64. LSL & WCR charters-17.09.22

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2022 > 64. LSL & WCR charters-17.09.22

On a glorious September morning, I took an early drive to Bletchley. Whilst leaving the car charging at Tesco I went to the station as there was some interesting traffic due to pass through including the morning LSL relief service again! Later in the day I went out twice more to observe the re-born locomotive hauled services locally close to home....what a day!
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Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.

230005, LN 08.00 Bletchley-Bedford (2S07, 1L), Bletchley station In lovely 'clean' September lighting the 08.00 Bletchley to Bedford service worked by 230005 leaves its starting point curving away from the station on to the Marston Vale line. Andy and I travelled on this route a few weeks ago and sampled the converted LU stock that now work the line. Off to the left of the unit are various other London NorthWestern units stabled in Bletchley's yard and off to the right is the failed 4L96 with 66587 'As One, We Can' on the front. Something had obviously gone wrong the previous evening as it passed Roade on time at 20.43 to be then looped and stopped just ten miles south here at Bletchley. The train remained in the loop until eventually moving off some five days later on 21.09.22...can anybody shed any light? Keywords: 230005 08.00 Bletchley-Bedford 2S07 Bletchley station London Northwestern Marston Vale
66504, 02.35 Garston-London Gateway (4L52, 11L), Bletchley station After being checked at Milton Keynes by a southbound London NorthWestern unit the 4L52 Garston to London Gateway Freightliner was picking up speed here as it passes through Bletchley station. I think that the revised sweeping Freightliner livery as applied to 66504 seen here looks very smart keeping the locomotives looking fresh despite them being a design that dates back many years to 1986 when the almost identical looking Class 59s were introduced. Keywords: 66504 02.35 Garston-London Gateway 4L52 Bletchley station Freightliner
350372, LN 07.24 London Euston-Northampton (2N49, 3E) & Class 350, LN 06.24 Crewe-London Euston (1U16, 6L), Bletchley station Desiros passing at Bletchley. As 350372 gets away from the station working the 07.24 Euston to Northampton service another unidentified unit passes south at speed on the 1U16 06.24 Crewe to Euston service. With the completely clear blue sky it was an absolutely stunning September morning with a distinct chill in the air. Keywords: 350372 07.24 London Euston-Northampton 2N49 Class 350 06.24 Crewe-London Euston 1U16 Bletchley station London Northwestern Desiro
350342, LN 08.25 Northampton-London Euston (1Y10, RT), Bletchley station The 08.25 Northampton to Euston service arrives at Bletchley station worked by 350342 and another unidentified unit at the rear. Notice the ONE liveried 66587 'As One, We Can' in the adjacent siding. This was leading the previous evening's 4L96 that had been halted at this location and remained there for five days. Keywords: 350342 08.25 Northampton-London Euston 1Y10 Bletchley station London Northwestern Desiro
390151, VT 07.16 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston (1A12, 4L), Bletchley station 390151 'Unknown Soldier' sweeps through Bletchley station working Avanti's 07.16 Liverpool to Euston service. This up train, and many others heading towards London, were well loaded in part due to the increased number of people heading to the capital to mourn the death of the Queen either to join the incredible queue to pass her lying in state or to bag their spot on the route of the funeral on Monday 19.09.22. Keywords: 390151 07.16 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston 1A12 Bletchley station Avanti West Coast Pendolino Unknown Soldier
82139, 07.00 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1Z93, 4L), Bletchley station With a friendly toot on the peculiarly sounding horn from the driver of DVT 82139, it leads an LSL relief service train through Bletchley station. Smartly painted in its InterCity Swallow livery the DVT is leading the 07.00 Manchester Piccadilly to Euston 1Z93 powered by 90002 at the rear evoking days past on the WCML prior to the introduction of the Pendolinos twenty years ago. Having said that of course, there was a Virgin-operated peak time limited stop Euston to Birmingham service that was hauled by a Class 87 and, towards the end of its operation in 2010, a Class 90. Keywords: 82139 07.00 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1Z93 Bletchley station
90002, 07.00 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1Z93, 4L), Bletchley station 90002 'Wolf of Badenoch' pushes at the rear of the 1Z93 LSL operated 07.00 Manchester to Euston relief service. The train is seen at line speed passing through Bletchley station on a fine if somewhat chilly September morning. With the opportunity to travel aboard an exclusively first-class train for a reasonable set fare passengers heading to and from London have the opportunity of sampling rail travel at its best. By that, I mean in a Mk. III coach sitting in a comfortable and roomy seat placed to offer unrestricted viewing that is far superior to those fitted to Pendolinos and most other new trains for that matter! Keywords: 90002 07.00 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1Z93 Bletchley station Intercity Swallow Wolf of Badenoch
66108 & 68016, 06.38 Crewe Gresty Bridge-Willesden Yard (0A68, 7E), Bletchley station A total 'grab-shot' that is badly exposed and composed for that matter but it is one that I have included due to it being of 66108 that I have no other photographs of! It is seen leading 68016 'Fearless' through Bletchley station as the regular Saturday morning 0A68 06.38 Crewe Gresty Bridge to Willesden Yard loco. swap. The Class 68 is being returned to the London area to take up duties the following week on the Chiltern line with one returning north later in the afternoon for maintenance and exams. This move is about to come to end as it is reported that Chiltern is about to get rid of its locomotive hauled services in the next few weeks....we'll see! Keywords: 66108 68016 06.38 Crewe Gresty Bridge-Willesden Yard 0A68 Bletchley station Fearless
