7. 5Z11 Caledonian Sleeper test run-22.01.18

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 7. 5Z11 Caledonian Sleeper test run-22.01.18

Gen on the internet suggested that Caledonian Sleeper were undertaking a fully loaded test run of their new stock from Glasgow to Euston. I got up early to discover the run was on and so donned my extra coat, hat and gloves to get out an see it passing Roade. It was running a little late by the time it got to me, but al least the sun had come up by the time it passed. However, things went wrong further south as it got caught up on the run into London behind local workings as it was pathed on the up slow.

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Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.

66701, 03.10 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park (4M21), Roade Hill
Now this was a real test for the newish Canon G1X Mk. III camera! It wasn't even half light really and I needed at least 1/1200 sec. to capture the 03.10 Felixstowe to Trafford Park 4M21 Freightliner. The camera needed 12 800 ISO that obviously produced a noisy image. However, after a little Photoshop fettling and the use of the superb add-on produced by Neat Image.... https://ni.neatvideo.com a passable picture was produced. 66701 is seen leading the train past Roade Hill just south of the village of the same name on the WCML.
Keywords: 66701 03.10 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park 4M21 Roade Hill

390042, VT 06.43 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1R17, 1L), Roade Hill
With the sun just beginning to rise, 390042 passes Roade Hill in Northamptonshire with the 06.43 Manchester to London Euston. Notice the remnants of the decaying super moon from two nights previously that can be seen though the wires. It may not look it, but I can assure you that it was very cold morning, particularly as the warming rays of the rising sun had not quite reached where I was standing yet!
Keywords: 390042 06.43 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1R17 Roade Hill

390137, VT 06.58 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1R18, 3L), Roade Hill
390137 'Virgin Difference' passes a very cold Roade Hill between Rugby and Milton keynes with the 06.58 Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston. The camera has done well to cope with the extreme tonal range within this picture with only some minor tweaking needed in Photoshop to sort the shadows out. Notice the waning moon just between the wires to the left.
Keywords: 390137 06.58 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1R18 Roade Hill

92023, 00.14 Glasgow Central-London Euston sleeper test run (3Z11), Roade Hill
A bitterly cold morning is just beginning to warm up a bit as the sun rises but, unfortunately, it is not quite high enough to illuminate the front and side of the locomotive as I had hoped; give it a week or so and it would have done so. Caledonian Sleeper's 92023 brings a rake of the new sleeper stock past Roade Hill just south of Northampton. This 3Z11 left Glasgow Central at 00.14 and after an extended layover at Carstairs, it headed south to Euston. Unfortunately, it arrived some 22 minutes late as it was pathed on the down slow lines as it approached the capital. As the train passed I only got very limited glimpses but the stock looked very smart. The only odd thing, and it can be seen in this picture, is that there's a lack of covers to the underbody. All the various equipment is fully exposed and painted a grey /white colour that will deteriorate very quickly in service. I would go so far as to say that the underbody reminded me of the Mk. II stock that BR introduced in the 1970s! Andy and me are planning to take the sleeper to Scotland for our summer trip this year, the question is, will it be in the Mk. IIIs or will it be in this new stock?
Keywords: 92023 00.14 Glasgow Central-London Euston sleeper test run 3Z11 Roade Hill

Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.