67. Castle Yard & MML ROG-DATS test train-09.06.20

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 67. Castle Yard & MML ROG-DATS test train-09.06.20
An interesting day that involved two railway sessions. The first was at Northampton after having dropped my son off in order to catch a train to Leeds. The second session was in the evening and marked my first foray away from the home area and the WCML since the COVID-19 lockdown was imposed back in March. I went over to Irchester just south of Wellingborough as the ROG/DATS overhead line inspection train was operating again, bumping into other enthusiasts who had the same idea!
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66085, collecting KDC950183, Northampton Castle Yard A small squad of Network Rail staff work to release long term resident of Northampton's Castle Yard YVA KDC 950183. The S&T cable drum carrier has been in the yard for an incredible twenty-two years! However, as the yard has been cleared of years of undergrowth, time has been called with the wagon, converted from a BDA bogie bolster, to head to Bescot apparently for further use. DB's 66085 is preparing to move the wagon. (Taken on my iPhone.) Keywords: 66085 collecting KDC950183 Northampton Castle yard DB Network Rail
66085, collecting KDC950183, Northampton Castle Yard With the rusty track and old timber sleepers creaking, 66085 gingerly backs towards cable drum carrier YVA KDC 950183 in Northampton's Castle Yard. After an extended stay of some twenty-two years, the BR era wagon was about to be towed to Bescot, no doubt at a considerably reduced speed! (Taken on my iPhone.) Keywords: 66085 collecting KDC950183 Northampton Castle yard DB Network Rail
KDC950183, Northampton Castle Yard Taken through the ring fence at the edge of Northampton station's car park the side and data panel of cable drum carrier YVA KDC950183 can be seen. The converted BDA bogie bolster wagon was about to be dragged to Bescot by 66085 after a twenty-two year sojourn in Castle Yard! As I was taking this photograph, a Network Rail worker was sawing through the final silver birch sapling that was growing under the wagon and through a gap in its floor. (Taken on my iPhone.) Keywords: KDC950183 Northampton Castle yard Cable Drum Carrier YVA KDC 950183
Northampton Castle Yard Over the past few months or so, Northampton's largely abandoned Castle Yard has been cleared of foliage that had gradually enveloped it over the last twenty years or so. This was in preparation for a change of use extending the station car park that, despite its ugly second storey being added a few years ago, is wholly inadequate; or is it? As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the concept of the daily commute to London to the office has been turned on its head. One wonders with the resultant recession if the traditional commuter rush will ever return as it was, meaning that a huge car park at stations like Northampton will not be required? This panoramic view of the yard shows the extensive tracks exposed now uncovered from the forest of trees that had taken over. Whilst the bottom of the yard has still to be cleared work will soon begin to remove the track hoping that it may be good enough to be donated to heritage lines perhaps? (Taken on my iPhone in panoramic mode.) Keywords: Northampton Castle yard
47813, 82136 & 90035, 17.53 Kettering-Bedford (3Q65, RT), Irchester SP927667 On the recently wired MML at Irchester just south of Wellingborough the ROG/DATS overhead line inspection train makes its way along the up fast line. This test train is composed of an eclectic mix of stock with 47813 'Jack Frost' leading former GA DVT 82136. Beyond the following four former GA Mk.IIIs 90035 can be seen. This was the first run of four made up and down the fast lines undertaking various tests as the 3Q65 17.53 Kettering to Bedford. Keywords: 47813 82136 90035 17.53 Kettering-Bedford 3Q65 Irchester SP927667 ROG DATS MML Overhead Line Inspection Train Jack Frost
90035, 91128 & 57310, 17.53 Kettering-Bedford (3Q65, RT), Irchester SP927667 The rear end of the 17.53 Kettering to Bedford Rail Operations Group (ROG)/Data Acquisition and Testing Services Ltd (DATS) test train passes Irchester. As well as a faithfully re-created delivery liveried Mk.III coach there are two former Virgin 'Pretendolino' coaches with 90035 and 91128 'Intercity 50' sandwiched in between with 57310 'Pride of Cumbria' bringing up the rear. I was a little disappointed that all four runs made on this particular occasion were on the fast lines and with no pantographs raised. Keywords: 90035 91128 57310 17.53 Kettering-Bedford 3Q65 Irchester SP927667 ROG DATS MML Overhead Line Inspection Train Intercity 50
66951, 17.00 Crickelwood yard-Toton North yard (6Y75, 1L), Irchester SP927667 A very rare burst of sunshine unusually coincided with the passage of the 6Y75 17.00 Cricklewood to Toton North ballast working composed of a mixture of MLA and MJA wagons. Usually, the locomotive would just be in the shade with the trees in the background in full sun but today things came together! 66951 leads the train gingerly down Sharnbrook bank at Irchester on the down slow line under wiring that is still awaiting to be energised except for testing purposes. Notice the rust stains underneath the driver's window on the Class 66. This appears to be a common problem on a number of members of the class with the only probable rectification being the removal of the screen and seal with proper repairs then made to the seam that will be the one giving trouble. Keywords: 66951 17.00 Crickelwood yard-Toton North yard 6Y75 Irchester SP927667 Freightliner MLA JLA
