56. Freight & 1Q27 test train-27.05.20

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 56. Freight & 1Q27 test train-27.05.20

After going out and meeting Andy yesterday for the first time in months we socially distanced on Victoria bridge for a few hours. There was a dearth of freight that was very disappointing and meant that I never actually removed my camera from its bag. Today was somewhat different with no fewer than four freights passing me within fifteen minutes. In addition, there was a Network Rail test train and a track machine working. It just reinforces that no day on our railways is the same as the next!

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Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.

66590, 09.25 Southampton-Garston (4M28, 17E), Ashton Road bridge
After a lovely start to the day, by lunchtime, it had clouded over and as can be seen in this photograph at Ashton Road bridge just south of Roade it was rather dull. Running late, 66590 leads the 09.25 Southampton to Garston Freightliner on the down fast already with no fewer than four Pendolinos stacking up behind signal to signal. The reason for this unusual move by control to allow a slow freight onto the fast line was due to the failure of 4L94 hauled by 66415 'You Are Never Alone' near to Long Buckby earlier in the afternoon blocking the northbound Northampton loop.
Keywords: 66590 09.25 Southampton-Garston 4M28 Ashton Road bridge Freightliner

67027 & 67023, 12.29 Crewe CS-Derby RTC (1Q27, 30E), Ashton Road bridge
Running on the fast line the 12.29 Crewe to Derby Network Rail test train passes Roade. This working leaves Crewe just after lunchtime and after reversing at Euston returns to Crewe and is usually operated by the more familiar NMT HST, the archetypal 'Flying Banana'. After that, it runs via Kidsgrove to Stoke-on-Trent and thence Derby arriving in the early evening - in this particular case thirty minutes ahead of schedule. The train is top and tailed by Colas liveried 67027 'Charlotte' (front) and 67023 'Stella' (rear).
Keywords: 67027 67023 12.29 Crewe CS-Derby RTC 1Q27 Ashton Road bridge Network Rail test train Charlotte Stella

66561, 14.03 Ditton-Felixstowe North (4L92, 6E), site of Roade station
Freight number 1 (17.40) -

The 14.03 Ditton to Felixstowe largely unaffected by the shenanigans going on around Long Buckby arriving six minutes early.
Keywords: 66561 14.03 Ditton-Felixstowe North 4L92 site of Roade station

66713, 14.18 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North (4L18, RT), site of Roade station
Freight number 2 (17.44) -

GBRf's 66713 'Forest City' leads the 14.18 Trafford Park to Felixstowe that again arrived on time at its destination. 66713 was named when it entered service in April 2003 after the birthplace of Class 66 in London, Ontario - ironically a plant that has now been shut down!
Keywords: 66713 14.18 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North 4L18 site of Roade station Forest City GBRf GB Railfreight

66516, 12.57 London Gateway-Garston (4M56, 33E), site of Roade station
Freight number 3 (17.50) -

66516 leads the fully loaded 4M56 12.57 London Gateway to Garston past Roade. With the failed train at Long Buckby now cleared traffic was being pushed through quickly to clear the backlog. This working completely missed its layover just north of Northampton arriving proportionately early at Garston later in the evening.
Keywords: 66516 12.57 London Gateway-Garston 4M56 site of Roade station Freightliner

66616, 12.16 Lawley Street-London Gateway (4L46, 141L) site of Roade station
Freight number 4 (17.55) -

It is unusual for a 66/6 to work an intermodal but here 66616 passes Roade leading the heavily delayed 4L46 12.16 Lawley Street to London Gateway and it has gone through quite a logistical exercise in order to do this. Earlier in the afternoon, 66415 failed near Long Buckby hauling the 4M94 07.50 Felixstowe to Lawley Street. 66605 was removed from the 4L46 that was stopped at Rugby and sent south wrong line to rescue 4L46 and take it onwards to Birmingham. That left an engineless 4L46 at Rugby so 66616 was removed from the 6H50 13.17 Willesden to Crewe Basford Hall abandoning its train on the Bletchley relief lines. It headed north to Rugby as 0Z99 and was attached to 4L46 that is seen passing through Roade in this photograph well over two hours late.
Keywords: 66616 12.16 Lawley Street-London Gateway 4L46 site of Roade station Freightliner

DR98003, DR98004, DR98011 & DR98009, 14.48 Crewe TMD-London Euston terminated at Bletchley (63L), site of Roade station
A line of Network Rail YXA Electrification MPVs led by DR98003 passes Roade. However, things were about to go badly wrong for this 14.48 Crewe to Euston working as it was to fail just three miles from here at Hanslope Junction. It blocked the up slow line for quite some time before proceeding to Bletchley where it was put in a siding and stopped. I am not sure if it restarted and moved under its own power or if it was rescued by another locomotive?
Keywords: DR98003 DR98004 DR98011 DR98009 14.48 Crewe TMD-London Euston terminated at Bletchley (63L), site of Roade station

Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.