Power scene

CLASS 20

FOR the best part of mid-March, Nos. 20118+20905 and 20311+20314 were fully utilised on the movement of London Underground stock between Derby, Banbury and West Ruislip – the quartet handling five trips from Chaddesden between March 6 and March 20. On the 22nd, however, Nos. 20096+20107 replaced the HNRC ‘20/3s’ on the 7X08/16.09 Chaddesden-Banbury with LUL sets Nos. 21507/08.

Heading north with sets Nos. 21079/80 early on March 25, forming the 23.45 from West Ruislip, an operating problem resulted in the train being terminated at Bicester North. Two days later, Nos. 20096+20107 and Nos. 20118+20905 powered the 6X08/22.40 Banbury-West Ruislip with sets Nos. 21015/16, which had been taken north to Chaddesden back on March 10.

The BR blue pairing of Nos. 20189 and 20205 ran light from West Ruislip to Eastleigh on March 30 in preparation for working a GB Railfreight private charter in early April.

CLASS 33

WEST Coast’s No. 33025 was part of the chosen motive power for a Branch Line Society charter on March 24. The outward journey ran as the 1Z23/04.27 Carnforth-Acton Lane with Nos. 37518+33025 topping and No. 47772 at the rear, but a fault with the ‘Crompton’ saw it removed at Crewe.

Another maroon example, No. 33207, ran light from Southall to Chinnor on March 16 in order to take part in the preserved line’s weekend gala (see also page 80). A week earlier, the same ‘Slim Jim’ had hauled No. 86259 from Burton Wetmore to Rugby following maintenance before the ‘Crompton’ continued solo to London.

CLASS 37

UNDERTAKING its first passenger work in Cumbria for some time, No. 37423 handled the 2C33/05.46 Barrow-Carlisle on March 9, although the service was terminated at Sellafield. The following day, No. 37423 was restored to action on one round trip from Carlisle before finding more regular employment from March 14.

Classmates Nos. 37419 and 37425 ‘top and tailed’ the Anglian ‘short set’ from March 8, the former replacing No. 37407, which appeared at Kettering and Corby the following day with inspection saloon No. 975025 . No. 37405 replaced No. 37425 from March 26, having been recorded on Cumbrian passenger trips during the first week of the month, while No. 37422 hauled AC electric No. 90004 from Bounds Green (North London) to Norwich Crown Point on March 13 after tyre turning. Following the failure of No. 90015 and its Mk.3 set at Liverpool Street on March 22, No. 37405