75. The Mancunian & a squirter-21.10.23

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2023 > 75. The Mancunian & a squirter-21.10.23

If it had not been for the fact the charter passing close to home was steam hauled and by a relatively rare locomotive in this area I would not have bothered to venture out with it being such a dull and dark October morning. I did and managed two mediocre photographs of The Mancunian charter heading from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly. Later in the day things had brightened up a bit so I popped out to see a conveniently timed RHTT passing through Roade cutting.
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Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.

90049 & 90047, 04.57 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North (Cancelled from Ipswich) (4L97, 2E), between Roade & Ashton 
 The well-publicised move by Freightliner from electric haulage back to diesel certainly does not appear to apply to the 4L97 04.57 Trafford Park to Felixstowe. In the gloom of an early October morning, 90049 leads 90047 on the up slow line between the Northamptonshire villages of Roade and Ashton. It was an extremely tight call as to whether this Freightliner service would bowl the steam-hauled charter heading north with it well within hearing shot at this point, luckily, the freight was moving rapidly due to it being electric hauled and got out of the way. 
 Keywords: 90049 90047 04.57 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North Cancelled from Ipswich 4L97, 2E between Roade & Ashton Freightliner
45596, outward leg of The Mancunian, 07.12 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly (1Z96, 5E), between Roade & Ashton 
 With an up Freightliner having just got out of the way Jubilee 45596 'Bahamas' emerges from a shallow cutting near the Northamptonshire village of Ashton. Hauling the outward leg of The Mancunian charter 45596 left Euston at 07.12 arriving at Manchester Piccadilly slightly ahead of time. It is unfortunate that the weather is so dull and misty as Bahamas does not really lift itself from the background wearing its British Railways green livery. 
 Keywords: 45596 The Mancunian 07.12 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly 1Z96 between Roade & Ashton
45596, outward leg of The Mancunian, 07.12 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly (1Z96, 5E), between Roade & Ashton 
 A second and marginally better photograph of 45596 'Bahamas' as it passes between Roade and Ashton leading the Mancunian charter running as 1Z96. If it had not been for the fact that the charter was seam hauled and led by a relatively rare visitor to the southern WCML I would probably have stayed at home due to it being so dull and dark on this Saturday morning. Notice the red face of the crew member in the cab of the Jubilee with the fire box obviously being open at the moment I pressed the shutter. The same view is very different to when I photographed Flying Scotsman four months earlier, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30042343232/x60103-outward-leg-cheshireman-06 
 Keywords: 45596 The Mancunian, 07.12 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly 1Z96 between Roade & Ashton
66734 & 66766, 10.30 King's Norton-King's Norton (3J01, 4E), Hyde Road bridge 
 In past years I have not managed many photographs of RHHT (RailHead Treatment Trains) close to home as their timings have not been favourable. However, this leaf fall season (or should we simply call it autumn?) the 3J01 10.30 King's Norton return service passes close to home in the late afternoon. Seen passing under Roade's Hyde Road bridge the train is seen led by 66734 'Platinum Jubilee' with 66766 'Gail Richardson' catching the filthy spray at the rear. 
 Keywords: 66734 66766 10.30 King's Norton-King's Norton 3J01 Hyde Road bridge RHTT Platinum Jubilee Gail Richardson
66766 & 66734, 10.30 King's Norton-King's Norton (3J01, 4E), Hyde Road bridge 
 Passing through Roade 66766 'Gail Richardson' brings up the rear of the conveniently timed 3J01 King's Norton return RHTT service with 66734 'Platinum Jubilee' leading. This treatment train makes a double return trip along the Marston Vale line from Bletchley to Bedford perhaps due to its very limited use at the moment with passenger trains having still yet to be reinstated. I may get one more chance to photograph this train next Saturday but beyond that, the lighting will be marginal as after then, the clocks will have gone back lunging us into 'winter time'. 
 Keywords: 66766 66734 10.30 King's Norton-King's Norton 3J01 Hyde Road bridge Platinum Jubilee Gail Richardson

Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.