43. The longest day-21.06.23

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2023 > 43. The longest day-21.06.23

It has become a bit of a personal tradition for me to get out on the evening of the summer solstice and photograph as late as possible making full use of the daylight hours. This year I went to Wilson's foot crossing to the north of Northampton but was ultimately disappointed by the lack of freight on this particular evening.
Click here to search The Archive Files


Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.

350376 & 350372, LN 17.56 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1Y61, 5L), Wilson's Crossing 
 The 17.56 Euston to Birmingham New Street London Northwestern service accelerates away from Northampton at Wilson's crossing worked by 350376 and 350372. The train is in weak sunshine with the stubborn area of cloud seen above the train spoiling the mid-summer's day party! 
 Keywords: 350376 350372 17.56 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1Y61 Wilson's Crossing London Northwestern Desiro
66763, 15.49 Garston-Dagenham Docks (6L48, RT), Wilson's Crossing 
 What a mess! This spot, known locally as Wilson's crossing used to be delightfully rural with horses and local dog walkers frequenting the field in the foreground. Now it is part of the hugely controversial Northampton northern expansion complete with the infamous 'road to nowhere' officially called the Northampton North-West Relief Road. The huge hole in the foreground is being constructed as part of the environmental mitigation programme as well as to act as flood alleviation. It appears that it is in the process of being lined with some very dark puddling clay as per canals of the past. Dwarfed somewhat by the developments is the railway complete with 66763 leading the 15.49 Garston to Dagenham Docks cartic empties. 
 Keywords: 66763 15.49 Garston-Dagenham Docks 6L48 Wilson's Crossing
350247 & 350234, LN 18.26 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1Y65, 2L), Wilson's Crossing 
 Having photographed an earlier northbound London Northwestern service at the same spot I have done the same thing but this time it is the full evening sunshine rather than previously. 350247 and 350234 (both due to be retired from this route soon) pass Wilson's crossing working the 1Y65 18.26 Euston to Birmingham New Street service. This previously superb open spot is in danger of being spoilt by lineside vegetation growth unless Network Rail get trackside with their strimmers! 
 Keywords: 350247 350234 18.26 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1Y65 Wilson's Crossing London Northwestern Desiro
66539 & 66597, 19.35 Bletchley flyover-Crewe Basford Hall (6Y62, 9L), Wilson's Crossing 
 Making full use of an enormous bank created by the developers of the land off to my right I managed a new angle at a favourite local spot for Northampton railway photographers, Wilson's crossing. With Kingsthorpe in the background, 66539 leads the daily (usually that is!) 6Y62 19.35 Betchley Flyover to Bescot engineering train with 66597 'Viridor' just in sight at the rear. This train is conveying track panels for recycling that have been removed in further preparation for the reopening of the late East-West Rail link. 
 Keywords: 66539 66597 19.35 Bletchley flyover-Crewe Basford Hall 6Y62 Wilson's Crossing Freightliner Viridor
66597, 19.35 Bletchley flyover-Crewe Basford Hall (6Y62, 9L), Wilson's Crossing 
 Taken from an elevated position on a large bank built by the developers of the land in the foreground 66597 'Viridor' passes Wilson's crossing to the north of Northampton. It is at the rear of the regular 19.35 Bletchley flyover to Bescot Yard engineer's train that I had been waiting for watching its agonisingly slow progress northwards towards me! Normally the train would be fully illuminated by the evening sun at this spot but being the longest day it has actually round almost being north westerly! 
 Keywords: 66597 19.35 Bletchley flyover-Crewe Basford Hall 6Y62 Wilson's Crossing Freightliner Viridor
66622, 20.45 Northampton Castle Yard-Tunstead Sidings (6Z99, 30L), Northampton station car park 
 Taken through the access gates to Northampton's virtual quarry better known as Castle Yard the evening's empty wagons are seen being marshalled prior to departure by Freightliner's 66622. The 66 will work the 20.45 Northampton Castle Yard to Tunstead which carries a curious headcode of 6Z99; can anybody enlighten me as to why this is? 
 Keywords: 66622 20.45 Northampton Castle Yard-Tunstead Sidings (6Z99, 30L), Northampton station car park Freightliner
221112 & 221114, VT 18.02 London Euston-Wrexham General (Cancelled from Crewe), (1J32, 134L), Milton crossing 
 Again problems further south on the WCML closer to London have affected services with all northbound trains running late with some cancellations. With the last vestiges of summer sun on the longest day illuminating the scene at Milton crossing between Roade and Blisworth 221112 and 221114 work the very late running 18.02 Euston to Wrexham Avanti service that should have passed this spot about two hours previously. Later on, the train was cancelled at Crewe arriving one hundred and thirty-four minutes late; I hope that the beleaguered passengers for Chester and Wrexham where offered onward transportation. 
 Keywords: 221112 221114 18.02 London Euston-Wrexham General Cancelled from Crewe 1J32 Milton crossing
350370 & 350113, LN 19.13 Crewe-London Euston (1U44, 17L), Milton crossing 
 The final photograph of my evening trip out on the longest day as the sun has all but gone shows 350370 and 350113 pass Milton crossing near Blisworth working London Northwestern's 19.13 Crewe to Euston service. This train was also affected by problems in the London area arriving seventeen minutes late after passing me here on time. I love the cloudscape in this view that gives a portent of a possible summer storm but this didn't happen with it melting away overnight and a super day dawning the next morning. 
 Keywords: 350370 350113 19.13 Crewe-London Euston 1U44 Milton crossing London Northwestern Desiro

Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.