NOTES AND NEWS

WEST COUNTRY AREA

Avonmouth

02/05 66048 worked a West Burton coal service from Bennett's sidings.

09/05 66179 powered the 6M75 16:04 enterprise freight to Warrington.

12/05 66188 arrived light engine to work an Aberthaw coal service which was due to be routed via Gloucester.

14/05 58020 headed the Rugby coal MEAs from Bennett's sidings.

23/05 66124 was seen shunting fertiliser vans at Hallen Marsh junction during the late afternoon.

24/05 56087 arrived with an afternoon fertiliser service from Washwood Heath.

Locomotives noted on MGR work during May were as follows:

60007/008/011/012/023/065/068/074/077/092. 66001/004/022/049/076/088/158/192/206.

Bristol Parkway

01/05 Noted this evening was 59205 Tytherington - Battersea stone train, which remained in the yard all night due to the line closure between Thingley Junction and North Somerset Junc, despite the crew apparently asking for the road twice before shutdown. Also seen were 66023 with empty MGR for Avonmouth and 47370 working the Felixstowe liner.

10/05 Not much to report this evening with only 2 MGRs seen, 60007 with empties for Avonmouth and 60077 with a loaded train for Didcot. The Felixstowe liner was a welcome sight, with a rare appearance of a Class 57, 57010.

14/05 Unusually no MGRs were seen this evening, just a light engine move from Landore to Old Oak, 47811, 66213 working Tyne Yard "Boxes", 47358 Felixstowe liner and 66074 Tytherington - Battersea stone train.

17/05 Apart from the customary delays to passenger services, Great Western and Virgin XC, freight activity was minimal, with only a scrap and steel empties train headed for South Wales behind 66051 and the Felixstowe liner worked by 47150. Unusual sightings were GW 47805 working the VT ecs move to Leeds and Thames Turbo 165132 head ecs towards Bristol.

21/05 Summer timetable, same old problems for passenger services on opening day, judgement is reserved until further study is made. However, freight activity was buoyant this evening, with 60077 and 60007 noted on Didcot MGR workings. Other coal workings were 66001 with the "Rugby" either very late or retimed and 66250 with empty MGR to Avonmouth, first and last seen with an hour of one another. Other Class 66 workings recorded were 66147 Tytherington - Battersea stone train, 66221 Margam - Fawley empty fuel tanks and 66177 Avonmouth - Tyne Yard "Boxes". Felixstowe liner also appeared on a Monday for a change, headed by 47279.

31/05 Three sets of empty MGRs recorded headed for Avonmouth this evening, starting with 66250 followed by 60008 and finally 60077. No other freight services seen as the line was closed mid evening for engineering work at two locations, Charfield and Badminton resulting in southbound Virgin services diverted via Newport, and services to and from the London direction routed via Bath.

Bristol Temple Meads and Barton Hill

01/05 37412 worked the Bridgwater trip consisting of a single loaded bogie flat. 66020 handled the 6Z86 06:24 Hartlepool-St. Blazey pipe train. What could have been a serious SPAD incident occurred near Bedminster station during the late afternoon when a Class 153 unit passed a red signal, but was stopped before heading onto the mainline from the relief line, in front of an HST service.

02/05 66191 worked the 6B68 Burngullow - Newport slurry tanks and 66089 was in charge of the St. Blazey pipes leaving Temple Meads just after 14:00. 60010 passed Flax Bourton at 15:11 with the 6V70 Cliffe Vale-St.Blazey freight.

04/05 A four-car Virgin Voyager set 220003 worked west for staff training purposes over the Devon banks as 5Z10 08:08 Barton-Under-Needwood - Plymouth. The set returned the next day as 5Z11 12:18 Plymouth - Barton-Under-Needwood. GWR 5029 Nunney Castle (standing in for 6024 King Edward I) arrived with a private charter (1Z88 07:07 Ashford - Bristol) having taken over from diesel traction at Willesden. The return working was 1Z89 18:00 to Ashford, the coaching stock in use being, 35461 (support), 3150, 3124, 3127, 3114, 1679, 17023, 4986, 5027, 5037, 5023 & 4925 (all in green, except 35461 chocolate/cream). A view of St. Phillips Marsh depot from various vantage points recorded the following, 08483/643/836. 66513. HST: 43136/164. Barrier vans: 6330/338. Departmentals: DB977894. Track machines: DR82201. DR73222(withdrawn)/270/309/4I4. Nearby at Barton Hill depot the following were visible, 08896. 67001/008/013/014/018/029. A view of East depot found MGR coal wagons involved in last November's Lawrence Hill crash still present dumped off track near the road entrance. The wagons were identified as 351188, 352154 & 354618. 365849. The 6O92 10:38 Exeter Riverside - Dollands Moor freight was diverted to run via Bristol, being recorded behind 66161. This was due to engineering work west of Westbury. The Fawley- Tavistock Junction fuel tanks were also booked to run onwards from Bristol but this movement was cancelled. 67010 was an unusual early evening sight heading west with a single Royal Mail van 80354, assumed to be a Barton Hill - St. Blazey movement.

