Mendip Rail box wagons into storage

With the deliveries of red Touax wagons, it seemed inevitable that some of the older Mendip Rail wagons would be coming off lease. 21 of the the oldest box wagons have been moved into store at Exeter, and seem to be marked for potential deployment for HS2 activities in 2021. Mendip Rail are apparently returning single piped box wagons while keeping those which are twin piped.

16 are from the series of KEA wagons (VTG 3170 to 3247) which were built by Procor as PXAs in 1987-88 for TML (TransManche Link, the Channel Tunnel). The remaining 5 are JNA wagons, VTG 3160, built by Procor in 1987 (although this is marked as a KEA) and 4 from the VTG 34xx series, built by Marcroft in 1998. All are conversions to some degree of TEA tankers from the early 1970s period.

Those now at Exeter include the following:

VTG 3203, a KEA, seen at Westbury on 8th February 2019.

VTG 3240, a KEA, seen at Westbury on 10th February 2017.

VTG 3175, a KEA showing single brake pipe, at Dunbridge, 15th July 2019.

VTG 3206, a KEA, at Crampmoor, 23rd January 2019.

VTG 3170, a KEA, at Westbury, 10th February 2017.

VTG 3160, listed officially as JNA, but marked as KEA, Eastleigh, 22nd August 2019.

VTG 3448, a JNA, Westbury, 9th October 2019.

Dunbridge towards the end of BST, Friday 23rd October 2020

 
A couple of hours at Dunbridge, on the last Friday before the end of BST, where in the following week 7O40 and 4O57 will be off the daylight photography list.

66849 Wylam Dilly + 70809 ran as a STP 0C05 14:25 Westbury - Eastleigh.

59202 passes with the loaded 7O40 13:35 Merehead -Eastleigh.

7O40 was quickly followed by 66560 with 4O57 13:29 Wentloog - Maritime.

NMT Test Train at Romsey, 22nd October 2020

 1X23 15:13 Salisbury - Southampton UGL - Salisbury

• 43062 John Armitt
• 977995 Generator Coach (HST catering vehicle 40719, previously 40619)
• 977984 Staff Coach (HST catering vehicle 40501, as a TRUK once part of 253001 from November 1976)
• 977993 Overhead Line Equipment Test Coach (HST TGS 44053)
  
• 977994 Track Recording Coach (HST TGS 44087)
• 975984 Lecture Coach (formerly  Laboratory 15 "Argus" and later "Test Car 4", 10000 & 40000, originally prototype HST catering vehicle)
• 43014 The Railway Observer

43062 leads into Romsey.

A closer view of power car 43062.

977995 was the first car.

975984 was the last coach.

43014 The Railway Observer was at the rear.

43014 leads on the return.

The Railway Observer is the house magazine of the RCTS (Railway Correspondence & Travel Society).

43014 is held at the signal to await the preceding GWR dmu to pass Dunbridge.

Colas power cars 43050 + 43060 in November, please!

Afternoon Freight at Romsey, 22nd October 2020

 

59003 YEOMAN HIGHLANDER, leading 6V40 14:05 Eastleigh -Chandler's Ford - Westbury LWR train.

VolkerRail Kirow 125 tonne crane DRK81613 and its support wagons were at the rear of the consist.

66531 approaches with 4O57 13:29 Wentloog - Maritime, which passed at 16:27. On Monday 26th sunset will be at 16:50 GMT, and a similar shot will be challenging.

19th - 24th October 2020

37610 returning from Eastern Docks to Westbury as 0Z38, seen approaching Halterworth Crossing, 21st October.

The Colas operated route learner continued over the crossing and onward to Romsey.

59003 + 66729 + 66754 with a single wagon on 6O41 on Monday 19th. Image by Ian Knight.

Sunday 18th October:  156447 5Q86 11:58 Heaton - Eastleigh one two three (last in sequence for this activity)
Monday 19th October: 60046 6Z60 06:30 Willesden - Eastleigh one

Tuesday 20th October:

Wednesday 21st October: 37610 0Z37 09:10 Westbury - Romsey - Eastleigh - Eastern Docks one, 0Z38 11:30 Eastern Docks - Eastleigh - Romsey - Westbury (route not as scheduled) one;60046 6Z94 21:30 Eastleigh - Boston one

Thursday 22nd October: 43014 + 43062  1X23 15:13 Salisbury - Southampton UGL - Salisbury 

Friday 23rd October: 60046 6Z60 06:30 Willesden - Eastleigh one, 6Z94 22:14 Eastleigh - Boston; 442417 + 442423 5Q99 10:20 Fratton - Bournemouth

Saturday 24th October:

Verizon is shutting down the Yahoo Groups totally on 15th December.

1 hour 15 minutes of freight at Romsey, 20th October 2020 part 4: 70001 returns from Wentloog

70001 PowerHaul slows to approach the junction, leading 4O57 13:29 Wentloog - Maritime.

A closer view of the General Electric machine.

FRA wagon 613021.

KTA wagon GERS 97716 which was followed by GERS 97745 at the rear.

1 hour 15 minutes of freight at Romsey, 20th October 2020 part 3: 59102 with stone hoppers for Eastleigh

 
The third Class 59 in sequence, 59102 Village of Chantry operated 7O40 13:35 Merehead - Eastleigh.

A closer view of the approaching train.

The first O&K JHA hopper was OK19305 which is an 'outer' wagon, constructed in 1989.

By comparison this is 2020 delivered HOA 81.70.6774.040-4.