CLASS 20
Passing through Tamworth High Level station at 16.30 on November 23, the 6X21 14.42 Butterley-Bescot was in the hands of Nos. 20142/189. The pair had run light from Kidderminster to collect Railvac No.4, prior to heading light to Tyseley. A rare duty of late for the elderly Type 1s, although No. 20132 made its Locomotive Services debut on November 24 when running light from Crewe to Edinburgh with stable companion No. D213 (40013) Andania, the Class 40 being a replacement for an ailing No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley.
On November 27, No. 20132 hauled the steam engine and its support coach from Joppa to Carlisle and on to Crewe passing Acton Bridge at 20.45 that evening. Two days later LSL Nos. 20096 and 20107 moved from Barrow Hill to Crewe, via Worksop, with Nos. 37409 and 57303.
CLASS 37
No. 37418 An Comunn Gaidhealach strayed from freight work in the East Midlands to head Vintage Trains’ ‘Illuminations Explorer’ from Birmingham New Street to Blackpool North on November 11, No. 47773 ‘tailing’ the special. On November 22 No. 37418 had saloon No. 975025 Caroline for company on a jaunt from Derby to Cheltenham Spa and back to Birmingham International. Next day the duo travelled from Crewe to the Wirral providing a rare spectacle of a daylight locomotive-hauled train between Chester and Rock Ferry and later between Bootle Junction and Southport.
With No. 37884 Cepheus sidelined at Leicester for an exam, Rail Operations Group used No. 37800 Cassiopeia to haul condemned stock from Merseyside to Sims Metals at Newport Docks. The disposal of Class 319 electric multiple units saw No. 319375 leaving Allerton behind No. 37800 on November 20, and No. 319378 nine days later. Already at Crewe South Yard, Orion No. 319373 was transferred to Castle Donington on November 16, No. 37800 returning there next day with Orion bi-mode No. 768001 in tow. Meanwhile the disposal of Merseyrail Class 508 EMUs approaches its conclusion, with Nos. 508139/141 taken from Birkenhead to Newport on November 27, by No. 37800.
On November 11, ROG No. 37611 powered the 5L48 09.31 Barrow Hill-Great Yarmouth formed of nine former CrossCountry Mk.3s (see ) and returned with a further nine vehicles two days later. Also, on November 13 Locomotive Services No. D6851 (37667) reached the East Anglian port with Mk.3 buffet No.
