WSNW 17 years on- Looking back at the Allerton Allocated Shunter Fleet under EWS in 2001

Allerton TMD in South Liverpool was always considered a Shunter specialist site. Often having dozens on site at any one time. Indeed visits in the 1980's and 1990's would guarantee large numbers of Class 08 (and to a lesser extent Class 09) being on the depot in varying states. Under BR control, Allerton serviced the requirements for the Liverpool area for freight and station pilot duties. The sphere of operation even extended in to Cheshire with Allerton Gronks being deployed to locations such as Ditton, Runcorn and Widnes.

By the time sectorisation came around, large numbers of British Railways Standard Diesel Electric Shunter were still in existence, although their duties had already started to dwindle down in number. RFD inherited Allerton and continued to invest in the Shunter fleet. Eventually,  RFD was purchased by EWS, subsequently the final part of BR to be sold off. EWS continued to concentrate Shunter repair work for the North on Allerton. With the recoding of locomotive Pools, the EWS Shunter fleet for the North West was allocated 'on paper' to Allerton. Pool code WSNW was born. In theory what this meant was that Allerton was the home base of the fleet, but Shunters out based at Carlisle or Crewe for example would still see basic maintenance undertaken locally, with visits 'Home' only for major exams/repairs. Rail Express Magazine kindly provided a spotlight on the various EWS Shunter pools in 2001 and the WSNW pool in particular in their August 2001 issue. Please see below the dispensation of the Allerton fleet in July 2001 updated with todays state of play.

Loco	Rail Express August 2001 location	Current Fate	Location as of March 2018	Notes
08397	Crewe Diesel	Scrapped	N/A
08460	Halewood	Owned by RSS	Axiom Rail, Stoke	On hire to DB Cargo UK
08485	Trafford Park	Owned by WCRC	Carnforth
08561	Trafford Park	Scrapped	N/A
08578	Earles Sidings	Owned By HNRC	Long Marston	Stored pending developments
08599	Immingham TMD	Scrapped	N/A
08632	Crewe Diesel	Owned by RSS	Leeds Neville Hill
08701	Warrington Arpley	Owned By HNRC	Long Marston	Stored pending developments
08703	Warrington Arpley	Owned by RSS	Wigan Springs Branch	On hire to DB Cargo UK
08709	Carlisle	Owned by RSS	Goodmans, Wishaw	Stored pending developments
08737	Warrington Arpley	Owned by LSL (Hoskins)	Crewe Diesel	Awaiting Overhaul
08738	Crewe Diesel	Owned by RSS	Goodmans, Wishaw	Under repair
08782	Castleton	Owned By HNRC	Barrow Hill	Stored pending developments
08784	Warrington Arpley	Preserved at GCRN	Ruddington	Awaiting Overhaul
08802	Crewe Electric	Owned By HNRC	Goodmans, Wishaw	Stored pending developments
08866	Shotton	Scrapped	N/A
08897	Crewe Diesel	Scrapped	N/A
08909	Padeswood Hall	Scrapped	N/A
08912	Carlisle	Owned by AV Dawsons	AV Dawsons, Middlesborough	Spares Donor - Grounded
08915	Warrington Arpley	Preserved	Stephenson Railway Museum
08922	Carlisle	Preserved at GCRN	Ruddington	Under repair
08946	Allerton	Scrappped	N/A
09022	Garston Yard	Owned by Port of Boston	Port of Boston

08397+08411 stored at Allerton circa 2006.

08460 stored at Allerton circa 2006.

08460 Axiom Stoke November 2017.

08485 WCRC Carnforth November 2014

08632 undergoing a D exam May 2003

08632 undergoing overhaul at RSS Wishaw 2017

08703 Wigan Springs Branch

08709 RSS Wishaw 2017

08737 Trafford Park Euroterminal May 2003

08738 RSS Wishaw 2017

08784 08922 GCR(N) Ruddington Feb 2017

08784 Allerton 2002

08802 RSS Wishaw

08922 GCR(N) Ruddington Feb 2017

08946 Allerton 2003

08946 Allerton 2006

08946 Allerton 2007

08 Update

Introduced well over 60 years ago, the standard BR Diesel Electric shunter,  or Class 08/09 as they are more commonly known, continues to prove its worth on the British Railway network today. Although the numbers have dwindled right down in recent years, a number of operators continue to add to their fleets.

