5. 5Z20 in the snow-25.01.21

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2021 > 5. 5Z20 in the snow-25.01.21
I had spotted 5Z20 on RTT early in the morning and noted that it was a Class 56 with a Class 47. It did not leave on time and I thought it was cancelled until, suddenly, it appeared having left Leicester an hour late. After yesterday's snowfall, today dawned very cold and bright so I took a power walk to Roade cutting to observe the train's passing with a chance meeting with David and his wife (members of the RCTS) out from Northampton also for the event.
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Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

350241, LN 10.15 Northampton Riverside Sidings-MKC ECS (5K14, 13E), Roade cutting 350241 leads a classmate through Roade cutting with the 10.15 Northampton Riverside to Milton Keynes empty coaching stock working. Notice the withered branches of the ash tree to the left of the image. This was as a result of having to adopt a COVID socially distanced position on the bridge above the cutting with David and his wife having already bagged the best spots! Keywords: 350241 10.15 Northampton Riverside Sidings-Milton Keynes Central ECS 5K14 Roade cutting empty coaching stock London Northwestern Desiro
47739 & 56081, 07.52 Leicester LIP-Wolverton Centre Sidings (5Z20, 65L), Roade cutting Running over an hour late, 47739 leads two barrier coaches and 56081 on the back through a cold and snowy Roade cutting. The 5Z20 07.52 Leicester to Wolverton left its base behind time and never recovered losing even more minutes during its journey. It was undertaking this trip in connection with the dragging of a Class 720 (720554) later in the day to Derby. Unfortunately, this was routed via the Marston Vale line and the Midland route so would not return through Roade. On a normal non-COVID lockdown day I may well have gone to see it but, at the moment, this could not really be justified as essential travel! Keywords: 47739 56081 07.52 Leicester LIP-Wolverton Centre Sidings 5Z20 Roade cutting GBRf
390006, VT 08.47 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston (1A15, 12L), Roade cutting Under a brilliant blue sky 390006 'Rethink Mental Illness' works the 08.47 Liverpool to Euston 1A15 Avanti West Coast service. Despite the sun being out after yesterday's snowfall the temperature was still below freezing here in Roade cutting. Keywords: Rethink Mental Illness 390006 08.47 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston 1A15 Roade cutting Avanti West Coast Pendolino
221106, VT 07.54 Blackpool North-London Euston (9M48, 2L), site of Roade station Passing the site of Roade station 221106 'Willem Barents' makes a fine site still wearing its Virgin West Coast livery over a year after the operator ceased its operations. Unusually, this diesel Voyager was working the 07.54 Blackpool to Euston service. Now that the line to the resort town is fully electrified services such as this ought to be formed by a Pendolino with many spare sets surely available due to the massively reduced working timetable. Keywords: 221106 07.54 Blackpool North-London Euston 9M48 site of Roade station Virgin Voyager Avanti West Coast Willem Barents
350242, LN 10.15 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1Y11, 7L), site of Roade station Kicking up a cloud of snow behind it, 350242 passes the site of Roade station working the 10.15 Euston to Birmingham New Street service. Whilst weather such as this affords opportunities that are rarely available, the images recorded by the camera often need a considerable amount of post-processing. The first issue is that the camera often struggles in 'automatic' mode to get things right by underexposing due to the preponderance of bright snow. Secondly, in automatic white balance mode it often goes to the cool end of the spectrum creating a blue hue, particularly in the shadows. Keywords: 350242 10.15 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1Y11 site of Roade station London Northwestern Desiro
390130, VT 10.20 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly (1H18, 27L), site of Roade station 390130 'City of Edinburgh' passes the site of Roade's former station working the 10.20 Euston to Manchester Piccadilly. Like many services on the WCML today there were delays further north with this particular service held near to Colwich Junction making it nearly half an hour adrift on arrival at Piccadilly station. This was my final picture of the morning and, with cold feet and fingers, it was time to head home for a cup of tea! Keywords: 390130 10.20 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly 1H18 site of Roade station Avanti West Coast Pendolino City of Edinburgh

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.