Operations
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IN AN incident on February 2, reports emerged that 1M19/18.40 Glasgow Central to London Euston, formed of Pendolino No. 390138, had requested the attendance of Scottish Fire and Rescue service due to an on-train fire incident just north of Lockerbie, as a result of a hot axle box detector being activated on coach No. 69138. The driver is reported to have tried to control the fire using on-board extinguishers but was unable to do so. Upon the arrival of the fire service, it was discovered that the wheelset and axle involved were glowing red hot.
Once the fire was extinguished, arrangements were made to use Transpennine Express’s 1S81/17.10 Manchester Airport to Glasgow Central, operated by 397007 (which was detained in Lockerbie station), to detrain the passengers. Once the passengers were safely transferred, 1S81 returned south to Carlisle. All passengers were detrained at Carlisle, with the unit forming an additional 5S81/22.16 Carlisle to Glasgow Central to ensure that it was in position for the start of service the next day.
On Wednesday, February 3, single line working was in place between Wamphray and Lockerbie for the morning peak period. From about 10.00, both lines were blocked to allow wheel skates to be placed under the affected wheelset. The unit was then moved forward at very low speed into the Up passenger loop at Lockerbie. Once the movement had been completed, both lines were reopened and the backlog of freight traffic was slowly cleared. Substantial delays occurred to other services using the WCML, with the 1S82/15.57 London Euston to Glasgow Central passing Thankerton about 130 minutes late. The 1S06/19.10 from London Euston to Glasgow Central was terminated at Preston as the crew to work the train forward was still involved in the incident near Lockerbie.
THE use of Class 91s and Mk4 sets came to a temporary end on January 15, with the stock being stored at Neville Hill and Doncaster Belmont. Sets BN06 with 91124, and BN12 with 91107, ran from Bounds Green to Neville Hill. A further move on January 15 had No. 91127+BN17 run from Bounds Green to Doncaster Belmont via Newcastle-upon-Tyne to reverse the set. Similar moves followed on January 26 with 91101+BN13 and January 27 with 91114+BN15. The next day found the final departure from Bounds Green to Neville Hill, formed of Nos. 91130+91106+ 91119+12214+
