47. A walk followed by 5Q08-14.05.20

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 47. A walk followed by 5Q08-14.05.20

I took my afternoon walk via Victoria bridge between Roade and Ashton. Later, on my return, I 'happened' to be crossing the line just as the weekly 5Q08 Ilford to Kilmarnock unit move was passing!

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Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.

66760, 10.36 Felixstowe North-Hams Hall (4M23, 5E), Victoria bridge
A very lightly loaded 4M23 10.36 Felixstowe to Hams Hall passes Victoria bridge led by 66760 'David Gordon Harris'. Notice the track worker, part of a group involved in some somewhat half-hearted bank clearance, standing on the up fast line that has remained shut, along with the down fast, for the third week.
Keywords: 66760 10.36 Felixstowe North-Hams Hall 4M23 Victoria bridge David Gordon Harris GBRf

66124, 14.47 DIRFT-Dollands Moor (6M45, 4E), Victoria bridge
Despite being twenty-one years old the bright red DB livery applied to 66124 looks smart and keeps it looking relatively modern. It is seen leading the 14.47 Daventry to Dollands Moor empty bottled water train that will continue its journey overnight through the tunnel and to the continent.
Keywords: 66124 14.47 DIRFT-Dollands Moor 6M45 Victoria bridge

86632 & 86639, 11.13 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park (4M87, 23E), Victoria bridge
With the arrival at Freightliner's Crewe Basford Hall headquarters of a number of ex Greater Anglia Class 90s the use of the vintage AL6 Class 86s is now on borrowed time. The plan is for the new locomotives to be in operation by July but with COVID-19 delays, this date may well be pushed back. In light of this, I take every opportunity to capture their workings in what is the twilight of their working career. 86632 (built in April 1966) and 86639 (05.66) lead the 11.13 Felixstowe to Trafford Park 4M87 Freightliner past Victoria bridge south of Roade.
Keywords: 86632 86639 11.13 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park 4M87 Victoria bridge Freightliner AL6

66537, 12.57 London Gateway-Garston (4M56, 34E), site of Roade station
66537 heads past the site of Roade station in the lovely early evening sunshine leading the 12.57 London Gateway to Garston Freightliner service.
Keywords: 66537 12.57 London Gateway-Garston 4M56 site of Roade station Freightliner

221103, VT 17.28 London Euston-Wolverhampton (9G12, 4L), site of Roade station
Approaching the end of the third week of the closure of the fast lines between Hanslope and Hillmorton Junctions means that all services are still travelling via Northampton. 221103 still wearing its Virgin colours passes Roade working the 9G12 17.28 Euston to Wolverhampton service. With plenty of capacity due to the reduced COVID timetable quite why Avanti are using their Voyagers on turns such as this is beyond me. Surely it must be more costly than running a Pendolino and far less environmentally agreeable or am I missing something?
Keywords: 221103, VT 17.28 London Euston-Wolverhampton 9G12 site of Roade station Virgin Voyager Avanti West Coast

37884 & 317348, 16.12 Ilford EMUD-Kilmarnock (5Q08, 39E), site of Roade station
A diesel locomotive dating from 1963 tows a unit dating from 1982 making a combined age of 95 years old! 37885 'Cepheus' tows Greater Anglia 317348 'Richard A Jenner' past the site of Roade station. As the 5Q08 16.12 Ilford depot to Kilmarnock, the train will travel overnight to the Wabtec facility with a lengthy stopover at Carlisle in the 'wee small hours' eventually arriving at about 09.00. I am not absolutely sure as to why these units go to Scotland for a week as they are scheduled for withdrawal. The following day, 37884 brought back another unit, see...... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29027254804/x0008-37884-317884-0011-0038-kilmarnock
Keywords: 37884 317348 16.12 Ilford EMUD-Kilmarnock 5Q08 site of Roade station ROG Rail Operations Group Greater Anglia GA Europheonix Richard A Jenner Cepheus

66110, 13.15 Trafford Park-London Gateway (4L56, 8E), site of Roade station
With the evening sun dipping low in the sky it creates long shadows but I really like conditions like this that create really warm and soft lighting. 66110 still wearing its EWS livery and three beasts branding passes Roade leading the 13.15 Trafford Park to London Gateway Freightliner.
Keywords: 66110 13.15 Trafford Park-London Gateway 4L56 site of Roade station EWS

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