16th Aug 1996

A real surprise for me on this visit, at 13.10, in the shape of 31146 "Brush Veteran" and 20075 "Sir William Cooke" heading towards London with Bescot Trip no. 84 and a rake of 32 freshly painted Transrail ZDA wagons. This train was running from Newport Alexandra Dock Junction Yard to Willesden Brent Yard. This is an uncommon pairing of locos, with the 31 in "Dutch" civil enginner's livery and the 20 in the short-lived BRT (BR Telecommunications) colours. This 20 was later acquired by Direct Rail Services, rebuilt, and renumbered as 20309, and subsequently stored.