Published on 27th November 2002
The 26th to the 29th November 2002 provided one of the most extraordinary string of events involving the first ever visit of the Network Rail High Output Ballast Cleaner (HOBC).
The set at this time was normally based at Crewe for use on the West Coast Mainline. The operation to bring the set to Exeter and subsequent overnight ballast cleaning attempts provided a bizarre set of workings which most likely will never be repeated.
Initially there were two allocated diagrams on the 25th November, 6Z50 16:15 Crewe Basford Hall – Exeter Riverside hauled by No.37057 and No.37308 1260 tonnes and 6Z52 17:13 Crewe Basford Hall – Exeter Riverside hauled by No.37203 with Network Rail Autoballasters. Both trains were heavily delayed leaving Crewe because of late arrival of the wagons, and having to perform an extra run round in Crewe Station. The trains were routed south via the Welsh Marshes, and ran into wheel slip issues due to the weight of their trains, this caused further delays.
No.37203 hauling 6Z52 managed to pass Taunton at 06:02 on the 26th November and was arrived into Exeter Riverside by 07:10 a total of 390 minutes late at Taunton and 422 minutes late upon arrival at Exeter Riverside with its train. No.37057 and No.37308 followed passing Taunton at 08:49 a total of 599 minutes late arriving at Exeter Riverside at 09:30 592 minutes behind schedule.
Upon arrival at Exeter No.37203 collected a second rake of Railtrack JAA wagons and returned those to Westbury passing Taunton at 10:43 the same morning.
The first ballast cleaning duty was booked overnight on the 26th/27th November. No.37308 and No.37057 hauled 6W15 22:30 Exeter Riverside – Bridgwater passing Taunton at 00:34 on the 27th running 60 minutes late. They operated in top and tail formation with No.66110 (which was late arriving from St Blazey). The train also took three attempts to get moving out of Exeter Riverside Yard due to the weight and rail head conditions. The train was estimated to be around 2230 tonnes with a length of 2034 feet). Once in the Bridgwater area the HOBC was booked back through Cogload Junction at 05:30, but it was reported ballast cleaning was finished early and passed Taunton on the return at approx 04:15, running 82 minutes early with No.66110 leading 6W15 05:30 Cogload Junction – Exeter Riverside.
Once back at Exeter Riverside there had been two paths entered for the Meldon Branch, which were assumed to be for the train to fill up each day, however this was not utilised due to the trains immense length it was only reported to be around quarter empty after the first nights work.
Wednesday 27th saw the 6W16 22:30 Exeter Riverside – Bridgwater departure, this ran with much more success under mild evening conditions and a starlit sky the lengthy HOBC set rocketed through Taunton on full power at 23:30 with No.37308 and No.37057 leading with No.66110 on the rear of the train. As with the previous night once ballast cleaning duties were complete the HOBC set returned back through Taunton in the early hours of Thursday morning at 03:25, 125 minutes early as the 6W16 05:30 Cogload Junction - Exeter Riverside. They arrived back at Exeter 90 minutes early at 04:52.
As with the day before the train did not venture up the Meldon branch as the set was now only half empty. It stabled in Exeter Riverside for the day. Thursday 29th November was the last running of the HOBC set as next morning it was booked back into Fairwater Yard, Taunton to be split and the train taken back to Crewe. The night of the 29th provided a swap of traction. No.66110 operating 6W17 22:30 Exeter Riverside – Bridgwater with No.37308 and No.37057 on the rear of the train. The service also stopped for the first time in Taunton Station. Here the crew were informed the job had been cancelled and they were to proceed to Cogload Junction in order to reverse and return to Fairwater Yard. No.37057 and No.37308 returned the train through Platform 2 at 01:35. The rest of the action happened during the night under the cover of darkness. No.66024 arrived 0W17 02:10 Exeter Riverside – Fairwater Yard light engine at 02:40. This loco had previously worked 6B99 Tavistock Jn – Exeter Riverside earlier in the night and had then been summoned to work to Fairwater Yard. Overnight No.37057 and No.37308 had already been detached from the HOBC set overnight and ran light engine as the 0W17 Fairwater Yard – Exeter Riverside and then 0C24 Exeter Riverside – Tavistock Jn, once at Tavistock they then worked the 6C24 Tavistock Jn – Fowey CDA empties.
Upon arrival at Lostwithiel it was found one of the loco’s had a coolant leak so they ran light engine to St Blazey, (leaving their wagons in the reception sidings at Lostwithiel). Once at St Blazey they went onto the fuel line and maintenance attention. No.66117 was then sent from St Blazey to collect their train from Fowey and worked the return 6G17 Fowey – St Blazey.
Meanwhile at Taunton No.66207 had arrived as the 0G81 Westbury – Taunton and had stabled next to 66110 at 07:00 at the north end of Fairwater Yard. There were three booked diagrams for the HOBC to return, 6Z40 07:10 Fairwater Yd – Crewe Basford Hall and the 6Z42 07:51 Fairwater Yd – Crewe Basford Hall and 6G81 Fairwater Yard – Didcot Yard (Via Westbury). 6G81 ended up leaving first passing Taunton station at 09:58. This train had 66110 and had half the HOBC set in tow, once at Didcot the loco was detached and sent light engine back to Westbury. 6Z42 then followed with No.66207 with the two outermost ends of the train (Control Units) in tow, passing Taunton station at 10:10. This took the line to Bristol but got diverted via Weston Super Mare and stopped at 10:50 where the driver was asked to check the brakes were in full and working order on all vehicles. The train was then sent to Bristol East Depot where the train was cancelled. No.66024 operated 07:10 6Z40 Fairwater Yard – Crewe Gresty Lane departing last. This train was diverted via Bristol East Depot to collect No.66207 and its cancelled train portion. No.66024 then hauled the 1200 tonne train from Bristol.
Meanwhile later on the 29th November the two Class 37s which had entered Cornwall No.37308 and No.37057 were allocated to the evening loaded China Clay service. 6M72 16:55 St Blazey – Bescot was formed of No.37308 No.37057 (with No.47741 dead in train) hauling 793 tonnes formed of 7 JIA, 1 IWA and 1 TCA wagons, passing Taunton at 20:34.
The Class 37s were also called upon to bank another train up the Licky Incline at Bromsgrove before returning back to their own train and continuing through to Bescot.
