OPERATIONS NEWS
The network’s notable moves
Compiled by Ashley Butlin
Avanti West Coast
It is reported that Class 807 No. 807010 has been seen at Merchant Park in a special diversity livery.
Following the section of the WCML north from Preston being closed to all traffic as a precautionary measure due to Storm Éowyn on Friday, January 24, and again the following day, the first though Avanti West Coast passenger service from Glasgow Central to London Euston was the 1M18/17.36 on Sunday, January 26, worked by Class 390 No. 390103.
Passengers on the 9S80/14.40 on Friday, January 31, were three hours late on arrival at Preston due to 1000 metres of cable being stolen.
Great Western Railway
Viewed from a passing train on Wednesday, January 1, Class 57 No. 57603 was noted on the stock of the Night Riviera at Reading Traincare Depot. Two further Class 57 locomotives were at the Traincare Depot but inconveniently placed multiple units prevented them from being identified.
A further Class 175 unit has been moved from Ely to Laira in the form of No. 175009 being top-and-tailed by Class 37 Nos. 37901+37510 on January 27.The pair of Class 37s then moved No. 175006 from Landore to Ely on January 29. An attempt to move No. 175010 from Ely to Laira by Class 37 Nos. 37800+37901 on February 4, failed at Leicester where the unit was placed in the loco yard.
Greater Anglia
A number of Class 720 units still await delivery to the region before entering traffic. On January 21, Nos. 720141+ 720143 were delivered by Class 47 No. 47727 from Derby toWillesden. A further move followed on January 28, when Class 47 No. 47739 hauled Nos. 720510+720516, also from Derby toWillesden. An attempt by Class 69 No. 69009 to move No. 720503 from Derby to Willesden on February 11, failed south of Bletchley. Class 66 No. 66769 was dispatched to haul the consist back to Bletchley.
ScotRail
All services in Scotland were suspended on January 24, due to Storm Éowyn.
The many obstructions reported on the lines included trees, trampolines, a sofa, shed roofs and wheelie bins. A complete garden shed was reported on the line between Perth and Stirling.
By 13.00 on January 25,
ScotRail reported some lines including: Perth-Inverness, Inverness-Elgin, Inverness-Aberdeen, Dundee-Aberdeen, Perth-Dundee, Edinburgh-Tweedbank, Edinburgh-Dunbar, and Drem-Edinburgh as being open.
There were still problems on the next day (Sunday), with the West Highland closed between Crianlarich and Glasgow.
First train on the WCML was 4Z43/13.40 Carlisle New Yard to Coatbridge Down refuge Siding, which was followed by 4Z68/08.40 Daventry IRFT to Coatbridge Down refuge Siding, hauled by Class 88
No. 88010. Trains were still being disrupted on Monday,
January 27, with services between Ayr and Stranraer suspended in both directions. Replacement bus services operated between Stranraer and Ayr.
Still in green undercoat, GBRf’s No. 69014 leaves Scunthorpe on January 28, with 6D75, the 08.43 to Doncaster. The town’s station is out of shot to the left, beyond the overgrown land formerly used for railway sidings, while in the background is Frodingham footbridge.
BRIAN HALL
Northern Trains
Class 158 No. 158753 returned to Neville Hill from Brodie Engineering at Kilmarnock on January 18.
The Class 323 units recently transferred from West Midland Railway, are passing through Wolverton Works. On January 25, No. 323219 went south from Allerton with No. 323210 returning on the same day, now in Northern Rail livery.
While being moved to Brodies, Kilmarnock Class 769 No. 769431 failed at Oxenholme on January 14, and was rescued on January 27 by Class 37 No. 37884.
TransPennine Express
On Friday, January 17, Class 802 No. 802215 ran empty from Edge Hill Depot in Liverpool (5Z01/13.58) to Craigentinny Depot in Edinburgh. This is rather a rarity as TPE Class 802s run to Manchester Airport but not often to Liverpool.
Hull Trains
Hull Trains services were diverted via the Midland Main Line again on the weekend of January 25/26. On the latter date, the 1A91/08.30 Hull to London St Pancras was observed passing through Desborough formed by No. 802304 William Wilberforce.
Transport for Wales
Class 197 No. 197022 was‘topand-tailed’from Long Marston to Crewe on January 20, by Class 37 Nos. 37510+37608.
West Midlands Railway
Movements of the Class 730 units around the country saw No. 730236 being moved from Derby to Wembley by Class 37 No. 37611 on January 10. On January 22, No. 730233 was taken by Class 37 No. 37608 from Derby to Gascoigne Wood. This was followed on January 31 with No. 730227 moved by Class 37 No. 37510 from Crewe to Old Dalby. The same Class 37 was out on February 3 to move Nos. 730234+730236 from Wembley to Gascoigne Wood. Three days later No. 37800 took Nos. 730228+730229 from Gascoigne Wood to Old Dalby.
Class 196 No. 196109 returned to Tyseley on January 14, following attention at Long Marston.
East Midlands Railway
Testing of new Class 810‘Aurora’ units continues on an occasional basis south of Leicester. On January 10, No. 810004 worked as 5Q43/12.10 Sheffield to Cricklewood, seen passing through Market Harborough. In the event it was terminated at Kettering and returned to Old Dalby via Corby as 5Q44. The following week on January 17, No. 810004 was out again on a similar working, forming 5Q42/10.31 Sheffield to London St Pancras.