Class 73.

[Mex I can]

I work near the track between Mexborough and Swinton near Rotherham and my transit van acts as an office, canteen and train spotting platform. This morning I got to my vantage point slightly too late to see two class 73 locos going past, they were en route from Doncaster Down Decoy to Brush Loughborough.

I’ve got used to all of the normal passenger trains which pass by and also the freight traffic. I’m used to class 66, 67 and 70 locos going to and from Toton TMD, even the odd 37 goes by. This would have been the first time I’d have seen a passing 73 and I’m now wondering what the purpose of their journey was.

Were they just taking themselves to their home, or were they moving something else? Anyone know? Nearly all of the interesting moves to and from Loughborough Brush take the Kilnhurst Up Goods Loop, so I was a bit disappointed to have missed them.

 

[43 302]

I believe it was 73966 and 73968 on 0Z72 0720 Doncaster Hexthorpe Yard GBRf to Brush Loughborough. 73968 then continued on on 0Z73 1006 Loughborough to Eastleigh Works GBRf. They are GBRf locomotives used on the Caledonian Sleeper north of Edinburgh to Fort William, Aberdeen and Inverness. I don't know the exact reason for their journey south but I presume it's maintenance etc as they were light loco, with no trailers.

 

[High Dyke]

It looks like the consist was 73966 / 73968. of which 966 stayed at Loughborough HS, whilst 968 continued onto Eastleigh.