Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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December 29th, 2022

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Rail passengers reminded to plan ahead and only travel if absolutely necessary as industrial action hits first week of January services

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Passengers should expect disruption in first week of Jan
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Region & Route: Wales & Western | Wales & Western: Western

Network Rail is reminding passengers of severe disruption to train services next week as the rail industry gears up for five consecutive days of strikes by the RMT and ASLEF trades unions, starting next Tuesday 3 January 2023.

  • 48-hour strike action on Tuesday 3 & Wednesday 4, and Friday 6 & Saturday 7 January by RMT, and on Thursday 5 January by ASLEF, will result in severe disruption to train services with some parts of the rail network having no services at all
  • On RMT strike days an extremely limited service will operate from 07.30 and all journeys must be completed by 18.30; first trains will start later, and the last trains will leave much earlier
  • On the ASLEF strike day, trains will only operate on an extremely limited number of routes
  • Disruption should also be expected on the morning of Sunday 8 January where there could be short-notice cancellations and alterations – as the railway recovers from the previous day’s strikes.
  • Passengers are urged to only travel if it is absolutely necessary where trains are operating and find alternative ways to make their journey
During this latest period of industrial action, across Network Rail’s Western route – which covers the railway and towns and communities between Penzance and London Paddington – passengers should expect an extremely limited service with some parts of the network having no services at all and where trains are running they will start later and finish earlier.

Thousands of specially trained and fully qualified back-up staff will step in during the RMT walkouts on 3-4 and 6-7 January to keep vital services running for those who need them.

On RMT strike days, around half of the network will shut down, with only about 20% of normal services running.

On RMT strike days there will be no train services south west of Plymouth, including the whole of Cornwall and all branch lines in Devon.

An hourly CrossCountry service will be in operation between Manchester and Reading with extensions to Southampton, and there will be a reduced service on westbound Elizabeth Line services between London Paddington and Reading and on Heathrow Express services between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport, both ending at 18:30.

On the ASLEF strike day (5 Jan), most parts of the Western route will have no services at all with trains only operating between Reading and Basingstoke, Reading and Oxford and between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads.

These services will only be in operation for a limited time during the day.

Across the entire five-day strike period, GWR will be running a very limited service, with varying routes being served across the different strike days.

More information on how train services are being affected is available at https://www.gwr.com/strike

Passengers are encouraged to check with their train operators for the latest information on services, ticket acceptance and how to claim a refund, as well as visiting the National Rail Enquiries website.

Meanwhile, the RMT has an overtime ban in place at 14 train operating companies until 2 January that will continue to affect the level of cancellations and the punctuality of some services.

This action may particularly affect those travelling out of London late in the evening on New Year’s Eve and passengers are advised to plan their journey in advance.

David Davidson, Network Rail’s interim Western route director, said:

“It is so disappointing, particularly in the first week of the new year, to have to ask passengers again to only travel if absolutely necessary, due to further strike action by both the RMT and ASLEF trades unions.

“As a result of this industrial action, train services will be severely disrupted, starting Tuesday 3 through to and including Saturday 7 January - a near weeklong period of disruption for passengers.

“I would like apologise to passengers for this latest period of disruption and urge them to seek alternative ways to travel than by train and for those passengers who must travel by train to expect severe disruption, plan ahead and check the time of your last train home.”
 
December 29th, 2022

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Rail passengers across Wales and Borders reminded to plan ahead and only travel if absolutely necessary as industrial action hits first week of January services​

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Cardiff Central empty​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders | Wales & Western

Network Rail is reminding passengers of severe disruption to train services next week as the rail industry gears up for five consecutive days of strikes by the RMT and ASLEF trade unions, starting on Tuesday 3 January 2023
  • 48-hour strike action on Tuesday 3 & Wednesday 4, and Friday 6 & Saturday 7 January by RMT, and on Thursday 5 January by ASLEF, will result in severe disruption to train services with some parts of the rail network having no services at all
  • On RMT strike days an extremely limited service will operate from 07.30 and all journeys must be completed by 18.30; first trains will start later, and the last trains will leave much earlier
  • On the ASLEF strike day, no GWR, Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry or West Midlands Railway services will operate on the Wales and Borders network
  • Disruption should also be expected on the morning of Sunday 8 January where there could be short-notice cancellations and alterations as the railway recovers from the previous days’ strikes
  • Passengers are urged to only travel if absolutely necessary where trains are operating and find alternative ways to make their journey, where possible
The majority of rail services across the Wales and Borders network will be suspended on 3 - 4, 6 - 7 January, during the latest period of industrial action announced by the RMT union, with very limited services due to run on Thursday 05 January, due to ASLEF union strike action.

