52. The Cathedrals Express-03.09.15

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2015 > 52. The Cathedrals Express-03.09.15
A pause by the railway on my way to work to capture the rarity of a steam-hauled charter and even more unusually during the week. Unfortunately, the sun and prevailing wind did not play ball with it not only being rather dull but with exhaust partially oblitorating the locomotive!
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86607 & 87609, 04.10 Crewe Basford Hall-Felixstowe North (4L89), Roade Hill 86607 and 86609 lead the 4L89 04.10 Crewe Basford Hall to Felixstowe Freightliner past Roade Hill just south of the village of the same name. The use of these vintage ac electrics continues despite increasing unreliability but there is a dearth of other modern and reliable locomotives so they are set to be about for little longer yet. Keywords: 86607 87609 04.10 Crewe Basford Hall-Felixstowe North 4L89 Roade Hill al1 Freightliner
221104 & 221102, VT 04.48 Holyhead & 05.25 Blackpool North-London Euston (1R13 & 1K14), Roade hill 221104 'Sir John Franklin' leads 221102 'John Cabot' with the Virgin Trains 04.48 Holyhead/05.25 Blackpool to London Euston pass between Roade and Ashton. These two services come together at Crewe and if both are on-time can then join and continue their journey south as one train. If I had to travel from Holyhead to London early in the morning the thought of getting on a Class 221 Voyager at twenty minutes to five would fill me with dread! Keywords: 221104 Sir John Franklin 221102 John Cabot 04.48 Holyhead 05.25 Blackpool North-London Euston 1R13 1K14 Roade hill Virgin Trains Voyager
46233, outward leg of The Cathedrals Express, 07.16 Rugby-Bristol Temple Meads (1Z62, 34L), Roade hill 46233 'Duchess of Sutherland' looks completely at home on the WCML in its authentic Brunswick green livery as it hauls the outward leg of The Cathedrals Express charter that left Rugby at 07.16. The Coronation Class was to have hauled the 1Z62 charter in its entirety being removed at Willesden on it return in the evening. However, passengers were to be disappointed as at Southall 46233 and its support coach came off the train in favour of diesel haulage to Bristol. Reportedly, this change of traction was due to gauging issues, quite why this had not been spotted or thought about earlier I am not at all sure? As can be seen in this image, the scourge of a westerly wind has taken its toll on the exhaust drifting it across the locomotive and the front of the train spoiling the photograph taken between the villages of Roade and Ashton. Keywords: 46233 The Cathedrals Express 07.16 Rugby-Bristol Temple Meads 1Z62 Roade hill 6233 Duchess of Sutherland Coronation Class
47760, outward leg of The Cathedrals Expresss, 07.16 Rugby-Bristol Temple Meads (1Z62, 34L), Roade hill West Coast Railway's 47760 is seen being dragged along at the rear of The Cathedrals Express as it makes its way south on the up slow line between Roade and Ashton. At the front Coronation Class 46233 'Duchess of Sutherland' is hauling the train that left Rugby heading for Bristol. Unfortunately, the Coronation was only able to haul the charter as far as Southall with 47760 taking over due to gauging issues. I find it staggering that when the charter was being planned, a major undertaking in itself, that a relatively simple issue such as a locomotive being out of gauge had not been spotted. I suspect that it was due to electrification works being undertaken on the GWML. Keywords: 47760 The Cathedrals Express, 07.16 Rugby-Bristol Temple Meads 1Z62 Roade hill

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