Once the largest operator of 'Gronks' in the post privatization era, EWS/DB Cargo withdrew and sold their remaining shunting fleet in late 2016 after a number of unsuccessful attempts. The shunt operations which retained a dedicated pilot have been taken over by Class 60, 66 and 67 Diesel locomotives. Of the 24 sold, most were snapped up by hire market operators such as RSS (Railway Support Services) and HN Rail. The preservation movement also secured a number of these workhorses to ensure that they will be useful for many more years to come. Reflecting the current low price of scrap metal, only former Tinsley favourite 08879 was sold to a scrap dealer, Raxxstar Ltd, but even this is now has been repaired and should be sold on again shortly.

RSS (Railway Support Services)

Contracts both new and existing are being won all the time, however RSS are taking the lead in this field and below is detailed a list of recent goings on at the Wishaw based theme.

08460 prepares to shunt crippled wagons in to Axiom Stoke after their arrival from Warrington Arpley.


By far the busiest operator as of late is Railway Support Services Ltd based at Goodmans Yard, Wishaw. Formerly trading as Traditional Traction Ltd, the operator has made real strides in to the shunter hire market and as well as winning long standing contracts, has won new contracts as well.

• Wigan Springs Branch - Following the sale of 08605 to Riveria Trains, DB have opted to hire in a Class 08 from RSS to cover the sites shunting needs. Home to the Network Rail breakdown crane and MPV fleet, the site is also a wagon repair facility. With the shed having no allocation of its own these days, mainline shunting isn't really an option. 08703, fresh off a C Exam at Bescot (bizarrely sanctioned before sale), arrived at the site on the 20th January 2017. Still carrying shabby EWS livery, the loco has had the EWS lettering painted out and a small RSS logo placed on each cab side. Initially expected to replace 08605, both shunters remain on site at the time of writing.
• Leeds Neville Hill - Due to low availability of East Midlands Trains 4 own Gronks on site at Neville Hill with 08690 and 08908 out of action, and a commitment to provide a pilot to Northern covered by 08525, 08405 was collected from Crewe IEMD to ease the burden on former Intercity liveried 08950. 08405 was officially stored a number of years back by DB but was maintained in operational condition as Crewe IEMD pilot. Similar to 08703, the loco retains EWS livery with RSS logos attached to the cabsides.
• Axiom Rail, Stoke - Perhaps the most unsurprising new requirement for a Gronk was the pilot duty for the former Marcroft Engineering works in Stoke. Home to shunters such as 08714, 08993 and more recently 08633, the sale of the latter by DB to the nearby Churnet Valley Railway left this busy facility with no pilot. Realising that this wasn't practical DB turned to RSS who in turn have provided initially 08652, whilst 08460's overhaul was completed at Wishaw, via Mendip Rail. 08460 has now taken up its duties in the Potteries allowing 08652 to be returned to Merehead.
• Greater Anglia, Cambridge - The Arriva Traincare/LNWR facilty in Cambridge which is used for stabling/servicing units is a new location to require a Gronk. A lane of the shed has been hired by Abellio Greater Anglia for the overhaul of units. As the shed is not electrified the 08 will provide the power for any required movements. 08511 has taken up this duty after generator repairs at Wishaw.
• Greater Anglia, Norwich Crown Point - A depot and turn that has existed for many years, Crown point has a requirement for 2 pilots at any one time. This contract has been held by RMS locotec for a number of years. Expected imminently are RSS owned 08480 and 08683 to relieve locotec's 08754 and 08847.
• Tata Steel, Llanelli - Another contract won from RMS locotec, recently overhauled 08632 has been deployed to South Wales for pilot duty.

Purchased from DB Cargo at the fall of 2016 were,

08405
08480
08632
08703
08752

Also added to the operators fleet as of late are,

08568 - purchased from Glasgow Works
09015 - purchased from the National Collection

08632 under overhaul at RSS's base at Wishaw prior to deployment to South Wales

08511 undergoing generator repairs at Wishaw. The loco has since been dispatched to Cambridge for the new contract with Abellio Greater Anglia as described above.

08703 sits outside the shed at Wigan Springs Branch on Friday 19th May. The site is a shadow of its former self with its once large allocation of Class 31's, 56's and 60's all gone and replaced by crippled wagons and Network Rail MPV units. 08605 (which 08703 was brought in to replace) remains on site and in use.

Toton's former Pilot 08480/Toton No1 sits at Wishaw after arrival from the East Midlands. A quick overhaul and repaint in to RSS livery was to follow before being sent over to the Grand Central Railway, Loughborough along with 08683, where they participated in the lines diesel gala. Both shunters are still on site in Loughborough awaiting redeployment which is expected to to be at Norwich Crown Point.

08752 sits on a road trailer at Wishaw after arrival from Bombardier Derby. The loco is onsite for generator repairs and will likely receive a repaint in to RSS house colours of Black, Grey and Red.

