The LNER Encyclopedia

While crossing the Tyne Bridge over Xmas I noticed the silouette of a train crossing the High Level Bridge opposite travelling North. This unusual combination had a class 37 at front and back, a van at front and back in between and a large unusual looking bogie wagon in the middle so it was 37 - van - bogie - van - 37 . I have seen nuclear flasks on this route but usually through the night and with class 20s in a similar config but this was mid afternoon.
Any theories ?.

Sounds like possibly one of the many railhead Sandite-applying / water-jetting trains that mooch around (actually to detailed plans & schedules honed over several years) during the autumn leaf-fall period.
Parts or all of the train (& locos?) were perhaps all-over yellow?

StevieG wrote:Sounds like possibly one of the many railhead Sandite-applying / water-jetting trains that mooch around (actually to detailed plans & schedules honed over several years) during the autumn leaf-fall period.
Parts or all of the train (& locos?) were perhaps all-over yellow?

Water jetting trains are not yellow. The rolling stock is blue and yet to see a consist that includes a couple of vans. Plus it's a bit late in the day for one of these to be running over the Xmas period. The leaf fall contract ended mid December. NR test trains are the ones in yellow and AFAIK the 37s are currently engaged on signalling trial work on the Cambrian.
I've attached a pic of one at Brandon.

A too-hasty reply of mine perhaps.
Agree about the non-leaf-fall period timing, but surely one could concievably have been on a merely transit move trip.
I take your other general points though, but can we be sure they're all the same colour?

I am going to have to demonstrate my latest interest in modern trains to answer this query.

Do you have a date and I can try and get the consist for you?

StevieG wrote:A too-hasty reply of mine perhaps.
Agree about the non-leaf-fall period timing, but surely one could concievably have been on a merely transit move trip.
I take your other general points though, but can we be sure they're all the same colour?

I've yet to see a loco hauled water cannon set up that's anything other than blue, be it in the flesh or in a photograph, although I stand to be corrected. Anyway as the OP saw the consist in silhouette the colour for the purposes of his query is irrelevant. His description of the rake is more important and it doesn't fit the description of a water cannon set up that I know of. DRS are the main users of 37s, which would fit in with a possible nuclear flask move but they seem to have dispensed with barrier vehicles these days so that doesn't fit in with a van at either end of the rake. A bit of a mystery.

What's that vehicle with all the lights round it in an arch - gauging train? Tunnel inspection? Is it possible that's what it was?

Could only see a sillouette, I think it was Wed 23/12 but i couldent get a really good look for liverys etc and as the traffic was very heavy and I didnt want a rear end shunt.It just struck me as an unusual combination as there are not many class 37 movements around at the moment. Last time I looked in at Tyne Yard there were still a dozen or so in a sorry state, they are at the far end so cant see the numbers but they are still in the old sector liverys.

sorry no joy on the consist. Well not anything that is engineers-ish.