D213, outward leg of The Cotswold Explorer, 06.30 Northampton-Worcester Shrub Hill (1Z46, 40L), between Roade & Ashton
There had been some speculation as to what would be
hauling Saphos' The Cotswold Explorer charter with LSL providing the stock and motive power. As it was such a still and quiet morning I was able to hear the locomotive some distance from where I was standing between Roade and Ashton in Northamptonshire and the familiar sound of an English Electric 16SVT confirmed it was a Class 40! 40013 'Andania' looks superb in the half-light of this chilly March morning leading the train that had just started out from Northampton at 06.30 heading for Worcester Shrub Hill with steam taking over in West London.