59. The sleeper & The Palatine-24.08.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 59. The sleeper & The Palatine-24.08.19

A busy day....out early for the up Highland sleeper, yes, still Mk. III stock! Then an hour or so later back out again for the outward Palatine railtour from Euston to Crewe. Finally, in the evening after dinner, I went out again to see the Palatine return in glorious weather at Milton Malsor.

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Images 1-14 of 14 displayed.

390117, VT 06.15 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly (1H61, RT), Roade Hill
In the early morning sun, 390117 'Blue Peter' heads north between Roade and Ashton on the southern WCML forming the 06.15 Euston to Manchester Piccadilly. I love being out on the lineside in the early morning before everybody else is about and as for the quality of light, that is something else! In this picture, the golden fields of wheat are seen in the background awaiting their day of fate with the combine harvester.
Keywords: 390117 06.15 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly 1H61 Roade Hill

90045, CS 19.50 Fort William, 21.43 Aberdeen & 20.45 Inverness-London Euston (1M16, 6E), Roade Hill
Some three months after they should have been withdrawn in favour of the Mk. V coaches, the Mk. III sleepers are still in front-line use on the up and down Highland services. The 1M16 up Highland sleeper passes Roade Hill with 90045 leading the train. It was a stunning summer morning that made the walk across the fields from home, complete with my full-sized step ladder, worthwhile. The ladder is needed to get me above the palisade fencing but I have had to devise a protective cover that attaches over the spikes having nearly removed an index finger some years ago on one.
Keywords: 90045 19.50 Fort William 21.43 Aberdeen 20.45 Inverness-London Euston 1M16 Roade Hill

350236, LN 06.45 Bletchley CS-Northampton ECS (5Y52), between Roade & Ashton SP764506
Whilst walking back from photographing the sleeper I took a number if side-on pictures in the lovely morning sun. With the freshly ploughed rape field in the foreground, 350236 passes between Roade and Ashton forming the 06.45 Bletchley carriage sidings to Northampton ECS working. This particular class 350 still retains its London Midland livery with London Northwestern branding and is one of those likely to be removed from service soon as new units are introduced on this route.
Keywords: 350236 06.45 Bletchley CS-Northampton ECS 5Y52 between Roade & Ashton SP764506

Class 350, 06.22 London Euston-Crewe (1U23, RT), between Roade & Ashton SP765508
An image that did not quite work as I had intended due largely to me not checking the camera settings. In error, I kept the shutter speed high, that was totally unnecessary due to the subject being out of focal rage. As the speed was high the aperture was still quite wide (f5.6) so the depth of field was pretty short. Thus, the stalks of the harvested rape plants in front of the image are slightly out of focus. However, the idea of the disappearing line between the stumps leading to the train works quite well. A class 350 approaches Roade forming the 06.22 Euston to Crewe.
Keywords: Class 350 06.22 London Euston-Crewe 1U23 between Roade Ashton SP765508

Class 350s, LN 07.05 Northampton-London Euston (2N04, 1L), between Roade & Ashton SP765508
The 07.05 from Northampton to London Euston left its start point some six minutes previous to this photograph being taken between Roade and Ashton. It is seen passing a field of harvested oilseed rape that is awaiting ploughing before sowing of next summer's wheat. The class 350 Desiros have been the mainstay of local services on the southern WCML since there introduction in 2007. Some twelve years later, the 350 2XX series is due to come off lease in the next few months to be replaced by the former TPE 3504XXs and the suburban class 730s.
Keywords: Class 350s 07.05 Northampton-London Euston 2N04 between Roade & Ashton SP765508

66703, 03.18 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park (4M21), between Roade & Ashton SP762511
With the wheat field in the foreground still awaiting harvesting, 66703 'Doncaster PSB 1981-2002' glints in the early morning sun leading the 03.18 Felixstowe to Trafford Park Freightliner. This 66 arrived in the UK during March 2001 and was named nearly two years later in December 2002.
Keywords: 66703 03.18 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park 4M21 between Roade & Ashton SP762511

350266, 350267 & 350247, LN 07.21 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street (9F38, 8L), Ashton Road bridge
A trio of class 350s approaches Roade between Northampton and Milton Keynes. 350266, 350267 and 350247 are working the 07.21 Euston to Liverpool Lime Street. Since the May timetable changes, passengers from Northampton, and a number of other stations can enjoy direct trains to and from Liverpool. However, the journey follows a slow stopper pattern so it takes an awfully long time to get there. For us in this area, it is still quicker to go south to Milton Keynes and catch a Virgin Pendolino north. I have yet to check out the price difference though!
Keywords: 350266 350267 350247 07.21 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street 9F38 Ashton Road bridge

