Archive-2025

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Here we go again.....another year and another one (hopefully!) packed with railway activity. With most industrial action over apart from a dispute between train managers and Avanti West Coast. Indeed as I type this on the second day of 2025 I am listening to Mick Lynch being interviewed on The Today programme explaining his members' actions. I suppose the biggest change to come this year is more ToCs coming into public ownership as part of the newly elected Labour Government taking back more central control of the railways; a sort of 'soft' nationalisation. On a brighter note, let's hope that the railways celebrate two hundred years in style, at least the whistle-in at 12.00 on New Year's Day got national news coverage!
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1. New Year's Day on the NLR-01.01.25 With the stormy weather delaying our customary New Year's Day trip to the Northamptonshire and Lamport Railway we did enjoy a slightly later trip behind a steam train. In addition, it was our first run to Boughton on their extension south which was opened earlier in 2024.

With the stormy weather delaying our customary New Year's Day trip to the Northamptonshire and Lamport Railway we did enjoy a slightly later trip behind a steam train. In addition, it was our first run to Boughton on their extension south which was opened earlier in 2024.
2. A load of engineering trains-02.01.25 The second day of the year dawned very different to the first being sunny, bright and cold. RTT indicated a number of infrastructure trains should pass through the village in association with a possession of the slow lines between Cheddington and Tring. Unfortunately, the possession appeared to have overrun with all of the trains leaving it extremely late and the lines closed to all trains until the mid-afternoon causing much delays for all services with all having to use the fast lines.

The second day of the year dawned very different to the first being sunny, bright and cold. RTT indicated a number of infrastructure trains should pass through the village in association with a possession of the slow lines between Cheddington and Tring. Unfortunately, the possession appeared to have overrun with all of the trains leaving it extremely late and the lines closed to all trains until the mid-afternoon causing much delays for all services with all having to use the fast lines.
3. An HST & and a Capitalstar drag-04.01.25 A test train running on a Saturday is not common but with the Christmas and New Year breaks causing affecting the normal fixed programme of trains, I suspect this ran in an effort to get things back to schedule. In addition, at about the same time a Class 37 was involved in a unit drag from South London.

A test train running on a Saturday is not common but with the Christmas and New Year breaks causing affecting the normal fixed programme of trains, I suspect this ran in an effort to get things back to schedule. In addition, at about the same time a Class 37 was involved in a unit drag from South London.
4. The day after the snow fell-05.01.25 What a strange day for the weather. A significant overnight fall of snow was melting in record time due to a rise in temperature from one-degree Celsius to nine in about two hours. This created very misty conditions during which I took my customary Sunday walk.

What a strange day for the weather. A significant overnight fall of snow was melting in record time due to a rise in temperature from one-degree Celsius to nine in about two hours. This created very misty conditions during which I took my customary Sunday walk.
5. A winter's afternoon walk-09.01.25 A beautiful but extremely cold winter's day got me out after lunch (after completing my chores to the wife's satisfaction!). My walk coincided with three regular freights and a Class 37 light engine move.

A beautiful but extremely cold winter's day got me out after lunch (after completing my chores to the wife's satisfaction!). My walk coincided with three regular freights and a Class 37 light engine move.
6. The Capital's Scot-10.01.24 An early morning meeting with Andy at Milton Keynes station on a very cold morning to see the first charter of the year, The Capital's Scot. Hauled by 87002 'Royal Sovereign' the charter attracted a lot of attention for such a bitter morning. After we enjoyed a heart breakfast at Morrisons. Later in the day I went out for my customary afternoon walk with camera in hand.

An early morning meeting with Andy at Milton Keynes station on a very cold morning to see the first charter of the year, The Capital's Scot. Hauled by 87002 'Royal Sovereign' the charter attracted a lot of attention for such a bitter morning. After we enjoyed a heart breakfast at Morrisons. Later in the day I went out for my customary afternoon walk with camera in hand.
7. Freights on the fast-18.01.25 With a weekend of engineering works to the north of Northampton a full possession was in place with no trains running to and from Rugby, including freight. While some freight was diverted or did not run others were diverted on to the 'old' line via Weedon.

With a weekend of engineering works to the north of Northampton a full possession was in place with no trains running to and from Rugby, including freight. While some freight was diverted or did not run others were diverted on to the 'old' line via Weedon.
8. An afternoon walk-24.01.25 Following the completion of my Friday chores, I took a walk out around the village with the camera thrown over my shoulder. I caught two freights, both by the skin of my teeth arriving at bridges just as they appeared, more by luck than judgment I might add!

Following the completion of my Friday chores, I took a walk out around the village with the camera thrown over my shoulder. I caught two freights, both by the skin of my teeth arriving at bridges just as they appeared, more by luck than judgment I might add!
9. Some New Year Wolverton Works action-25.01.25 After a break over the Christmas and New Year period, movements in and out of Wolverton have begun again. I popped out to see the incoming train and later in the afternoon the balancing return working.

After a break over the Christmas and New Year period, movements in and out of Wolverton have begun again. I popped out to see the incoming train and later in the afternoon the balancing return working.
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