Andy Williams railway photos

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New photos added on Wednesday 12th June 2013...
Same afternoon as 47805 below. Running 25 minutes behind 5Z12 was another ECS, 5Z89 Pengam (Cardiff) - Carnforth, topped-and-tailed by 57316 and 57315. This train had worked a Newport - Canterbury charter on Sat 8th. Like 5Z12 it was routed through Brum via Selly Oak, New St and Aston, and ran near enough to time. 57316 is framed in the aqueduct of the Tame Valley canal on the approach to Tame Bridge at 16:23 on Sunday 9th June 2013.
New photos added on Sunday 9th June 2013...
The Bridgwater and Berkeley flask trains have been running quite a lot in recent weeks, especially the Berkeley. On Thursday 6th June 2013 the Bridgwater train ran, and this is 37261 and 37609 at the head of the return 6M63 to Crewe. They're seen on the descent from Ryecroft into Walsall in this shot, which was taken at 16:53.
Another shot of the new bridge at Moor's Gorse, Brindley Heath (see below). I wanted to do a loco here, rather than a unit, but getting one in optimum light isn't straightforward. The regular northbound coal trains via Walsall are either too early (6M27/6M62) or too late (6M66). The latter is a very reliable runner, but passes this spot around 10:30 to 10:45 when the light is off the nose of the loco. The optimum time is around 09:00 to 09:45. There's sometimes a train in this slot on Mondays, but this had eluded me. Overnight trains from Portbury can arrive at Rugeley around 09:00, but these usually run via Crewe and continue to Rugeley via Colwich rather than Walsall. This wasn't the case on Saturday 8th June 2013 though. On this day 6M02 Portbury - Rugeley ran via Crewe and Walsall for some reason. It's seen here at 09:13, with 66536 in charge.
47805 leads a 5Z12 Bristol - Crewe on the approach to Tame Bridge. This shot was taken at 15:59 on Sunday 9th June 2013, with the loco kicking out a little clag after being checked because it was running right behind the 1540 New St - Rugeley TV. 47802 was on the back of this train, which had formed a Bristol - Scarborough charter the previous day. The set-back signals alongside the up line remain in place. These were installed in the 1980s after Bescot Up Reception sidings were closed. As a result some freight trains had to run main line to Newton Jct and reverse into the Down Reception sidings. These signals were used to assist the reversing move, but became redundant when the trailing crossover on the main line at the north end of Bescot was replaced by a facing crossover. Up trains on the main line could then run direct into the Down Yard, as they still do today.
New photos added on Friday 7th June 2013...
7X10 Amersham - Derby ran on Tuesday 4th June 2013. This path is used to return new LUL S stock underground trains back to their builder - Bombardier - for modifications. I knew that orange-liveried 20311+20314 and BR blue-liveried 20096+20107 would work this train, but not which pair would lead. In the event I'd have much preferred the blue pair on the front, but was happy enough that the light was guaranteed on a lovely morning. The train is seen approaching Bordesley Jct at 08:13, which surprised me a bit as it's booked a long recess in Bordesley goods loop until about 08:30. Saplings have been planted on the public side of the fence since I was last here, which means that it's likely to be another shot lost in a year or two when they mature.
I hadn't really intended to chase 7X10, but as it passed 15 minutes early I thought there might just be a chance of beating it to Whitacre Jct if it got held to time west of Water Orton. Optimistic perhaps, given this is the middle of the morning rush-hour in central Birmingham, but worth a go in this light. When I drove over Station Road bridge at Whitacre I could tell from the body language of the waiting photographers that it hadn't passed. My objective was to make for the old foot crossing, which is 1 minute further in the car, followed by a 2-3 minute walk/run. In the event what happened was that I bailed out of the car, and for some reason dashed up to the Hoggrills End Lane overbridge on the Kingsbury branch to have a quick look at the going-away shot before heading down the path. I'd been there just a few seconds when 7X10 curled around the corner behind me, and this was the resulting grab shot, taken at 08:55. Wished all my grab shots worked out like this.
Having got this far it was a no-brainer to chase it again, because 7X10 is booked to stand at Kingsbury Jct from 09:09 to 10:17. For this third attempt I ended up at Barton-under-Needwood. You can do both conventional and going-away shots here, from either track-level or the footbridge in the background. I originally set up for the conventional approach shot from track-level, shots from the footbridge being problematic due to regular dust storms kicked up by lorries from the nearby quarry. But as time passed and the light eased off the nose I decided that a going-away shot of the blue pair would be better. 7X10 eventually passed at 10:42. Just to the left of that footbridge is a public footpath which leads past the LH Group/Hunslet factory where they repair shunting locos. On this day 08531 08393 08913 and 08891 were all present, along with the carcass of 08077 and at least four industrial shunters.
New photos added on Thursday 6th June 2013. Return of the gypsum, the first one to Rugeley since late summer 2011...
66731 leads a 4D80 Rugeley - Hotchley Hill gypsum train through Bloxwich at 08:51 on Monday 3rd June 2013. It's passing signal BH6, a three-aspect colour-light which is Bloxwich's down home signal, located about 250 yards south of the signalbox. The down distant is BH5, a two-aspect colour-light sited immediately to the west of the point at which the railway goes under the A34 (Green Lane). The inbound gypsum train had run on the late afternoon of Friday 31st May, and it had recessed at the power station over the weekend. It's not the only train to have spent Saturday night at Rugeley Power Station in recent times. The previous weekend the limestone train did the same thing, arriving on Saturday morning and leaving at Sunday lunchtime. And on two earlier weekends a coal train had arrived on Saturday morning and not left until Sunday evening.
The inbound 4M80 Hotchley Hill - Rugeley on Friday 31st May was top-and-tailed, so only needed to reverse at Bescot rather than run-round. 66745 led from Bescot, so was on the rear of 4D80. It didn't really occur to me to attempt this shot until I'd taken the one above, at which point a rapid dismount of the old concrete fence post on which I was standing, plus a 50 yard dash, was required. I made it, and managed to secure this shot of 66745 passing Bloxwich's up starter 45 seconds after the shot above. This is the southernmost of Bloxwich's semaphore signals. A better shot would be from the left of this spot, of trains approaching the signal. But the cluster of trees to the left make that pretty much impossible.
I had other things to do after taking the shots above, so once they were in the bag I wasn't planning to go far for a second attempt. But 4D80 had to reverse at Bescot, and with the sun nailed on it would have been rude to refuse another go. In the event I ended up at Ryecroft for the lack of alternative options locally. This is the first shot I've attempted from Mill Lane bridge in some years, as the trees have long since made it unusable most of the time. Only in midsummer does the sun penetrate onto the railway, and even then only in the middle of the day. After arriving on time 4D80 was about 30 late leaving Bescot, and is seen here at 10:12. Lead loco 66731 was detached at Bescot, leaving 66745 to take the gypsum forward. 731 ran light to Hams Hall, following a few minutes behind 4D80 through Walsall.
