■ 12:46 66713 6H10 Bletchley - Peak Forest.
■ 13:05 43054 + 91122 t/n/t/ 82115, 91128 + 43066 5Q55 Kettering - Rectory Junction.
■ 13:17 37254 + 43060 + 43045 0Z52 Reading Triangle Sidings - Leicester L.I.P.
■ 13:48 66750 + 66783 0G10 Wellingborough - Bescot Down Side.
■ 14:23 66717 6F93 St. Pancras Churchyard - Ketton.
■ 14:50 66542 6V54 Radlett - East Usk.
■ 15:37 43272 t/n/t 43309 1D43 St. Pancras International - Nottingham.
■ 15:46 66610 6M91 Theale - Hope.
■ 15:34 43102 t/n/t/ 43274 1D48 St. Pancras International - Nottingham.
■ 16:50 66744 6M79 Angerstein Wharf - Bardon Hill.

Cheers,

James
 

• 5Y-KZA.
• 9M-MAE.
• 9V-SMT.
• A6-BLH.
• A6-EFJ.
• A6-EGE.
• A7-BAC.
• A7-BET.
• A7-BFQ.
• A7-BHA.
• A7-BHF.
• B-1080.
• B-1357.
• B-307C.
• CS-TVA.
• D-AEAD.
• D-AEAS.
• D-AINL.
• D-AINQ.
• EC-NJM.
• EI-IMG.
• EI-IMI.
• EI-IMW.
• ET-AOS.
• F-GRXK.
• F-HEPE.
• G-CLAA.
• G-DBCD.
• G-EUOG.
• G-EUUS.
• G-EUYN.
• G-EUYO.
• G-EUYS.
• G-NEOS.
• G-STBC.
• G-TTNB.
• G-VIIB.
• G-VJAM.
• G-VMAP.
• G-VOWS.
• G-VSPY.
• G-VSXY.
• G-VWAG.
• G-XWBD.
• G-XWBE.
• G-YMMS.
• G-ZBJA.
• G-ZBJC.
• G-ZBKB.
• G-ZBKC.
• G-ZBKF.
• G-ZBKH.
• G-ZBKI.
• G-ZBKK.
• G-ZBKR.
• G-ZBKS.
• G-ZBLA.
• HB-JBF.
• HB-JBI.
• HL8285.
• HZ-AK39.
• HZ-ARE.
• JA788A.
• JA867J.
• N725AN.
• N765AN.
• N796AN.
• OH-LVH.
• PH-BXN.
• SU-GES.
• SX-NAA.
• SX-NAB.
• T7-ME8.
• TC-JJK.
• TC-JJO.
• UR-EMB.
• VQ-BMV.
• VT-ANB.
• YR-ASC.

All aircraft were landing on Runway 09R, and photo's were taken from a legal vantage point on the Western Perimeter Road, approximately a 20 minute walk from Terminal 5, for those arriving by public transport.

For information on what the aircraft type and/or flight was, type in the registration number in the "search" bar. 

• 15:11 68034 6Z76 Crewe Basford Hall - Stud Farm.
• 15:36 66543 4M58 Southampton - Garston.
• 15:38 66188 6V11 Dowlow - Theale.
• 15:49 66013 4L56 Trafford Park - London Gateway.
• 15:58 43062 + 43014 1Q28 Derby RTC - Derby RTC via London Euston and Crewe.
• 16:08 45596 5Z45 Keighley & Worth Valley Railway - Alton.
• 16:12 66105 4F02 Ashburys - Mountsorrel.

Cheers

James

However LNWR have given some rules which should be adhered to during these challenging times, and they are:

• Notify station staff of your presence (Office is on Platform 1).
• Wear a face covering of some sort, unless you are medically exempt.
• ONLY use the North end of Platforms 2/3 and 4/5, this is to aid social distancing and also the Southern end is full of materials for the ongoing footbridge refurbishment.
• Keep a social distance between yourself and other enthusiasts, unless they're in your "bubble".

Despite the new rules, it is still possible to enjoy your day out at Nuneaton, refreshments can also be purchased at the Asda just across the way as the coffee shop on Platform is currently closed, although personally, I stopped using the refreshment facilities since Derek's pleasant little shop on Platform 1 closed a few years ago, which to me was a great shame.

I do ask that ALL enthusiasts do obey these rules at the current time, the staff at Nuneaton have always been very tolerant of enthusiasts at the station, and it's only fair that we reciprocate. It is also extremely decent of London NorthWestern Railway to allow enthusiasts back on the platforms. Last thing that is needed is someone mucking things up for the majority of law abiding enthusiasts.

Today though, we had a nice variety of traffic, in what was pretty reasonable weather.

