17. Northern Rail move-14.03.20

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 17. Northern Rail move-14.03.20

A chance to get out and capture one of the Northern Rail EMU moves which coincided with my afternoon walk. These moves mean the rare sight of a Class 323 on the WCML running from the north-west for attention at Wolverton Works. This one nearly caught me out as, by chance, I discovered that it was running over an hour early.

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350245 & 350252, NT 13.13 Rugeley Trent Valley-London Euston (1Y26, 1L), Ashton Road bridge
With the village of Roade in the background, 350245 and 350252 head south with the 13.13 Rugeley Trent Valley to Euston service. I am standing on a section of Armco that protects the approach to Ashton Road bridge, a picture that would not be possible a month or so ago as Network Rail have just completely cleared the embankment in preparation for stabilisation work.
Keywords: 350245 350252 13.13 Rugeley Trent Valley-London Euston 1Y26 Ashton Road bridge London North Western Railway Desiro

323227, 12.37 Allerton Depot-Wolverton Carriage Sidings (5Q36, 63E), Ashton Road bridge
Both Northern Trains' and West Midlands Trains' Class 323s are undergoing a refurbishment programme at Wolverton works. This involves the units being driven under their own power to and from their bases along the WCML out of areas that they operate in. Running over an hour early, an event that nearly caused me to miss the train as I had not noticed this until checking on RTT after coming back from shopping, meant I had to shoot straight back out again! 323227 approaches its journey's end as the 5Q36 12.37 Allerton Depot to Wolverton carriage sidings. Whilst the three-car unit still wears its familiar colour scheme it is devoid of all branding. During its sojourn at Wolverton, it will receive, among other modifications, new seat covers, an interior and exterior repaint, the installation of a new passenger information system, wheelchair call-for-aid buttons and the addition of an accessible toilet in place of the original small toilet cubicles. Many of these changes are a requirement of the PRM (Persons with Restricted Mobility) legislation.
Keywords: 323227 12.37 Allerton Depot-Wolverton Carriage Sidings 5Q36 Ashton Road bridge

66135, 10.29 Ditton Foundry-Dollands Moor (6O71, 5L), Roade cutting
DBS 66135 brings the 10.29 6O71 Ditton to Dollands Moor through Roade cutting. This is a strange train mix of cargowagons and matching set of Freightliner boxes on the rear.
Keywords: 66135 10.29 Ditton Foundry-Dollands Moor 6O71 Roade cutting

350102 & 350249, LN 15.15 London Euston-Crewe & Rugeley Trent Valley (1Y21 & 2H72, 16L & 13L), Roade cutting
The recent repainting of a number of Class 350s into this largely light grey livery is reminiscent of when they first arrived back in 2007. It is infinitely better than the awful metallic green paint scheme applied to some when West Midlands Railway took over the franchise in December 2017. 350102 and 350249 pass north through Roade cutting with the 15.15 Euston to Crewe and Rugeley Trent Valley with the service splitting at Birmingham New Street.
Keywords: 350102 350249 15.15 London Euston-Crewe & Rugeley Trent Valley 1Y21 2H72 Roade cutting Desiro London North Western Railway

66731, 13.40 Bescot Up Engineers-Bletchley South Junction (7G50, 61L), Roade cutting
I had been tracking the slow and laboured progress of this infrastructure working on RTT for some time but it was losing time throughout its journey. 66731 'interhubGB' leads the 13.40 Bescot to Bletchley South Junction through Roade cutting. It was supposed to continue south past Bletchley to Wembley for the engine to change ends and then for the whole train to head back again. However, plans changed with it being terminated at Bletchley on its first pass but still being given a delay of just over an hour.
Keywords: 66731 13.40 Bescot Up Engineers-Bletchley South Junction 7G50 Roade cutting GBRF interhubGB

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