D1944, outward leg of The Palatine, 07.20 London Euston-Crewe (1Z55), Ashton Road bridge
For the motive power and stock concerned, this was a virtual repeat of last weeks Royal Windsor Statesman railtour that I photographed. However, who could resist the lure of some Sulzer action on the WCML again; I wonder if I would have said that forty years ago? Catching the early morning sun on its side, D1944 'Craftsman' leads the outward leg of The Palatine that left Euston at 07.20 heading for Crewe. Then steam would take over with the train taking in a circuitous route of Lancashire and Yorkshire. 47614 is out of sight on the rear of the train that is seen approaching Roade on the southern WCML near Northampton.
Keywords: D1944 The Palatine 07.20 London Euston-Crewe 1Z55 Ashton Road bridge

66514, 04.57 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North (4L97), Ashton Road bridge
After seeing the Palatine railtour pass a quick look at OpenTrainTimes on my 'phone revealed that the Saturday morning 4L97 was approaching Roade from the north. Stuck for a suitable spot I was pleased to see that Network Rail had been undertaking some tree clearance just north of the Ashton Road bridge south of Roade. This clearance enabled the sun to get on the front of the train, even this early in the morning, meaning a reasonable photograph could be taken.
Keywords: 66514 04.57 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North 4L97 Ashton Road bridge

350260, 350370 & 350103, LN 17.14 Rugeley Trent Valley-London Euston (2Y42, 1L), Milton Malsor
After a hot day the evening began to cool with some lovely lighting. I went to one of my most favoured local spots at Milton Malsor with my trusty ladder to elevate me above the palisade fencing. 350260, 350370 and 350103 work the 17.14 Rugeley Trent Valley to Euston train. It is likely that only 350103 started out from Rugeley joining the other two units at Birmingham New Street. Notice that this three-set train is composed of a representative of each of the class 350 sub sets.
Keywords: 350260 350370 350103 17.14 Rugeley Trent Valley-London Euston 2Y42 Milton Malsor

172217, 16.22 Tyseley TMD-Ilford EMUD ECS, Milton Malsor
An unusual working makes its way along the WCML just south of Northampton in the lovely evening sunshine at Milton Malsor. West Midlands Railway operated 172217 is off its patch working the 16.22 Tyseley to Ilford EMUD ECS move. After some dialogue with my friend Mike, he believes that it was going to Ilford for wheel turning. If this is the case, quite why there is no facility nearer to the West Midlands is beyond me, what has happened to our privatised railway?
Keywords: 172217 16.22 Tyseley TMD-Ilford EMUD Milton Malsor

350242, 350244 & 350231, LN 18.21 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1W25, 6L), Milton Malsor
Just catching the final fifteen minutes of sunshine before it disappeared below some trees, 350242, 350244 and 350231 pass Milton Malsor between Roade and Northampton working the 18.21 Euston to Birmingham New Street. This beautifully rural view, complete with grazing sheep, is likely to change beyond belief over the coming couple of years. The land behind the train is earmarked for a huge road/railway interchange along the lines of DIRFT near Rugby. There will be a huge amount of warehousing and a number of loops off the line to the left behind the train. In the field, to my left, there was test drilling taking place so it looks to be somewhat of a fait accompli!
Keywords: 350242 350244 350231 18.21 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1W25 Milton Malsor

47614, return leg of The Palatine, 17.44 Crewe-London Euston (1Z57), Milton Malsor
With last vestiges of sunshine just illuminating the train, 47614 leads returning Palatine railtour back from Crewe to Euston. The combination of the superbly well turned out class 47 in BR blue and the lovely rake of stock operated by Locomotive Services Ltd made the effort to go out after dinner on a Saturday evening well worthwhile. The train has just sixty-two and a half miles to go according to the milepost.
Keywords: 47614 The Palatine 17.44 Crewe-London Euston 1Z57 Milton Malsor

D1944, return leg of The Palatine, 17.44 Crewe-London Euston (1Z57), Milton Malsor
Dead in tow and swinging about on the rear, D1944 'Craftsman' is seen passing Milton Malsor just south of Northampton. The returning Palatine railtour left Crewe at 17.44 and will terminate at Euston in about an hour's time. The sun was just about spent by this time having all but disappeared behind some trees to my right, it's quite noticeable how much earlier it is getting dark by the last week in August.
Keywords: D1944 The Palatine 17.44 Crewe-London Euston 1Z57 Milton Malsor

Images 1-14 of 14 displayed.