OPERATIONS NEWS
The network’s notable moves
Compiled by Ashley Butlin
Windermere is a much-reduced terminus from its heyday. The former station trainshed in the background is now used by a supermarket, but at least it still has a service, unlike other lines that used to penetrate the interior of the Lake District. On March 20, Northern DMU No. 195111 prepares to leave with the 15.00 to Oxenholme.
TOM MCATEE
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast main line was closed due to engineering works at a number of locations within Scotland on March 30. Many services only ran between London and Preston. However, seen passing Thankerton were ballast workings including the 6K05/08.00 Abington to Millerhill hauled by Class 66 No. 66126; 6K04/08.00 Abington to Millerhill with consecutively numbered Class 66 Nos. 66514+66515 on the train; 6K03/09.00 Abington to Millerhill hauled by No. 66593; 6K02/09.30
Abington to Millerhill hauled by No. 66554; and 6K01/10.30 Abington to Millerhill with Nos. 66429 and 66771 on the train.
Great Western Railway
March 3 found Class 166 No. 166211 in charge of the 1F27/17.27 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour service.
An usually clear run saw the service arrive at Filton Abbey Wood two minutes early where the correspondent alighted.
For a little variety and a welcome sight on March 27, train 2T10 was noted arriving at Exeter St Davids, formed of No. 166215. Unfortunately, rather than continuing to Paignton, the unit was declared a failure at Exeter St Davids. A little later on March 27, Nos. 150265+150247 were seen at Newton Abbot forming the 2F12/09.16 from Paignton to Exmouth.
Test trains ran ahead of GWR trains working to Euston station whilst the lines into Paddington are closed for HS2 works. A further test has now taken place with the use of electric traction. Avisit to Euston station on March 30 found Locomotive Services Ltd Class 90 No. 90002 Wolf of Badenoch, in InterCity swallow livery, at the buffer stops by platform 1. Behind the electric locomotive were GWR Class 57 Nos. 57603 Tintagel Castle and 57602 Restormel Castle ‘top-and-tailing’the stock of the ‘Night Riviera’. This ensemble had arrived 22 minutes before the booked time of 11.32, running ECS 5Z80/08.29 from Reading Traincare Depot to London Euston. The electric locomotive being attached at Milton Keynes Central.
After some minutes by platform 1, No. 57602 led the ECS out to Willesden South West Sidings with No. 57603 on the rear which then brought the stock into platform 15. The Class 90 then shunted out of the station, returning to platform 15 and attaching to No. 57602. Finally, on time at 12.59, No. 90002 headed the formation on 5Z83 to Reading Traincare Depot, the electric locomotive having been detached at Milton Keynes Central, with the train continuing ‘topped and tailed’ by the two Class 57s. These trains are understood to have run under GBRf’s operator’s licence. It remains to be seen what, if any, use is made of electric traction on the ‘Night Riviera’.
Greater Anglia
Three of the last four Class 720s Nos. 720104, 720504 and 720534 were released into traffic on March 28, leaving only 720505 to follow. The next day No. 720534 worked 2A06/06.26 London Liverpool St to Harwich International and remained in platform 3 before working 1A95/07.20 Harwich International to Colchester and return at 07.48, before then working the first Harwich branch as 2A01 at 08.15 and continued on that diagram for the rest of the day.
ScotRail
On April 1, Class 156 No. 156467 made the journey south from Corkerhill to Wolverton Works. In the opposite direction, No. 156511 was observed returning to Corkerhill on April 15. In the event, it failed at Crewe. The following day No. 156502 headed south from Corkerhill and collected No. 156502 en route with both units continuing to Wolverton.
Caledonian Sleeper
The Inverness to Euston service on the night of April 8/9 was headed by Class 66 No. 66726 Sheffield Wednesday and Class 73 No. 73966 as far as Edinburgh. After the Aberdeen and Fort William portions had been added, Class 92 No. 92020 Billy Stirling worked forward to Euston. On arrival there, No. 92014 was noted at the head of the other sleeper service, from Glasgow Central.
Northern
Class 323 No. 323206 returned north to Allerton from Wolverton on March 22, now in Northern livery.
TransPennine Express
There was an unusual working on April 12 when the 1M90/15.08 from Glasgow to Manchester Airport was cancelled, so Class 185 No. 185143 started the service from Preston. Even more unusually, the train went south on the WCML to Golborne rather than going through Chorley and Bolton as they normally do on the Manchester Airport services. Our correspondent reported that he had not seen a Class 185 unit past Euxton Balshaw Lane for some years.
Transport for Wales
Class 67s have been regular performers on 1W96/17.22 Cardiff Central to Holyhead and 1V42/14.30 Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central services through March and April. Silver DB-liveried No. 67029 Royal Diamond was observed on 1W96 on March 10 and April 7, with No. 67020 in TfW black on March 17 and DB red No. 67015 on March 19. March 10 saw No. 67010 running seven minutes late at Newport with 1V42, with No. 67017 running to time at Newport with 1V42 on March 17 and finally No. 67020 in TfW black again at Newport on April 7 with 1V42.