100. The Cumbrian Mountain Express-10.10.20

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 100. The Cumbrian Mountain Express-10.10.20

A significant milestone in my railway interests! This is my hundredth trip out since the beginning of the year. That is the most, by far, that I have ever achieved and it's only the second week of October. However, further analysis reveals that despite being out more times than any other year, the actual total of photographs is considerably down. This is the 'COVID effect' meaning that I have been out on more days, particularly during the lockdown taking my daily permitted exercise and combining it with the passage of a particular train. However, with no big trips away, for example, Andy and I had to abandon our annual summer trip (along with most others) and then there has been no trips with lots of photographs taken in exotic locations! This morning I nipped out before my wife and I left for a few days away in Norfolk. Our first trip away since we went to Poland in March to record the passage of 'The Cumbrian Mountain Express' and some other interesting workings.

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Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.

86259, outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express, 07.12 London Euston-Carlisle (1Z86, 15L), Ashton Road bridge 
 On a very dull and miserable Saturday morning 86259 'Les Ross/Peter Pan' approaches Roade leading the outward leg of 'The Cumbrian Mountain Express' railtour running with its usual headcode of 1Z86. This is a new spot recently opened up after the embankment next to Ashton Road bridge, just south of Roade, has been repaired and reinforced with rock armour. Following the completion of the work, the palisade fencing has been reinstated meaning that the use of a ladder or poking the camera through the gap with the flip-out screen extended is required in order to get a reasonable photograph. 
 Keywords: 86259 The Cumbrian Mountain Express, 07.12 London Euston-Carlisle 1Z86 Ashton Road bridge
150142, 08.08 Wolverton Centre sidings-Newton Heath TMD, Ashton Road bridge 
 Having received attention at Wolverton works 150142 begins its journey back home in the north. It was running as the 08.08 Wolverton to Newton Heath but, interestingly, it was never activated on RTT despite the timings being spot on when it passed me. A few other workings on RTT at this time looked odd or were blank so I can only conclude that it was having one of its 'funny' moments. Notice the recently constructed rock armour on the embankment here close to Ashton Road bridge just south of Roade. This type of embankment stabilisation appears to be contractors and Network Rail's 'go-to' method and is seen in increasing numbers around the network. 
 Keywords: 150142 08.08 Wolverton Centre sidings-Newton Heath TMD Ashton Road bridge
86609 & 86604, 04.57 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North (4L97), Ashton Road bridge 
 Vintage AC power in the form of 86609 and 86604 brings the 04.57 Trafford Park to Felixstowe Freightliner past a new spot created by contractors to Network Rail now that they have completed repairs to the embankment. In all the years that I have lived across the field from this spot, in fact, it's in full view of my kitchen window. It had been heavily wooded and taking photographs of up trains had been impossible. The bridge in the background carries Ashton Road over the WCML just south of Roade. It was constructed in the early 1960s replacing a more traditional bridge in order to accommodate the wiring when the line was in the process of being electrified. 
 Keywords: 86609 86604 04.57 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North 4L97 Ashton Road bridge Roade Freightliner
37422, 37038 & 68010, 06.45 Crewe Gresty Bridge-Wembley LMD (0A68), site of Roade station 
 The 0A68 06.45 Crewe Gresty Bridge to Wembley is a regular Saturday morning turn for the return of a DRS Class 68 to Wembley for Chiltern following regular maintenance and an exam. However, today's run was a little different with it being led by two Class 37s that were then going to be continuing onwards to Norwich for RHHT duties. Passing the site of Roade station 37422 leads 37038 with 68010 'Oxford Flyer' at the rear. 
 Keywords: 37422 37038 68010 06.45 Crewe Gresty Bridge-Wembley LMD 0A68 site of Roade station Oxford Flyer
156452, 09.40 Wolverton Centre sidings-Newton Heath TMD (5N31, 7E), site of Roade station 
 A total 'grab shot' of the second Northern return working of the morning passes the site of Roade's former station. 156452 was working the 5N31 09.40 Wolverton works to Newton Heath. This working had caught me unawares as I was returning from the garage shop hence the poorly composed photograph that includes plenty of the new houses on the former Pianoforte site in the vista. Notice the Pendolino fast approaching from the south that could have spoilt the photograph. 
 Keywords: 156452 09.40 Wolverton Centre sidings-Newton Heath TMD 5N31 site of Roade station Northern

Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.