09/05 47703 worked 1V48 11:17 Manchester Piccadilly-BTM and 1S93 15:35 BTM-Preston.

10/05 56060 did an Avonmouth-Bridgwater trip working. It returned to Avonmouth and then worked to Warrington. 43141 and 43133 formed a westbound power car move.

14/05 37503 + 37520 were a most unusual pairing on the Bridgwater trip delivering two VKA vans and returning with four for Avonmouth. The locos were later booked to take forward the 6M75 16:04 Warrington enterprise service. An additional four pipe trains ran this week 66149 being in charge of the train bound for St.Blazey.

15/05 Keeping up the Bridgwater trip loco variety, 56069 headed today's train. Early morning saw 66149 head north with a departmental service, in the evening at 19:35, 66184 worked south with a coal train and at 23:35, 66224 travelled northwards with a departmental service.

18/05 A fatality involving the 13:57 Bristol-Paddington HST near Bath caused delays, as this train was not able to move until clearance from BT Police at 16:15.

19/05 Pathfinder Tours 'Capital Castles' (06:45 Minehead-Paddington) was worked to Bristol by 6024 King Edward I where 5029 Nunney Castle was attached as pilot engine (the Castle having arrived earlier in the morning with support coach from Bishops Lydeard). The train was formed of Riviera chocolate/cream coaches. There were problems at Swindon which saw 6024 removed with a hot axle box, the Castle working the train onwards to Paddington. 66132 headed the Tytherington-Westbury stone train. 60008/068 double-headed an empty MGR from Didcot to Avonmouth.

21/05 47787 worked an Exeter - Westbury - Bristol - Exeter VSOE circular dinning trip, having run to and from Exeter as ECS via Westbury from London. With the beginning of the new Summer timetable First/GW 1A43 09:20 Plymouth - Paddington and 1C50 15:42 Paddington - Exeter is routed via Bristol formed of a Class 47 and stock. This with a number of other loco-hauled workings are acting as a stop gap to allow additional HST sets to be moved to the South Wales mainline for a half-hourly London-Swansea service prior to the late introduction of the new Class 180 units. The 1C50 is interesting in after it's 17.40 departure from Bristol it calls at Nailsea, Yatton and Taunton only before Exeter. This was to be the first booked (non rail tour) loco hauled passenger train to call at Nailsea and Yatton since at least 1989? Today's train was headed by 47816 with coaching stock set OC82 - 9501. 6207/213/200/219. 6722. 3261.

22/05 The 07.45 First/GW service to Paddington was cancelled due to a stock shortage. The Newport-Westbury flyash was unusually double headed via Day's curve in the early afternoon by 58009 and 58050. Moorswater Blue Circle cement service recorded at 00:50 heading for the south west behind unidentified Class 66.

24/05 Early evening westbound services were heavily delayed following a fatality involving 56090 on the Saltend - Baglan Bay vinegar tanks at Cheltenham. Over at Bourton (near Swindon) earlier in the day, emergency track repairs due to a heat buckled rail saw speed restrictions. The work was completed by late morning.

25/05 66068 noted with a stone train.

