RAIL

BRIDGE TO CLOSEThe rail link across the

famous Forth Bridge isto close for eight days atthe end of July to allowfor essential engineeringwork to be completed.

The bridge will beshut to rail traffic from24th July until 1stAugust, during whichtime Edinburgh toDundee and Aberdeenservices are to bediverted via Stirling,whilst Fife Circle trainswill be replaced by roadtransport.

The closure is thelongest in the bridge’s115 year history.

PROBLEMS FOR

METROLINKA system failure

within the Metrolinkcontrol centre broughtchaos to ManchesterCity Centre on 17thMay.

All trams werebrought to a stand at thenext station when thenetwork’s computersystem crashed.

RAILWAY SAFETY

FIGURESThe number of people

injuried or killed onBritain’s railwaysincreased last year,partly due to the high-speed crash at UftonNervet.

10 members of thepublic died in accidentson trains or stations lastyear, whilst a further204 suffered majorinjuries.

A total of nine railwayworkers were killed, thehighest number since1991, however thisnumber rises to 257when suicides andtrespasser are included.

On the railway safetyside, figures publishedin early May show thatthe number of signalspassed at red droppedby 33 to 346.


Cardiff Valley’s commuter traction

For a number of yearsthe Cardiff Valley’shave been a haven forenthusiasts, with Class50s and later Class 37sbeing employed on thedaily commuterservices betweenCardiff and Rhymney.Now there’s extraappeal with the arrivalof the Heritage liveriedClass 37/4 locos.

TOP: Newly repainted inLarge Logo livery, ETSfitted Class 37/4 No. 37425enters Bargoed stationwith the 11.14 Rhymney -Cardiff Central service on16th April 2005. RICHARD TUPLIN

MIDDLE RIGHT: Just fourweeks seperate thispicture from the onebelow! Class 37/4 No.37411 The ScottishRailway PreservationSociety heads a Cardiffbound service past thesignal box at YstradMynach on 16th April.RICHARD TUPLIN

BELOW RIGHT: Followingthe repaint of Class 37/4No. 37425 into Large Logo,classmate No. 37411entered the paintshops atToton,emerging severaldays later in BR Greenwith ‘D’ numbers and asmall yellow warningpanel. The locomotive ispictured at Rhymneystation, shortly beforestabling for the eveningon 11th May. MARK HENDERSON


Class 33/2 No. 33202 wasused, together with Class 73/2Nos. 73204 and 73205 on 6Z1110.00 Tonbridge - Hoo Jn on15th April, whilst the sameafternoon saw Class 67 No.67030 head to Immingham withthree 4VEP units (Nos. 3812,3810 and 3809) fromWimbledon for scrapping.

The 17th April found RiveriaTrain's Class 47 No. 47839working top 'n' tailed with1960s liveried No. 47815 on aManchester Piccadilly - Cardiffservice. The day also saw LargeLogo No. 37425 working its firstfull day on passenger duties inthe Rhymney Valley.

The following day saw no lessthan four Class 73s on the sametrain! Nos. 73211, 73212, 73107and 73206 were provided topower the 14.00 Hoo Junction -Kentish Town engineers service.That afternoon also found Class37 action in the Midlands whenNos. 37401 and 37406 wereprovided for 6D44 12.40 Bescot- Toton departmental service.Also in the train consist were67020, 66220 and 32 loadedwagons! The trailing weightamounted to 1,363 tonnes!!!Also passing through theMidlands was ETS fitted Class37/4 No. 37411 The ScottishRailway Preservation Societyheading to Toton for its repaintinto BR Green colours. The locoleft South Wales on 6E09Margam - Lackenby, which itworked throughout, beforereturning south (on the 19thApril) dead in the consist of

6J68 08.15 Tees Yard -Aldwarke, from where the locoran light engine to Toton.

The infamous Birch Coppicetrip transfer from Class 37 toClass 67 haulage from 19thApril. The final class 37 beingNo. 37406 on the 18th, with thefirst Class 67 being No. 67009the following day.

Also on the 19th, greenliveried Class 47/8 No. 47851Traction Magazine saw use as acrew trainer over the Settle &Carlisle, completing one roundtrip from Preston to Carlislebefore heading north toCarstairs and onto Polmadie.

