The main attraction
The draw for this evening was the chance to capture what could possibly be the last loaded train out of Winfrith of low level radioactive waste ever. The usual 10 loaded PFA's have been replaced with 8, conveying the usual half height cabriolet containers and distinctive blue tarpaulin covers.
Each wagon conveys 10 sealed stainless steel drums of low level nuclear waste, destined for the UK's nuclear waste repository in Drigg, Cumbria
Hauled by 68034 and tailed by 68017, the 6Z95 (1551 Winfrith Sidings to Crewe Coal Sidings) ensemble makes its way past Horseshoe bridge, Southampton and the assembled gallery.
Consist was:
DRSL 92781 PFA
DRSL 92766 PFA
DRSL 92761 PFA
DRSL 92740 PFA
DRSL 92723 PFA
DRSL 92801 PFA
DRSL 92731 PFA
DRSL 92768 PFA
The Winfrith Site, currently managed by Magnox Ltd (a UK government funded organisation) is located on a 129 hectare site in Dorset, near Wool. It was constructed in the 1950s to enable vital research into nuclear reactor design. The site housed nine experimental reactors at various times with only two remaining today, both of which are being decommissioned. Fifty hectares of the site was transferred to different ownership in 2003 following its decommissioning and progress since has seen the skyline change dramatically. Ponds have been emptied, bulk asbestos removed and waste sorted. Winfrith is working towards reaching its interim end state, at which point the land will be returned to heathland with full public access.
The large sub-surface structures at the Steam Generating Heavy Water Reactor (SGHWR) and Dragon reactor are likely to remain in place as low-level radioactive waste disposals, and backfilling with suitable site demolition rubble, filling some larger voids with concrete and closing off with secure caps, as the current radiation levels are very low, providing a much cheaper option than total demolition and removal of all materials.
Manifest of all services to date (Many thanks to Mark Jamieson for the info)
(1) .. 24th March 2022 .. 68017+68016 (10 PFA's all loaded)
(2) .. 26th May 2022 .. 68016+68018 (10 PFA's all loaded)
(3) .. 11th August 2022 .. 68002+68007 (10 PFA's all loaded)
(4) .. 7th September 2022 .. 68002+68016 (10 PFA's all loaded)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) .. 18th January 2023 .. 68018+68016 (10 PFA's all loaded)
(6) .. 23rd March 2023 .. 68003+68009
returned empty (not loaded due to weather conditions - high winds)
(7) .. 20th April 2023 .. 68001+68018 (10 PFA's all loaded)
(8) .. 31st May 2023.. 68017+68034, returned
1st June 2023 (8 PFA's all loaded)
Ran over two days due to crew shortage
29 June 2023 - 68002 + 2 PFA + 68003 (load 2)
10 August 2023 - 68001 + 10PFA + 68034
28 September 2023 - 68018 + 10PFA + 68033
9 January 2024 88002 - 10 PFA - 68003
23 January 2024 - 68002 - 7 PFA - 68016
Giving 1700 sealed drums of low level waste to date, each weighing about one metric ton
*Manifest above updated on 9 January 2024 to reflect the first run of 2024
Thursday 1 June 2023
The main attraction
The draw for this evening was the chance to capture what could possibly be the last loaded train out of Winfrith of low level radioactive waste ever. The usual 10 loaded PFA's have been replaced with 8, conveying the usual half height cabriolet containers and distinctive blue tarpaulin covers.
Each wagon conveys 10 sealed stainless steel drums of low level nuclear waste, destined for the UK's nuclear waste repository in Drigg, Cumbria
Hauled by 68034 and tailed by 68017, the 6Z95 (1551 Winfrith Sidings to Crewe Coal Sidings) ensemble makes its way past Horseshoe bridge, Southampton and the assembled gallery.
Consist was:
DRSL 92781 PFA
DRSL 92766 PFA
DRSL 92761 PFA
DRSL 92740 PFA
DRSL 92723 PFA
DRSL 92801 PFA
DRSL 92731 PFA
DRSL 92768 PFA
The Winfrith Site, currently managed by Magnox Ltd (a UK government funded organisation) is located on a 129 hectare site in Dorset, near Wool. It was constructed in the 1950s to enable vital research into nuclear reactor design. The site housed nine experimental reactors at various times with only two remaining today, both of which are being decommissioned. Fifty hectares of the site was transferred to different ownership in 2003 following its decommissioning and progress since has seen the skyline change dramatically. Ponds have been emptied, bulk asbestos removed and waste sorted. Winfrith is working towards reaching its interim end state, at which point the land will be returned to heathland with full public access.
The large sub-surface structures at the Steam Generating Heavy Water Reactor (SGHWR) and Dragon reactor are likely to remain in place as low-level radioactive waste disposals, and backfilling with suitable site demolition rubble, filling some larger voids with concrete and closing off with secure caps, as the current radiation levels are very low, providing a much cheaper option than total demolition and removal of all materials.
Manifest of all services to date (Many thanks to Mark Jamieson for the info)
(1) .. 24th March 2022 .. 68017+68016 (10 PFA's all loaded)
(2) .. 26th May 2022 .. 68016+68018 (10 PFA's all loaded)
(3) .. 11th August 2022 .. 68002+68007 (10 PFA's all loaded)
(4) .. 7th September 2022 .. 68002+68016 (10 PFA's all loaded)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) .. 18th January 2023 .. 68018+68016 (10 PFA's all loaded)
(6) .. 23rd March 2023 .. 68003+68009
returned empty (not loaded due to weather conditions - high winds)
(7) .. 20th April 2023 .. 68001+68018 (10 PFA's all loaded)
(8) .. 31st May 2023.. 68017+68034, returned
1st June 2023 (8 PFA's all loaded)
Ran over two days due to crew shortage
29 June 2023 - 68002 + 2 PFA + 68003 (load 2)
10 August 2023 - 68001 + 10PFA + 68034
28 September 2023 - 68018 + 10PFA + 68033
9 January 2024 88002 - 10 PFA - 68003
23 January 2024 - 68002 - 7 PFA - 68016
Giving 1700 sealed drums of low level waste to date, each weighing about one metric ton
*Manifest above updated on 9 January 2024 to reflect the first run of 2024
Thursday 1 June 2023