28/05 Mendip Rail 59001 + 59101 worked a Pathfinder Mendip quarry workers 07:33 Bristol - Penzance excursion using Riviera coaches 5029, 4963, 5040, 4927, 5009, 1863, 21272, 3098, 3140, 3112, 1692, 3122 & Loch Shiel. The train was delayed for an hour whilst a defective Loch Shiel was removed, but time had been recovered arrival at St. Austell being only twenty minutes down. The locos in fact put in a fine performance over the Devon banks, and became a class debut at Penzance. The 06:45 Virgin XC service to Newcastle was cancelled. Central Trains 158787 was noted working the 09:03 departure to Oxford, being on hire to Thames Trains. The 6092 Exeter - Dollands Moor freight was again routed via Bristol this time the Class 66 hauling loco was not identified. At 08:00 Barton Hill depot contained the following 08896, 47741/774, 67001/005/012/015/017. Central Trains liveried 158787 was working services to/from Oxford normally covered by a Turbostar.

29/05 66007 seen at 21.35 heading south with a coal service.

30/05 66222 worked the Burngullow-Newport slurry tanks. Afternoon observations at Keynsham recorded the following of interest. 58009 14:00 Parsons Street - Westbury ballast empties (7W18) at 15:19. 66182 Hope Sidings - Moorswater cement tanks and BCI vans (6V91) at 15:25. This train was diverted having recessed at Westbury and was retimed to run early due to a late night engineering blockade at Charfield. 47786 15:54 Bristol TM -Victoria VSOE (1O92) at 16:00. 66508 11:10 Calvert - Bristol Barrow road refuse containers (4C02) at 16:45. Central Trains 158787 was also seen on an Oxford - Bristol - Oxford Thames Trains service.

Pilning

12/05 FA Cup final day, the following specials were noted.

1Z80 10:35 Gloucester - Cardiff Central 37428 + 37412 with 5412/278. 4876. 35513/516. 4880/854.

1Z88 09:00 Finsbury Park - Cardiff Central 67018 with 9711, 6617, 6812/818/123/042, 5953, 10214, 3417, 3375.

1Z84 09:45 Euston - Cardiff Central 'Northern Belle' 47780 with 10729, 21224, 1953, Rarlech, Warwick, Hardwick, Belvoir, 1566, Ainwick & Glamis.

1Z89 10:58 Finsbury Park - Cardiff Central 67014 with a Anglia rake with one coach carrying old IC colours.

The Wales & West operated 1Z80 returned to Gloucester during the evening behind 37503 + 37520, the train in fact ran to/from Gloucester as ECS. This day was the first time the FA Cup final had been held away from Wembley being played at Cardiff's Millennium stadium. 59201 worked the Tytherington stone train.

Portishead Branch

14/05 66147 worked CWR train 89113 to Parsons Street junction. The rail train proceeded to a point between Clifton Nol and No2 tunnels for off loading under its own power.

16/05 66101 worked a further 7W18 Westbury - Parsons Street ballast train, being propelled onto the branch the load being dropped between the Clifton Bridge station site and No l tunnel below the Clifton Suspension bridge. The operation was completed by 09:55, the empties departing from Ashton level crossing around 10:30. A Siemens electrician has to be present when a train crosses the level crossing as barriers and lights have yet to be installed and the road junction traffic lights have to be manually set at red.

23/05 66132 propelled today's ballast train through No l and No 2 tunnels, becoming the first loco to pass these points since 1990, and dropping ballast as far as Shooting Range (Pheasant) quarry.

30/05 58009 became the first class member to ever visit the Portishead line with today's 7W18. The ballast was dropped between Shooting Range quarry and a point around a quarter mile short of No 3 Sandstone tunnel which is the half way point for the branch that is to be reopened. The empties left Parsons Street for Westbury at 14:44.

31/05 Track machine DR73414 was used to tamp track between Ashton level crossing and Clifton No 1 tunnel.

Yate

09/05 20308/311 headed northbound hauling nuclear flasks at 16:30.

Avon to Calvert Binliner

This month's sightings are as follows:

01/05: 66513. 08/05: 66524. 25/05: 66508. 31/05: 66512.

Locomotives and Units

Class 47 CD 47772/774. TO 47722/741/747/805/807/814/818/829/831/844/849. LE 47811/816. Fragonset Hire 47701/703.

Class 67 67001/004/006/007/008/009/010/011/012/013/014/015/016/017/018/019 67021/022/025/026/029/030.

Units Noted During the Month

143601/603/610/611/612/613/614/617/618/619/620/621/622/623. 150219/221/232/233/234/238/240/241/242/243/244/247/248/254/261/263 150267/278. 153302/305/318/327/368/370/373/374/377/380 158745/746/815/816/821/823/825/826/828/829/831/832/836/837/839/842 158843/863/865/869/870/871.