Workings seen, and in order, were:

• 13:13 66511 4L46 Lawley Street - London Gateway.
• 13:15 66422 6Z76 Crewe Basford Hall - Stud Farm.
• 13:30 66592 4M94 Felixstowe - Lawley Street.
• 13:32 66414 4M81 Felixstowe - Crewe Basford Hall.
• 13:37 66431 0Z67 Daventry I.R.F.T. - Crewe Gresty Bridge.
• 13:41 975025 + 37421 5Z89 Lichfield Trent Valley - Lichfield Trent Valley (via Rugby).
• 14:24 90041 + 90049 + 86622 + 86613 4M45 Felixstowe - Garston.
• 14:34 70816 + 66001 0M50 Westbury - Bescot.
• 14:43 66413 4M63 Felixstowe - Trafford Park.
• 14:43 975025 + 37421 5Z89 returning North.
• 15:02 66779 4L04 Hams Hall - Felixstowe.
• 15:12 66613 6H50 Willesden - Tunstead.
• 15:26 66740 4M29 Felixstowe - Birch Coppice.
• 15:46 66561 4M58 Southampton - Garston.
• 15:51 66788 4M23 Felixstowe - Hams Hall.
• 16:02 66187 4L56 Trafford Park - London Gateway.
• 16:10 66713 4L07 Birch Coppice - Felixstowe.
• 16:12 66523 4M88 Felixstowe - Ditton.
• 16:29 66754 4M46 London Gateway - Hams Hall.
• 16:32 70016 4M61 Southampton - Trafford Park.
• 16:39 66504 4O17 Lawley Street - Southampton.

Needing some refreshments, I walked over to Asda, and then came back. I then decided - a spur of the moment decision - to take a trip to Leamington Spa, well 172001 was in, and I required it for haulage so why not??:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

17:16 Travel on 172001 Nuneaton - Leamington Spa (2G86 17:16 NUN - LMS).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coventry Arena (17:27)

172008 (2G89 17:01 LMS - NUN).

Coventry CE Sidings (17:37).

DR77002, DR79262/79272.

Leamington Spa (17:59).

165024 (2L71 17:21 BMO - LMS).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

18:00 Travel on 172001 Leamington Spa - Nuneaton (2G91 18:00 LMS - NUN).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheers

James

Codes:

• BMO: Birmingham Moor Street.
• LMS: Leamington Spa.
• NUN: Nuneaton.

My journey today would start at Nuneaton Station, and my trip would be just under 20 miles in length on the hourly West Midlands Railway service to Leamington Spa, which today was one of the regular 2-coach Class 172 DMU's, WMR had procured 8 of these units from London Overground a couple of years ago, and indeed they have been a very welcome addition to the regional route between Nuneaton, Coventry and Leamington Spa, which prior to the Class 172's, was operated by a single coach Class 153 DMU, which was, in my opinion wholly inadequate.

Aiming for the 17:16 departure, I arrived in good time, and the social distancing measures have clearly been implemented, with marks on the floor, barriers in the ticket office, and the coffee shop on Platform 1 being shut, although since Derek's pleasant shop was closed a while back, I haven't bothered with the new establishment. Purchasing my ticket from the self service machine, as there was already a customer at the ticket office window.

Heading on Platform 1, my train was already there, which today was 172004, the timetable between Nuneaton and Leamington Spa allows for a more or less 35 minute turnaround at Nuneaton, whilst, owing to pathing constraints, about 10 minutes at Leamington Spa. Boarding the train at 17:05, I was the only customer on board, although as departure time crept up, several more passengers boarded, in fact there was the grand total of 7 passengers in my carriage as we departed, and 4 of those alighted at Bedworth.

The journey was easy going, as we called at Bermuda Park, Bedworth, Coventry Arena, Coventry, Kenilworth and finally Leamington Spa, although we met with delays around Kenilworth as a freightliner service was routed out in front of us from Kenilworth passing loop - the line between Coventry (Gibbet Hill Junction) and Leamington Spa (Milverton Junction) being single track apart from the aforementioned loop. Although Gibbet Hill - Kenilworth was always single track, between Kenilworth and Leamington, it was double track but rationalisation in 1977 seen it singled - maybe this trend could be reversed at some point in the future??.

Arriving into Leamington Spa just before 18:00, it was an ultra quick turnaround, the driver literally swapped ends and back to Nuneaton we went. Despite the lateness arriving, we were just one minute late leaving Leamington Spa, it was also pleasing to see a fair few people board at Leamington, and a quick observation seen a vast majority wearing face coverings, some very quirky ones too. This actually got me thinking that maybe we could embrace the current situation, and maybe the Train Operating Companies and even major retailers could run a competition for the best face covering, say maybe once a month, with a prize of say £50 Love2Shop gift card (which all major retailers accept) or maybe a weeks free travel on a particular TOC, in this case, West Midlands Trains.

