NOTES AND NEWS

WEST COUNTRY AREA

Avonmouth

04/12 At 15.20 the following locomotives were present:- 60003 Freight Transport Association and 66068 stabled on separate MGR empties, 08896 Stephen Dent (light), 66141 and 60011 both loading separate MGR services. 60040 arrived at 15.30 with another empty MGR rake of hoppers.

06/12 08896 Stephen Dent and 60072 Cairn Toul were present in the early afternoon.

15/12 Present during the late afternoon were 66185 loaded coal MGR, 60071 Dorothy Garrod and 60072 Cairn Toul on separate MGR empties and 08896 Stephen Dent light.

28/12 Present during the early afternoon were 60068 Charles Darwin, 66037, 66074, 60003 Freight Transport Association and 60052 Tower Colliery - Glofa Twr on MGR trains and 66094 with loaded MEAs of coal for Rugby Cement works. 08896 Stephen Dent was still present and 60071 Dorothy Garrod arrived at 15.40 with MGR empties. 66163 was noted stabled 'light' near Smoke Lane level crossing having been used to move VGA (or VKA vans) to and from the Chittening Industrial estate. Around 15 had arrived carrying a new freight-flow of fertiliser from Middlesborough Dawson sidings for the nearby ICI (Terras) works.

29/12 60052 Tower Colliery - Glofa Twr was present on a loaded coal MGR during the morning.

Bristol Parkway

The effects of the continuing bad weather, imposed speed restrictions, emergency engineering works and the introduction of temporary timetables were all major players during December which has resulted in a shortened report for this month.

02/12 56058 worked Pathfinders 05.00 Cardiff-Grassington trip with 56127 working the return journey. This trip was originally billed for double-headed Class 33 haulage using preserved locomotives.

04/12 A good start to the month with an abundance of freight workings this evening, noted were 60034 with Wembley cargowaggons, 66151 and 66212 with stone/ballast trains, 60037 empty tanks from Langley to South Wales and a rare loco class working the Felixstowe liner, 57012. Coal workings were at a high with 60011 and 60040 working loaded trains bound for Didcot and 60004 and 60072 taking empties to Avonmouth. The 19.35 Leeds comprised loco and coaches in lieu of HST, the honours taken by 47843. 66212 worked stone empties to Tytherington Quarry but a defective wagon prevented immediate loading for the return to Battersea. Over at Westerleigh at 19.00, 60010 was present shunting oil tanks and 66119 in the loading compound with the refuse train.

06/12 37047 + 37065 powered the 6V56 20.18 Thameshaven-Llandarcy bitumen tanks, the Mainline blue duo then working a number of South Wales freight diagrams over the following days.

07/12 Just a couple of coal workings to report, 60004 empties for Avonmouth and 60040 Didcot bound. 20312 + 20314 headed the Bridgwater-Crewe flask service.

14/12 The weather was the main topic this evening, resulting in no services west of Taunton again, and Chipping Sodbury tunnel flooded meaning that Paddington - Swansea and vice versa were re-routed via Bath. Of the VT services noted, all HSTs, many short formations were noted. Mail services seriously delayed and disrupted.

18/12 VT HSTs noted this evening, none were of the normal formation and no buffet car conveyed. Examples being, excluding power cars, 4, 5 and 6 coaches, the 6 consist being 3 x 1st Class and 3 standard. Freight activity saw 60014 mgr Didcot bound and 60003 empties for Avonmouth, 66185 empty fuel tanks for Fawley and 47292 with the Felixstowe liner.

21/12 Minimal freight activity this evening, 60052 MGR for Didcot, 60071 empties for Avonmouth and 47207 Felixstowe liner.

22/12 37 520 worked a 6G74 11.18 Didcot-Cardiff freight service.

Bristol Temple Meads

01/12 66146 was noted with an empty MGR from the Spine Road at 10.05, recessed behind the Showcase cinema complex. About 10 minutes later when approaching Barton Hill from Midland Road, four Class 67s where seen on the mainline either having just left the aforementioned or arriving, the locos were 67013/015/019/026. Passing the depot a further three were noted only 67008/027 were identified. 47701 worked 1V52 15:56 Birmingham-Plymouth.

