European Railroad Discussion > Crawley New Yard on Tuesday

Date: 09/02/16 07:20
Crawley New Yard on Tuesday
Author: 86235

1: The DBS operated 7Y36 from Cliffe approaches point set 1737 where it will stop and reverse back into the yard (on the left). 7Y36 runs once a week from Cliffe, SE of London to the Day's Aggregates terminal, one of two in New Yard. There are about 10 trains a week to the two terminals, carrying stone and rock from a number of sources and destined for Crawley's booming construction industry. On the down fast Southern's 12:50 London Victoria to Brighton semi-fast approaches.
2: 7Y36 was running a few minutes late and had to sit on the down slow for a few minutes to allow two northbounds to pass before commencing its shunt. Point set 1737 has changed and the shunt signal has cleared as a trio of new Gatwick Express 387/2s hurtle south on the 13:00 Victoria to Brighton GatEx fast service. The wagons on 7Y36 are classed MBAs but are known to all and sundry as monster boxes.
3: The sun appears as 66041 emerges from under the Crawley Avenue bridge. There's no pedestrian access to this bridge which is the four lane divided highway which links Crawley's Manor Royal industrial area to the M23 motorway. I had ridden up on my bike.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/16 15:30 by 86235.

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Date: 09/02/16 07:30
Re: Crawley New Yard on Tuesday
Author: 86235

4: Crawley is only a couple of miles south of Gatwick Airport, as you can see as this Easyjet A320 lands. The blue 377s kicking their heels waiting for 66041 to clear the down slow are on the 11:24 Bedford to Three Bridges Thameslink service.

5: With the 7Y36 safely in the yard and the points re-aligned the 11:24 recommences it's journey to Three Bridges, which is about three quarters of a mile behind me. It was now about four minutes late. On the up fast one of the new Siemens built 12 car class 700 sets on the 13:05 Brighton to Bedford (Three Bridges 13:35) whilst approaching in the distance is another 700 on a London Bridge to Brighton train. The member of DBS ground-staff who will supervise the shunting is in front of the locomotive

6: 66041 draws the whole train forward before the ground staff makes the cut (these are knuckle coupler equipped wagons before anyone asks) to ensure the right material is unloaded into the right bunker. Unloading in the Day's terminal is done by grab. The 387/2s heading north are on the 13:18 Brighton to Victoria Gat Ex fast.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/16 07:31 by 86235.