After all, it would probably encourage people to wear them, and maybe even encourage people to create their own whacky designs.

Arriving back in Coventry, on time, most passengers alighted the train, and another good few boarded, again, as seen at Leamington Spa, most were wearing a face covering. Arriving into Nuneaton a good 2 minutes early, it gave me time to reflect on how things have changed, will it be temporary, or longer term?, who knows, I for one would like to see a return to normality in the future, although it seems to be heading that way, it's just a matter of time and patience. One thing which was clearly noticeable at Nuneaton was the lack of rail enthusiasts on the platforms. Now I'm not sure whether London NorthWestern Railway have put a temporary stop on them whilst the pandemic is ongoing  or not, maybe we'll see them again in the future. 

Seen, in order, were:

• 15:12 66754 4L04 Hams Hall - Felixstowe.
• 15:19 66730 4M29 Felixstowe - Birch Coppice.
• 15:20 47813 + 47815 5M56 Long Marston - Castle Donington.
• 15:25 975025 + 37421 5Z89 Derby RTC - Derby RTC via Crewe and the WCML.
• 15:26 66619 6V54 Radlett - East Usk Yard.
• 15:53 66749 4L07 Birch Coppice - Felixstowe.
   

[CONSIST] 5M56 12:37 Long Marston - Castle Donington EMDC.

47813 Jack Frost.

47815 Lost Boys 68-88.

12185, 12182, 12184, 12183, 12181, 12178, 12177, 12179, 12180, 12176, 10249.

Cheers, James

Usual routine, of getting in the car and heading towards Cossington, a leisurely drive through Hinckley to access the M69 at Junction 2, which only has an on/off slip road if you're either heading to Leicester or coming from Leicester although there are proposals to add on/off slips Southbound, this has became more apparent with the proposal to obliterate Burbage Common with a railfreight terminal - more on that in the future.

Back to the current situation, the drive to Cossington encompasses the M69, M1, A46, before going onto country lanes to access the location, despite the lifting of lockdown rules, it is still evident that the roads are still not as busy as pre-Covid levels, and the traffic was easy going.

Arriving at Cossington, my first shot was of the former LNER HST duo; 43257 and 43318 working 1D18 09:34 St. Pancras International - Nottingham. The HST being one of several sets displaced from the East Coast Mainline by the newer, and indeed sleeker Class 800 Azuma trains. The HST's are indeed on borrowed time on the Midland Mainline, as the new operator; East Midlands Railway are also replacing the HST's and Class 222 Meridian trains with a brand new Class 810, based on the Hitachi A-Train design. 33 new 5-car bi-mode have been quoted and will most likely run round in pairs forming 10 coach sets, with at a guess, a spare being used on standby, even I know 33 doesn't divide into 2 lol. My advice to enthusiasts is, get the HST's and Meridians while you can.

Another nice HST duo which made an appearance was former Grand Central duo; 43480 and 43484 working 1D21 10:05 St. Pancras International - Nottingham, this was caught later on in the day working 1C52 14:00 Sheffield - St. Pancras International, having worked an ECS manoeuvre from Nottingham to Sheffield.

What About Freight?.

The Midland Mainline isn't really that busy for freight services, it can, and indeed has, had it's moments over the years, but in recent times, the freight has dwindled. There use to be coal services from Daw Mill Colliery to Ratcliffe Power Station but this ceased back in 2013 due to a fire at the mine, as well as the ever increasing green agenda being pushed by the government, from a personal point of view, I really hope it doesn't come back and bite the UK up the derriere. 

The main staple of freight on this section of the Midland Mainline tends to be services serving the nearby Mountsorrel granite quarry, with the occasional oil trains from Theale or Westerleigh to the Lindsey refineries, steel trains from Margam to Corby, or the somewhat more frequent cement trains from Dagenham or Theale to Hope cement works in Derbyshire. On this day however, I was blessed with 3 services; 2 services going to the aforementioned Mountsorrel Quarry, and a cement train heading to Hope from Theale.

And The Specials??.

"This town, is coming like a ghost town"

OK, not the band from Coventry, but the special moves that prompted me to head to Cossington in the first place.

First up, 37421 was going on a jolly to Crewe with inspection saloon Caroline (975025 for you number crunchers out there), taking a somewhat circuitous route via Leicester, Nuneaton, Stafford and Crewe, and returning the same way - well that was the plan anyway but it sort of went Pete Tong later in the day. I was a bit miffed that the 37 was propelling the saloon, in other words was pushing, but it's one of those things, but alas I though to myself that she would be leading on the way back which was one of the factors in making a day of it.

