2. The Hastings Diesel's Crewe railtour & The Northern Belle-AM

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2014 > 41. The CME & The Hastings Diesel's Crewe railtour-12.07.14 > 2. The Hastings Diesel's Crewe railtour & The Northern Belle-AM

After dropping my wife at Milton Keynes station for a trip to London with her friend I managed to find a spot just north of the station near to Bradwell. There were two charters due to pass within a short rime of each other one operated by Hastings Diesels Ltd and the other by Northern Belle. After the fog of earlier in the day, strong summer sunshine now made photography tricky due to the north-south orientation of the line.

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Images 1-31 of 31 displayed.

221118 & 221103, VT 09.10 London Euston-Holyhead (1D83), Bradwell SP831391
A pair of Voyagers in the form of 221118 and 221103 get away from Milton Keynes working the 1D83 09.10 Euston to Holyhead train. There are precious few locations in Milton Keynes to get reasonable access to take photographs of trains. They nearly all rely on the use of a ladder to elevate oneself above the height of palisade fencing. This particular spot is in Bradwell very close to Milton Keynes' Youth Hostel.
Keywords: 221118 221103 09.10 London Euston-Holyhead 1D83 Bradwell SP831391 Virgin Trains Voyager Mungo Park

166221, 09.23 Wolverton Sidings-Reading Traincare Depot (5V65), Bradwell SP831391
An unusual visitor to the WCML is a First Great Western turbo unit in the form of 166221. It has just left Wolverton Works a short distance north of this location at Bradwell in Milton Keynes heading back to its home depot at Reading.
Keywords: 166221 09.23 Wolverton Sidings-Reading Traincare Depot 5V65 Bradwell SP831391 Turbostar First Great Western

166221, 09.23 Wolverton Sidings-Reading Traincare Depot (5V65), Bradwell SP831391
Wreaking of fresh paint as it passes me at Bradwell in Milton Keynes is a First Great Western turbo unit 166221. It has just left Wolverton Works after a refurbishment and repaint and is heading back to its home base at Reading as 5V65. In order to take this photograph I was on the top of my step ladder leaning against the vicious palisade fencing but since the unfortunate event of a month ago, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/C385151421/x32-three-peaks-challenge-19-06-14 I now protect myself from the spikes with my patented protection pad made up of an old car foot mat and insulation roll held on with bungee straps!
Keywords: 166221 09.23 Wolverton Sidings-Reading Traincare Depot 5V65 Bradwell SP831391 First Great Western Turbostar

390153, VT 09.20 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly (1H15), Bradwell SP831391
Under glorious summer skies, 390153 works the 09.20 Euston to Manchester Piccadilly Virgin West Coast service. Whist the clear blue sky allows strong and warm summer sunshine to beam down on the scene, unfortunately, due to the orientation of the line this photograph is rather backlit, a situation that will only worsen as time ticks on into the mid-morning.
Keywords: 390153 09.20 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly 1H15 Bradwell SP831391 Virgin Pendolino

350103, LM 09.13 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1Y15), Bradwell SP831391
Taken against very strong backlighting 350103 leaves Milton Keynes passing through the district of Bradwell working the 09.13 Euston to Birmingham London Midland service.
Keywords: 350103 09.13 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1Y15 Bradwell SP831391 London Midland Desiro

221115, VT 06.52 Holyhead-London Euston (1A15), Bradwell SP83139
221115 approaches Milton Keynes passing Bradwell with the 06.52 Holyhead to Euston Virgin service. As I have already stated on another image taken on this day, photographic opportunities in this area are very limited with the few bridges covered with wire netting and the lineside heavily fortified with palisade fencing. Shots like this are as about as good as it gets!
Keywords: 221115 06.52 Holyhead-London Euston 1A15 Bradwell SP83139 Virgin West Coast Voyager

390136, VT 09.40 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly (1H64), Bradwell SP831391
390136 'City of Coventry' races past Bradwell in Milton Keynes with the Virgin 09.40 Euston to Manchester Piccadilly service. This bucolic scene belies the fact that this location is in the middle of Milton Keynes surrounded by houses and industry. However, it does illustrate one of the founding tenets of the new town planning should be a green and pleasant place to live separating housing, work and leisure; in many ways, it has succeeded in this.
Keywords: 390136, VT 09.40 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly (1H64), Bradwell SP831391 City of Coventry

