27. 6Z91 flyash empties-30.05.13

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2013 > 27. 6Z91 flyash empties-30.05.13

The half-term holiday enabled me to get out and photograph the Didcot power station to Calvert flyash train. Being operated by a small fleet of DCR Class 56s made it worthwhile making the trip to Buckinghamshire. I was accompanied by my son which made a pleasant change.

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Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.

56091, unloading flyash, site of Calvert station
56091 idles at the head of its train composed of a rake of huge MBA box wagons. Towards the rear, the grab crane can be seen lowering onto the wagon to remove yet more flyash removed from the now-closed Didcot power station. 56091 is one of a small fleet of the class that DCR retains that are being used exclusively on this contract that started in October last year and that will finish very soon.
Keywords: 56091 unloading flyash site of Calvert station Didcot power station

56091, after unloading flyash, site of Calvert station
With the unloading of the flyash complete 56091 creeps away past the vergroen remains of Calvert station. The 56 will then take part in some train Tetris where it runs round and reverses the train around a torturous curve on to the remains of the Varsity Line where it will then run round again to lead the train back to Didcot again. Notice the yellow crane in the background. This has been used in the past to unload the containers that have been brought to this site full of rubbish to be buried in the huge quarry close by.
Keywords: 56091 site of Calvert station flyash DCR

56091, waiting to run round after unloading flyash, site of Calvert station
Having eased the empty MBA box wagon train north-west of the point where they were unloaded at Calvert it has come to a halt awaiting the shunter to do his work. He will operate the ground frame just out of sight allowing the train to cross onto the remains of the former GCR up line and then take a short chord on to the remains of the Oxford to Cambridge Varsity Line that crosses the GCR line which is today effectively a headshunt. Notice the remains of the black flyash in the MBA wagon that has been removed from the closed and now doomed Didcot power station.
Keywords: 56091 run round after unloading flyash site of Calvert station DCR MBA monster wagons

56091, waiting to run round after unloading flyash, site of Calvert station
Looking like it is primer 56091 is unbranded as it sits at Calvert waiting for the shunter to detach it from the rake of MBA box wagons. Once free of the wagons it will take the points to the extreme top right to then run round the train. I am standing on the overbridge that crosses the remains of Calvert station from where access to the platforms took place in true Great Central style.
Keywords: 56091 run round after unloading flyash site of Calvert station DCR Devon and Cornwall Railway

Shunter walking the flyash empties train, site of Calvert station site
The shunter walks the length of the MBA box wagons in order to operate the ground frame so that it can leave. It will follow the GCR tracks a very short distance and then head a short distance northeast on a sharp curve towards Winslow. The shunter will then detach the 56 and it will run round the wagons to then head southwest back to Didcot via Bicester and Oxford. On arrival at Didcot, it will enter the power station complex, be loaded with more flyash and do the whole thing all over again!
Keywords: Shunter walking the flyash empties train site of Calvert station site

56091, 10.55 Calvert-Didcot PS (6Z91), site of Calvert station site
After spending some time idling 56091 makes a slow, laboured and smokey departure from the remains of Calvert station. It is leading the 10.55 Calvert to Didcot power station MBA box wagons that are returning empty to be re-loaded with more flyash. The flyash is being cleared as part of the decommissioning of the power station leading to its eventual demolition. The flyash is being disposed of in the vast Calvert landfill site.
Keywords: 56091 10.55 Calvert-Didcot PS (6Z91), site of Calvert station site

56091, 10.55 Calvert-Didcot PS (6Z91), Charndon SPSP676255
With the characteristic scream from 56091's turbocharger filling the countryside, it gets its long train of MBA 'super' box wagons away from Calvert as the 6Z91 to Didcot power station. The boxes are returning, having been emptied of their flyash into the Calvert landfill site, to be filled once again. I am standing legally at a footpath crossing near the village of Charndon. If all goes to plan, this train will only be in operation for another fortnight so I am glad that I made the effort to get out and see it.
Keywords: 56091 10.55 Calvert-Didcot Power station 6Z91 Charndon SPSP676255 DCR grid

Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.