'Euro Gronks' 08738 and 08939 sit at Wishaw pending overhaul. The pair are to be reactivated with their multiple working equipment reinstated and deployed nose to nose on an undisclosed contract. The pair last worked in 'Multi' in Rouen, North France but returned from their jollies and straight in store at Toton in 2011.

Former Bescot residents 08580 and 08709 have recently arrived at Wishaw after temporary storage at the Chasewater Railway. It could go either way with these 2, with stripping for spares or overhaul both under consideration.

 

08411 sits heavily stripped at Wishaw. Prior to the DB tender list purchases, the loco was scheduled for a full overhaul. It remains to be seen whether this is proceeded with.

08480 08683 are seen assisting with shunting operations at GCR, Loughborough. The pair are awaiting redeployment which is expected to be in East Anglia.

Observed from a distance and amongst the gantries is 08405 which is on hire to EMT at Leeds Neville Hill. On hand to assist with shunting duties due to 08690 and 08908 currently being out of traffic.

Goodmans Wishaw

Formed in the mid 1980's, Goodmans yard is home to Moveright International, specialists in road transport of a variety of things, loco's included. As well as being home to their fleet of trailers, the site has a workshop which is used to repair and overhaul locomotives through their sister company, Railway Support Services.

I visited the site, nr Sutton Coldfield on Monday 25/01/2016 and was kindly granted access to take some photos of the locomotives on site. The site is littered with Class 08 and 09 shunter's in varying states.

Owned by Mendip Rail, and a long term resident of the Isle of Grain, 08650 is on site for repairs to it's traction motors. Seen here on a short stretch of rail, the loco is missing it's Con Rod's.

 

Owned by Traditional Traction, source of spares 08411 is heavily stripped at the rear of the yard. Purchased from EWS in 2007, the loco had been stored at Allerton for a few years. At one point the loco was earmarked for overhaul but now plans appear to have changed, especially since the further purchase of 08580 and 08709 from DB Schenker.

 

Seen under repair is Traditional Traction's 08511. Formerly carrying EWS maroon and gold, the rub down process has exposed BR Blue on the battery box. Clearly with work advanced well on the cab, the loco should be released wearing the new RSS livery. 

 

EWS liveried 08865 was also sold by DB Schenker recently, but to Harry Needle rather than Traditional Traction. With space at Barrow Hill currently in short supply, the loco is to be stored at Wishaw for the foreseeable future. Largely complete, the loco was stored after having an exam refused a couple of years back.

 

08411, 08846 and 08995 are pictured at the rear of the yard. Blue liveried 08846, which carries the number 003, is owned by Bombardier and is on site for repairs. 'Cut down' 08995 is stored and will shortly be restored prior to beginning it's life as a preserved locomotive on the Shillingstone Railway Project.

 

Inside the shed, 08670 was having the finishing touches put to its new RSS livery. With a grey body, complimented by a red sole bar and black roof, complete with RSS branding, the livery suits the vintage design very well indeed.

 

 

Having only arrived from Crewe EMD a few days earlier, 08593 is a recent purchase from DB Schenker. Despite it looking worse for wear, with it's radiator end and body side doors missing, as well as the middle wheel set, the early indications are that this loco will eventually be repaired. Time will tell on this one..

 

With the nettle bushes growing around it, long forgotten 09015 is dumped at the back of the yard. Carrying EWS livery, colonised by the surrounding vegetation, the future does not seem so bright for this one.

 

Stored in front of 09015 is 08460 which carries a non standard light grey livery. The battery boxes  contain branding 'TLF South East' and also crudely scribbled on is 'Dee Marsh Babe', inherited during it's time at said location. Last seen by myself whilst the loco was stored on the Allerton scrap line in the mid noughties, the loco returned to service with Traditional Traction after being offered for sale by EWS. The loco saw use on various hire contracts but chronic unreliability has brought it extended time on the side-lines. Whether the loco moves again under its own power remains to be seen..

 

Also on site is 47484, the former 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel' still carrying the remnants of GWR green. Once owned by DRS, the loco is a long term resident of the site.

 

'Cut down' 08995 is stored here on behalf of its new owners and will shortly be restored prior to beginning it's life as a preserved locomotive on the Shillingstone Railway Project.

 

A fairly recent arrival at the site is 08628, or at least the remains of it, from the Ribble Steam Railway. Bought as a source of spares, most notably its wheel sets, the loco makes for a sorry sight.

 

My thanks and sincere gratitude go the Goodman's for allowing me on site to look and photo the locomotives.