20901 & 20905 - Balfour Beatty

[ExRes]

Out and about again today and tomorrow 0Z20 Ashford Crane to Ashford Crane.

Nice scenic day for the 20s on 0940 0Z20 Ashford and return via Hastings, Tunbridge Wells, Catford Loop, London Victoria and Maidstone East, todays (Tuesday) 0945 0Z20 is running to London Victoria and then back via the Kent coast

 

[Deepgreen]

This was the pair running along the North Downs line on 7 August 2025, passing Gomshall westbound (heavily reduced-size photos). Unfortunately, someone had left the headlight lit on the rear of the pair!

 

[ExRes]

This was the pair running along the North Downs line on 7 August 2025, passing Gomshall westbound (heavily reduced-size photos). Unfortunately, someone had left the headlight lit on the rear of the pair!

I'm sure the driver would say it was the bright sunshine making it look as though the headlight was on ........

Suggested by a contributor to WNXX that these Ashford Crane Depot trips are GBRf driver traction training for Chiltern RHTT work

 

[Deepgreen]

I'm sure the driver would say it was the bright sunshine making it look as though the headlight was on ........

Suggested by a contributor to WNXX that these Ashford Crane Depot trips are GBRf driver traction training for Chiltern RHTT work

It certainly wasn't! Also, there were two oblong LED lights mounted below the buffers - both locos had them, and I don't know if they are marker lights (odd positioning) or surveying lights (more likely I think). If training for Chiltern work, I would expect them to run over the Chiltern routes...

 

[ExRes]

If training for Chiltern work, I would expect them to run over the Chiltern routes...

It's traction training rather than routes so the base will be the most convenient place for the staff being trained

 

[trainmania100]

It certainly wasn't! Also, there were two oblong LED lights mounted below the buffers - both locos had them, and I don't know if they are marker lights (odd positioning) or surveying lights (more likely I think). If training for Chiltern work, I would expect them to run over the Chiltern routes...

Interesting uniform on the driver...

Return trip running Friday via Redhill. 0902 off Ashford crane depot

Train 04568 On Is No Longer Valid

Live Train Times for Train to departing on | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

 

[Deepgreen]

Interesting uniform on the driver...

Return trip running Friday via Redhill. 0902 off Ashford crane depot

Train 04568 On Is No Longer Valid

Live Train Times for Train to departing on | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

Yes - seemingy a rugby shirt. Regarding the rear headlight left on, I assume the trainer should make sure this sort of thing is correct. I'm still curious about the rectangular LED lights below the buffers.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2025 ==

It's traction training rather than routes so the base will be the most convenient place for the staff being trained

Do you happen know which TOC's/FOC's staff will be driving the Chiltern RHTTs?

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Yes - seemingy a rugby shirt. Regarding the rear headlight left on, I assume the trainer should make sure this sort of thing is correct. I'm still curious about the rectangular LED lights below the buffers.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2025 ==


Do you happen know which TOC's/FOC's staff will be driving the Chiltern RHTTs?

Freightliner usually do the Chiltern RHTT.

 

[trainmania100]

Freightliner usually do the Chiltern RHTT.

They've lost the contract, all RHTT is operated by colas and GBRf this year. Presume GBRf have the Chilterns, and will use the 20s, as GBRf drivers are being trained on them out of Ashford this week

 

[High Dyke]

Im still curious about the rectangular LED lights below the buffers.

Are these additional lights for when the pair are operating the 'drain train'?

 

[Jacob Porrett]

They've lost the contract, all RHTT is operated by colas and GBRf this year. Presume GBRf have the Chilterns, and will use the 20s, as GBRf drivers are being trained on them out of Ashford this week

Oh yeah I forgot about that. I would guess GBRF considering they base sets at King's Norton during the season.

 

[train_lover]

As mentioned, this is a driver training course for the chilterns RHTT circuit. The lack of trip cock fitted locos are the reason for this. The course will run for the next 2 weeks.

 

[ExRes]

20901 & 20905 worked 0902 0Z20 Ashford Crane Depot to Woking Up Yard Reception



** Updated Monday 18th August **


20901 & 20905 working 2334 6J09 Woking Up Yard Sidings to Bagshot with the Drain Train

Tuesday 19th - 0440 Ascot to Woking Up Yard Sidings & 2334 to Bagshot
Wednesday 20th - 0515 Ascot to Woking Up Yard Sidings & 2337 to Ascot
Thursday 21st - 0510 Frimley to Woking Up Yard Sidings & 2337 to Ascot

 

[ExRes]

20901 & 20905 worked 0510 6J09 Frimley to Woking Up Yard Sidings with the Drain Train and 1105 0Z20 Woking Up Yard Reception to Ashford Crane Depot



** Updated Wednesday 27th August **


20901 & 20905 worked 0945 0Z20 Ashford Crane Depot to Ashford Crane Depot via a six hour sightseeing / driver training tour of Kent



** Updated Thursday 28th August **


20901 & 20905 worked 1215 0Z20 Ashford Crane Depot to Effingham Junction CHS

 

[ExRes]

20901 & 20905 worked 0830 0Z20 Effingham Junction CHS to Effingham Junction CHS on a driver training tour of Surrey

 

[trainmania100]

20901 & 20905 worked 0830 0Z20 Effingham Junction CHS to Effingham Junction CHS on a driver training tour of Surrey


*Scheduled Wednesday - 0830 0Z20 another Surrey tour
*Scheduled Thursday - 1215 0Z20 to Woking Up Yard Sdgs

Caught them at Guildford today by surprise.

By the time I read this, I was already on a late running 1P to Waterloo. Managed to get the 1245 to haslemere back, only JUST making it back to Guildford

 

[ExRes]

20901 & 20905 worked 0830 0Z20 Effingham Junction CHS to Effingham Junction CHS on another Surrey driver training tour



** Updated Thursday 4th September **


20901 & 20905 worked 1215 0Z20 Effingham Junction CHS to Woking Up Yard Sidings



** Updated Saturday 6th September **


20901 & 20905 worked 0056 6J09 Woking Up Yard Sidings to Wimbledon with the Drain Train



** Updated Monday 8th September **


20901 & 20905 worked 0430 6J09 New Malden to Woking Up Yard Sidings with the Drain Train and 0950 0Z20 to Ashford Crane Depot via Effingham Junction CHS

 

[Johnhayworth21]

Are the pair still set to do the Chilterns RHTT out of Kings Norton this season? Thanks

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Are the pair still set to do the Chilterns RHTT out of Kings Norton this season? Thanks

Normally freightliner and GBRf using 66s. Also MPV's as well.

 

[Class15]

Normally freightliner and GBRf using 66s. Also MPV's as well.

Freightliner don’t have the contract and GBRf can’t use 66s on the Chilterns as they are not fitted with tripcocks.

This is why the 20s are proposed to be used…

Unless GBRf hired in tripcock fitted 66s?

 

[Johnhayworth21]

Normally freightliner and GBRf using 66s. Also MPV's as well.

Freightliner lost the contract. Only GBRf and Colas are on RHTT's this year

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Freightliner lost the contract. Only GBRf and Colas are on RHTT's this year

Oh yeah I remember now my apologies.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Sep 2025 ==

https://x.com/colasgrid/status/1965474610381816004?t=Of_HYZjSqr8jw52dWMpN6g&s=19

Looks like the 20s are confirmed from this post on X

 

[ExRes]

20901 & 20905 worked 0945 0Z20 Ashford Crane Depot to Ashford Crane Depot on a driver training tour of Kent

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Sep 2025 ==

Are the pair still set to do the Chilterns RHTT out of Kings Norton this season? Thanks

If they are doing RHTT work then they'll end up looking like an uncleaned drain themselves



** Updated Thursday 11th September **


20901 & 20905 worked 0934 0Z20 Ashford Crane Depot to Ashford Crane Depot on a tour of Sussex and Kent for driver training



** Updated Friday 12th September **


20901 & 20905 worked 1002 0Z20 Ashford Crane Depot to Woking Up Yard Reception



** Updated Tuesday 16th September **


20901 & 20905 worked 1007 6J09 Woking Up Yard Sidings to Sandiacre Ballast Sidings with the Drain Train

 

[ExRes]

20901 & 20905 worked 1200 6J09 Stapleford & Sandiacre to Crewe Basford Hall SSM with the Drain Train

 

[bluegoblin7]

Oh yeah I remember now my apologies.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Sep 2025 ==

https://x.com/colasgrid/status/1965474610381816004?t=Of_HYZjSqr8jw52dWMpN6g&s=19

Looks like the 20s are confirmed from this post on X

Just for the record, as it doesn't seem to have been posted here yet - 20s are (unfortunately) no longer planned for the Chiltern circuit, with FL 66/5s being sub hired instead.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Just for the record, as it doesn't seem to have been posted here yet - 20s are (unfortunately) no longer planned for the Chiltern circuit, with FL 66/5s being sub hired instead.

Thank you for the update

 

[ExRes]

20901 & 20905 worked 1041 6J09 Gresty Lane Down Sidings to Penrith North Lakes with the Drain Train



** Updated Thursday 2nd October **


20901 & 20905 worked 0916 6J09 Penrith North Lakes to Millerhill SS with the Drain Train



** Updated Sunday 5th October **


20901 & 20905 worked 0014 6J09 Millerhill SS to Drem and 0900 return with the Drain Train



** Updated Monday 6th October **


20901 & 20905 worked 0946 6J09 Millerhill SS to Slateford Depot with the Drain Train

 

[ExRes]

20901 & 20905 worked last nights 2358 6J09 Slateford Depot to Drem and todays 0845 Longniddry to Slateford Depot with the Drain Train



** Updated Saturday 18th October **


20901 & 20905 worked 2350 6J09 Slateford Depot to Drem with the Drain Train

 

[ExRes]

20901 & 20905 worked 0850 6J09 Drem to Slateford Depot with the Drain Train


Monday 20th - worked 0913 Slateford Depot to Penrith North Lakes

Tuesday 21st - worked 0927 Penrith North Lakes to Gresty Lane Down Sidings

Wednesday 22nd - worked 0925 Gresty Lane Down Sidings to Sandiacre Ballast Sidings

 

[ExRes]

20901 & 20905 worked 1005 6J09 Sandiacre Ballast Sidings to Welwyn GC FD with the Drain Train