New photos added on Saturday 1st June 2013...
Hednesford's up distant signal is a semaphore. It's located just a few yards from the main A460 Hednesford to Rugeley road, but is completely invisible from that road due to the inevitable trees which line both the road and railway across the Chase. This composite image shows the signal in both the "on" and "off" positions, using photos taken on the morning of Monday 27th May 2013. The blue lens will display a green light when illuminated with a lamp which gives off a yellowish tinge.
Friday 31st May 2013 provided a 6Z31 Weymouth - Bescot special, comprised of 31190 and the RailVac machine. This was due Bescot at 16:28, but was photographed between Pleck Jct and Bescot at 16:45, after apparently being caught in congestion around Walsall. I'd hoped it would appear about 30 minutes earlier, with more light on the nose, after it had passed Park Lane Jct at 15:28. This loco dates from May 1960, so is 53 years old and still working on the mainline. I wonder when Bescot last received a train from Weymouth.
To Hednesford again on Saturday 1st June 2013, to see if I could get a picture of the up distant signal with a train in the shot. I did get one, but wasn't happy with it in the end. Afterwards I wandered down to the station to weigh up another shot of the fixed semaphore (see below). On arriving I was rather taken aback to find that all the trees opposite the signalbox had been cleared since my last visit, which was only a few days earlier. This opens up the shot of southbound trains from the station road bridge. In recent years the only shot available here was a near head-on one, and it must be at least 20 years - probably much longer - since you could do a three-quarter shot like this. A conversation with a passing local suggested that the trees had been taken down on Friday 31st May (overnight perhaps?). 170502 passes the signalbox at 10:52 while forming 2H20, the 10:42 Rugeley TV - New St.
The tree clearance means that you can now get an unimpeded shot of the signalbox from the station road bridge.
New photos added on Sunday 12th May 2013. Still up the Cannock line...
Continuing the series below, and still on the morning of Wednesday 1st May 2013. 66585 heads 6M66 Immingham - Rugeley on the last few hundred yards of its journey. The train is running 26 minutes late, and is seen passing Brereton Sidings signalbox at 11:12. A new colour light signal stands alongside the box.
A closer view of Brereton Sidings signalbox on the morning of Wednesday 1st May 2013. Happily Network Rail have elected to donate the signalbox to the Chasewater Railway when it becomes redundant later in the year. Their initial plans will see it located at Chasewater Heaths, albeit not as an operational facility in the first instance I believe. This is one of the shots for which the ever-useful articulated screen on my camera was useful. With no steps to hand the camera was held at arms length to reach above the fence.
Onto Friday 3rd May 2013, on which day 66529 worked 4E42 Rugeley - Kellingley Colliery. This is due off the power station at 09:29, in front of 2K08, the 09:39 Rugeley TV - New St. However on this occasion 4E42 followed the passenger train, which hadn't cleared the section ahead when 4E42 reached Hednesford. It's seen here drawing to a stand at the up home signal at 09:59. It eventually left at 10:08. The up home is a semaphore, but is difficult to photograph from the east side of the line because it's obscured by vegetation. All of Rugeley's coal is normally imported, through Portbury (Bristol), Hull or Immingham. However empty trains sometimes go to one of the handful of remaining English pits. In April and May 2013 4E42 was often going to Kellingley in Yorkshire, and the 4E72 12:15 departure was often going to Thoresby in Nottinghamshire. The loads from those pits then go to other power stations.
Hednesford has worked semaphore signals on both the up and down lines. It also has this fixed semaphore at the north end of the up platform. It's required because passenger trains from the south can terminate at Hednesford and return south. A facing crossover south of the station allows terminating trains to run directly into the up platform, where this signal prevents any bang road movement beyond the platform. When the line was first re-opened trains only went as far north as Hednesford, before returning south. Nowadays almost all trains run to Rugeley Trent Valley, and only a tiny number turnback at Hednesford. One is 2H95, the 23:18 SX New St - Hednesford, which arrives at 00:10 and returns south at 00:16 as 5H95 to Wolverhampton. The only other one is 2H05 06:01 SO New St- Hednesford, which arrives at 06:53 and forms 2A02 06:58 Hednesford - New St.
170507 worked 2K09, the 08:50 New St - Rugeley TV on Monday 6th May 2013. It's seen here crossing Cannock Chase at 09:43. The exact location is called Moors Gorse, Brindley Heath. It's just off the west side of the main A460 Hednesford to Rugeley road, where a rough track leads to an occupation crossing for vehicles, together with a foot-crossing. There was once precious little traffic here, either road or pedestrian. But in recent times it's become a very popular cycle trail, and on this sunny bank holiday there was an endless stream of cyclists using the foot-crossing. The line is curved, and visibility is poor, especially for southbound trains. The railway has reacted by building the bridge seen in this picture, and when it's complete the crossing - which is directly alongside the photographer - will be closed. Meantime Network Rail provide a man to supervise the crossing. The cycle trail also crosses the A460, where there is at least as much risk, perhaps more so because of the much greater volume of road vehicles than trains. But there are no plans that I know of to provide any sort of bridge over the road.
New photos added on Friday 10th May 2013. Up the Cannock line...
Time to take a few photos along the Cannock line, before resignalling at the end of August 2013 sweeps away the signalboxes and semaphores. Not all the photos in this set include signalling infrastructure, but this first one does. Bloxwich has three semaphores on the up line, one at the end of the up platform, near the back of this coal train. The second one is near the box, and is about to be passed by the loco. The third one, the up starter, is a couple of hundred yards to the south, just before the line curves left through Leamore. 66957 is working 4V57 Rugeley - Stoke Gifford on Tuesday 23rd April 2013. The time is 16:21, and the train is running 29 minutes late.
No signals here, but it's a spot I've never used before. 66524 heads 6M04 Portbury - Rugeley through Bloxwich at 17:26 on Tuesday 23rd April 2013. The train is seen between Bloxwich and Bloxwich North stations, passing under Sneyd Lane. A footpath runs alongside the railway here, and trackside shots are possible in both directions, albeit with steps to get above the palisade fence.
This was a fluke. As with many suburban railways trackside vegetation along the Cannock line makes photography difficult, and this is even more true early and late in the day. There was a charter due to run along the line early on Wednesday 1st May, and I'd popped into Cannock station because it's on an embankment, and I wondered whether there would be sun on the track as a result. In the event I elected to do the charter elsewhere, but while I was making that decision a coal train appeared. 66529 is working 6M27 Immingham - Rugeley, and this shot was taken at 07:29.