The six Arriva liveried Mark 2

coaches owned by EWS weretransferred from Old OakCommon to Cardiff Canton onthe 19th, being worked fromLondon as 5Z66 with 67001.The same afternoon,Freightliner provided Class 47No. 47150 to work 5Z23Wimbledon to Caerwent scraptrain, whilst in Cheshire, thelatest Class 507 unit to returnfrom Eastleigh arrived atBirkenhead TMD behind 67028.Also on 19th April, 66716worked to Aberdeen fromParkeston Quay with a train of19 tanks carrying mud oil.

On the 20th April, EWS wereunable to provide a locomotive

for the short trip working fromHarrisons Sidings toHardendale Quarry, as a resultDRS Class 66/4 No. 66404 wasprovided. The same afternoonsaw one of the final Class 87s,still operational with VirginTrains, named Driver TommyFarr after a retiring railwayman.The locomotive, No. 87010 waspreviously named King Arthur.

Further unit moves took placeon the 21st April when No.47853 was provided to moveClass 465 No. 465196 fromSlade Green to Wimbledondepot due to the wheel lathe atSlade Green being out of action.The same day saw Class 47/8No. 47811 and 47816 top 'n' tailClass 319 No. 319421 fromBedford to Selhurst depot.

On the 22nd April the twoNetwork Rail yellow liveriedClass 86 Nos. 86901 and 86902moved under their own powerfrom Rugby to Crewe BasfordHall. The same afternoon alsosaw a Deltic back on themainline for the first time inmore than twelve months,when 55019 moved light enginefrom Barrow Hill to FinsburyPark in readyness for thefollowing day's railtour toEdinburgh.6G45 the sameafternoon (16.45 Toton-Bescot)was worked by Class 66 No.66059. Included in the consistwere the latest two Class 56locomotives bound for Frenchoperator Fertis, Nos. 56096 and56105.

On the 26th April, the first often Class 87 locomotives

�� Notable Workings �� Notable Workings ��

ABOVE: Taking Translator vehicles Nos ADB975864/867 from Dagenham to Slade Green to pick up a NetworkerEMU for tyre turning at Wimbledon Traincare Depot, ex-Great Western Class 47/8 No. 47811 powers throughNew Eltham on 17 May. BRIAN MORRISON

Thanks to GWOT and‘Trains’ gen

BELOW: Yet another livery with which to grace the Metro-Cammel built Class 156s! This is the third variety ofthe Northern Rail colour scheme, being a mix of the new purple colour and older blue of the previous operator,First North Western. Class 156 No. 156461 was noted at Manchester Oxford Road on 11th May. PETER HEPPENSTALL


allocated for future use byCotswold Rail were moved toOxley. Those involved in thelocomotive convoy were Nos.87007, 87007, 87021, 87025 and87026. The same morning, andRoyal Class 67 No. 67006 RoyalSovereign worked theEnterprise trip from HealeyMills to Blackburn. Virgin

liveried Class 47/8 No. 47841was provided to move a rake ofex-Virgin Trains Mark 3 buffetcoaches from MoD Longtownto Crewe Carriage Sidings, thevehicles continued to Caerwentthe following day. The 27thApril saw another Freightlinercoaching stock move, this timewith a rake of nine Mark 3

coaches (as 5Z25) fromPolmadie depot, near Glasgowto Derby Litchurch Lane.Motive power was provided byClass 66/5 No. 66545. Otherstock moves that day includedNo. 67016 on 5Z41 10.08Stewarts Lane to Immingham,conveying Nos. 1411 (as a 3-carset), 3904 and 3843 and No.

67028 hauling No. 507025 toEastleigh for refurbishment.

On the 28th April, Class 33No. 33103 was paired withformer SR General ManagersSaloon No. 975025 for a roundtrip through Kent fromKensington Olympia. The traintook in Ashford, LondonVictoria and Hastings, beforesetting down its guests andheading for overnight stablingat Norwich! A further fourClass 60s were withdrawn on28th April (Nos. 60008, 60018and 60081 (all at TO) and 60073(at TE)).