1001, outward leg of The Hastings Diesel's Crewe, 06.44 Hastings-Crewe (1Z06), Bradwell SP831391
Hastings unit 1001 'Tunbridge Wells' passes Bradwell in Milton Keynes working the 06.44 Hastings to Crewe charter. Notice that the DEMU is wearing the correct numeric headcode of 06 with it running as 1Z06. In addition, it is also wearing a rather smart headboard but rather confusingly stating 'The Hastings Diesels Crewe' (sic).
Keywords: 1001 outward leg of The Hastings Diesel's Crewe 06.44 Hastings-Crewe 1Z06 Bradwell SP831391 Tunbridge Wells

1001, outward leg of The Hastings Diesel's Crewe, 06.44 Hastings-Crewe (1Z06), Bradwell SP831391
1001 'Tunbridge Wells' is seen 'thumping' its way along the WCML; not something that you see every day! Looking superb in its green British Railways livery the Hastings gauge DEMU is passing Bradwell in Milton Keynes with the outward leg of the 1Z06 06.44 Hastings to Crewe charter.
Keywords: 1001, outward leg of The Hastings Diesel's Crewe, 06.44 Hastings-Crewe (1Z06), Bradwell SP831391Tunbridge Wells

Class 390, VT 10.00 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly (1H64), Bradwell SP831391
With the return wire almost spoiling the party an unidentified Class 390 Pendolino passes Bradwell in Milton Keynes working the 1H64 10.00 Euston to Manchester service. Getting a photograph at this location is extremely tricky hence the inclusion of the said return wire due to the extra security measures attached to the bridge.
Keywords: Class 390 10.00 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly (1H64), Bradwell SP831391 Virgin Pendolino

350124, LM 09.14 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1Y22), Bradwell SP831391
350124 slows for its stop at Milton Keynes passing Bradwell with the 09.14 Birmingham New Street to London Euston London Midland service. Unfortunately, the return wire has once again caused problems as there were no other positions on this footbridge to take photographs, indeed, to take this shot I was standing on the top of my aluminium step ladder!
Keywords: 350124 09.14 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1Y22 Bradwell SP831391 London Midland Desiro

390129, VT 09.50 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1B12), Bradwell SP831391
390129 'City of Stoke-on-Trent' passes the Milton Keynes housing area (as they are referred to) of Bradwell with the 09.50 Birmingham to Euston Virgin service. Despite the trees and lack of buildings, this, location is close to Milton Keynes station and centre such is the way that the new town has been designed.
Keywords: 390129 09.50 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1B12 Bradwell SP831391 Virgin Pendolino City of Stoke-on-Trent

47810, outward leg of The Northern Belle, 07.07 Liverpool Lime Street-Kensington Olympia (1Z52), Bradwell SP831391
I had seen nothing on the usual sites about this particular Northern Belle charter but had been monitoring its progress via various postings from fellow enthusiasts. All I do know is that it was the 07.07 Liverpool to Kensington Olympia charter led by DRS' 47810 'Peter Bath MBE 1927-2006'. If anybody has any information on this particular working please do get in contact with me.
Keywords: 47810 The Northern Belle 07.07 Liverpool Lime Street-Kensington Olympia 1Z52 Bradwell SP831391 DRS Direct Rail Services Peter Bath MBE 1927-2006

47790, the outward leg of The Northern Belle, 07.07 Liverpool Lime Street-Kensington Olympia (1Z52) & 390130, VT 09.15 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1A19), Bradwell SP831391
47790 'Galloway Princess' brings up the rear of The Northern Belle charter past Bradwell in Milton Keynes. It left Liverpool Lime Street at 07.07 and was heading for Kensington Olympia. Passing the charter is a Virgin Pendolino working the 09.15 Manchester Piccadilly to Euston train.
Keywords: 47790, the outward leg of The Northern Belle, 07.07 Liverpool Lime Street-Kensington Olympia (1Z52) & 390130, VT 09.15 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1A19), Bradwell SP831391 Virgin Pendolino Galloway Princess

