Milepost 91

MNR Spring Gala – Sulzers!

Oli Smith — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:28:27 +0000

Only four pictures from me this time, there really wasn’t any time for more! After a noticeable bias towards EE engines over the last few years (and with PLENTY more to come!), the decision was made to swing the other way this Spring and get in a few Sulzer engined machines. It was also the first time we’d had visiting preserved locos over in a while. 47580, 46045, 45133 and 26007 were the order of the weekend – thanks to everyone who helped pull it off, especially Jerry, Martin and James.

47580 stands in the MOD at Dereham having arrived in from the Midlands.

46045 at the other end of the convoy, with 45133 tucked in behind.

It’s early, far far far too early – 45133 at Dereham before the first train on Saturday.

26007 – easily the star of the show for me.

London Midland Great Escape, Feb 2010

Oli Smith — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:58:57 +0000

Over the week of the 13th February, London Midland ran another ‘Great Escape’ promotion, offering unlimited travel on their entire network for just £10. Well, good excuse to finish off the colouring in around Birmingham really :o) Heres a few photos from the 13th and 15th…

321415 stands at St Albans Abbey station with 2K29 to Watford Junction.

A pair of LOROL 313s sit at Watford Junction.

378151 at Watford Junction – not in service though.

A Pendolino rushes towards the capital at Watford.

35106 leaves Rugby for Crewe.

Coventry now, and 153375 gets ready to head up the Bedworth branch to Nuneaton.

The same unit after arrival at Nuneaton…

A 390 unit speeds past Rugeley Trent Valley.

170512 snakes off the Bloxwich branch at Rugeley under the shadow of the power station.

323202 at Lichfield City station.

Nasty handheld shot of 350261 at Crewe having arrived with a stopper from Northampton via Stoke.

Network WestMidlands liveried 150003 departs Stourbridge Junction.

139002 bumps and rolls down the Stourbridge Town branch.

Getting the tip at Worcester Foregate Street…

43029 and 43037 rumble out of Worcester with a service to Gt Malvern.

A Great Western HST takes the curve into Shrub Hill framed by the semaphores at Foregate Street.

319001 at Bedford Midland.

222007 stands in platform 1 at Bedford Midland with a train to London.

153364 at Bedford on the Bletchley shuttle.

One to the sea! 09/02

Oli Smith — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:40:18 +0000

Here’s a few photos from today’s loco hauled DMU replacement services on the Norwich locals, featuring 20304 and 47712. God only knows the last time a single 20 made it to the coast on an advertised service train. Thanks to the staff on the trains today for being so accommodating to us all, and of course a special thanks to “them wot made it happen”. Nuff said.

Mr T and 20304 arrive at Norwich, with set NC23 and 47712 in tow.

20304 at Vauxhall off of 2P10.

20304 at Lowestoft ready to work 2J75.

A rare visitor to platform 5…

47712 was 20304’s partner in crime today.

20304 tail gunning out of Norwich.

The 20 now back at Thorpe before heading out for one more trip…

Not a bad day at all…

More Bits: Late January 2010

Oli Smith — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:08:20 +0000

A few more photos from the last few weeks of January. Mostly stuff from London, but also a jaunt on WSMR’s weekend diversions on 30th Jan.

15th January – 325008 passes Harrow with a mail train for the PRDC at Willesden.

15th January – 66729 passes Harrow on the up slow with a translator van move.

15th January – 121020 waits to leave from Princes Risborough with the Aylsbury shuttle.

15th January – A Chiltern Class 165 calls at Risborough on the up.

15th January – 121020 at Aylsbury

15th January – Line up! A fine selection of units at Aylsbury…

15th January – 67012 at Marylebone with a newly refurbished Mk3 set.

30th January – 82302 and 67010 arrived at Marylebone with a WSMR Blockbuster. The return service would take us via the Greenford branch, Acton Wells and Willesden Jn before joining the WCML to Stechford and Tame Bridge…

30th January – Lunch on WSMR; Pasta bake.

30th January – Followed by Treacle Sponge…

30th January – Getting dark now…. Whilst waiting for 1D15 to clear the section to Gobowen, 1J86 stands at Shrewsbury.

