69. The CME, The Cappagh Capital Campaigner & a walk-03.08.24

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2024 > 69. The CME, The Cappagh Capital Campaigner & a walk-03.08.24

An interesting Saturday with three railway activities undertaken. First, I managed to capture the Cumbrian Mountain Express passing close to home before heading over to pick Andy up. We then went to the Marston Vale between Bedford and Bletchley to see the Branch Line Society's Cappagh Capital Campaigner charter. We were hoping to capture the train in the Forder's Sidings loop but things did not go quite to plan on this. Later in the day, with the sun now out, I went for a walk through the village to capture some freight and an infrastructure working.

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Images 1-14 of 14 displayed.

66515, 05.20 Crewe Basford Hall-London Gateway (4L52, 2E), Victoria bridge
After a week or so of fine and hot summer weather, it has taken a turn for the worst with cloudy and overcast conditions prevailing. 66615 leads the 4L52 05.20 Crewe Basford Hall to London Gateway past a grey Victoria bridge just south of Roade.
Keywords: 66515 05.20 Crewe Basford Hall-London Gateway 4L52 Victoria bridge Freightliner

86259, outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express, 06.42 London Euston-Carlisle (1Z86, 1E), Victoria bridge
The outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express passes Victoria bridge a short distance south of Roade led, as usual, by 86259 'Les Ross/Peter Pan'. On arrival at Carnforth, Black 5 44871 would take over the train to lead it north over Shap to Carlisle.
Keywords: 86259 The Cumbrian Mountain Express 06.42 London Euston-Carlisle 1Z86 Victoria bridge Les Ross Peter Pan

150141, LN 08.45 Bletchley-Bedford (2S07, 1L), Lidlington SP978384
The familiar sight of a venerable Class 150 on the Marston Vale line can, once again, be enjoyed since they returned, if a little sporadically earlier this year. Watched and filmed by a fellow enthusiast, 150141 approached Lidlington with the 2S07 08.45 Bletchley to Bedford service. Last year, this field was cropped but it appears that the landowner has taken advantage of some Defra scheme or other to take it out of production. Let's hope that no horses get into this field given the profusion of ragwort (acobaea vulgaris) that appears to betaking over.
Keywords: 150141 08.45 Bletchley-Bedford 2S07 Lidlington SP978384 London Northwestern

150137, LN 08.47 Bedford-Bletchley (2S06, RT), Lidlington SP978384
Seen from a field above Marston Vale 150137 works the 08.47 Bedford to Bletchley London Northwestern service. The train has just left Lidlington station located about half a mile to the right. In previous years this scene would have been dominated by many chimneys associated with the brick industry that dominated Marston Vale centred on Stewertby. That industry has all gone with us relying on imported bricks with the only chimney seen now being part of the highly controversial Covanta Incinerator.
Keywords: 150137 08.47 Bedford-Bletchley 2S06 Lidlington SP978384 London Northwestern

OpenTrainTimes screenshot, The Cappagh Capital Campaigner, Forders Sidings
Andy and I had planned to take our photographs of the 1Z50 The Cappagh Capital Campaigner as it took the crossovers into Forders Sidings from the Wooton Broadmeead level crossing. However, without local knowledge and on arrival at our chosen spot it became apparent that this was not going to be possible due to the angle of the crossing gates and the inevitable and rampant lineside growth. Therefore, we had to make do with watching events unfold on our 'phones on OpenTrainTimes from our alternative location near Lidlington. 1Z50 is seen having left the 'mainline' and into the Forders Sidings loop.
Keywords: OpenTrainTimes screenshot The Cappagh Capital Campaigner Forders Sidings

68008, outward leg of The Cappagh Capital Campaigner, 05.54 Derby-Chessington South (1Z50, 6E), Lidlington SP978384
Looking very smart adorned with its retro. speed whiskers 69008 'Richard Howe' (formally 56038) leads the 1Z50 Cappagh Capital Campaigner charter through the Marston vale at Lidlington between Bedford and Bletchley. Leaving Derby at 05.54 the Branch Line Society charter was to take in all sorts of rare and unusual sections of track on its return journey to Chessington South. Unfortunately for Andy, he failed to capture the scene as he experienced a technical fault with his camera caused by a faulty lens.
Keywords: 68008 The Cappagh Capital Campaigner 05.54 Derby-Chessington South 1Z50 Lidlington SP978384 Richard Howe

