geordieblue
Member
There’s a slightly random Arpley-Doncaster running today: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R67506/2025-05-07/detailed . Any relation to the train that ran a couple of weeks ago?
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Rail Freight Flows and News UK
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HST125Scorton
Member
Confirmed sighting of 66304 which looks to be collecting them 5x IFA Flats.
Adrian Barr
Member
It's just the loco at the front powering - having the second loco in the middle puts it in the right place to haul the second portion away (without any loco moves being required) when the jumbo train splits at Hanwell Bridge or Southall.
When the trains were DB-hauled they split at Acton, the loco (normally a 59) would usually haul the first portion away and a loco would come off the stabling point at Acton to haul the second portion. There was a lunchtime arrival from Merehead which often ran with three (shorter) portions but most jumbo trains run with two.
The empties are also often combined into jumbo trains, but this is usually done at Wembley Reception sidings where the layout makes shunting the locos around easier than at Hanwell or Southall.
6V60 with two locos (Oct 2024): https://www.flickr.com/photos/93293618@N05/54109296337/ (Photo: FEWS FOTS)
6V60 with three locos (Apr 2025): https://www.flickr.com/photos/d1059/54441648419/ (Photo: Stephen Dance)
7C77 with four locos (Jun 2022): https://www.flickr.com/photos/d1059/52162472203/ (Photo: Stephen Dance)
Collected 8749093039 / 3286 / 3849 / 3898. It may have been intended to collect 8749093005 too but that one's still at Arpley.
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Portbury steel traffic news:
Last week we had both DB and GBRF running trains each day, with an early DB working (6Z56/57) arriving just after 7am and departing mid morning, passing the incoming GBRF working at Ashton just after 11am. This ran every day.
On Saturday, a DB return trip operated as 6Z55/53, on the more usual morning schedule. GBRF worked empties into the dock and their loco then ran light to Bristol East Depot.
GBRF returned on Tuesday after the bank holiday with a light engine move from Bristol East to collect the loaded steel. This departed about 50 mins late in the evening, and from my vantage point across the river it didn’t look like much steel was on it, though the KEA wagons make it hard to tell.
On weds a GBRF incoming service was scheduled but took a left turn at Dr Days and ran into Bristol East Depot instead. It’s not clear if this was empties or a light engine move (coded 0C92 but listed as conveying 600 tons). 66713 worked this but then did a few other trips out of East depot (Cardiff & Westbury).
No further GBRF trains ran on the branch after Tuesday, and on Friday a DB train ran (The 6Z50 afternoon train). So who knows what is happening, but it might indicate GBRF are having more issues.
Last week we had both DB and GBRF running trains each day, with an early DB working (6Z56/57) arriving just after 7am and departing mid morning, passing the incoming GBRF working at Ashton just after 11am. This ran every day.
On Saturday, a DB return trip operated as 6Z55/53, on the more usual morning schedule. GBRF worked empties into the dock and their loco then ran light to Bristol East Depot.
GBRF returned on Tuesday after the bank holiday with a light engine move from Bristol East to collect the loaded steel. This departed about 50 mins late in the evening, and from my vantage point across the river it didn’t look like much steel was on it, though the KEA wagons make it hard to tell.
On weds a GBRF incoming service was scheduled but took a left turn at Dr Days and ran into Bristol East Depot instead. It’s not clear if this was empties or a light engine move (coded 0C92 but listed as conveying 600 tons). 66713 worked this but then did a few other trips out of East depot (Cardiff & Westbury).
No further GBRF trains ran on the branch after Tuesday, and on Friday a DB train ran (The 6Z50 afternoon train). So who knows what is happening, but it might indicate GBRF are having more issues.
ActonChris
Member
The Southampton service to and from Masborough is being replaced by a Felixstowe service as the customer pulls out of Southampton.
4L12 05:39 Masborough - Felixstowe North DBC
(RTT)
Returning as:
4E12 17:45 Felixstowe North - Masborough DBC
(RTT)
Starts this week. Expect further movement in the coming weeks from other customers moving around.
4L12 05:39 Masborough - Felixstowe North DBC
(RTT)
Returning as:
4E12 17:45 Felixstowe North - Masborough DBC
(RTT)
Starts this week. Expect further movement in the coming weeks from other customers moving around.
I think they’ve done that before, just using the Portbury path to get something to East Depot for unrelated reasons.
Anyhow, tomorrow it appears that we have both DB and GBRF STP workings in the timetable, which suggests both will run as per two weeks ago, passing at Ashton around 11am which is a little too early for me to take a lunch break and pop down! Bring back the two DB trains per day which crossed around the more convenient time of 1pm.
Web4160
Member
66654 on 6Z57 to Margam left Portbury docks 40 minutes late this morning as a result 66314 on 6C92 from Margam arrived 30 mins late despite Real Time Trains recording its arrival as on time.
Attachments
Photographed from the Avonmouth Bridge by the look of it!
Parson St or the nearby footbridge would probably have been a good place to see these today, given there was also 37240+kettle passing through late morning and a working out of the old freightliner depot (which sees occasional use for wagon storage including short term storage of engineering trains).
especially as the load of an early Long Welded Rail train speared the back of a loco in the early days, before the rails were clamped down in the middle of the train.* I thought the wagons might have big heavy headstocks (?) but doesn't seem to be the case from the pic...
P.s. I guess it would still require a very expensive repair!
However, aren't most freights OMO nowadays?
*OT, I believe they then went to 2 anchorages - and found the train couldn't go round corners!
