78. Kettering & Wellingborough-14.12.18

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2018 > 78. Kettering & Wellingborough-14.12.18
A few hours out on a frustrating day! It dawned cold, frosty and bright. But, as soon as I set of for Kettering a huge bank of cloud enveloped the sky. By the time I got to my first spot at Kettering North Junction, it was full dull! It stayed like that until I headed for home just after lunch when the cloud cleared and the sun came out! The aim, to see how far the MML electrification had progressed and to get some shots before things change here forever.
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Images 1-14 of 14 displayed.

66617, 05.29 Tunstead-West Thurrock Sidings (6L44), Glendon Iron Coys bridge SP854823 My first picture of this Freightliner locomotive, 66617! It is seen passing Glendon East with the 6L44 05.29 Tunstead to Thurrock cement empties. Since I last visited this spot, it has undergone a fairly major transformation with more to come. The second line has been installed and to enable more trains to run to and from Corby without conflicting with each other. Also, the electrification masts have started to go in. Unfortunately, palisade fencing has spoilt the many possibilities that used to exist here for taking interesting pictures. Keywords: 66617 05.29 Tunstead-West Thurrock Sidings 6L44 Glendon Iron Coys bridge SP854823
222010, EM 10.41 Corby-LondonSt. Pancras (1P09, 4L), Glendon Iron-Coys bridge SP854823 When I first visited this location in 1980 there were some sidings to the right where open cast iron ore was transferred from a narrow-gauge network to wagons for onwards movement. In the distance, where the palisade fence dips down out of view, was Glendon Sidings signal box complete with a number of semaphores, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29663553404/x16-glendon-sidings-signal-box-mid The track was still doubled but soon it was to be singled and then, in the last two years doubled again! 222010 forms the 10.41 Corby to London St. Pancras that is about to rejoin the route of the Midland Mainline and stop at Kettering. Keywords: 222010 10.41 Corby-LondonSt. Pancras 1P09 Glendon Iron-Coys bridge SP854823
222021, 09.47 London St. Pancras-Corby (1M12, 1E), Glendon Iron Coys bridge SP854823 222021 works the 09.47 London St. Pancras to Corby under the strangely named Glendon Iron Coys bridge. This is just beyond where the Corby/Manton Junction line parts company from the Midland Mainline that is in a cutting below the trees seen through the gap in the very background. Notice the recently installed electrification masts, a portents of things to come. It won't be long before the Meridians are ousted from this line in favour of some new electric units. Keywords: 222021 09.47 London St. Pancras-Corby 1M12 Glendon Iron Coys bridge SP854823
43050 & 43044, EM 10.45 Nottingham-London St. Pancras (1B33, 3E), Headlands bridge HST powers cars 43050 and 43044 work the 10.45 Nottingham to St. Pancras service through Kettering. The picture is taken from Headlands footbridge that has recently been 'upgraded' to accommodate the electrification wires. Unfortunately, in common with their normal practice, Network Rail have installed huge green anti-suicide parapets making photography impossible unless one stands on a ladder. This means that whenever I go out now and I'm not on my bike, I carry 'Stulio the step ladder'. Notice in the background the reinstatement of the sidings being performed by yet more of the orange army. Keywords: 43050 43044 10.45 Nottingham-London St. Pancras 1B33 Headlands bridge
222009, EM 10.47 London St. Pancras-Corby (1M16, 2E), Headlands bridge 222009 forming the 10.47 St. Pancras to Corby takes the down slow line as it eases for its stop at Kettering about half a mile behind me here at Headlands bridge. Notice the electrification masts already beginning to hinder the view from this well know spot that it now only accessible if you take a ladder with you. Keywords: 222009 10.47 London St. Pancras-Corby 1M16 Headlands bridge
222004, EM 11.02 London St Pancras-Sheffield (1F25, RT), Headlands bridge 222004 'Children's Hospital Sheffield' is about to pass under the Headlands bridge just south of Kettering station forming the 1F25 11.02 St. Pancras to Sheffield. Notice above the recently installed electrification masts the two cranes. They do not mark yet more development of Kettering (a process that seems to be inexorable) but are located at McAlpine's plant development site on the edge of the town, a familiar sight to those who pass it on the busy A14 trunk road. Keywords: 222004 11.02 London St Pancras-Sheffield 1F25 Headlands bridge
