2. A load of engineering trains-02.01.25

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2025 > 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.
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Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.

66758, 06.21 Ledburn Junction-Bescot Yard (6G63, 139L), site of Roade station 
 Whilst very welcome, winter sun can be very tricky as is the case here! 66758 'The Pavior' leads the 06.21 Ledburn Junction to Bescot Yard empty track train past Roade. This was the first of a number of returning infrastructure trains with this one being a mere two and a half hours late suggesting something went wrong during the New Year's Day possession between Cheddington and Tring. 
 Keywords: 66758 06.21 Ledburn Junction-Bescot Yard 6G63 site of Roade station GBRf The Pavior
350234, LN 08.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1Y24, 3L), site of Roade station 
 Soon to go off-lease 350234 passes Roade working the 08.36 Birmingham New Street to Euston service. The low winter sunshine has created a significant problem at this location in the form of a deep shadow created by the footbridge on which I am standing that is not an issue at other times of the year, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30058144583/x150137-15-36-newton-heath-bletchley 
 Keywords: 350234 08.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1Y24 site of Roade station London Northwestern Desiro
DR73948, 10.30 Bletchley CE Sidings-Rugby DED (6J63, 9E), Roade cutting 
 Colas' switch and crossing tamper DR73948 passes through Roade cutting as the 10.30 Bletchley to Rugby DED 6J63. Out of all the infrastructure services on this morning, this was the only one that was close to it planned time with all the others heavily delayed. 
 Keywords: DR73948 10.30 Bletchley CE Sidings-Rugby DED 6J63 Roade cutting Colas Rail Plasser and Theurer Switch and Crossing Tamper
66304, 07.21½ Ledburn Junction-Bescot Yard (6G61, 122L), Hyde Road bridge 
 One of five former Fastline (remember them?) Class 66s leads the 07.21½ Ledburn Junction to Bescot Yard empty ballast train through Roade after being involved in New Year's work between Tring and Cheddington. Leading the late running 6G21, 66304 eventually arrived at Bescot two hours late as a result of the engineering work overrunning causing considerable disruption to all other services. 
 Keywords: 66304 07.21½ Ledburn Junction-Bescot Yard 6G61 Hyde Road bridge
66797, 06.53 Dollands Moor-DIRFT (6M41, RT), Hyde Road bridge 
 With much freight cancelled during the Christmas and New Year period one flow that continued to run was the 'water train'. The 6M41 06.53 Dollands Moor to DIRFT (Daventry) passes through Roade led by 66797 catching some welcome (but troublesome for photography) winter sunshine in the cutting. 
 Keywords: 66797 06.53 Dollands Moor-DIRFT 6M41 Hyde Road bridge
37611, 11.48 Derby RTC-Wembley Yard (0H72, 5E), site of Roade station

Yet another Rail Operations Group light engine move involving one of their ever-dependable Class 37s passes Roade catching a short gap between the deep winter shadows. This time, 37611 'Denise' runs south as the 0H72 11.48 Derby RTC to Wembley Yard. It transpired that the Class 37 was to be used on a drag of a Capitalstar (Class 378) in a couple of days. 
 Keywords: 37611 11.48 Derby RTC-Wembley Yard 0H72 site of Roade station ROG Rail Operations Group Denise
66734 & 66735, 08.05 Ledburn Junction-Bescot Yard (6G60, 316L), site of Roade station 
 How about this for a late-running engineering train? Running over an eye-watering five hours late the 6G60 08.05 Ledburn Junction to Bescot Yard used ballast train is seen passing Roade in some lovely afternoon winter sunshine. Leading the long rake of wagons is the instantly recognisable 66734 'Platinum Jubilee' with consecutively numbered 66735 'Peterborough United' just in view on the rear. I am not sure as to what held up this train (and all the others involved in the New Year's Day possession for that matter) but it certainly caused all sorts of problems on the WCML just south of Cheddington; I'd love to see the report into it! 
 Keywords: 66734 66735 08.05 Ledburn Junction-Bescot Yard 6G60 site of Roade station Platinum Jubilee
66735, 08.05 Ledburn Junction-Bescot Yard (6G60, 316L), site of Roade station 
 Just about to plunge into the darkness of Roade cutting the incredibly late 6G60 08.05 Ledburn Junction to Bescot Yard used ballast train is brought up at the rear by 66735 'Peterborough United'. The train arrived some five hours late into Bescot no doubt with the train crew in for a hefty overtime payment! 
 Keywords: 66735 08.05 Ledburn Junction-Bescot Yard 6G60 site of Roade station Peterborough United
90040 & 90041, 09.12 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park (4M63, 3E), site of Roade station 
 The 09.12 Felixstowe North to Trafford Park Freightliner is usually double-headed by a pair of Freightliner's finest Class 90s and today is no exception. The well-loaded train is seen passing Roade catching some welcome late afternoon winter's sunshine on this particularly chilly day. 'Leading is 90040 with consecutively numbered 90041 'Pete Waterman OBE' tucked in behind. After such a busy day nipping in and out to catch the various late-running infrastructure trains it's time to head home for a cuppa now, I think! 
 Keywords: 90040 90041 09.12 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park 4M63 site of Roade station Freightliner Pete Waterman OBE

Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.