CLASS 20
Creating plenty of interest en route, Nos. 20142 Sir John Betjeman+20189 led the 6Q77 14.22 Crewe Carriage Sidings-Kirkdale on March 5, comprised of translator wagons and new Merseyrail units Nos. 777012/016 with RailAdventure power cars Nos. 43468+43480 bringing up the rear. On March 11, the blue-liveried No. 20189 teamed up with Scottish Railway Preservation Society No. 37403 Isle of Mull to work Vintage Trains’ ‘South Wales Explorer’ from Dorridge to Cardiff Central, later traversing the freight branch from Ystrad Mynach South Junction to Cwmbargoed before heading back to the West Midlands. Locomotive Services Nos. 20096 Jocelyn Feilding 1940-2020+20107 left Crewe for Eastleigh on March 17, and three days later had charge of the 5Z20 10.13 Eastleigh Works-Southall with seven vehicles including High Speed Train Mk.3s Nos. 41108/160 and 44081. During the afternoon, with the same coaches in tow, the Type 1s set off for Crewe, running via Oxford, Coventry, Nuneaton and the West Coast Main Line.
CLASS 37
Following its tours to Cwmbargoed with No. 20189 on March 11, and then Whitby with No. 50008 Thunderer on March 18, Scottish Railway Preservation Society No. 37403 Isle of Mull ventured to the Highlands on March 26. Coupled inside West Coast Railways No. 37676 Loch Rannoch the pair set off atop the 1Z37 08.15 Linlithgow-Inverness, making good time via Dundee, Aberdeen and Elgin and reaching Inverness 10 minutes early. Unfortunately, while shunting the empty caches in Millburn Yard, No. 37676 derailed and after a two-hour delay, No. 37403 valiantly returned the special to Linlithgow over the Highland main line to Perth and then to Ladybank Junction via Newburgh. Three days later, No. 37403 had another spin out taking a second Linlithgow-Inverness special before heading to Kyle of Lochalsh on March 30.
Ever reliable No. 37418 powered the 6Z37 10.45 Derby Railway Technical Centre-Toton Yard on March 15, before taking saloon No. 975025 on a jolly to Brighton via Oxted and Bognor Regis on March 19, prior to visiting Eastbourne, Hastings and Strood three days later. Timber traffic from Aberystwyth to Chirk restarted on March 17 and Harry Needle Railroad Company No. 37405 handled the 6C55 15.50 departure from Aberystwyth sidings. Earlier (March 7) No. 37405 ventured along the Wrexham to Bidston line on engineering work with Colas Railfreight No. 70811, forming the 6F25 19.26 Basford Hall-Wrexham but returning from Dee Marsh Junction next morning. On March 12 HNRC No. 37405 and NR No. 97302 hauled the 6C31 08.00 Park Lane Junction-Bescot.