Less than half an hour later, the second special was due, 37099 and 37025, which looks the dogs wotsits in BR Blue Large Logo, complete with Inverness TMD nameplates, just unfortunate that she was tail gunning on the rear of the ensemble, still one can't complain, as after all, how often do you see a split-box Class 37 on the mainline, let alone 2?. Both of these venerable locomotives were working 1Q51 Derby RTC - Eastleigh, and with a combined age of 117 YEARS, both look in extremely fine fettle. 37025 was of course released to traffic in August 1961, whilst 37099 followed just over a year later in December 1962.

37421 herself being 45 years old, being released to traffic in February 1965 as D6967, later becoming 37267 and finally 37421.

Meridian Medley.

Whilst the bulk of sightings was indeed the Class 222 Meridian units, as mentioned previously, these are on borrowed time, and as such having a final fling with them doesn't seem a bad plan, especially as I think that they're quite photogenic trains, whether the same can be said for the Class 810's when they start in a couple of years remains to be seen, but from what I've seen, I think they will, especially in a nice bit of sun. Of note, it seems East Midlands Railway are still more or less running a full, pre-Covid lockdown service on their Intercity routes (half hourly to Nottingham and Sheffield mainly), although the regional services appear to be 2-hourly at best between Leicester and Nottingham (which stop at the local stations).

Caroline Stood Me Up!!.

As the afternoon drew on, I was also following the progress of 37421 and saloon Caroline on their jolly back from Crewe to Derby RTC, which was booked the same route as the outward run, but a number of delays, especially around Stafford, reasons unknown, had seen a quick change of plan, and the duo were diverted at Lichfield Trent Valley up to the little used high level line between Lichfield Trent Valley and Wichnor Junction on the main Birmingham - Derby line, thus missing out Nuneaton and Leicester, and of course the small, socially distanced gallery which had assembled at Cossington, including myself.

Cementing Friendship.

Since I came off social media - or should that be anti-social media??. I no longer see what other people in the hobby are doing or having a bit of banter or sharing photo's, but nevertheless, I met one at Cossington, who was also there for the 37, so it was nice to have a catch up and chat. The last train of the day, before calling it a day, was 66616 working 6M91 Theale - Earles Sidings (Hope) cement working.

The Sightings.

• 10:56 43257 + 43318 1D18 St. Pancras International - Nottingham.
• 11:36 43480 + 43484 1D21 St. Pancras International - Nottingham.
• 11:39 975025 + 37421 5Z79 Derby RTC - Derby RTC via Nuneaton and Stafford.
• 11:51 43058 + 43045 1D23 St. Pancras International - Nottingham.
• 12:06 43318 + 43257 1B38 Nottingham - St. Pancras International.
• 12:16 37099 + 37025 1Q51 Derby RTC - Eastleigh.
• 12:25 66176 4D31 Radlett - Mountsorrel.
• 13:05 43045 + 43058 1B43 Nottingham - St. Pancras International.
• 13:05 43073 + 43059 1D28 St. Pancras International - Nottingham.
• 13:54 66761 6M60 Whitemoor Yard - Mountsorrel.
• 14:05 43059 + 43073 1B48 Nottingham - St. Pancras International.
• 15:01 43484 + 43480 1C52 Sheffield - St. Pancras International.
• 15:50 43257 + 43318 1D43 St. Pancras International - Nottingham.
• 15:56 66616 6M91 Theale - Earles Sidings.

HST Formations.

1D18 09:34 St. Pancras International - Nottingham.

43257 

44070, 42152, 42157, 42156, 42155, 40700, 41069, 41079

43318

1D21 10:05 St. Pancras International - Nottingham.

43480

42404, 42401, 42584, 41206, 40221, 41207

43484

1D23 10:34 St. Pancras International - Nottingham.

43058

41071, 41072, 40753, 42329, 42139, 42140, 42140, 44048

43045

1D28 11:34 St. Pancras International - Nottingham.

43073

44051, 42149, 42148, 42341, 42328, 40756, 41076, 41075

43059

Of course, some sets made a couple of appearances, but as it happens, of the 5 sets out, I managed to get 4. 

As viewers to this site have probably guessed, I am also into my road transport as well as rail and aviation, and the 23rd June seen a visit to one of favourite locations where I go for trucks, the location is Packington Lane near Coleshill in Warwickshire, which spans the M6 Toll as well as the normal M6, I haven't been here for a bit though as work was underway to turn this section of the M6 into a so-called smart motorway. Luckily work is now complete, and subsequently overgrowth was cut back which has actually opened up the shot making it better than it previously was, I didn't venture to the bit that spans the M6 Toll as nothing much really uses it.

409 BX59 GCU A Beverley Transport Services MAN unit heads a boat load past the Packington Lane overbridge, complete with it's escort vehicle.

