OPER ATIONS NEWS
The network’s notable moves
Compiled by Ashley Butlin
GWR’s No. 57603 Tintagel Castle hauls the Down ‘Night Riviera’ from Paddington to Penzance over St Germans Viaduct and the River Tiddy, as the sun comes up on July 12.
JON HIRD
Avanti West Coast
The final Class 807 No. 807010 was delivered to Wembley on July 3, when it ran from Newton Aycliffe via Edinburgh, Carlisle and the West Coast Main Line.
LNER
Class 91 No. 91105 has been renumbered 91150 and named National Railway Museum 50 Years 1975-2025. In addition, it has received aNRM 50th wrap.
Great Western Railway
Class 175 No. 175002 was involved in training runs on June 23 between Laira and Newton Abbott.
An attempt to move Nos. 175101+175113 by Class 37 Nos. 37501+37510 from Ely to Wolverton on July 10 failed at March and the units returned to Ely.
Caledonian Sleeper
Outside of its normal WCML nocturnal habitat on June 21, Caledonian Sleeper-liveried Class 90 No. 92010 ran light from Wembley Inter City Depot, north to Polmadie Depot in Glasgow as 0S98, with a booked departure time of 13.06. On the following day, No. 92038 also ran light heading southwards from Carlisle, pathed as 0A99, departing at 16.22 to Wembley Depot, arriving there at 23.55.
Northern
Following attention at Wolverton Works, Class 150 No. 150115 returned north to Newton Heath on June 28.
TransPennine Express
On Friday, June 13, TPE Class 397 No. 397004 ran empty (5N39/07.39) from Doncaster north to Edinburgh (11.57) then south via Carlisle (13.56) and Chorley (16.06) to Longsight TMD in Manchester arriving at 17.17.
London Northwestern Railway
On June 26, the 2K28/13.30 from Milton Keynes Central to London Euston was formed of Nos. 730234+730210.
Two cars of No. 350247 were derailed at Denbigh Hall South Junction while it was working as empty stock between Bletchley and King’s Heath depot, paired with No. 350370 on June 26.
While the majority of Class 350/2 units now stood down are located at Wembley, No. 350237 was moved by Class 37 No. 37407 to Long Marston on July 3.
Chiltern Railways
At Oxford on June 12, instead of the expected new West Midlands Class 196 loanee on the 5F95/14.12 Oxford -Milton Keynes driver training run, it turned out to be Chiltern Railways No. 165026. Later, while at Princes Risborough, No. 165023 was noted in Platform 1 with 2A46/17.08 Princes Risborough – Aylesbury branch service, a mere 15-minute trip, including two stops. Later, at 17.30, newly-named Class 68 No. 68012 Amy Owen was noted on 1J43/17.07 London Marylebone – Stourbridge Junction with coaching set AL04. Classmates 68011 and 68013 were also noted in sidings when passing Wembley MD.
London Overground
Further moves of Class 378 units to and from Alstom at Widnes saw No. 378218 brought south to New Cross
Gate by Class 37 No. 37510 on June 14, the Class 37 then returning north with No. 378207. The latter unit returned south on June 28, running under its own power via the WCML. Its place was taken at Widnes by No. 378232 which went north under its own power.
c2c
Class 357 No. 357316 was named Wilko Johnson 1947-2022 – He did it right at a ceremony at Southend Central station on June 9. The name pays tribute to the Essex musician and Dr Feelgood co-founder and is a nod to the band’s song‘She Did it Right’. It was unveiled by his son Simon.
Southern
On June 10, Nos. 377705+ 377313 worked the 06.01 Selhurst to London Bridge for the morning peak and were later found on the 14.43 Beckenham Junction to London Bridge, remaining on that diagram for the evening peak. The following day, No. 387219 worked the 06.06 Brighton to Victoria and return (07.29) on its own instead of the more usual eight carriages due to a shortage of Class 387s.
Things were no better on June 12, with No. 377117 working the 05.24 Littlehampton to Chichester instead of a Class 377/3.
After Class 377/4 No. 377405 failed in Stewarts Lane Depot, No. 377474 departed the depot solo into Victoria whilst an additional unit No. 377134 arrived from Selhurst to attach to No. 377474 to form the 06.50 to London Bridge eight carriages as booked.
On June 19, the 13.56 Bognor Regis to Victoria was formed of Nos. 377142+ 377101, but they were removed from service at Victoria with multiple Wheel Slip Protection (WSP) faults, causing the cancellation of the 16.05 return working. The units ran empty to Bognor Regis before going to Brighton Depot. Later, the evening peak hour was thrown into chaos by multiple signalling issues at Haywards Heath and the Brighton area was coded black with severe delays and cancellations whilst the Brighton expresses were suspended. The 16.39 Brighton to Victoria was the last service to run and taken to Stewarts Lane for berthing.