What I believe to be the latest edition of Railway Track Diagrams - 3 Western & Wales (7th edition 2023) describes the sidings on the down side east of Swindon where the electrification vehicles are stored as SWINDON DOWN YARD Engineers. I record my sightings in these sidings as Swindon Down Yard. I note others generally use a description of Swindon Transfer Yard HOOB which reflects its historic title. However, the point of this topic is to clarify exactly which OTMs and associated wagons are currently there and in which siding.

When I last viewed the sidings I recorded from east to west in the two sidings south of the old transfer shed:-

DR76908+DR76909+DR76902+DR76904+DR76912+DR76916+DR76917 (consist 2 siding)

WHD97301+DR98005+WHD97306 (consist 1B siding)

I was not able to positively identify those in marshalling siding 2, that closest to the running lines north of the old transfer shed. I believe though DR76911, DR76913, DR76914, DR76918, WHD97303 and possibly one other were in this line. Can anyone confirm the order of this line from east to west?

If there was another in marshalling siding 2 then it would have to be one of DR76915 or WHD97302. However, the few sightings of these two is suspicious. Are they actually tucked away in the shed on the fuelling/washing line?

My last viewing was in August 2024 so possible some juggling has subsequently taken place.

Had another look from public vantage points on Saturday (17 May 2025). Those on the south side in Consist 1B siding where, as presumed by the webmaster, from west to east, WHD97301, DR98005, WHD97306, DR76908, DR76909, DR76902, DR76904, DR76912, DR76916, DR76917.

Although I couldn't eyeball confirm numbers, all others appeared to be on the Fuelling/Washing Line which runs through the new temporary shed on the mainline side. The four seen by the webmaster in October to the west of the temporary shed, from west to east, DR76913+DRR76911, DR76914+DR76918 would fit with what I could see. I must emphasis though that I could not eyeball confirm. It would appear that an electrification wagon was outsise at the other end of the temporary shed which could possibly be WHD97303. Lack of recent sightings of this or WHD97302, which is another possibility, suggests that it can't be identified from passing trains.

Thus if DR76915 and / or WHD97302 are still present then the only place they can be is in the temporary shed. Obviously, if anyone has the opportunity to check the Fuelling/Washing line and temporary shed that would be very useful. Possibly these two left a while ago?

I was able to have another look from public vantage points on Saturday (26 July 2025) and also from the compound of Car & Truck services (with permission). Those in Consist 1B siding where as on my previous visit. All eyeball confirmed.

On the Fuelling/Washing line, from west to east, I was able to eyball confirm DR76913+DR76914+DR76915+DR76911. Between these and the temporary Fuelling/Washer shed was a loose WH Davis Modular Wagon. This wagon is likely WHD97303 as there is a sighting of this at Swindon on 14th July. It would be interesting to know more about this sighting. Was it an eyeball confirmation during a site visit?

Since I last posted, DR76918 has been sighted several times in OCR formations so safe to conclude it is no longer at Swindon. This would just leave WHD97302 to be accounted for.

I note the inclusion of DR76920 and WHD97302 in the formation of 6X42 has been queried. DR76920 as far as I'm aware is still part of the Crewe based Construction Services - OLE fleet as is DR76918 also recently reported at Swindon. I'm curious as to why just these two from the fleet would have been at Swindon recently. I would also query the January sightings of DR76911 at Bolton-le-Sands, surely this is still at Swindon?

WHD97302 was the one I couldn't account for last year but I did have a suspicion that it might be in the Fuelling/Washer shed. Perhaps it was and has now emerged.

Looking at a photograph that i took at Hinksey sidings on the 28th April 2026 the 2 supposed wagons do not look like 97302 or 76920 although i stand to be corrected, i can upload the photo if that helps.

From Gen group a post by JTC quotes both of these having moved today on 6X02 Basford Hall to Carlisle.

Andrew's picture is very interesting. Whilst I would agree the vehicle closest to the camera is DR76920 the other looks more like DR76919 than WHD97302.

The reason for the lack of sightings of DR76911 and DR76915 is probably because of their position. When I viewed them in July 2025 they were shielded from the main line by buildings and I was only able to confirm their identities from within the premises of Car and Truck services.

An interesting post has now appeared elsewhere where these are being discussed, a poster saying. "I passed Swindon HOOB on Easter Monday and I was surprised to see the shed doors open and lights on inside with staff present, the side roller shutter door was also open and what Iooked like 97302 was visible inside, I wasn't quite quick enough to 100% confirm the number which was visible.

On my return later that day I had my phone video set ready but unfortunately the shed doors were now closed and the place had regained the abandoned appearance! At the time I did also think that there must have been a shunt around and there was a vehicle outside London end of the shed and the ones at the Bristol end weren't exactly positioned as I remembered.

Luckily the video is still on my phone and I've just watched it back, what is possibly DR76906 is at the London end of the shed and DR76923, the Bristol end (this one is named).

At the time I did also think that there must have been a shunt around and there was a vehicle outside the London end of the shed and the ones at the Bristol end weren't exactly positioned as I remembered."

The profile of the frame in the second vehicle definitely matches a 973xx, and doesn't match that of DR76919 (bogies, brake wheel, data panel style and positioning etc). The modules however do look they could have come from DR76919...

Dan makes a very interesting comment that on closer examination of the picture I would agree with. Thus, it suggests that Construction Services - OLE have swapped DR76919 for WHD97302 and swapped the modules. Consequently they now only have WH Davis wagons in their fleet and all the Rautarukki wagons are now stored at Swindon.

Having viewed the video taken on 6th April mentioned in my last post I would agree that DR76906 & DR76923 are the ones either end of the shed.

Up topic I mentioned that on the 26th July 2025 I identified on the Fuelling/Washing line, from west to east, DR76913+DR76914+DR76915+DR76911 followed by WHD97303 identified by Mokie. The video shows these to have been shunted approximately two vehicle lengths towards Bristol. Consequently DR76913 and DR76914 can now easily be identified from passing trains but the others are obscurred by the buildings but are definetly there. Anyone viewing from the premises of Car and Truck services would be able to eyeball confirm them.

The video doesn't show DR76919, DR76920 or WHD97302. The latter was almost certainly in the shed on that date with possibly another. I believe the shed is long enougth to contain two vehicles. Those not in the shed would probably be located behind the old transfer shed and thus not visible from passing trains.

If anyone has viewed the location since 28th April or does so in the near future, either from a passing train or other vantage points, it would be very useful to know if any of DR76906, DR76919, DR76923 are visible. Any that aren't probably being located in the shed as it now appears WHD97302 has been for the last year or so.

Posted elsewhere that yesterday morning DR76923 was seen just west of the structure on the fuelling/washing line (identifiable by nameplate but number obscured). Thus, far to conclude that from west to east the fuellling/washer line contains DR76906, DR76913+DR76914+DR76915 +DR76911+WHD97303, DR76923. Thus, on the presumption of no change on 1B siding that would leave DR76919 unaccounted for. Likely this is now in the shed, confirmation welcomed.