25. A delve around Doncaster-17.05.21

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2021 > 25. A delve around Doncaster-17.05.21

On the day that the government's COVID 19 lockdown restrictions were eased slightly Andy and I took advantage by taking a day out. We decided to head for the Doncaster area to capture some freight action and whilst we did get some it was not as prevalent as we had hoped for. Another 2021 spring day with cool temperatures found us dodging yet more showers!

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Images 1-29 of 29 displayed.

Maltby Colliery South signal box (GC, 1912)
Looking largely intact but very dilapidated Maltby Colliery South signal box still operates a suite of mechanical signals at an approximate midway point on a rather winding section of line between Shireoaks and Kirk Sandall. As its name would suggest, this former Great Central box, dating from 1912, once controlled access to the adjacent colliery that was closed by Hargreaves Services plc during April 2013. As the line is a useful diversionary route for freight it has survived following the cessation of coal traffic but trains traversing the line are few, for example on the day of our visit three trains were timetabled to run but none actually did meaning that the signalman had a very quiet day on his hands.
Keywords: Maltby Colliery South signal box GC Great Central

Signalling, Maltby Colliery South
The former South Yorkshire Joint Railway left the Midland's Nottingham to Worksop line at Brancliffe Junction heading north via a winding route joining the South Yorkshire Railway's route at Kirk Sandall Junction. On its way, it linked a number of collieries making it a very busy route for many years. Now all the collieries have closed with Malby being the last one to do so in April 2013. The lines that once went into the colliery complex are seen here to the right complete with associated signalling. However, no trains will have traversed these tracks for a number of years since the closure of the colliery hence the rusty rail head and weed encrouchment.
Keywords: Signalling Maltby Colliery South Great Central South Yorkshire Joint Railway

3. Maltby Colliery South signal box (GC, 1912)
The rear of Maltby Colliery South signal box is seen from the nearby road. Built by the Great Central in 1912 the box is a remarkable survivor given that the line it is located on sees very little traffic now that all coal operations have ceased. However, the tokenless block (TB) section could see an increase in traffic as there are new freight flows planned associated with the nearby Doncaster iport terminal.
Keywords: Maltby Colliery South signal box Great Central

801202, GR 09.03 London King's Cross-Leeds (1D07, RT), Penny's crossing SK630970
Andy and I were somewhat surprised to find Azuma operation almost back to normal following the previous week's debacle that led to the temporary withdrawal of the entire fleet along with all other types elsewhere in the country due to frame cracking. Whilst GWR have still struggled to get their sets back in service the LNER sets, which are considerably newer than their IET counterparts, appear to have fared better. 801202 works the 09.03 King's Cross to Leeds service past Penny's Lane near New Rossington.
Keywords: 801202 09.03 London King's Cross-Leeds 1D07 Penny's crossing SK630970 LNER Azuma

801103 & 801109, GR 10.02 York-London King's Cross (1Y82, 3L), Penny's crossing SK630970
A pair of LNER Azumas in the form of 801103 and 801109 head south past Penny's Lane just south of New Rossington near Doncaster working the 10.02 York to King's Cross service.
Keywords: 801103 801109 10.02 York-London King's Cross 1Y82 Penny's crossing SK630970 LNER Azuma

801104 & 801106, GR 10.15 Leeds-London King's Cross (1A22, 3E), Penny's crossing SK630970
801104 and 804106 pick up speed south of Doncaster working the 1A22 10.15 Leeds to King's Cross LNER service. The photograph is taken from Penny's foot crossing near Great Rossington, a popular and busy crossing for dog walkers and the like judging by the numbers using it during our visit.
Keywords: 801104 801106 10.15 Leeds-London King's Cross 1A22 Penny's crossing SK630970 LNER Azuma

800110, GR 08.00 Edinburgh Waverley-London King's Cross (1E06, 1E), Penny's crossing SK630970
The 08.00 Edinburgh to King's Cross LNER service is some two hundred and forty-three miles into its journey here at Penny's foot crossing a short distance south of Doncaster. It is being worked by Azuma 800110 that, in this view, reveals the jacking points attached to the side of body structure underneath the doors that was where the cracking was discovered that caused the entire fleet to be withdrawn from service for investigation.
Keywords: 800110 08.00 Edinburgh Waverley-London King's Cross 1E06 Penny's crossing SK630970 LNER Azuma