Class 221, VT 10.10 London Euston-Chester (1D24), Bradwell SP831391
An unidentified Class 221 Voyager leaves Milton Keynes for the north past Bradwell working the 10.10 Euston to Chester Virgin Wets Coast service.
Keywords: Class 221 10.10 London Euston-Chester 1D24 Bradwell SP831391 Virgin West Coast Voyager

90048, 08.21 Crewe Basford Hall-Felixstowe North (4L93), Bradwell SP831391
90048 is crawling along the up slow line at walking pace at Bradwell in Milton Keynes behind a local service and a Northern Belle charter that had just passed. The AC electric is leading the 4L93 08.21 Crewe Basford Hall to Felixstowe Freightliner service.
Keywords: 90048 08.21 Crewe Basford Hall-Felixstowe North 4L93 Bradwell SP831391 Freightliner

66741, 14.33 Garston-Dagenham (6L48), Roade cutting
GBRf's 66741 brings the 14.33 Garston to Dagenham empty car transporters through Roade cutting. This is a particularly noisy train when empty with a lot of resonance from the huge steel plates that make up the deck and the side panels. When loaded, the vehicles' weight dampens the sound but then the leading locomotive is making a lot more noise of course!
Keywords: 66741, 14.33 Garston-Dagenham 6L48 Roade cutting GBRf

350123 & 350106, LM 17.49 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1W23), Roade cutting
Two of the initial batch of Class 350s from the 350/1 sub set pass through Roade cutting working the 17.49 Euston to Birmingham New Street. 350123 and 350106 are ten years old now and have performed well being amongst the most reliable units on the national network.
Keywords: 350123 350106 17.49 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1W23 Roade cutting London Midland Desiro

350103, LM 17.14 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (2Y38), Roade cutting
Desiro 350103 works the 17.14 Birmingham New Street to Euston London Midland train through Roade cutting.
Keywords: 350103 17.14 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 2Y38 Roade cutting London Midland Desiro

390006, VT 17.15 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1A59) & Class 221, VT 18.03 London Euston-Birmingham New Street, Roade cutting
A passing of Virgin services takes place in Roade cutting. To the left Pendolino 390006 speeds southwards with the 17.15 Manchester Piccadilly to Euston. To the right, an unidentified Class 221 works the 18.03 Euston to Birmingham service. Quite why an electric Pendolino could not be found to work this service I do not know.
Keywords: 390006 17.15 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1A59 Class 221 18.03 London Euston-Birmingham New Street Roade cutting Virgin Pendolino Voyager

1001, return leg of The Hastings Diesel's Crewe, 17.16 Crewe-Hastings (1Z07), Roade cutting
Having travelled to Crewe in the morning Thumper 1001 returns packed with enthusiasts through Roade cutting. The vintage DEMU was running as 1Z07 (hence the headcode numerics) leaving Crewe at 17.16 to return to its home base at Hastings. Rather oddly when this photograph was taken there appeared to be an issue with its horn with it blowing softly and almost continually making for a very odd soundtrack as it passed through the depths of the cutting!
Keywords: 1001 The Hastings Diesel's Crewe 17.16 Crewe-Hastings 1Z07 Roade cutting Hastings Diesel Thumper DEMU

1001, return leg of The Hastings Diesel's Crewe, 17.16 Crewe-Hastings (1Z07), Roade cutting
Hastings Diesel's DEMU set 1001 'thumps' its way through Roade cutting with the returning The Hastings Diesels Crewe (sic) charter that left Crewe at 17.16 for Hastings. At the rear is motor car 60118 now named 'Tunbridge Wells'. This car was actually from BR set 1013 that, like a lot of Hastings Diesels' stock, is a composite from a number of withdrawn sets that the group acquired. Notice that the rear of the train does not carry a red light of any sort with the red louvres in the headcode panel deemed suitable.
Keywords: 1001 The Hastings Diesel's Crewe 17.16 Crewe-Hastings 1Z07 Roade cutting Hastings Diesel Thumper DEMU

390039, VT 17.35 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1A61), Roade cutting
Using my trusty 80-200mm zoom has enabled this condensed view of Roade cutting with Virgin's 390039 passing through it. The Pendolino is working the 17.35 Manchester Piccadilly to Euston 1A61 service.
Keywords: 390039 17.35 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1A61 Roade cutting Virgin Pendolino