43048, EM 17.44 Nottingham-London St. Pancras (1B69, 10E), Irchester SP927667 With just a hint of the sun on the side of the 17.44 Nottingham to St. Pancras as it passes Irchester the grey sky somewhat dominates! EMR's 43048 'T.C.B. Miller OBE' power car leads the train as it commences the climb to Sharnbrook summit (338 feet from 130). This set was entirely composed of EMR stock rather than ex LNER stock and power cars that have recently entered service on the MML. 43048 started off its life as a Valenta engined power car on the Western Region as part of set 253024. When it is withdrawn very soon from service it is to be donated by Porterbrook to the 125 Group. Keywords: 43048 17.44 Nottingham-London St. Pancras 1B69 Irchester SP927667 East Midlands Railway EMR HST T.C.B. Miller OBE
43257 & 43307, EM 18.34 London St. Pancras-Nottingham (1D64, RT), Irchester SP927667 MML or ECML? The 18.34 London St. Pancras to Nottingham passes the fields at Irchester south of Wellingborough made up of a set of EMR branded stock with two former LNER power cars, 43257 and 43307, at either end. I have not been to this location since the dreaded palisade fencing has been installed. However, things could be a whole lot worse as the green variant has been chosen as opposed to the far more conspicuous silver type. The green fencing blends far better with the lush greenery of the early summer fields. Note the three enthusiasts waiting at the field boundary for the train following along behind...... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29180054004/x0010-57310-91128-90035-82136-47813 Keywords: 43257 43307 18.34 London St. Pancras-Nottingham 1D64 Irchester SP927667 Virgin East Coast LNER MML ECML East Midlands Railway
57310, 91128, 90035, 82136 & 47813, 18.53 Bedford-Kettering (3Q66, 14L), Irchester SP927667 The ROG/DATS MML overhead line inspection train in its eclectic full glory is seen passing Irchester on the down fast line as the 3Q66 18.53 Bedford to Kettering now running some fifteen minutes late. Whilst the fellow enthusiasts in the previous picture..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29180053804/x43257-43307-18-34-london-st-pancras appear to have 'moved' (or cloned in Photoshop parlance!) they have been replaced by two lovely horses that were eating their way around the field as I was waiting for the train! This incredible combination of a train is made up of..... -57310 'Pride of Cumbria' (DRS) -Mk.III 11018 (Ex VWC) -Mk.III 12078 (Ex VWC) -91128 'Intercity 50' (Ex LNER) -90035 (DB) -Mk.III 6330 (Ex 125 Group) -Mk.III 6338 (Ex GA) -Mk.III 6340 (Ex GA) -Mk.III 6344 (Ex 125 Group) -82136 (Ex GA) -47813 'Jack Frost' (DRS) Keywords: 57310 91128 90035 82136 47813 18.53 Bedford-Kettering 3Q66 Irchester SP927667 ROG DATS MML Overhead Line Inspection Train Intercity 50 Pride of Cumbria Jack Frost
43059, 18.45 Nottingham-London St. Pancras (1B74, 1E), Irchester SP927667 The light has really begun to deteriorate now but an HST is an HST! The 18.45 Nottingham to St. Pancras heads south past a very dull Irchester with 43059 providing the power at the rear of the train. Unfortunately, I did not manage to get the number of the EMR power car at the front. Keywords: 43059 18.45 Nottingham-London St. Pancras 1B74 Irchester SP927667 EMR East Midlands Railway
43316 & 43320, 19.04 London St. Pancras-Leeds (1D66, 3E), Irchester SP927667 I was keen when preparing to photograph the 19.04 St. Pancras to Leeds, knowing it was an HST, that I wanted to expose for the quite dramatic sky above the train. So it was somewhat of a compromise to ensure that the sky was a little overexposed and the foreground a little under to ensure that I was able to bring them back again in Photoshop dealing with the two parts of the photograph as separate layers. The photograph has turned out fairly well given the awful lighting conditions showing an ex LNER HST set with 43316 leading and 43320 on the rear. Having spent their working lives thrashing up and down the ECML at one hundred and twenty-five miles per hour, and often above, see....... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/28284142004/board-43295-13-30-edinburgh-waverley they are now having an easier time of it in their twilight months limited to one hundred and ten. Keywords: 43316 43320 19.04 London St. Pancras-Leeds 1D66 Irchester SP927667 EMR East Midlands Railway Virgin Wast Coast LNER
47813, 82136, 90035, 91128 & 57310, 19.26 Kettering-Bedford (3Q60, 24L), Irchester SP927667 The ROG/DATS MML overhead line inspection train makes its second run south during the evening as the 3Q60 19.26 Kettering to Bedford. The train is led again by 47813 'Jack Frost' with ex GA DVT 82136 tucked in behind followed by, further down the consist, 90035, 91128 'Intercity 50' and 57310 'Pride of Cumbria' at the rear. By now this test train was twenty minutes late here at Irchester and with the light so absolutely dire I decided not to wait for its final return run. The rest of the photographers at this spot made the same decision and we trudged back across the fields, past the allotments, to our parked cars. Let's hope for some better weather when this amazing train runs again! Keywords: 47813 82136 90035 91128 57310 19.26 Kettering-Bedford 3Q60 Irchester SP927667 DRS Geater Anglia GA 125 Group ROG DATS MML Overhead Line Inspection Train Intercity 50 Pride of Cumbria Jack Frost Pretendolino LNER
Advertisement, Northampton Chronicle and Echo Sitting having my cup of tea two days after I visited the MML to see the electrification test train I came across this double-page advertisement in the Northampton Chronicle and Echo. The advert is fairly upbeat giving a sense that this transformation is imminent. Of course, it isn't, as hardly any testing has taken place yet and the new carriages awaiting are going to be hand-me-down ex GA Class 360 Desiros! Keywords: Advertisement Northampton Chronicle and Echo

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