The charter that ran on Wednesday 1st May was 1Z75 Kidderminster - Carlisle, which picked up at Walsall and Cannock amongst other places. It started on time, but lost 20 minutes or so between Stourbridge Jct and Rowley Regis, and was about 25 minutes late off Cannock. The passengers wouldn't agree, but it would have helped me if it had been another 30 minutes down. This would have improved the light in this shot, which was taken just north of Cannock station at 08:33. It has the potential to be a decent spot, but trees on a small embankment to the left cast problematic shadows. I knew that 47854 and 57601 were working this train, and was hoping that the 47 would lead. It's a stiff climb heading north, and the train is starting away from Cannock station. The 47 would surely have produced more impressive clag, but you can see the exhaust from 57601.
After the charter I moved north to Hednesford. The view of the box from the road bridge by the station was always compromised by a (railway) lamp post, but is now further obstructed by a new - as yet uncommissioned - colour light signal. Oddly positioned on the face of it, behind the road bridge from the driver's viewpoint. Fortunately a less obstructed, if somewhat more distant, view of the signalbox is available from the back of the new Tesco store. That is, if you have steps to see over the fence, and there isn't too much detritus dumped on the railway land opposite the box. 170515 worked 2K09, the 09:07 New St - Rugeley TV, on Wednesday 1st May. It passed Hednesford box at 09:57, four minutes late. Postscript: Network Rail removed the trees opposite the signalbox on Friday 31st May, making it possible to get unobstructed views of the box from the station road bridge. See photos above.
A closer view of Hednesford signalbox. A 200mm lens is probably ideal, I had to put the G11 at maximum zoom (140mm in 35mm camera terms), and crop the resulting image a bit.
New photos added on Saturday 27th April 2013...
Off to the North & West on Saturday 20th April, because there were two shots to be had in a short space of time on a lovely morning. I was a bit lucky to get this first one because although I knew 60074 was working the 6V75 Dee Marsh - Margam steel empties, I wasn't aware that it was running significantly early. In the event I only arrived at Wistanstow, just north of Craven Arms, with a few minutes to spare. 6V75 rolled by at 10:12, some 65 minutes up on its booked time.
The second train was a 1Z12 Liverpool Lime St - Cardiff, the Northern Belle running in conjunction with the RHS Flower Show. 47790 and 47501 topped and tailed this train, and it passed Wistanstow at 10:50, near enough on time. The hills around Church Stretton are visible in the background, and with no further trains of interest I headed off to climb one of them, Caer Caradoc, on the way home.
New photos added on Thursday 11th April 2013...
60099 approaches Bescot with 6G99 from Toton. This pic was taken at 15:49 on Saturday 6th April 2013. It's not a train that normally produces a Class 60, and the load on this occasion was just two bogie flats. 60099 worked the Bescot - Stud Farm ballast on Monday the 8th, before returning to Toton on Tuesday the 9th.
The 6Z96 Crewe - Bescot - Toton engineers service remains an interesting train. During the week starting Monday 1st April 2013 the reporting number changed to 6Z93, before reverting to 6Z96 on Monday 8th. That aside, it remains a very reliable Class 70 job, with a Class 66 substituting perhaps once every two or three weeks on average. Most interesting of all are the consists, which vary on a day-to-day basis. Rakes of yellow JNA or IOA ballast wagons; red MCA/MDA/MOA ballast wagons; MHA/MTA four-wheel ballast/spoil wagons; welded rail sets; and short consists consisting of an engineers crane plus a couple of support wagons have all appeared. The load in and out of Bescot is often completely different, in effect two trains combined into one path, and it can arrive or depart from Bescot light engine (the former is more common than the latter). On Wednesday 10th April 70010 did the honours. It started an hour late from Crewe, and was then held for over 45 minutes on the approach to Bescot waiting access to the yard. Hence it was knocking on for 90 minutes late when it finally trundled across Bescot Junction at 14:59. The load on this occasion was a long HOBC set.
New photos added on Friday 5th April 2013...
66550 leaves Bescot after running round its empty coal train. This shot was taken at 15:28 on Tuesday 19th February 2013, and I think the train is a late running 4E72 Rugeley - Barrow Hill. Work on the new run-round loop for coal trains, sited near Pleck Jct, has come to a complete stop since Christmas 2012. Nonetheless the plan is that from August 2013 it should save Rugeley coal trains from having to enter Bescot, or conflict with passenger trains on the electrified lines between Pleck and Walsall. DBS coal trains are rare visitors to Bescot nowadays, so when the FLHH trains no longer visit coal traffic of any type will become unusual at Bescot.
A 1Z30 Exeter - Hexham charter ran on Friday 29th March 2013. This was the first day of a four-day trip, Pathfinder's "Easter Highlander". 37607 and 37409 are seen leaving Bescot at 09:44, with remnants of snowfall from the previous weekend still visible on the ground.
New scans added on Sunday 17th March 2013...
This photo was taken at 12:15 on Sunday 5th February 1995. 47478 is working a weekend engineer's train, and is standing "bang road" on the down main line just north of Dudley Port station, near the connection into Watery Lane loop. This was one of the later 47s to retain normal BR blue livery, albeit with the remnants of a silver roof from its days as a Stratford loco. By early 1995 it was effectively a Bescot loco, part of the LBCB departmental pool. It was taken out of traffic later in 1995, but it was 2006 before it was broken up at EMR Kingsbury.
08569 and 08129 are stabled on Newton Heath depot in this shot. This particular siding was alongside the Oldham line, near Dean Lane station. Again I can't remember whether this trip was done via car or train, but Manchester was another frequent "Saturday Saver" destination. 08129 has the trademark red connecting rods used by both Longsight and Newton Heath depots on their shunting locos. In late 1980 Newton Heath's shunter allocation was: 08084 08129 08475 08524 08569 08626 08675 08676 and 08677. From memory there were duties at Bolton; Manchester Victoria station; Red Bank carriage sidings; Castleton PW yard; Oldham Mumps parcels depot (which may have gone by the time this photo was taken); and a trip working to Chadderton coal depot.
08161 stands at the north end of Darlington station in this photo from the early 1980s. It was covering the station pilot duty. Other Darlington duties around this time were, from memory: Darlington Up Yard; Dinsdale PW depot (a Class 03); Etherley Tip (an 08 by this time I think); and Shildon Wagon Works (three Class 08s). Darlington's shunter allocation in late 1980 was: 03067 03072 03080 08004 08006 08063 08120 08159 08161 08164 08225 08268 08445 and 08506.
New scans added on Thursday 14th March 2013...
A line of five Class 08s is parked up at Swansea East Dock in this picture, which was taken in the spring of 1981. I can't remember whether we were in the car or I'd gone by train on this occasion, but it evokes many happy memories of "Saturday Saver" day trips to South Wales. Swansea outings usually involved a walk around Landore, then a longer walk to East Dock, and finally a trip out to Llanelli by train. 08660 is the nearest loco in this line-up, and although still only vacuum-braked, it was clearly not long out of works. It must have been one of the later 08s to get a works overhaul and not get air-brakes. This might explain why it lasted in traffic until November 1991, which was very late for a vacuum-only loco. The second loco is 08896, and the third one may be 08658, although it's not clear from the original scan. East Dock usually stabled five or six 08s and a similar number of 37s around this time. Nowadays you'd be lucky to find five Class 08 shunting duties in the whole of South Wales, and maybe twenty or so mainline locos. This is what was located in South Wales, or working trains to/from South Wales, on the morning of Monday 18th March 2013: three Class 60s; one Colas Class 56; thirteen DBS Class 66s; two Freightliner Class 66s; one GBRf Class 66; and two Class 67s. Just 23 locos in all, but five or six of these would probably have been located outside South Wales when this snapshot was taken.