801102 & 801112, GR 09.30 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley (1S10, RT), Penny's crossing SK630970
From this low angle, one cannot help to admire the design and the 'look' of the Hitachi Class 800 Azumas even more so in the red and white livery of the state-controlled and run LNER company. 801102 and 801112 head north past Penny's crossing near the village of Great Rossington (Doncaster) working the 1S10 09.30 King's Cross to Edinburgh service.
Keywords: 801102 801112 09.30 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley 1S10 Penny's crossing SK630970 LNER Azuma

801219, GR 09.33 London King's Cross-Leeds (1D08, 1E), Penny's crossing SK630970
Andy will be hoping that he has secured a good photograph of 801219 at Penny's crossing near Great Rossington on his elderly Canon D60 camera. With its maximum 1/1000th second shutter speed he'll be struggling to keep the Azuma, working the 09.33 King's Cross to Leeds LNER service, free from motion blur.
Keywords: 801219 09.33 London King's Cross-Leeds 1D08 Penny's crossing SK630970 LNER Azuma

800109, GR 10.00 London King's Cross-Aberdeen (1W11, 3E), Penny's crossing SK630970
800109 works the 10.00 King's Cross to Aberdeen LNER train past Penny's crossing near the South Yorkshire village of Great Rossington.
Keywords: 800109 10.00 London King's Cross-Aberdeen 1W11 Penny's crossing SK630970 LNER Azuma

43309 & 43295, 10.49 Neville Hill-Ely Papworth Sidings (RT), Penny's foot crossing SK630970
This is what Andy and I had been waiting at Penny's crossing just south of Great Rossington for! Following its retirement from operations on the MML two days previously, (see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30014749310/x43309-18-34-london-st-pancras-leeds) the remnants of set NL58 (43309, 44061, 40750, 42146, 42238 and 43295) head south back on the ECML once again for one last hoorah! Amid a blow on the horn and a wave from the driver the 10.49 Neville Hill to Ely Papworth sidings working makes its way for storage with it having come off lease over the weekend. Notice that staff at the Leeds depot have already been at work removing its temporary EMR branding. The power cars and the stock now face a very uncertain future but I suspect that the cutter's torch beckons sooner than later!
Keywords: 43309 43295 10.49 Neville Hill-Ely Papworth Sidings Penny's foot crossing SK630970 EMR HST

66719, 11.38 Masborough-Felixstowe North (4L11, 5E), Bessacarr Junction
The things that we do in pursuit of our hobby! In absolutely torrential rain GBRf's 66719 'Metro-Land' leads the 4L11 11.38 Masborough to Felixstowe North Freightliner past Bessacarr Junction. The train is just descending from the flyover that avoids it having to physically interfere with the busy ECML just south of Doncaster. It is about to join the former Great Northern & Great Eastern Joint Railway route to Lincoln via Gainsborough. It will then take the Great Northern route back to the ECML again at Peterborough via Spalding.
Keywords: 66719 11.38 Masborough-Felixstowe North 4L11 Bessacarr Junction Metro-Land GBRf Freightliner

156414, EM 10.28 Peterborough-Doncaster (2K10, RT), Bessacarr Junction
In appalling weather 156414 works the 10.28 Peterborough to Doncaster service on the approach to its destination at Bessacarr Junction. Notice that the unit is completely devoid of any branding. I am not sure as to why this is as it has been an EMR/EMT unit for many years?
Keywords: 156414 10.28 Peterborough-Doncaster (2K10, RT), Bessacarr Junction

66080, 11.10 Scunthorpe Roxby Gullet-Rossington Loading Point (6D55, 16E), Bentley station
Completing its near one hundred and eighty-degree move now heading south-east the 6D55 11.10 Scunthorpe Roxby Gullet to Rossington loading point is seen returning composed of a rake of empty MBA monster box wagons. The return working will be carrying spoil from the site of the former Rossington colliery that is now being redeveloped for a vast new housing development. The train is seen crawling through Bentley station with 66080 at the helm. I was really pleased to capture this locomotive as it represents a photographic cop.
Keywords: 66080 11.10 Scunthorpe Roxby Gullet-Rossington Loading Point 6D55 Bentley station

800203, GR 12.45 Leeds-London King's Cross (1A30, 1L), Bentley station
Running very slowly on caution signals behind the preceding 6D65 freight LNER's 800203 passes through Bentley station on the approach to Doncaster. It is working the 12.45 Leeds to King's Cross that did not suffer unduly from the delay only arriving one minute adrift into London later in the afternoon.
Keywords: 800203 12.45 Leeds-London King's Cross 1A30 Bentley station LNER Azuma

