Powerscene

CLASS 20

OF the eight GBEE Type 1s, only Nos. 20901+20905 were seen on London Underground stock transfers between Derby, Banbury and West Ruislip during most of March always accompanied by a GBRf Class 66 locomotive. The other GBEE Type 1s were to be found at Barrow Hill with Nos. 20096+20107 last having worked on February 21 and Nos. 20118+20132 on February 28. The latter duo returned to use on March 28, however, handling the 7X08/15.56 Derby-Banbury with No. 66773 and LUL sets Nos. 21485/6. Meanwhile, the two orange Harry Needle Type 1s have rarely been seen of late with No. 20314 last working in early January and No. 20311 just prior to Christmas.

CLASS 33

PRIOR to use on a Branch Line Society weekend tour, Nos. 33029 and 47851 ‘top and tailed’ the 5Z32/12.30 Carnforth-Crewe on March 22 taking seven coaches south prior to working the 1Z33/05.27 Crewe-Weymouth charter the next day. The return journey, via Bath, Gloucester, Lydney and Hereford had Nos. 33012+33029 leading with the Brush Type 4 at the rear and on March 24 the two ‘Cromptons’ handled the 1Z86/09.05 Crewe-Southport BLS tour travelling via Wrexham, Birkenhead North depot, West Kirby, Bidston, Chester avoider, Rock Ferry, Warrington Bank Quay and Burscough Bridge (see also pages 80/81). Narrow-bodied example No. 33207 accompanied Thompson B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 and its support coach No. 35479 on the 5Z44/10.15 Carnforth-Southall stock transfer (March 4) and on March 23 the same locomotives took charge of the 1Z61/07.45 Southend East-East Grinstead and 18.00 return, with No. 33207 taking over from the steam locomotive for the final leg of the trip from Hanwell Bridge to Southend. Three Class 33s on main line passenger trains on the same day! Then, on March 30, No. 33025 became the fourth active example within a week when ‘tailing’ the 1Z60/07.10 Euston-Worcester Shrub Hill, hauled by B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 via Northampton, Walsall