Class 221, VT 18.10 London Euston-Chester (1D32), Roade cutting
An unidentified Class 221 Voyager works through Roade cutting with the 18.10 Euston to Chester Virgin service. Notice in this view the up slow banner repeater signal towards the top left of the photograph. This is a digital version of the previously installed mechanical device that warns the drivers of the aspect of the signal placed out of sight around the curve near to the site of the old station.
Keywords: Class 221 18.10 London Euston-Chester 1D32 Roade cutting Virgin Voyager

350127 & 350128, LM 17.54 London Euston-Northampton (2N99), Roade Cutting
The 17.54 Euston to Northampton Saturday evening service passes through Roade cutting close to the end of its journey. It is being worked by a pair of consecutively numbered London Midland Desrios in the form of 350127 and 350128
Keywords: 350127 350128 17.54 London Euston-Northampton 2N99 Roade Cutting London Midland Desiro

350242 & 350120, LM 18.13 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1Y69) & 390032, VT 18.20 London Euston-Manchester Picadilly (1H02), Roade cutting
The timing is not quite spot-on for the perfect framing of the two trains in view as they pass through Roade cutting. 350242 and 350120 are partially obscured by the wiring as they work the 18.13 Euston to Birmingham London Midland service. However, 390120 is just a few metres too far back partially obscured by the stanchion as it works Virgin's 18.20 Euston to Manchester service. Better luck next time!
Keywords: 350242 350120 18.13 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1Y69 390032 18.20 London Euston-Manchester Picadilly 1H02 Roade cutting London MIldand Desiro Virgin Pendolino

350236, LM 17.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (2Y96), Roade cutting
350236 works the 17.54 Birmingham New Street to Euston 2Y96 'all stations' service passes south through Roade cutting. It is being worked by one of the second batch of Class 350 Desiros introduced during 2008 and 2009 ostensively to enable the new Crewe to Euston services running via Stoke-on-Trent and stopping at most of the Trent Valley Line stations.
Keywords: 350236 17.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 2Y96 Roade cutting London Midland Desiro

66563, Willesden-Birmingham International HOBC (6Y15), Roade cutting
The massive and extremely weighty HOBC (High Output Ballast Cleaner) train is seen making its way slowly through Roade cutting led by Freightliner's 66563 with 66547 out of site at the rear. The train was heading for the Birmingham International area from Willesden in order to undertake ballast cleaning as part of a wider engineering programme overnight and through the next day (Sunday).
Keywords: 66563 Willesden-Birmingham International HOBC 6Y15 Roade cutting Freightliner

66547, Willesden-Birmingham International HOBC (6Y15), Roade cutting
The rear of the 6Y15 Willesden to Birmingham International High Output Ballast Cleaner (HOBC) train trails through Roade cutting with 66547 giving it a shove from the rear. This heavy and long train travels around the country to various work sites in order to collect, clean and then deposit the ballast ready for tamping.
Keywords: 66547 Willesden-Birmingham International HOBC 6Y15 Roade cutting High Output Ballast Cleaner HOBC

47790, return leg of The Northern Belle, 17.38 Kensington Olympia-Liverpool Lime Street (1Z53), Roade cutting
The returning Northern Belle charter running as 1Z53 left Kensington Olympia at 17.38 heading back to Liverpool Lime Street. It is seen passing through Roade cutting with 47790 'Galloway Princess' leading. I am not sure who chartered this train and its purpose so if anybody can advise, please do contact me.
Keywords: 47790 The Northern Belle 17.38 Kensington Olympia-Liverpool Lime Street 1Z53 Roade cutting Galloway Princess

47810, return leg of The Northern Belle, 17.38 Kensington Olympia-Liverpool Lime Street (1Z53), Roade cutting
The returning 17.38 Kensington Olympia to Liverpool Lime Street Northern Belle charter passes through Roade cutting. With 47790 'Galloway Princess' opening up at the front of the train and creating a smokescreen 47810 'Peter Bath MBE' is dragged along at the rear dead in tow. If anybody can enlighten me as to why this train ran please get in contact as there appear to be no contemporary records.
Keywords: 47810 The Northern Belle, 17.38 Kensington Olympia-Liverpool Lime Street 1Z53 Roade cutting Peter Bath MBE

Images 1-31 of 31 displayed.