Web4160
Member
Yes photographed from the M5 bridge. A bit of a noisy spot!
Express380
Member
https://www.gbrailfreight.com/caree...t-time-freight-train-manager---st.-blazey/job
www.gbrailfreight.com
Apologies if this is the wrong thread, so GBRF have posted job vacancies for freight at St Blazey (listed above) does this mean they are taking over the clay runs? Anymore insight into this would be gratefully received.
careers job details - GBRf
www.gbrailfreight.com
Apologies if this is the wrong thread, so GBRF have posted job vacancies for freight at St Blazey (listed above) does this mean they are taking over the clay runs? Anymore insight into this would be gratefully received.
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littledude
Member
Presumably this is for RHTT work?
“Consisting of Full time work during thr Autumn and Winter months and then you will get your Spring and Summer off!!”
“Consisting of Full time work during thr Autumn and Winter months and then you will get your Spring and Summer off!!”
geordieblue
Member
There's another opening on the website, also set at St Blazey, advertised as year-round so presumably that will be for the clay
Sun Chariot
Established Member
This post is one of idle curiosity.
Since mid March, 6O68 Westbury - Crawley (aggregates) has typically shown two different trailing tonnages:
1800t when pathed with bogie hoppers, for Stone Terminal 2.
2000t when pathed with bogie boxes, for Stone Terminal 1.
Simples, yes? Except... last Tuesday's data showed 1800t but the service ran with 19 bogie boxes; and today's data showed 2000t, yet 19 bogie hoppers ran.
So that blows my theory out! What is the likely reason for the different tonnages in the data fed to Realtime Trains etc?
Attached are the paths in RTT - and the actual trains which ran on them.
Since mid March, 6O68 Westbury - Crawley (aggregates) has typically shown two different trailing tonnages:
1800t when pathed with bogie hoppers, for Stone Terminal 2.
2000t when pathed with bogie boxes, for Stone Terminal 1.
Simples, yes? Except... last Tuesday's data showed 1800t but the service ran with 19 bogie boxes; and today's data showed 2000t, yet 19 bogie hoppers ran.
So that blows my theory out! What is the likely reason for the different tonnages in the data fed to Realtime Trains etc?
Attached are the paths in RTT - and the actual trains which ran on them.
Attachments
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zwk500
Veteran Member
I note the 2000t WTT schedule is TSX so the STP Tuesday Schedule maybe has to get around something that needs the slightly lower trailing weight for the SRTs?
Having said that a quick flick through the WTT schedule vs last Tuesday's STP schedule didn't show any major timing differences so have no idea.
Having said that a quick flick through the WTT schedule vs last Tuesday's STP schedule didn't show any major timing differences so have no idea.
geordieblue
Member
I’ve just spotted that RTT is suggesting a Chirk-Baglan train ran for the first time in ages last week - anyone got a clue? https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...25-05-13/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt
Shows cancelled? perhaps the arrival time was input by a signaller in error.
Class15
Established Member
Seems to have run:
(Railcam link to service in question)
EDIT: the timings on that seem extremely strange so I don’t think it actually ran; no idea why all those times are in though.
Penmorfa
Member
There is a 14.49 Penmaenmawr - Leyland 6N91 booked for tomorrow, a new destination. The stock arrived from Chaddesden this afternoon. No loco or wagon ID but any appreciated.
ExRes
Established Member
First DCR service to Leyland, loco is 60055 but can't help with the wagons
Penmorfa
Member
Excellent thanks, second 60 this year on the coast
xotGD
Established Member
- Joined
- 4 Feb 2017
- Messages
- 7,880
I see that 6O74 1139 Prestwick B.P.Oil to Grain Oil Terminal Gbrf via the S&C is running today.
If I'd noticed earlier I'd have turned out for a phot. Oh well.
If I'd noticed earlier I'd have turned out for a phot. Oh well.
Class15
Established Member
Previously I recall there being a 4M53 Felixstowe to Trafford Park service. I‘m assuming that this was removed at the same time as 4L67 going the other way. Now, it seems to terminate at Ipswich Yard. What is the purpose of this service, wagon maintenance at Ipswich?
Link to 4M53 Felixstowe to Ipswich service
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
I wonder if this service will return to Trafford at some point.
Link to 4M53 Felixstowe to Ipswich service
Realtime Trains | 4M53 2028 Felixstowe North F.L.T. to Ipswich S.S. | 29/05/2025
Real-time train running information for 4M53 2028 departure from Felixstowe North F.L.T. to Ipswich S.S. on 29/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
I wonder if this service will return to Trafford at some point.
Freightmaster
Verified Rep
- Joined
- 7 Jul 2009
- Messages
- 4,490
4M53 forms this:
Realtime Trains | 4M86 0409 Ipswich S.S. to Lawley Street F.L.T. | 29/05/2025
Real-time train running information for 4M86 0409 departure from Ipswich S.S. to Lawley Street F.L.T. on 29/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
MARK
Class15
Established Member
Thank you! I don’t suppose you know why it sits at Ipswich for the night instead of using one path the whole way?4M53 forms this:
Realtime Trains | 4M86 0409 Ipswich S.S. to Lawley Street F.L.T. | 29/05/2025
Real-time train running information for 4M86 0409 departure from Ipswich S.S. to Lawley Street F.L.T. on 29/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
MARK
Freightmaster
Verified Rep
- Joined
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- Messages
- 4,490
It has to get out of the way to make room at Felixstowe for late evening arrivals.
MARK
Class15
Established Member
Thank you Mark. That makes sense!