Of interest whilst I was observing all the wagons in Fairwater Yard today, was that 69006 arrived light engine from Westbury, and a local gentleman informed me that a week or two previously, several NR engineers had been in the yard doing lots of measuring of the lengths of sidings, and an 802 class unit was brought into the yard and checked by them. Apparently, a bridge near Laira is to be demolished, and so trains will only work between Plymouth and Penzance, and so there will be no access to Laira Depot. Consequently, sidings are required for six units to stable overnight at Taunton, and there is a departure from Fairwater to Hinksey Yard tomorrow (6/1), and I think it may be the other rake of 4629 Sleeper Carrying wagons that will be moved by 69006.
Taunton Fairwater Clearout - On-Track Machines - Forum
Taunton Fairwater Clearout
There seems to be a 6Z20 move from Fairwater to Hinksey every Tuesday throughout January, so guess they'll be clearing out all remaining HO BC&TRT plant and wagons?
Further to my previous comment, to date I think there have been three moves from Fairwater to Hinksey.
15 Dec 2025 - 4Y90 - x21 flat sleeper wagons.
(6 Jan 2026 - 6Z20 didn't run)
13 Jan 2026 - 6Z20 - x19 flat sleeper wagons.
20 Jan 2026 - 6Z20 - x7 flat sleeper and x20 HOBC.
By my reckoning there are now no 31.70.4629.0##-# wagons left at Fairwater. Is Hinksey getting full of these wagons now, or have they been moving elsewhere afterwards?
Fairwater still has about fifty HOBC wagons, DR76502, DR76703, DR76750; along with Matisa P95 Renewal Train DR78802, 812, 822 & 832.
When i visited Hinksey Sidings on 16 Jan 2026 there were no sleeper wagons there so they had obviously been moved on.
Looks like the first two sets have moved to Tyne Yard (via Bescot and Carlisle Kingmoor).