12. Freight diversions-17.03.21

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2021 > 12. Freight diversions-17.03.21

With the Northampton loop line closed north of the town due to extensive and much-needed engineering works in Crick tunnel all freight was being diverted via the Weedon route. I took a couple of hours out to capture some freight working 'off-route' - and the sun played ball!

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Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.

325005, 11.20 Crewe TMD-Willesden PRDC (5A91, 7E), Banbury Lane bridge 325005 leads two other members of the class of fifteen units past the former Banbury Lane level crossing in rural Northamptonshire. They are working the daily 11.20 Crewe TMD to Willesden Park Royal Mail depot empty stock move. This train is not uncommon on the 'fast' Weedon route avoiding Northampton with the mood of the signaller seeming to be the deciding factor on its routing! Keywords: 325005 11.20 Crewe TMD-Willesden PRDC 5A91 Banbury Lane bridge Royal Mail
390118, VT 13.07 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street (1F17, RT), Bugbrooke footbridge After an overcast morning with showers the weather has perked up and it is decidedly spring-like! 390118 passes near Bugbrooke in Northamptonshire working Avanti's 13.07 Euston to Liverpool 1F17 service. Just behind the trees to the left is the Grand Union Canal that I had just walked along as my permitted COVID bout of exercise before stopping off to take some railway photographs. Keywords: 390118 13.07 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street 1F17 Bugbrooke footbridge Avanti West Coast Pendolino
390123, VT 13.10 London Euston-Glasgow Central (1S69, RT), Bugbrooke footbridge 390123 is seen at full line speed sixty-six miles north of London working the 13.10 Euston to Glasgow Central service. This spot is near the village of Bugbrooke at a remote former pedestrian crossing deep in the Northamptonshire countryside. On a lovely spring day like this, it was a very pleasant place to spend some time waiting for trains watching the red kites (Milvus milvus) soaring on the thermals and exchanging their haunting calls. Keywords: 390123 13.10 London Euston-Glasgow Central 1S69 Bugbrooke footbridge Avanti West Coast Pendolino
221114 & 221107, 08.52 Edinburgh Waverley-London Euston (9M52, 2E), Bugbrooke footbridge 221114 is seen wearing its Avanti West Coast revised front end livery but this cannot hide its former operator's identity! Along with 221107 the pair of Voyagers pass Bugbrooke in Northamptonshire working the 9M52 08.52 Edinburgh to Euston service. This was as low as I could get to take this photograph that involved me lying on the floor of the bridge but even this unorthodox position could not eradicate the return wire spoiling the image. Keywords: 221114 221107 08.52 Edinburgh Waverley-London Euston 9M52 Bugbrooke footbridge Avanti West Coast Voyager
66520, 09.12 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park (4M63, RT), Bugbrooke footbridge The 4M63 09.12 Felixstowe to Trafford Park Freightliner is seen 'off-route' being led by 66520. The train is seen on the Weedon 'fast' line away from its more usual route via the Northampton loop. Normally, freight is kept well away from this route but things on the railways are far from normal at the moment; along with the rest of everyday life! The Crick tunnel was undergoing a week-long closure for drainage works taking advantage of the much reduced national timetable thus enabling freight on this route. Keywords: 66520 09.12 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park 4M63 Bugbrooke footbridge
66554,12.16 Lawley Street-London Gateway (4L46, 1E), Bugbrooke footbridge 66554 leads a long and well-loaded 4L46 12.16 Lawley Street to London Gateway service past Bugbrooke in Northamptonshire. This freight, along with all others, is usually kept well away from this route normally being sent via Northampton. However, due to a week-long closure of Crick tunnel it is taking the Weedon route being pathed in between the Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern services no doubt causing frustration to their drivers! Keywords: 66554 12.16 Lawley Street-London Gateway 4L46 Bugbrooke footbridge Freightliner
66742, 09.15 Tunstead Sidings-Northampton Castle Yard (6B92, 8E), Bird's Lane bridge The 6B92 09.15 Tunstead to Northampton Castle Yard is a train that I have rarely photographed. Even more unusually, I have never seen it off-route as seen here passing Bird's Lane bridge (near Bugbrooke) on the Weedon loop heading south of its destination as far as Bletchley. 66742 'ABP Port of Immingham Centenary 1912-2012' is leading the train that, once it arrives at Bletchley, will run round the train to then head north again to Northampton. All these shenanigans were due to the closure of Crick tunnel near DIRFT for much-needed drainage work. It's nice to see a smart GBRf locomotive with a matching set of equally smart JNA-T open wagons that seem to have evaded the worst ravages of the graffiti vandals. Keywords: 66742 09.15 Tunstead Sidings-Northampton Castle Yard 6B92 Bird's Lane bridge GBRf GB Railfreight ABP Port of Immingham Centenary 1912-2012

Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.