Preparations are underway for the arrival of a 20′ container.

The location has been identified and we need to add more ballast to the right hand edge of the current ballast shoulder and then site upturned concrete sleepers .

The ELR guys will use their telelifter to do the heavy lifting but we’ll need a team of volunteers to level the area and the sleepers so the container sits level.

The container will be used to store parts, tools and manuals we need when we work on 56006. Currently these are stored in volunteers homes and brought to site each time we go. Obviously having all the gear already there will make things a lot easier.

Of course without volunteers to use the tools it not going to be much use . If anyone wants to get in touch please use the e.mail addresses in the contact section of the website.

 

Freshly repainted into DCR livery ,the recently returned to traffic 56091 has been announced as a visitor to the ELR Diesel Gala in July.

Details on other visiting locos are available on the ELR website.

56091/56103 should work empry rake back to Chaddesden tomorrow (Fri 17/5)

Departing Boston at 1351 and running via Nottingham , arriving Chaddesden at 1744.

Locos then run light to Leicester at 1904 , arriving 2003.

 

DCR  56091 + 56103 should work upto Carlisle on Monday 13/5 with the empties from the initial runs of this working.
This could indicate the 2216 TThO could run on the 14/5 and 16/5 but no timings show in the system yet.

Timings from RTT.

0Z56 Leicester L.I.P. 1000
Leicester 1003-1010
Syston South Jn 1017
Sileby Jn 1023
Loughborough 1028
East Midlands Parkway 1041
Trent South Jn 1044
Sheet Stores Jn 1046
Spondon 1054
Derby Way & Works Junction 1056
Derby 1058
Chaddesden Curve 1100
Chaddesden Sdgs 1104

6Z55 Chaddesden Sdgs 1239
Chaddesden Curve 1243
Derby 1245
L.N.W. Jn. Derby 1248
Melbourne Jn 1249
Sunnyhill 1252-1306
Stenson Jn 1311
North Stafford Jn 1312
Tutbury & Hatton 1319
Uttoxeter Signal Box 1328
Caverswall 1354
Longton 1359
Stoke Jn 1404
Stoke-on-trent 1406
Kidsgrove 1417
Alsager 1424
Barthomley Jn 1428
Crewe Sth Jn Nth Staff J 1431
Crewe 1435-1436
Crewe Coal Yard 1439
Winsford 1447-1453
Hartford Jn 1458
Acton Bridge 1501-1524
Weaver Jn 1530
Acton Grange Jn 1536
Warrington Bank Quay 1539
Dallam Junction 1541
Winwick Jn 1545
Golborne Jn 1548
Springs Branch Jn 1556
Wigan South Jn 1557
Wigan North Western 1557
Balshaw Lane 1605
Euxton Jn 1609
Farington Curve Jn 1613
Preston 1616-1621
Garstang & Catteral 1634
Oubeck Goods Loop 1644-1720
Lancaster 1724
Morecambe South Jn 1726
Carnforth D&U.G.L. 1732-1828
Carnforth North Jn 1830
Oxenholme Lake District 1844
Tebay 1859
Shap Harrisons Sdgs Loop 1914-2008
Penrith North Lakes 2019
Carlisle 2038
Caldew Jn 2039
Carlisle Kingmoor V.Q. 2047

 

DCRail operated two trains between the above locations during the week commencing 29th April.

Running overnight the south bound train left Carlisle around 22:15 on Tuesday and Thursday. Arrival at Boston is around 07:58 (Wednesday and Friday morning respectively).

Return working ran as 13:51 from Boston arriving back at Carlisle 22:33.

56103 and freshly repainted 56091 worked the trains.

More workings are expected over the coming months.

 

56006 has several running days scheduled at the East Lancashire Railway . The loco is currently awaiting some electrical attention but it is envisaged the loco will be available for its first duty on the 31st May. This is a driver experience day and not available to the general public. 56006’s first true running day will be :-

Sun 16th June

Summer Diesel Gala – Thur 4th July – Sat 6th July

Sat 25th August

Sun 26th August

For up to date info please check the C56G website or the ELR Diesel Group loco roster- at the following link:-

http://www.elrdiesel.info/locomotive-roster.php#stmenu

Colas should be providing 56090 to work trains on Saturday only.

