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ontrackplant

@ontrackplant.com

Hi there! I run https://ontrackplant.com - a website where you can log your on-track plant sightings, share photos, view up-to-date lists, find scheduled movements and so much more.

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Latest posts by ontrackplant @ontrackplant.com

Haven't heard about its future yet but will update if I find anything out

11.03.2026 10:34 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
a large yellow railway machine consisting of five vehicles passes through a railway station in dismal grey weather

a large yellow railway machine consisting of five vehicles passes through a railway station in dismal grey weather

a railway vehicle painted yellow, white, red and black passes through a station

a railway vehicle painted yellow, white, red and black passes through a station

three large yellow railway machine vehicles pass through a railway station in dismal grey weather

three large yellow railway machine vehicles pass through a railway station in dismal grey weather

a large yellow railway machine consisting of five vehicles passes through a railway station in dismal grey weather

a large yellow railway machine consisting of five vehicles passes through a railway station in dismal grey weather

This year lots of older machines are getting replaced by brand new machines as some companies modernise their fleets. One casualty will be Loram's C2101 Rail Grinder which arrived in 2002. Here is DR79231-79237 (exc. 79234&235) passing through a gloomy Cardiff Central.
#ontrackplant

10.03.2026 11:55 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
a yellow railway machine sits in an overgrown siding

a yellow railway machine sits in an overgrown siding

a yellow railway machine sits in an overgrown siding, surrounded by other railway machines, signs and lights

a yellow railway machine sits in an overgrown siding, surrounded by other railway machines, signs and lights

a rusty yellow railway machine sits in an overgrown siding

a rusty yellow railway machine sits in an overgrown siding

a yellow railway machine sits on a black wagon

a yellow railway machine sits on a black wagon

Here's the first in an occasional series looking back at old on-track plant liveries, kicking off with the classic yellow with red BR double arrow logo and Civil Engineering Department signage. A couple of machines lingered about on the rail network until the mid-2000s!
#ontrackplant #OTPliveries

03.03.2026 11:55 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Network Rail Selling High Output Ballast Cleaning Train Network Rail have put one of their Ballast Cleaning Trains up for sale via their competitive tendering process. Closing dates for bids is 13 April 2026.

Network Rail have put one of their Ballast Cleaning Trains up for sale. Closing dates for bids is 13 April.

Most of the vehicles can be found at Fairwater Yard, with a few having recenlty moved to Tyne Yard.

www.ontrackplant.com/news/network...

#ontrackplant

02.03.2026 15:39 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
a large blue & white railway machine sits in a siding, with some buddleia bushes surrounding it

a large blue & white railway machine sits in a siding, with some buddleia bushes surrounding it

Due for retirement this year, Balfour Beatty's Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73917 sits in a siding at Sittingbourne, partially obstructed by bushes and stuff.
#ontrackplant #tamperTuesday

24.02.2026 11:55 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
a yellow railway machine in a shed

a yellow railway machine in a shed

a red & grey railway machine accompanied by a similar yellow machine

a red & grey railway machine accompanied by a similar yellow machine

a pair of maroon-coloured railway cranes sit in a siding

a pair of maroon-coloured railway cranes sit in a siding

a large red railway machine is seen sitting on a road-lorry

a large red railway machine is seen sitting on a road-lorry

Fifteen years ago the final Fastline machines at Bristol Marsh Junction OTPD (part of the larger St Philips Marsh site) were being cleared out with several going for scrap, some abroad and one for preservation in Swindon. February 2011
#ontrackplant #tamperTuesday

17.02.2026 11:55 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A large yellow railway machine sits in a siding. It is partially obscured by a fence and reels of cable. The sky is nice and blue

A large yellow railway machine sits in a siding. It is partially obscured by a fence and reels of cable. The sky is nice and blue

A large yellow railway machine sits in a siding. It is partially obscured by a fence and reels of cable. The sky is cloudy and dull.

A large yellow railway machine sits in a siding. It is partially obscured by a fence and reels of cable. The sky is cloudy and dull.

