67. A fistful of freights-25.10.21

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2021 > 67. A fistful of freights-25.10.21

With a Monday off work on my hands and the threat of some sunshine, I had a look at RTT to see what was about passing through my home village. There was plenty of normal freight scheduled but with the addition of a number of other interesting workings. I made a number of short trips out at different times during the day to capture some of the activity.

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Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.

67006 & 67005, 10.18 Db Cargo Fan A & B sidings-Burton Ot Wetmore sidings ECS (5Z71, 1E), Ashton Road bridge
Having worked The Yellow Submarine charter on the previous Saturday 67006 'Queen's Messenger' leads the returning empty stock move back to Burton-on-Trent with 67005 'Royal Sovereign' on the rear. Running as the 5Z71 10.18 Db Cargo (Wembley) to Burton ot Wetmore the train is seen approaching Roade on the down slow line. Ironically, the photograph of the ECS working is infinitely better than the one of the actual charter taken two days earlier, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30021055305/x67006-67005-yellow-submarine-07
Keywords: 67006 67005 10.18 Db Cargo Fan A & B sidings-Burton Ot Wetmore sidings ECS 5Z71 Ashton Road bridge Royal Sovereign Queen's Messenger

66587, 11.43 DIRFT-Wembley Yard LE (0Z32, 3E), site of Roade station
The 'pink one' 66587 'As One We Can' runs light engine through Roade past the site of the former station. It was running as the 0Z32 11.43 Daventry (DIRFT) to Wembley light engine move. This is part of Freightliner's plans to work out of Daventry once again and are therefore running from Daventry to Wembley and return a couple of times each day for driver training.
Keywords: 66587 11.43 DIRFT-Wembley Yard Light engine 0Z32 site of Roade station As One We Can

165123, 09.40 Reading Traincare Depot-Wolverton Centre Sidings (5Q70, 29E), site of Roade station
With the driver taking a very relaxed posture in the cab of 165123 and well he may as the train he's driving is approaching journey's end after a rather convoluted run from Reading! The Great Western Railway unit is running as 5Q70 the 09.40 Reading to Wolverton where it will receive attention in the works.
Keywords: 165123 09.40 Reading Traincare Depot-Wolverton Centre Sidings 5Q70 site of Roade station GWR Great Western Railway

66598, 08.45 Ipswich-Lawley Street (4M94, 3E), site of Roade station
The 4M94 Freightliner is seen being led past Roade under rather gloomy skies by 66598. I have a number of photographs of this particular locomotive but most are in other parts of the country including Barnetby and Doncaster.
Keywords: 66598 08.45 Ipswich-Lawley Street 4M94 site of Roade station Freightliner

165122, 14.03 Wolverton Centre Sidings-Reading Traincare Depot (5Q71, 21E), site of Roade station
Following the delivery of 165123 earlier previously numbered 165122 heads back home to GWR metals via a rather strange route to Coventry (reversal), Leamington Spa and Oxford. Quite why it did not travel via London remains a mystery but at least it meant the odd scene of a GWR unit on the WCML running as 5Q71, 14.03 Wolverton to Reading.
Keywords: 165122 14.03 Wolverton Centre Sidings-Reading Traincare Depot 5Q71 site of Roade station Great Western Railway GWR

68011, 37419 & 37423, 10.16 Crewe Gresty Bridge-Willesden Yard (0Z19, 14L), site of Roade station
An interesting trio of locomotives heads south past the site of Roade's former station. The more modern 68011 leads and provides the power towing 37419 'Carl Haviland 1954-2012' with 37423 'Spirit of the lakes' at the rear. With DRS set to dispose of virtually all of its 'classic' locomotives with them being put up for tender, it is likely that they will soon be a memory for us enthusiasts with the sounds of English Electric engines to be lost.
Keywords: 68011 37419 37423 10.16 Crewe Gresty Bridge-Willesden Yard (0Z19, 14L), site of Roade station Carl Haviland 1954-2012 Spirit of the lakes

