32. The Three Peaks Challenge-19.06.14

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2014 > 32. The Three Peaks Challenge-19.06.14

On the way home from work I called in at Wilson's crossing near Northampton to capture the outward annual Three Peaks Challenge charter. Unfortunately, whilst up on my ladder, the palisade fencing and I had a disagreement with me coming off the worse necessitating a trip to casualty after the picture had been taken off course! After some stitches and swallowing some powerful painkillers I came to the realisation that I had been very lucky by merely slicing a two-inch gash the length my index finger cutting through the tendons and nerves; I was probably pretty close to cutting it right off! A massive thanks to a fellow enthusiast who helped me pack my camera gear up whilst I attempted to stem the flow of blood with a lens cloth and some cable ties that I happened to have in my bag and also to the casualty team at Northampton General hospital who dealt with me very professionally and quickly; thumbs up the NHS. People would never realise how dangerous our hobby is, perhaps it should come with a safety warning!

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Images 1-3 of 3 displayed.

1. 86610 & 86617, 11.13 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park (4M87), Wilson's crossing
The 4L87 afternoon Freightliner accelerates away from Northampton past Wilson's crossing with 86601 and 86617 leading the train. It is noticeable how much faster the vintage AL6s go on this rising gradient when compared to a Class 66 hauling an equivalent train. Unfortunately with a double-headed train, it is not quite possible from this angle to capture both locomotives between the two electrification masts.
Keywords: 86610 86617 11.13 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park 4M87 Wilson's crossing AL6 Freightliner

2. 350240, LM 15.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (2Y16), Wilson's crossing
The recent installation of the dreaded palisade fencing here at Wilson's crossing just north of Northampton has had one benefit, namely the clearance of all of the lineside vegetation that now affords this view of up services. London Midland's 350240 brings the 15.54 Birmingham to Euston service southwards slowing for its stop at Northampton some mile and a half away.
Keywords: 350240 15.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 2Y16 Wilson's crossing London Midland Desiro

37605, 37602 & 57309, outward leg of The Three Peaks Challenge, London Euston-Bangor (1Z51), Wilson's crossing
This was the photograph that nearly took my index finger off....well not quite! This image was taken from the top of my step ladder raising me above the palisade fencing. It shows 37605 and 37602 leading the outward leg of the Three Peaks Challenge charter that had set off from Euston and was heading to Bangor running as 1Z51. I had intended to take a going away photograph of 57309 'Pride of Crewe' at the rear but as I turned my ladder started to tip over with me attempting to prevent this but in doing so caught my right index finger on the top spike of the palisade fencing slicing it open. Needless to say, I did not get the shot but did manage to get myself to casualty with the badly injured finger wrapped in a lens cloth tightly held together with some cable ties from my camera bag. Many thanks to an unknown fellow enthusiast who packed my camera equipment away whilst I was trying to keep myself compos mentis!

NB some six years later the scar is still very much in evidence and the nerves appear to be very slowly growing back with some tingling sensation returning to the end of the finger.
Keywords: 37605 37602 57309 outward leg of The Three Peaks Challenge London Euston-Bangor 1Z51 Wilson's crossing DRS Direct Rail services Pride of Crewe

Images 1-3 of 3 displayed.