24. Two charters and and ECS-16.03.24

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2024 > 24. Two charters and and ECS-16.03.24

A busy morning near home with two charters that were, in theory, only fifteen minutes apart from each other but, in practice, that did not quite happen! A short time later an empty coaching stock move also passed and it was all in the sunshine!
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Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

D213, outward leg of The Cotswold Explorer, 06.30 Northampton-Worcester Shrub Hill (1Z46, 40L), between Roade & Ashton There had been some speculation as to what would be hauling Saphos' The Cotswold Explorer charter with LSL providing the stock and motive power. As it was such a still and quiet morning I was able to hear the locomotive some distance from where I was standing between Roade and Ashton in Northamptonshire and the familiar sound of an English Electric 16SVT confirmed it was a Class 40! 40013 'Andania' looks superb in the half-light of this chilly March morning leading the train that had just started out from Northampton at 06.30 heading for Worcester Shrub Hill with steam taking over in West London. Keywords: D213 The Cotswold Explorer, 06.30 Northampton-Worcester ShShrub Hill 1Z46 between Roade & Ashton Andania Whistler
D1935, outward leg of The Cotswold Explorer, 06.30 Northampton-Worcester Shrub Hill (1Z46, 40L), between Roade & Ashton D1935 'Roger Hoskins MA 1925-2013' (previously numbered 47257, 47650 & 47805) brings up the rear of The Cotswold Explorer charter as it passes the fields in the half-light of a March morning between the villages of Roade and Ashton. The Class 47 was towed all the way to Worcester and back, initially by D213 'Andania' but from West London and back by 46100 'Royal Scot'. Keywords: D1935 The Cotswold Explorer 06.30 Northampton-Worcester Shrub Hill 1Z46 between Roade & Ashton Roger Hoskins MA 1925 - 2013
66522, 03.14 Garston-London Gateway (4L52, 9E), Victoria bridge Just too early in the morning for the sun to illuminate the cutting at Victoria bridge near the Northamptonshire village of Ashton. Fortunately, with a camera that can handle extreme contrast and using Photoshop to help things further, a reasonable photograph can be presented. 66522 leads the 4L52 03.14 Garston to London Gateway Freightliner service. Keywords: 66522 03.14 Garston-London Gateway 4L52 Victoria bridge Freightliner
86259, outward leg of The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express, 06.35 London Euston-Carlisle (1Z86, 17L), Victoria bridge Running over thirty minutes late after leaving Euston some fifteen minutes adrift I did wonder in 86259 'Les Ross/Peter Pan' had once again developed a mechanical problem of some kind. However, it appears not as the locomotive and stock made it all the way to Carnforth but still considerably behind schedule. The AL6 looks good in the morning sunshine passing Victoria bridge near the Northamptonshire village of Ashton leading the 1Z86 06.35 Euston to Carlisle Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express charter. Due to its late running there were a number of Avanti Pendolinos stacked up behind it all running on caution that makes me wonder why signallers did not path the charter through Northampton. Keywords: 86259 The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express 06.35 London Euston-Carlisle 1Z86, Victoria bridge Less Ross Peter Pan AL6
57601, 07.45 Southall WCR-Coventry (5Z68, 9L), site of Roade station Unable to go out away from home due to 'domestic commitments' I had to make do with a local spot at the site of Roade's former station. This meant that the lighting was far from perfect hence this rather mediocre photograph of 57601 'Windsor Castle' leading the 07.45 Southal WCR to Coventry empty coaching stock move. Keywords: 57601 07.45 Southall WCR-Coventry 5Z68 site of Roade station Windsor Castle Northern Belle
57313, 07.45 Southall WCR-Coventry (5Z68, 9L), site of Roade station 57313 'Scarborough Castle' brings up the rear of the 07.45 Southall WCR to Coventry empty stock move running as 5Z68. On arrival at Coventry, the stock would then form Northern Belle's afternoon charter marketed as 'Spirit Of Travel Lunch & Champagne Afternoon Tea' to Shrewsbury. With the extortionate fares paid by passengers for such trains, this would no doubt cover the costs of the empty coaching stock move seen here from West London. Keywords: 57313 07.45 Southall WCR-Coventry 5Z68 site of Roade station WCR Northern Belle Scarborough Castle

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.