Another strike day full of action-26.08.23

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2023 > Another strike day full of action-26.08.23

With yet another day of industrial action taking place, one would think that the opportunity to photograph trains would be limited; not a bit of it! With planned engineering works due to take place to the north of Milton Keynes a number of engineering trains were scheduled to run down from Bescot to then be stabled in readiness at Wolverton. Bizarrely, all of these trains headed south past their destination as far as Wembley before returning north again! I did not expect them to all run but they did bringing some variety on what should have been a quiet Saturday.
Click here to search The Archive Files


Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.

66752 & 66762, 11.42 Bescot Yard-Wolverton (via Wembley) (7G52, 15E), Roade cutting 
 66752 'The Hoosier State' gets no assistance from 66762 (at the rear) as it lifts the 11.42 Bescot Yard to Wolverton (via a Wembley reversal) engineering train through Roade cutting after the steady climb from Northampton. Another example clear to see here of a smartly turned-out GBRf locomotive, something that the freight operator is noted for. 
 Keywords: 66752 66762 11.42 Bescot Yard-Wolverton via Wembley7G52 Roade cutting GBRF infrastructure engineering
66762 & 66752, 11.42 Bescot Yard-Wolverton (via Wembley) (7G52, 15E), Roade cutting 
 The rear end of the 7G52 11.42 Bescot to Wolverton via a reversal in Wembley Yrad passes through Rode cutting. Whilst 66762 is going along for the Roade (until the train reaches Wemblet that is) 66752 'The Hoosier State' is just visible leading the train as it approaches Hyde Road bridge. 
 Keywords: 66762 66752 11.42 Bescot Yard-Wolverton via Wembley 7G52 Roade cutting.jpgThe Hoosier State GBRf
66725, 12.23 Bescot Yard-Wolverton (via Wembley) (6G55, 5E), Roade cutting 
 Due to this Saturday being another blighted by industrial action caused by both the employers and the unions not being capable of putting their heads together and thrash out some sort of agreement the fast lines of the WCML were put to other uses! The 6G55 12.23 Bescot Yard to Wolverton engineers' train passes through Roade cutting on the up fast line led by 66725 'Sunderland'. Despite leaving Bescot Yard over an hour after the previous infrastructure working it is now passing this same spot less than ten minutes after it such is the time saved by going on the fast via Weedon rather than the slow through Northampton. 
 Keywords: 66725 12.23 Bescot Yard-Wolverton via Wembley 6G55 Roade cutting Sunderland
66764, 11.39 London Gateway-Hams Hall (4M47, 4L), Roade cutting 
 Due to the huge reduction in passenger traffic caused by yet more industrial action freight once again was routed along the fabled 'old line' via Weedon avoiding Northampton. 66764 'Major John Poyntz - Engineer & Railwayman' leads the heavily loaded 4M47 11.39 London Gateway to Hmas Hall service through Roade cutting. This photograph is taken from a lightly used bridge that I have not been able to get to for the last eighteen months or so due to footpath closure precipitated by the construction of Roade's bypass. However, with it now having opened access is again permitted to this very quiet spot at the very northern end of the cutting. 
 Keywords: 66764 11.39 London Gateway-Hams Hall 4M47 Roade cutting GBRf Major John Poyntz - Engineer & Railwayman
66304, 13.03 Bescot Yard-Wolverton (via Wembley) (6G54, 24L), Roade cutting 
 The third infrastructure train in less than an hour, passes southwards through Roade cutting on the up fast routed via Weedon due to quiet tracks because of further industrial action. GBRf's 66304 leads the 13.03 Bescot Yard to Wolverton via a mysterious extra return trip to Wembley Yard. The infrastructure workings are in association with Bank Holiday work due to take place at Hanslope Junction. 
 Keywords: 66304 13.03 Bescot Yard-Wolverton via Wembley 6G54 Roade cutting GBRf
66757, 14.39 DIRFT-Dollands Moor (6O67, 10L), Roade cutting 
 The seven-day-a-week 6O67 empty 'bottled water train' passes through Roade cutting led by 66757 'West Somerset Railway'. This and the balancing 6M45 fully loaded train are probably the most regular freight trains that pass along this section of the WCML. 
 Keywords: 66757 14.39 DIRFT-Dollands Moor 6O67 Roade cutting GBRf West Somerset Railway
66172, 11.36 Ditton Foundry-Dollands Moor (6O16, 192E) & 390001, VT 15.13 London Euston-Preston (1P88, RT), A508 bridge 
 Due to the reduction in normal traffic as a result of union action paths became available for freight that avoided the normal time-consuming diversion through Northampton. 66172 leads the 11.36 Ditton Fondary to Dollands Moor service through Roade taken from the village's Hyde Road bridge. The freight is just passing one of the Avanti services that managers were able to run, the 15.13 Euston to Preston train worked by 390001. 
 Keywords: 66172 11.36 Ditton Foundry-Dollands Moor 6O16 390001 15.13 London Euston-Preston 1P88 A508 bridge EWS DB Cargo AWC Pendolino
66727, 14.07 Bescot Yard-Wolverton (via Wembley) (6G57, 48L), site of Roade station 
 The final of five infrastructure trains passing south past Roade on this Saturday afternoon led by 66727 'Maritime One'. Like all of the others that I photographed, they started out from Bescot and were heading for Wolverton via a lengthy extra leg to Wembley and back. I have photographed 66727 a number of times in my home area and the majority of times it has been on engineering trains such as this. 
 Keywords: 66727 14.07 Bescot Yard-Wolverton via Wembley 6G57 site of Roade station GBRf Maritime One
66745, 14.07 Bescot Yard-Wolverton (via Wembley) (6G57, 48L), site of Roade station 
 With the converted 'slinger' wagons resplendent in their bright yellow paint contrasting with a menacing sky the 14.07 Bescot Yard to Wolverton (via a seemingly pointless run to Wembley and back) passes Roade. 66745 is dead on the rear of the train but will lead the infrastructure working north once it reaches London. 
 Keywords: 66745 14.07 Bescot Yard-Wolverton via Wembley 6G57 site of Roade station GBRf

Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.