51. A Staffordshire stravaig-01.09.21

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2021 > 51. A Staffordshire stravaig-01.09.21

On yet another grey day, one of what seemed like a week’s worth, I went out with Andy for a day around north Staffordshire travelling in his Nissan Micra that I had just managed to MoT for him at work. This is a section of the network that I have never ‘linesided’ but one that I have travelled on many, many times. It was even more appealing in places as there are sections of it that have not succumbed to the dreaded palisade fencing that always seems curious to me. It also offered a lot of freight opportunities many of which were different to my usual digest of Freightliners that I see further south on the WCML close to home!

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Images 1-25 of 25 displayed.

66551, 09.31 Crewe Basford Hall-Southampton MCT (4O35, 7L), Norton Bridge SJ869302
66551 leads the 09.31 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Freightliner train that has just left its start point some seventeen miles north of this location near to Norton Bridge. To the left of the train notice the former down slow line that is now out of use but not lifted. This was rendered redundant after the opening of the flying junction and huge engineering programme to achieve grade separation at the original Norton Bridge flat junction a short distance behind where I am standing.
Keywords: 66551 09.31 Crewe Basford Hall-Southampton MCT 4O35 Norton Bridge SJ869302 Freightliner

350123 & 350250, LN 10.05 Birmingham New Street-Liverpool Lime Street (1F38, RT), Norton Bridge SJ867303
350123 and 350250 rush past Norton Junction working the 10.05 Birmingham New Street to Liverpool 1F38 service. Until the opening of heavily revised Norton Bridge Junction back in 2016 the lines here were the standard two fast and two slow, now they are all designated as 'fast'.
Keywords: 350123 350250 10.05 Birmingham New Street-Liverpool Lime Street 1F38 Norton Bridge SJ867303 London North Western Desiro

66117, 09.15 Trafford Park-Southampton Western Docks (4O21, 3E), Norton Bridge SJ867303
66117 brightens an otherwise grey and dull morning leading the 09.15 Trafford Park to Southampton Freightliner service. The two bridges in the background were constructed between 2014 and 2016 as part of the grade separation programme to rebuild Norton Bridge Junction. The first bridge directly behind the train is designated ‘5’ and it carries the double tracks of the route to Stone and Stoke whilst the second bridge, ‘5a’ carries the re-routed B5026 road that used to cross the bridge that I am standing on.
Keywords: 66117 09.15 Trafford Park-Southampton Western Docks 4O21 Norton Bridge SJ867303 DB

Signage, former Norton Bridge station
Despite being formally closed in December 2017 with no trains having called since May 2004 there is still signage in place issued by London Northwestern. This sign is situated in the former station car park with some original spiked railings still extant.
Keywords: Signage former Norton Bridge station

Former Norton Bridge station
It is surprising that the remaining single island platform at Norton Bridge station is still in existence given that it has received no stopping trans since the end of the winter 2003/2004 timetable. The lines have recently been extensively remodelled with the completion of the revised junction arrangements so I would have thought that the opportunity would have been taken to remove them unless there are plans to reopen it that the rest of us know nothing about!
Keywords: Former Norton Bridge station

66761, 07.38 Clitheroe Castle Cement-Avonmouth Hanson (6V84,13L), Norton Bridge SJ875290
66761 ‘Wensleydale Railway Association 25 Years 1990-2015’ passes Norton Bridge leading the 6V84 07.38 Clitheroe to Avonmouth cement train. It was really interesting to be out photographing on a different section of the WCML and see a different variety of freight services such as this one rather than the more mundane Freightliners.
Keywords: 66761 07.38 Clitheroe Castle Cement-Avonmouth Hanson 6V84 Norton Bridge SJ875290 GBRf Wensleydale Railway Association 25 Years 1990-2015

66430, 11.58 Crewe Basford Hall-Cliffe Hill Stud Fm Quarry (6F76, 20E), Hatton Mill bridge SJ822372
66430 takes the up slow line past Hatton Mill bridge a remote spot in the Staffordshire countryside between Crewe and Stafford. It is leading the 11.58 Crewe Basford Hall to Cliffe Hill Stud Farm near Coalville in Leicestershire. On arrival, the empty box wagons will be filled with tons of stone that will be used by Network Rail.
Keywords: 66430 11.58 Crewe Basford Hall-Cliffe Hill Stud Fm Quarry 6F76 Hatton Mill bridge SJ822372 DRS

390112, VT 11.10 London Euston-Glasgow Central (1S58, 1E), Stableford bridge
390112 heads north past Stableford working the 11.10 London Euston to Glasgow Central. It has started raining by this time adding further misery to an incredibly dull and grey day!
Keywords: 390112 11.10 London Euston-Glasgow Central 1S58 Stableford bridge Avanti West Coast Pendolino