150137, LN 09.45 Bletchley-Bedford (2S09, 1L), Lidlington SP984387
Seen a little earlier, 150137 is seen returning as the 09.45 Bletchley to Bedford service. It is passing a foot crossing just southwest of Lidlington station. There are a number of flat crossings within a mile or so in this area something that Network Rail will no doubt be attending to in the next few years.
Keywords: 150137 09.45 Bletchley-Bedford 2S09 Lidlington SP984387 London Northwestern

150141, LN 09.47 Bedford-Bletchley (2S08, 2L), Lidlington SP984387
With a toot from the driver, the 09.47 Bedford to Bletchley service is seen accelerating away from Lidlington station worked by veteran DMU 150141. I am standing on the railings of a foot crossing that will no doubt be closed soon as NR continues with its obsessive plan to rid its network of any points of access. If the East West Rail programme is ever to be extended eastwards from Bletchley (but now looking increasingly unlikely under the new Labour Government's plans) then this section of line will become a hundred-mile-per-hour mainline.
Keywords: 150141 09.47 Bedford-Bletchley 2S08 Lidlington SP984387 London Northwestern

66508, 12.09 Felixstowe North-Crewe Basford Hall (4M67, 82E), Roade cutting
Running unusually early through Raode cutting, the 12.09 Felixstowe to Crewe Basford hall 4M67 Freightliner is led, in some glorious summer sunshine, by 66508 'City of Doncaster'.
Keywords: 66508 12.09 Felixstowe North-Crewe Basford Hall 4M67 Roade cutting Freightliner City of Doncaster

66709, 12.29 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park (4M21, 18E), Roade cutting
Wearing its one-off livery 66709 'Sorrento' leads the 4M21 12.29 Felixstowe to Trafford Park Freightliner service through Raode cutting. Not that I want to promote such a poor-quality image, but I last photographed this locomotive on a very different sort of day, also passing Roade, back at the start of the year in January, see....https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30050050931/x66709-10-36-felixstowe-north-trafford
Keywords: 66709 12.29 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park 4M21 Roade cutting Sorrento

350244, LN 16.30 Northampton EMD-Bletchley CS (5B01, 5L), Hyde Road bridge
With the imminent introduction of the new five-car Class 730/2s the Class 350/2s will soon be going off-lease and face an uncertain future. However, recently, there has been unconfirmed talk that their owner, Porterbrook, may be considering converting them to battery operation. One that may go that way is 350244 seen here passing through Roade cutting as the 5B01 16.30 Northampton EMD (Siemens) to Betchley Carriage Sidings ECS move.
Keywords: 350244 16.30 Northampton EMD-Bletchley CS 5B01 Hyde Road bridge ECS Empty coaching stock

66502 & 66548, 15.44 Bescot Yard-Camden Junction (6Y66, 9E), Hyde Road bridge
66502 'Basford Hall Centenary 2001' leads an unusually short half-loaded infrastructure working through Roade cutting taken from Hyde Roade bridge. At the rear of the 6Y66 15.44 Bescot Yard to Camden Junction is 66548. After a very dull start to the day the afternoon has turned into a bright and sunny one as can be seen here making a pleasant change!
Keywords: 66502 66548 15.44 Bescot Yard-Camden Junction 6Y66 Hyde Road bridge Freightliner Basford Hall Centenary 2001

66548 & 66502, 15.44 Bescot Yard-Camden Junction (6Y66, 9E), Hyde Road bridge
A short and lightly loaded 6Y66 infrastructure train passes through Roade. It's almost that I planned for the 15.44 Bescot Yard to Camden working to fit into the gap between Hyde Road bridge (where I am standing) and the former A508 bridge - pure fluke I can assure you! 66548 is seen un-powered at the rear of the train with 66502 'Basford Hall Centenary 2001' leading.
Keywords: 66548 66502 15.44 Bescot Yard-Camden Junction (6Y66, 9E) Hyde Road Basford Hall Centenary 2001

88007, 16.39 DIRFT-Tilbury Container Terminal (4L50, 9L), A508 bridge
After a period of time with diesel being used in favour of electric haulage on the southern WCML DRS appears to be reverting back to electric once again. With the 4L48 being electrically hauled recently now it's the turn of the 4L50 16.39 Daventry (DIRFT) to Tilbury with 88007 'Electra' leading for the second day running. The train is seen passing the village of Roade from the former A508 road bridge.
Keywords: 88007 16.39 DIRFT-Tilbury Container Terminal 4L50 A508 bridgeElectra

Images 1-14 of 14 displayed.