25. The Great Western Envoy and a Grand National Nagex-15.04.23

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2023 > 25. The Great Western Envoy and a Grand National Nagex-15.04.23

On yet another dull and wet morning (will the sun ever shine again?) I walked out early to see The Great Western Envoy charter pass close to home. I was expecting it to be top and tailed by a pair of Class 47s as was advertised but I was on for a surprise! After heading home and having breakfast I went out again to Northampton to see the annual passage of a nagex charter taking racegoers to Merseyside for the Grand National.
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D213, outward leg of The Great Western Envoy, 06.20 Rugby-Bristol TM (1Z40, 7L), Ashton Road bridge Whilst standing in the half-light and the damp early in the morning to photograph a pair of ordinary Class 47s that I will have photographed before I began to doubt if it was actually worthwhile. However, as the train approached I could hear that it was not a Class 47 leading but something with an English Electric engine with D213 (40013) appearing around the curve near the site of Roade’s former station. The Class 40 led the 06.20 Rugby to Bristol charter to Hanwell (West London) where 34046 ‘Braunton’ took over to take it forward to Bristol, outward by the Berks. and Hants. route via Westbury returning along the GWML. D213 looks (and sounded!) superb as it roars past Ashton Road bridge just south of Roade. Keywords: D213 The Great Western Envoy, 06.20 Rugby-Bristol Temple Meads 1Z40 Ashton Road bridge Andania Whistler
D1924, outward leg of The Great Western Envoy, 06.20 Rugby-Bristol TM (1Z40, 7L), Ashton Road bridge Bringing up the rear of The Great Western Envoy Saphos charter as it passes Ashton Road bridge near Roade D1924 ‘Crewe Diesel Depot’ is seen doing its best to camouflage itself! I was led to believe that the charter was to be top and tailed with a pair of Class 47s so was delighted that D213 headed the train with D1924 just going along for the ride! Keywords: D1924 The Great Western Envoy, 06.20 Rugby-Bristol Temple Meads 1Z40 Ashton Road bridge Crewe Diesel Depot
350407, 07.56 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1Y17, 1L), Wilson's Crossing I took a bit of a gamble by choosing to go to the well-known spot at Wilson’s Crossing near Kingsthorpe in Northampton due to massive development in the area including Northampton’s Northern Relief road crossing the line close by. Not knowing if the crossing was even open I trudged across the semi-flooded fields to find it in use but heavily fenced and signs asking walkers to wait before being given permission to cross certain spots due to construction traffic movements; it always used to be a peaceful and quiet spot to visit! 350407 passes the crossing working the 07.56 Euston to Birmingham New Street 1Y17 service. I deliberately chose a slow shutter speed to gain some motion blur to emphasise the safety notice at the foot crossing. Keywords: 350407 07.56 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1Y17 Wilson's CrossingLondon Northwestern Desiro
350128, LN 08.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1Y16, 3L), Wilson's Crossing The 08.36 Birmingham New Street to Euston service approaches Northampton from the north at Wilsons Crossing. Notice the huge new artificially created lake behind the train being constructed as part of the huge housing and road developments in this previously essentially rural area enjoyed by locals and dog walkers as well as wildlife; a blight affecting huge parts of the country. Keywords: 350128 08.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1Y16 Wilson's Crossing London Northwestern Desiro
67005, 07.50 London Victoria-Liverpool South Parkway (1Z39, 4L), Wilson's Crossing 67005 ‘Queen's Messenger’ leads the 1Z39 nagex taking racegoers from the London area to Merseyside for the 2023 Grand National at Aintree. The charter left Victoria at 07.50 arriving at Liverpool South Parkway at lunchtime for onward transportation to Aintree. I am sure that some lucky passenger would have gone home later in the day having placed their bet on Coarach Ramber as the winner at 8:1. Keywords: 67005 07.50 London Victoria-Liverpool South Parkway 1Z39 Wilson's CrossingDB Belmond Pullman
67024, 07.50 London Victoria-Liverpool South Parkway (1Z39, 4L), Wilson's Crossing Bringing up the rear of the 07.50 Victoria to Liverpool South Parkway nagex charter at Wilson’s Crossing north of Northampton 67024 ‘Belmond British Pullman’ is seen. While this Class 67 does not carry nameplates it carries vinyls but can it be classified as a ‘namer’…..what do you think out there? In clear view to the extreme left of the photograph is the western pier of the bridge that will support Northampton’s extremely controversial Northern Relief road as it crosses the line. I suspect that this bridge will offer no vantage point of the line for the railway photographer with any prospective views blocked by huge parapets! Keywords: 67024 07.50 London Victoria-Liverpool South Parkway 1Z39 Wilson's CrossingBelmond British Pullman
350115, LN 08.56 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1Y21, 1L) & 66522, 10.22 Northampton Castle Yard-Tunstead Sidings (6Z87, RT), Mill Lane bridge While I have taken a few photographs from Northampton’s Mill Lane bridge I have never attempted one from this angle that includes Northampton’s skyline in the background. If the sun had been out at this time of day this would have been a tricky position to try as it faces south east so, for once, I bless the clouds! 350115 leads another Desiro on the climb away from Northampton with the 08.56 Euston to Birmingham New Street London Northwestern service. In the background, 66522 waits patiently to get the 6Z87 Northampton Castle Yard to Tunstead Sidings empty stone train away. Keywords: 350115 08.56 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1Y21 66522, 10.22 Northampton Castle Yard-Tunstead Sidings 6Z87 Mill Lane bridge London Midland Desiro
66522, 10.22 Northampton Castle Yard-Tunstead Sidings (6Z87, RT), Mill Lane bridge Making a smokey departure away from a prolonged wait, 66522 gets the 6Z87 10.22 Northampton Castle Yard to Tunstead empty stone train away. The train is seen from Northampton’s Mill Lane bridge to the north of the town; not a very pleasant spot due to lots of noisy traffic behind me on the bridge that I'm standing on meaning that it’s not my ‘go-to’ spot in this part of the town! Interestingly, almost exactly a year previously, I photographed the same locomotive just a short distance north of this spot, see…. https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30023408379/x66522-09-14-southampton-mct-garston Keywords: 66522 10.22 Northampton Castle Yard-Tunstead Sidings 6Z87 Mill Lane bridge

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