Following the failure of theNetwork Rail HST (seephotographic report) atBromsgrove, VirginThunderbird No. 57301 assistedthe train through to Bristol.Class 31 No. 31233 wasdispatched light engine fromDerby to Bristol Stoke GiffordYard (as 0Z81) on 30th April tohaul the errant set back toDerby (on 1st May togetherwith help from No. 31233) fromwhere No. 47832 took over forthe run to Edinburgh. Theevening of the 29th saw theFriday's only 1T22 18.25London Euston - Crewe serviceworked by 'Olympic Bid'

�� Notable Workings �� Notable Workings �� Thanks to GWOT and‘Trains’ gen

BELOW: The Class 92 hauled ‘Enterprise’ services linking Wembley Yard with the Channel Tunnel at Dollands Moor are not the most photograped oftrains. On 19th April, Class 92 No. 92037 departs from Ashford with 6B53 14.33 Wembley - Dollands Moor service, bound eventually for Cologne.Included within the train’s consist is one of the new Class 350/1 ‘Desiro’ vehicles for commuter and local passenger services on the West Coast MainLine, No. 350108. PATRICK SEALE

ABOVE: Freightliner operated Class 47/8 No. 47841 stands at Grosmont (NYMR) on 11th May having arrived fromBo’ness with Class 26 No. 26024, Class 27 No. 27001 and Class 47 No. 47643 (on the rear) plus the SRPS charterset for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s diesel gala weekend. RICHARD TUPLIN


liveried Class 87 No. 87012 TheOlympian.

Hertfordshire Railtours'Forgotten Lines' tour to WestDrayton and other Londonfreight branches had RoyalClass 67 No. 67005 QueensMessenger and Class 59 No.59206 Pride of Ferrybridge (intop 'n' tail mode) for traction.

The 30th April saw the firstworking of the Royal Scotsmanwith Class 31 power! The traindeparted its stabling point atBo'ness during the morning en-route for Edinburgh Waverley,from where the train headednorth to Spean Bridge on thefirst day of a three day 'Western'tour to the West Highlands.

The same afternoon the SRPSRailtour stock departed Bo'nessbound for Tyne Yard behindClass 37/4 Nos. 37416 and37417, in preparation for thefollowing day's SRPS Charterfrom Newcastle to Oban. Thecharter on the 2nd May finallyreturned to Newcastle withClass 66 No. 66026 at the helm,

after both Class 37/4s weredeclared a failure at Edinburgh!The two type 3s remained onthe train to supply ETS.

The first Class 180 DMUworked into London Waterlooin the early hours of 1st Maywith 1Z86 23.50 Reading -Waterloo. The following dayEWS provided Class 37/4 No.37427 and 37422 forPathfinder's 'Cumbrian Warrior'charter to Whitehaven on theCumbrian Coast line.Unfortunately all did not go toplan, when No. 37422 wasdeclared a failure on arrival atPreston. The locomotive wasremoved from the train, leavingNo. 37427 to go on alone. Thelatter worked the train throughto Bescot on the return leg,where it was replaced by Class67 No. 67025. The Class 37 wasback in normal traffic thefollowing day when No. 37427was provided for the Bescot -Washwood Health (7G21) tripworking.

Freightliner's Class 66/6 No.66613 found use on theSouthern on 3rd May, when itwas used on 5Z45 12.37


ABOVE: Napier power returns to the East Coast Main Line. On 23rd April, the Deltic Preservation Society’s Class 55 No. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilierhauled its first passenger train in over twelve months, when it powered a DPS charter from London Kings Cross-Edinburgh. Unfortunately problemswere encountered at Edinburgh with the engine governer, resulting in No. 55019 returning south dead on the rear of the train and Class 67 No. 67013providing the power. On its outward run, No. 55019 passes Houndwood on the East Coast Main Line. IAN HARDY

BELOW: Several days in late-April saw the rare sight of a pair of Class 37/4 locomotives touring the lines of Kentwith one of the SERCO Railtest Trains. Here Class 37/4 Nos. 37417 and 37427 arrive at Faversham on 27th Aprilwith one of the test runs. KENDAL MAY


Stewarts Lane - Caerwent stockmove, conveying Nos. 1853,1854 and 1856.

