I've just come across a 1Q96 19.56 Ripple Lane West SS to Ferme Park Reception Sidings that is showing on all the various train running websites (Real Time Trains, Open Train Times etc) as having run last night. Like most freight trains it would appear that it runs on an as-required basis, but I can't find any record of it having run on any other dates in the last few days.
Does anyone know what exactly this train was and what hauled it? Was it just a one-off working or has it ever run before? It is showing on the Live Rail Record site as being operated by Colas Rail, and RTT and OTT both show it as a test train.
It would also seem odd that it is a Class 1 train, as AIUI that is only normally used for express passenger trains with freights normally being Class 4, 6 7 or 8 depending on their maximum speed (or Class 3 if specially authorised). Somewhere there may be a thread on train classification and reporting numbers but I can't find it at the moment.
RTT is also showing two different 6O21 and two different 6O47 trains, all four of which terminate at Ardingly Hanson Aggregates but they start from four different places: 6O21 can start from Whatley Quarry or Stoke Gifford, and 6O47 can start from Acton TC or Southall TC. All four trains are shown as booked to pass Clapham Junction at 03.24. Do they ever operate as separate portions, and if so where do they combine en route, or is it only ever one of them on any one night? What normally hauls it?
Does anyone know what exactly this train was and what hauled it? Was it just a one-off working or has it ever run before? It is showing on the Live Rail Record site as being operated by Colas Rail, and RTT and OTT both show it as a test train.
It would also seem odd that it is a Class 1 train, as AIUI that is only normally used for express passenger trains with freights normally being Class 4, 6 7 or 8 depending on their maximum speed (or Class 3 if specially authorised). Somewhere there may be a thread on train classification and reporting numbers but I can't find it at the moment.
RTT is also showing two different 6O21 and two different 6O47 trains, all four of which terminate at Ardingly Hanson Aggregates but they start from four different places: 6O21 can start from Whatley Quarry or Stoke Gifford, and 6O47 can start from Acton TC or Southall TC. All four trains are shown as booked to pass Clapham Junction at 03.24. Do they ever operate as separate portions, and if so where do they combine en route, or is it only ever one of them on any one night? What normally hauls it?
Last edited:
