News - Latest news - February 2005
10 February 2005 - thanks to John Keohane, Martin Barnsdall, Nigel Mack, Stephen Sheehan, John Griffiths, Nick Tompkin for this article
The end of 2004 and first few weeks of 2005 have been fairly busy...Movements and disposals
It has been confirmed that 889009 and 889015 were moved to the South Devon Railway at the beginning of December.
6356 and 6357 moved from Doncaster works during December and now reside at Barrow Hill. It is not known what the future holds for these two but they are owned by FM Rail (Fragonset.) 6357 was noted still on a low loader trailer in Heanor Haulage's yard just after Christmas.
977973 joined the collection of former departmentals at the Battlefield Steam Railway on 20th January. 6351, 977971, 977972, 977973 and 977982 are all now at the railway.
977708 has left Barrow Hill - it has been suggested it has gone to the Midland Railway Centre although this is as yet unconfirmed.
024801 previously stored at Heanor Haulage's yard for the last few months was sent for scrap at Booths in Rotherham in mid-January. It is possible the bogies from it were saved but the body didn't last long in the yard - all trace gone by the end of the month.
Other news
According to a recent issue of Rail Express the departmental 309s - 960101 and 960102 at Shoeburyness have been given a reprieve by Angel Trains and are being kept (along with other spare 309 vehicles) for any other future departmental requirements... and gives the AC EMU group more time to secure one of the three car sets for preservation ...
The new Network Rail load bank locomotives 86901 and 86902 were seen in action around the Rugby area over Christmas. 86902 has been named "RAIL VEHICLE ENGINEERING"
It has been reported that Balfour Beatty survey unit 977859 will probably make its final run on wednesday 16th February from Crewe to York NRM. Its certificate to run on the mainline is expiring at the end of March and sadly it is expected to be too costly to make the necessary repairs to have it renewed. The future for this unit is unclear at the moment once it arrives at York.
Meanwhile SWT's survey unit conversion of 977860 is expected to be well advanced and it should be out undergoing trials at some point soon... Presumably it will be sporting SWT livery when it emerges! Watch this space!
Eastleigh works closure
Eastleigh works IUs - 083379 / 082949 were removed at the beginning of February - it is not known whether the underframes and bogies were saved or whether they were entirely cut up on site. Access out of the works by road has always been a problem due to a double bend in the road over the railway and this may have been a factor in their disposal. However one van that did make the escape is DS70020 / 083608 which was seen on the back of a low loader on the M3 on Feb 4th. It apparently later headed north along the motorway although its detination is not yet known.
Meanwhile other departmentals and internal users at the rear of the works still remain for the time being including 977296 and some of the vehicles from unit 932620.
****UPDATED 16TH FEBRUARY 2005****
It has now been confirmed that 082949 and DS 70020 (083608) have now moved to the Tanfield Railway (along with 977010 ex East Somerset Railway) whilst 083379 is due to be scrapped on site - only its bogies are earmarked for further use.
Internal user news
024716 has been found at Crewe works while 061201 has disappeared from Westerleigh - presumably scrapped although it may have gone for preservation... Meanwhile it has been reported that following closure of the depot at Cardiff Canton all of the internal user wagons were scrapped towards the end of last year. Contractor or exact details are currently unknown.
****UPDATED 6TH MARCH 2005****
061201 has now moved to the Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust site at Midsomer Norton.
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