It has been noticed that since the beginning of the Summer timetable some former dedicated Valley Lines Class 143 sets are now becoming regular in the Bristol area bringing in their new livery variations.

Postal Sets Noted

4s (PCV)

94321 94114 94116 94323

94304 94176 94205 94324

94308 94204 94138 94335

94334 94108 94202 94318

94309 94100 94224 94320

94344 94137 94132 94337

94313 94223 94215 94343

94316 94435 94172 94322

4s (BG)

94416 94505 94164 94528

94534 94227 94192 94518

94512 94213 94229 94510

94460 95743 95762 94422

5s

94499 94119 94123 94121 94403

94447 94180 94218 94101 94473

94471 94170 94195 94222 94420

94496 94104 94133 94155 94411

94443 94112 94146 94225 94408

94462 94118 94203 94168 94485

SOUTH WALES AREA

Cardiff Central

01/05 37419 hauled 2R38 16:50 to Rhymney and 37415 the 2R42 17:11.

02/05 37415 worked 2V07 07:23 Rhymney-Radyr and 2R42, whilst 37419 did 2F06 07:44 Rhymney-Cardiff and 2R38. 37698 was on 6V14 07:30 Saltend-Baglan Bay acid tanks and 6E33 return empties.

04/05 37428/412 worked 6E58 Cardiff Tidal-Wakefield.

07/05 37415/503 worked the 08:53 Dee Marsh-Margam steel empties.

08/05 37415/503 worked 6M74 00:25 Margam-Dee Marsh and returned on 6V75 09:12 to Margam. 37428 worked 2V07 and 2R42 with 37412 on 2F06 and 2R38.

09/05 37415/503 worked 6V75, 37419 was on 6B24 15:33 Didcot-Tidal Sidings tanks and 37688 did 6V14. 37428 hauled 2V07 and 2R38 whilst 37412 covered 2F06 and 2R42.

10/05 37419 was again on 6B24 whilst 37428 did 2R38 and 37412 2R42.

11/05 37886 was on 6V14 and 6E33 return. 37412 hauled 2V07 and 2R38 with 37428 on 2F06 and 2R42.

12/05 Numerous special trains ran in connection with the FA Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium. The 08:33 Manchester-Cardiff was formed of 158871 plus 150211 in First North Western livery. It was standing room only from Crewe onwards! 37609/612 worked 1Z10 08:35 from Liverpool Lime Street, calling only at Runcorn, Crewe and Newport. The train stopped briefly at Shrewsbury to change the driver, with only half the ten coaches in the platform. British Transport Police officers were on board for the journey, but the Liverpool fans were in good humour and caused no difficulties. A number of enthusiasts were on board and lineside photographers were out in force - over 200 were on the bridges just south of Shrewsbury! The locos returned on 1Z13 19:45 to Lime Street. The timetabled 09:01 from Liverpool was formed of 158837/838/829. A relief train, run at short notice, was 1Z85 09:04 from Liverpool, formed by 47734 hauling green/cream stock 21269, 3149, 3097, 1698, 3147/46/21/41, 1680, 3120, 2834 labelled "Pride of the Nation". 37029/038 worked 1Z12 09:19 from Liverpool hauling 13227, 5275, 5366/41, 5292, 17086, 5307/50/64/65, 9417, arriving in Cardiff at 13:30. They returned as 1Z11 19:15 from Cardiff. An additional last minute relief was 47784 on 1Z87 09:34 from Liverpool, hauling 5309/22/35/31, 5647/30, 1863, 5732, 17159, 3098, W3140, which arrived 13:51. An unusual working was 37428/412 on 1Z80 10:35 from Gloucester via Bristol Parkway. This returned as the 19:09 to Gloucester hauled by 37520/503! The ECS returned via Chepstow. Perhaps the rarest sight was 67018 on 1Z89 09:26 from Finsbury Park hauling a rake of Anglia Railways stock including DVT 9411. 47780 worked 1Z84 09:59 from Euston, arriving at 13:40 with Car No. 10729, 21224, Chatsworth, Harlech, Car No. 1953 Northern Belle, Warwick, Belvoir, 1566 Northern Belle, Alnwick, Glamis. Several additional trains ran from Paddington for Arsenal supporters; these were all FGW HST operated. 150001 and 150015 were noted at Cardiff, with "Football Special" displayed in the lower destination box at the front. 150265 was working shuttles from Newport with 57249 attached to make a 3-car unit. 153365+158796 arrived on the 10:05 from Nottingham.

