94. A Sunday afternoon walk-20.09.20

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 94. A Sunday afternoon walk-20.09.20

Yet another glorious September day found me out for a lovely afternoon walk around the village that happened to coincide with two freights and another GA Class 360 dragging move. Unfortunately, I missed an infrastructure train by a few minutes as it gained a lot of time without me spotting it!

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Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.

66305, 13.09 DIRFT-Ripple Lane (4L48, 4E), Roade cutting
On a superb early autumn afternoon, 66305 makes its way through Roade cutting at a reasonable pace working the 13.09 DIRFT (Daventry) to Purfleet that on a Sunday only ever goes as far as Ripple Lane.
Keywords: 66305 13.09 DIRFT-Ripple Lane 4L48 Roade cutting Daventry Direct Rail Services DRS

66428, 11.05 Tilbury-DIRFT (10E), Roade cutting
Not a DRS Class 66 that I have taken very many photographs of is 66428 'Carlisle Eden Mind'. I last saw it at DRS' Carlisle open day in July 2019 on the day of its naming, see...... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/27161232204/x66428-display-drs-kingmoor. It had been repainted for that event and still looks smart today over a year on as it passes through Roade cutting with the 11.05 Tilbury to DIRFT Tesco express.
Keywords: 66428 11.05 Tilbury-DIRFT Roade cutting DRS Direct Rail Services Carlisle Eden Mind

390104, VT 12.47 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston (1A30, RT), site of Roade station
With Avanti West Coast now having abandoned (or paused?) the mid-life full refurbishment of the Pendolinos that it inherited from Virgin, they are embarking on rebranding them at a more rapid rate. Their branding programme seems a little varied with some sets just having the DMRF and DMSO treated with the stock staying in the 'nude' livery as seen here. However, others have the branding also applied to the coaches within the set. Then, of course, there are the one-off sets such as the recently and conspicuously liveried 390109 dubbed 'The Prideolino'. 390104 'Alstom Pendolino' passes the site of Roade's closed station forming the 12.47 Liverpool to Euston 1A30 service on a superb and cloudless September afternoon.
Keywords: 390104 12.47 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston 1A30 site of Roade station Avanti West Coast Pendolino Alstom Pendolino

47739, 360113 & 47727, 11.52 Ilford EMUD-Northampton EMD (5Q60, 13L), site of Roade station
In a repeat operation, another former Greater Anglia Class 360 is dragged from Ilford to Northampton's Siemen's facility for modification enabling it to operate at up to one hundred and ten miles per hour. This work, that I suspect is largely software related, means that it is one of the units targeted to operate on the yet to be energised and tested MML between St. Pancras and Corby. At the site of Roade's former station, 47739 leads the train at a very slow speed with 47727 'Edinburgh Castle/Caisteal Dhun Eideann' at the rear. In common with the other times that this operation has taken place, the train is often fairly early prompting me to get out to my chosen spot only for control to hold it to its booked time by sidelining it at Bletchley and then holding it at Milton Keynes leading to a frustrating wait for me!
Keywords: 47739 360113 & 47727, 11.52 Ilford EMUD-Northampton EMD (5Q60, 13L), site of Roade station GBRF Edinburgh Castle Caisteal Dhun Eideann GBRf

47727, 360113 & 47739, 11.52 Ilford EMUD-Northampton EMD (5Q60, 13L), site of Roade station
47727 'Edinburgh Castle/Caisteal Dhun Eideann' brings up the rear of the 11.52 Iford to Northampton EMU depot (Kingsheath) 5Q60 drag with 360113 in front. Almost hidden from view is 47727 at the front of the train that has become a regular Sunday working through the summer. The Class 360 Desiros are being taken to Kingsheath for modifications prior to their moving to the MML, whenever that may happen? I have asked the question but not had a credible answer, why can't these units run from Ilford to Northampton (and back again) under their own power rather than having to be dragged by a pair of thirsty diesels with no doubt at great expense?
Keywords: 47727 360113 47739 11.52 Ilford EMUD-Northampton EMD 5Q60 site of Roade station Edinburgh Castle Caisteal Dhun Eideann GBRf

Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.