81. The Northern Belle-23.11.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 81. The Northern Belle-23.11.19

In between building some Ikea furniture, I took a walk across the incredibly muddy fields to see the passing of a southbound Northern Belle. It was a very grey, damp and drab autumn day but at least it got me away from flatpack construction!

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Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

390121, VT 10.43 London Euston-Edinburgh Waverley (9S60, 7L), Victoria bridge
Looking nude, 390121 heads north past Victoria bridge in south Northamptonshire with the 10.43 London Euston to Edinburgh Waverley. The plain liveried and un-branded Pendolino ready for the new operator to make its mark on it next month certainly brightens up an incredibly drab November day!
Keywords: 390121 10.43 London Euston-Edinburgh Waverley 9S60 Victoria bridge Virgin Trains Pendolino

390047, VT 09.47 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston (1A22, RT), Victoria bridge
390047 sweeps around the right-hand curve just south of Roade and will build its speed up on the quadruple and largely straight track on the final sixty miles of its journey to London. It is working the 1A22 09.47 Liverpool Lime Street to Euston and the livery certainly brightens up a dismal November day that represents everything that I dislike about this time of year!
Keywords: 390047 09.47 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston 1A22 Victoria bridge Virgin Pendolino Virgin Trains

57601, the outward leg of the Northern Belle, 07.58 Chester-London Euston (1Z41), Victoria bridge
Looking very smart in its Northern Belle livery, they make an effort to maintain all their stock well, 57601 leads the 07.58 Chester to Euston charter past Victoria bridge just south of Roade. 57601 was re-built from Swallow liveried 47825 on 2001. Prior to that, it had three previous incarnations as 47590 (06.83-04.89), 47165 (02.74-06.81) and as D1759 form new in August 1964 making it just three months younger than myself!
Keywords: 57601 the Northern Belle 07.58 Chester-London Euston 1Z41 Victoria bridge

57314, the outward leg of the Northern Belle, 07.58 Chester-London-Euston (1Z41), Victoria bridge
47314 brings up the rear of the Northern Belle excursion as it passes Victoria bridge just south of Roade. The excursion left a dank and dismal Chester at 07.58 and arrived at an equally dreary Euston at lunchtime, such was the weather that shrowded the country on this November weekend. The awful WCR livery that now adorns 57314 is probably the worst it has worn since being re-built from 47372 in April 2004. Initially, it was one of Virgin's Thunderbirds and then became one of ATW's turquoise locomotives that led their north-south Wales 'Super Train'.
Keywords: 57314 Northern Belle, 07.58 Chester-London-Euston 1Z41 Victoria bridge

390152, VT 11.03 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (9G16, 9L), Roade Hill
This is a photograph that I have been attempting to get for a couple of years now! Namely, the flock (if that is the correct collective noun?) alpacas happily grazing in the filed with a train passing on the WVML behind them. I have had several pretty poor attempts with just one or two of the animals, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/28008927804/x390118-13-54-birmingham-new-street and now, on the day the flock are in full view the weather lets me down! 390152, devoid of any Virgin branding, heads north with the 11.03 Euston to Birmingham New Street.
Keywords: 390152 11.03 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 9G16 Roade Hill Virgin Trains Pendolino Alpacas

NR notice, Roade Hill
Crossing the Ashton Road bridge near to Roade I spotted this laminated notice recently placed on the palisade fencing. The plot of land that they are seeking to utilise is the old sewage treatment works, indeed the former brick aerator lagoons are still present in the undergrowth. Due to its previous use, presumably a municipal organisation, I am surprised that they have not been able to ascertain the current landowner.
Keywords: NR notice Roade Hill Network Rail

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.