Castle Mk.3s scrapped
The last week of June saw four of the sliding door Castle Mk.3s removed from Laira by road. However, rather than follow 48115, 48125 and 49107 to Ely Papworth for storage, TS 48116, 48134, 48135 and TGS 49113 were taken straight to the Newport yard of Sims Metals for disposal. The quartet had been out of service at Laira for several months, subsequently seeing use as spares donors, so were not deemed worthy of retention. All were scrapped by July 12, having been noted as largely intact six days earlier.
TfW Mk.4 expansion
The last of the four former Grand Central Mk.4 sets acquired by Transport for Wales finally entered traffic on July 12, the previous week having seen HD07 carry out shakedown runs between Canton and Hereford with 67020 for power. The Class 67 remained in charge for the set’s initial passenger workings, the formation being 12210, 12316, 10301, 11322 and 82230. TfW now has six Mk.4 sets, HD01/02/04-07, available for traffic, with HD03 remaining in extended five-coach formation for ongoing trials. This should allow an expansion of locomotive-hauled diagrams with up to four sets noted in use in mid-July, but availability remains inconsistent with regular locomotive and stock faults.
CrossCountry exchange
June 24 saw 43184 and 43285 once again deployed on stock transfer duties, taking 41035 and 44017 from Laira to Doncaster for attention. The duo returned to Devon on July 7 with 41026, 42051, 42053, 42097, 42379 and 44012 in tow.
Translator outing
The four universal barrier coaches converted from motorail vans by Meridian Generic Rail have seen little use since their completion. However, July 14 saw 9660
