81. New Year's Eve-31.12.21

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2021 > 81. New Year's Eve-31.12.21

After what seemed like weeks of dullness the sun came out on the last day of 2021! I had to work in the morning but we were permitted to leave just after lunch so I popped up to Wilson's Crossing just north of Northampton for an hour or so. As well as the sun it was an extraordinarily warm day with the temperature reaching the dizzy heights of fourteen degrees Celcius. In fact, this was to become the warmest New Year's Eve on record according to the Met. Office.

A Happy New Year to all my readers and here's to a much improved 2022 (I think that I said much the same thing last year!).

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Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

350248, LN 13.33 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1W16, 10L), Wilson's Crossing
This is a real treat, taking a photograph of a train in full sunshine, something that I have not managed since the beginning of the month, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30022243387/x350369-10-37-northampton-birmingham! 350248 leads another Desiro past Wilson's Crossing to the north of Northampton with the 13.33 Birmingham New Street to Euston service. Normally on New Year's Eve, I would be commenting on the trains being full of revellers heading to the capital to join the celebrations but not this year (the same as last year too) with COVID stymying the usual activities.
Keywords: 350248 13.33 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1W16 Wilson's Crossing London Northwester Desiro

68034, 13.00 Wembley TMD-Crewe Gresty Bridge (0M34, 15E), Wilson's Crossing
I had been following the progress of this 0M34 (Thanks to Mike for the reporting number) on OTT as it had been moving pretty quickly northbound along the WCML slow lines. With a much-reduced timetable, I was wondering if it would put on the fast at Hanslope Junction but was pleased that it did not. 68034 running as the 13.00 Wembley to Crewe is seen racing away from Northampton on the rising gradient at Wilson's Crossing in some lovely winter sunshine.
Keywords: 68034 13.00 Wembley TMD-Crewe Gresty Bridge 0M34 Wilson's Crossing DRS Direct Rail services

350374 & 350259, LN 14.38 Northampton-Birmingham New Street (2Y67, 1L), Wilson's Crossing
What a difference ten minutes makes! A short time after the previous image was recorded some troublesome cloud drifted in and blotted out the afternoon sunshine; back to normal then! 350374 and 350259 work the 14.38 Northampton to Birmingham all stations stopper 2Y67 service. I glanced through the windows against the sky as this train passed and saw very few passengers. Normally, (whatever that is now?) trains on New Year's Eve to either Birmingham or London would be packed with revellers but COVID-19 has put paid to that for the last two years.
Keywords: 350374 350259 14.38 Northampton-Birmingham New Street 2Y67 Wilson's Crossing London Northwestern Desiro

350408 & 350232, LN 13.49 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1W15, RT), Wilson's Crossing
Hooray; a photographic cop. My last Class 350 Desiro has now been recorded and archived as such! Quite how 350408 has eluded my lens over the last nine years remains a mystery but no longer! It is seen climbing away from Northampton with 350232 working the 13.49 Euston to Birmingham service. I deliberately framed this photograph slightly differently so as to include the ancient and rickety timber fence and the remaining berries on the hawthorn bush.
Keywords: 350408 350232 13.49 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1W15 Wilson's Crossing London Northwestern Desiro

DR73942, 14.14 Hemel Hempsted Boxmoor-Preston Dock Street (69E), Wilson's Crossing
Again, as per the earlier DRS light engine move, this 14.14 Hemel Hempsted tamper move was making rapid progress largely due to the many cancelled passenger services resulting from COVID-19 staff absence and another haemorrhaging of passenger numbers. Colas operated Plasser and Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Tamper climbs away from Northampton at Wilson's Crossing. I suspect that the driver was delighted that his progress remained so good arriving over an hour early at Preston meaning that he could get home and spend the last evening of the year in some form of celebration.
Keywords: DR73942 14.14 Hemel Hempsted Boxmoor-Preston Dock Street 69E Wilson's Crossing Colas Rail Plasser and Theurer 08-4x4/4S-RT Tamper DR73942

350254 & 350247, LN 14.14 Birmingham New Street-Northampton (2Y68, 3L), Wilson's Crossing
My last photograph of 2021 sees London Northwestern's 350254 and 350247 approaching Northampton from the north. They are about to pass Wilson's Crossing working the 2Y68 14.14 Birmingham New Street to Northampton service. Could this be the last year that this flat footpath crossing remains open and the spot accessible to the public (and the railway photographer)? In addition to this, there are still grand plans to build thousands of houses on the land in this location and for the Northampton northern relief road to cross the line at a point about level with the rear of the train. We'll see if any of these much-delayed plans actually begin during 2022.

With all best wishes and a Happy New Year!
Keywords: 350254 350247 14.14 Birmingham New Street-Northampton 2Y68 Wilson's Crossing London Northwestern Desiro

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.