For a while around 1980 the Northfleet - Handsworth cement train was booked for a pair of Class 33s. It ran via Oxford, Leamington, Coventry, Aston, Soho and Langley Green. At Langley Green the locos ran-round for the final leg up the branch to Handsworth, which was then a freight-only single track, but is now the main line from Stourbridge to Snow Hill. This photo was taken on the evening of Wednesday 18th June 1980, and shows 33056+33048 taking fuel at Bescot. It wasn't normal practise for the 33s off the cement to visit Bescot, and this is the only time I remember it happening. The photo was originally a colour slide, but looks better converted to monochrome.
310054 approaches Dudley Port while forming a Wolverhampton - Walsall service. Local services between Wolverhampton, Walsall and Coventry have all been integrated at various points in time, as well as running as separate services to and from New St. At the time of writing, in 2013, the Wolves and Walsall locals are once again combined into a Cross-City service - albeit with Class 323s rather than 304s or 310s. Once headcodes were abandoned these units showed two dots at the second class end, and three dots at the first class end.
New photo added on Friday 22nd February 2013...
After some erratic running in early in February 2013 the Ironbridge biomass trains settled into a more regular pattern by the middle of the month. The week commencing Monday 18th saw 6M09 03:35 Tyne Dock - Ironbridge running every day, returning as 4E05 17:00 Ironbridge - Tyne Dock. Tuesday 19th February was a lovely near-cloudless day in the West Midlands, and 66709 worked 6M09/4E05. The loaded train is seen here passing Cosford a few minutes early at 14:15.
New photo added on Tuesday 5th February 2013...
Monday 4th February 2013 had the potential to be a relatively busy day for non-passenger workings on the Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury line. At the west end of the line the Arpley - Donnington trip ran, with 67030 in charge. A Network Rail test train covered the whole line going westbound, visiting Ironbridge along the way. 37423 was used on that. 6M04 Portbury - Rugeley ran with 66956, and there were also two loaded biomass trains into Ironbridge. I was hoping that the first of these biomass trains might return eastbound at lunchtime, as 4E04 Ironbridge - Tyne Dock, But it wasn't to be, instead I had to make do with 158819 and a classmate speeding through Cosford at 13:59 while working 1G35 11:30 Aberystwyth - Birmingham International. The sun was about to die, but just held out with a second or two to spare.
There were STP paths for a biomass train from Portbury to Ironbridge on Monday 4th February, but in the event two loaded trains ran from Tyne Dock. 66733 worked 6M17, arriving Ironbridge about 09:00. 66716 worked 6M09, and is seen here passing Cosford at 14:21, near enough on time. It was pretty dark, and about to rain, when 37423 passed Cosford at 13:06, but the sun emerged a little while later. Even then I was slightly lucky to get this, with more cloud spilling in from the west after a 45-minute mostly clear spell. Both the biomass trains were still at Ironbridge on Tuesday 5th. 66733 eventually left with 4E05 17:00 Ironbridge - Tyne Dock on Wednesday 6th. 66716 remained at Ironbridge for over four days, until finally departing with 4E05 on Friday 8th. Trains from Portbury eventually commenced on the morning of Wednesday 3rd April, when 66746 worked 4V94 Ironbridge - Portbury, returning overnight with 6M95 Portbury - Ironbridge.
New photo added on Wednesday 23rd January 2013...
Probably the best place to photograph from during inclement weather. Bescot pilot loco 08865 is viewed from inside the station booking office as it shunts the ballast sidings. The shunter is clearing snow from the points in this shot, taken on the afternoon of Wednesday 23rd January 2013. Not a shot that will be easily repeated in future, as the booking office opening hours are due to be slashed at some point in 2013. Passengers on days like this can look forward to waiting out in the open, and when the train service is in tatters, as it was on this day, listen to incomprehensible or confusing automated announcements about trains that were due hours ago. Such is progress.
New photos added on Tuesday 22nd January 2013. A new traffic flow...
A new train appeared in the timetable during the week commencing Monday 21st January 2013. 6Z65 Earles Sidings to Walsall was due to run on Tuesday 22nd and Thursday 24th, and booked to arrive Walsall at 13:32. The first run on Tuesday 22nd saw it roll very cautiously into the cement terminal just after 14:10, formed of 66616 and a long rake of four-wheel PCA wagons. At least half a dozen men in hi-vis jackets were there to meet the train, which stopped briefly at the unloader before drawing forward so that the loco could run-round. This shot was taken at 14:17.
In this shot, taken at 14:19, the train has come to a stand once more, so that the loco can be detached. Three men have already alighted, and there were at least another three on board. Since the new cement terminal started operating in 2004 all trains have originated at Tunstead, and been worked by EWS/DBS who signed a seven-year haulage contract with BLI in autumn of that year. This new traffic flow is a result of the merger of Lafarge and Tarmac, which the Competition Commission only allowed if both companies divested themselves of enough assets to allow a new player to enter the UK cement market - meaning there would still be four major companies in this sector (Cemex and Hanson are the other two). In the event Lafarge sold Hope Cement Works, and Tarmac sold the Walsall terminal, amongst many other assets. These were bought by Indian squillionaire Lakshmi Mittal, and the new company trades as Hope Construction Materials. As a result of all this Walsall will no doubt be served from Hope in future, and not from Tunstead which has been retained by Lafarge-Tarmac.
In this shot the loco has run into the shunt neck as part of the run-round manouevre. The normal procedure is for the loco to attach to the other end of the wagons, which are split into two rakes and positioned either side of the unloading gear. The connection into Tasker St is used as a headshunt. The return working was booked as 6Z66 21:26 Walsall - Earles, but in the event the loco went back to Earles light engine. It then returned to Walsall light engine on Thursday 24th to return the empty tanks to Earles as 6Z66. The Earles train ran again on Thursdays 31st January and 7th February. It used a similar rake of PCA wagons, but was hauled by DBS locos (66232 and 60091 respectively).
New photos added on Tuesday 15th January 2013...
A better lit shot of a 70-hauled 6Z96 Crewe - Toton than the one posted here before. 70004 worked this train on Tuesday 15th January 2013, and is seen on the approach to Bescot at 13:38. It had been waiting at the signal for over 30 minutes, and eventually went into the downside. It subsequently left for Toton at 15:15, with the same train consisting of JZA rail carrying wagons. Normally the wagons brought from Crewe and those taken forward to Toton are completely different, so this was unusual. It's not obvious why the train came into Bescot at all. If there's no traffic at Bescot it usually goes direct via the Darlaston - Pleck chord. Perhaps the wagon set needed turning or something like that.
