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Some of the Class 91 fleet is currently enjoying an extended stay of execution on the East Coast Main Line, with celebrity InterCityliveried No. 91119 pictured at King’s Cross on September 16 at the head of the 1D21/16.03 to Leeds.

BRAD JOYCE

Eurostar is running more services again after the worst of the pandemic, and Siemens-built Class 374 No. 4005 is pictured passing Stratford International on September 8 with a St Pancras to Paris working.

JACK BOSKETT

AVANTI West Coast Class 221 No. 221101 took three cars of No. 221143 from Polmadie to Barton Under Needwood on August 20, seen passing through Lancaster at 14.24.

During the afternoon of Wednesday, September 8, an incident occurred in the Symington area when the 1S66/14.10 Manchester Airport to Edinburgh operating with Class 397 No. 397011 ran into a small flock of sheep, killing three and disabling the train. The unit was moved at low speed to Carstairs with rising smoke from a wheelset. The train arrived into Carstairs at about 19.50.

As a consequence, all trains on the WCML in Scotland south of Carstairs were brought to a stand affecting both Avanti West Coast and Transpennine Express services.

Pendolino No. 390049 working the 9S70/12.43 Euston to Edinburgh was terminated at Lockerbie. The 1S69/13.11

Euston to Glasgow was turned at Abington and returned south to Lockerbie, terminating there at 19.35 while the 1S72/14.10

Euston-Glasgow terminated at Carlisle. The 1S74 Liverpool Lime Street to Glasgow was terminated at Carlisle as was the 1S75/16.10 Manchester Airport to Edinburgh.

The 1S78/15.10 Euston to Glasgow was held at Oxenholme, departing 100 minutes late. The 1S81/17.10 Manchester Airport to Glasgow was terminated at Preston and the 1S82/16.10 Euston to Glasgow was held at Preston leaving 70 minutes late. An additional 1Z81/19.16 Carlisle to Glasgow was operated, running about 40 minutes later than planned.

Southbound, the 1M92/17.07 Glasgow to Manchester Airport was terminated at Carstairs.

Neither the 1M93/18.11

Edinburgh to Manchester Airport and 1M19/18.40

Glasgow to Euston ran. Finally, the 9M62/18.52 Edinburgh to Euston started from Lockerbie presumably using the stock off 1S69.

A VISIT to King’s Cross on Sunday, August 29, found Class 91 No. 91109 Sir Bobby Robson at platform 7 heading the 1D17/14.03 to Leeds. DVT No. 82213 was at the rear of the train. The continuing use of a small fleet of Class 91s between King’s Cross and Leeds is attracting much attention from enthusiasts.

REPORTED several months ago was the naming of Class 800 No. 800022 Tulbahadur Pun. It has now come to light that in fact the unit named was No. 800006 due to the intended unit not being available. GWR is still showing No. 800022 as the unit on its website.

A journey from Paddington to Reading on Wednesday, August 4 provided an opportunity for a ride in a GTR red-liveried unit, when Nos. 387204+387202 formed the 10.27. Passing West Ealing, No. 387201 was noted in the sidings at West Ealing.

Later the same day, Nos. 387205 and 387206 were noted in the sidings at Reading Traincare Depot. Making the same journey from Paddington to Reading on Thursday, August 19, found the train formed of GWR green liveried Nos. 387142+387159.

The white c2c units remain on hire to GWR and regularly appear on the Reading to Newbury stopping service.

On Wednesday, August 4, No. 387301 worked the 17.10 Reading to Newbury. On Thursday, August 19, the same service was worked by Nos. 387301+387306.

Observed on Wednesday, August 4, Class 57 Nos. 57605 Totnes Castle and 57603

Tintagel Castle were noted top-and-tailing the stock of the Night Riviera at Reading Traincare Depot. DRS Class 57 No. 57306 Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate 175, on hire to GWR was also in the sidings at Reading Traincare Depot.

Also observed at Reading on August 4 was Class 769 No. 769959 seen passing platform 13 at Reading station running as train 5Q10 to Reading Traincare Depot having been to Gatwick Airport on a test run.

Movements reported of Class 769 units included No. 769922 from Nemesis Rail, Burton to Wolverton on August 12 behind Class 57 No. 57310. A move from Brush Loughborough to Wolverton took place on August 31 when Class 57 No. 57312 took No. 769927. On September 2 No. 57310 hauled No. 769936 from Nemesis Rail, Burton to Wolverton.

The 11.15 Bristol Temple Meads to Brighton on August 15 was worked by Class 166 No. 166221. Whilst at Brighton prior to working the 17.46 return, it developed a fault and was noted at Worthing over an hour late.

Unit Nos. 166218 and 165136 formed the 11.23 from Portsmouth to Cardiff on September 6. It was unusual to see two such units coupled on this service, with single Class 166s having replaced the former Class 158s.

NEW Class 720 Aventra No. 720571 was top-and-tailed south by Class 56 No. 56081 and Class 66 No. 66767 King’s Cross PSB as the 5Q90/08.45 Derby Litchurch Lane to Wembley Fan Sidings on August 13. Returning to Derby from Worksop, No. 720520 was moved by Class 66 No. 66737 and Class 56 No. 56081 on August 18. A further move on September 13 saw No. 720573 top-and-tailed from Derby to Wembley by Class 56 No. 56081 and Class 47 No. 47749.

The two Class 317s in warm storage in Harwich Parkeston Quay yard, Nos. 317340 and 317338, took a trip out on August 27 to Colchester with the return witnessed into the yard at 14.34 in the afternoon. They were joined by Nos. 317501+ 317510 on September 2.

Class 755/3 No. 755338 was noted on the Harwich Town- Manningtree branch service on August 27. Station staff confirmed that a Class 755 had also been used the previous day. This diagram of late has been solely in the hands of the Renatus-upgraded Class 321/3s. A visit to the region on August 28, primarily to see Class 321 units, produced the following: at Ipswich Station were Nos. 321427+321320 which had arrived at platform 3 from Liverpool Street.