Class 33

• The driver of 33008 and 33026 puts on the power and accelerates his train away from Stourbridge North Jct. The train is a Bristol - Carlisle charter, the "Crompton Crusader", and it's seen here approaching Lye at 10:27 on Sunday 30th July 1995. Maybe it was due to weekend engineering work, but this train was routed via Shrewsbury rather than Stafford. So after taking this photo I headed off to Admaston, just west of Wellington, to try for a second shot. I beat the train comfortably because it didn't reach Admaston until 11:55, but in the event that second shot wasn't as good as this first one.
• 33029 and E6005 had just detached from the stock forming the 16:45 Keighley - Oxenhope and were running down the loop at Oxenhope when this shot was taken at 17:43 on Saturday 18th June 2005.
• 33029 and 33207 head 1Z60, a Peterborough - Aberystwyth charter, past Sutton Bridge Jct at 10:07 on Friday 31st March 2006. This isn't a very original location to do a Cambrian special, but it proved to be a good choice on a day of intermittent sunny periods, as the picture testifies. Only seven photographers on the bridge too, I expected a bigger gallery even though it was a normal weekday. Rain and high tides around the Dovey estuary meant it was touch and go whether the train would actually reach Aberystwyth, or get terminated at Machynlleth instead. In the end it did reach the coast.
• 33051 and 33050 approach Sidcup with empty stone hoppers at 13:11 on Tuesday 20th August 1991. From memory this Channel Tunnel construction train, 6C86, was a Sevington - Cliffe service (but I'm not sure).
• 33057 and 33019 storm away from Moreton-in-Marsh at 17:36 on Saturday 29th July 1995. This was the "Honey Monster" railtour, which had visited Kineton and Long Marston MOD. 47348 was also used on this tour and was at the rear of the train here. This is the only photo I've ever taken at Moreton-in-Marsh, on what was my one and only visit to the place.
• 33102 arrives at Cheddleton with the 14:47 from Leek Brook Jct. This shot was taken at 14:46 on Tuesday 31st August 2004, so the train was running a few minutes early (an early start doesn't matter as passengers can't board or alight at Leek Brook). Cheddleton is on the Churnet Valley Railway, which runs over the old Oakamoor freight branch from Leek Brook at the north end to Froghall at the south. On this day 33102 and its four maroon Mk 1s was the only train in use, operating five round trips. Although it's a pleasant enough ride the railway doesn't offer many photographic opportunities, even at the stations. Cheddleton provides the best options. The railway has a couple of signalboxes and a quite a few semaphores, but on my visit none were in use, the crossing-keeper at Cheddleton using flags to indicate that trains could proceed.
• 33108 heads south through Kensington Olympia at 14:51 on Tuesday 20th August 1991. I didn't manage to identify this train, although it would almost certainly have originated at Willesden. I was very lucky to get the shot, having made my way from Sidcup (see earlier shot) I stepped off a District line train just in time to see the Crompton in the distance. In other circumstances I'd have gone to the north end of the platform and included the semaphores in the picture.
• 33116 propels 4-TC 407 out of Portsmouth Harbour. I've got no firm date for this shot but it was taken in April or May of 1980, and from memory I'm pretty sure that it was a service to Reading. I also suspect that it was taken on a Sunday because I seem to recall that direct trains between Reading and Portsmouth only ran on Sundays at this time.
• Twenty-five years later and 33116 is still a runner. It's pictured heading out of Loughborough at 15.05 on Monday 7th November 2005, just in time to catch the last rays of the rapidly descending winter sun. The Crompton had been hired for a private charter, and this was the fourth of its five scheduled return trips to Leicester North. The paintwork needs some attention, those dark patches on the lower bodyside are where graffiti has been removed - but it was running OK.
• 33202 and 33207 pass Bescot with 1Z36 Clapham Junction - Carlisle, the "Eden Serpent" railtour, on Saturday 8th November 1986. This was my first sighting of 207 at Bescot, but 202 had visited before, on Wednesday 7th February 1979. I can still vaguely remember that cold dull winter's day in 1979. For some reason I wasn't at work, and went to Brum on the train around lunchtime. Although I no longer have my records I do remember seeing an amazing variety of locos at Bescot that day. Representatives of all the regular classes were present, including one of every AC electric class (81-87) bar one. If I recall correctly no Class 87 appeared, which was unusual. There was definitely a Class 44 present on the regular morning train from Toton, along with the more common Peaks. But the real reason I remember this day was that both 33104 and 33202 visited Bescot, on separate workings. Plenty have appeared in pairs, but this was the only day I ever saw two appear independently.
• Nearly 20 years after the shot above, and 33202 is pictured in almost exactly the same spot at Bescot. This time it has 33103 for company as it heads north in pouring rain at 12.02 on Saturday 10th September 2005. The train is a 1Z48 charter from Salisbury to Crewe, run in connection with an Open Weekend at Crewe Works. It was actually booked to run via Washwood Heath, Sutton Park and Walsall, but in the event it was diverted from St Andrews Jct to run via Birmingham New St, Soho and Bescot. This was due to signalling problems which had closed the line through Washwood Heath and Water Orton, but the diversion also helped the very late-running train make up a little time. The delay had apparently been caused by problems with 33103 earlier in the day. I got soaked taking this photo, but the wonders of digital photography produced quite a good result in the circumstances. Thanks to IM for updates on the progress and routing of this train.
• 33202 again, this time passing the site of Hicks Lodge opencast site, just east of Moira, with a 5Z33 Coalville - Derby ECS formed of the FM Rail "Green Train". This shot was taken at 12:43 on Thursday 21st September 2006, a gorgeous day in the Midlands. A P. Way gang was working in the area when I arrived, and the track hereabouts looks to be in good order, despite the very light traffic on this stretch of line. Thanks to TM and Phil Grain for info on this train.