8/2/09

33109 has ventured onto the Manchester Metrolink system joining the three 37's already engaged on egineering train duties. The 33 was called up early Saturday morning due to a fault on 37418. A photo of 37109 at work is here

47492 is currently for sale. The part restored loco left the WCRC depot last year and moved to a siding nearby on Network Rail property with little work undertaken since then.

Recent photos of 33053 and D1041 added

7/2/10

56098 will move to Allelys Haulage yard in Studley from Shackerstone next week where it will be lifted and undergo a bogie swap with scrap loco 56056 which has been brought across from Kingsbury. Once the work is complete 56098 will return to Shackerstone and 56056 to Kingsbury.

It has also been indicated that 56134 will not be heading for the scrap yard after all. The loco was successfully tendered for from DB Schenker during December but further metal thefts from the loco while at Healey Mills put its future in doubt. It currently resides at Doncaster Wood Yard.

6/2/10

A timetable and loco roster for the ELR 'East Coast Day' on February 13th featuring 55016 and 55022 is here

Recent photos of 20059 31206 31206 D7029 and D821 added

31/1/10

The West Somerset Railway have announced details of the planned "GWR 175 Diesels in the West" event on June 11-13 with D821 and D1062 invited to attend with D9520 from the Nene Valley. It is also hoped to have D1010 back in traffic and D7017 repainted into BR green. D832, D9526 and D1661 will be in use too. The service on Friday will be all diesel with one steam diagram operating over the weekend.

Photos of the locos involved with the Manchester Metrolink work at Bury are here here and here

Photos of work on 45041 are here here here

Recent photos of 20110 20118 45149 47105 50007 and 73129 added along with an archive view of 40106

28/1/10

ELR based 37109, 37418 and 37901 are to be used on Manchester Metrolink engineering trains over the weekends of January 31-February 1 and February 6-7, this confirmed after 37418 ventured out from Bury to Bridge 12 near Whitefield on a gauging run early last Sunday morning. The Metrolink is closed between Bury and Whitefield for track renewals near Radcliffe and Whitefield and all infrastructure trains will originate from Baron Street where 33109 will also be used for train preparation duties.

26/1/10

50033 has had its engine freed and barred over at Tyseley by members of the 50021 loco group. 50033's engine had become seized after a period of storage. The loco is now in the care of the 50021 Group who are returning the loco to working order.

The Swanage Railway will operate a diesel diagram each day during the school half term week of February 13-21. The train will be class 33 hauled utilising ETH stock. A timetable is here

The Nene Valley Railway Diesel Event on March 6 & 7 is planned to feature visiting locos in the shape of 20048, 31128, 46045 & 47375 as well as a Hanson class 56 and a GBRf 66. These will work alongside the operational home fleet of class 14s and 31108, 37518 and 40106.

The Midland Railway Butterley is planning its Diesel Event on May 22 & 23 and will have 31206 and 14901 as visiting locos both of which are on their first visit away after restoration work. Home fleet in use will be 08590, 31271, 44004, 45041, 45133 and 47401. Full details are here

The CFPS and DTG are now taking bookings for the two day East Lancs Champion Railtour due to run on May 15/16. Details here

Photos of 20142 55022 and 73138 added

20/1/10

The most recent working weekend on 55002 saw the air receivers refitted to the no.2 cab and work has been progressing on the air intake systems on both engines. The loco is awaiting entry into the workshop to allow both nose ends to be fitted out and and to fit the overhauled radiators and silencers into the roof sections. Repairs to one of the battery boxes can then be completed and batteries fitted. Future working parties will concentrate on the generators which are in filthy condition but give good insulation readings. For more information click here

The Northants Type 2 Group are selling their spare class 25 cab which has been in storage at Pitsford. More details are here

A recent photo of 37893 added along with an archive pic of 50049

15/1/10

The East Lancs Railway are holding a East Coast Theme Day on February 13th featuring D9016 and 55022 as well as D1501 hauling a freight train. The event will be the last operating day for D9016 before the loco is withdrawn for restoration work. D9016 will also operate a driver experience day on February 12th on which there are still places available. Details here

The visiting locos for the Mid Norfolk Railway Spring Diesel Event on March 19-21 will be 26007, 45133 and 46045 as well as a visiting mainline loco. All will work alongside the home fleet during the event. More details will be available nearer the time.

