50. Perhaps the workings of the month?-17.05.20

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 50. Perhaps the workings of the month?-17.05.20

My fiftieth trip out of the year and quite a significant one! In what were probably the workings of the month two freights that never normally come south on the WCML from Daventry (DIRFT) did so due to engineering works somewhere 'up north'! Both the 4Z45 (Mossend) and 4M49 (Grangemouth) came south, around north London to then head north again along the ECML making journeys of over five hundred miles!

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66727, 12.00 Willesden-Bescot (7G52, 43L), Roade cutting
Having been involved in infrastructure work in north London the previous night 66727 'Maritime One' leads a fully loaded set of JNA 64.0t ballast wagons through Roade cutting as the 7G52 12.00 Willesden to Bescot.
Keywords: 66727 12.00 Willesden-Bescot 7G52 Roade cutting Maritime One

390156, VT 12.16 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1A25, RT) & 66711, 12.00 Willesden-Bescot (7G52, 43L), Roade cutting
390156 'Pride and Prosperity' is one of the few Avanti West Coast liveried Pendolinos and is seen passing through Roade cutting forming the 12.16 Manchester Piccadilly to Euston. It is just passing the rear of the 12.00 Willesden to Bescot engineering train making its way slowly north with 66711 'Sence' on the rear.
Keywords: 390156 12.16 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1A25 66711 12.00 Willesden-Bescot 7G52 Roade cutting JNA wagons sence Pendolino Avanti West Coast Pride and Prosperity

88010, 14.32 DIRFT-Mossend Down yard (4Z45, 3E), Roade cutting
Class 88s are pretty unusual south of Daventry on the WCML, especially when working a train to Scotland! 88010 'Auora' races through Roade cutting heading the 14.32 DIRFT to Mossend that will change direction after taking the north London line to head north on the ECML. This train will travel five hundred and ten miles on its journey to Mossend. It was quite noticeable how much faster the Class 88 was passing through Roade cutting than the more normal Class 66s that do tend to labour on the steady rising gradient south of Northampton.
Keywords: 88010 14.32 DIRFT-Mossend Down yard 4Z45 Roade cutting Auora DRS Direct Rail services

66027, 16.32 DIRFT-Grangemouth (4M49, 11E), Victoria bridge
The 4M49 16.32 DIRFT to Grangemouth stretches off into the distance at Victoria bridge just south of Roade. This train is not normally seen here as it usually heads north from Daventry but due to engineering works, it is taking a long and circuitous diversionary route via north London and the ECML. DB 66027 leads the train, as it will, all the way to Scotland arriving at breakfast time the following morning.
Keywords: 66027 16.32 DIRFT-Grangemouth 4M49 Victoria bridge Tesco

Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.