All trains operating in the south of England required GSM-R cab radios to be installed from the beginning of 2013. This resulted in a number of Class 59 locos visiting Crewe Electric Depot in late 2012 and early 2013 to have the necessary apparatus fitted. 59001, 59004 and 59104 all went north on Friday 21st December 2012, with 104 returning south on Tuesday and Wednesday 8th/9th January. 001 and 004 took a week longer to be released, and ran as 0Z59 Crewe - Bescot on Tuesday 15th January. 001 hauled its classmate, and is seen here arriving at Bescot at 14:40.
After a signal check 0Z59 was allowed into Bescot at 14:58. It ran into the Engineers Yard, as the locos were due to go forward to Westbury that evening in 6V46 Bescot - Westbury, which was hauled by 66116. The same 66 had earlier worked 6M50 Westbury - Bescot, which conveyed 59005 en-route to Crewe for GSM-R fitment. 005 was then worked under its own steam from Bescot to Crewe, by the same driver who'd brought 001 and 004 into Bescot. This is the first occasion on which three Class 59/0s had been at Bescot at the same time, although by this date all the Class 59s - bar 59003 which was exported to Germany - had already visited on previous occasions.
New photos added on Friday 11th January 2013...
First shot of the new year. Out for a walk in the sun I stumbled on 57302 heading south through Bescot on Tuesday 1st January 2013. It was just starting away from a signal check when photographed at 12:06. DRS now provide the WCML Thunderbird locos, and this was the Stafford loco running to Rugby for some reason. Later that afternoon it returned light engine to Stafford, but via New St and Tipton I believe. The grey box on the post in the bottom left corner of this shot is the new telephone for the new position-light signal which controls reversing movements on the down main line. The new signals recently installed around Bescot have the associated telephone set back from the signal itself, usually on a dedicated post. This allows the driver to see the signal aspect while using the phone, and is a design requirement nowadays. It's a different arrangement from that which applied on the original 1960s signalling, where the telephone was usually mounted on the signal-post itself. The phone for the old position-light here was mounted on the bridge parapet, adjacent to the signal itself.
Something of a grab shot, acquired only because 6D44 Bescot - Toton ran a little late, not leaving Bescot until 11:49 on Friday 4th January 2013. On this occasion it was headed by 66097, with 67012 dead in the train. 67012 returned south in 6G45 Toton - Bescot on Friday 11th January.
New photos added on Saturday 29th December 2012. A couple more old ones...
Don't think I ever used this shot for some reason. 47847 heads south through Sutton Bridge Jct at 10:01 on Saturday 22nd May 2004. The train is 1V77 Manchester - Cardiff, loco-hauled because the FA Cup Final was played at the Millennium Stadium that day. Man Utd beat Millwall 3-0.
37197 trails at the rear of a 1Z74 Barrow - Bath charter as it climbs away from Ryecroft at 10:15 on 11th September 2004. This was a Compass Tours train, headed by 47854. The 37 carries the livery of Ian Riley Engineering, the only loco to carry these colours to the best of my recall. By this stage it had already passed into the ownership of WCRC, who subsequently sold it to DRS as part of a swap arrangement for some Class 33s. DRS never actually used it, and it finally went to Kingsbury for scrap in May 2012.
New photos added on Tuesday 25th December 2012. Not that old, but already unrepeatable...
All these shots are were taken within the last ten years, but for one or more reasons are unrepeatable now. Starting with 60089 shunting ballast wagons at Bescot on Thursday 8th May 2008. It's about to detach from a rake of empty HQA hoppers which its positioned for loading, and then propel the adjacent loaded rake back into the Up Yard. Near enough unrepeatable now due to vegetation growth in the foreground, and the loss of EWS-liveried Class 60s (most of the active fleet are now in DBS livery). 60089 was taken out of service in August 2008, and in late 2012 was stored in Toton Yard.
66224 heads north past Bordesley Jct with a coal train on Friday 16th March 2007. I was out for 57601 on a special to Cheltenham for the races, and took this as an opportunistic shot. You can still do the shot, although EWS/DBS coal trains are much less common along here than they were in the past. Meantime 66224 is one of 70-odd locos that DBS have sent abroad.
350130 heads north through Hamstead at 12:39 on Wednesday 1st November 2006. I was out for 92001 on 6G62 Daventry - Bescot, but there was a Stour Valley diversion in progress and this Birmingham - Liverpool unit was one of many diverted via the Grand Junction route. Unrepeatable now because no 350s still carry their original unbranded grey-and-blue livery. There are a few workings for 350s on Walsall services, but not at the right time of day for this shot. And in any event almost all of the half-a-dozen angles which were possible at this location are no longer usable due to vegetation growth on both the public and railway side of the fence.
Another four-car EMU on the Grand Junction. It's not immediately obvious because the end of the unit is in shadow, but this is 321402 leaving Bescot with a local service from Walsall to New St. It was taken at 08:36 on Thursday 15th November 2007, the first week of the then brand new London Midland franchise. The clue is that it's a four-car unit with recessed sliding doors. Unrepeatable because although London Midland still operate a few 321s, none of them normally reach the West Midlands these days, and certainly not the Walsall line. 321402 is now used by FCC on Great Northern suburban services in the London area.
37042 leads the 6G42 Birch Coppice - Bescot trip through Kingsbury Link at 10:43 on Wednesday 19th May 2004. Kingsbury Link is an industrial estate about half way along the Birch Coppice branch line, and this shot was taken from the then fairly new road bridge providing access to that estate. At this stage the container terminal hadn't been built, and the Bescot trip was the main traffic on the revived branch line. Unrepeatable now, as the traffic flow has ceased and EWS/DBS no longer operate any Class 37 locos. Only container trains use the branch these days. 37042 was withdrawn from traffic in January 2005, but was eventually acquired for preservation at the Eden Valley railway.
New photo added on Tuesday 11th December 2012...
Nothing special pictorially here, but a news shot showing developments on the closed South Staffs line at Pleck Jct, Walsall. October and November 2012 saw much re-signalling work around Bescot. Most of the 1960s colour-light signals have been replaced on a mainly like-for-like basis with LED signals on new posts. The new signals planted in front of old posts were commissioned immediately, others which are positioned behind the old posts have yet to be switched on. Subsequent to this, work commenced on the creation of a run-round loop for MGR trains, positioned on the South Staffs alignment between Pleck Jct and Bescot Curve Jct. This was the view looking south from Wallows Lane bridge at lunchtime on Tuesday 11th December. A ballast train stands on the former down line, top-and-tailed by two DBS 66s. Meantime work takes place using on-track plant. Bescot Curve Jct was just short of where the M6 crosses the railway in the distance. Another look on Wednesday 19th December revealed no work taking place, but by then the down line had been completely ripped up.
