3. A track machine fest-17.01.21

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2021 > 3. A track machine fest-17.01.21
I had spotted three unusual workings on my morning trawl of RTT and noted that they were scheduled to be within an hour of each other. I suspected that they were track machines despite two of them indicating that they were optimistically designated as being a 'diesel locomotive trailing 800 tonnes'! I timed my daily COVID walk to coincide with their passages and even the sun played ball!
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Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.

DR73923, 10.37 Stafford Arrival Sidings-Hemel Hempstead Boxmoor Sidings (RT), Roade cutting 
 Running as the 10.37 Stafford to Hemel Hempstead Colas rail ballast regulator DR73923 passes through Roade cutting. This Plasser & Theurer machine specifically designed as a switch (points) and crossing tamper once wore the white livery and branding of the ultimately flawed infrastructure company Carillion. 
 Keywords: Colas Rail ballast regulator DR73923 10.37 Stafford Arrival Sidings-Hemel Hempstead Boxmoor Sidings RT Roade cutting
66118, 11.29 Dollands Moor-DIRFT (1E), Roade cutting 
 This working, seen passing through Roade cutting, is a bit of a mystery. As the 11.29 Dollands Moor to Daventry, there is no mistake but its reporting number is unclear. Despite my friend Mike doing some research for me (thanks!) he could not come up with a credible headcode. It should have been the daily 6M45 but it is too short, too early and also has some boxes on the rear rather than the more usual long rake of Cargo Wagons. If anybody can advise me with some more details of this working, please do get in contact with me. 
 Keywords: 66118 11.29 Dollands Moor-DIRFT Roade cutting DB
DR73947, 10.30 Crewe PAD-Bletchley Sidings (2L), Roade cutting 
 The second example of a Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT switch and crossing tamper passing south through Roade cutting within thirty minutes of the first one is seen in the form of DR73947. This particular example, operated by Colas Rail, was an exhibit at the 2016 Rail Live event at Long Marston. 
 Keywords: DR73947 10.30 Crewe PAD-Bletchley Sidings 2L Roade cutting
DR75012, 12.20 Nuneaton Civil Engineers-Willesden Railnet Sidings (3L), Hyde Road bridge 
 The third track machine of the day within an hour passes Roade taken from the village's Hyde Road bridge. Swietelsky Babcock Rail's DR75012 heads south as the 12.20 Nuneaton to Willesden bringing a splash of Network Rail yellow to a winter's scene. This Plasser & Theurer Unimat 09-4x4/4S dynamic tamper is almost new being introduced during last summer (2020). 
 Keywords: DR75012 12.20 Nuneaton Civil Engineers-Willesden Railnet Sidings 3L Hyde Road bridge

Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.