Richard Pike

Had a surprise VSTP Test train on the Robin Hood line today. DRS 37602 heading 1Q78 on its return run Derby RTC - Derby RTC via the High Marnham Test track 37608 (Now wearing Europhoenix vinyls) bringing up the rear.

Todays 6M73 Doncaster Decoy - Toton headed by 66727, seen at Morton. Displaying its new name plates "Severn Valley Railway", 66763 running as 0Z63 Roberts Road - Kidderminster ahead of its formal naming ceremony at the weekend.

Caught this afternoon at Morton 60026 running light loco as 0F54 Tyne SS - Toton.

A couple from this afternoon taken at Moreton, just north of the former site of Westhouses and Blackwell junction. 66097 heading North on 4Z69 Southampton - Masborough intermodal. Next up was 66601, the appropriately named "The Hope Valley" working Hope Cement Tanks Theale - Earls Sidings.

The 3 Grey machines where my favourite livery, I think it really suited the 66 shape. 743 I understand is currently being painted in Royal Scotsman maroon to match 746. The Barbie's are going to be next into standard livery but 723 may be getting a "special" paint job.

Looks very good Sam, like the snow plough design.

Is it just me or do we all do the same ?. Last week, after Railtec released the new vinyls for the NMT, I thought nice little couple of hour project I can do on my NMT - No !. The decals arrived and I prep'd my NMT ready for the update, things where going great until I looked at a picture of 975814 and realised my coach was no longer correct with its window layout, so started a strip down and bank out two windows, this obviously requiring a full yellow respray. This reminded me of a Class 73 I had started converting into a Network Rail 73/9 a few months ago, so that was retrieved out of the project box, along with a pair of 150 units that I had started to convert into the 950 unit, suddenly I had a bench full of yellow machines. Reading Big Jim's thread about last week having a couple of shifts driving DBSO's I came away from Derby show last Sunday with 2 of the new Hornby MK2 BSO, that have been transformed this week into NR DBSO's. So in essence what started off as a 2 hour project has ended up being 2 weeks of solid yellow modelling,oh, with the exception of a Green diesel.

Managed an hour in todays sunshine at Clay Cross South. First up 66705 working 6M83 Tinsley - Bardon empties. Followed by new in service 66774 on 6M73 Doncaster - Toton engineers. Caught going away, 66069 powering north on 4M11 Washwood Heath - Peak Forest HTA empties. Finally catch of the day, 66735 with 55002, 55019 and 33035 running as 0Z75 from Barrow Hill / York - Kidderminster for this weekends Diesel Gala being held on the SVR.

I have 17, we should meet up, 29 x GB 66's, that would be an impressive sight.

looking good George, how many GB loco's do you have ?.

66774 out for its first day in revenue, Thanks for the pictures Jim.

Examples of my HIA weathering efforts can be seen at http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/92901-cradgebank-detailing-repaints/page-4&do=findComment&comment=2296379

Took a break from layout construction and weathered my rake of HIA Hopper As per others, I removed the operating rams from one side of the wagon, painted the end doors, light grey (although the weathering has made them look white again), painted the wheels in sleeper grim, sprayed the wagon insides with a Mig rust coloured wash, followed by a very thinned white was all over the wagon, finally finished with a dusting of lime powder and then everything sealed with a spray of matt varnish. Finally 66711 running into Claymore Quarry with the HIA rake.

Looking Ex works in its recently applied Europorte livery, 66749 was diverted through Sutton Parkway todayon the daily Doncaster - Toton working, due to engineering work in the Rotherham area. This working usually runs as 6M73 but today was only a loco move and ran as 0M73.

Caught 1Q05 Derby - High Marnham test train this morning on the Robin Hood line at Sutton Forest. 37175 leading with 37421 on the rear.

Had to visit Doncaster this afternoon, so dropped by Roberts Road and Decoy Down Yard. 66715, transiting from Roberts Road to Down Decoy Yard. 66720, Down Decoy Yard. 66749, 66753, 66715 and 66727, Down Decoy Yard.

Captured this morning at Morton, just south of Clay Cross junction on the Erewash line, 6Z20 Melton Mowbray - Barrow Hill, comprising of 20314/096/132 and 20107.

Sorry, total fleet is 17, forgot about Special no 7, but that can't be revealed until May 10th.

Hi Andy, A quick count up and I currently have 16 GBRf 66's,, that includes all 6 "special" liveries, 751 fitted with schafenburg couplings, 737 with oversize numbering and 8 standard livery machines.

Thanks Steve for producing the Royal Scotsman decals so quickly.

Busy with my layout but thought I had better do a Royal Scotsman to keep my GBRf collection current. Many Thanks to Steve at Railtec for producing the decals so quickly.

Thought I had better do one for my GBRf collection.

Taken yesterday at the Bluebell Railway GBRF Diesel Gala, 66770 seen at East Grinstead.

Finally started a layout thread. Anyone interested, it can be found at http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/110244-claymore-hill-quarry/

I understand the Belmond contract was up for renewal and considering WCRC's recent issues, GBRf offered a better proposal.