02/12 43154 Inter City + 43092 The Mechanical Engineers 150th Anniversary 1847-1997 with three centre coaches only worked the 14.25 Plymouth-Leeds service. Cheshire Railtours 'Candlelight Express' (1Z27 15.50 Bristol-Minehead and 1Z28 21.15 return from Minehead) was worked throughout by a 1st GW HST set with power cars 43175 + 43185 Great Western. The sell-out trip enabled passengers to visit a village candlelight ceremony at nearby Dunster.

07/12 LPG empties noted heading southbound at 05.30 behind 66033.

08/12 60050 worked southbound with a diverted MGR service at 14:00.

08/12 A Westbury-Cardiff Canton 'light engine' move (via Day's curve) was seen in East Depot loop formed 37520 + 73133 Bluebell Railway + 59004 P.A.Hamond at 19.15.

09/12 66002 worked a train of RES vans from Bishop's Lydeard-Barton Hill during the early afternoon. The vans had been moved by road to the West Somerset Railway from Exeter following flooding, again at Cowley Bridge junction and on the Yeovil line at Pinhoe. 67004 was also loaded on to a road trailer at Exeter ready to move, but this was cancelled. 47781 Isle of lone and 67014 were also present the former being used to shunt the stock. Pathfinder Tours 'Chester Chuffer' (1Z41 06.08 Bristol-Chester via Banbury) was worked by 47780 to Didcot. Steam loco 6024 King Edward I took over here but was replace after the Banbury water stop with a fault. Having been removed the 47 took the train onwards to Chester and the return 17.34 to Bristol.

11/12 56068 worked 6C92 Bridgewater-Avonmouth and then the 6M75 to Warrington. 47789 worked 1E61 Taunton-Leeds. 56068 was the booked motive power for the Newport-Avonmouth-Bridgwater trip instead of the normal Class 66. 47789 Lindisfarne was also another stand-in loco with stock, on the 1E61 15.55 Plymouth-Leeds instead of a HST set and also because of the flooding near Exeter, starting at Taunton. The loco was changed at Birmingham New Street.

14/12 37379 Ipswich WRD Quality Approved worked 5Z37 07.45 Eastleigh Works-Barton Hill repaired RES vans arriving around 11.15. The loco then ran 'light' to Westbury.

15/12 37674 Saint Blaise Church 1445-1995, having returned from Cornish sandite duties, worked 7B66 Westbury-Newport engineers, via Day's curve.

20/12 37607 + 37611 were paired on a three flask Bridgwater-Crewe nuclear waste train. This was the first Class 37 pair on this train during 2000 and in fact only the second 37 appearances following 37610 + 20312 during the Summer on one occasion.

23/12 60029 worked 1E38 16:16 Temple Meads-Birmingham, calling at Cheltenham only with 47848 dead on the rear.

26/12 67001/003/004/007/008/015/019/025/027 were at Barton Hill.

28/12 In the early hours, 00.25 66066 noted with a southbound coal train, and at 14.55 heading in the same direction was 60076 with the Enterprise freight.

29/12 66164 noted southbound at 18.45 with what appeared to be the Enterprise freight and shortly later 66119 worked north with a coal train.

Cornwall

03/12 St.Blazey held the following locomotives at 13.45 08953. 47786 Roy Castle OBE. 60076 Suilven. 66052/065/075/200/201. 67021. 150261/263. 153312/370. 158837.

04/12 37674 Saint Blaise Church 1445-1995 was on local china clay duties to and from Fowey.

08/12 The Newquay-Par line was closed by flooding at Roche, reopening with the 2B61 13.40 local service from Par. China clay traffic was not affected only running as far as Goonbarrow where 66055 was seen during the day.

10/12 37674 Saint Blaise Church 1445-1995 performed its final sandite duty departing from St.Blazey during the morning. The loco left Cornwall two days later as part of the 6B99 22.35 St.Blazey-Newport freight leaving the Duchy without a Class 37 - the first time for many years.

31/12 Some of the locomotives present on St.Blazey depot were 60076 Suilven. 66173/200. 67001/004/011/024.

Avon to Calvert Binliner

This month's sightings are as given below; 05/12: 66119 . 07/12: 66119. 18/12: 66094. 21/12: 66094. 30/12: 66151.

Locomotives and Units

RES (CD): 47756/776. VT (TO): 47808/841/843. 67001/003/007/011/013/014/016/017/019/020/021/022/024/025/026/027/028/ 029.

Units Noted During the Month 143610/619/620. 150219/243/244/247/248/265/266. 153305/377. 158746/746/820/836/837.

