TheGreatBritishRailScene

SouthEastern have updated the software for CIS screens at their stations.  More information here.  Meanwhile, South Western Railway will introduce the ATOS system for their announcements as of October 28th.  Default announcements, using Roger (also heard on Great Western Railway) and Anne (used around most of the UK).  In other news: GWR Night Riviera Lounge Cars fully refurbished . 3 ScotRail 314s off-lease, as the new fleet is introduced.  Class 320 on test with LNWR.  HST for ScotRail. 

In order to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of GBRf, numerous charity tours will take place around the UK between the 8th/11th September - where momey will be donated to the British Heart Foundation, Ripple Project and Woking Hines - as nominated by GBRf staff. These tours will be using 15 of their locomotives,  including  59003  since it has returned to the UK and  66779  ( the final built 66 ), along with 20s, 47s, 73/1s,  73/9s,  86s and 92s, trailed by a convoy of air-conditioned MK2s with First Class and Standard Accommodation available (plus a buffet car for a selection of light refreshments and a sales outlet for memorabilia. 

Quite frankly, a sombre topic for anoraks and rail fans alike.... trains just disappearing quite literally into the undergrowth and becoming forgot about.  So today I thought I'd dig up details of some of the locations where trains are withdawn and scrapped, and possibly twigging memories of this stock with the elder generation of readers. Readers of a nervous disposition, turn away now..... Pig's Bay is one of the less known sites where trains go once withdrawn. Situated just next to the beach in East Shoebury, linked to the C2C line near Shoeburyness Essex, the site is primarily used by the MOD for training.  However, it's hardly talked about as a place where rail vehicles are stored or scrapped - even though it's large site! There's approximately 6 miles of track across the site, with many junctions and sidings (as seen to the right) to store many ex-Railway stock. 

I'm Harry, providing today's News Roundup - Prescheduled with updates from a variety of TOCs and FOCs. Without waiting any longer.... Firstly to announce, the scheduled GBRf tour on 31st July 2016 (One Month Away Now) to raise money for charity. Named the Crystal Maze II (I'm not on about Indianna Jones) ,  hauled by a GBRf 66 throughout, this service departs  Birmingham at lunchtime running to Eastleigh, calling at Cheltenham Spa and Didcot Parkway only (non-stop via Swindon and Basingstoke). 

Edd Hughes.   Southern: As announced in 2015, ScotRail lost 9 of their 170/4 units as they prep for new additions  - though  5 of these have returned to ScotRail following  sub-lease.  The units which are staying were cascaded to Southern due to plans to use the stock on the Uckfield branch - converted into 171s so they're compatible with the existing units of their fleet. Anyone wishing to identify these ex-170/4 units, just look at the headlight arrangement compared to sister 171 units.

NOW, WE'VE GENERAL UPDATES FROM A VARIETY OF TOCS. LOTS TO STATE, SO LETS CRACK ON.... Firstly, the ex-Class 170s from ScotRail. These are now undergoing an overhaul at Southern, as reported. A reminder of the Charity Charter on Saturday 30th April. You may remember us posting about it in February? See this link for all the details  of this tour, which will consist of 4 trips using Class 37s and 4 MK2 coaches from DRS. The tour is fully booked, and will hopefully be a great success. Those of you who didn't get a ticket is still able to get some good photographs along the line!

Aydan here now, for my input on recent events. Further to  Harry's post for the Mid-Norfolk Railway Diesel Gala,  between 1st April and 3rd April, I now bring you some of my own photos too. Here is  66426 , suprisingly at the gala.  This wasn't planned, but it stepped in when  56006  suffered fault at Leicester. For some videos of the event, we recommend you to go and visit  Steve's Bus And Train blog . A full review of the day there too.

On the Weekend of 13th/14th February, the last Class 66s as part of the order arrived in England from the USA. These are for GBRf.  Andy, recently apart of the team, told us that 66708 hauled these new locos, numbered  66773/ 774/ 775/ 776/ 777/ 778/ 779, to Doncaster on Monday 15th February, whilst the last to be built  66779 will have a special event at the York National Rail Museum in May to commemorate the arrival of these locomotives.

It has now been a while since the Class 47's were ousted by Class 37's on the short set but as of Tuesday 20th October, 47's made a comeback. On that date, Direct Rail Services 47828 & 47805 were called upon to haul the Railhead Treatment Train (RHTT) circuit from Stowmarket to Stowmarket via Ipswich, Colchester, Shenfield, Southend Victoria and Clacton.47828 is seen leading the RHTT through Hockley. As a result of 47805 failing, 47818 replaced it and is seen on Thursday 22nd October at the unlikely location of Southend Victoria. The RHTT is scheduled to wait here for approximately 40 minutes and then return towards Shenfield, offering plenty of time for photographs. It is captured preparing to depart.