66114, 04.13 Wakefield Europort-Didcot TC (4V43, 7E), Bletchley station 4V43 the Wakefield to Didcot is not a regular visitor to the southern end of the WCML in fact, I think that this is only the second time that I have seen it and managed a photograph. It is usually routed around Birmingham via Walsall and Bescot to then continue its journey via Coventry and then to Leamington Spa to get to its destination via the GW Banbury route. I am not sure as to why it was off-route but it makes a fine sight as it speeds through Bletchley with a bright red 66114 at the helm. Keywords: 66114 04.13 Wakefield Europort-Didcot TC 4V43 Bletchley station DB
90002, 10.40 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly (1Z94, 7E), Blisworth 90002 'Wolf of Badenoch' sweeps around a curve near to the Northamptonshire village of Blisworth leading the 10.40 Euston to Manchester Piccadilly 1Z94 LSL relief service. Unfortunately, I have not quite framed the image correctly managing to crop off the rear of the stock underestimating the length of the train when composing the photograph. Also, note that following the clear blue skies of earlier that the cloud is beginning to build. Keywords: 90002, 10.40 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly 1Z94 Blisworth Intercity swallow Wolf of Badenoch
86401, 08.15 Lancaster-London Euston (1Z86, 7E), Blisworth Following the passage northwards about five minutes previously of 90002 'Wolf of Badenoch' leading what was essentially a service train 86401 'Mons Meg' heads south with another! For anybody standing a little north of this location at Blisworth, a potential master shot could have been achieved with the two locomotive-hauled trains passing each other! Formally named 'Northampton Town' and a recipient of a smart Network SouthEast livery 86401 become somewhat of a celebrity AL6 in the 1990s and avoided the clutches of the scrap man and lives on. In its Caledonian Sleeper livery, it leads the 08.15 Lancaster to Euston 1Z86 relief operated by West Coast Railways charted by Avanti in an effort to partially make up for the latter's slashing of services exacerbated by the massive numbers of people heading to London following the death of the Queen. Keywords: 86401 08.15 Lancaster-London Euston 1Z86 Blisworth Mons Meg Caledonian AL6
82139 & 90002, 16.21 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1Z96, 4L), Milton crossing A popular photographic local location to me is the footbridge at one of the two former foot crossings between Blisworth and Milton Malsor. From the mid-afternoon onwards on a sunny day, it offers commanding and well-lit views of both north and southbound services often attracting a number of enthusiasts when something out of the ordinary is about; this particular evening was no exception! DVT 82139 leads the 1Z96 16.21 Manchester Piccadilly to Euston LSL (Locomotive Services Limited) 'charter' but that was operating, to all intents and purposes, as a service train with a first-class walk on flat fare. Keywords: 82139 90002, 16.21 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1Z96 Milton crossing InterCity DVT
90002 & 82139, 16.21 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1Z96, 4L), Milton crossing Making a fine sight in the evening sun at Milton Crossing between the Northamptonshire villages of Roade and Blisworth 90002 'Wolf of Badenoch' powers the rear of the 1Z96 16.21 Manchester Piccadilly to Euston service. This was the fifth time that I had recorded a loco. hauled service on this day, not something that I have done for many years! Keywords: 90002 82139 16.21 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1Z96 Milton crossing InterCity Swallow Wolf of Badenoch
390121, VT 16.47 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston (1A58, 2E), Milton crossing The unique liveried 390121 'Opportunity' has evaded my camera since it received its unique livery associated with last November's (2021) Cop26 meeting in Glasgow. It is seen catching the evening sunshine working the 1A58 16.47 Liverpool to Euston Avanti service past Milton crossing in Northamptonshire. Keywords: 390121 16.47 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston 1A58 Milton crossing Opportunity
86259, 17.51 London Euston-Lancaster (1Z87, 2E), Milton crossing The shot that almost did not quite work as well as it has actually tuned out! The returning 17.51 Euston to Lancaster WCR relief service on behalf of the hapless Avanti West Coast is seen catching the very last of the fast-setting sun. Some three minutes later as I was returning to the car it had dropped below the horizon which would have made the photograph very tricky. 86259 'Les Ross/Peter Pan' hauling the super set of matching stock had to be halted at Bletchley following its centre screen being smashed just north of Linslade with all other northbound services also halted in the area for an inspection to take place. The travelling fitter joined the cab at Bletchley and can be seen sitting behind the broken screen with his hands pressed against it; not ideal! Obviously, the incident did not affect the train too much as it arrived two minutes early into Lancaster. Trouble is, where does one source a centre screen for a locomotive that is over fifty years old, I suppose a quick trawl around Basford Hall may well secure one! Keywords: 86259 17.51 London Euston-Lancaster 1Z87 Milton crossing AL^ Les Ross Peter Pan

Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.