Have you got a story for us? Email: railway@mortons.co.uk or fax 01507 528980 light engine south through East Didsbury on April 30.
A pleasant backdrop for Arriva DMU No. 158822, which is looking smart as it passes Penmaenmawr with a Cardiff Central-Holyhead service on May 5. ANDY MASON
CLASS 66 No. 66018 hauled a rake of VTG-liveried JUA bogie mineral wagons up through East Croydon on the evening of May 1. PAIRED with Class 59 No. 59101, No. 59201 worked from Merehead to Acton Yard on May 1. CAVALCADES of locomotives are becoming increasingly common for weekend engineering work and in recent weeks the following have been reported: on April 28, working between Doncaster and Whitemoor, were Nos. 66067+66125+66047+ 66137+66115+66183+66132+ 66021+66015. On the same day, Nos. 66124+66013+ 66141+66160+66101+66145+ 66151+ 66060+66105+66198.
A NUMBER of Basford HallChesterton Junction-Basford Hall ballast trains have been reported with Class 66 No. 66529 employed on April 10 and No. 66615 on April 11 and 13 FIRE-damaged Class 70 No. 70018 was moved north from Southampton Maritime to Crewe Basford Hall by fellow class member No. 70019 within the consist of the Southampton to Garston working on April 12. It was moved to Brush Loughborough for assessment and repairs by Class 66 No. 66587 on April 17. A further Class 70 suffered fire damage on April 24 between Bramley and Basingstoke while working the 4O49 to Southampton. Class 66 No. 66533 hauled the Class 70 and train forward to Southampton. The Class 70 was moved north on April 27 to Crewe within the consist of a Southampton to Garston hauled by No. 70008. The next day, it was top and tailed between Class 66 Nos. 66542 and 66543 and transferred to Leeds Midland Road. FREIGHTLINER is involved with a number of scrap movements. On April 14, Class 66 No. 66613 worked a rake of empties from Cardiff Tidal to Dagenham. A further empty wagon move followed on April 23 when Class 66 No. 66614 hauled boxes from Long Marston to Stockton. It returned loaded to Cardiff on April 25 before taking empties to Hitchin on April 26, returning loaded to Tidal the next day. On April 28, Class 66 No. 66614 worked empties from Cardiff Tidal to Dagenham. LOCOMOTIVES observed working the Basford HallMiddleton Towers-Ellsmere Port sand trains have included No. 66616 on April 10, 12, 17, 19; No. 66610 on April 24; No. 66607 on May 1; and No. 66622 on May 8.
CLASS 37 Nos. 37059+37601 ran light engine from Crewe Gresty Bridge to Barrow Hill. A further light engine move occurred on April 13 with Nos. 37682+47501 +47841 moving back to Gresty Bridge from Crown Point. ACCIDENT-damaged Class 57 No. 57009 ran light engine from Crewe Gresty Bridge to Eastleigh Works on April 16 for repairs. WHILE working a rake of wagons from Ripple Lane to Grangemouth on April 24, Class 37 No. 37069 failed at Hillmorton. The train was rescued by Class 86 Nos. 86605 +86639 and taken to Rugby from where Class 37 No. 37602 took the train forward. CLASS 47 Nos. 47790 and 47832 top and tailed ‘The Northern Belle’ at York on April 28 when the train stopped for about 25 minutes before heading off south.
DBS No. 67026 Diamond Jubilee assists No. 67006 Royal Sovereign (at the far end) at Yeovil Pen Mill with the Royal Train on May 2. The train had previously taken the branch towards Yeovil Junction and waited there while the Weymouth-Gloucester DMU arrived for a service call. Once clear, the Royal Train reversed and drew into platform 1 and the welcoming ceremony duly swung into action. BRIAN PIBWORTH
A LIGHT engine move on May 2 saw Class 37 No. 37089 haul Class 47 Nos. 47501 and 47839 south from Crewe Gresty Bridge to Eastleigh Works – the former for store and parts donation, the latter for overhaul. THE usual flask moves reported in recent weeks have, on the whole, been worked by Class 20 and 37 although a Hunterston working on April 18 had Class 57 Nos. 57003+57008. Operating to Sizewell have been Class 20 Nos. 20302+20301 on April 11; Class 20 Nos. 20301+20302 on April 18; Class 37 Nos. 37423+37604 +four flasks on April 25; Class 20 Nos. 20302+20303 on May 4;
As a result of a landslip near Slochd, which closed the Highland Main line (see p88), sleeper and freight services were diverted via Aberdeen. DRS No. 66425 enters Nairn station with 4H47, the 05.14 Mossend-Inverness intermodal on April 28. GRAEME ELGAR
July 2012 • The Railway Magazine • 105