30th January – 158820 stands at Wrexham Gen.

Bits! December 2009 – January 2010

Oli Smith — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:34:16 +0000

In the absence of anything better to do this evening, here’s a few snaps from the last few weeks featuring some of the more interesting subjects around at the moment…

17th December – 47832 ‘Tamar’ sits at Colchester on Thunderbird standby.

17th December – 90015 leaves Colchester in the winter sun…

17th December – 31105 sits in a dusky Ipswich HS with the stock off of 8Q69, a 35mph stagger around East Anglia at night.

18th December – A fair dusting of the white stuff…

29th December – The new GE machine 70001 waits the road out of Ipswich SP.

29th December – Pioneer FL shed 66501 drags a class 90 through the middle at Ipswich.

2nd January – 50019 at Thuxton next to MLV 68004 before much shunting of troublesome trucks took place.

3rd January – Nasty handheld shot of 20301 and 20304 being run up at Norwich.

The Pye Bridge Pie Man, 12/12

Oli Smith — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 02:31:01 +0000

Pathfinder Tours’ Pye Bridge Pie Man railtour from Birmingham New Street to various freight spurs and branches in the Midlands. Of particular highlight was Stanton Gate, Toton TMD (where lines upon lines of 60s can be seen laid up), High Marnham (as far as Tuxford GF) and Wigston South Curve. Locos were 59204 from Birmingham – Kettering, 56312 from Kettering – Stanton Gate, 60040 from Stanton Gate – Toton, 56312 from Toton – Tuxford, 60040 from Tuxford to Toton, 47270 from Toton – Birmingham.

56312 at Kettering preparing to lead to Stanton Gate.

Another shot of 56312 at Kettering.

Getting the phot in…

60074 laid up and stored outside the shed at Toton.

60091 in a similar state to it’s blue sister at Toton.

60003 and 37405 pretty much forgotten round the back of Toton TMD.

Recently stored 60063 at Toton…

66040 about to move off shed at Toton.

“Toton 1″ the pilot loco.

60004 amongst yet more holed up 60s at Toton.

56312 pokes round the corner after leaving the mainline at Shirebrook.

A brief pause near Ollerton on the High Marnham branch having hit a shopping trolley…

47270 makes a fine sight at Toton Centre waiting to attach and take us back to BNS.

56312 and 47270 back at Birmingham New Street.

Waiting for the tip at New Street.

59204 gets ready to head back to Westbury.

The New Order, 70001 around Ipswich – 04/12

Oli Smith — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:03:41 +0000

The first full day I’ve spent out photting for a while, and not a bad haul at all. Aside from the usual diet of 90s and FL 66s, Freightliners new loco 70001 was seen several times. Also captured were the two Friday RHTTs, and 37688/37229/90001/90026 on 0L90 Crewe – NCP.

321446 waits time at Ipswich whilst deputising for a Mk3 set on the Norwich services.

70001 runs up on Ipswich SP.

70001 is run up on Ipswich SP prior to working an Intermodal into Felixstowe.

66726 passes Ipswich with the Hams Hall – Ipswich container train.

66587 shunts fuel tanks on Ipswich SP.

70001 at Ipswich SP’s outlet signal before shunting across to the yard to work 4L93 into the docks.

70001 passes Westerfield with 4L95 to Felixstowe.

90041 arrives at Ipswich station.

70001 again – this time working 4M93 to Lawley Street.

66717 arrives at Ipswich in fading light with 6A33.

66061 runs round its intermodal train at Ipswich.

37688 and 37229 top 90001 and 90026, a light engine move back from Crewe returning the two 90s to NXEA at Norwich.