801024, GR 11.01 Edinburgh Waverley-London King's Cross (1E12, 1L), Joan Croft Junction
The closure of the level crossing a Joan Croft Junction in 2014 necessitated the construction of a large overbridge for the little traffic using the minor road linking the tiny village of Thorpe in Balne with the busy A19. Whilst the bridge is certainly not an attractive affair being built to Network Rail's latest standards its approach embankments do offer some superb views of the ECML. Taken from the east side of the bridge 801024 heads south with the 11.01 Edinburgh to King's Cross 1E12 LNER service. Just visible above the fourth carriage of the train to the left of the vast pylon is the steeple of the former All Saints Church in the tiny hamlet of Haywood. It is now a private residence very close to the ECML but what a place to live, see...... https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/inside-beautiful-church-transformed-stunning-19331791. Coincidentally, back in the summer of 1978 I camped near the hamlet while photographing Deltics on the ECML with Graham, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/25410464804/campsite-haywood
Keywords: 801024 11.01 Edinburgh Waverley-London King's Cross 1E12 Joan Croft Junction LNER Azuma

185124, TP 13.40 Doncaster-York Siemens (5D98, RT), Joan Croft Junction
TransPennine Express' 185124 passes Joan Croft Junction working the 13.40 Doncaster to York Siemens empty stock move. I suspect that the unit was heading to the York depot for maintenance or an exam. of some kind. Standing in a slightly more elevated position on the new bridge's embankment than in the last photograph enables a South Yorkshire landmark to be seen on the skyline in the form of the closed Eggborough power station. Its six cooling towers no longer emit steam into the skyscape as it closed in March 2018 but as yet it has not been demolished unlike its near neighbour Ferrybridge that was razed to the ground in 2019, see..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGk5nq5htPk
Keywords: 185124 TP 13.40 Doncaster-York Siemens 5D98 Joan Croft Junction TPE TransPennine Express

180103, GC 11.53 Sunderland-London King's Cross (1A65, 3L), Joan Croft Junction
The 11.53 Sunderland to London King's Cross Grand Central service approaches Joan Croft Junction worked by 180103. The photograph is taken from the western side of the new bridge embankment that was opened in 2014 following the closure of the nearby level crossing. Notice the steam being emitted from Drax power station in the background. Of South Yorkshire's 'big three' Drax was the largest having a capacity of 3960 MW burning a combination of biomass and petcoke (petroleum coke) delivered by rail. The other two power stations, Ferrybridge and Eggborough, have both been closed with the former in the process of being cleared.
Keywords: 180103 11.53 Sunderland-London King's Cross 1A65 Joan Croft Junction Grand Central

Former level crossing post, Joan Croft Junction
When the manually controlled level crossing at Joan Croft Junction was closed in 2014 the nearby bridge, constructed to Network Rail's latest specifications, was then able to carry the infrequent road traffic that used the minor road. The crossing infrastructure was removed and the road blocked by a combination of palisade fencing and an access gate. However, strangely one of the large iron posts on which one of the gates were hung and from which it swung remained in place. Now looking rather rusty and dilapidated it is a reminder of what used to be here.
Keywords: Former level crossing post Joan Croft Junction

170473, NT 13.57 Sheffield-Scarborough (1W46, 1L), Cuckoo bridge SE660116
It took Andy and me a little time to reach this location near the village of Stainforth that I had identified using the Ordnance Survey map. With a landscaped spoil heap in the background, Northern's 170473 passes with the 13.57 Sheffield to Scarborough service. On arrival at Hull, the unit will then reverse and take the scenic coastal route to its destination via Bridlington. This unit is one of those cascaded from Scotrail that I have previously photographed north of the border, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/25778353004/x170473-09-00-glasgow-central-edinburgh
Keywords: 170473 13.57 Sheffield-Scarborough 1W46 Cuckoo bridge SE660116 Northern

185108, TP 13.26 Cleethorpes-Manchester Piccadilly (1B81, 2L), Cuckoo bridge SE660116
The 13.26 Cleethorpes to Manchester Piccadilly TPE service passes Cukoo bridge near the village of Stainforth worked by 185108. It is travelling on one of four interlinked tracks that run side by side for the relatively short distance from Thorne Junction to Kirk Sandall Junction. Whilst this scene is essentially rural in nature behind the camera is the remains of Hatfield colliery that finally closed in the summer of 2015.
Keywords: 185108 13.26 Cleethorpes-Manchester Piccadilly 1B81 Cuckoo bridge SE660116