14/05 37415 was on 2V07 and 2R38 with 37412 on 2F06 and 2R42.

15/05 37412 worked 2V07, 37415 2F06 and 2R38, whilst 37428 did 2R42.

16/05 37706 worked 6V14 and 6E33 return and 37412 switched from passenger to freight work by hauling 6B24. 37428 did 2V07 and 37415 2F06.

17/05 37706 again worked 6E33. 37415/428 were on the Rhymneys.

18/05 This was supposed to be the last day of two loco hauled services on the Rhymney line, as four Class 142s were due from First North Western over the weekend. Two would replace one loco hauled diagram and the others three allow an equivalent number of 143s to be transferred to Wales & West. 37428 worked the last 2V07 to Radyr, with several enthusiasts travelling to Radyr to photograph the loco run-round. 37415 was on 2F06 (which is continuing as loco hauled). The 'final' 2R38 was worked by 37415 in EWS livery h hauling 5412, 5278, 4876, 35513. 2R42 (which continues as loco hauled) was operated by 37428 in maroon livery hauling 4849/66/75, 35516. Around 20 enthusiasts watched the shunt at Rhymney, which ended with 37415 being attached to 428 after the latter had run around its stock. 56018 worked 6V14 and 6E33. 58031/009 were at Canton in the afternoon, having arrived in South Wales on a long welded rail train. 58031 was later seen on its own heading east at Newport ADJ around 17:00. 156407 worked the 12:44 from Nottingham.

20/05 142002/006/010/069 were re-allocated from First North Western to Valley Lines and 143603/611/613 re-allocated from VL to W&W. 143601 was noted in the new Valley Lines livery without branding, which has been adopted by W&W as their Pacer livery. 143610/614 should be repainted next. 37038 hauled 1V76 10:57 Crewe-Cardiff and returned on 1M45 18:20 to Manchester.

21/05 The introduction of units on 2V07 and 2R38 was delayed, because 142010 failed to arrive at Canton due to it being under repair at Newton Heath! 142069 was also held back. This meant that 37415/428 worked the morning Rhymneys; in the afternoon 37415 was on 2R38 and 37419 on 2R42. 150105 worked the 17:05 to Nottingham.

22/05 2V07 was pined at Cardiff Central after the driver failed 37419. A bus was provided for onward travel to Radyr. 37415 worked 2F06 and 2R38 and 37419 was repaired in time to cover 2R42. It was learnt that the two 142s at Newton Heath would come down on Thursday 24th, so two LHCS diagrams would continue until Friday morning. 142002 was noted on a Caerphilly-Cardiff Bay service. It is quite distinctive as it carries GMPTE livery!

23/05 56090 worked 6V14. 37412 hauled 2V07 and 2R38 with 37415 on 2F06 and 2R42.

24/05 The two outstanding 142s were received from FNW. 142010 was immediately put to work on a Bargoed-Cardiff service. 37415 worked 2V07 and 2R42 with 37412 on 2F06 and 2R42.

25/05 Two loco hauled diagrams on the Rhymney line continued in the afternoon, with 37415 working 2V07 and 2R42 whilst 37412 covered 2F06 and 2R38. New stock with Central Door Locking was expected to arrive next week.

26/05 Loco-hauled services ran in connection with a football match at the Millennium Stadium between Blackpool and Leyton Orient. 37608/607 worked 1Z77 08:33 Manchester Piccadilly-Cardiff formed of 5331/35/09, 17077, 5378/76, 35453, 5381/86, 5420/19. It returned as 1Z51 18:40 to Manchester. 37038 hauled 1V77 09:13 Crewe-Cardiff comprising 5025/30, 4902, 17056, 13227, 5373, returning on 1M94 at 17:45. 31602/459 worked 1Z92 09:09 Blackpool-Cardiff formed of maroon stock labelled "West Coast Railway", returning at 18:30 return. 31190/601 followed on the 1Z93 09:26 from Blackpool with similar stock, returning at 19:00 as 1Z93.

