Notable Workings Weeks 30, 2012

Published 3rd August 2012

A summary of rare and unusual happenings on the Network for July 23 to 29

UK Wide - Monday July 23

Preserved Class 50 No. 50044 'Exeter' was hauled by GBRf No. 66719 from Cardiff to the Severn Valley Railway after failing towards the end of Saturday's railtour to Paignton and Plymouth.

Colas Rail's Type 5 No. 56094 was in charge of today's steel train from Washwood Heath to Boston docks (6E07) and back.

Sole remaining Class 86/5 No. 86501 was today in charge of a Crewe to Felixstowe freightliner (4L75).

East Coast No. 91127 failed at Newark Northgate with a King's Cross-bound service, resulting in delays along the line of over an hour until it was moved.

A1 steam loco No. 60163 'Tornado' hauled the Royal Train for the third time in its short history as part of Prince Charles' visit to Northumberland. The train was taking the Prince to Bishop Auckland and Alnwick, with 'Tornado' taking over from Milford Sidings, south of York. It later took the train forward empty to Edinburgh.

Tuesday July 24

Main line registered Deltic No. 55009 'Alycidon' ran light engine from the East Lancashire Railway to Wembley via the West Coast main line and Northampton loop.

Network Rail yellow-liveried No. 57310 hauled Electrostar EMU No. 377146 from Selhurst to Hove and back for reasons unknown. It travelled out via Herne Hill and Clapham Junction, returning direct into the depot.

DBS No. 66131 worked along the Andover to Ludgershall branch in Wiltshire with an overnight MoD train from Northallerton.

Later, electro-diesel No. 73201 was derailed at Andover while working off the Ludgershall branch with a Network Rail test train (1Q41), blocking the London-bound line. Sister loco No. 73107 ran light engine from Eastleigh on July 25 to collect the coaches, while 73201 was left in the yard with damage to a bogie.

Network Rail DMU No. 950001 worked a test train (2Q88) from Derby RTC to Plymouth.

Wednesday July 25

Green-liveried Class 20189 was a very unusual visitor to St Leonards depot near Hastings when it arrived top-and-tailed by GBRf Nos. 66728 and 66703.

Deltic No. 55009 'Alycidon' hauled the Elizabethan railtour from King's Cross to Edinburgh. The return leg had A1 steam loco No. 60163 'Tornado' in charge.

DCR Type 5 No. 56311 took a rake of empty scrap metal wagons from Chaddesden sidings (Derby) to the Crossley & Evans scrapyard in Shipley, West Yorskhire.

The VSOE had a trip along the East Coast main line from Victoria to York with royal-liveried No. 67006 'Queen's Messenger' at the front.

Arriva DMU No. 175002 ran empty from Wolverton Works to Chester after repair work to accident damage.

Thursday July 26

Network Rail's New Measurement Train visited Weymouth from Old Oak Common, running as 1Q23 with power cars Nos. 43014 and 43062. It ran via Salisbury, Exeter St Davids, Yeovil Junction, Westbury and Maiden Newton.

Arriva Trains Wales Class 121 diesel railcar No. 121032 was in action on the Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay shuttles.

EMU No. 323221 returned from Works attention at Wolverton to Soho depot near Birmingham.

A1 No. 60163 'Tornado' hauled a Steam Dreams Cathedrals Express from Northampton to Winchester via Watford.

Friday July 27

West Coast Railway's ETH-fitted Class 57 No. 57601 and no-heat No. 57006 ran double-headed from Carnforth to Derby via Stoke-on-Trent with a rake of empty stock in tow.

Type 5 No. 66197 worked a train of army landrovers off the Wensleydale branch at Northallerton to run overnight to Ludgershall, Wiltshire.

GBRf Type 5s Nos. 66709 and 66732 top-and-tailed a delivery of London Underground S-Stock from Old Dalby (Leicestershire) to Neasden - the working that has previously used two pairs of Class 20s.

Arriva blue-liveried Nos. 67001 and 67003 top-and-tailed the 16.15 WAG service from Cardiff Central to Holyhead.

DBS Class 67 No. 67020 hauled a support coach and BR Class 7 Standard No. 70000 'Britannia' from Bristol to Didcot and into the GWS Railway Centre museum. The 67 then ran light engine to Wembley yard.

Instead of working the usual 18.43 Euston to Crewe, Virgin's Mk 3 set was used instead to form the 19.03 Euston to Birmingham New Street and 20.50 return with Freightliner No. 90043 providing the power. The change was to keep the set in London on standby for late night Olympic duties.

Saturday July 28

Class 57s Nos. 57601 and 57006 top-and-tailed a Statesman Rail charter from Kettering to Ravenglass, Cumbria, via Stockport and Manchester Victoria.

DBS Nos. 66105, 66091, 66031, 66056 and 66021 ran light engine from Tees Yard to Mossend Yard, near Glasgow, via Newcastle.

Type 5s Nos. 67001 and 67003 provided the power for an additional loco-hauled 21.20 Cardiff Central to Holyhead after Olympics football at the Millennium Stadium.

Pathfinder's Tamar Devonian tour from Eastleigh to Plymouth was double-headed from Bristol Temple Meads by BR Standard No. 70000 'Britannia' and A1 No. 60163 'Tornado'.

Sunday July 29

GBRf Nos. 66736, 66707, 66701, 66704 and 66740 ran light engine from Peterborough to Doncaster yard. Meanwhile sister locos Nos. 66706, 66732 and 66716 hauled three coal hoppers from Doncaster to Immingham.

There was no Torbay Express charter from Bristol Temple Meads this week - instead No. 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' worked the Royal Duchy to Par in Cornwall and back.

Ex-LNER A4 No. 60009 'Bittern' hauled the North Wales Coast Express from Liverpool Lime Street to Holyhead.