66766, 09.52 Small Heath-Hindlow (4H61, 37L), Stableford bridge
Another rake of JNA wagons heads towards their destination to be filled with tons of stone. In this case, passing Stableford led by a smart-looking 66766 it is the 4H61 09.52 Small Heath to Hindlow quarry located just south of Buxton high in the Peak District.
Keywords: 66766 09.52 Small Heath-Hindlow 4H61 Stableford bridge GBRf

350233 & 350260, LN 12.33 Crewe-London Euston (1U30, RT), Stableford bridge
The 12.23 Crewe to Birmingham New Street London Northwestern service has recently left its starting point and is seen passing Stableford in northern Staffordshire. The train is being worked by Desiros 350233 and 350260.
Keywords: 350233 350260 12.33 Crewe-London Euston 1U30 Stableford bridge London Northwestern Desiro

66431, 12.22 Crewe Basford Hall-Bescot Yard (6G94, 32L), Stableford bridge
GBRf’s 66431 leads the 12.22 Crewe Basford Hall to Bescot Yard infrastructure move past Stableford a few miles south of its starting point. The Class 66 is towing a lone Railcare owned combined ‘Railvac’ cable handling and cleaning unit. These units are nothing more than a glorified vacuum that sucks up ballast and can, if then required clean it and return it again. This is usually in order to permit staff access to buried cables along the sides of the track.
Keywords: 66431, 12.22 Crewe Basford Hall-Bescot Yard 6G94 Stableford bridge DRS Direct Rail Services

Manor Road bridge, site of Madeley Road station SJ776422
Under the sea of nettles and deep in the undergrowth is a railway track that is still connected to the WCML and technically open. This is all that remains of the western outpost of the North Staffordshire line that ended at Market Drayton. I am actually standing on the remains of the long-closed Madeley Road station that was closed by the LMS in 1931. The track deep in the undergrowth last carried coal trains to and from Silverdale colliery that shut in 1998. The section of track acting as a giant headshunt permitting access to the WCML a short distance away.
Keywords: Manor Road bridge site of Madeley Road station SJ776422

Former track, site of Madeley Road station SJ776422
With brambles having taken over the trackbed the lines that once carried coal trains to and from Silverdale colliery are still extant at the site of Madley Road station. The colliery closed in 1998 when the trains will have ceased so it is strange that the infrastructure has not been removed. Indeed, it is still connected to the WCML with a colour light visible when passing on trains at the point where the line diverges.
Keywords: Former track site of Madeley Road station SJ776422

Manor Road bridge, former entrance to Madeley Road station SJ776422
Taken from Manor Road that links Madeley with the A53 road is the access to the former Madeley Road station (closed 20.07.1931). Despite no trains having run on the lines that remain deep in the completely overgrown cutting for over twenty years signage and padlocked gates remain the order of the day! The line that once linked the Potteries with Market Drayton (for connections to the Nantwich & Market Drayton and GWR Railways beyond) is truncated a short distance behind me was last in use to carry coal from Silverdale colliery but it is still officially connected to the WCML.
Keywords: Manor Road bridge former entrance to Madeley Road station SJ776422

88003, 12.16 DIRFT-Mossend (4S44, 2E), Madeley SJ773439
88003 ‘Genesis’ leads the 4S44 12.16 Daventry (DIRFT) to Mossend intermodal working past Madeley in Staffordshire. The Class of ten locomotives have not all been named as yet but those that have carry names in homage to the EM1 and EM2 DC electric locomotives of the 1950s; a nice touch from their operator Notice the overbridge in the distance, this carries the former North Staffordshire line over the WCML that is still rail connected that was last used back in 1998 to carry coal from Silverdale colliery.
Keywords: 88003,12.16 DIRFT-Mossend 4S44 Madeley SJ773439 DRS Direct Rail Services Genesis

66757, 09.15 Tunstead-Northampton Castle Yard (6B92, 15L) & 390050, VT 12.55 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1A35, 5E), Madeley SJ773439
The race is on! At Madeley just south of Crewe GBRf’s 66757 ‘West Somerset Railway’ leads the 09.15 Tunstead to Northampton Castle Yard loaded stone train whilst the 12.55 Manchester Piccadilly to Euston Avanti service passes it on the up fast line worked by 390050. It is tricky locations such as this where the camera’s flip-out screen is absolutely invaluable with me able to poke the camera through the palisade fencing to secure an interesting photograph.
Keywords: 66757 09.15 Tunstead-Northampton Castle Yard 6B92 390050 12.55 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1A35 Madeley SJ773439 GBRF Avanti West Coast Pendolino West Somerset Railway

18. 66757, 09.15 Tunstead-Northampton Castle Yard (6B92, 15L) & 390050, VT 12.55 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1A35, 5E), Madeley SJ773439
66757 ‘West Somerset Railway’ leads the 6B52 09.15 Tunstead Colliery to Northampton Castle Yard loaded stone train past Madeley in north Staffordshire. To its left, the 12.55 Manchester to Euston Avanti service passes worked by 390050.
Keywords: 66757 09.15 Tunstead-Northampton Castle Yard 6B92 390050 12.55 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1A35 Madeley SJ773439 GBRF Avanti West Coast Pendolino West Somerset Railway