Postal Sets Noted

4s (PCV)

94343 94215 94174 94305
94338 94132 94117 94309
94327 94205 94176 94304
94334 94108 94202 94306
94339 94146 94193 94326
94302 94520 94523 94335
94316 94100 94224 94317

4s (BG)

94428 94119 94177 94456
94505 94150 94198 94455
94519 94531 94529 94516

5s

94476 94111 94182 94147 94404
94511 94207 94180 94121 94474
94495 94221 94208 94157 94536
94527 94538 94508 94449 94515
94530 94441 94200 94126 94494
94444 94225 94170 94112 94227

SOUTH WALES AREA

Cardiff Central

01/12 37412 worked 2V07 07:23 Rhymney-Radyr and 37418 2F06 07:44 from Rhymney. 56131 worked 6V14 07:30 Hull-Baglan Bay acetic acid tanks but failed on arrival at Margam with an air leak.

02/12 37418 with four HSBC Rail coaches worked 2F12 09:10 from Rhymney, 2R18 11:01 return, 2F10 12:14 (retimed from 12:10) from Rhymney and finally 2R42 17:00 to Rhymney, to provide additional capacity for people doing Christmas shopping in Cardiff. It was needed - the platforms at Caerphilly were as busy as a 'rugby day' when 2F10 arrived! The train was so full on arrival at Queen Street that the dwell time extended to three minutes, due to the volume of passengers alighting from the coaches! 56058 worked 1Z36 Pathfinder excursion to Skipton, after bringing the stock from Crewe empty. 56127 then took the train to/from Grassmere for the run, after which 56058 returned the train to Skipton and was detached before 56127 worked 1Z37 Skipton-Cardiff via Birmingham NS and Hereford. 158954 worked the 12:55 to Sleaford.

03/12 56127 worked the railtour stock back to Crewe as 5Z37 13:40 Canton-Crewe ECS.

04/12 66204 worked 6V14 to Baglan Bay. 57012 and 66503 were at Pengam.

05/12 56131 worked 6E21 08:20 Baglan Bay-Humber.

06/12 66505 was at Pengam. 37047/055 worked 6V56 20:18 Thameshaven-Llandarcy bitumen tanks.

08/12 37520 hauled 73133 and a Class 59 from Eastleigh to Canton for tyre-turning

09/12 37412 worked 2F12 09:10 Rhymney-Cardiff, 2R18 11:01 return, 2F10 12:14 back to Cardiff and 2R42 17:00 to Rhymney. 08466/481/651/752/854/951 were at ASW. 66518 was at Pengam.

10/12 37412/418 worked 17:50 to Rhymney with the HSBC Rail stock, instead of working it ECS late in the evening from Canton after servicing.

11/12 37047/055 worked 6M84 05:50 Margam-Dee Marsh. 66161 was on 6V14 and 66092 6V31 16:07 Immingham-Swansea Burrows empty MGR. 47827 worked 07:43 York-Swansea and 15.27 Swansea-Newcastle in place of the usual HST. 37418 worked 2R38 and 37412 2R42 Rhymney services. 158951 arrived on the 10.28 from Nottingham and 170632 departed on the 15:50 to Nottingham.

12/12 37418 worked 2R38 and 37412 2R42 to Rhymney. 158797 worked the 15:00 to Nottingham. 66214 was on 6E21 from Baglan Bay.

13/12 Queen Street station was closed to all services at 05:00, after scaffolding fell off the adjacent former AA office building. Due to the precarious state of the scaffolding, clearance was delayed and the only train that used the station during the day was a shuttle service between Central and Cardiff Bay using a Class 143. 37418/412 were used either end of a 4 car set of stock on services between Rhymney and Heath High Level, from where a bus service ran to/from the city centre. The train used the cross-over at Heath Junction to switch between down and up lines. Rail Regulator Tom Winsor paid a visit to Cardiff. His train from Paddington arrived almost an hour late, as Chipping Sodbury tunnel was closed due to flooding. Derek Holmes, the newly-appointed Director for Railtrack Great Western Zone, said the pumps installed last year were capable of keeping the tunnel clear, but were limited in the amount of water they could discharge, due to Environment Agency concerns about adjacent land being flooded. 73133 was noted at Canton and 66516 at Pengam. 156422 and 170523 were parked at Platform 0 with their engines off. There was flooding in the Gloucester area, so they were presumably marooned in Cardiff, unable to work back to the Midlands.

