21. The Conwy Explorer & The Cumbrian Mountain Express-22.04.17

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2017 > 21. The Conwy Explorer & The Cumbrian Mountain Express-22.04.17
A Saturday morning visit to Victoria Bridge to see two specials. As one ran very late, I went out again later to see it across the field from home.
Click here to search The Archive Files


Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.

66705, 03.15 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park (4M21), Victoria Bridge 66705 'Golden Jubilee' passes an early morning and dull Victoria Bridge just south of Roade on the WCML leading the 4M21 03.15 Felixstowe to Trafford Park Freightliner. Delivered in 2001 it was in service by 2002 and was named to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in June of that year. At that time it also carried a large union jack on both sides. The locomotive was unveiled on 20th June 2002 at Retford (of all places!) when it took over the 'The Spinnin' State III' railtour. Keywords: 66705 4M21 Victoria Bridge
350105, LM 07.05 Northampton-London Euston (2N04, 6L) & 03.15 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park (4M21), Victoria Bridge 350105 forms the 07.05 Northampton to Euston working past Victoria Bridge just south of Roade. It is passing the 03.15 Felixstowe to Trafford Park Freightliner. Despite it being late April, the early morning dull light was poor and I was pushing the camera's ISO capabilities somewhat! It's testament to modern camera technology that a decent picture can be taken in these conditions with such a little amount of digital 'noise'. Keywords: 350105 2N04 4M21 Victoria Bridge
350235, LM 06.50 Northampton Riverside-Milton Keynes Central ECS (5K08), Victoria Bridge Running a little late, the 06.50 Northampton Riverside sidings to Milton Keynes ECS was supposed to run fast and in-front of the previous up service train. However, it is seen behind it here passing Victoria Bridge between Northampton and Milton Keynes. Keywords: 350235 5K08 Victoria Bridge
92010, CS 20.44 Inverness 19.50 Fort William 21.43 Aberdeen-London Euston sleeper (1M16, 19L), Victoria Bridge The sleeper was running a bit late that helped with the photo as the light had begun to improve a little. Here, 92010 in its Caledonian Sleeper livery passes Roade on the up fast with about sixty miles to go in order to complete its journey from Scotland, one it started eleven hours previously! Keywords: 92010 20.44 Inverness 19.50 Fort William 21.43 Aberdeen-London Euston sleeper 1M16 Victoria Bridge
90034, outward leg of The Conwy Explorer, 06.35 London Euston-Blaenau Ffestiniog (1Z77), Victoria Bridge 90034 leads a nice uniform rake of Mk.I stock past Victoria Bridge just north of Hanslope Junction on the southern WCML. It was heading the UK Railtour's 'The Conwy Explorer' from Euston to North Wales. It hauled the train as far as Crewe where 66105 and 66149 took over. Keywords: 90034 The Conwy Explorer 06.35 London Euston-Blaenau Ffestiniog 1Z77 Victoria Bridge
350256, LM 06.24 London Euston-Crewe (2U23), Victoria Bridge London Midland 350256 passes Victoria Bridge forming the 06.24 Euston to Crewe. Whilst the majority of Crewe trains take the fast lines and avoid Northampton, over the weekends, some go via the slow lines and call at the county town. Keywords: 350256 2U23 Victoria Bridge
221143 & 221109, VT 05.38 Lancaster-London Euston (1A04, 1L), Victoria Bridge 221143 'Auguste Picard' and 221109 'Marco Polo' head past Victoria Bridge just south of Roade on the WCML working the 05.38 Lancaster to London Euston. An eight coach Voyager seems a lot for a service that runs very early in the morning, but I suspect that this is more of a move to get a set to London to work a service north again. Keywords: 221143 221109 1A04 Victoria Bridge
70008, 02.57 Felixstowe North-Ditton (4M45), Victoria Bridge The class 70s will win no prizes for their Transatlantic styling but they do win some for their noise! A 70 sounds different and a lot noisier than all other modern motive power and living a short distance from the WCML as I do my ears always prick up when a 70 is passing across the field from home! 70008 passes under Victoria Bridge leading the long and heavily loaded 4m45 02.57 Felixstowe North to Ditton Freightliner. Keywords: 70008 02.57 Felixstowe North-Ditton 4M45 Victoria Bridge
47746, outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express, London Euston-Carlisle (1Z86), Ashton Road Bridge Realtime Trains indicated that the 1Z86 Cumbrian Mountain Express was heavily delayed so I headed back home from Victoria Bridge. By the time I had got home and had breakfast it was on its way! After finishing my tea and toast I walked across the field from home to witness 47746 'Chris Fudge 29.7.70-22.6.10' leading the late running railtour as it approached Roade on the WCML. The usual haulage, in the form of 86259, had failed at Euston and the 47 had to be rapidly summoned to haul the special north. Keywords: 47746 The Cumbrian Mountain Express London Euston-Carlisle 1Z86 Ashton Road Bridge

Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.