For the few hours I was there, it was noticeably quieter than it usually is, one thing that was apparent was the lack of coaches, again owing to restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic that is currently causing mayhem in the UK as well as abroad.

Pics from the day (420 in total), with hauliers such as Eddie Stobart and Turners featured, can be found HERE

Revisiting Old Haunts Part Deux.

Following the session from the 23rd June, I was at a bit of a loose end, and wasn't sure where to go, the sun was out, it was warm and as such I was going to go somewhere, but where??.

Some gen was received that 60010 was being taken from Crewe IEMD to Toton for attention, and 67001 and 67002 was doing the honours in taking the stricken loco back to base, that for me, was the deciding factor; Barrow Upon Trent in Derbyshire, which is on the freight-only line between Sheet Stores Junction and Stenson Junction. Again, this is one location which I haven't been to for some considerable time, in fact according to my records, it was May 2017 since I last came here, and indeed Stenson Junction. I never visited Stenson Junction on this occasion, but hopefully at some point in the not too distant future I will go back there.

67001 60010 67002 Barrow Upon Trent.67001 leads 60010 and classmate 67002 through Barrow Upon Trent working 0F54 Crewe IEMD - Toton. The Class 60 going for attention. 67001 leads a crippled 60010 through Barrow Upon Trent, with 67002 tail gunning on the rear.

Upon arrival, a glance at RTT seen that there was some decent stuff due through, although there was a gap of about 90 minutes about lunch time, so you may ask "What did you do for 90 minutes??". As it happens, it's an ideal time to go and get fed and watered, in this case the services on the A50 by Willington has everything you need, from a shop in the Shell garage which appeared to be well stocked to several fast food outlets, all bar one being shut because of Covid, hopefully we'll see them return in the not too distant future. KFC was the only one open, even then it was a drive-thru only operation.

The 90 minutes is ample time to whip across to the services to get supplies, and of course to take care of your toilet needs before returning to Barrow Upon Trent - of course it is also within reach of Stenson Junction too for those that are there.

With a satisfied hunger and thirst, it was back to Barrow Upon Trent for the afternoon shenanigans, according to one of the lists; 66415 was allocated to 4O95 Leeds - Southampton, alas 66547 materialised instead. I was hoping for 66415 as it is now in the Genesee and Wyoming livery whereas 66547 is still in bog standard Freightliner Green. Still never mind, always another time eh??.

Once everything had passed Barrow, it was time to move on.....

Revisiting Old Haunts: Part 3.

OK, so where does one go after visiting Barrow Upon Trent??, there was really naff all worth going to Stenson Junction for, besides the sun would be in the completely wrong place for stuff coming North, not that there was anything anyway apart from your usual diet of CrossCountry Voyagers and Turbostars. In fact the only ideal place to go in the area at that time of the afternoon is Elford, near Tamworth, which again it has been a few years since I last visited although the timing on this day would be about right for when the Kingsbury - Lindsey tanks would be rattling past after discharging it's load at the Warwickshire oil terminal. 

Into the car I went and took the most direct route I could; straight down the A38 to Alrewas and then turn off to take the scenic route to Elford.

Now usually the main shot at Elford is an occupation bridge at the bottom of Elford Loop - ideal to film something leaving the loop which nowadays is the oil traffic waiting a path into Kingsbury, or something heading North as the line is on a more adequate axis compared to Stenson Junction. Alas, I really couldn't be bothered to walk down to the bridge; the temperature was touching 30° and I had exhausted all of my liquid refreshment at Barrow Upon Trent, so I took the lazy option; drive to Portway. 

Whilst Portway is still adequate, you can't get a full length train in owing to a road over bridge a bit further down the line, as well as the associated overgrowth. Portway is also a farmers bridge, but, despite the ongoing Covid pandemic, is still open for people to use. Personally, I do ask that ANYONE who does visit the bridge, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do take your rubbish home with you and not just leave it - same with the occupation bridge at Elford too.

A pleasant hour was also spent at Portway, as not only did the outbound and inbound tanks make an appearance, but I also had the Small Heath - Tunstead empty box wagons go by too which was a bonus. 60059 Portway.60059 Swinden Dalesman passes through Portway working 6E59 Kingsbury - Lindsey empty bogie tanks. 60059 passes Portway with the return 6E59 Kingsbury - Lindsey empty bogie tanks. As you can see, the road bridge and overgrowth restricts the shot marginally but it's still a good place to go to.

After these had passed, it was home time again.

Revisiting Old Haunts; Part 4.

Another day which seen glorious weather, this time I headed down the A5 to the M1/M45 Junction, just inside Northamptonshire, again it's been about 2 years since I was here last so it was nice to get to. Usually, this bridge does attract a number of people at times, but, despite the good weather, I was on my own.