Saturday

Visiting Engine: Colas 56090

10:30 Progress and NS663 out. NS663 return. (Demonstration Freight)

11:20 D9539 and 56090 out and return.

12:00 D9539 and 56090 out and return.

12:50 D2595 out. Progress and D2595 return.

13:50 D2595,Stanlow No.4 and 56090 out and return.

14:40 D9539 and 56090 out and return.

15:20 D2595,D9539 and 56090 out and return.

16:10 Stanlow No.4,D9539 and 56090 out and return.

Sunday
——

10:30 Enterprise and D9539 out. D9539 return. (Demonstration Freight)

11:15 Railbus

11:50 D2595 out and return.

12:50 D9539 and NS663 out. Enterprise and D9539 return.

13:40 D9539 out and return.

14:30 D2595,D9539 out. D9539,D2595 return.

15:20 Stanlow out. NS663 and Stanlow return.

 

Always on the look out for rare class 56 images on ebay this picture was spotted recently. Taken at Worksop in 1983 it is interesting because the electrification warning flash is located in a central position on the horn grille rather than the more normal 2 flashes one on either side of the cab front.

I asked a question on WNXX and received responses indicating 56028 had been photographed with this single warning flash at both ends.

Of interest it also came to light that a number , if not all, the Romanian locos were delivered with no warning flashes.

If anyone has any images or knowledge of any other examples of locos wearing this unusual feature please feel free to contribute on WNXX or e.mail at the Chair@…… e.mail on the contacts section of this website.

Apologies to the ebay seller for not requesting permision to use this image but the auction had ended before I had the chance to ask. Given its part of research into the class 56 I’ve assumed it would be allowed under the fair use copyright rules? Please contact us if you’d be willing to relist the item as I’d be keen to purchase it.

 

 

Due to the delays to publication of Gridiron , many members will be unaware of the regular working parties taking place on the last Sunday of each month. As a result we’ve only had two or three people attending and progress is slow. With the next scheduled work for 56006 being late June ( but with the possibility of a late May outing ) we need to ramp up our efforts, hence this appeal.

The next working day is on Sunday 31st March.and ( followed by 28/4, 26/5 & 30/6 etc)

We have several tasks scheduled but the main one for the 31st March is to prepare the site for our storage container to be delivered in early April. We need to level the ballast and lay down concrete sleepers to make a level base for the container.

There are other jobs to do on 56006 which don’t involve lifting and shovelling !

Please get in touch via the chair@ ….. e.mail in the contact section of this website  if you feel able to come along and help.

Update on 12th March

As expected a path has been entered into the railway system for the 40mph transfer of 56301 back from Peak Forest to Leicester UKRL.

Departure is 23:57 on Wednesday 13th March and arrival is 03:44 the morning of Thursday 14th March.

Not that anyone other than those whose work nightshift or on the railway themselves will probably see this movement but passing times are approx 0100 at Hope, 0200 at Chesterfield and 0300 at Clay Cross.

Just thinking about it is making me feel sleepy……

 

 

With the arrival of 56081 & return of 56098 to Peak Forest, 56301 is released to return back to Leicester for the planned bogie exchange. We were aware 56301 has suffered slight wheel flats and will be restricted to 40mph during the journey. It is likely this trip will be arranged overnight to minimise disruption.

If we receive advance notice of the movement we will post it here.

 

56081 should go out on test from Leicester UKRL to Doncaster Decoy GBRF.

Departure is 0852 from Leicester and 56098 plus 47727 should go along too.

56081 is being prepared to take over from 56301 at Peak Forest

Update Sat 9th Feb – Gridiron should go to the printers this weekend . Keep checking here as we’ll try to post an update when the printer Gipping Press put them in the envelopes.

Cheers

Keith

As you may be aware we’ve had a change of Editor on Gridiron and unfortunately this has resulted in a delay to the arrival of the next edition. It is very close to complete now and should be going to the printers very soon.

Apologies to all  members for this delay.

Keith