14/12 37412/418 were again on shuttle services between Rhymney and Heath High Level, after a fitter had travelled from Canton to Rhymney the previous evening to perform a scheduled exam on one of the engines. 170523 remained at Cardiff, although the Gloucester line must have reopened as 170633 worked the 10:55 to Nottingham. 66104 was noted on Canton in the morning, this is one of the few Class 66s fitted with RETB for use in the Scottish Highlands, so would normally be expected to remain in that area. 57012, 66511 were at Pengam.

15/12 37412/418 worked 2V07 07:23 Rhymney-Heath.

16/12 170519 worked the 11:44 from Nottingham. 66504 was at Pengam.

18/12 156401 worked the 06:58 from Sleaford, 170515 the 14:42 from Nottingham and 170523 the 17:05 to Nottingham. The 07:43 York-Swansea was formed of one TF, one TRSB and one TS between two power cars! 150243 arrived 20 minutes late on the 14:24 from Portsmouth with a flashing tail lamp on the rear, although the unit's tail lights were functioning normally. 150244 worked the 17:30 to Portsmouth, so W&W were obviously short of 158s. The front bogie of the second wagon of the Dee Marsh-Margam empty steel train derailed at Peterston-super-Ely at 15:00, whilst being hauled by 66170. BTP later advised that it appeared to have struck a rail left behind after engineering work.

20/12 66512 was at Pengam. 37418 worked 2V07 and 37427 2F06.

21/12 66514 was at Pengam. 150101 worked the 16:47 from Nottingham. 37418 worked 2V07 and 2R38 whilst 37427 did 2F06 and 2R42.

22/12 37427 worked 2V07 and 2R38 with 37418 on 2F06 and 2R42. 37520 worked 6G74 Didcot-Cardiff. 170521 worked the 07:22 from Worcester. 66513 was at Pengam.

28/12 66089 brought 4849/54/76/80, 5278, 35513/15/16/18 from Crewe to replace the HSBC Rail stock, which was going off-lease.

29/12 66037 took the HSBC Rail stock to Crewe.

Cardiff Canton

Cardiff Canton was viewed on several occasions during the month and the following observations were made:-

03/12 08493/756/801/819/955. 37185/222/225/229/264/403/406/412/414/ 418/898/901/904. 47365/770/782. 56068/127. 60014/019/021/082/088. 66081/153/160/165. 67012/013.

10/12 08493/756/801/819/955. 37185/222/225/229/264/403/406/414/418/ 675/898/901/904. 47365/749/770/782. 60088. 66027/104/185/227.

17/12 08493/756/801/819/955. 37185/222/225/229/264/406/414/427/898/ 901/904. 47365/770/782. 60012/031/032/082. 66061/083/093/177/194/ 203/208. 67012/016.

24/12 08493/756/801/819/955. 37185/222/225/229/264/403/406/412/414/ 427/520/898/901/904. 47365/770/782. 56074. 60010/014/021/073/077/088. 66189/202/205/211.

25/12 08493/576/756/770/801/819/856/921/955/957. 09017/102/203. 37185/222/229/264/403/406/412/414/418/425/427/520/898/901/904. 47365/739/770/782. 56066/074. 60010/014/021/025/034/073/077/085/088 66093/154/202/205/206/210/211. 67012/016/024. DR98905/917. 142083/085/086/087/088/089/090/092/093/094. 143601/602/604/606/607/608/609/611/612/613/614/616/617/618/622/623/ 624/625. 150240/241/244/249/279/280/281/282. 153302/305/327/355/370/374 158748/818/822/824/830/836/837/840/841/842/863/864/867/871/872 4866/75, 5275, 5307/50/65/78, 5412, 17077/086, 35517, 80322/357/385/431, 94401/405/411

31/12 08493/756/801/819/955. 09017. 37185/222/225/229/264/403/406/ 414/520/898/901/904. 47365/770/782. 60008/010/021/023/034/073/088/098. 66026/061/093/128/208.

Cardiff Tidal Sidings

During the month the following observations were made.

03/12 08651/752/951. 10/12 08481/651/752/854/951. 17/12 08651/752/854/951.

Newport

01/12 At 00.00 the following were noted 37675. 60041. 66069/091/171/190/221.

