(16 Feb 2021, 3:05 pm)GNE6312 wrote Just found an image of 730 on a rail replacement yesterday. Even with lockdown seems abit of a stupid allocation.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/184821405@...947398672/

Not when the rail replacement it is working requires a vehicle of that size.
Since Saturday, and until next Sunday, the Esk Valley Line (Middlesbrough to Whitby) is closed beyond Nunthorpe for track replacement in the Castleton and Danby area. As such, there are two rail replacement services in operation:
An Express between Middlesbrough and Whitby which takes 65 minutes end to end (departing Middlesbrough at 0458, 0655, 1410 and 1810 Monday to Sunday; returning from Whitby at 0631, 0845, 1600 and 1944 Monday to Sunday) operated by full size Coaches
An all-station service, departing each end at the same times as the Express but operating via all stations, taking 2 and a half hours end to end. Due to the roads in the area, a smaller vehicle is required - hence the use of Sprinters.