Bit of a bonus shot – 0L90 started to struggle north of Stowmarket, so was looped at Diss to let my 1P44 past :)

Eastern Region RHT Trains – Autumn 2009

Oli Smith — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:00:19 +0000

Direct Rail Services once again have the contract to provide train crew and motive power for the seasonal Rail Head Treatment Trains in East Anglia. Based at Stowmarket and spread over five diagrams, four loco hauled trains (each carrying 85,000 litres of water) will be using a combination of high powered water canons and the application of sandite (a thick sand based paste that improves adhesion) to improve the rail surface. This work in the autumn months is vital to ensure the first passenger trains each day can begin journeys with no delays. So far this year, Stowmarket has been host to: 20301, 20304, 20305, 37059, 37069, 37601, 37604, 37608, 57003, 57007, 57012, 66420 and 66426.

This collection will be updated on a regular basis showing the trains over the coming months.

October 7th – Recently released from Arlington Fleet Services’ Eastleigh Works in a fresh coat of DRS compass blue, 20304 runs nose first past Thrandeston, south of Diss, returning to ‘Cannon Control’ at Stowmarket having been turned on the triangle at Norwich. The leaf fall trains are due to start next week.

October 28th – 20305 and 20304 approach Westerfield with 3W95 Ipswich – Lowestoft, part of the anti-clockwise East Suffolk RHTT.

October 28th – 20305 and 20304 coast to a stop at Westerfield station. All trains joining the East Suffolk line here at required to stop and obtain a token for the RETB signaling system.

October 28th – Having obtained the token for the East Suffolk line, 20305 and 20304 power up the bank from Westerfield toward Woodbridge.

October 28th – Having traversed the East Suffolk line to Lowestoft, 20304 is seen leading 20305 past Brundall with 3W96 to Norwich.

October 28th – 20305 on the rear of 3W96 as the train powers off towards Norwich.

October 28th – 66420 and 66426 are seen at Thurston with 3S63 Colchester – Norwich via Ely.

October 28th – 20304 and 20305 pass through Stowmarket station with 3W98, to access the yard via the south crossovers.

October 28th – Yes, it was dark, but still. 57003, 57007 and 37601 return home at Stowmarket with 6Z21 from Norwich Crown Point.

October 28th – A speedy turnaround at Stowmarket was needed as the 57s were then to work 3S10, the Shenfield, Southend and Romford night time RHTT.

November 25th – 66426 trails 66420 past Lancasters Crossing, Stowmarket, with 3S63 Colchester – Norwich via Ely.

November 25th – 57003 leads 57012 past Lancasters Crossing, Stowmarket, with a very early 6Z21 Norwich Crown Point – Stowmarket.

November 25th – 57003 and 57012 viewed inside Stowmarket Yard off 6Z21.

November 25th – 20305 has been out of service for several days, and is seen stabled right against the stops on road 1 at Stowmarket.

December 4th – The final weeks of the campaign are here again. 37059 and 37601 are seen running into Ipswich station to reverse and head to Lowestoft.

December 4th – 37601 prepares to head up the East Suffolk line to Lowestoft.

December 4th – 37059 tails the ensemble on the ‘Up and Down Lowestoft’.

December 4th – 66420 and 66426 head through Ipswich with their usual turn to Shenfield.

December 4th – 66426 powering on the rear of 3S60.

December 4th – The 66s are seen heading back north through Ipswich for Norwich.

December 4th – Catching the last of the sun down through Ipswich.

French Bits, 31/10

Oli Smith — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:54:43 +0000

A few photos taken whilst on a day out in Paris. Including Eurostar, a few SNCF bits and also the Metro.

373008 arrives at Ashford Intl with 9O04 for Paris.

An SNCF TGV races a local unit into Montparnasse station in Paris.

A local train passes locos stabled outside Montparnasse station.

A line 6 Metro service arrives at Bier Hakeim station in Paris.

Nasty handheld shot of SNCF’s BB115051 stands at Paris Nord awaiting shunt release.

Ipswich Evening Bits, 16/10

Oli Smith — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:45:04 +0000

Just a few photos taken whilst passing through Ipswich this evening, includes 47501 running light engine and a Serco stabled in Ipswich SP.

90012 calls at Ipswich with a northbound express.

66718 runs light engine through Ipswich from Parkeston Quay.

170204 with 1E84 to Peterborough.

DBSO 9703 and 31106 stabled at Ipswich.

47501 with 0P86 Shenfield – Norwich CP.