02/12 66159 worked Newport-Rugby MEAs.

03/12 60041. 66033/069/073/091/117/141/171/178/221. were noted.

05/12 37520 worked 1C96 Swansea -Bristol Parkway vans, returning to ADJ to take a departmental working to Westbury, ready for an 01:10 Westbury-Hullavington track train.

06/12 66010/013/061/081/129/171/221 were noted at Godfrey Road during the day.

08/12 37047/055 worked 6B81 03:10 Margam-Ebbw Vale and 6B83 08:45 return. 66061/171/249 were at Godfrey Road at 20:00. 56117 worked east with bogie bolster wagons, followed by 47635 on a postal service. Also noted were 09105. 37418/520. 60002. 66027/062/083/104/ 246. 67015/019.

09/12 37412 was at Godfrey Road, along with 60008, 66003/061/062/165/168/171/249.

11/12 56011 worked 6B39 Cadoxton-ADJ Yard, followed by 6E47 Newport Docks- Lackenby. 60082/098, 66211 were at Godfrey Road. 60034 worked a train of just two Ferrywagons east! 56011 followed light engine and then 66003 on coal hoppers.

12/12 58018 worked a civil engineer's train east at 15:05. 60021, 66003/185/159/201 were at Godfrey Road.

15/12 37674 worked 7B66 Westbury-ADJ trip working. Also noted were 09105. 37379. 47197. 60002/082. 66048/115/171/202/203/208.

16/12 60031/077, 66048/185/193/229/230/234/244/246 were at Godfrey Road.

17/12 60012, 66035/048/165/229/230 were at Godfrey Road. Also noted were 66193/202/224/234.

18/12 60012 66035/165/203/227/229/230/246 visited Godfrey Road. 66118 worked stone wagons east, 66083/170/202/211 were on HAAs. 60008 was on iron ore. 09105 passed east through platform 2 at high speed (27 MPH?) with a trip working. At 23.55 the stabling point held 60032. 66035/202/220/246.

21/12 66026/028/037/045/179/194/202/206/231 visited Godfrey Road. 66083/150/155/170/177 were all on MGRs.

22/12 09105. 47295. 56051. 60032/035/059/082/098. 66026/029/170/210/ 211. 67016. were noted

23/12 60032/059, 66026/138/208 were at Godfrey Road.

25/12 09107, 60032/082/098, 66026/037/115/138/150/189/208 were at Godfrey Road.

30/12 66005/045/184/193/202/206 were at Godfrey Road.

The following units were noted at Newport during the month: - 143601/610/614/618/622/623. 150019/219/232/233/236/241/244/249/251/266. 153368/373/382. 156404. 158745/746/782/783/817/818/819/825/826/827/829/830/834/835/836/837/ 840/848/849/863/865/866/868/869/870/871/872/955.

STOCK ALTERATIONS

Locomotives

Transfers 08506(ML)-OC, 08571(EC)-WH, 08724(WH)-ZB, 47760(ML)-CD. For other transfers see Pool Codes Section

Store 08492/506. 37375/413/505/509/513/675. 47372/738. 56032/044. 60085. 67002. AY: 37505. CF: 60085. CD: 47241/372/738. DR: 37375/413. EH: 37509/675. 58002. IM: 56032/044. ML: 08492. OC: 37513. OM: 37261. 47492. TO: 37711. 56072. 58014. 67002. ZH: 86213/228.

On Decision 08492. 37375/413/505/509/513/675. 47738. 56032/044.

Component Recovery 37217/219/230(SP).

Traffic 08891-AN, 86254 -CE.

Disposals CRDC: 37244. EMC: 08731/826. North Staffs Rly: 08823. Isfield: 09004. Adtranz(ZB): 08419. RMS, Dewsbury: 08622.

New Stock 66521/522/523/524/525(DFGM) -FD.

Diesel Multiple Units

Transfers 142066/072/073/074/075/076/077/078/079/080/081/082(NL)-HT. 150121(BY)-TS. To Wagon Fleet: 999550.

Stored 101677(51179 + 51496), 101684(51187 + 51509) @LO.

Disposals 141102/107/109/111/114/115/117/119/120 - Iranian Railways.

New Stock 170303 (50303 + 79303), 304 (50304 + 79304) - SA. 170305 (50305 + 79305), 306 (50306 + 79306) - SA. 170307 (50307 + 79307), 308 (50308 + 79308) - SA. 175107 (50757 + 56757 + 79757) - CH. 175110 (50760 + 56760 + 79760) - CH. 175111 (50761 + 56761 + 79761) - CH.

