9. A cold Castlethorpe-31.01.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 9. A cold Castlethorpe-31.01.19
After a brilliantly bright but extremely cold start to the day complete with an impressive display of hoar frost I was looking forward to getting out and taking some local pictures. However, by the time I was able to get out, it had clouded up but it still remained extremely cold. I stuck it out as I wanted to capture one of TPE's test runs of its new Mk. V CAF stock.
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Images 1-12 of 12 displayed.

12809, set 8 & 68032, 08.12 Carlisle-Bletchley CS (6B21), site of Castlethorpe station TPE's set eight, led by 12809 with 68032 pushing at the rear, passes Castlethorpe nearing the end of the 08.12 Carlisle to Bletchley test run. The Mk. 5A stock, built by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) at its Beasain plant in northern Spain, looks smart but for the clumsy and cluttered underbody components. Leading driving trailer (DT) 12809 is doing today's run without its nose cone, unless it's flown off and is lying somewhere on the WCML! It will take a little getting used to seeing trains running without yellow hi-viz fronts, more will be arriving in the next few years. Keywords: 12809 set 8 68032 08.12 Carlisle-Bletchley CS 6B21 site of Castlethorpe station
66501, 09.58 Crewe Basford Hall-Felixstowe North (4L75), site of Castlethorpe station The 09.58 Crewe Basford Hall to Felixstowe Freightliner is seen passing Castlethorrpe in north Buckinghamshire with 66501 'Japan 2001' leading. This train had just restarted from being held at Hanslope Junction, about a mile or so north of this spot, as control had moved the proceeding TPE Mk. 5A test train from the up fast to the slow in front of it. Keywords: 66501 09.58 Crewe Basford Hall-Felixstowe North 4L75 site of Castlethorpe station
350257, LN 11.50 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1B40, 6L), site of Castlethorpe station 350257 passes the remains of Castlethorpe station working the 11.50 Birmingham New Street to London Euston. Castlethorpe closed on 07.09.64, but over fifty years on, the platforms are still in place on all but the down up slow line, where the Desiro is passing. Keywords: 350257 11.50 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1B40 site of Castlethorpe station
221112, VT 11.50 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1B40, 6L), site of Castlethorpe station 221112 'Ferdinand Magellan' heads south past Castlethorpe forming the VT's 11.50 Birmingham New Street to Euston. From this image, it does not like that it would take much effort to re-open the station at Castlethorpe; however, platforms are only just a tiny part of the process! Keywords: 221112 11.50 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1B40 site of Castlethorpe station
Class 221, VT 12.10 London Euston-Chester (1D86, cancelled from Rugby) & 390103, VT 11.15 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1A27, 2L), site of Castlethorpe station A class 221 heads north on the up fast forming the 12.10 Euston to Chester. Unfortunately, something went wrong a little further north from here at Castlethorpe as the train was terminated at Rugby. According to Real Time Trains, it was due to 'a problem with the electrical equipment' - whatever that is supposed to mean? Meanwhile, 390103 'Virgin Hero' heads south with the 11.15 Manchester to Euston that arrived just two minutes late. Notice the neat reflection of the the Voyager on the side of the Pendolino. Keywords: Class 221 12.10 London Euston-Chester 1D86 cancelled from Rugby 390103 11.15 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1A27 site of Castlethorpe station
390050, VT 12.20 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly (1H24, 24L), site of Castlethorpe station The new flowing silk livery has certainly given the Pendolinos a major mid-life facelift and it makes them much mores easy to photograph on a dull day such as this at Castlethorpe. 390050 passes the remains of the village's station platforms with the 12.20 Euston to Manchester Piccadilly. Again, something went wrong as the service arrived 24 minutes late with the delays occurring in the vicinity of Tamworth and Rugeley. Keywords: 390050 12.20 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly 1H24 site of Castlethorpe station
221106, VT 12.43 London Euston-Edinburgh (9S70, 1E), site of Castlethorpe station 221106 'Willem Barents' is about to pass under Castlethorpe's footbridge working the 12.43 Euston to Edinburgh (9S70). I've said it before, and I'll say it again, where's the sense in running a diesel unit for 400 miles all the way to Edinburgh under 25kV catenary? If anybody from Virgin's train planning department ever reads my ramblings, please let me know! Keywords: 221106 12.43 London Euston-Edinburgh 9S70 site of Castlethorpe station
66055, 09.27 Dollands Moor-DIRFT (6M45), site of Castlethorpe station DB's bright red 66055 'Alain Thauvette' leads the daily 09.27 Dollands Moor to Daventry 6M45 train composed of cargo wagons filled with bottled water that has come through the Channel Tunnel from Europe. I suspect that some of the bottles would be frozen today as the previous night had been extremely cold and the day time temperature here at castlethorpe was still only just above freezing. Keywords: 66055 09.27 Dollands Moor-DIRFT 6M45 site of Castlethorpe station
325012, 325015 & 325005, 11.20 Crewe TMD-Willesden, site of Castlethorpe station A trio of Royal Mail class 325 sets pass through Castlethorpe forming the 11.20 Crewe TMD to Willesden. 325012, 325015 and 325005 have more than likely been at Crewe TMD having undergone maintenance or an exam. I could not find the reporting number of this particular working with no postings on the net. On arrival back at their Willesden base they will be prepared for the coming evening's mail train north. Keywords: 325012 325015 325005 11.20 Crewe TMD-Willesden site of Castlethorpe station
66507, 07.50 Felixstowe North-Lawley Street (4M94), site of Castlethorpe station The 4M94 07.50 Felixstowe North to Lawley Street Freightliner passes the site of Castlethorpe's closed station with 66507 at the front. This particular class 66 is almost the same age as my son, both arriving in the UK during mid 2000! Keywords: 66507 07.50 Felixstowe North-Lawley Street 4M94 site of Castlethorpe station
Class 221, VT 13.10 London Euston-Chester (1D87, 6L), Castlethorpe SP800440 An unidentified class 221 approaches Castlethorpe in north Buckinghamshire working the 13.10 Euston to Chester. Unlike the previous Chester working, about an hour earlier, this one completed its journey! Keywords: Class 221 13.10 London Euston-Chester 1D87 Castlethorpe SP800440
66547, 09.12 Felixstowe North-Ditton (4M63), Castlethorpe SP800440 The final freight and the final train of this trip out was welcomed so I could get back in the Combo van, put the heater to hot and drive home to Roade for a lovely cup of tea! 66547 leads the 09.12 Felixstowe to Ditton Freightliner past the bridge that carries one of Milton Keynes' Redway cycle routes over the line just south of the village of Castlethorpe. Keywords: 66547 09.12 Felixstowe North-Ditton 4M63 Castlethorpe SP800440

Images 1-12 of 12 displayed.