Class 69 coming out of traffic

Reportedly grounded as of 01:00 Monday 30th, but apparently out of traffic from Friday 27th.

Multiple stories abound, like all rumours.

1. It appears that John Smith, MD of GBRf, rode 69002 on the Mountfield on Thursday 26th, where operational issues may have been identified.

2. A hairline crack may have been identified on 69004, in the engine, which may have endangered the crankshaft. In a Class 66, the engine is mounted to the frame, where the 69 is quite different. Information now refuted./

3. 69004 suffered bogie damage in a derailment, and awaits a trip to Longport for related repairs. However, the bogies are well understood Class 56 pattern. 69004 needed tyre turning after the derailment, and worked to Ashford for this under its own power.

All are at Tonbridge this morning, except 69005, which is at Doncaster Roberts Road, nominally for staff training.

WNXX has a quote ""GBRf are looking at quickest way to complete fleet mods and some cab improvements based on in service experience"" and says to expect all to move to Longport next week for work to commence.

Monday 30th update:

Tuesday 31st update: " The tyre turn was required due to a recent derailment due to track spread involving 69004. Regarding comments on social media (and there's been a lot) that the Class 69 has been grounded due to an issue with 69004, this is completely unfounded nonsense." via WNXX.

1st February: 69007 + 69003 + 69001 + 69006 moved as 0Z69 Tonbridge - Peterborough.one two

69002 at Eastleigh, 10th July 2021.

Class 701 Eastleigh - Marchwood drag, 26th January 2023

47727 (+ 701022) 5Q96 11:29 Eastleigh - Marchwood, seen passing Millbrook.

The working approaches on the down fast.

Two closer views as 47727 approaches.

47727 was new on 17th October 1964, as D1629 to 16A Toton.

701022 has unfortunately been "tagged" while in its extended storage in the airport sidings at Eastleigh/ The 47 is seen in the distance.

New FEA-G wagons in 4M19. Eastleigh, 25th January 2023

200 new FEA-G wagons are in course of delivery from Astra Rail (Greenbrier) for GBRf usage. At platform level, these appear to be more or less identical to the Network Rail yellow FEA-W type. The ORR approval letter covers the range 81.70.4663-001-5 to 81.70.4663.200-3. The first 20 wagons arrived at Wembley on 19th November 2022.

66730 Whitemoor runs through the station with 4M19 11:50 Western Docks - East Midlands Gateway.

81.70.4663.020-5 .

Data panel on 81.70.4663.020-5.

The pair is made up  with numerically adjacent 81.70.4663.019-7 FEA-G. This was the only pair in the train consist.

Class 701 Eastleigh - Marchwood drag, 25th January 2023

47727 (+ 701019) 5Q96 11:29 Eastleigh Trsmd - Marchwood Mod Gbrf. SWR are understood to have arranged storage space for up to 9 of these units at this location, and 47727 has two further possible trips to make on 26th, before a planned return to Leicester.

47727 drags 701019 from the T&RSMD towards the yard, through platform 3 at Eastleigh.

A closer view as the train runs through the platform.

Having run around, as 0Z96, involving a short stay in platform 3, 5Q96 proceeds through platform 2.


A closer view as the train comes to a stand to await a passing Weymouth train.

Detail of the special linkages between 47727 and 701019.

A classic Class 47 awaiting departure from platform view.


Departure.

Twenty minutes later, passing Redbridge. Image by Ian Knight.

Aggregates Watching, 19th January 2023

The snapshot suggests that the box wagon situation is little changed from when last reviewed two months ago. Marcroft 1998 JNAs are still being used as single additional wagons, and Marcroft 2000-01 JNAs were also noted on a Fareham return working earlier in the week.

The newest wagon noted is still 81.70.5932.604-8, again noted this week - wagons delivered are up to 610-5.

The 81.70.5932.521 - 550 delivery of 19th August, seems under-represented, and could be utilised in other flows [update: several reported in East Usk - Machen Quarry traffic]. I have seen only 2, while noting 25 of the following 30 wagons.

All stored Mendip Rail wagons at Exeter are now reported to have been removed. 

66553 leads 6V62 13:21 Up Yard - Whatley, passing Romsey. The set was all Greenbrier JNA, with one exception, and loco and wagons were also on the same working on the previous day.

The exception was Marcroft 1998 JNA, VTG 3424.

66561 came along later with 6V07 13:41 Chichester - Merehead, with an all Greenbrier set of wagons.

JNA 81.70.5932.590-9 .

JNA 81.70.5932.586-7 .

Freightliner Class 70s, 18th - 19th January 2023

Since last reviewed, 70015 was stored at Leeds in early December, following what appears to have been a last working on 4E91 from Maritime on 14th November. Last noted here on 5th September. 

70011 4O15 06:40 Lawley Street - Maritime, Eastleigh, 18th January.

70004 4O14 05:36 Garston - Maritime, Eastleigh, 18th January.


70016 4M61 12:24 Maritime - Trafford Park, Eastleigh, 18th January.

70011 4M65 13::45 Maritime - Lawley Street, Romsey, 19th January.

16th - 21st January 2023

 

47727 Edinburgh Castle / Caisteal Dhùn Èideann arrives at Eastleigh, 18th January.

66709 Sorrento 6O31 17:30 Westbury - Eastleigh, Romsey 16th January.

68016 and 68018 return from Winfrith, passing Redbridge, 18th January. Video clip by Ian Knight.

Monday 16th January:

Tuesday 17th January: 47830 0M47 0902 Maritime - Basford Hall one; 37116 + 37610 3Z52 16:37 Reading Triangle- Eastleigh, 1Q52 21:50 Eastleigh - Lymington Pier - Eastleigh
Wednesday 18th January: 68016 + 68018 +T 6Z62 01:00 Crewe - Winfrith one, 6Z95 16:03 Winfrith - Crewe one; 37116 + 37610 1Q53 12:00 Eastleigh - Up Yard - Wimbledon - Havant - Fareham - Up Yard one two three four five, 1Q53 18:05 Up Yard - Farnborough Wimbledon - Totton - Romsey - Eastleigh; 47727 0Z47 10:06 Wembley - Eastleigh, 0Z48 15:00 Eastleigh - Wembley; 37099 3Z01 13:00 Woking - Havant - Fareham - Eastleigh one two, 3Q01 21:30 Eastleigh - Redbridge - Salisbury - Redbridge - Eastleigh (although unplanned, two Class 37 hauled trains within 10 minutes at Romsey)
Thursday 19th January: 37116 + 37610 1Q54 12:55 Eastleigh - Tonbridge one two three four;  37099 3Q04 21:39 Eastleigh - Reading Triangle
Friday 20th January: 47727 (+ 701051) 5Q10 09:12 Derby - Guildford - Havant - Fareham - Eastleigh one two, 47727 0M10 19:13 Eastleigh - Leicester; 37099 3Q40 2353 Reading Triangle - Northam - Basingstoke - Eastleigh
Saturday 21st January:

Hook landslip - this affected the Class 37 operated test trains this week. "The Mountfield" down working 4Y19 routed via Havant on Thursday and Friday. 

 - Friday update

43030, which was the rear power car in the 2020 Carmont accident, has been scrapped. In years past, seen at Romsey, and then in Scotland.

Eastleigh Works: 02Sep - 05Sep - 06Sep - 09Sep - 10Sep - 14Sep - 15Sep - 29Sep