28/05 For a Bolton v Preston football match at the Millennium Stadium, several loco hauled specials ran to/from Cardiff. Four trains ran from Preston - 47744 hauled the 08:07 departure and 47732 worked the 1Z80 18:00 return from Cardiff using RCS stock, 47749 the 08:48 and 18:20 return using Riviera Trains stock, 37416/411 the 1Z91 10:06 and 1Z83 18:50 return using SRPS stock, with 31190/601 on the 10:15 and 1Z82 18:33 return using West Coast Railway stock. For the Bolton fans, 37607/608 worked 1Z77 09:11 from Crewe, returning on 1Z53 19:05 to Manchester and 37038/029 hauled 1V77 08:30 from Manchester and 1Z51 18:40 return.

29/05 37412 worked 2R42.

30/05 56032 worked 6V14.

Cardiff Canton

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

06/05 08493/756/801/819/955. 09003/101. 37185/222/225/229/264/403/406/412/414/428/898/901/904. 47365/770/784. 59002. 66020/045/058/157/179/207. 67005/023.

13/05 08493/756/801/819/955. 37185/222/225/229/264/403/406/412/414/415/428/898/901/904. 47365/770. 60005/030/045/059/076. 66019/045/049/089/140/149/157. 67005/016.

20/05 08493/756/801/819/921/955/957. 37185/222/225/229/264/403/406/414/415/428/898/901/904. 47365/770. 58009. 60080. 66003/017/021/066/067/089/118/199/239/247.

27/05 08493/756/801/819/921/955/957. 37185/222/225/229/264/403/406/414/415/898/901/904. 47770. 60042/083/099. 66059/108/131/151/176/180. 67012/016.

Cardiff Tidal Sidings

During the month the following observations were made.

06/05 08466/651/752/770/951.

13/05 08466/651/770/854.

20/05 08466/651/770/951. 09003.

27/05 08481/651/752/770. 09003

Newport

01/05 37503 worked 6V49 Lynemouth-Newport Docks. At 19:00 Godfrey Road held 37428. 60011. 66041/158/173/231/241. 66508 passed through light engine at 19:30, 170504 worked an evening Nottingham service. 47370 was in charge of the Felixstowe liner. 67005 and 67013 were on the early evening postal services. Other engines noted were 60045/052/063/096. 66041/063/067/123/185/207.

02/05 37412/428 worked 6B18 East Usk Yard-Machen ballast train and 6B50 return. 66199 with 56046 D.I.T. was on 7M12 Newport-Bescot. 60016 worked 6Z88 03:00 Immingham-Llanwern iron ore and 60055 on the 6Z94 06:00 from Immingham.

03/05 37412/428, 56032, 60045, 66003/151/221 were at Godfrey Road. Nottingham services were noted in the hands of 158846 170503/508. During the morning the following were noted, 60005/059/083/096 66045/048/087/090/127/140/151/157/165/168/173/206/207 67029.

04/05 09102. 37412/428/895. 47197. 60012/024/045/164/071. 66123/144/151/165/217.

05/05 37895 worked 6Z32 East Usk Yard-Immingham empty Iron Ore wagons. 37412/428 worked 6V67 Wakefield-Cardiff Tidal as far as Rotherham, where they were taken off and put on 6Z39 Immingham-Llanwern loaded Iron Ore, a load of over 2000 tonnes!

07/05 60045/059/073, 66034/047/115/127/156 were at Godfrey Road.

08/05 150265/249 passed east, with both units covered in graffiti.

09/05 At 19:30 Godfrey Road contained 37419 60081 66038/078/144/157 66158/165/239/244. Observations over the next hour saw 37415/503 47721 57010 60012/059/069 66067/176 67019/022.

11/05 37415/503 hauled 6M46 04:53 ADJ-Ironbridge tanks and 6V52 return empties. 37520 worked 6B89 ADJ-Aberthaw and 6B90 return and 37419 was on 6B06 ADJ-Cadoxton. 58031 worked 7B66 10:42 Westbury-ADJ (12:58) and 7B42 16:35 return (Westbury 19:25).

14/05 56111 and 37419 were each end of 7B48 09:00 ADJ-Machen (09:42) and the 7B50 11:35 return (ADJ 11:55). 37503/520 worked 6C90 09:41 ADJ-Avonmouth (10:37).

17/05 60004 was at ADJ and 37419, 56069, 66058 at Godfrey Road.

