25. The London to S & C Railway, a nagex & a TPE move-09.04.22

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2022 > 25. The London to S & C Railway, a nagex & a TPE move-09.04.22

A busy Saturday local to me on the WCML. Early in the morning, I took a relatively short drive to a classic spot just north of Linslade tunnels to see a northbound charter hauled by 86259. On my return, I paused at Bletchley to charge the car at Tesco, take breakfast and a visit to Ikea that also coincided with the northbound excursion taking racegoers to Merseyside for the Grand National. Later in the day, I popped out again to see an unusual TPE move to Wolverton Works that involved two Class 68s top and tailed.
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Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.

92010, CS 20.45 Inverness & 19.50 Fort William-London Euston (1M16, 2E), Old Linslade With the sun just high enough to illuminate the train but not yet to melt the previous night's frost 92010 passes Old Linslade just north of Leighton Buzard. This is my first photograph this year of Caledonian Sleeper's 20.45/19.50 Inverness/Fort William to Euston something that can only be done with the lengthening days. Keywords: 92010 20.45 Inverness 19.50 Fort William-London Euston 1M16 Old Linslade Caledonian Sleeper
66538, 02.57 Felixstowe North-Garston (4M45, 51E), Old Linslade The 4M45 02.57 Felixstowe to Garston Freightliner passes Old Linslade with 66538 leading the train. It makes a change for me to take a train at this low angle but with the severe backlighting on offer this early in the morning I opted for something different also nicely framed by the electrification masts and the boom. Keywords: 66538 02.57 Felixstowe North-Garston 4M45 Old Linslade Freightliner
390128, VT 07.03 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street (1F11, 1L), Old Linslade The sun is just now high and strong enough to begin melting the frost on the ground at Old Linslade just north of Leighton Buzard. Rather backlit 390128 'City of Preston' works the 07.03 Euston to Liverpool service past the site that remains mercifully free of palisade fencing but, as I say every time I visit this spot, for how long? Keywords: 390128 07.03 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street 1F11 Old Linslade City of Preston
86259, outward leg of The London to Settle & Carlisle Railway, 07.08 London Euston-Carlisle (1Z86, 9E), Old Linslade Making a glorious sight in the chilly early morning light 86259 'Peter Pan (on this side)/Les Ross' leads the outward leg of The London to Settle & Carlisle Railway charter passing Old Linslade. Running on its usual reporting number of 1Z86 the train left Euston at 07.08 with the AC electric leading all the way to Carlisle where steam took the train south courtesy of 35018 'British India Line'. Keywords: 86259 The London to Settle & Carlisle Railway 07.08 London Euston-Carlisle 1Z86 Old Linslade Les Ross Peter Pan AL3
350263, LN 08.56 Milton Keynes-London Euston (2K10, 2L), Spenlows bridge A spot that I have observed many times from passing trains but one that I have never visited is between Bletchley and Milton Keynes. Locally named Spenlows bridge (with no apostrophe) is a small footbridge that spans the line including the recently realigned and signalled pair of tracks nearest the camera to and from the partially rebuilt viaduct carrying the east-west link that is currently under construction. 350263 and another Desiro approach the bridge working the 2K10 Milton Keynes to Euston all stations stopper service. Keywords: 350263 08.56 Milton Keynes-London Euston 2K10 Spenlows bridge London Northwestern Desiro
67005, 07.52 London Victoria-Runcorn (1Z50, 2L), Spenlows footbridge The Grand National at Aintree usually generates a charter or two from the London area but on this particular day, just the one was timetabled. Leading a set of Pullman stock 67005 'Queen's Messenger' passes Spenlows bridge just north of Bletchley leading the 07.52 Victoria to Runcorn charter running as 1Z50. Quite what happens when the racegoers arrived at Runcorn I have not established. Perhaps a fleet of coaches took them onwards to Aintree which seems a bit of a shame given that there is a station at the racecourse that has, unfortunately, lost its charter platforms. Incidentally, the good money would have been on Noble Yeats at 50:1 on the day. Keywords: 67005 07.52 London Victoria-Runcorn 1Z50 Spenlows footbridge Queen's Messenger
67014, 07.52 London Victoria-Runcorn (1Z50, 2L), Spenlows footbridge I'm not a particular fan of 'going-away' shots but when the sun is out and in the right direction and the subject matter is interesting then I'll give them a go! Here, taken from Spenlows bridge just north of Bletchley 67014 brings up the rear of the 1Z50 07.52 Victoria to Runcorn Nagex carrying racegoers to the Aintree Grand National. Luckily the train was going relatively slowly so I was able to compose this reasonable photograph as it headed towards Milton Keynes. Keywords: 67014 07.52 London Victoria-Runcorn 1Z50 Spenlows footbridge
68010, 06.38 Crewe Gresty Bridge-Wembley Yard (0A68, 36L), Spenlows footbridge The 0A68 06.38 (or thereabouts) Gresty Bridge to Wembley Yard light engine move is a regular Saturday morning turn that can sometimes produce a number of locomotives coupled together. They make their way back south after exams and maintenance at DRS' Gresty Bridge facility with a balancing working in the other direction later in the day. On this particular Saturday, I was grateful that it was just one locomotive in the form of 68010 'Oxford Flyer' as it fitted perfectly between the wiring posts at Spenlows bridge between Milton Keynes and Bletchley. Keywords: 68010 06.38 Crewe Gresty Bridge-Wembley Yard 0A68 Spenlows footbridge Oxford Flyer
68023 & 68028, 10.33 Longsight TMD-Wolverton Centre Siding (5Q70, 5L), Milton crossing After the bright and cloudless start to the day, the cloud has built up and indeed, up to about a minute before this picture was taken the sun was actually out! Viewed from Milton crossing bridge near Blisworth on the Weedon loop that was busy with enthusiasts a TPE Nova set 3 makes for an unusual sight. With 68023 'Achillies' leading and 68028 'Lord President' bringing up the rear the set is approaching its destination as the 10.33 Longsight to Wolverton Works ECS move. Keywords: 68023 68028 10.33 Longsight TMD-Wolverton Centre Siding 5Q70 Milton crossing Achillies Lord President
68028 & 68023, 10.33 Longsight TMD-Wolverton Centre Siding (5Q70, 5L), Milton crossing 68028 'Lord President' brings up the rear of the 5Q70 10.33 Longsight to Wolverton Works ECS move as the train passes Milton crossing just south of Blisworth. The stock was being taken to Wolverton for various modifications and repairs, not something might expect from coaches some three of four years old perhaps? At the front of the train 68023 'Achillies' is leading the train. The train attracted considerable local attention with now fewer than four of us on this bridge to capture it including Richard Denny, see.... https://www.flickr.com/people/64518788@N05/ Keywords: 68028 68023, 10.33 Longsight TMD-Wolverton Centre Siding 5Q70 Milton crossing Achillies Lord President

Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.