7. The Winter CME & The Buffer Puffer 11.1-08.02.14

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2014 > 7. The Winter CME & The Buffer Puffer 11.1-08.02.14

Two railtours for the price of one near to home is no bad thing! Firstly The Buffer Puffer headed south with some English Electric power making itself known to the otherwise quiet Northamptinshore countryside and then, secondly, The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express headed north in its usual slot with some vintage ac traction.

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Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.

70016, 03.09 Felixstowe North-Ditton (4M45), Victoria bridge
Shattering the early morning peace and quiet at Victoria bridge, 70016 leads the 03.09 Felixstowe to Ditton Freightliner northwards. I could hear this Class 70 some distance away as it approached and passed Hanslope Junction reinforcing the widely held view that this relatively new design of locomotive remains one of the noisiest on the network.
Keywords: 70016 03.09 Felixstowe North-Ditton 4M45 Victoria bridge Freightliner

20303, outward leg of The Buffer Puffer 11.1, 05.02 Stafford-London area (1Z57), Victoria bridge
The Buffer Puffer series of railtours have become incredibly popular with rare line bashers getting them to tracks and routes that are usually off-limits to passenger workings. This version named The Buffer Puffer 11.1, left Stafford and an unearthly 05.02 with 20303 leading the train with 20304 on the rear. Heading for the London area the train is seen passing Victoria bridge just south of Roade on the southern WCML.
Keywords: 20303 The Buffer Puffer 11.1 05.02 Stafford-London area 1Z57 Victoria bridge

20304, outward leg of The Buffer Puffer 11.1, 05.02 Stafford-London area (1Z57), Victoria bridge
Dead in tow on the rear of The Buffer Puffer 11.1 charter 20304 is seen heading south on the WCML just south of Roade. The charter left Stafford running as 1Z57 heading for various unusual tracks and routes withing greater London details of which can be found at http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/
Keywords: 20304 The Buffer Puffer 11.1 05.02 Stafford-London area 1Z57 Victoria bridge Pathfinder Tours DRS Direct Rail Services

Class 390, VT 07.30 London Euston-Glasgow Central (1S42), diverted on the slow, Victoria bridge
A Virgin Pendolino heads north past Victoria bridge just south of Roade on the slow line meaning that it was to be routed via Northampton rather than the more normal Weedon route. Apparently, a track defect was reported on the Weedon line that was being assessed and, if necessary, repaired before trains could be allowed on it again.
Keywords: Class 390 VT 07.30 London Euston-Glasgow Central 1S42 Victoria bridge Virgin Trains Pendolino

86259, outward leg of The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express, 07.20 London Euston-Carlisle (1Z86), Victoria bridge
If the 1Z86 Cumbrian Mountain Express had been travelling on its normal route using the fast line (to the extreme right in this photograph) it would be catching the early morning sunshine. Unfortunately, due to a reported track fault on the Weedon line the charter from Euston to Carnforth for steam (45699 'Galatea') had to be diverted via Northampton. Led by 86259 'Les Ross/Peter Pan' is seen approaching Victoria bridge on the approach to Roade.
Keywords: 86259 The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express 07.20 London Euston-Carlisle 1Z86 Victoria bridge Les Ross Peter Pan WCR

Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.