New photos added on Monday 8th October 2012. Some shots from the SVR diesel gala taken around Bewdley...
D8059 rounds the curve by Bewdley Safari Park. This is the 11:15 Bridgnorth - Kidderminster, photographed at 12:42 on Thursday 4th October 2012. All trains were running about 25 minutes late due to loco failures earlier in the day.
Back at Bewdley on Saturday 6th October, for a session around the station itself. Starting with 50026, seen arriving at 13:40 with the 12:47 Bridgnorth - Kidderminster. Intended as much a photo of the centre-pivot signals as the train.
The three-car DMU was working Bewdley - Kidderminster shuttles, while the two-car was parked in its usual spot alongside some steamers. This shot was taken at 14:04.
None of the steamers was working trains, but a couple were in steam. Stanier Mogul 42968 was photographed at 14:09.
33108 worked the 14:24 Kidderminster - Bridgnorth, and like most northbound through trains used the back road around platform 3. Shadows are very much a problem at this time of year, but the train drew up with its nose in the sun, and I quite like this shot which was taken at 14:36.
31601 arrived with the 14:02 shuttle from Kidderminster, and ran-round the stock in platform 1. Once the 14:39 to Kidderminster had departed, 31601 set back towards Arley before running into platform 2 to work the 15:01 Kidderminster service. This shot was taken at 14:51.
New photo added on Friday 21st September 2012...
Anyone who hasn't been to Bescot in a few years might be surprised by this view from the station footbridge. The ever growing vegetation means that the adjacent eight-lane M6 motorway, elevated on stilts at this point, is increasingly invisible. As are large buildings behind the motorway, like the RAC centre. Unchecked growth on railway land also obscures much of the view of the ballast sidings. 08865 is the pilot loco, shunting HQA hoppers on the afternoon of Wednesday 19th September 2012.
New photos added on Wednesday 19th September 2012. Two cracks at Washwood Heath...
The first of two visits to Washwood Heath in three days, primarily to photograph the Boston steel. Tuesday 11th September was forecast to provide the debut working of Colas' second Class 56, and so it did. 6E07 Washwood Heath - Boston is usually a single loco, but 56087 had 56094 inside for insurance as it headed past the now disused Washwood Heath yard at 12:27. The sun was dicking around, but looked like it was going to appear just in time, only to start dying in the foreground just as I was about to fire. Fortunately I'd set up for a longer shot than first planned, so the train at least was pretty much well lit. Earlier on I'd been surprised by a pair of DRS 37s as they rumbled under the A47 heading west. Turned out they were going to the Cemex plant to collect 4C03 Washwood Heath - Carlisle. However when that train came past at 13:08 the light was hopeless, a heavily shaded foreground with bright sky.
Not being totally happy with the previous attempt I had a second go from the same spot on Thursday 13th September. Once again I was surprised by DRS locos heading west. This time it was 47802 and 47805 working 5Z84 Crewe - Eastleigh, the ECS for a boat train the following day. It wasn't booked this way, like most specials heading from the WCML towards Oxford it should have used the Nuneaton, Coventry, Leamington route. However some sort of incident had closed the line at Milverton between Coventry and Leamington, so 5Z84 ran via Walsall and Landor St instead. This shot was taken at 11:19, with hazy sun burning through some thin cloud.
No problems with the sun for the Boston on this second attempt, but typically neither of Colas's 56s appeared. Instead 47739 worked 6E07, and was trundling very slowly along the goods line at 12:29 when this shot was taken. In fact it was going so slowly I managed to get three shots off at different focal lengths within a few seconds, not easy on a Canon G11. This is the angle I'd first intended to do for 56087 above.
47739 was trundling along because it had a red signal at the east end of Washwood Heath yard. It stood there for around ten minutes, which gave me plenty of time to walk back onto the A4040 road bridge and take this shot at 12:35. With two moving trains you'd need enormous luck to get them positioned this well, but if one is standing it's easy of course. Shame about the A47 road bridge, this was a much better shot before it was built.
New photos added on Sunday 16th September 2012. Chasewater gala...
To the Chasewater Railway on the afternoon of Saturday 8th September, which was a gala weekend featuring lots of action. There was a passenger train, a coal train, and a short freight providing brakevan rides, all on the go. The bay platforms at both Brownhills and Chasewater Heaths were also in use. Most trains were steam hauled, but D3429 also performed. When I arrived at Chasewater Heaths the Class 08 was just dropping onto the brakevan train in the bay platform. Here it is at 14:08, having its photo taken.
D3429 sets off from Chasewater Heaths with a short freight train for Brownhills. This shot was taken at 14:35.
The coal train arrived at Chasewater Heaths before the Class 08 departed. The loco is Darfield No 1, built by Hunslet in 1953, which is a long term visitor to Chasewater. It's been repainted as Holly Bank No 3. This photo was taken at 14:41.
Another view of the brakevan train arriving at Brownhills at 16:20. This time the locos in charge are "Linda", a Bagnall from 1940, and "Colin McAndrew", a Barclay from 1911.
New photos added on Friday 14th September 2012. Lunchtime at Water Orton...
It had been a long while since I last took any photographs around Water Orton, but the opportunity arose on Wednesday 5th September. The main objective was 56094 on the Boston steel, having not previously seen a Colas 56 in the flesh. The sun played ball on a lovely early autumn day, and a shot of 6E07 Washwood Heath - Boston was duly bagged at 12:17.
Also booked through Water Orton on 5th September was an 0Z69 Derby - Washwood Heath light engine move. It was about 10 minutes down when it passed by at 13:19, thankfully still running main line. The locos were 31601, 31602 and 56303. I think the green livery used by DCR on 31601 and 56303 is rather smart, and suits the 31 especially well.
A train that had slipped my attention, until it was reported on the move, was the 6M82 Walsall - Tunstead empty cement. It passed Water Orton at 13:42. An occasional Class 60 working it produced 60017 on this occasion, a loco which had been released from the Toton paint shop only a few days earlier. Waiting the road on the left of this shot is 4L68 Birch Coppice - Felixstowe, which runs via Walsall and Birmingham International, and therefore needs to cross the main line here.
New photos added on Thursday 30th August 2012. Electric locos at Whitacre Junction...
In the early hours of 10th August 2012 two track machines collided inside an engineer's possession near Arley on the Whitacre Jct to Nuneaton line. The damaged track machines were subsequently moved to Whitacre Junction. One of these machines, DR77002, was scheduled to be moved to the Plasser works at West Ealing in the early hours of Wednesday August 29th. Rather surprisingly GBRf used electro-diesels 73208 and 73212 for this job. The EDs worked north from Eastleigh to Whitacre Jct in the early hours of Tuesday 28th August, and stabled in the loop at Whitacre all that day. In this shot a Class 170 passes by at 12:10 while forming 1K13 11:52 New St to Leicester.