Thousands of specially trained and fully qualified back-up staff will step in during the RMT walkouts on 3-4 and 6-7 January to keep vital services running for those who need them.

On RMT strike days, around half of the network will shut down, with only about 10% of normal services running across Wales.

Transport for Wales is not involved in the industrial action, however, the dispute between the unions and Network Rail means services will not be able to run on Network Rail infrastructure on RMT strike dates.

On 3, 4, 6 and 7 January, a reduced service will run East of Cardiff and between Cardiff Central and Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr and Rhymney.

On Thursday 5 January, no GWR, CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast or West Midlands Railway services will run anywhere on the Wales and Borders route. Passengers are advised to seek alternative transport as Transport for Wales services are expected to be very busy.
  • More information on how train services are being affected is available at:
  • Transport for Wales’ information page
  • GWR’s information page
  • Avanti West Coast’s information page
  • West Midlands Railways' information page
  • CrossCountry’s information page
Passengers are encouraged to check with their train operators for the latest information on services, ticket acceptance and how to claim a refund, as well as visiting the National Rail Enquiries website.

Meanwhile, the RMT has an overtime ban in place at 14 train operating companies until 2 January that will continue to affect the level of cancellations and the punctuality of some services.

This action may particularly affect those travelling out of London late in the evening on New Year’s Eve and passengers are advised to plan their journey in advance.

Nick Millington, interim route director at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said:

“It’s disappointing that, once again, we’re having to ask passengers not to travel by train unless absolutely necessary in the first week of the new year, due to further strike action by both the RMT and ASLEF trades unions.

“As a result of this industrial action, train services will be severely disrupted, starting Tuesday 3 through to, and including, Saturday 7 January - another near weeklong period of disruption for passengers.

“I’d like to apologise to passengers for this latest period of disruption which nobody wants to continue. Our offer to the union still stands, and our door remains open for constructive conversation."
 

December 30th, 2022​

SPOTLIGHT

British Rail Class 03​

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Class 03 D2182 - In preservation at Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway on 22 June 2014​

The British Rail Class 03 locomotive is, together with Class 04, one of BR's most successful smaller 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters.

The class, numbering 230 examples, was built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works in 1957-1962 and numbered D2000-D2399 (later 03004 to 03399). D2370 and D2371 were used as departmental locomotives and numbered 91 and 92 respectively.

The engine is a Gardner 8-cylinder, 4-stroke 8L3 of 204 hp 152 kW connected to a Wilson-Drewry CA5 R7, 5-speed epicyclic with RF11 spiral bevel reverse and final-drive unit.

Drive is through a jackshaft mounted beneath the cab, driving the wheels through coupling rods.
 
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Like other shunters of this type, they were built for lighter duties where a larger locomotive was not needed, especially at locomotive and carriage depots and as station pilots.

The reduction over time in the demand for shunting locomotives meant that they were progressively withdrawn from 1968 on, many being sold to private industry, although some stayed on for much longer, including locomotives at Reading Signal Works and on the Isle of Wight, the latter remaining in service until 1993.

03089 (previously D2089) Mangapps Railway Museum on 23 June 2018
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In 1998, though, 03 179 was reinstated into service by the West Anglia Great Northern Railway Company (WAGN) for service at their Hornsey depot.

The locomotive is named Clive.

03179 (D2179) Clive at Yarwell Junction on the NVR 16 April 2008
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Worked on the Isle of Wight along with 03079.

This loco (03179 Clive) has a cut-down cab owing to the low tunnels at Ryde.

This engine was the last 03 to work for a main-line company, before being preserved.
 
Several examples were rebuilt with cut-down cabs for working on the Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Line, as there were several low bridges on the line that precluded the use of normal height locomotives.

Their duties included shunting (for example at Burry Port), and hauling full coal trains down from the valley's pits.

For this latter duty they sometimes worked triple-headed.

Class 03 Superpower Burry Port June 1976
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One for the modellers, now if you have four 03 models and a brakevan you can make a train.

Burry Port coal fired power station chimneys in the background.
 