Photo and details for 37893 added

Recent photos of 25313 37023 37254 37254 45125 47105 50002 and 55022 added

13/1/10

37893 has been purchased by an established class 37 owner and was moved from Bescot to Allely's Yard at Studley for storage before Christmas. The loco is in good condition and a return to working order will take place in due course.

37119 ended its near three year stay at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway today when it returned to York NRM behind 47760.

Recent photos of D9531 25265 and 37418

11/1/10

The proposed CFPS tour to Cornwall featuring 40145 and D1015 will run on May 15th/16th after substantial interest was shown when it was proposed in November. The plan is run from Crewe/Manchester to Penzance via Midlands, Banbury, Westbury and to visit the cornish branches of Falmouth, Newquay and St Ives. 40145 will be the main tour engine from the North West with D1015 featuring from Westbury where it will work in tandem with 40145 and then top and tail on the branches. Booking details will be available shortly.

Photos of the GCR Diesel Weekend are here
Additional photos added to the ELR gallery

A recent photo of 37418 and 45108 added

9/1/10

Photos of the ELR Diesel Day are here

Recent photo of 31203 added

7/1/10

55022 collected D9016 from Barrow Hill yesterday and hauled it to its new home on the East Lancs Railway. A photo is here

50033 was shunted down from storage on Tyseley Top Bank to the turntable area last weekend to allow remedial work to take place with a view to returning the loco to working order.

47004 is to leave the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway after a review of the diesel fleet based at the line. The owning group are investigating options for a new home.

27056 has been withdrawn from this weekend GCR diesel event due to an electrical fault. Updated diagrams are here

Photos of on-going bodywork repairs to 45041 at Butterley are here here here here and here

Recent photos of D9529 25173 25278 37906 47105 47270 47715 47715 50019 56097 and an archive picture of 33034

1/1/10

A timetable and loco roster for the GCR Steam Heat Weekend on January 9/10 is here
A timetable and loco roster for the East Lancs Diesel Day on January 9 is here

Recent photos of 25057 33046 33201 37190 37215 37248 and 47376 added

29/12/09

Beaver Sports, the owners of 55022, have announced the  completion of  the purchase of D9016 'Gordon Highlander' after the proposed sale to DRS was not completed. It is planned for 55022 to collect D9016 from Barrow Hill early next week and move it to its new home at the East Lancashire Railway. Both Deltics should operate at the diesel event on Saturday January 9th. The new owners would like to express thanks to HNRC and Barrow Hill staff for their co-operation and to Dave Greenwood for spending all of today examining the loco prior to its move. Special thanks to the East Lancashire Railway for allowing the owners to base another locomotive there.

50015 has been withdrawn from the ELR event on January 9th as the locos bodywork repairs will not be completed in time.

A change to the line up at the Wensleydale Railway Diesel Day on January 2nd will see 47715 work four round trips on its own due to the withdrawl of 47703 with traction motor problems.

Photos of the GWR Xmas Diesel Event are here

Recent photo 25278 and D1015 added

27/12/09

D9016 has been added to the line up for the East Lancs Diesel Event on January 9th working alongside D1501, 40145, 50015 and 55022. The locomotive is expected to be collected from Barrow Hill by 55022 in early January.

The stay of 56134 in the world of preservation was short lived because further metal thefts in recent weeks from the loco whilst stored in Healey Mills Yard has made work to return it to working condition very difficult and as a result it has been re-sold for scrap.