Electric Multiple Units

Transfers 365501/502/503/504/505/506/507/508/509/510/511/512/513/514, 515/516(SG)-RE. 8208. 8312/8315 (S) - GB Railways.

Stored (S): 1527. 8314/18/19. BM: 1527. CK: 936103/104. EM: 310089. PC: 334006/019/023. GW: 334020 SS: Cars 76160/210.

Formations 303043 (75766 + 61819 +75809), 303056 (75590 + 61832 + 75822).

Renumbered 313023 - 313123.

New Stock 333015 -NL. 334019/020/023 -HQ.

Coaching & NPCC Stock

Transfers

1683. 5373/76. 9417 -CP. (Riviera Trains)

Store CP: 5272. 99540/566/568. Crewe South Yd: 5554. 5614. ZB: 92369.

Traffic 5266/72. 5304/84 -CP, 6312 -CS, 13474 -RL, 40417 -LA, 93197 -HQ.

Withdrawn 5254.

Disposals West Somerset Rly: 4869. VIA Rail of Canada: All remaining "Nightstar" vehicles.

Renumbered 41082 - 42363, 94457 - 94524.

Eurotunnel

New Stock 9107/08 -CQ.

Codes

GBXX GB Railways (8208, 8312/15) HDXX First North Western, Class 08 (08873) MOTO RT Rail Tours Ltd, Class 08 (Locos off Hire) NTCZ Chiltern Railways, Awaiting Disposal (93197)

EWS - New Pool Listings

WCAI Class 60, North Eastern(South) - IM 60007/009/012/020/021/022/023/025/027/028/038/055/058/080/090/097.

WCAK Class 60, Great Western - CF 60003/004/005/010/015/026/030/037/041/051/052/056/059/064/070/077/081, 60089/091/096/098.

WCAN Class 60, Midland - TO 60016/019/024/029/031/032/034/036/046/047/053/054/057/066/067/068/069, 60071/072/075/076/079/084/087/095/096/100.

WCAT Class60, North Eastern(North) - TE 60001/002/006/008/011/013/014/017/018/033/035/039/040/042/043/044/045, 60048/049/050/060/061/062/063/065/073/074/082/083/085/086/088/092/093, 60099.

WGAI Class 56, North Eastern(South) - IM 56007/011/018/031/032/033/041/044/059/062/069/074/078/081/087/088/090, 56091/096/102/103/110/111/112/113/115/116/118/120/131.

WGAT Class 56, North Eastern(North) - TE 56025/027/037/038/046/048/051/054/055/056/058/060/063/065/067/068/071, 56073/085/089/094/095/098/100/105/114/117/119/127/134.

WKAC Class 37, Anglia & Southern - OC 37042/047/057/065/174/203/219/248/372/379/712.

WKAD Class 37, Midlands & North West - CD 37055/057/109/114/116/216/375/667/668/674/702/704/706/707/710/717/797,37798/799/801/884/886/893/895.

Delete WU.

NEW STOCK

04/12 170307 made a test run from Derby.

10/12 Freightliner 66/5s Nos.66521-525 arrived at Newport Docks aboard the Friesia Lear.

11/12 The 66/5s were unloaded. Unusually, 37675 was used to shunt them on the quayside, rather than the usual shunter.

12/12 The 170/3s entered service on the Reading-Brighton route, starting with the 05:24 Salisbury-Southampton.

15/12 Class 458s entered service on the following diagram:- 05:28 Wimbledon Park- Farnham ECS (2 sets). 2A06 06:38 Farnham-Waterloo, then ECS to Woking. 2F14 08:28 Woking-Waterloo. 2F01 09:26 Waterloo-Guildford via Woking, then 1 set to sidings. 2N22 10:28 Guildford-Ascot via Aldershot. 2N29 11:53 Ascot-Aldershot-Guildford. 2F84 12:22 Guildford-Waterloo. 2F89 13:56 Waterloo-Woking, then attach set from sidings. 2F90 15:52 Guildford-Waterloo. 2F07 16:56 Waterloo-Woking. 2F52 17:46 Woking-Waterloo. 2F57 18:40 Waterloo-Woking. 2F60 19:47 Woking-Waterloo, then ECS to Wimbledon Park at 20:42.