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Fifty-six members of the class survive in preservation.

Loco numbers in bold mean their current number.

TOPS
Number		Pre-TOPSOriginal Number AllocatedPreserved locationIndustrial use
03018D201811205Mangapps Railway MuseumCohen's scrapyard, Cransley, Kettering until 20 September 1980 and Cohen's scrapyard Willesden from 28 March 1981. Then to 600 Ferrous Fragmentisers Ltd., Willesden.
03020D202011207Lavender LineA. King & Sons (Metal Merchants), Knappetts Scrapyard, Newmarket
03022D202211209Swindon and Cricklade Railway-
-D2023Kent & East Sussex RailwayTees & Hartlepool Dock Authority (1972–1980)
-D2024Kent & East Sussex RailwayTees & Hartlepool Dock Authority (1972–1980)
03027D2027Heritage Shunters TrustShipbreakers (Queenborough) Ltd., Queenborough Wharf Scrapyard
03037D2037Royal Deeside RailwayNCB, British Oak Disposal Point
-D2041Colne Valley RailwayRichborough Power Station (1970)
Rye House Power Station (1971)
Barking Power Station (1971)
Rye House Power Station (1974–1981)
-D2051North Norfolk RailwayFord Dagenham (06/1973-04/1997)
03059D2059Isle of Wight Steam RailwayUsed as a general purpose shunter, and also to supplement any locomotive that has broken down. D2059 arrived on the Island during the electrification works to the Island Line, and remained in use by British Rail at Ryde Traincare Depot until 1988, when it was transferred to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. D2059 is affectionately nicknamed Edward by the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's staff.
03062D2062East Lancashire Railway-
03063D2063North Norfolk Railway-
03066D2066Barrow Hill Engine Shed-
03069D2069Vale of Berkeley Railway, Gloucestershire.Vic Berry, Leicester, even worked at Vic Berry's Scrapyard until being sold into preservation in 1991.
03072D2072Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway-
03073D2073Crewe Heritage CentreUsed for occasional loco shunting and brakevan rides to visitors to the heritage centre
03078D2078North Tyneside Steam RailwayNewcastle Central Station, used as a station pilot.
03079D2079Derwent Valley Light RailwayWorked at Gateshead before moving to the Isle of Wight along with 03179. This loco has a cut-down cab owing to the low tunnels at Ryde, withdrawn 1996.
03081D2081Mangapps Railway Museum
03084D2084West Coast Railways, CarnforthSold by the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway in 2010 or 2011.
03089D2089Mangapps Railway Museum
03090D2090LocomotionPart of the National Collection
03094D2094Royal Deeside RailwayPreviously at Llynclys Cambrian Heritage Railway, near Oswestry
03099D2099Heritage Shunters TrustNCB, Monkton Coking Plant
03112D2112Rother Valley Railway-
03113D2113Heritage Shunters TrustD2113 spent its entire B.R. life at York (50A), it was sold to Gulf Oil at Milford Haven upon withdrawal from BR service in August 1975 as 03113. For a number of years, after becoming surplus to the Gulf Refinery, it was placed on display, along with a four-wheel petroleum wagon, in Milford Haven Harbour. It is now preserved by the Heritage Shunters Trust at Rowsley in Derbyshire, entering service following full restoration during 2011.
-D2117Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway
-D2118Great Central Railway (Nottingham)Worked at Anglian Building Products, Lenwade, Norfolk from August 1973,
then at Dow-Mac near Stamford from December 1993.
03119D2119Epping Ongar Railway
-D2120Fawley Hill Railway, Buckingamshire
03901D2128Somerset and Dorset Railway at Midsomer NortonSold for scrap to Birds, Long Marston, where engine and coupling removed and then exported to Belgium where fitted with Deutz V12 air-cooled engine, VM hydraulic pump and motor into original change speed box. Repatriated and operated at Peak Rail, eventually to Dean Forest where stored incomplete. Moved to Scunthorpe 2009, where repowered with Cummins 14 litre engine, hydraulic transmission and renumbered 03 901 to reflect this
-D2133West Somerset RailwayWorked at Cellophane's Bridgwater factory in the 1970s, prior to preservation at the time.
-D2134Royal Deeside RailwayWas based in Belgium between 1976 and 1993, has since been repatriated back to the UK.
-D2138Midland Heritage RailwayUsed at Pye Hill Colliery between 1969 and 1984, prior to preservation.
-D2139Heritage Shunters TrustNCB, Coed Ely Coking Plant
03141D2141Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway
03144D2144Wensleydale Railway
03145D2145D2578 Locomotive Group, Moreton Business Park
-D2148Ribble Steam RailwayNCB, Bowers Row Disposal Point
-D2152Swindon & Cricklade Railway
03158D2158Mangapps Railway Museum
03162D2162Llangollen Railway
03170D2170Epping Ongar RailwayWas owned by Otis Euro Transrail between 1989-1999 and then latterly was present on the Battlefield Line
-D2178Gwili RailwayNCB, Coed Ely Coking Plant
03179D2179Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough RailwayWorked on the Isle of Wight along with 03079. This loco (03179 Clive) has a cut-down cab owing to the low tunnels at Ryde. This engine was the last 03 to work for a main-line company, before being preserved. Also notable was its naming ceremony at Kings Cross station.
-D2180Battlefield Line
-D2182Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
-D2184Colne Valley RailwayNCB, Southend Coal Concentration Depot
03189D2189Ribble Steam Railway
03192D2192Dartmouth Steam Railway
03196D2196West Coast Railways, Carnforth
03197D2197Mid-Norfolk RailwayWas previously at the Mid-Norfolk Railway to help build the new Kimberley Ballast Pit Sidings. Moved to Mangapps Railway Museum in August 2019 however, moved back to the Mid-Norfolk Railway in February 2020.
-D2199Heritage Shunters TrustSold to National Coal Board in 1974 after being overhauled and fitted with air brakes at Doncaster Works. Worked at Rockingham, North Gawber and Royston until being placed into store at Monkton in 1984. Was on hire to Eurotunnel as Cheriton Depot shunter 8/4/97.Was on loan to Hanson Aggregates, Machen Quarry near Newport 2003 (?)-2006
03371D2371Departmental 92Dartmouth Steam Railway
-D2381West Coast Railways, Carnforth
03399D2399Mangapps Railway Museum
 
