56303 ran light from Wembley to appear at this event which was held to raise funds for charity.

Approximately 100 persons were allowed to visit the site and the organisers had 56303, 60015, 66082 and a class 67 on display.

Unfortunately an enquiry to have 56006 attend was only made a week before the event, so it wasn’t possible. 56301 nearly accompanied 56303 (mainly to avoid splitting the often temperamental multi-working connections) but had to stay behind as there were weekend trips to and from Willesden to load up the train for Mondays working.

Photo courtesy of Gareth Yates.

UPDATE – 6/10/17 – 56301 & 56081 repeated yesterdays 6Z16 & 6Z17 workings to Foxton. A picture of the return working 6Z17 below was taken by J. Hooson.

A link to the WNXX site shows a picture of the pair crossing the A1 yesterday. Cut and paste this into your browser:-

http://www.wnxx.com/17/1710/051017/56301.htm

UPDATE 5/10/17 – 56301 & 56081 worked 0448 Wembley – Foxton this morning and should work the following return working:

		WTT		Realtime			Route		Allowances
Location	Pl	Arr	Dep	Arr	Dep	Dly	Line	Path	Eng	Pth	Prf
Foxton Exchange Sidings			1128		1128
Foxton [FXN]		1133	1140	1133	1140
Shepreth [STH]		pass	1143	pass	1142
Meldreth [MEL]		pass	1146½	pass	1146
Royston [RYS]	2	1153	1201	1153	1201
Ashwell & Morden [AWM]		pass	1206	pass	1206
Baldock [BDK]		pass	1211	pass	1210
Letchworth [LET]		pass	1213	pass	1213
Hitchin East Jn Sig K945		pass	1214½	pass	1214
Hitchin [HIT]	1	pass	1216	pass	1216		SL
Stevenage [SVG]	1	pass	1221	pass	1221
Langley Jn		pass	1222½	pass	1222
Knebworth [KBW]		pass	1224½	pass	1224
Woolmer Green Jn. [XGN]		1226½	1232½	1226	1232		FL			½
Welwyn North [WLW]		pass	1235½	pass	1235
Digswell Jn.		pass	1236½	pass	1236		SL			½
Welwyn Garden City [WGC]	2	pass	1238½	pass	1238					3½
Hatfield [HAT]		pass	1242½	pass	1242
Marshmoor Crossover		pass	1243½	pass	1243
Welham Green [WMG]		pass	1245½	pass	1245
Brookmans Park [BPK]		pass	1247½	pass	1247
Potters Bar [PBR]	1	pass	1250	pass	1250					5½
Hadley Wood [HDW]		pass	1254½	pass	1254
New Barnet [NBA]		pass	1257½	pass	1257
Oakleigh Park [OKL]		pass	1259	pass	1258
New Southgate [NSG]		pass	1303	pass	1302
Alexandra Palace [AAP]	2	pass	1306	pass	1306		SL1			4½
Hornsey [HRN]		pass	1309½	pass	1309
Harringay [HGY]		pass	1312	pass	1311
Harringay Junction		pass	1312	pass	1311
Finsbury Park [FPK]	1	1315½	1317½	1315	1317		SL2			½
Holloway Sth. Jn.		pass	1320½	pass	1320		SL			1½
Copenhagen Junction		pass	1325	pass	1325
York Way North Jn [XXV]		pass	1326	pass	1326					2
Camden Road Incline Jn		pass	1329½	pass	1329
Camden Road Central Jn		pass	1330	pass	1330
Camden Road [CMD]		pass	1330½	pass	1330
Camden Road Jn		pass	1331	pass	1331					2
Kentish Town West [KTW]		pass	1333	pass	1333
Gospel Oak [GPO]	1	pass	1336	pass	1336					5½
Hampstead Heath [HDH]		pass	1338	pass	1337
Finchley Road & Frognal [FNY]		pass	1340½	pass	1340
West Hampstead [WHD]		pass	1342	pass	1341
Brondesbury [BSY]		pass	1343½	pass	1343
Brondesbury Park [BSP]		pass	1344½	pass	1344
Kensal Rise [KNR]		pass	1346½	pass	1346
Kensal Green Jn [XKG]		pass	1348½	pass	1348					½
Harlesden Jn		pass	1354	pass	1354		HLG
Willesden Railnet Receptn		pass	1356	pass	1356					2
Wembley Yard South Jn.		pass	1401	pass	1401
Wembley Eur Frt Ops Cntre		1406		1406

4/10/17 56301 & 56081 ran light from Wembley to Washwood Heath and returned almost immediately. The reason is unknown but likely to be linked to the earlier GSM-R fault on 56301 or a refueling trip for 56081.

