CLASS 20
ENGLISH Electric Type 1 No. D8007 entered traffic in September 1957 and now in its 64th year (as No. 20007) it can still be found out on the network. On January 4, Nos. 20007+20142 crossed over the West Coast route at Tamworth (High Level) forming the 0Z20/13.30 Butterley (Midland Railway Centre) to Kings Norton On-Track Plant Depot and next day ran to Wolverhampton and back via Sutton Park.
Meanwhile another pair of Type 1s took to the main line on January 5 when the Locomotive Services’ duo of Nos. 20107+20096 ran light from Carlisle Wapping to Crewe HS. At Golborne Junction, the ‘20s’ were routed via Earlestown to Winwick Junction instead of via the direct (1864) route and thus passed the site of Vulcan Foundry where many of the type were constructed, although Nos. 20107+20096 were both from a batch built at Darlington.
CLASS 37
ALTHOUGH No. 97301 (formerly 37100) of the four-strong QETS (Network Rail pool) has been at Loram, Derby since July 2020, its three companions extended their operational sphere during the first weeks of the new year.
Having accompanied No. 97303 (37178) from Derby to Machynlleth and Aberystwyth early on January 5, and to Pwllheli the following morning, No. 97304 (37217) set off from Derby during the evening of January 11, with a test train bound for Middleton Towers and then Cambridge. Next up was a trip from Cambridge to Cromer and Sheringham the latter reached at 02.25 on January 13. That night, No. 97304 departed from Norwich for Colchester via Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and the East Suffolk line, remaining in the Anglian Region until heading back to Derby on January 16.
This story is from the March 2021 edition of Rail Express.
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This story is from the March 2021 edition of Rail Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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