19. The Moonraker & The Heart of Wales-13.04.13

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2013 > 19. The Moonraker & The Heart of Wales-13.04.13
A short run out from home in my Nissan Qashqai on a chilly Saturday morning to catch the passage of The Moonraker steam-hauled charter. Whilst the sun played ball the bank of dark cloud behind me was moving ominously close as the train approached!
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Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.

221125, XC 05.11 Manchester Piccadilly-Bournemouth (10O4), King's Sutton SP498354 The 05.11 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth CrossCountry Voyager service passes through the southwestern extremities of the Northamptonshire countryside worked by 221125. This spot is just south of King's Sutton where the line crosses past an open field with almost unobstructed views of the line for a short distance on this side at least! Keywords: Class 220 05.11 Manchester Piccadilly-Bournemouth King's Sutton SP498354 CrossCountry Voyager
Class 165 & 168, CH 07.00 London Marylebone-Birmingham Shrub Hill, King's Sutton SP498354 Two unidentified Chiltern turbo units in the form of a Class 165 leading a Class 168 pass just south of King's Sutton. The duo are working the 07.00 Marylebone to Birmingham Shrub Hill service hence are moving away from the camera with me standing in this position. Keywords: Class 165 168 07.00 London Marylebone-Birmingham Shrub Hill King's Sutton SP498354 Chiltern Railways Turbo
57601, outward leg of the 'Heart of Wales', 05.02 Cardiff Central-Oxford (circular route via Welsh Marches) (1Z39), King's Sutton SP498354 This is a railtour with a very strange route! It originated from Cardiff leaving at a very antisocial 05.02 heading east to Didcot to take the rarely used North Junction to then head to Shrewsbury. There, steam in the form of 44871 and 45407 'The Lancashire Fusilier' would take over to head back to Pangam. Later again, the train would return to Oxford (not its starting point!) hauled by 57601 as seen here at King's Sutton. What a complicated day out! Keywords: 57601 Heart of Wales 05.02 Cardiff Central-Oxford circular route via Welsh Marches 1Z39 King's Sutton SP498354.
57314, outward leg of the 'Heart of Wales', 05.02 Cardiff Central-Oxford (circular route via Welsh Marches) (1Z39), King's Sutton SP498354. Close examination of 57314 reveals that its Arriva Trains Wales branding has almost disappeared with just the faintest outline of the vinyls on its flanks. It is seen passing near King's Sutton at the rear of The Heart of Wales charter running as 1Z39. The charter left Cardiff at 05.02 to end up at Shrewsbury for steam haulage back to the principality along the beautiful Welsh Marches line. Unfortunately, for the punters on board, the bright weather here in Northamptonshire gave way to torrential rain later in the day exactly as the Met. Office forecast! Keywords: 57314, Heart of Wales 05.02 Cardiff Central-Oxford circular route via Welsh Marches 1Z39 King's Sutton SP498354
166220, GW 07.53 Oxford-Banbury (2L38), King's Sutton SP498354 First Great Western's 166220 slows for its stop at King's Sutton which is just a short distance through the trees to the right working the 2L38 07.53 Oxford to Banbury local stopper. Whilst most services are worked by two-car units on Saturday a three-car usually works the train. 166220 is usually formed as a three-car set but the middle coach 58620 appears to have been removed; reason unknown! Keywords: 166220 07.53 Oxford-Banbury, King's Sutton SP498354 First Great Western 2L38
Class 221, XC 06.48 Derby-Reading, King's Sutton SP498354 An unidentified Class 221 Voyager passes just south of King's Sutton at speed working the 06.48 Derby to Reading CrossCountry service. Notice the darkening of the sky that was nothing compared with what was going on behind me heralding a very wet day to come! Whilst I am in Northamptonshire the county boundary with Oxfordshire is immediately behind the embankment following the trees that themselves follow the meandering route of the River Cherwell. Keywords: Class 221 06.48 Derby-Reading King's Sutton SP498354 CrossCountry Voayger
5043, outward leg of The Moonraker, 07.05 Solihull-Salisbury (1Z76), King's Sutton SP498354 Castle Class 4-6-0 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' makes a fine sight as it passes through the Northamptonshire countryside just south of King's Sutton. It is leading the outward leg of The Moonraker charter that left Solihul at 07.05 heading for Salisbury. Travelling through my birth county of Wiltshire for a large part of its journey is the origin of the charter's name with Moonrakers being the name to those born in the county due to an ancient and old tale involving a pond, a full moon, a group of old fellas and plenty of ale; look it up! Keywords: 5043 The Moonraker, 07.05 Solihull-Salisbury 1Z76 King's Sutton SP498354 Castle Class 4-6-0 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe

Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.