21. A second weird day out-24.03.20

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 21. A second weird day out-24.03.20
After the government shut down most of the country and imposed a lockdown in all but name I was able to get out on another glorious day to undertake my daily single bout of exercise. Of course, my camera also came with me. With far fewer passenger services racing up and down the WCML there seemed to be more freight, but that could be my imagination? Looking at RTT, London Northwestern have completely recast their timetable to take into account the limited travelling restrictions in place. All of their services now carry 2ZXX reporting numbers to reflect this.
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Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.

156410 & 156415, 11.00 Etches Park-Wolverton Centre sidings (5Z56, 8E), Roade A508 bridge 
 Wolverton Works has a proud history of railway engineering dating back to 1836. In recent years it has stared closure in the face a number of times and has gone through a number of owners. In November 2018 Gemini Rail took over the works and there has been a noticeable increase in traffic in and out undergoing maintenance and modification. I am not sure why EMR are sending their Super Sprinters 156410 and 156415 to Wolverton but they certainly provide a little variety passing Roade on the WCML as the 5Z56 11.00 Etches Park to Wolverton Centre sidings. 
 Keywords: 156410 156415 11.00 Etches Park-Wolverton Centre sidings 5Z56, 8E Roade A508 bridge Sprinter East Midkands Railway EMR Gemini Rail
66562, 12.16 Lawley Street-London Gateway (4L46), Roade cutting 
 66562 labours on the steady upgrade through Roade cutting with the 12.16 Lawley Street to London Gateway. Despite the odd empty flat, this 4L46 was essentially full as have been most of the Freightliners heading south towards the deepwater ports throughout the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis. One wonders how long this situation will continue as companies cease production? 
 Keywords: 66562 12.16 Lawley Street-London Gateway 4L46 Roade cutting
350404, 350263 & 350123, LN 13.55 Northampton-London Euston (2Z38, 8E), Roade cutting 
 The 2Z38 13.55 Northampton to Euston service emerges from the 'Birdcage' at the northern end of Roade cutting heading south. It has become clear that London Northwestern's emergency timetable trains (running mainly as 2ZXX) involves a fleet of three-set Desiros running between Euston and Northampton with very few through trains beyond to Birmingham. It is interesting that they are operating three-set trains rather than the more usual two-set ones when passenger numbers have haemorrhaged. I would like to think that it is so that passengers can sit in appropriately socially isolated positions! 
 Keywords: 350404 350263 350123 13.55 Northampton-London Euston 2Z38 Roade cutting London Northwestern Desiro
Network Rail HOPS train, 12.03 Chelmsford reception sidings-Crewe MD (11L), Roade cutting 
 One of Network Rail's HOPS trains passes through Roade cutting as the 12.03 Chelmsford to Crewe working. These £40m 'factories on wheels' were built for Network Rail by Windhoff Bahn und Anlagentechnik GmbH, in Germany, for the electrification of the GWML. Unfortunately, they did not speed up this process and were one of the cogs in the debacle that actually delayed it. I hope that those responsible for the procurement of these enormously expensive trains were held to account but I suspect that this was lost in the wider analysis. Network Rail still have a very upbeat page and video on their website making things look so beautifully simple, see..... https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/our-fleet-machines-and-vehicles/high-output/high-output-plant-system-hops 
 Keywords: Network Rail HOPS train 12.03 Chelmsford reception sidings-Crewe Roade cutting High Output Plant System
66558, 09.25 Southampton MCT-Garston FLT (4M58), Roade cutting 
 Another nearly empty Freightliner working passes through Roade cutting. 66558 leads the 09.25 Southampton to Garston train that had a handful of boxes on-board indicative of the lack of imports arriving on our shores due to the Covid-19 pandemic paralysing the normal international flows of freight. 
 Keywords: 66558 09.25 Southampton MCT-Garston FLT 4M58 Roade cutting Freightliner
66730, 10.36 Felixstowe North-Hams Hall (4M23, 2L), Roade cutting 
 In a break from the norm, GBRf's 66730 'Whitemoor' leads the heavily loaded 10.36 Felixstowe North-Hams Hall 4M23 Freightliner through Roade cutting. I say this as the majority of down Freightliner workings have been running almost empty due to the lack of imports due to the Covid-19 pandemic crippling the normal way things are done. 
 Keywords: 66730 10.36 Felixstowe North-Hams Hall 4M23 Roade cutting GBRf Whitemoor
66126, 13.51 DIRFT-Ripple Lane FLT (4L48, 13L), Roade cutting 
 Direct Rail Services has been hiring in extra locomotives to cover its flows. The 13.51 Daventry to Purfleet (terminated at Ripple Lane) is hauled by an ex EWS (now DB) 66126. It is believed that DRS is going to rebrand the locomotives that it has acquired but how far it will go with this is still yet to be seen. The train is seen labouring at a very slow speed up the 1:200 gradient from Northampton through Roade cutting. 
 Keywords: 66126 13.51 DIRFT-Ripple Lane FLT 4L48 Roade cutting DB DRS

Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.