PO18 NUP | Eddie Stobart.Isabelle Elise. Eddie Stobart Scania R450 "Isabelle Elise" heads South down the M1. The M45 from Coventry is seen joining from the right.

I then took a quick visit to Daventry International Railfreight Terminal for a couple of Northbound freight services, which included a pair of Class 86 electric locomotives which are due to be phased out soon by Freightliner. The location was known as Barby Nortoft in old money but D.I.R.F.T has somewhat encroached the surrounding area over the last few years.

86632 86607 D.I.R.F.T.In what is now possibly the last couple of weeks of use before retirement, 86632 leads classmate 86607 past the Daventry International Railfreight Terminal Complex working 4M87 Felixstowe - Trafford Park freightliner. 86632 and 86607 rattle past D.I.R.F.T. working 4M87 Felixstowe - Trafford Park freightliner. 86632 was new to the rail network in April 1966 as E3148, and 86607 was new in August 1965 as E3176.

As ever, once I had my fill of action, it was back home I went. I do have intentions to visit these locations again in the future but when exactly I don't know, soon hopefully :).

Cheers

James

Anyhow, getting to the location, and walking across to the foot crossing, the weather began to turn, and it began to drizzle, OK not enough to warrant a hasty retreat to the car so I persevered, but as the time went on, and subsequent passage of 66506 Crewe Regeneration working 4M81 Felixstowe - Crewe Basford Hall freightliner, the rain got heavy. Eventually I made the decision to retreat to the car, after all it was literally a stone throw away, and I do mean, I could throw a stone from the crossing and hit my car. By time I got back to the car, it was a full torrent of rain and my T-Shirt was more or less soaked.

I continued to follow the train, which was running as 5M60 due to the barrier coach at the rear, and it was at Water Orton, making good progress Eastwards, I was faced with 2 choices. Do I:

A) Make a retreat back home.

or

B) Just sit in the car and watch it pass.

In the end, I did neither as I decided to bite the bullet, and say "Bugger the rain" and wandered back to the crossing, where I had also left my steps as well, what with the forecast for rain and potential thunder and lightning, I opted to use my steps instead of my pole.

Getting back to the crossing, and the cavalcade was passing Nuneaton, so in the pouring rain, I set the shot up, got my desired settings on my camera and it was a case of fingers and toes being crossed. At this point the sky was clearing to the South but there was no way that the clear sky would reach me in time.

Sure enough, 37884 appeared around the corner in the distance, and I took position on my steps, as soon as they came into the frame it was a case of rapid shooting, by the time I hit the shutter, I was absolutely soaked through, so much so I had to take my T-shirt off and wear an old jacket which I had left in the car boot, itself an old jacket from work as we've recently had new clothing to wear.

So, was I absolutely bonkers for stopping out in the rain??.

No, I more like to call it dedication. However, the real kick in the knackers was, about 5 minutes after I took the shot, the clear sky got to me, the rain stopped, and the local area was lit up in glorious Summer sun.

Still, that's the way the cookie crumbles right?.

Today's train was no exception, in this case, 60091 Barry Needham doing the honours from Theale, in Berkshire. 

Well after a few months of uncertainty, I am back out and about with my camera, my first location since March was Kilby Bridge Junction, main reason being to see a brand new Class 701; 701002 for South Western Railway being delivered from Derby Litchurch Lane to Eastleigh Works, with 66745 Modern Railways - The First 50 Years and 66740 Sarah doing the honours, running as 6X20 10:54 Derby Litchurch Lane - Eastleigh Works.. Eventually, South Western Railway will have 90 of these new units.

Other bits of note was that one of the former LNER HST sets were out, in this case, 43238 and 43318 working the St. Pancras International - Nottingham circuit as well as a couple more VP185 sets, which are in their final weeks of operation prior to withdrawal by East Midlands Railway. 

A Couple of HST consists.

1D23 10:34 London St. Pancras International - Nottingham.

43238

41007 41064 40749 42151 42164 42165 42153 44047 

43318

Passed Kilby Bridge Junction @ 11:38.

1B38 11:45 Nottingham - London St. Pancras International.

43060

44051 42149 42148 42341 42328 40756 41076 41075

43050

Passed Kilby Bridge Junction @ 12:18.

1D28 11:34 London St. Pancras International - Nottingham.

43049

41071 41072 40753 42329 42139 42140 42141 44048

43048

Passed Kilby Bridge Junction @ 12:37.
 

With the Covid-19 pandemic currently sweeping the globe, and in particular the UK, in keeping with UK government guidelines, there will be NO new additions to this website for the foreseeable future as I am only going out for essential reasons (work, as I work in the food industry, and also for shopping). Hopefully I'll be back out again before long, maybe a matter of weeks or months, but until such time my camera will be staying firmly put in it's bag. 