701035 & 47749, 10.00 Derby Litchurch Lane-Wimbledon Park Depot (5Q90, 54L), site of Roade station
Looking very smart and making its first run out on the mainline 701035 is towed southwards past the site of Roade station. It will soon arrive (if rather late!) at Wimbledon Depot facing a very uncertain future. Despite deliveries of these Aventra units commencing in early 2020 none have entered service yet. COVID delayed trails and staff training last year but issues have since emerged pertaining to their software and practicalities relating to sighting. Rather like the delayed introduction of the Class 385s in Scotland back in 2018 the unions have blacked the units until modifications are made. Whilst the 385s had redesigned windscreens due to internal reflection issues with the 701s it is the parked windscreen wipers obstructing the view of signalling! I really do not understand how such a seemingly simple issue as this was not recognised and dealt with at the pre-production mock up stage? And as for the software issues....don't get me started on that one!
Keywords: 701035 47749 10.00 Derby Litchurch Lane-Wimbledon Park Depot 5Q90 site of Roade station City of Truro Aventra SWR South Western Railway

66560, 12.16 Lawley Street-London Gateway (4L46, 1L), site of Roade station
66560 passes the site of Roade station heading south with the daily 4M16 12.16 Lawley Street to London Gateway Freightliner. The inclusion of a ONE box immediately behind the locomotive certainly raises colours in this image where, unfortunately, the sun had just gone behind a cloud.
Keywords: 66560 12.16 Lawley Street-London Gateway 4L46 site of Roade station Freightliner

66618, 13.20 Willesden Yard-Tunstead (6H50, 5E), site of Roade station
66618 'Railways Illustrated-Annual Photographic Awards' leads the 13.20 Willesden Yard to Tunstead empty stone wagons running as 6H65. Stone trains are not particularly common on the WCML but with HS2 activity ramping up more freight of this type is now becoming far more frequent. Notice the tatty nature of the front end of this 2003 Class 66. The rust staining below the windscreens is an all too common issue with these locomotives most likely caused by poor sealing and a lack of attention paid to the surround flanges.
Keywords: 66618 13.20 Willesden Yard-Tunstead 6H50 site of Roade station Railways Illustrated - Annual Photographic Awards

390112, VT 13.43 London Euston-Blackpool North (9P77, RT), site of Roade station
Under a dramatic skyscape that I have tried to include as much of as possible by turning the camera to a portrait orrientation. 390112 passes the site of Roade's former station working the 9P77 13.43 Euston to Blackpool North Avanti service.
Keywords: 390112 13.43 London Euston-Blackpool North 9P77 site of Roade station Avanti West Coast Pendolino

66568, 09.12 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park (4M63, 1L), site of Roade station
With the afternoon sunshine getting low in the sky by the end of October the tall trees that line this location at the site of Roade's former station are creating some troublesome shadows that need careful photographic 'dodging'! With 66598 in the sun but with the payload in the shade the ensemble passes working the 4M63 09.12 Felixstowe to Trafford Park Freightliner service.
Keywords: 66568 09.12 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park 4M63 site of Roade station Freightliner

66559, 09.14 Southampton MCT-Garston (4M58, 2L), site of Roade station
The 09.14 Southampton to Garston Freightliner running as 4M58 passes the site of Roade station with 66559 leading. Despite the cloud, it was a pleasantly warm afternoon for the end of October and with a steady south-westerly wind it did not stay cloudy for very long!
Keywords: 66559 09.14 Southampton MCT-Garston 4M58 site of Roade station Freightliner

66776, 10.36 Felixstowe North-Hams Hall (4M23, 3L), site of Roade station
66776 'Joanne' catches the late afternoon sunshine as it passes the site of Roade's former station. The GBRf Class 66 is leading the 4M23 10.36 Felixstowe to Hams Hall service, one that I have photographed a number of times around this location over the last few years or so being led by a variety of GBRf's finest!
Keywords: Joanne 66776 10.36 Felixstowe North-Hams Hall 4M23 site of Roade station GBRf

66428, 13.51 DIRFT-Tilbury (4L48, 12L), site of Roade station
As an Avanti West Coast Pendolino speeds southwards 66428 'Carlisle Eden Mind' makes more sedate progress leading the 4L48 13.51 Daventry (DIRFT) to Tilbury 'Tesco Express'. The two trains are passing through Roade at the site of the former station. The gap between the fast and slow lines was once occupied by the central island platform with the rather basic station building in an elevated position on the top of the bank above the third box of the freight with the two linked by a rather rickety timber footbridge.
Keywords: 66428 13.51 DIRFT-Tilbury 4L48 site of Roade station DRS Direct Rail Services Carlisle Eden Mind

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