19. 5Z60 & 0K69-21.03.20

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 19. 5Z60 & 0K69-21.03.20
With the effects and response to the COVID-19 pandemic really beginning to bite, the railways are feeling the effects along with everybody else. With the banning of mass gatherings and the guidance not to undertake non-essential travel on public transport, all railtours and charters have been cancelled. Taking my daily, but suitably socially distanced, walk I was able to see the results of one of these cancellations.
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350243 & 350244, LN 10.13 Rugeley Trent valley-London Euston (1Y20, 2L), Hyde Road bridge 
 Looks can be deceiving. Despite the lovely early spring sunshine, it was, in fact, a chilly day with a keen easterly wind blowing! 350243 and 350244 pass through Roade about to go under Hyde Road Bridge with the 1Y20 10.13 Rugeley Trent Valley to Euston service. From the coming Monday, there will be a gradual withdrawal of services in response to the dramatic decline in numbers of passengers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. I suspect then over the coming months that there will be what amounts to a skeleton service with an increase in freight services also predicted. 
 Keywords: 350243 350244 10.13 Rugeley Trent valley-London Euston 1Y20 Hyde Road bridge London North Western Desiro
45212, 10.37 Southall West Coast Railways-Carnforth (5Z60, 64E), Hyde Road bridge 
 I had been looking forward to the relatively rare event of a steam-hauled charter on the southern section of the WCML for some months since I first saw it advertised at the end of last year. The Railway Touring Company was running 'The Cheshireman' from Euston to Chester that was to have been hauled by Stanier Black Five 45102 but, due to the banning of mass-gatherings and non-essential travel as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was cancelled. Consequently, the locomotive is seen passing Roade as the 5Z60 10.37 Southall to Carnforth, returning to its north-west home awaiting an unknown future as we all are! 
 Keywords: 45212 10.37 Southall West Coast Railways-Carnforth (5Z60, 64E), Hyde Road bridge LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0
68005, 09.35 Wembley-Crewe Gresty Bridge (0K69, 77E), Hyde Road bridge 
 68005 'Defiant' passes through Roade about to go under the village's Hyde Road Bridge with the 09.35 Wembley to Crewe Gresty Bridge light engine move. These Vossloh Espaņa constructed locomotives are very noisy. Despite this one operating as a light engine I could hear it, even running under relatively low power, sometime before it came into view. 
 Keywords: 68005 09.35 Wembley-Crewe Gresty Bridge 0K69 Hyde Road bridge DRS Defiant Direct Rail Services

Images 1-3 of 3 displayed.