Rail Head Treatment Trains (RHTT)

By Brian Carter

In October 2001 there where of the north-east RHTT (working off Healey Mills). The workings concerned are (these are the SSuX times):
 
6T94 04.00 Healey Mills - Carlisle via Wakefield Kirkgate, Church Fenton, York Yard North, Darlington, Tyne Yard and Hexham
6T95 08.50 Carlisle - Nunthorpe via Hexham, Tyne Yard, Ferryhill, Stockton and Tees Yard
6T96 12.28 Nunthorpe - Strensall via Tees Yard, Eaglescliffe, Longlands Jn. (Northallerton), York Yard North and York Holgate (reverse)
6T99 16.11 Strensall - Healey Mills via York, Church Fenton and Wakefield Kirkgate

On 24th and 25th October 2001, I photographed 37372 and 37503 on this circuit. On 24th 37503 led from Healey Mills (and from Nunthorpe and from Strensall). While on 25th 37372 led from Healey Mills; the visit to Tees-side turned the train every day. I only saw 6T95 and 6T96 on those days. Of course, at each destination point, the train reversed, but note the additional reversal in 6T96 so that whichever loco led 6T96 from Nunthorpe would also lead 6T99 throughout.
Picture of 6T95 departing from Tees Yard on 24th October 2001 (on Flickr):
 

 

I've also found photos (of mine) in an article I wrote at the time about RHTT workings, of the Great Northern RHTT circuit. 
 
On 22nd October 2001, 37667 and 37216 worked:
6T93 09.06 Temple Mills - Royston via Canonbury, Finsbury Park and Hertford North (37667 leading)
6T94 10.59 Royston - King's Cross Goods via Hertford North (37216 leading)
[the diagram continued on as 6T95 13.16 King's Cross Goods - Welwyn Garden City and 6T96 13.58 Welwyn Garden City - Temple Mills, but 6T93 and 6T94 had run about two hours late]
 
On 23rd October 2001, 37216 and 37377 worked:
6T93 09.06 Temple Mills - Royston via Canonbury, Finsbury Park and Hertford North (37216 leading)
6T94 10.59 Royston - King's Cross Goods via Hertford North (37377 leading)
[then should have done 6T95 and 6T96 as above, but 6T94 was 1.5 hours late]
 
On 10th November 2001 (a Saturday), 37109 and 37174 worked:
6T93 08.50 Temple Mills - Royston via Canonbury, Finsbury Park and Hertford North (37109 leading)
6T94 11.59 Royston - Harringay via Hertford North (37174 leading)
[then should have done 6T95 13.40 Harringay - Welwyn Garden City and 6T96 14.14 Welwyn Garden City - Temple Mills]
 
On 8th December 2001 (also a Saturday), 37707 and 37042 worked:
6T93 08.50 Temple Mills - Royston via Canonbury, Finsbury Park and Hertford North (37707 leading)
6T94 11.59 Royston - Harringay via Hertford North (37042 leading)
[then should have done 6T95 and 6T96 as above]

Two years later, I photographed the Great Northern RHTT on several Saturdays:
6T88 07.40 Temple Mills - Royston
6T89 Royston - Harringay (I can't find the departure time)
6T90 12.40 Harringay - Welwyn Garden City
6T91 13.14 Welwyn Garden City - Temple Mills
 
Dates noted were:
18th October 2003 with 37895 (leading northbound trains) and 37896 (leading southbound trains) - but I only saw 6T88 (as I then went over to the WCML!)
25th October 2003 again with 37895 (leading northbound trains) and 37896 (leading southbound trains) - I saw 6T88, 6T90 and 6T91, so 6T89 must have run as booked
29th November 2003 with 37895 (leading northbound trains) and 37667 (leading southbound trains) - I only saw 6T88 and 6T89
Picture on 6T88 between Ashwell & Morden and Royston on 25th October (on Flickr)
 

The following year, I've got the following:
2nd October 2004 (a Saturday): 37682 + 37521 on Carlisle - Doncaster? RHTT (I assume 6T78), which I saw south of Tyne Yard.
26th October 2004: 37517 + 37042 6T78 05.51 Carlisle - Doncaster
27th October 2004: 37042 + 37517 6T78 05.51 Carlisle - Doncaster, picture below

And that was the last year of EWS 37s on RHTTs in the north-east, the GN train having already become GBRf 66s.

Brian Carter