43. A busy day and a spectacular fail!-07.05.20

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 43. A busy day and a spectacular fail!-07.05.20

There was a lot happening locally today so I took my walk to coincide with most of it and it all played out perfectly. However, I also had my eye on the return of 37884 from Kilmarnock towing a GA unit back to Ilford. All was going well with it running increasingly early. So I popped out before I judged it would pass Roade cutting only to hear it as I was a minute from my spot running by now an hour early. That will teach me to take my eye off the ball - or the phone to be more literal!

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Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.

350104, 350253 & 350249, LN 11.45 Northampton-London Euston (2N34, 1E), Victoria bridge
Irritatingly, the sun is not round quite far enough to illuminate the sides of the 11.45 Northampton to Euston London NorthWestern service at Victoria bridge near Roade being led by 350104. Given a choice, I would probably prefer to have my regular photographic haunt on an east-west route such as the GWML rather than one that is ostensibly north-south. However, this is where I live now so I have to make the best of it and pick my locations with great care.
Keywords: 350104 350253 350249 11.45 Northampton-London Euston 2N34 Victoria bridge London NorthWestern Desiro

BU51VWX, down fast line, Victoria bridge
A Volvo FL6 road-rail vehicle, VRN BU51VWX makes its way along the down fast line at Victoria bridge between Roade and Ashton. As well as having the hydraulic platform at the rear it has a dummy pantograph just behind the cab. It is used for testing and checking the alignment of the wiring and was being put to use on the Weedon line due to an unprecedented week-long closure and possession enabled by the COVID-19 pandemic timetable. During these strange times, it is good to see that the three-man crew are socially distancing appropriately.
Keywords: BU51VWX down fast line, Victoria bridge

66956, 07.50 Felixstowe North-Lawley Street (4M94, 52E), Victoria bridge
Penultimate numbered member of the 66 class 66956 makes its way down the WCML past Victoria bridge between Roade and Ashton. It is leading the 07.50 Felixstowe to Lawley Street 4M94 that was both long and well loaded on this particular occasion.
Keywords: 66956 07.50 Felixstowe North-Lawley Street 4M94 Victoria bridge Freightliner

60055, 12.02 Willesden-Toton TMD (0Z60, 52E), Victoria bridge
60055 'Thomas Barnado' works light engine past Victoria bridge just south of Roade as the 12.02 Willesden to Toton. DCR has certainly done a good job keeping its Class 60s looking good despite them being now coming up to thirty years old.
Keywords: 60055 12.02 Willesden-Toton TMD 0Z60 Victoria bridge Thomas Barnado

86604 & 86609, 05.00 Trafford Park-Flexstowe North (4L75, 5E), Victoria bridge
Unfortunately, I was not in the right location for the double-headed 4L75 05.00 Trafford Park to Felixstowe North Freightliner at Victoria bridge between Northampton and Milton Keynes. 86604 and 86609 do not quite fit properly to be framed correctly in front of the electrification cross-piece. I could have let the train come a little further forward but the wider angle and extreme low facing view needed would lead to considerable distortion issues so this compromise will have to do!
Keywords: 86604 86609 05.00 Trafford Park-Flexstowe North 4L75 Victoria bridge Freightliner AL6

66041, 07.05 Dollands Moor-DIRFT (6M45, 8L), Roade Hill
With the blackthorn (prunus spinosa) in full flower, the red of the DB Class 66 and the lush greenery makes for a feast of colour all set against a brilliant blue sky! 66041 leads the daily 07.05 Dollands Moor to Daventry (DIRFT) bottled water train past Roade Hill in south Northamptonshire. I really like this location for an afternoon spot but the owner of the field that is the home to a number of alpacas has just installed the large wooden posts across the foreground and has planted a line of trees in front of the palisade fence so it will not remain like this forever!
Keywords: 66041 07.05 Dollands Moor-DIRFT 6M45 Roade Hill DB

90010, 90003 & 90011, 08.42 Norwich Crown Point-Crewe Basford Hall (0Z25, 22L), Ashton Road bridge
The 08.42 Norwich Crown Point to Crewe had been inserted into the timetable all this week but had not run until today! It was there on order for former Greater Anglia Class 90s to move from their former base in Norwich to their new home in Crewe's Basford Hall to work for Freightliner. 90010, 90003 and 90011 'Let's Go East of England' pass the site of embankment stabilisation work at Ashton Road bridge just south of Roade running as 0Z25. All the locomotives look smart and ready for work with 90011 still wearing its nameplates.
Keywords: 90010 90003 90011 08.42 Norwich Crown Point-Crewe Basford Hall 0Z25 Ashton Road bridge GA Greater Anglia Freightliner Let's Go East of England

66513, 12.57 London Gateway-Garston (4M56, 36L), site of Roade station
In glorious afternoon sunshine and pleasantly warm for the beginning of May, 66513 rushes past the site of Roade's former station leading the 4M56 12.57 London Gateway to Garston. For the fifth day on the trot, the up and down fast lines, nearest to the camera, are out of use with the OLE de-energised enabling all sorts of maintenance to take place at various work sites between here at Roade and as far as Hilmorton Junction just south of Rugby.
Keywords: 66513 12.57 London Gateway-Garston 4M56 site of Roade station Freightliner

66761 & 66706, 14.18 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North (4L18, 2L), site of Roade station
On the way back from buying some provisions I thought I would wait ten minutes for the 4L18 14.18 Trafford Park to Felixstowe Freightliner service. I am glad I did as it was double-headed by two matching and named GBRf Class 66s that look grand in the afternoon sunshine. 66761 'Wensleydale Railway Association 25 Years 1990-2015' and 66706 'Nene Valley' lead the train past the site of Roade station. I wondered if the second Class 66 had failed but both were firmly under power as they headed south.
Keywords: 66761 66706 14.18 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North 4L18 site of Roade station Wensleydale Railway Association 25 Years 1990-2015 Nene Valley GBRf

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