I would like to take this opportunity to say Thank You to all of you who have viewed my images over the years, and hopefully I'll see you again at some point in the not too distant future. 

Please take care everyone, and keep safe and follow your local authorities instructions where applicable.

Cheers

James

The subject of the charter was SR Schools Class 30925 Cheltenham, which had recently been repainted into BR Brunswick Green at the end of 2019 on rake of green coaching stock - a truly authentic Southern Railway prototypical train. 

After a relatively pleasant 2½ drive from the Midlands, travelling mostly via the M40 and A34, I arrived at our starting location, the pleasant Ropley Station, where our locomotive was in the process of being prepped for the day ahead. As ever, with any photo charter, all of the photographers had to be present for the all important safety briefing before the train pulled into the station and we all boarded. The train was a 5 coach train, with coaches 2 and 3 being made available for our use to travel in.

Our first location was an area known as Bishops Sutton, where a solitude tree stands line side, more than likely back from a time when the railway was once part of the main rail line between Alton and Winchester prior to closure in 1973, at this point is was quite cloudy and a number of run pasts was executed for the photographers and videographers, the absence of sun made it possible to take many different angles as the light was neutral for whatever side you were on. 

As the morning went on, we decided to head up to the line's terminus at Alresford for a break, stretch our legs and have a bite to eat, from a personal point of view, I always try to keep my business to the railway concerned and use their facilities as much as possible - in this case, using the station at café. I had a very tasty breakfast bap which consisted of sausage, bacon and fried egg on a white bap/roll/cob/batch/barm depending on what part of the country you're from.

Afterwards, we boarded the train for our afternoon session, whilst we was having a break, the clouds began to clear and soon we was blessed with some sunshine, we retraced our steps back to Bishops Sutton with that tree and began run pasts again.

After we filled our boots, our next location was Chawton Woods, which is more or less at the opposite end of the line between Alton and Medstead & Four Marks Station, it was seeing other peoples work online of Chawton Woods which actually swung it for me to book on the charter. At this location, the line is on an embankment running on the Southern fringe of Chawton Woods, and looking at the location seems a quiet and idyllic location. Don't be fooled however, as the A31 trunk road between Winchester and Farnham passes close by.

Having spent some considerable time at Chawton Woods, we had to head back to Ropley to give Cheltenham a drink, again the photographers had a choice of either disembarking the train or staying on the train whilst it was shunted into a siding where the water facilities are located. I disembarked the train to stretch my legs at Ropley and to spend a penny shall we say lol. Once watered, Cheltenham eased back into the station, and we headed West back towards Bishops Sutton, although there are a wide number of various locations to visit at Bishops Sutton, so the shots weren't all the same as when we visited in the morning.

We ended the day on the Western fringe of Bishops Sutton, at a location collaquially known as Weavers Curve, after which time we returned to Ropley Station, and subsequently time for me to retrace my steps back to the Midlands.

LINKS:

Timeline Events

Mid Hants Railway

My first photo of 2020, has the honour of 66040, still sporting the erstwhile EWS livery, and still looking shabby from it's stint on the RHTT season of 2019, working the 6V92 Corby - Margam steel empties. My second shot, which followed just 5 minutes later, was of GBRf's 66747, which in 2019 was painted into the customer livery of Newell & Wright Transport, working the 6G16 Stud Farm Quarry - Bescot loaded ballast boxes. 

Both photo's were taken with the camera placed atop a 5m tall Harris Painter's pole and remotely triggered from my android phone (A Samsung Galaxy A5 2017).

66040. 66040 Burbage Common (P).Still looking a bit dirty from it's RHTT session in 2019, 66040 passes through Burbage Common working 6V92 Corby - Margam empty steel carriers.

Camera mounted on top of a pole and remotely triggered.

66747.

66747 Burbage Common (P).Sporting the livery of Newell & Wright Group, 66747 Made in Sheffield passes through Burbage Common, near Hinckley working 6G16 Stud Farm - Bescot loaded ballast.

Camera mounted on top of a pole and remotely triggered.

HAULAGE:

• 07:24 170109 Nuneaton - Leicester (1K03 06:52 BHM - LEI).
• 08:19 170637 Leicester - Peterborough (1L30 07:22 BHM - SSD).
• 10:27 158812 Peterborough - Nottingham (1R74 08:56 NRW - LIV).
• 12:06 170103 Nottingham - Derby (1V09 12:06 NOT - CDF).
• 12:42 153368 Derby - Crewe (1K13 12:42 DBY - CRE).

