Operations
OVERHEAD line problems between Grantham and Newark on July 5 caused cancellations and delays. The situation was exacerbated by the high temperatures and overcrowding on the trains. Our correspondent on the 13.00 from King’s Cross reported that despite being very overcrowded, passengers were voluntarily giving up seats for elderly passengers and the atmosphere in the jammed vestibule from Peterborough to Doncaster was very good humoured.
USE of DB Cargo Class 90s continues, with No. 90029 observed at Leeds station on July 9 at 10.15 ready to propel the next departure to King’s Cross headed by DVT No. 82216. On July 18, No. 90036 was observed leading a LNER northbound service, departing from Doncaster at 15.48.
ON FRIDAY, July 13, the 17.00 Edinburgh-King’s Cross, with Class 91 No. 91122 in charge, arrived two minutes late at Alnmouth, the first booked calling point, with smoke coming from the leading bogie on coach E No. 12407. The train crew and on-board fitter worked to resolve the issue, although it took some time to isolate the brake fault and make the train safe to proceed, with departure 14 minutes late. Following a longer-than-booked stop at Newcastle, the train lost time all the way to King’s Cross, arriving 40 minutes late.
INCREASING numbers of IET units are being reported on test. Nos. 800201 and 800202 both entered Doncaster station from the south at around 15.20 on July 13. No. 801102 was seen at Doncaster on July 18 arriving from the south. On July 23, No. 800201 was noted at York station before leaving back to Peterborough. The following day, No. 800202 was seen approaching Doncaster station from the north.
EMT power cars Nos. 43061 and 43075 were hired in by LNER on July 14 at King’s Cross. Two days later the pair worked the 14.02 York-King’s Cross. In the consist was TRFB No. 40805, complete with Hull adverts vinyls.
ON THE morning of August 2 the 09.00 Edinburgh-King’s Cross, formed with power cars Nos. 43251+43305, was diverted via Carstairs, Carlisle and Newcastle because of the closure of the ECML at Longniddry as a result of the EMU working 5Y03, the 06.47 Edinburgh-North Berwick, becoming disabled with locked brakes.
EMPTY Night Riviera stock from Reading Traincare Depot to London Paddington was seen passing Maidenhead on July 3 headed by Direct Rail Services Class 57 Nos. 57306, and with 57602 Restormel Castle at the rear.
On Thursday, July 12 the stock of the Night Riviera from London Paddington to Penzance was found at platform 1 Paddington with Class 57 No. 57604 Pendennis Castle at the front of the train, and coupled immediately behind the locomotive was barrier vehicle No. 6348.
At the rear of the train was No. 57605 Totnes Castle , which had worked in the empty stock from Reading Traincare Depot.
ON JULY 4, the 07.02 service from Bristol Parkway to Portsmouth Harbour, and 10.23 return to Bristol Parkway, was formed of Class 150 No. 150265 instead of the more usual Class 158 three-car unit.
Trains were running to Bristol Parkway and not Cardiff Central because of extensive engineering works between Parkway and Newport.
FURTHER new IET units delivered from Newton Aycliffe to Doncaster are No. 800313 on July 6; No. 800314 on July 20; and No. 800315 on August 3.
CLASS 166 No. 166205 was seen at Cheltenham Spa on July 16 forming