The Railhead Treatment Train (RHTT) Season is now well underway around the country. The RHTT's usually consist of top and tail locomotives hauling blue water cannons which blast water on to the track in an effort to remove leaves from the railhead, hence why it runs in the Autumn. In East Anglia there are two bases for the RHTT sets: Broxbourne on the West Anglia Line and Stowmarket on the Great Eastern Mainline.

GBRF'S 59 003 has been out and about, and left Southern England earlier this week for Northern England (Liverpool) to join the Liverpool Biomass workings. 59 003 at Reading - © Dan. It was exported to Germany in 1999, however GBRF purchased it from Heavy Haul Power International over a year ago now, and arrived back in the UK in Summer 2014. It was hoped the locomotive would return by December 2014, however certain issues have held back 59003's official return.

On Thursday 24th September, Colas Rail 37421 and 37175 visited Shoeburyness and the majority of the c2c network. This was believed to be the first visit of a Colas Rail locomotive to Shoeburyness, on this ocassion working the Network Rail test train from East Ham Depot to East Ham Depot visiting most parts of the c2c network including London Fenchurch Street, Barking, Southend and Shoeburyness. Here are some photographs of 37421 and 37175 at Shoeburyness. 37421 in striking Colas Rail orange and yellow can be seen arriving at Shoeburyness and marking the first visit of a Colas Rail locomotive to the station. In the past, the Network Rail test trains have been worked by Direct Rail Services Class 37's but is now operated by Colas Rail Class 37's.

Hi folks, Harry here to cover the admins who're on vacation. For my fourth and final post this week, I bring you all the Weekly Review. I haven't done one of these in a while, so apologies in advance if it's slightly different to the usual style. There isn't too much to report, so we shouldn't be here too long! NEWS : Anyway, without making you wait any longer, we firstly turn our attention to the main Railway News of this week. BONG!  Ian Sharman In East Anglia, the Short Set is still going strong and  37422 / 37425 currently power it. 3 MK2s (including 5991 ans 6118) for it. A reminder that the short set (loaned from DRS) is used on a specific Weekday diagram between Norwich and Great Yarmouth or Norwich and Lowestoft, dependant on whether it needs maintenance or is actually serviceable. On Saturdays the set operates the additional Summer services to/from Great Yarmouth. The other DRS Class 37 based at Norwich,  37059  is used on stock movements to/...

Focusing on the Greater Anglia Region, here are the AGA/DRS developments in recent weeks; 37 405 was relieved of duties on the Short Set for an exam at the end of July, so 37 419 took it's place on the Short Set while 47 813 lead 37 405 to Willesden Brent DRS from Norwich Crown Point, witnessed myself at Stratford. Pictured to the right is the move described as above on a sunny Friday afternoon in the capital! Ian Sharman 37 419 and 37 425 were left comfortably at the helm of the Short Set while 37 405 underwent it's exam. To much surprise, 37 422 travelled down from Crewe Gresty Bridge to Norwich Crown Point on August 14th and has since taken 37 419's (Which is due to return north anytime soon after the lease presumably ending) place. 

Good afternoon. Today I present a selection of photographs that I have taken over the past 3 weeks. This is my first post for the blog and in this photo review there is a variety of different locos, units and train operating companies. Please do enjoy. Firstly, here is 66119 at Princes Risborough working a Bow Depot to Calvert train and is about to cross over on to the single line to Aylesbury. 09/07/15. Here we see DRS 66433 passing through Gospel Oak with an intermodal service from Daventry to Purfleet. 05/07/15.

Hi everyone! What a week it has been! On Tuesday 7th, we observed a 1 minute silence for all the people who sadly lost their lives on the 10th anniversary of the 7/7 London attacks, Greece's economy moves further into turmoil, and of course, who could forget?! The man himself Prince Phillip was caught on camera swearing at a photographer! ©Harry Rawding RAIL NEWS: On some DRS MK2 stock, anti-window-hang bars have been fitted on the NorthernRail Loco Hauled Cumbrian Coast services. This is to prevent people putting their safety at risk by putting their head too far out of the window. ©Jonathan Maxim New Sunday services include 8.20am and 3.20pm Norwich to London and 2 return trains, an extra service from Lowestoft to Ipswich at 17:05 & 19:07 Ipswich to Lowestoft and also the new 09:55 Ipswich to Felixstowe & 10:25 return.  These services will be operated by Abellio Greater Anglia (AGA) 'Sprinter DMUs'. These are comprised of Class 153s, 1...