UPDATE 3/10/17 @ 12:45PM

56301 reported as running south from Derby to Wembley (assumed to have run north as 1815 Washwood Heath – Derby on Monday evening)

UPDATE 3/10/17 – 56301 ran light engine to Washwood Heath on Monday Evening. 56303 looks like it might run from Derby to Wembley today to join 56081 for the Foxton trains.

More updates will be posted as we get them.

2/10/17 56301 will return to mainline use today when it runs light engine from Leicester UKRL to Wembley.

Originally scheduled to depart at 0900 (but currently delayed due to GSM-R issues) and arriving at 1154, 56301 will then be coupled to 56081 and the multiple working systems tested in readiness for a 0448 departure on Tuesday 2/10/17 to Foxton/Barrington, with a train weighing in excess of 2000 tonnes.

The 56s should work a week on these turns before one loco returns to Leicester for a scheduled examination. The tyre thickness on 56301 has been re-measured by UKRL and will be monitored during scheduled examinations.

Route learning took place earlier in the year (see 23/2/17 report) but although operated by DCR, the traction used since has been hired in DB Cargo class 66s.

 

 

Week commencing Monday 15th January – 56301 had worked the Barrington spoil trains each day last week (Monday 8th to Friday 12th January). On Friday, the return train didn’t run and 56301’s first trip on Monday should be 6T02 1128 Barrington – Wembley.

Monday 15th January – There is also a path in the system for a working to bring the first batch of Mk. 5 sleeper carriages from Dollands Moor to Polmadie. Rail Operations Group (ROG) were penciled in to do the move but traction is uncertain at this point. 56301 doesn’t look likely for the Dollands Moor leg (see above) but could be in the right place to work the WCML leg (but wouldn’t get back to work 6T01 to Barrington on Tuesday morning).

Timings for Monday 15th January are:

0945 Wembley – Dollands Moor (1203)

1334 Dollands Moor – Wembley (1605)

2306 Wembley – Polmadie CMD (1027 TUE 16th January)

Tuesday 16th January:

The long awaited move of the remaining Colas locomotives from Washwood Heath looks like it could take place as workings are timed for…

0Z56 1306 WWH – NOTTINGHAM EASTCROFT (1528) consisting of 56049, 56090, 37418 & 37521

0Z57 1750 NOTTINGHAM EASTCROFT – BARROW HILL COLAS (arr 1905) (2 x 37s as above)

0Z58 2025 BARROW HILL COLAS – WWH (2302) (unknown)

Could this be a working for 56049? Or will another Colas loco do the honours? The fact there is a light engine returning to WWH would indicate the latter option but you never know.

Locos thought to be at Washwood Heath are 56049, 56051 and 56090. TOPS also shows 66848 as out of service there too. 56051 is thought unlikely to move as its bogies are reported as being at Cardiff Canton for overhaul. Depending on timescales for clearing out WWH, this could be a future road move.

Week commencing Sun 29/10 to Sat 4/11/17:

During the week 23/10-27/10, 56081 developed a slight wheel flat and is awaiting tyre turning at nearby Wembley depot. 56303 ran light from Derby to replace 56081.

Sunday 29/10/17:

56303 had run to Knottingley on Friday 27/10 to appear at an open day there. 56303 should return at 1200 on Sunday 29/10, arriving Wembley at 1652.

Whilst 56303 is running south, 56301 will take the rake of wagons over to be loaded at Willesden Euroterminal departing Wembley at 1454 (arr 1524) and 56301 should return as 1800 Willesden – Wembley (arr 1849).

56301 & 56303 should then be paired up and run over to Acton for refueling. Departure is scheduled for 1931, arriving Acton 1955 with the pair returning from Acton at 2105 (arriving Wembley 2122).

Fully fueled 56301 & 56303 should continue daily trips to Foxton as follows:

6Z16 0433 Wembley – Foxton Exchange Sidings (arr 0716) (except Monday 30/10 when arrival is 0702)

6Z17 1228 – Foxton Exchange Sidings – Wembley (arr 1501).

Weekdays Mon 16/10 to Fri 20/10.

56301 & 56081 should continue trips to Foxton as:

6Z16 0349 Wembley – Foxton Exchange Sidings (arr 0716)

6Z17 1202 – Foxton Exchange Sidings – Wembley (arr 1431)

On Monday evening, the pair of 56s should run over to Acton. Departing Wembley at 1910 (arr Acton 1933) then returning at 2042 (arr Wembley at 2104) . Both moves are shown as light engines but a similar movement last Wednesday (11/10)  seemed to bring back a rake of empty wagons.

