Rail Freight Flows and News UK

[BRX]

Are you sure you are seeing those particular moves?
RTT definitely shows them both running as class 0 (light engine moves) both yesterday...

Realtime Trains | Departures from Lewes between 1045 and 1530 on 03/08/2020

Train information at Lewes between 1045 and 1530 on 03/08/2020. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

...and today:

Realtime Trains | Departures from Lewes between 1045 and 1530 on 04/08/2020

Train information at Lewes between 1045 and 1530 on 04/08/2020. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

In addition to RTT, TOPS shows this afternoon's move running as 0Z71 (again, a light engine headcode):



I know TOPS can sometimes be wrong due to human error, so as a final check, I looked at the
OTT signalling diagram for the Lewes area which also shows the train running as a class 0:

View attachment 81806

In my experience, it is extremely unusual for a Train Describer to incorrectly depict a
class 6 train as a light engine, so is it possible that you could have seen a different train?




MARK

This one for example, today

Realtime Trains - 637B 1130 Tolworth Sdgs to Newhaven Marine Ag Tml Dbc

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Was a rake of red DBS hoppers when it came past me here in south london.


However... I can confirm that this one:

Realtime Trains - 081U 1501 Newhaven Marine Ag Tml Dbc to Hither Green Down Recp.

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Is indeed a light engine

 

[Freightmaster]

However... I can confirm that this one:

Realtime Trains - 081U 1501 Newhaven Marine Ag Tml Dbc to Hither Green Down Recp.

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Is indeed a light engine

Thanks for confirming that I wasn't going mad!

Your original post specifically mentioned trains running between Hither Green and Newhaven,
which are the route learning learning light engine movements.

There are also up to three loaded trains a week running from Newhaven to locations such as Brentford,
Tolworth and Neasden operated by DBS, plus stone trains to Newhaven from Merehead, operated by FHH.



MARK

 

[158756]

Thanks for confirming that I wasn't going mad!

Your original post specifically mentioned trains running between Hither Green and Newhaven,
which are the route learning learning light engine movements.

There are also up to three loaded trains a week running from Newhaven to locations such as Brentford,
Tolworth and Neasden operated by DBS, plus stone trains to Newhaven from Merehead, operated by FHH.

MARK

This seems a strange arrangement. Are they different types of stone, or some other reason why the plant in Newhaven can't use the local supply?

 

[furnessvale]

This seems a strange arrangement. Are they different types of stone, or some other reason why the plant in Newhaven can't use the local supply?

Merehead will be limestone. Newhaven is sea dredged gravel/sand.

Good quality concrete needs angular stone, like limestone rather than round pebbles.

 

[BRX]

Thanks for confirming that I wasn't going mad!

Your original post specifically mentioned trains running between Hither Green and Newhaven,
which are the route learning learning light engine movements.

There are also up to three loaded trains a week running from Newhaven to locations such as Brentford,
Tolworth and Neasden operated by DBS, plus stone trains to Newhaven from Merehead, operated by FHH.



MARK

That Tolworth - Newhaven one does go via Hither Green though (a rather roundabout route) ... I'd spotted it as a new service but perhaps that's because it doesn't usually take that routing?

Not only does it go via Hither Green but it has a stop at Pouparts Jn: "Service loses and gains coaches here" which is a bit unusual for a freight train and I suspect not what really happens!

Realtime Trains - 637B 1130 Tolworth Sdgs to Newhaven Marine Ag Tml Dbc

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[L+Y]

Promoted by taking the S&C charter service on Monday- does timber traffic still run from Ribblehead? The lines looked rusty so I'm assuming not- has the traffic permanently ended, or is it merely a temporary Covid victim?

 

[Freightmaster]

Promoted by taking the S&C charter service on Monday- does timber traffic still run from Ribblehead? The lines looked rusty so I'm assuming not..

Timber hasn't been loaded at Ribblehead for several years - the only traffic nowadays is stone to Leeds
which runs for a week or so every few months.

- has the traffic permanently ended, or is it merely a temporary Covid victim?

The mill at Chirk closed in March due to lack of demand and the opportunity was taken to undertake
a program of repairs/maintenance. I understand that this is now complete and the train from Carlisle
via the S+C should restart soon (the wagons were moved there last week from Newton Abbott)




MARK

 

[BRX]

Very pleasing to see some freight being trialed on the FNL

https://twitter.com/railfreightscot/status/1290983008925888512

 

[Chingy]

Machen Quarry is receiving traffic again from next Saturday.

 

[Oxfordblues]

Machen Quarry is receiving traffic again from next Saturday.

Despatching, I suspect. Should relieve the boredom for the signaller at Park Junction!

 

[158756]

A new flow of paper slurry from Aberdeen to Spalding, where it is transferred to road transport onwards to King's Lynn, has started, operated by Colas.
What would be the reason for not taking it all the way to King's Lynn by rail out of interest?