Another Stoneblower off the list, although not entirely happy with the obstruction. Here are two shots of DR80216 taken a few minutes apart in very changable weather!
#stoneblower #ontrackplant

10.02.2026 11:55 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

#TrackMachineTuesday DR76311 part of a consist at Peterborough 9.4.96

03.02.2026 09:00 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
an orange, black & yellow railway machine sits in a siding

an orange, black & yellow railway machine sits in a siding

an orange, black & yellow railway machine sits in a siding. Next to it is a yellow machine.

an orange, black & yellow railway machine sits in a siding. Next to it is a yellow machine.

a close up shot of a name plaque "Jupiter" and another label stating "This machine is powered by HVO fuel"

a close up shot of a name plaque "Jupiter" and another label stating "This machine is powered by HVO fuel"

"COLAS RAIL" and "DR73910" decals on an orange railway machine's cab

"COLAS RAIL" and "DR73910" decals on an orange railway machine's cab

Colas Rail's Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Switch & Crossing Tamper DR73910 "Jupiter" sits in a gloomy siding.
#tamperTuesday #ontrackplant

03.02.2026 11:55 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Tamper and Road-Railer Roundup - January 2026 Here is a short round-up of tamper and road-railer news during January 2026.

Here is a short round-up of tamper and road-railer news during January 2026.
#ontrackplant

www.ontrackplant.com/news/tamper-...

02.02.2026 14:22 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

DR73908 might be making its last move to Rugby OTPD today before being retired/replaced by DR73954 in the Anglia region. (Usual cancellation / rescheduling disclaimers apply! )
Here's a photo of it when it was new. How time flies!
#ontrackplant
www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-n...

26.01.2026 13:07 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Taunton Fairwater Clearout - On-Track Machines - Forum Of interest whilst I was observing all the wagons in Fairwater Yard today, was that 69006 arrived li...

Taunton Fairwater Clearout - new forum topic by Roger Harris.
#ontrackplant

www.ontrackplant.com/forum/on-tra...

21.01.2026 10:03 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
a large yellow & blue railway machine sits in a siding

a large yellow & blue railway machine sits in a siding

a large yellow & blue railway machine sits in a siding

a large yellow & blue railway machine sits in a siding

a large yellow & blue railway machine sits in a siding

a large yellow & blue railway machine sits in a siding

a close up detail of some numbering information on a yellow railway machine

a close up detail of some numbering information on a yellow railway machine

A pair of SBRail's Plasser & Theurer Unimat 09-4x4/4S Dynamic Tampers sit in the siding at Hemel Hempstead ready for work over the Christmas period on the WCML, 24 December 2025.
ontrackplant.com #ontrackplant #tamperTuesday

20.01.2026 14:29 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Realtime Trains | 6J13 1020 Broxbourne Down Tamper Sdg to Rugby Depot Access Line | 17/01/2026 Real-time train running information for 6J13 1020 departure from Broxbourne Down Tamper Sdg to Rugby Depot Access Line on 17/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info…

On Saturday 17th DR73906 should be making its last move to Rugby OTPD before being retired/replaced by DR73953 in the Anglia region. Usual cancellation / rescheduling disclaimers apply!
If you see it then please upload a photo!
#ontrackplant

www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-n...

16.01.2026 13:02 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Realtime Trains | 6Q05 1009 West Ealing Plasser Sdgs to Swanage | 15/01/2026 Real-time train running information for 6Q05 1009 departure from West Ealing Plasser Sdgs to Swanage on 15/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

On Thusrday 15th January a new Balfour Beatty tamper (DR73955?) should be moving from West Ealing to Swanage Railway for testing. Usual cancellation / rescheduling disclaimers apply!
If you see it then please upload a photo!
#ontrackplant

www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-n...

15.01.2026 10:05 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
a small orange & yellow railway machine sits in a siding. It is next to a box and a lot of brown trackwork & vegetation

a small orange & yellow railway machine sits in a siding. It is next to a box and a lot of brown trackwork & vegetation

a small orange & yellow railway machine sits in a siding. It is accompanied by a yellow wagon

a small orange & yellow railway machine sits in a siding. It is accompanied by a yellow wagon

Two of Colas Rail's small Plasser & Theurer tampers (DR73922 and DR73913) are seen in various sidings, 19 December 2025.
#tamperTuesday #ontrackplant

13.01.2026 14:29 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Nice pair πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»

13.01.2026 14:23 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
a moody dark scene featuring lots of railway tracks, some metalic structures, and a railway machine pluming out some exhaust fumes.

a moody dark scene featuring lots of railway tracks, some metalic structures, and a railway machine pluming out some exhaust fumes.

a large yellow railway machine trundles through some pointwork. It is under some overhead wires.

a large yellow railway machine trundles through some pointwork. It is under some overhead wires.

Network Rail Harsco Stoneblower DR80215 makes a spirited departure from Crewe. This machine is returning to Scotland (via a stop at Preston) after its yearly service at Harsco's works in Derby. 19 December 2025.
#stoneblower #ontrackplant

06.01.2026 14:29 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Metals is a bit boring 😳 - there's now four 37s in it!
(Construction and Coal coming in at one each; and poor Petroleum and Distribution at none each 🎻)

04.01.2026 17:40 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Two were sadly scrapped at the start of 2025 but fortunately they weren't gaps as I'd photo'd them in the 1990s. It would've been nice to get recent photos of them, but oh well.

