CLASS 20
Having gained useful employment with Victa Railfreight as shunt locomotives at Peak Forest since mid-October last year, Nos. 20007 and 20205 left for attention at Barrow Hill on May 22. Nos. 20142 Sir John Betjeman and 20189 ran light from Tyseley to Kidderminster for the Severn Valley Railway on May 5, while 10 days later Harry Needle Railroad Company Nos. 20901/905 returned to action heading from Barrow Hill to Midland Road. No. 20901 was to undergo tyre turning, while No. 20905 last worked on the main line almost four years ago. Rail Operations Group (ROG) has hired the ‘20/9s’ from HNRC, and on May 18, No. 20905 set off in charge of the 5L46 09.18 Derby RTC-Ely Papworth with four translator coaches and ROG No. 37884 Cepheus at the rear. No. 20901 subsequently arrived at Ely and on May 26 Nos. 20901/905 moved translator coaches on the 5M57 15.37 Ely Papworth-Derby RTC. Another switch around of English Electric Type 1s saw Locomotive Services No. 37521 take Nos. 20302/305 and 37059 from Crewe to Worksop on May 22. Later No. 37521 collected Nos. 20118/132 and 37703 from Worksop transferring them to Barrow Hill.
CLASS 33
Preserved No. 33012 Lt. Jenny Lewis RN collected London Underground’s maroon 4TC set on May 11, and formed the 5Z34 11.12 Eastleigh-Swanage, routed by way of Petersfield, Wokingham and Reading. The West Coast Railway duo of Nos. 33029/025 had their first passenger outing of the year on Bank Holiday Monday, May 29, taking charge of the 1Z25 07.00 Burton-on-Trent to Paignton Pathfinder Tours’ special via Tamworth and Worcester. Both ‘Cromptons’ ran light back to Southall on the following afternoon.
CLASS 37
On a dozen occasions throughout a warm and dry month, both morning and afternoon ‘Jacobite’ steam trains between Fort William and Mallaig required a diesel accompaniment at the rear, with West Coast Railways Nos. 37518 and 37668 seeing regular use.
Preserved No. 37418, regularly hired by Loram, seems to be as dependable a worker as ever. May 3, found it with saloon No. 975025, touring parts of Yorkshire including visiting Bradford Interchange, Dewsbury and Tinsley prior to heading to Derby Railway Technical Centre (RTC) next day. On May 9, No. 37418 took charge of 30 JNA, it moved more JNAs from Derby to Toton before hauling the 6Z39 13.20 Shirebrook (W H Davis)-Toton and later heading back to Derby with five MRAs (see page 28). May 12 found No. 37418 bound for Gascoigne Wood with two Mk.2s (Nos. 5810, 9705), adding them to eight Mk.3s to form the 5Z50 10.50 Gascoigne Wood-Great Yarmouth (see page 29). Next up was a trip to Hither Green on May 13, to collect a multi-purpose vehicle for Derby via Oakham. On its first jaunt of the month, Direct Rail Services No. 37401 hauled three FNA flask wagons as the 6Z61 11.45 Carlisle Kingmoor-Roberts Road on May 29.