18/05 47303 worked a Freightliner towards Cardiff. Also noted were 09101. 37419. 47303. 60018/070/078/080. 66017/038/047/156, 66157/165/176/177.

25/05 09101/102. 56041/061. 60045/096. 66029/059/067/072/104/120, 66126/145/169/179/221/235/502 Felixstowe Liner. 67015.

26/05 09101/102, 37428, 60026/045/072, 66017/033/038/067/070/073/078/140/145/184/224 were at Godfrey Road.

27/05 At 11:30 stabled at Godfrey Road were 09101/102 37428 60026 66038/041/057/104/115/145/173/184/199/203 .

28/05 37029/038, 37411/416, 37607/608 and 47744. (Specials) 66041/058/067/104/134/141/145/173/184/203.

The following units were noted at Newport during the month: -

143610/611/613/614/619/620/621. 150007/124/202/221/234/236/241/254/261/267. 153302/327/362/368/372/374/383. 156405/411/413. 158816/821/823/825/828/829/830/832/833/836/837/840/841/842/846/863 158865/866/868/872. 170503/504/508/512/516/518/523/634.

STOCK ALTERATIONS

Locomotives

Store 43029. 47301/349/361/792. 58013. 73203/206/209/213. 92020/021/032/040/044/045/046.

BH: 37079/254. BS: 37716/885. CE: 92020/021/032/040/044/045/046. EH: 58013. FB: 08715/758. HM: 47528. IP: 31427. 47348. 58010/011/018/032/040. LB: 08847/871. LT: 33203. OC: 47803. SP: 47125/513/525/526. ST: 47349/361. SL: 73203/206/209/213. TO: 37801/883. 58019. TE: 37800. 47792. ZB: 08645. ZF: 89001.

Traffic 08669 -HQ, 08782 -AN, 31110. 37308/905/906. 47004/306/575. 56004/006 -OC.

Withdrawn 31125/168. 37069/079/254/345. 47550.

Disposals CRDC: 47357. H Needle: 08216. @BH, 31125/168 @EMR, Kingsbury. Booth: 31273. Cotswold Rail: 08847. DRS: 37111. Dean Forest: 08473.

Renumbered 91001 - 91101.

GIF Locos (Additional Numbers): 37703+LO23, 37714+LO31, 37717+LO34, 37801+LO32, 37885+LO33.

Diesel Multiple Units

Transfers

142002/006(NH)-CF. 150245(NL)-NC. 156438(NL)-HT. 158774(NL)-HT. 170399(DY)-TS.

Stored 51185/226/499/511. 53160/164. @LO.

SS: 51179/228/247/512. 54062/347/358.

Traffic 53211 + 54085 -LO.

Withdrawn Disposals: 141103/110 - Weardale.

Formations 158951 - 958 Disbanded, units revert to former 2-car formations 158780/784/785/786/789/790/791/792/793/794/796/797

170105 (50105 + 55105 + 79105) 170106 (50106 + 55106 + 79106) 170107 (50107 + 55107 + 79107) 170108 (50108 + 55108 + 79108) 170109 (50109 + 55109 + 79109)

New Stock 55105/106/107/108/109 -DY. (MML Class 170 Centre Cars) 175114 -CH. 220005/019 -CZ.

Electric Multiple Units

Stored 308147/152/158/165. SS: 308141/147/152/161/165. ZH: 8305/14/18/19. Kirkdale: 508102/142. New Brighton: 508130. West Kirby: 508122/131

Withdrawn (S): 1557. 1617. 303: 75765/799. 75885.

Disposals Immingham Railfreight Terminal: 75765/799. 75885. 1557. 1617.

New Stock 334025/026 -GW. 357025/027/031/032/044 -EM. 390001/002 -OD. 458008 -WD.

Coaching & NPCC Stock

Stored 96110. OO: 10574. 10646. SS: 96110.

Disposals Booth:- 84361. 042147.(Correction).

Codes

OD - Old Dalby CRAL Cotswold Rail Coaching Stock CROL Cotswold Rail Locomotives WMOC EWS Heritage Fleet OC

NEW STOCK

02/05 375616/624 were reported in Ashford Station yard, 375601/602/605/610/613/622/623 at Chart Leacon depot with 375618/627 in the shed, whilst 375615/617 and 375620/626 were in service.

