6. The first 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' of the year-29.01.22

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2022 > 6. The first 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' of the year-29.01.22

It may well have been a dark and dull January morning but as I was heading to Milton Keynes for non-railway activities I decided to try my luck at photographing the first 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' of the year hauled, as usual, by 86259. The image is pretty dire but significant in terms of the railway year!
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Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.

86259, outward leg of The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express, 07.08 London Euston-Carlisle (1Z86, 5E) & 390151, VT 06.45 Wolverhampton-London Euston (1B04, 6L), Wolverton station With the camera's ISO set to an eye-watering 25,600, I have really asked a little too much of it! It was half-light on a particularly dull January morning so this photograph is not of the finest quality. However, as I made the effort to get out to see 2022's inaugural Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express then it has made the cut! 86259 'Les Ross/Peter Pan' is seen heading the 1Z86 charter on the down slow through Wolverton station whilst 390151 'Unknown Soldier' has just got out of the way working the 1B04 06.45 Wolverhampton to Euston service that is on the up slow line. Remind me to stay at home on such a miserable morning and do something far more sensible than this next time, please! Keywords: 86259 The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express 07.08 London Euston-Carlisle 1Z86 390151 06.45 Wolverhampton-London Euston 1B04 Wolverton station Les Ross Peter Pan Unknown Soldier
66589, 03.25 Garston-London Gateway (4L52, 3L), Wolverton station In dire lighting that has improved a little from the previous photograph taken some ten minutes earlier, 66589 heads south through Wolverton station leading the 4L32 03.25 Garston to London Gateway Freightliner. With the camera selecting a 10,000 ISO setting the image has needed some Photoshop treatment to get things under a little control. Keywords: 66589 03.25 Garston-London Gateway 4L52 Wolverton station Freightliner
390112, VT 06.35 Manchester Picadilly-London Euston (1A06, 15L), Wolverton station I am not at all sure as to why all trains were being diverted from the up fast to the up slow line at Hanslope Junction a short distance north of this spot at Wolverton station. However, with all up trains giving an obligatory blow on the horn in the distance I suspect that there were some orange jackets in the vicinity. 390112 works the 1A06 06.35 Manchester to Euston service through the station at a reduced speed as it was now competing with other much slower traffic. The up fast trains returned to the fast line in and around Milton Keynes. Keywords: 390112 06.35 Manchester Picadilly-London Euston 1A06 Wolverton station
66423, 08.02 Tilbury-DIRFT (4M07, 4E), Victoria bridge On my way back from Milton Keynes with a few minutes in hand and freight due I stopped off at my favourite local spot Victoria Bridge between Roade and Ashton. After a short wait, regular performer 66423 appeared leading the 4M07 08.02 Tilbury to Daventry service. This is usually a well-loaded train but in common with a fair few that I have observed recently it was noticeably short and with very few boxes, I estimated there to be half a dozen and all towards the rear. This begs a worrying question as to what exactly is going on with trade and shipping in these very uncertain times? Keywords: 66423 08.02 Tilbury-DIRFT 4M07 Victoria bridge DRS Direct Rail Services

Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.