158789, NT 13.53 Hull-Doncaster (2C64, 11L), Cuckoo bridge SE660116
A wide-angle view from the oddly named Cukoo bridge near Stainforth sees 158789 approaching working the 13.53 Hull to Doncaster Northern service. Between the bridge abutment and the hawthorn (crataegus monogyna) is the vast area of heavily rutted and puddle filled flat land that was previously occupied by railway sidings in connection with the removal of coal from the site by rail. I am not as to why some vandal has painted out the bridge identification plate with black paint?
Keywords: 158789 13.53 Hull-Doncaster 2C64 Cuckoo bridge SE660116

66758, 14.02 Scunthorpe Roxby Gullet-Collyhurst Street (6M59, 38L), Cuckoo bridge SE660116
Another example of a well kept GBRf Class 66 in the form of 66758 'The Pavior'. It is seen passing Cukoo bridge near Stainforth with the 6M59 Roxby Gullet to Collyhurst Street (Manchester) empties. On arrival in Manchester, the wagons are filled with waste that is then taken to Scunthorpe where it is used as landfill. Notice in this photograph that it has started to rain again and looking at the black clouds approaching behind it looks as though Andy and I were in for a soaking!
Keywords: 66758 14.02 Scunthorpe Roxby Gullet-Collyhurst Street 6M59 Cuckoo bridge SE660116 The Pavior

185115 & 185112, TP 14.26 Cleethorpes-Manchester Piccadilly (1B83, RT), Cuckoo bridge SE660116
To quote the 1981 single by Supertramp, 'it's raining again'! TPE's 185115 and 186112 are seen near Stainforth taken from a large and remote bridge adjacent to the former Hatfield colliery. The two units are working the 14.26 Cleethorpes to Manchester Piccadilly service.
Keywords: 185115 185112 14.26 Cleethorpes-Manchester Piccadilly 1B83 Cuckoo bridge SE660116TransPennine Express

158791, 14.42 Hull-Doncaster (2C66, 2E), Cuckoo bridge SE660116
With the sun just back out again between torrential showers a Northern Express Sprinter in the form of 158791 passes Cukoo bridge near Stainforth working the 14.42 Hull to Doncaster local service. Dating from 1990 these BREL built units have proved to be reliable in operation and for a design that is over thirty years old they are still going well!
Keywords: 158791 14.42 Hull-Doncaster 2C66 Cuckoo bridge SE660116 Northern Express Sprinter

66039, 08.09 Dollands Moor-Scunthorpe Redbourn (4E26, RT), Cuckoo bridge SE660116
To the right in this photograph at Stainforth, there were once a number of lines following the path of the concrete reinforcement panels that led towards the coal mine loading point that can be seen on the skyline. 66039 leads the 08.09 Dollands Moor to Scunthorpe Redbourn empty steel flats working as it closes in on its destination. The train was progressing at a little more than walking pace as the driver was anticipating getting the feather at Thorne Junction without having to bring his train to an actual halt; unfortunately, the signalman had other ideas!
Keywords: 66039 08.09 Dollands Moor-Scunthorpe Redbourn 4E26 Cuckoo bridge SE660116 EWS

222102, EM 17.33 Sheffield-London St. Pancras (1C80, RT), Dronfield station
On our way home from South Yorkshire in Andy's ageing but trusty Nissan Micra (2002 vintage), we dived off the M1 as Andy needed to visit a couple of stations yet to be underlined in his rail atlas. By the time we reached Dronfield on the MML the evening sun had come out and 222102 is captured passing at speed with the 17.33 Sheffield to St. Pancras service.
Keywords: 222102 17.33 Sheffield-London St. Pancras 1C80 Dronfield station EMR East Midlands Railway Meridian

156497, EM 18.14 Matlock-Nottingham (2A37, 1E) & 156922 EM 17.54 Nottingham-Matlock (2A32, RT), Belper station
A crossing of services takes place at Belper station. To the left 156497 pauses with the 18.14 Matlock to Nottingham 2A37 EMR service. Meanwhile, to the right 156922 is waiting for the RA with the 17.54 Nottingham to Matlock balancing working. After a day of avoiding torrential rain showers, it's ironic that the sun is in the ascendency with a glorious sunset later in the evening!
Keywords: 156497 18.14 Matlock-Nottingham 2A37 156922 17.54 Nottingham-Matlock 2A32 Belper station EMR East Midlands Railway

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