31. Railadventure HST testing-27.04.23

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2023 > 31. Railadventure HST testing-27.04.23

I noticed some mysterious STP moves on RTT for this particular day operated by Interim operator (as they call themselves) Railadventure. Then I saw a posting with talk of an HST move so I put two and two together and, ‘bingo’ we had some HST testing runs operating. There were three runs scheduled but I only saw two of them as my wife and I were out in the afternoon and it was raining by then anyway so I didn’t miss that one too much!
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43480 & 43486, 09.49 Wembley Yard-Rugby (0Z44, 1E), site of Roade station Railadventure’s (sic) 09.49 Wembley Yard to Rugby out-and-back run is seen passing Roade on the down slow line. Former Grand Central buffer fitted 43480 and 43486 look very smart in their livery and I hope that they get more work moving various stock around the network as I saw them doing back in January at the same spot as this, see…. https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/C385503690/x3-steam-quadruple-hst-freight-sunshine Whoever would have thought than when I saw my first HST back at Bath Spa in 1976 that I would be seeing them forty-five years later in this very different role! Keywords: 43480 43486 09.49 Wembley Yard-Rugby 0Z44 site of Roade station railadventure HST Class 43
70017, 09.55 Crewe Basford Hall-Southampton MCT (4O35, 50E), Ashton Road bridge The diverted 4O35 09.55 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Freightliner service passes Ashton Road bridge just south of Roade. The closure of the GW route between Oxford and Didcot due to repairs to the abutment of Nuneham viaduct has brought many new if temporary flows to the already busy WCML and a significant number of Class 70s. 70017 is hauling this train making its usual row shattering the quiet Northamptonshire countryside! Keywords: 70017 09.55 Crewe Basford Hall-Southampton MCT 4O35 Ashton Road bridge Freightliner
66512, 07.50 Felixstowe North-Lawley Street (4M94, 20E), Ashton Road bridge Unfortunately, my chosen position to photograph the return up Railadventure HST move meant that I could not capture down trains. By utilising the widest angle on my Canon G1X I have created an interesting view of the WCML just south of Roade. It shows Freightliner’s 66512 leading the 07.50 Felixstowe to Lawley Street. Notice the small and innocent bush growing in the foreground, I think I need to take my loppers with me next time and undertake a little tactical pruning! Keywords: 66512 07.50 Felixstowe North-Lawley Street 4M94 Ashton Road bridge Freightliner
43468 & 43480, 11.54 Rugby-Willesden Yard (0Z45, 9L), Ashton Road bridge Having seen the down working a little earlier 43468 now leads with 43480 trailing as the 0Z45 11.54 Rugby to Willesden Yard return test run seen passing Ashton Road bridge just south of Roade. They are passing the tail end of the slow-moving 07.50 Felixstowe North-Lawley Street Freightliner. The railadventure (sic) re-purposed HSTs are used for various stock moves, generally of new trains, around the country of which there seems to be plenty at the moment. Later in the day, having done a return London to Rugby run the pair headed north again to be stabled at King’s Norton to the south of Birmingham. Unfortunately, I was unable to see this third and final run due to being out for lunch with my wife but by then it was pouring with rain anyway! Keywords: 43468 43480 11.54 Rugby-Willesden Yard 0Z45 Ashton Road bridge Rail Adventure HST

Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.