A closer look at the stabled 73s, this time being passed by 1N49, the 09:21 Stansted Airport to New Street. This shot was taken at 12:27, so the unit was running a few minutes late. The foot crossing from which this shot was taken is due to be closed soon, with the public footpath diverted along the north side of the railway as far as the existing overbridge across the Nuneaton line.
By complete co-incidence a pair of AC electrics were also due to pass Whitacre Jct on Tuesday 28th August 2012. These were 87017 and 87023, en route as 0Z87 Long Marston - Willesden via Birmingham and Nuneaton. WCRC employed 47500 from Southall for this job. It was due at Whitacre at 15:01, at which point the sun was out despite rapidly increasing cloud cover. Sadly 0Z87 didn't pass until 15:17, by which time the light had gone.
New photo added on Monday 20th August 2012...
The Northern Belle approaches Bescot at 18:01 on Monday 20th August 2012. 47832 leads 1Z51 Edinburgh - Euston, with 47790 trailing out of sight at the rear.
New photos added on Tuesday 31st July 2012...
Afternoon out at the SVR on Monday 23rd July 2012, prompted by the informal diesel gala resulting from a lack of serviceable steam locos. D8188 and 50031 worked two of the three diagrams operating that day. An out-and-back from Kidderminster with the Chopper provided the opportunity for a quick pint at Bridgnorth, and a look at the shed yard. The pilot engine, D3586, was parked outside, mid-way through a repaint into BR green.
50044 worked a charter from Cardiff to Plymouth on Saturday 21st July 2012, but ran into mechanical trouble on the return. 66719 dragged it back to Kidderminster at lunchtime on Monday 23rd, decanting it on the NR/SVR connection. Later that afternoon the Kidderminster pilot engine, D3022, shunted it into the yard, as seen here at 16:41.
Back to Kidderminster on Friday 27th July for the shot of 60040 below. The SVR "diesel gala" was still underway, with 50035 seen here departing on the 10:25 to Bridgnorth. Note the new colour light signals protecting the connection to Network Rail. These were out-of-use, pending NR re-signalling work over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
The main reason for my visit to Kidderminster on Friday 27th July was the appearance of 60040 on the 6V05 Round Oak - Margam empty steels. There won't be many more opportunities to photograph a 60 in sunshine under the semaphores at Kidderminster, as they'll be swept away when the signalling is modernised in late August 2012. The appearance of D821 was an unexpected bonus in this shot, which was taken at 10:31.
New photo added on Friday 25th May 2012...
56311 is seen east of Droitwich, about two miles south of Stoke Works Jct on the main line. The train is 6Z56 Shipley - Cardiff, running about 30 minutes late when photographed at 18:41 on Friday 25th May 2012.
New photos added on Thursday 24th May 2012...
70010 negotiates the curve through Leamore, south of Bloxwich at 15:50 on Saturday 12th May 2012. The train is 4V56 Rugeley - Stoke Gifford.
20142 and 20227 lead 7X09 Old Dalby - Amersham along the down goods loop at Elford. This shot was taken at 17:07 on Wednesday 23rd May 2012, and the train was running around 17 minutes early. The train conveys new LUL S Stock, which is built at Derby and commissioned at Old Dalby. The 20s actually deliver the trains to Neasden depot, running on LUL metals over the last leg.
New photos added on Friday 20th April 2012...
60079 worked 6M81 Margam - Round Oak on Friday 20th April 2012, and with the sun out early in the day I decided to make a rare visit to Brierley Hill to see if I could phot it on the way to work. Arriving at 09:25, and having to wait only a couple of minutes before the 60 seemed like good fortune, as was the fact that the sun stayed out just long enough, even though cloud was tumbling in. Originally I presumed there was no traffic to Round Oak, but from information subsequently gleaned it seems that there was. Presumably the 60 had already taken the train to Round Oak, returned south for some reason, and was going back to Round Oak when I photographed it. Anyway it's running on the former up line here. This line is now reversible and is designated as the "Down & Up Round Oak No 1 line".
The return working of 6M81 is 6V07 Round Oak - Margam. Once timed to leave Round Oak in the early afternoon, 6V07 now departs around 17:00. Needless to say the sun had long gone by this time, but 60079 appeared pretty much bang on time, pictured here at 17:19. Signal KJ76 to the left shows a fixed red aspect, with a call-on signal below. Trains to Round Oak collect a train staff at Kingswinford Jct, which is just beyond the second overbridge.
New photos added on Monday 9th April 2012...
Tata Steel loco 923, named "Aurora", shunts at Brownhills on the morning of Friday 6th April 2012 (Good Friday). This loco had been on the Chasewater Railway for tests, and was being moved out of way as it had been parked on the run-round loop.
66142 drifts into Bescot with 6O42 Halewood - Southampton at 14:06 on Saturday 24th March 2012. This train conveys new cars.
New photo added on Saturday 7th April 2012...
The early sun had long gone before the trains started running at the Chasewater Railway on Friday 6th April 2012 (Good Friday). D3429 worked the first of the four scheduled trips from Brownhills, and is seen here on the return, approaching Norton halt at 11:39.
New photo added on Wednesday 4th April 2012...
66718 worked a 6Z33 Cardiff - Doncaster empty scrap train on Sunday 1st April 2012. This train was routed via Worcester, Stourbridge and Bescot, providing the relatively unusual sight of a GBRf loco on the Sutton Park line. This photo shows it passing East View Road, Wylde Green, at 16:28. Next morning this train ran from Doncaster to Beeston, before forming that afternoon's 6Z97 Beeston - Cardiff.
New photos added on Sunday 25th March 2012...
66622 approaches Ryecroft Jct at 13:25 on Saturday 24th March 2012. The train is 6H70, the Rugeley - Guide Bridge limestone empties, running about 2½ hours late. Rugeley Power Station has used limestone since the flue-gas desulphurisation plant was commissioned in late 2009. The limestone train runs from Tunstead, generally once a week, on a Saturday morning.
0-4-0 saddle tank "Linda" makes some smoke as it leaves Brownhills with the 16:00 departure on Sunday 25th March 2012. This loco was built by Bagnall, works number 2648, in 1940/41.
New photos added on Tuesday 7th February 2012...
56091, 56115 and 56117 were among a large batch of Class 56s sold by DBS in autumn 2011. They were moved by rail from Eastleigh to Bescot in early November, where they lingered for the next three months. 56091 was sold to BARS who collected it by rail on Thursday 2nd February. The other two, which had been sold to Europhoenix, were then positioned behind the depot for collection by road. An Allelys lorry arrived for 56117 on the afternoon of Monday 6th February, and it's seen here climbing the depot driveway at 15:13.
Once on the roadway proper the lorry usually stops for a few minutes while the trailer height is adjusted and the chains securing the loco are checked. On a grim afternoon 56117 stands in Pemberton Crescent, Wednesbury, while these checks are made. Final departure was at 15:20.