16/12 The new 66/5s remained in Newport Docks.

17/12 66523/525/521/522 were noted in Newport Docks on the spur coming off the South Quay, with 66524 alongside on its own. All had a build date of 10/00, except for 524, which was 11/00! There was a "problem with paperwork" which had delayed their move.

18/12 There was no movement with the 66/5s.

21/12 66523/522/525/521/524 passed east through Newport at 15:00.

22/12 66506/517/520/521/522/523/524/525/604/605/606 were at Basford Hall at 20:45.

27/12 Class 357s have re-entered service, but restricted to the following off-peak diagrams and as single units only, until their reliability can be proven. 09:50 Shoeburyness - Fenchurch Street 10:05 Shoeburyness - Fenchurch Street 11:10 Fenchurch Street - Shoeburyness 11:30 Fenchurch Street - Shoeburyness 12:35 Shoeburyness - Fenchurch Street 12:50 Shoeburyness - Fenchurch Street 14:00 Fenchurch Street - Shoeburyness 14:10 Fenchurch Street - Shoeburyness

Preservation & Industrial Matters

West Somerset Railway

28/11 The stored HST coaches at Minehead 42073/074/361 and 44024 were used in a mock emergency evacuation exercise. Some new safety methods were tried out including airline style laminated cards given to passengers showing where exits, alarms and fire extinguishers are located and a new window breaking technique which shatters the glass at a push of a button. The carriages, two of which were involved in the Ladbrook Grove disaster, were filled with smoke to create an effective condition and the way adults as well as children's reactions were reviewed. Two through HST specials ran to Minehead during December, the first on the 2nd was an evening trip from Bristol, the second on the 29th saw a through train from the seaside resort to London Paddington. Both trips were organised by Cheshire tours of Minehead. 30 years have now passed since the line was closed by BR on 04/01/71.

09/12 Preserved Hastings DEMU set 1001 worked a 1280 Hastings-Oxford and return 1281 15.49 to Oxford leaving over 20 minutes late.

Cotswold Wildlife Park

13/12 No.3 (AK 17/85) was seen shunting stock with S/O (MR 9976/54) on shed.

Miscellaneous

Bristol accidents - November 2000

These are summaries of the HMRI investigations into two recent rail accidents in the Bristol area.

Narroways Junction

The SPAD at Narroways Hill Junction, Bristol (signals B248 and B250 on 1 November 2000) gave rise to a rear end collision between an empty Royal Mail train and a loaded coal train proceeding at slow speed ahead. Both trains were operated by EWS. The Mail train had a locomotive at both ends of the train due to service disruptions. There had been problems in releasing the train brakes after the train was remarshalled at Bristol Parkway, and the train eventually left and descended Filton Bank (a gradient of 1 in 75) towards Bristol. The train was unable to brake in order to stop at the two signals at Danger protecting the coal train ahead and collided with it. The leading locomotive and coach of the Mail train ended up on top of the rear wagons of the coal train and travelled forward a short distance in this position until the locomotive collided with a road overbridge. The locomotive was equipped with a data recorder which recorded the events before the incident.

HMRI's investigation found that the train brake control unit had been isolated on the leading locomotive resulting in braking effort only being applied on the locomotive and not on the remainder of the train when using the driver's train brake controller. As a result, the train brake was not effective on any part of the train. The driver could have applied the emergency brake plunger (which would have been effective in applying all of the train brakes), but this was not operated. EWS has reminded all drivers of the correct procedure when it is necessary to isolate the train brake control unit and that such isolation does not affect the operation of the emergency brake plunger. HMRI's investigation continues and further work will be undertaken to review the training and assessment of competence of the driver to drive the class 67 locomotive involved.

Filton

The SPAD at Filton West (signal B441 on 29 November 2000) led to the derailment of the locomotive and two leading wagons at trap points on a portion of freight-only railway. The Train was operated by EWS. Single line working was in force on the line ahead with authority to proceed being given to the driver by a pilotman issuing a single line working ticket. The ticket stated that all signals should be obeyed, but the driver appears to have taken the ticket to be his authority to proceed into the single line section and departed past the signal at Danger. The trap points beyond the signal provided to protect the converging junction were effective and caused the derailment. HMRI has asked Railtrack to review the current instructions governing single line working to ensure that they are unambiguous.

 

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