December 30th, 2022

WATCH: Diesel locomotives in action at the Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Diesel Festival

Stunning footage from Severn Valley Railways epic Spring Diesel Festival 2022​

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D1062 Western Courier at the Severn Valley Spring Diesel Festival 2022​

This video shows an out and about at the Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Diesel Festival on Sunday the 22nd of May capturing an array of diesel locomotives including classes 14, 17, 31, 33, 40, 44, 46, 50 & 52s.
 
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40106 Atlantic Conveyor at Severn Valley Spring Diesel Festival​

Some of the video’s highlights include D4 Great Gable blasting past Northwood Lane after departing Bewdley,

D1015 thrashing away from Northwood Halt heading towards Bewdley, D8568 powering away from Northwood Halt with D9551 on the rear, 40106 thrashing past Northwood Lane and blasting up Eardington Bank at Haye Bridge and Eardington, D6512 thrashing up Eardington Bank and 31466 storming up Eardington Bank.

The SVR’s Spring Diesel Festival provided a truly unforgettable day with some legendary diesel locomotives making for a brilliant day out and a credit to the hard work of staff and volunteers at the heritage railway.
 
West Coast Railways operated 71A Loco Group owned Class 33 No. D6515 (33012) 'Lt Jenny Lewis RN' passing Shipley Gate working 0Z55 Butterley Midland Railway Centre to Swanage, has just dropped Peak Locomotive Company owned Class 44 No. D4 (44004) 'Great Gable' at Butterley Midland Railway Centre. D4 had been one of the star attractions at the Severn Valley Railway Spring Diesel Festival along with fellow Peak Locomotive Company owned Class 46 No. D182 (46045). Shipley Gate, 23rd May 2022.

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Visiting locos captured on the video at the event included:
  • D6512 LT Jenny Lewis RN visiting from the Swanage Railway
  • D4 Great Gable visiting from the Midland Railway Centre
  • D182 visiting from Midland Railway Centre
The Home fleet capture on the video included:
  • D9551
  • D8568
  • 31466
  • D6515 LT Jenny Lewis RN
  • 40106 Atlantic Conveyor
  • 50035 Ark Royal
  • D1015 Western Champion
  • D1062 Western Courier as scrapped sister loco D1040 Western Queen to celebrate the Queens platinum jubilee
 
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