222006, EM 11.29 Sheffield-London St. Pancras (1C40, 1L), Headlands bridge 222006 'The Carbon Cutter' passes Headlands bridge just south of Kettering station with the 11.29 Sheffield to St. Pancras working. This area has changed beyond all recognition since my first visit in 1978. There were a vast number of sidings here with no urban development. Kettering station signal box was situated at a spot in the distance just about above the articulated arm of excavator. Keywords: 222006 11.29 Sheffield-London St. Pancras 1C40 Headlands bridge
222021, EM 12.41 Corby-London St. Pancras (1P17, 3L), Headlands bridge Seen a short time earlier on its outward journey, 222021 is now returning to St. Pancras forming the 1P17 12.41 from Corby. In the background is Ostlers Way, many of its houses offer commanding views of the busy Midland Mainline that should soon become somewhat quieter as electric trains are introduced on the Corby services such as this one. Keywords: 222021 12.41 Corby-London St. Pancras 1P17 Headlands bridge
222011, EM 12.02 London St. Pancras-Sheffield (1F30, 3L), Headlands bridge 222011 'Sheffield City Battalion 1914-1918' passes under Headlands bridge in kettering with the 12.02 London St. Pancras to Sheffield. This Meridian was named on 11th November 2014 in honour of the Sheffield City Battalion by a representative of the Royal British legion, hence the large poppy just back from the driver's door. Keywords: 222011 12.02 London St. Pancras-Sheffield 1F30 Headlands bridge
66761, 09.47 Neasden Charrington-Bardon Hill (6M32), Headlands bridge 66761 'Wensleydale Railway Association 25 Years 1990-2015' heads the 6M32 09.47 Neasdon to Bardon Hill empty stone train past Headlands bridge in Kettering. Even though the masts are spoiling the view from this classic spot, at least Network Rail have been busy clearing the lineside trees making this wide angle view possible. Keywords: 66761 09.47 Neasden Charrington-Bardon Hill 6M32 Headlands bridge
222010, EM 12.05 London St. Pancras-Nottingham (1D31, 7L), Wellingborough station East Midlands 222010 slows as it arrives at Wellingborough station with the 12.05 St. Pancras to Nottingham. Apart from the expanded car parking behind the train, there is absolutely no evidence in this view of the impending electrification. I have a feeling that this situation will be changing very soon! Keywords: 222010 12.05 London St. Pancras-Nottingham 1D31 Wellingborough station
222009, EM 12.41 Corby-London St. Pancras (1P17, 3L), Wellingborough station The 12.41 Corby to St. Pancras arrives at Wellingborough station formed of Meridian 222009. Whilst there is no evidence of the electrification programme at the north end of the station there are huge changes going on in the background. A new bridge and access road is being constructed to link the huge eastern expansion of Wellingborough with the rest of the town. Unfortunately, this bridge has completely ruined the panoramic view of the station from Mill Road bridge beyond the new structure. Keywords: 222009 12.41 Corby-London St. Pancras 1P17 Wellingborough station
66750, 09.35 Mountsorell-Wellingborough (6F90), Wellingborough station A wide angle view at the north end of Wellingborough station. This view is about to change dramatically as the MML electrification programme takes hold. Notice the recent clearance of the trackbed to the right and the old platform four. The up relief line is is due to be reinstated but I am not sure if the platform is to be reopened but it would make sense given the huge expansion of the town to the east . Notice the remaining Victorian structure on the platform complete with the boarded up windows painted in the old Midland Mainline teal blue, a throwback to when they operated the trains and station some ten years previously. 66750 can be seen in the distance reversing the 6F90 09.35 Mountsorell to Wellingborough stone train back into the sidings. Keywords: 66750 09.35 Mountsorell-Wellingborough 6F90 Wellingborough station
222013, EM 12.31 London St.-Pancras-Sheffield (1F32, 1L), Wellingborough station 222013 passes through Wellingborough station at line speed working the 12.31 St. Pancras to Sheffield. Wellingborough station was opened in 1847 by The Midland Railway. It is a grade II listed structure despite a number of alterations and changes that have taken place over the years. With the masts in place both north and south of the station, this view is set to change imminently as the march of electrification continues. Keywords: 222013 12.31 London St.-Pancras-Sheffield 1F32 Wellingborough station

Images 1-14 of 14 displayed.