CLASS 20
Nos. 20189 and 20205 passed Birmingham New Street station on March 18, forming the 5Z33 17.35 Soho-Kings Norton sandwiching translator vehicles and West Midlands Trains electric multiple unit No. 323240. Three days later the same ‘20s’ top-and-tailed the 6Q21 11.55 Old Dalby-Kings Norton with No. 20142 Sir John Betjeman moving TFW Rail tram-train No. 398002 on the first leg of its journey to South Wales. Next day the whole entourage continued its journey to Radyr before the three Class 20s returned the barrier vans to Kings Norton as a triple-header on March 23. By March 28, Nos. 20142 and 20189 had been paired to take WMT No. 323203 from Soho to Tyseley for tyre turning.
Due for a repaint into Balfour Beatty livery, Nos. 20901/905 travelled light from Barrow Hill to Bristol Barton Hill on March 22. Harry Needle Railroad Company Type 1s Nos. 20302/311 were also leaving Barrow Hill on March 21, when noted at Derby and Leamington Spa behind Locomotive Services Group No. 57003 bound for Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh for a repaint. Chester hosted four English Electric Type 1s from the LSLO pool on March 19. Initially, Nos. 20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea and 20132 arrived at 10.43 before a problem resulted in LSG No. D6851 (37667) Flopsie being sent from Crewe to recover them. Another pair, Nos. D8096 (20096) and D8107 (20107) Jocelyn Feilding 1940-2020 arrived at 14.00 and departed as the 0K44 15.11 Chester-Crewe.
CLASS 37
Preserved No. 37403 Isle of Mull has proved itself a reliable performer in recent weeks. On March 8, it set off with the Branch Line Society’s ambitious long weekend tour (see also Class 57), initially leaving Bo’ness for Edinburgh Waverley. Thereafter No. 37403 handled the 1Z37 12.56 Edinburgh-Fort William before a return trip to Oban the next day. The itinerary for March 9, featured the 1Z40 08.15 Fort William-Wemyss Bay albeit via Mallaig and thence to Glasgow’s two main line stations, top and tailing from Wemyss Bay with GB Railfreight No. 66776 Joanne. Finally, No. 37403 returned to base with the 1Z43 21.47 Glasgow Queen Street-Bo’ness.
The Rail Operation Group duo of Nos. 37884 and 37901 took Mk.3 coaches Nos. 10237 and 12091 from Castle Donington to Sutton Coldfield on March 16, ready for use in an overnight emergency