02.01.2026 11:40 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Made a good effort with last year's Stoneblower photo goal - filled in five out of eight gaps - including the Scottish one which I didn't think I'd get.
Will aim to get at least two more this year (not sure I'll manage the Worksop example ☹️)
#ontrackplant #stoneblowers ontrackplant.com

02.01.2026 11:40 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
a large white & blue railway machine passes through a railway station. It is slightly obscured & surrounded by shadows.

a large white & blue railway machine passes through a railway station. It is slightly obscured & surrounded by shadows.

a large white & blue railway machine passes through a railway station under a bridge

a large white & blue railway machine passes through a railway station under a bridge

DR77002 - one of SBRail's Plasser AFM2000RT ballast finishing machines - trundles through Crewe working from Stafford to Preston. 19 December 2025.
#ontrackplant

30.12.2025 14:29 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A large railway signal box with brick lower half and beige & green wood panelling on top.

A large railway signal box with brick lower half and beige & green wood panelling on top.

A small railway signal box with brick lower half and beige & green wood panelling on top.

A small railway signal box with brick lower half and beige & green wood panelling on top.

I made a rare foray into the area earlier in the year and was pleasantly surprised to see similar on the signal boxes of Littlehampton and Chichester.

(Littlehampton station also had delightful Red Star parcels signage but I forgot to photo it)

Merry Christmas

24.12.2025 17:22 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
ontrackplant.com - On-Track Plant, Track Machines, Road-Rail Vehicles (RRVs), Rail Mounted Maintenance Machines (RMMMs), and Trailers The website contains details of over 12,000 on-track machines, road-rail vehicles, non-powered trailers and attachments on the UK railway network. We have 1,000,000 sightings and 23,000 photos making…

(And if you haven't contributed anything yet, then the Christmas period is always a good time to dig out those old notebooks and photos and start sending them in!)
Join today at ontrackplant.com

23.12.2025 14:29 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A small yellow, black and green railway trolley sits in a siding and is surrounded by snow.
"Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" text is overlaid on the picture.

A small yellow, black and green railway trolley sits in a siding and is surrounded by snow. "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" text is overlaid on the picture.

I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thanks for all of your contributions of sightings and photos over the last year!

#ontrackplant ontrackplant.com

23.12.2025 14:29 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Video thumbnail

Another train in the dark - operating as 6Z02, a railgrinder slowly passes in a shower of sparks.

20.12.2025 01:01 πŸ‘ 14 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
a large blue and white railway machine sits in a siding. in the background is the front of a green train.

a large blue and white railway machine sits in a siding. in the background is the front of a green train.

a large blue and white railway machine sits in a siding.

a large blue and white railway machine sits in a siding.

Balfour Beatty's Matisa B66UC tamper DR75501 sits in the siding at Chichester, 23 September 2025.
ontrackplant.com #ontrackplant #tamperTuesday

16.12.2025 19:49 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
a large yellow railway machine stands in a platform under a glorious blue sky

a large yellow railway machine stands in a platform under a glorious blue sky

a large yellow railway machine moves through some complicated trackwork

a large yellow railway machine moves through some complicated trackwork

a close up detail view of the tamping tools & equipment on a railway tamping machine

a close up detail view of the tamping tools & equipment on a railway tamping machine

a close up detail of some numbering information on a yellow railway machine

a close up detail of some numbering information on a yellow railway machine

Swietelsky's Plasser & Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Tamper DR73940 arrives at Guide Bridge after working in from Blackburn sidings.
ontrackplant.com #ontrackplant #tamperTuesday

09.12.2025 19:49 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

37418 4Z55 Derby RTC to Old Dalby accelerates from Syston East Junction 9.12.25 .
Loram Rail Grinder DR79704

09.12.2025 12:48 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
a large yellow railway machine stands in a platform under a glorious blue sky

a large yellow railway machine stands in a platform under a glorious blue sky

a large yellow railway machine moves through some complicated trackwork

a large yellow railway machine moves through some complicated trackwork

a close up detail of some numbering information on a yellow railway machine

a close up detail of some numbering information on a yellow railway machine

SBRail / Swietelsky's Plasser & Theurer Unimat 09-4x4/4S Dynamic Tamper DR74002 arrives at Guide Bridge after working in from York Skelton OTM Sidings, 27 October 2025.
ontrackplant.com #ontrackplant #tamperTuesday #universalstopfmaschine

02.12.2025 19:49 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0