47. The English Riviera Airshow-01.06.24

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2024 > 47. The English Riviera Airshow-01.06.24

An early morning drive to King's Sutton to get some 'Western' action. For the first day of meteorological summer it was extraordinarily cold with a keen north easterly wind blowing necessitating a return to winter clothing; I even had the heated seat and steering wheel switched on in the car! Never mind, the sound of a pair of twin Maybach MD655 engines roaring through the countryside made up for the cold!
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Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

165119, GW 07.25 Banbury-Oxford (2V11, RT), King's Sutton SP494358 
 When I last visited this quiet spot on a rickety accommodation bridge just south of King's Sutton station it was not nearly as overgrown as it is now. Indeed, a few years before that it was almost unrecognisable, as shown by one of Martin Loader's images (Of Honda Wanderer fame), see.... http://www.hondawanderer.com/47573_Kings_Sutton_1990_2.htm A unit fits in the gap afforded by the trees just about okay in fact framing the subject, but anything longer would be more of a challenge. 165119 gets away from the station with GWR's 07.25 Banbury to Oxford all-station stopper service. 
 Keywords: 165119 07.25 Banbury-Oxford 2V11 King's Sutton SP494358 Great Western Railway Turbo GWR
168002 & 168112, CH 06.43 Birmingham Moor Street-London Marylebone (1H14, 1E), King's Sutton SP494358 
 Chitern's 168002 and 168112 pass through the dull Northamptonshire countryside just a short distance south of King's Sutton station working the 06.43 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone service. Whilst this spot is in my home county it is only just so with the county boundary with Oxfordshire just behind the trees to the left following the meandering River Cherwell. 
 Keywords: 168002 168112 06.43 Birmingham Moor Street-London Marylebone 1H14 King's Sutton SP494358 Chiltern Railways Turbo
221127 & 220022, XC 06.16 Southampton Central-Manchester Piccadilly (1M22, 6L), King's Sutton SP494358 
 Seen approaching King's Sutton 221127 leads 220022 working CrossCountry's 06.16 Southampton to Manchester service. With the Class 805s entering service on this day (supposedly!) it is likely that there will be some new units seen on this route as the former Avanti West Coast units are cascaded to CrossCountry; lucky them! 
 Keywords: 221127 220022 06.16 Southampton Central-Manchester Piccadilly 1M22 King's Sutton SP494358 XC Cross Country Voyager
221133, XC 05.11 Manchester Piccadilly-Bournemouth (10O4, 5L), King's Sutton SP494358 
 With King's Sutton station seen in the background largely obscured by rampant and uncontrolled tree growth 221133 passes south working the 05.11 Manchester to Bournemouth CrossCountry service. It is locations such as this on the approach to stations and speed restrictions with vast numbers of trees overhanging the line that Network Rail really needs to pay attention to avoid problems in the autumn leaf-fall months. 
 Keywords: 221133 05.11 Manchester Piccadilly-Bournemouth 10O4 King's Sutton SP494358 CrossCountry Voyager
D1015 (D1011), outward leg of The English Riviera Airshow, 06.20 Tame Bridge Parkway-Paignton (1Z50, 23L), King's Sutton SP494358 
 Shattering the peace and quiet of the Northamptonshire countryside sounding absolutely superb D1015 'Western Champion' passes King's Sutton leading the outward leg of The English Riviera Airshow charter. The train had left Tame Bridge Parkway at 06.20 arriving at Paignton a little late. It cannot be seen in this image but D1015 is masquerading as D1011 'Western Thunderer'. This is perhaps in a nod to the fact that one of the front valances was removed from that locomotive and fitted to D1015 back in the early days of the DTG's preservation antics at Swindon in 1979. It was the damage to the valance and an air tank that precipitated the withdrawal of D1015 following a light derailment at Castle Cary on 08.12.76. 
 Keywords: D1015 D1011 outward leg of The English Riviera Airshow, 06.20 Tame Bridge Parkway-Paignton (1Z50, 23L), King's Sutton SP494358
50007, outward leg of The English Riviera Airshow, 06.20 Tame Bridge Parkway-Paignton (1Z50, 23L), King's Sutton SP494358 
 Bringing up the rear of The English Riviera Airshow charter 50007 'Hercules' is seen just south of King's Sutton station. Notice the grey panel below the cab side window. This results from bodywork repairs being carried out by the Class 50 Alliance & The Fifty Fund preservation group in preparation for a full repaint in July. D1015 'Western Champion' is hauling the charter making it a truly Wester Region-themed trip ending up at Paignton. 
 Keywords: 50007 The English Riviera Airshow 06.20 Tame Bridge Parkway-Paignton 1Z50 King's Sutton SP494358 Hercules

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.