46. Sleeper & trip to Birmingham-21.06.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 46. Sleeper & trip to Birmingham-21.06.19

The longest day was forecast to be bright and sunny so I decided to get up extra early and get the two sleepers and, in addition, the FO Irvine to Wembley china clay empties that, unusually, runs via the Weedon loop. However, things then went wrong, the 1M11 lowland sleeper was heavily delayed so I waited for the china clay and went home. Unfortunately, I had missed that the 6B10 Peak Forest to Bletchley was just behind it! I did go out and see the highland sleeper that was running to time but had a camera issue (or more likely a user issue!) so the shot was not great. Later in the morning, I nipped to Birmingham to collect a nice little Renault Clio for a customer; I'm pleased to report that all went to plan with this!

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Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.

221117 & 221105, 03.57 Barton-under-Needwood-London Euston ECS (5A81), Milton Crossing
At a very silly hour in the morning on the longest day, 221117 and 221105 shatter the peace of the Northamptonshire countryside near Blisworth forming the 03.57 Barton-under-Needwood to Euston empty coaching stock working. This daily working runs from the depot near to Burton-on-Trent into New Street and then back south to London to commence its diagram for the day. The sun is just rising behind me but not quite enough to illuminate the front end of the train. However, despite appearances, it was chilly morning for high summer being just six degrees!
Keywords: 221117 221105 03.57 Barton-under-Needwood-London Euston ECS 5A81 Milton Crossing

66710, 18.55 Irvine Caledonian Paper-Wembley (6M74), Milton Crossing
This is a working that, if it is running to time, can only be photographed in the summer months and this is my only picture of it taken at an unhealthy 05.24 on the longest day of the year! The Friday only 6M74 18.55 Irvine Caledonian Paper to Wembley yard empty china clay train is seen passing Milton Crossing between Roade and Blisworth on the Weedon loop line with 66710 'Phil Packer BRIT' leading. It travels overnight leaving Scotland at teatime and arriving at Wembley at around 08.00. The locomotive was named in 2010 in recognition Phil Packer a British charity activist, who suffered serious injuries while serving with the British military in Iraq during 2008, and has since engaged in numerous publicised physical challenges in support of his charity, the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT), and other causes.
Keywords: 66710 18.55 Irvine Caledonian Paper-Wembley 6M74 Milton Crossing

90046, CS 19.50 Fort William, 21.43 Aberdeen, 20.45 Inverness-London Euston (1M16, 5E), Victoria bridge
Not the best composed of images but I did have a minor camera malfunction so, I'm going to blame that! I would not normally include it but the Mk.III sleeper stock had only a week left in service so scenes such as this with a class 90 at the helm would soon be confined to the railway history books. 90046 leads the 1M16 highland sleeper past Victoria bridge. As I have said in the introductory text, as it was the longest day I thought that I would photograph both sleepers but the lowland working experienced horrendous delays so I was unable to see it.
Keywords: 90046 19.50 Fort William 21.43 Aberdeen 20.45 Inverness-London Euston 1M16 Victoria bridge

350125, LN 08.13 London Euston-Crewe & Rugeley Trent Valley (9K16, 1L), Northampton station
My train from Northampton to Birmingham New Street comes to halt at platform two formed by 350125. The unusual angle is due to the problems created by the strong morning sun. I thought better to have the train in a bit of shadow and to be able to 'tweak' it rather than straight into the sun!
Keywords: 350125 08.13 London Euston-Crewe & Rugeley Trent Valley 9K16 Northampton station

Ticket, Northampton-Birmingham New Street
My single ticket from Northampton to New Street. Bought the day before and off-peak got the price down to a very reasonable £6.00.
Keywords: Ticket Northampton-Birmingham New Street

Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.