The 4th May found Class 33No. 33103 paired with itsinspection saloon again, thistime on a circular trip fromCricklewood to Kings Cross, viathe Midland Main Line,Doncaster and the East CoastMain Line! The same day sawEWS move Nos. 3403, 3482 and3488 (as 5Z40) from StewartsLane to Shoeburyness.

On 5th May, FM Rail's Class47/7 No. 47703 was used tomove Class 31 No. 31271, Class37 No. 37190 and Class 50 No.50027 from Butterley to Derby,from where 'Peak' No. 45112took over for the remainder ofthe run to Norton Fitzwarren.The locomotives were beingmoved to the West SomersetRailway in preparation for theforthcoming gala weekend.The same morning found atriple headed freight on theNorth Wales Coast when Class20 Nos. 20309, 20302 and 37605were provided for the Crewe -Valley Nuclear Flask trip. Onthe 6th May, newly reliveriedClass 37/4 No. 37411 worked0Z37 Toton TMD - MilfordSidings, then 0D19 19.20Milford Sidings - Doncaster. Itsjourney back to the WelshValley's continued as part of theconsist of 6M21 20.21 DoncasterBelmont - Warrington ArpleyEnterprise service, powered byClass 66 No. 66099. The finalleg took place on 9th May when

the loco ran light engine (as0Z37) from Warrington Arpleyto Cardiff.

With ex-Virgin Trainsoperated Class 47/8 Nos. 47826and 47851 now sub-leased toWest Coast Railway Company,the two have started to appearon WCRC charter workings.No. 47826 was paired with No.47854 on 6th May when theyworked the empty coaching

stock to Derby for the followingmornings charter from Spondonto Edinburgh.

With the West SomersetRailway diesel gala over with,five of the visitors departed on9th May, bound for Old OakCommon. 0Z73 09.00 fromBishops Lydeard consisted ofGBRf Class 73 Nos. 73204,73205, 73209 and preservedClass 31 No. 31271 and Class 37

No. 37190.A reorganisation of traction

for Freightliner's Class 66/5sallocated to Network Rail workand the Intermodal & HeavyHaul divisions has seen severallocomotives change pools andhence duties. The members ofthe fleet to be moved toNetwork Rail (DFRT pool) are66502, 66505, 66522, 66523,66526, 66536, 66539, 66547 and66560. Those locos nowworking for Intermodal (DFGMpool) are 66508, 66514, 66515and 66517, whilst those nowallocated to Heavy Haul(DFHH) are 66506, 66509, 66512,66513 and 66519.

Class 33/1 No. 33108 whichhas been on lease, originally toFragonset and later to FM Railhas been taken back by itsowners. The locomotive is nowin BR Blue and based on theSwanage Railway, enteringservice on the 10th May. Thesame day saw Freightliner'sClass 66/6 No. 66619 haul Class40 No. D200 and Class 47 No.47798 from the NationalRailway Museum at York to theNorth Yorkshire Moors Railwayin preparation for the line'sDiesel Gala weekend. Also intraffic, for the first time, on the10th May was BR Greenliveried Class 37 No. 37411,which worked 2R07 17.11


ABOVE: FMRail’s Class 33 No. 33103 was used with the companies ex-General Manager’s Saloon for a series oftrips around the rail network, concentrating on London and the Midland Mainline. Here the Crompton headsthrough Faversham on 28th April. KENDAL MAY

BELOW: Mechanical problems with Network Rail’s New Measurement Train at the end of April lead to the setbeing dragged north to Edinburgh Craigentinny for repairs. The train had failed at Bristol and was dragged toDerby by a pair of yellow liveried Class 31s! From Derby No. 47832 took over and is seen in the North East atBrafferton on 1st May. IAN HARDY


Cardiff - Rhymney commuterservice.

