24. Trip to Warrington-25.03.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 24. Trip to Warrington-25.03.19
A very early start for a trip to Warrington in order to collect a car for a customer at work. I chose and interesting route that may have taken a little longer but one that was very cheap. Northampton to Stafford, then to Liverpool South Parkway then back to Warrington. I had a nice drive back to Northampton in a VW Golf that included a slight diversion off the M6 to get a signal box that had eluded me for a number of years.
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Images 1-11 of 11 displayed.

66735, 03.30 Dagenham-Garston (6X41), Northampton station In the half light at Northampton station, 66735 brings the 03.30 Dagenham to Garston cartic train slowly through the station. This was along train full of 'Dagenham Dustbins' ranging from a tiny Ka to the larger Transit and in all colours imaginable! Keywords: 66735 03.30 Dagenham-Garston 6X41 Northampton station
350266, LN 06.35 Northampton-Crewe (2U21, 2L), Northampton station 350266 stands at Northampton's platform five with the 06.35 to Crewe. I took this train as far as Stafford falling asleep a number of times! I love the early morning light at this time of year. It still retains a hint of winter coolness but also has that spring like quality. Keywords: 350266 06.35 Northampton-Crewe 2U21 Northampton station
66420, 07.26 Crewe Basford Hall-Peterborough LE, Stafford station On arrival at Stafford and whilst waiting for for my next train to arrive, 66420 trundled southwards through the station. It was forming the 07.26 Crewe Basford Hall to Peterborough light engine move. Unfortunately, I was the wrong side for the sun but with judicious use of Photoshop, a reasonable image has been presented. This is the first picture I have of this particular 2006 loco. in its fresh Freightliner livery. Keywords: 66420 07.26 Crewe Basford Hall-Peterborough Stafford station
70005, 03.18 Southampton-Trafford Park (4M95), Stafford station A pretty poor picture of 70005 but, to date, this is the only one I have of this particular locomotive. As it accelerated through Stafford station, it was smoking badly from its exhausts, even though this picture does not show it very clearly, cloaking the station under a grey cloud. The 70 was leading the heavily loaded 03.18 Southampton to Trafford Park Freightliner. Keywords: 70005 03.18 Southampton-Trafford Park 4M95 Stafford station
86639 & 66953, stabled, Crewe Basford Hall As we approached Crewe, our train was checked to a crawling pace, presumably whilst we were being allocated a platform. It gave the opportunity to get a reasonable picture of veteran AC 86639 and 66953 both stabled in Basford Hall yard. There is always a tantalising selection of locomotives in the yard just south of Crewe, but all too often it is impossible to get the numbers and to take pictures so this one makes a pleasant exception. Keywords: 86639 66953 stabled Crewe Basford Hall
92020, stabled, Crewe South I think that the GBRf livery really suits the class 92s with their large slab sides. It is remarkably similar to BR's large logo livery that was applied to many locomotives on the 1980s and 1990s. With its pantograph down, 92020 appears to be stabled in Crewe South yard. Notice the hulk of boiler behind the AC electric undergoing restoration. Keywords: 92020 Crewe South
08737, stabled, Crewe South The faded EWS paintwork of shunter 08737 looks pretty poor as it sits idle at Crewe South. It emerged from the works, a short distance from here, as D3905 in 1960 being allocated to Polmadie. It hen moved to Tyseley before returning to Crewe Diesel in 1972 where it has remained ever since. Keywords: 08737 Crewe South
350259, LN 07.01 Walsall-Liverpool Lime Street (1F33, RT) 350259 leaves Liverpool South Parkway station forming the 07.01 Walsall to Liverpool Lime Street service. I had traveled on this train from Stafford. My next train was already arriving on the platform to the right so I had a lightening dash, complete with folded Brompton bike, along the platform, up and over the footbridge to just get on the train as the door bleepers were going! Keywords: 350259 07.01 Walsall-Liverpool Lime Street 1F33 Liverpool South Parkway station
158770 & 158854, EM 08.52 Liverpool Lime Street-Norwich (1L97, 2L), Warrington Central station East Midlands 158770 and 158854 leave Warrington Central station with the 08.52 Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich. I had just alighted from this train having travelled the relatively short distance from Liverpool South Parkway. I was keen to make this short journey as it was virgin track for me, only wishing that I could have travelled further along it to Manchester. To the right is Warrington Central's 1973 BR (London Midland) Type 15 signal box. When it opened, it led to to the closure of four other boxes, Bewsey, Warrington Sidings, Warrington Workshops, and the original Warrington Central. In common with the practice of the time, the box was second-hand with the top previously in use at Newton-le-Willows and the lever frame coming from Wigan's Platt Bridge Junction signal box. Keywords: 158770 158854 08.52 Liverpool Lime Street-Norwich 1L97 Warrington Central station
Winsford signal box (LNW, 1897) This is a box that I have known about for some years but one that, for a number of reasons, I have never visited. Driving back from Warrington, I left the M6 at junction 19 and drove the short distance to Winsford. The box was a bit tricky to find down some winding roads in a housing estate but all this was worth it. The LNWR 1897 box survives in remarkable condition and, along with a number of other boxes, controls the section of line north of Crewe. This spot used to be at the junction of the Over branch line and the link line to the Chester line at Cuddington. According to the latest SRS information to hand, it contains levers 12 to 52 and a 1997 panel for the Hartford and Weaver Junction areas. After photographing the box, I continued my journey back to Northampton by re-joing the M6 at junction 18. Keywords: Winsford signal box
Tickets, Northampton-Warrington Central The single fare tickets from Northampton to Warrington Central came out at a very cheap £15. Once again, this illustrates the crazy fare structure that we have in the UK. By taking particular trains on a specific route huge savings can be made. In this case, the slightly quicker direct route that involved just one change and a departure an hour later would have cost four times this fare! Keywords: Tickets Northampton Warrington Central

Images 1-11 of 11 displayed.