Operations
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RHTT
A VARIETY of Railhead Treatment Trains have been reported in recent weeks. The RHTT season on the southern end of the Midland Main Line began on September 28.
The service next ran on October 2, and then daily. The working is the 23.19 Toton TMD-West Hampstead North Junction and 3J93/12.01 return.
When seen on October 5, 7 and 9 the locos were DBC EWS-liveried Class 66 Nos. 66199+ 66030. The locos had changed to Nos. 66114+66111 when observed on October 10, 12, 14 and 16.
By October 24 the pairing had changed again to Nos. 66119+66116 and was the same on October 26. However, when seen on October 28, 30, and 31 it was Nos. 66114+66111.
THE late-running 09.09 Slade Green T&RSMD-Tonbridge West Yard via Strood and the Maidstone East route was observed at Strood Station, Kent, on October 15. It was worked by Class 66 Nos. 66708 Jayne leading and 66721 Harry Beck on the rear and getting very grubby! This seems to be a Class 66 working this year rather than a self-propelled Windhoff MPV unit.
MPV Nos. DR98962+DR98912 were seen passing through Stockport with the 3S09 Wigan to Wigan diagram on October 18. On the same day, Class 56 Nos. 56105 and 56087 were in Gloucester yard with an RHTT rake. Also on October 18, Class 56 Nos. 56096+56113 passed Prestatyn at 13.23 (12 minutes early), en route from Holyhead to Shrewsbury Coleham with a railhead treatment train.
CLASS 37 Nos. 37422 and 37425 Sir Robert McAlpine/Concrete Bob were on RHTT duties on October 22 down into Harwich Parkston Quay yard.
The following day the set was in the hands of Class 66 Nos. 66426 and 66428 Carlisle Eden Mind. The sets are stored in the engineering sidings at Stowmarket with Class 57 Nos. 57002 Rail Express and 57003, 37038, and Class 37 Nos. 37059 and 37069 also involved in these daily duties along the GEML and branch lines.
On November 3, Class 37 Nos. 37038 and 37069 were seen travelling towards Cromer and crossing the River Bure south of Hoveton and Wroxham station.
CLASS 66 Nos. 66030 and 66114 top-and-tailed an RHTT diagram past Attenborough Junction on the afternoon of Monday October 26.
ADVERSE weather conditions on October 29 meant a temporary Avanti Preston-Glasgow-Preston shuttle service being put into action. One such service was 1Z47, seen arriving in Lancaster 25 minutes late at 16.43 from Preston, operated by Class 390 No. 390103.
UNTIL recently a Class 165 working on the Great Western mainline into Reading would not have been worthy of comment, but such workings are now quite rare. One such working is an evening train from Oxford to Reading and then return. On Thursday, October 8, the 17.07 from Oxford to Reading was formed of two-car unit No. 165119; having
