- London Bridge Status September 2016
- London Bridge status late August 2016
- Farewell Tooley Street Offices
- East Croydon Platform Raising
- East Kent Re-signalling April 2016
- London Bridge status April 2016
- Lancing Footbridge Refurbishment
- Crossrail- Abbey Wood Takes Shape
- RVEL Ultra 73 Progress
- Rochester's New Station January 2016
- London Bridge status January 2016
- London Bridge status December 2015
- London Bridge status October 2015
- London Bridge status September 2015
- London Bridge - What A Difference 363 Days Makes!
- London Bridge status June 2015
- London Bridge status May 2015
- Kent Coast Infrastructure March 2015
- London Bridge status March 2015
- London Bridge status February 2015
- Platform 0 at Redhill
- GB Railfreight Class 73/9s down south
- Snow & Ice Treatment Trains
- Crossrail Abbey Wood Progress
- Themed Hoarding Waterloo P21&22
- London Bridge After January 10th 2015
- London Bridge Prior to January 10th 2015
- Track Re-laying at Wimbledon 2015
- London Bridge Signal Box -
End of Whole Station Operation December 2014 - Former Cig MBSO at Edinburgh
- Waterloo Platforms 21 & 22 Open
- RVEL Ultra 73
- Loco Hauled De-icers 2013
- Refurbished GLV De-Icers: A Closer Look
- Refreshed GLV De-Icers Appear
- 73141 Named Twice!
- GLV De-Icers In Service
- GLV De-Icers Test Trips
GLV De-Icer Test Trips
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A sight to set the hearts of slam door unit fans beating faster! The procession of 68505, 68504, 73204 and 68508 pass Paddock Wood on 12th January 2008 during a test round-trip between Tonbridge West Yard and Ashford. The 73 headcode is presumably reflecting the class of locomotive being used since it is not a passenger working. photograph by Barrie Swann |
| There has been a flurry of activity in the new year with Network Rail's GLV based de-icers which are normally based at Tonbridge West Yard. Following work on them at Eastleigh it is reported that 73205 conveyed 68505, 68504, and 68508 to Tonbridge on January 3rd. Later in the day a super-powered trip from Tonbridge West Yard down the Hastings Line took place using 73204, 73212 and 73213 with one un-reported GLV. However, there were problems with the three GLVs and they were taken back to Eastleigh next day by 73212. Following further attention they returned to Tonbridge with the same EDL on 8th January. On the 10th January there were three test round-trips between Tonbridge West Yard and Ashford testing a single GLV at a time. Next day in the afternoon 73212 took a round trip between Tonbridge West Yard and Ashford with two GLVs. On 12th January there was a further round trip with all three GLVs, as pictured above. Next day the test round-trip was more extensive running from Tonbridge to Dover via Sevenoaks, Swanley (reverse), Maidstone East and Ashford. On 16th January 73204 and one GLV did a round trip from Tonbridge via Paddock Wood, Strood, Dartford and Hither Green. Our final report for now is from 17th January when 73204 ran from Tonbridge West Yard to St. Leonards with 68505 and 68504. Now all they need, but we travellers do not, is icy weather! |