09/05 333002/003/004/005/008/012/013/014/015/016 were working services from Leeds to Bradford Forster Square, Skipton and Ilkley. Sharing these diagrams were 308138/143/153.

10/05 220020/018 were noted complete at Bombardier Wakefield. The unit numbers are carried on the nearside lower front of the train. Other units were complete but un-numbered. The assembly plant will be turning out one complete Voyager vehicle each day later this year.

25/05 47772 delivered 334027 to Polmadie using EWS barrier wagons DB977948/949.

INDUSTRIAL MATTERS

The following anomalies/queries have come to light regarding road/rail machines in the West Midlands.

Tarmac Construction. (Page 200 of 12EL.)

This entry shows two Unimogs. They are 166200 and 16228, both of 1991.

Midland Metro. (Page 198 of 12 EL)

This entry shows Q 179 VDH, a Unimog. This vehicle is 166200/91 and therefor it appears in 12EL twice.

W. A. Developments.

This company now owns Unimog 16228/91. As far as I know it does not have an entry in 12EL.

MISCELLANEOUS

The last months of the Mk1 AC EMUs

The final Class 305 & 308 workings should occur later this year, as Class 318 and 333 units replace them in the Edinburgh and Leeds areas respectively. For anyone interested in the 305 units, there are three current diagrams. Note that stock shortages sometimes result in GW163 being operated by a Sprinter.

The following codes are used:- EDB - Edinburgh GW - Glasgow Shields Road HYM - Haymarket KKN - Kirknewton NBW - North Berwick

GW161 ECS. EDB-NBW, 07:28 NBW-EDB, 08:12 EDB-NBW, 08:38 NBW-HYM, 09:33 HYM-NBW, 10:20 NBW-EDB, 11:37 EDB-NBW, 12:20 NBW-EDB, 13:37 EDB-NBW, 14:20 NBW-HYM, 15:33 HYM-NBW, 16:20 NBW-HYM, 17:33 HYM-NBW, 18:20 NBW-EDB, 19:37 EDB-NBW, 20:20 NBW-EDB, 21:20 EDB-NBW, 22:20 NBW-EDB, 23:07 EDB-NBW, ECS. NBW-EDB.

GW162 ECS. EDB-NBW, 06:58 NBW-HYM, ECS. HYM-KKN, 08:01 KKN-NBW, 09:20 NBW-EDB, 10:37 EDB-NBW, 11:20 NBW-EDB, 12:37 EDB-NBW, 13:20 NBW-EDB, 14:37 EDB-NBW, 15:20 NBW-HYM, 17:03 HYM-NBW, 17:50 NBW-KKN, ECS. KKN-EDB.

GW163 07:17 EDB-NBW, 07:58 NBW-HYM, ECS. HYM-EDB or GW, ECS. GW or EDB-HYM, 16:33 HYM-NBW, 17:20 NBW-EDB, 18:14 EDB-NBW, 19:20 NBW-EDB.

Bishton Level Crossing

Bishton Level Crossing signalbox is a large structure if you consider its sole duty is to control the adjacent level crossing. Here's a history of the 'box, which explains its size (some details supplied by David Hansen). The signalbox opened 27.2.41, replacing an earlier 'box. It controlled the (then) two track level crossing, the start of passing loops (extended as running lines to Severn Tunnel Junction in Sep and Dec 1941) and the start of the four track section from Llanwern station towards Newport, built Feb-Mar 1941. On 24.9.41, the goods lines were connected to provide four tracks over the crossing. The arrangement north to south was Up Goods, Up Main, Down Main, Down Goods. The box controlled connections from Goods to Main and vice versa, some of which were the old loop points and a trailing crossover dating from 1920. On 17.4.61, the 'box was reduced to a GF and all connections TOU, with the area controlled from Newport panel box. The current layout of lines and Bishton flyover were brought into use, to cope with traffic to/from the steelworks.

Advertising in motion

Eighteen W&W Class 153s are receiving all-over vinyl liveries to promote scenic lines in the area. 153374/302/377 are amongst seven to receive a black livery and a picture of Truro cathedral for the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership. 153305/318/355 are three of five to receive a red livery and pictures of Clifton Suspension Bridge and Weymouth beach for the Heart of Wessex Line, whilst seven will receive an orange based livery for the Heart of Wales Line.