TRACTION 2006 Part 1
The
first five months of 2006 exceeded our expectations to produce such a
fascinating amount of workings that we’ve had to extend the running time
of this programme!
FREIGHT
TRAFFIC & TRACTION: Class 56s return to the main
line for Fastline Freight, 37 419 hauling Class 56s to Old Oak Common for
component recovery, 47 802 on the Warrington-Willesden mail, 47 840’s
two trips to Shoeburyness on scrap EMU moves, ex-DRS Class 87s return to
traffic on Royal Mail trains, 37 425 on the Dagenham-Bridgend Ford vans,
the first DRS Class 47s to reach Plymouth, 47 145 hauling box wagons from
Stoke to the Isle of Grain, 90 001 hauling EWS’ Garston-Dagenham
automotive service, 47 830 on the Ayr-Oxwellmains cement, 37 425 reaches
Exeter with the ‘silver bullet’ china clay tanks, 31 128 & 31 190
hauling steel wagons from Doncaster to Stoke…and the West London
‘Tractor’ bonanza including 37 425 & 37 405 on the
Brentford-Appleford ‘Binliner’!
PASSENGER
TRACTION, RAILTOURS & SPECIALS: the unprecedented
sight of two HST power cars ‘back to back’ hauling the
Penzance-Paddington ‘sleepers’, Class 47 haulage returns to the
Riviera ‘sleepers’ with 47 813, Class 37s back on Cardiff-Rhymney
services, Virgin Class 57s on Arriva North Wales services, 47 840 rescuing
a Penzance-Paddington service, Class 50-hauled service trains for Arriva,
57 604 ventures to Shoeburyness in Essex to collect redundant slam-door
stock, 47 245 returns to the main line for West Coast Railway
Company…and the launch of the ‘Blue Pullman’ with newly re-painted
47 709 & 47 712.
THERE’S
ALSO:
Network Rail Class 73s and
converted Gatwick MLV’s on de-icing duties, 37 411 & 37 425 on the
Serco test train in Kent, 33 103 breaking new ‘Crompton’ ground on
Devon and Cornwall branches, 56 057 working the Lafarge self-discharge
train on the Nene Valley Railway, former DRS ‘Cromptons’ return to
traffic for West Coast Railway Company, track re-laying trains on the
closed Ebbw Vale branch, Class 87s en-route from Oxley to Long Marston,
Class 37-hauled railtours along the Cambrian, 67 020 hauling redundant TPO
stock away from Exeter…and 45 112 making a mega-rare ‘Peak’ visit to
Kingswear!
"If you are new to the TRACTION programmes you
will not be disappointed. 100 minutes of solid enjoyment." TRACTION
MAGAZINE
