LE movements, ECS and test runs 2026

Nearly a 24 hour move impressive.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U89656/2026-07-16/detailed

 

Nearly? 24hrs and 5 mins.... a record for a 'booked' move?

 

37706 + POB + 44871 + 37685 seen at Beckfoot running ahead of schedule.

 

37668 on the front after Carnforth - 37706 was swapped.

 

As seen here:

https://andrewstransport.smugmug.com/Northwesttrains/North-west-trains-2026/i-rmJ6PCX

Andrew N

 

So anybody know if Tornado is in steam during this move this afternoon?

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1834YrSzdP/

 

Whilst i think this is progressive thinking and a decent idea in its own right - cant see that tornado is any different , and in some ways better due to its soft exhaust, than other locos in respect of being in light steam for transportation during extended dry periods...

 

37402 and 40013 have arrived at Crewe this afternoon from Barrow Hill for loan to LSL

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U90547/2026-08-11/detailed

Brighton Belle moving to Derby for third rail testing on Tuesday.

 

I thought they were both LSL locos in the first place?
37402 owned by LSL and 40013 on long-term loan to Locomotive Services from 2018.

 

Both 37402 and D213 have the same owner. LSL operate them but do not own them.

 

Thanks, as i said i knew about D213, but i thought LSL owned 37402, no worries anyway

 

5Z37 Carnforth - Fort William in the system for Tuesday morning. Presumably a Jacobite set-swap.

Then on Wednesday, there's another Crewe LSL - Carnforth Steamtown ECS round-trip, so looks like another steam loco on test and being turned and watered at 10A.

 

Will the black fire risk status have been lifted by Wednesday?

 

A decent bit of rain expected in Carnforth over the next 48 hours (and even more here in Cumbria).

One problem with lumping us in a single North West region is that north of the Lune it has been rather cooler and a little damper than the rest of the region. And while our summer has been dry, winter and spring were average for rainfall (unlike last year). The North half of the North West has been lucky.

 

Well if part of the loaded test run function is to test spark arresting mechanisms, doing so during a designated high fire risk period would be quite .... brave.

 

At least do it overnight so you can see the sparks. There's a PSOV video of 60007 doing a test run many years ago to see how the new spark arrester worked. One shot through a station late at night had a constant stream of sparks from the chimney, almost like one of those videos you see from Chinese coal mines!

 

Yes, I remember mid 90s a night time run of some sort was a mandatory aspect of the certification process for that visual indication you describe. Prior to the 'Dawlish Donkey' season 1450 was at Bury and went out round the [pre Metrolink] Oldham loop for that purpose.
I daresay it would be possible to use a heritage line, I think the Broadfield Section of ELR is passed for 60mph test runs and has a tidy gradient.