75. Grand Central stock move & Wolverton departure-27.06.20

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 75. Grand Central stock move & Wolverton departure-27.06.20

With Grand Central's plans to run trains from Euston to the north-west now heavily delayed but thankfully back on track again, the movement of two rakes of its freshly repainted stock south from Runcorn to Wembley had to be worth seeing. Many others thought the same and I have never seen so many photographers at Milton Crossing to witness the event! One was Richard Denny who produced an equally tricky photograph as we all did given that the sun dived behind a cloud some ten seconds before the train passed only to emerge again after it had disappeared around the curve into the cutting! Later in the afternoon, I took a short walk to capture two of GBRf's superb Class 47s leaving Wolverton Works for overnight stabling at Rugby.

Click here to search The Archive Files


Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

90029, 82200, 82227 & 90026, 09.37 Widnes Transport Tech-Wembley Yard (5Z90, 8L), Milton crossing 
 Despite being owned by Arriva, Grand Central has a very distinctive corporate image and one nothing like any other train operating company with a philosophy to match. At one time during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, it was looking likely that its future operating trains may have come to an end with a complete shutdown of its services on the ECML and all staff furloughed. All this was just as it was about to launch its WCML operations in and out of Euston to great fanfare. This launch has now been put back to 2021 with driver training still to start as Grand Central attempts to resurrect its services and build its business again. In preparation for training and for services, two cut down sets of former LNER Mk.IVs, two DVTs and a second Class 90 were sent to Alstom’s Technology Centre in Widnes to be outshopped in GC's smart black and gold livery. Here the two sets pass Milton Crossing on the Weedon loop just north of Roade cutting as the 5Z90 09.37 Widnes to Wembley Yard. There were an awful lot of photographers at this location, in fact, the most I have seen here since the end of the Class 87 Virgin evening commuter train but we were all denied a decent photograph as the sun went in just ten seconds before it arrived - the rear of the train is still in full sun! This particular image took me a considerable amount of time in Photoshop to resurrect it from a hopelessly dark subject and overexposed background but even so it is still very disappointing but, given the subject matter, it has made the cut! The train is being led by 90029 with the full list of stock as follows: 82200, 11320, 10321, 12326, 12477, 12224, 82227, 11321, 10330, 12323, 12461, 12222 and on the rear is 90026. 
 Keywords: 90029 82200,82227 90026 09.37 Widnes Transport Tech-Wembley Yard 5Z90 Milton crossing GC Grand Central DVT
66594, 14.03 Ditton-Felixstowe North (4L92, 7E), site of Roade station 
 If the timetable is all going to plan with a good service operating, between 17.30 and 18.15 around my home village of Roade on the WCML there are four freights that pass in very close succession (three up and one down). The 4L92 14.03 Ditton to Felixstowe passes the site of the village's former station with 66594 'NYK Spirit of Kyoto' leading. In common with a lot of freight at the moment, there was a lot of fresh air being carried along behind the locomotive. In fact, it has just been reported that freight levels have haemorrhaged away as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. 
 Keywords: 66594 14.03 Ditton-Felixstowe North 4L92 site of Roade station Freightliner NYK Spirit of Kyoto
66537, 12.57 London Gateway-Garston (4M56, 40E), site of Roade station 
 On a glorious late summer afternoon at Roade 66537 leads the 4M56 12.57 London Gateway to Garston Freightliner. This is a superb location for an afternoon of photography when the sun is out being on a footbridge that is busy with locals going about their business but always wondering what a strange person is doing sitting on a stool with a camera around their neck. If I had a pound for every time that I have been asked 'Is there anything special coming?' I'd be a rich man! 
 Keywords: 66537 12.57 London Gateway-Garston 4M56 site of Roade station Freightliner
66712, 14.18 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North (4L18, 7E), site of Roade station 
 66712 'Peterborough Power Signalbox' bursts into the superb evening sunshine leading the 4L18 14.18 Trafford Park to Felixstowe Freightliner. This locomotive is another of GBRf's stock that is maintained to high standards with smart paintwork. It is also noticeable that their shade of yellow always appears to have a slightly more orange hue than normal. 
 Keywords: 66712 14.18 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North 4L18 site of Roade station GBRf Peterborough Power Signalbox
66063, 13.25 Trafford Park-London-Gateway (4L56, 5E) & 390043, VT 16.55 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1A56, 1E), site of Roade station 
 An 'old school' EWS 66063 passes through Roade at the site of the old station, the entrance road of which can be seen in the background. I am staggered that some eleven years after the first EWS locomotive was rebranded to DB that there are still examples such as this one still working in their original as-built livery. The 4L56 13.25 Trafford Park to London Gateway is about to be passed by 390043 heading south with the 16.55 Manchester to Euston Avanti service. 
 Keywords: 66063 13.25 Trafford Park-London-Gateway 4L56 390043 16.55 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1A56 site of Roade station EWS DB Avanti West Coast
47739 & 47749, 18.30 Wolverton centre sidings-Rugby (0D21, 2L), site of Roade station 
 Looking absolutely superb, 47739 and 47749 'City of Truro' pass light engine through Roade on a lovely summer evening. They are making the relatively short trip from Wolverton Works to Rugby as 0D21 for overnight stabling. Earlier in the day, they had hauled a GA Class 720 from Derby Litchurch Lane to the works and the following day they would head south to Ilford to collect a Class 360 that is destined for further use on the newly electrified MML. 
 Keywords: 47739 47749 18.30 Wolverton centre sidings-Rugby 0D21 site of Roade station GBRf City of Truro

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.