The same rig returned on Tuesday 7th February to collect 56115. For some reason this one took longer to load, but it emerged from the depot at 13:53, and was away at about 14:00.
New photos added on Saturday 14th January 2012. Two consolation prizes...
Out for a 70 again on Saturday 14th January, and failed again (see below). The light wasn't a problem this time, but 70016 on 4Z93 Ironbridge - Crewe ran an hour early, and I contrived to miss it while reviewing locations between Codsall and Shifnal. Again the consolation prize turned out to be the 09:23 Holyhead - Birmingham International, on this occasion running to time near Shifnal at 12:56.
Not many freights around on Monday 2nd January, but 70010 worked 6M61 Portbury - Rugeley. With no viable spots locally I went Allscott, Salop, where the line isn't infested with trackside foliage and fencing. Inevitably the cloudless morning ended about 25 minutes before 6M61 was due. Dark clouds blowing in from the west threatened to end the session without a picture being taken, but the late running 09:23 Holyhead - Birmingham International appeared at 12:53, just before the light went.
New photos added on Sunday 23rd October 2011...
How quickly things change on the modern railway. 67029 pauses at Tame Bridge with a Marylebone-Wrexham service. in a shot taken at 18:29 on 4th January 2009. WSMR ceased operations on 28th January 2011, and Cargo-D, who supplied the blue and grey carriages used by WSMR for much of its life went into administration in October 2011. The colour has been removed from selected areas of this image.
My last photo of a WSMR train, taken at 12:26 on Sunday 9th January 2011. 67001 propels a Wrexham-Marylebone train across Bescot Jct. WSMR's own carriages were in use by this stage, and they've subsequently been used by Chiltern Railways. Meantime 67001 has lost its EWS livery in favour of unbranded blue for future use on Arriva-operated Holyhead-Cardiff services.
Small players have come and gone in the freight side of the railway too, with the loss of Advenza and Fastline in recent years. The big players trundle on though. Although DBS and GBRf have significant container traffic these days, Freightliner continue to dominate that market. This is 66504 heading south near Tame Bridge at 15:52 on Thursday 4th September 2008. Trains were being diverted off the Trent Valley during this week.
New photos added on Friday 23rd September 2011...
D821 worked the SVR diesel diagram on Saturday 17th September. This is the 13:30 Kidderminster - Bridgnorth on the approach to Bewdley, photographed from the trackbed of the Stourport branch.
And descending Eardington bank with the 15:40 Bridgnorth-Kidderminster.
50044 worked a Euston - Holyhead charter train on Saturday 3rd September. It returned south as 1Z51 Holyhead - Euston on Sunday 4th, and is seen here passing Bescot at 16:59. This train used the Virgin Pretendolino stock, with a 57/3 trailing on the rear for most of the journey.
New photos added on Sunday 4th September 2011...
In London on Friday 2nd September, primarily to see the Toulouse Lautrec/Jane Avril exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery. I'd deliberately picked a sunny day, but had no fixed plan about what to do after seeing the paintings. In the event I was on Westminster Bridge when I noticed a gen message giving the afternoon diagram for a 73-hauled test train around south-east London. A brisk walk to Waterloo East got me to a train heading in the right direction, but where to go? A dim memory of seeing a shot taken at Lewisham many years ago made me think that might be worth a try. 1Q45 failed to appear at the appointed time, but when a down train from the St Johns direction came to a stand just short of the junction for no obvious reason I thought something might be afoot. Sure enough the test train appeared over the Nunhead line viaduct at 14:49, about eight minutes late. Not knowing what the locos were I was well chuffed to see 73201 leading, with yellow 73138 on the rear.
1Q45 was due to run via Charlton and Slade Green, before heading back to Lewisham via Eltham. I had time to try and find a spot for the return run, and with the blue ED still going to be on the front it was a shot I was keen to do. The problem was that I hadn't the first clue about usable locations on the Eltham line, never having attempted a photo anywhere in the vicinity. The A-Z suggested that the light might be optimal around Kidbrooke, so I headed in that direction on the 15:02 from Lewisham. Unfortunately the railway hereabouts is in the usual suburban combination of cutting and tree-tunnel, and it didn't look promising. However having bailed at Kidbrooke, more in hope than expectation, I found a short break in the tree-line just east of the station. Any chance of a wide shot was knackered by the fact that new houses are being built alongside the south side of the railway, so I had to make do with a shot off the platform end. 73201 had recovered some time and was running a couple of minutes early when photographed at 15:31. In the circumstances I considered this a result.
New photos added on Monday 22nd August 2011...
To comply with the large combustion plant directive, flue-gas desulphurisation equipment was commissioned at Rugeley power station in 2009. A by-product of the desulphurisation process is gypsum, which is usually sold to the manufacturers of plasterboard. There have been occasional gypsum trains out of Rugeley, but they now seem to have started running to a regular pattern, inbound late on a Friday evening (4M80), and out early on Monday morning (4M81) - the latter train running in a phottable path. These trains use GBRf motive power, which is regularly seen around Birmingham, but was previously a rare sight in the Black Country, as were gypsum containers. This is 66706 seen on Monday 22nd August 2011. It has run round 4M81 Rugeley - Hotchley Hill at Bescot and is seen departing towards Pleck Jct, pretty much bang on time at 09:28.
New photos added on Friday 12th August 2011...
Off work on Tuesday 9th August, with the weather early on looking bleaker than the forecast suggested. At the last minute I decided to try for 8X23 Derby - Old Dalby hoping that the sun might appear. It did, but 8X23 failed to materialise. A morning at Willington produced the usual dismal array of freights, just two each way in two hours. Both the southbound ones passed in the sun, and this is 6V67, the Redcar - Margam coke, photographed at 10:08.
Some sort of problem with the train had delayed 8X23, and the word was that it would run at some unspecified time later in the day. After an early lunch I had a look at the shunting locos at the LH Group workshops at Barton-under-Needwood, and then decided to see if there was still a shot on at Bagworth, where I hadn't been for a couple of years. Arriving there circa 14:25 I found a small gallery of photters on the bridge. 8X23 had passed Moira just before 14:00, but had yet to reach Bagworth. With the cloud continuing to break, this looked like a result, although you should never count your chickens. It eventually became clear that 8X23 was being held at Bagworth Jct for a westbound train to clear the single line section from Knighton Jct. This turned out to be 66560 on 6Z22 Eastleigh - Stud Farm, seen here near journey's end at 15:13.
Once 6Z22 had gone into Stud Farm 8X23 was allowed to proceed. 20305 was leading when it passed Bagworth at 15:22. It just made it before the sun went behind a small cloud. Getting bowled on this would have been very bad luck, given that the sun had been out for about 48 of the preceding 50 minutes. Happily all was well in the end.
Twenty-two seconds elapsed between taking the previous shot, and taking this shot of 20301 trailing on the rear of 8X23. Such trivia is one of the joys of digital photography.