Judging by pictures online it looks like this train ran today with just four wagons, and has been very short on other occasions too. Can't see it lasting like that.

 

[stantheman]

Judging by pictures online it looks like this train ran today with just four wagons, and has been very short on other occasions too. Can't see it lasting like that.

Depends on the price

 

[pmb]

Friday 14th August saw a DRS operated stone train from Barrow to Sellafield, using the JNA wagons which had recently been trialled on the Sizewell line. I don't know if this will be a short term or long term contract?

 

[stantheman]

What’s happened to the Killoch to Port Talbot coal , seems to have vanished after just a couple of runs ?

 

[wallan]

What’s happened to the Killoch to Port Talbot coal , seems to have vanished after just a couple of runs ?

Seems to have reverted back to Blyth - Tees Yard - Pt Talbot , one running today

 

[pmb]

Tesco has launched a new £5m investment programme to get more freight onto rail, particularly in the north of England. This includes 500 new rail boxes and 2 new stacking cranes. The new service will run between Daventry and Middlesborough according to the article.

Tesco steps up rail investment plans

Rail Minister hails corporate backing for efforts to shift freight off the roads and onto the rails

www.businessgreen.com

 

[furnessvale]

Tesco has launched a new £5m investment programme to get more freight onto rail, particularly in the north of England. This includes 500 new rail boxes and 2 new stacking cranes. The new service will run between Daventry and Middlesborough according to the article.

Tesco steps up rail investment plans

Rail Minister hails corporate backing for efforts to shift freight off the roads and onto the rails

www.businessgreen.com

Already running, and has been for several months. Still good news though.

 

[Meerkat]

Already running, and has been for several months. Still good news though.

Where does it unload at the Middlesbrough end?

 

[furnessvale]

Where does it unload at the Middlesbrough end?

South Bank Tees Dock (Drs)

 

[Iskra]

Already running, and has been for several months. Still good news though.

What route does it take?

 

[furnessvale]

What route does it take?

RealTimeTrains is your friend.

Realtime Trains | Departures from South Bank Tees Dock (Drs) all day on 18/09/2020

Train information at South Bank Tees Dock (Drs) all day on 18/09/2020. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[stantheman]

There is a strange 6S05 Arcow to Mossend just now

 

[Freightmaster]

There is a strange 6S05 Arcow to Mossend just now

It's stone traffic - the first train ran on Wednesday September 2nd:

66714 6S05 At Carstairs

Something a bit different for Scotland. 66714 'Cromer Lifeboat' is photographed in the pouring rain at Carstairs with a rake of GBRF and Tarmac hoppers working 6S05 from Arcow Quarry Gbrf to Mossend Pd Stlg Gbrf, 2/9/20. Possibly a new freight flow for Scotland? (C)Stewart Atkinson Photography

www.flickr.com

MARK

 

[furnessvale]

It's stone traffic - the first train ran on Wednesday September 2nd:

66714 6S05 At Carstairs

Something a bit different for Scotland. 66714 'Cromer Lifeboat' is photographed in the pouring rain at Carstairs with a rake of GBRF and Tarmac hoppers working 6S05 from Arcow Quarry Gbrf to Mossend Pd Stlg Gbrf, 2/9/20. Possibly a new freight flow for Scotland? (C)Stewart Atkinson Photography

www.flickr.com

MARK

Unless I am mistaken, the stone from Arcow and the immediate area includes chippings, ideal for road surface dressing (tar and chippings). As such, there is a national demand for this product and I would expect more rail traffic nationwide now there is an available loading point.

 

[stantheman]

Looking at Arcow on RTT there are an incredible number of destinations , suspect most of them are Q paths .

 

[Condor7]

There is a strange 6S05 Arcow to Mossend just now

For the record it was 66747 ‘Made In Sheffield‘.

 

[furnessvale]

Looking at Arcow on RTT there are an incredible number of destinations , suspect most of them are Q paths .

Yes. I believe the type of stone will mean that one delivery a week or fortnight will satisfy the requirements of any single destination. Thus one or two activations daily will send trains to different locations each day although paths have to be kept to allow that to happen.

 

[stantheman]

Yesterday there was a Neath Abbey Whatf to Doncaster train , what does this convey and how often does it run

 

[Freightmaster]

Yesterday there was a Neath Abbey Wharf to Doncaster train , what does this convey...?

Gritstone.

...and how often does it run?

Yesterday was the first and only time that particular train has run to my knowledge.





MARK

 

[Class385]

Saw on Twitter today that Freightliner have been awarded a new Tarmac contact from Tunstead and other sites. Is this new traffic or taken over from another operator ?

Freightliner continues Tarmac relationship with new contract. - G&W UK / Europe Region Companies

Freightliner, a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W), has been awarded a new contract with the UK’s leading sustainable construction solutions company, Tarmac.

www.gwrr.co.uk