Normally this would be included as a daily update, I decided this should have a page to itself so I present the DRS special for you. DRS had ordered 10 Class 66’s and the first batch of 5 (66401-405) arrived on Tuesday 14th October 2003 at Newport Docks. A path was found of TOPS for movement to Carlisle on either Wednesday, Thursday or Friday with departure of 14.30 from Newport. There was a mass of rumors of when they would be moving and in the end none of these came to fruition. Then out of nowhere it was reported then had left Newport on Friday as 0Z66 17.14 Newport – Rugby.
Shortly after departure it was stated they would be attached to the 4S49 Daventry – Grangemouth DRS working. Rugby is only 60 miles so I jumped in the car and decided to head up to see if I could catch them before the headed onto Carlisle. The main reason I chased these so hard is due to DRS being based at Carlisle and the distances involved trying to see them at a later date even though they are likely to be around for years.
I arrived at Rugby just after 21.00 and it seems most of the rail enthusiast community had the same idea, the station was packed out! I had only been there 10 minutes when 66710 passed through the station on 4S49 without stopping. Alarm bells started ringing, where they going to added to the train elsewhere or had there been a change in plan and they were going straight to Carlisle? I decided to stay on as the place was still packed and see what happened. Then at 21.45 a bright set of light appeared to the North and this was the DRS 66’s, it looks like the 4S49 gen had been duff and the move was light engine throughout. The reason it was via Rugby was probably due to route knowledge of the drivers. The convoy pulled up in the sidings adjacent the station and the drivers proceeded to swap ends which took approximately 25 minutes giving plenty of time to take some photos.
At 22.12 the convoy departed for Carlisle led by 66403 and it was then time to head home. With another 120 miles under my belt I suddenly thought of how far I had travelled trying to see them during the week and after some calculation I had done ~660 miles. I then wondered how far it was to Carlisle and a quick check showed it was 281 miles. So I could have gone to Carlisle and back to see them and still had 100 miles spare. Did I say I didn’t want to go to Carlisle due to distances involved?!?! Am I crazy?