 

31/8/17 – The diesel leg of the Scarborough Spa Express should be worked by a Colas 56 (56302 has been stated as the loco allocated).

27/8/17 Sun- 56302  56094 ran to Fort William with the oil train and should return tomorrow (Mon 28/8).

Departure is 1420 from Grangemouth and arrival at Fort William yard is booked for 2134.

Return working is booked for Monday 28th August as 1331 from Fort William arriving Grangemouth at 2044 (passing Cowlairs at 1943).

21/8/17:

56302 showing on TOPS as working 6B01 Grangemouth – Riccarton which arrived at Riccarton at 0657.

Return working is:

 

Location	Pl	Arr	Dep	Arr	Dep	Dly	Line	Path	Eng	Pth	Prf
Riccarton			1222		1222
Kilmarnock [KMK]	TL	1243	1252	1243	1252
Kilmaurs [KLM]		pass	1255	pass	1255
Lochridge Junction		pass	1258	pass	1258					3½
Stewarton [STT]		pass	1259½	pass	1259
Dunlop [DNL]		pass	1302½	pass	1302
Lugton		pass	1307	pass	1307
Barrhead [BRR]	2	pass	1314	pass	1314				2	2
Nitshill [NIT]		pass	1317½	pass	1317
Priesthill & Darnley [PTL]		pass	1319	pass	1318
Kennishead [KNS]		pass	1320½	pass	1320
Busby Jn		pass	1322	pass	1322				3
Pollokshaws West [PWW]		pass	1323½	pass	1323
Crossmyloof [CMY]		pass	1326	pass	1325
Muirhouse South Jn		pass	1327½	pass	1326					½
Larkfield Jn		1331½	1335½	1331	1335		CDL
Polmadie Clydesdale Loop		1337½	1345½	1337	1345
Shawfield		pass	1347½	pass	1347		SL			½
Rutherglen West Jn		pass	1349	pass	1349
Rutherglen Central Jn		pass	1350	pass	1349
Rutherglen East Jn		pass	1351½	pass	1351					3
Carmyle [CML]		pass	1358	pass	1358					3
Mount Vernon [MTV]		pass	1401½	pass	1401
Baillieston [BIO]		pass	1403½	pass	1403
Bargeddie [BGI]		pass	1408½	pass	1408
Kirkwood [KWD]		pass	1412	pass	1411
Langloan Jn		pass	1413	pass	1413					3½
Coatbridge Jn		pass	1417	pass	1416
Coatbridge Central [CBC]	1	pass	1418	pass	1418
Coatbridge F.L.T.		pass	1420½	pass	1420
Gartsherrie South Jn		pass	1422	pass	1422
Garnqueen North Jn		pass	1423½	pass	1423
Greenfaulds [GRL]		pass	1427	pass	1426
Cumbernauld [CUB]	2	pass	1427½	pass	1427				2	1
Greenhill Lower Jn		pass	1436½	pass	1436					½
Carmuirs West Jn		pass	1439½	pass	1439
Carmuirs East Jn		pass	1441	pass	1441
Camelon [CMO]		pass	1442	pass	1441
Falkirk Grahamston [FKG]	1	pass	1444½	pass	1444
Grangemouth Jn [XGM]		pass	1445	pass	1445
Fouldubs Jn		pass	1452	pass	1452
Grangemouth Ineos		1502		1502

 

 

 

56006 has been rostered to operate the diesel turn on September 2nd.

56006 is booked to operate the diesel part of the Blue timetable starting with a 0930 departure from Bury to Heywood and then operate several round trips between Heywood and Rawtenstall, finishing at Bury at 1644.

The steam loco operates the second diagram and gives an excuse (if needed) for a family day out on the steam train .

56006 is also  booked for a Footplate experience day on the 25th September which is the Monday following the Autumn diesel Gala. (23th/24th September) . 56006 should play a part in the gala but as she is now classed as a part of the the fleet the role may be reduced compared to the last gala when 56006 played a major role.

 

56006 visited the East Lancs Railway diesel gala from July 7 – 9 accompanied by our drivers and support crew. On Friday 7th 56006 was suffering from fuel filter problems but these were sorted and the loco was back to its old self on the Saturday and Sunday driven by our passed out drivers with the ELR drivers also having a blast but being conducted by our guys. The sales stand was in attendance manned by Richard on Friday and by Keith and myself on the Saturday. Weather on the Saturday was fantastic, not sure about the other two days. A few photos from the Saturday.