The first attempt to get 90018 to Eastleigh Works, for the paintshop, on Tuesday 1st July, was turned around at Stafford, as Network Rail paperwork was said to not be in order for passage south of Fenny Compton. The same schedule, 0Z90 09:31 Basford Hall Yard - Eastleigh Works - Maritime, was run without incident on Friday 4th July, with 66589 as train engine.
90018 was new from BREL Crewe on 22nd December 1988 (seen in April 1989) and was acquired by Freightliner from DB Cargo in April 2024, along with 90040. It was on test in March 2025, followed by a return to traffic on 20th March. It even worked to Coatbridge and back after Tuesday' s failed attempt,
90018 is listed for a Railway 200 appearance. Is it going to be a special livery?
66589 leads through platform 3.
A first view of 90018.
90018 is drawn away from the platform.
Seen from platform 1. Image by Ian Knight.
Going over the points.
Twenty minutes later, 08696 was shunting 90018 in the Works. Image by Ian Knight.