350116 & 350258, LN 11.46 London Euston-Crewe (1U33, 2L), Den bridge SJ742477
The view south from Den bridge as seen here is an interesting one despite a seemingly ordinary vista. To the left of the electrification masts on the left-hand side of the photograph lies the county of Staffordshire whilst the running lines and everything to the right is all in Cheshire. Indeed, the county boundary follows this side of the line for a couple of miles southwards before diverging off to the west then following Checkley Brook. 350116 and 350258 pass this spot working the 11.46 Euston to Crew service that will arrive at its destination in five minute’s time.
Keywords: 350116 350258 11.46 London Euston-Crewe 1U33 Den bridge SJ742477 London Northwestern Desiro

768001 & 319373, 13.17 Nuneaton-Crewe (2L), Casey Lane SJ720519
Orion Logistics are continuing to test their units and undertake staff training in preparation for the launch of their innovative freight services in the autumn. Approaching the end of a run down the WCML 768001 and 319373 work the 13.17 Nuneaton to Crewe training run. The train is seen approaching Casey bridge just to the south of Basford Hall.
Keywords: 768001 319373 13.17 Nuneaton-Crewe 2L Casey Lane SJ720519 Orion Logistics

66517, 08.01 Felixstowe North-Crewe Basford Hall (4M81, 12E), Casey Lane SJ720519
One of the numerous local enthusiasts who had positioned themselves at Casey bridge just south of Basford Hall Junction told us that they manage to trim and strim the top of the embankment to the right in this image but that they cannot get to the lower slopes due to being in view of signalman in Basford Hall signal box just north of the bridge. By the end of the summer, the bank is fairly tall with various grasses that do spoil the view of trains on the down slow closest to it as seen here. 66517 approaches Basford Hall at an almost walking pace where it will terminate with the 4M81 08.01 from Felixstowe.
Keywords: 66517 08.01 Felixstowe North-Crewe Basford Hall 4M81 Casey Lane SJ720519 Freightliner

66130, 13.15 Trafford Park-London Gateway (4L56, 19E), Casey Lane SJ720519
Having paused in Basford Hall the 4L56 13.25 Trafford Park to London gateway gets underway again hauled by 66130. It is passing the 1897 LNWR Basford Hall Junction signal box that despite all the technology available still manually controls all traffic in and out of the south end of the massive yard.
Keywords: 66130 13.15 Trafford Park-London Gateway 4L56 Casey Lane SJ720519 DB

350375, LN 14.05 Liverpool Lime Street-Birmingham New Street (4G17, RT), Casey Lane SJ720519
Since my last visit to Casey bridge just south of Crewe’s Basford Hall yard in 2016 the signal box appears to have met with a mishap with most of its sign now missing, see….. https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/25724357604/basford-hall-junction-signal-box 350375 leads another unit as they head south past the box working the 14.05 Liverpool to Birmingham New Street train.
Keywords: 350375 14.05 Liverpool LSime Street Birmingham New Street (4G17, RT), Casey Lane SJ720519London Northwestern Desiro

68007, 57303, 37407, 37038 & 37218, 09.12 Eastleigh Arlington-Gresty Bridge (0X39, 5E), Casey Lane SJ720519
Andy and I had been waiting around for this particular cavalcade to make its way past us here at Casey bridge at the southern access to Crewe’s Basford Hall. Running as 0X39 68007 ‘Valiant’ leads 57303, 37407 ‘Blackpool Tower’, 37038 and 37218 into the huge yard complex to make their way to the far north-west side into the DRS depot. The locomotives had run from Eastleigh’s Arlington plant leaving at 09.12 giving fellow enthusiasts plenty of time to post on the various forums keeping the rest of us informed as to its progress.
Keywords: 68007 57303 37407 37038 37218 09.12 Eastleigh Arlington-Gresty Bridge 0X39 Casey Lane SJ720519 Valiant Blackpool Tower

350114, LN 16.33 Crewe-London Euston (1U38, RT) & 221109, VT 13.58 Holyhead-London Euston (1A48, 1E), Crewe station
My final photograph of the day and a pretty tame one it is too! Whilst 350114 waits to leave with the 16.33 London Northwestern service to Euston Avanti’s 221109 gets away with the 13.58 Holyhead to Euston train. Both trains will take identical routes on their respective journeys to the capital but ultimately, the Voyager will arrive first (by over an hour) with faster operating speeds and fewer stops.
Keywords: 350114 16.33 Crewe-London Euston 1U38 221109 13.58 Holyhead-London Euston 1A48 Crewe station London Northwestern Desiro Avanti West Coast Voyager

Images 1-25 of 25 displayed.