Following its naming (seeseperate story) the South WestTrains bubble car No. 977860worked a round trip fromSalisbury - Yeovil for invitedguests.on 11th May. A furtherbatch of Mark 3 vehicles weremoved by Class 66 No. 66545the same day from MoDLongtown to Derby. Also onthe WCML, the first day ofDRS's new freight flow fromDitton to Purfleet saw Class66/4 No. 66407 in charge. The11th May found Scottish basedClass 37/4 No. 37416 work6N71 15.56 Linkswood-Mossend tanks before behindallocated dead in train on 6E9321.00 Mossend - DoncasterBelmont, powered by Class 92No. 92011. The Type 3 wasrequired in Yorkshire for ballastwork the following weekend.

The early hours of 12th Maysaw stored Class 37s Nos.37676, 37706 and 37717(previously at Toton) arrive atHealey Mills for safe storage.The locos were hauled toDoncaster and then tripped toHealey Mills by No. 67006. Allthree locos were further movedto Knottingley depot on the14th May.

A further Class 507 unit (No.507008) was returned toBirkenhead on 13th May by No.

67022, whilst in SouthYorkshire, newly arrived No.37416 was employed on 6D99Milford Sidings - Workshopcripple trip, conveying a rake ofex-National Power hoppers.With repairs to West CoastRailway Company’s Class 37/0No. 37261 now completed andthe locomotive repainted intoRoyal Scotsman Maroon colourscheme, No. 37261, also newlynamed Loch Arkaig headed

north to Scotland with FMRail's Class 31 No. 31190 on the13th May. On the evening of15th May, Class 31 No. 31190was declared a failure atDalmally. The Class 31 wasremoved from the train, leavingNo. 37261 to continue on itsown.

The unique Anglia liveriedClass 47/7 No. 47714 waspaired with Cotswold Railsilver liveried No. 47316 on14th May at the helm ofHeartland Rail's Crewe toKingswear charter. The sameday saw loco-haulage return toWeymouth with Nos. 31601 and31459 being used in top 'n' tailformationon Wessex Trainsservices between Bristol and theSouth Coast throughout the restof the day.

Large Logo Class 37 No. 37425returned to its roots on theevening of the 16th May whenit worked 7M82 Newport ADJYard to Crewe Basford Halldepartmental trip. The sameevening, problems ensued on1S25 London Euston - Inverness'Caledonian Sleeper' when No.90028 failed at Nuneaton.Classmate No. 90035 rescuedthe train, departing fromNuneaton 144 minutes late,which then had a 'knock-on'effect on the Fort William andAberdeen portions.

Following the granting of asafety case to operate on thenational network (see seperatenews item), Class 66/9 No.66951 was moved north in the

consist of 4M26 14.13Dagenham Docks - Garston cartrain on 18th May, powered byNo. 66618. No. 66951 wasremoved from the train atCrewe.

More problems wereencountered by the overnightsleepers on 18th May, this timeat Carlisle on the southboundrun, when Class 90 No. 90020developed a fault with itsNational Radio Networksystem. 66040 topped the trainthrough to Crewe. The GreatWestern sleeper service fromLondon Paddington toPenzance also had problems inthe early hours of the 19th,when the train failed at St.Austell. EWS provided Class66 No. 66165 from St. Blazey torescue the train and take itthrough to Penzance.

GBRailfreight Class 66/7 No.66706 was provided to moveex-SR 'Slam-Door' EMU Nos.3401, 1890 and 3516, fromWimbledon Depot toShoeburyness during the earlyafternoon of 19th May.

Finally on 21st May, EWSClass 67 No. 67029 made itsfirst passenger outing in itsExecutive Silver colour scheme,working a Swansea to Penzancecharter.

CORRESPONDANTSThanks go to the several

correspondants around thecountry who now regularlycontribute information for thiscolumn.


ABOVE: The closure of the Great Western Main Line between Reading and London Paddington for essentialengineering works over the May Bank Holiday weekend, lead to the rare sight of a First Great Western HST setat London Waterloo. Here Nos. 43015 and 43195 await their departure time from London Waterloo on 2nd Mayto return to the West Country. PATRICK SEALE

BELOW: Previously operated under the EWS banner, Class 90 No. 90016 isnow in traffic with Freightliner Intermodal. Here the locomotive, nowoutshopped in Freightliner livery, passes Purfleet on 20th May with 4S83Tilbury - Coatbridge container service. PATRICK SEALE

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