• 17:07 153372 Crewe - Derby (1K22 17:07 CRE - DBY).
• 18:37 170637 Derby - Tamworth (1V15 18:06 NOT - CDF).
• 20:15 350112 Tamworth - Nuneaton (2N44 19:33 CRE - NMP).

SIGHTINGS:

Nuneaton.

• 06:20 88010 4S43 Daventry - Mossend.
• 06:29 90043 1M16 Inverness - London Euston.
• 06:30 66563 4L52 Garston - London Gateway.
• 06:42 90047 + 90041 4M49 Coatbridge - Daventry.
• 06:42 66129 6D30 Mountsorrel - Northampton.
• 06:45 66544 6M39 Moreton-On-Lugg - Radlett.

Leicester.

• 08:13 43049 + 43059 1B18 Nottingham - London St. Pancras Intl.

Leicester Depot.

• 08:20 37510, 37611, 37905, 37906, 47813, 47815, 50008, 56060, 56065, 56091, 56103, 56103, 56106, 57305, 57312.

Peterborough.

• 09:17 91110 + 82206 1S08 London Kings Cross - Edinburgh.
• 09:38 66566 4L83 Leeds - Felixstowe.
• 09:39 66594 4E63 Felixstowe - Doncaster.
• 09:46 82230 + 91128 1E02 Edinburgh - London Kings Cross.
• 09:47 91102 + 82203 1S09 London Kings Cross - Edinburgh.
• 10:00 43310 + 43272 1N81 London Kings Cross - York.
• 10:05 43318 + 43307 1E03 Edinburgh - London Kings Cross.
• 10:05 66702 4E14 Felixstowe - Doncaster.
• 10:08 82213 + 91104 1A18 Leeds - London Kings Cross.
• 10:18 91125 + 82217 1S10 London Kings Cross - Edinburgh.
• 10:22 47727 + 47749 1Z47 Ipswich - Scarborough.

Peterborough Yard.

• 10:25 66716, 66723, 66766.

Nottingham.

• 11:45 43089 + 43050 1B38 Nottingham - London St. Pancras Intl.

Derby RTC.

• 12:35 08417, 37423, 37425, 57303, 57310, 67023, 67027, 73138, 97301.

Crewe LNWR.

• 13:55 67029.

Crewe.

• 14:00 57308.

Crewe Diesel Depot (14:30 - 16:10).

08737, 08762, 20189, 20205, 37190, 37606, 37608, 43048, 43423, 47501, 47593, 47614, 47712, 47811, 47816, 47830, 47841, 50049, 50050, 55016, 55019, 55022, 56049, 57301, 57307, 66503, 67006, 68027, 70008, 70808, 73001, 73951, 73952, 86622, 88005, 90045, 91119, 92038, 142001, 319443.

45231, 46100, 34046, 70000.

Crewe.

• 16:35 66155 6O16 Ditton Foundry Lane - Dollands Moor.
• 16:42 66420, 90016, 90044 (Stabled Platform 8).

Willington.

• 18:43 66619 6H82 Small Heath - Tunstead.

Branston Junction.

• 18:51 60059 6M00 Humber - Kingsbury.

Tamworth.

• 19:24 60059 6M00 Humber - Kingsbury.
• 19:4437038 + 37059 1Z74 Leeds - Taunton.
• 19:52 66591 Felixstowe - Crewe Basford Hall.

Cheers

James

67018 Atherstone.67018 Keith Heller leads 5Z92 07:50 Wembley Yard - Bo'ness ECS through the reverse curves just North of Atherstone.

Cheers,

James

Over the past few years, many railway photographers have taken to using a pole for their photographs, including some well known names and this year, the lesser known; James Power has followed suit. Whilst purpose built poles can run into many  £hundred's, there is a simpler, and more affordable way to achieve this ambition.

My own objects I acquired was, first and foremost, an adequate pole, I found that an L.G. Harris 5m painters pole was the pole of choice, and can fit comfortably in most cars, although you need to be more creative where smaller 3-door hatchbacks are involved, such as my Peugeot 208 :).

Next object is something suitable to screw onto the pole to use as the camera base, I found that an EVO PA-100 Tripod thread adapter was an adequate choice; the gimbal just screws onto the top of the pole in the normal fashion and then fastened into place with a small screw (allen key provided) for additional tightness.

Last, but not least, a holder of sorts to view your viewfinder through, bear in mind that your camera could be anywhere upto 5 metres in the air and as such you need to see what your shooting, currently, I use 2 different methods;

First off, the Nikon D500, has a built in app called SnapBridge, and when you download the same app to your tablet or smartphone, this acts as the view finder as well as being able to fire the camera. SnapBridge is a free app, and is widely available from the Play or IOS store depending on what device you use.

Secondly, as the D500 has a flip out screen, I tend to use this also, and remotely fire the camera from a hand held wireless shutter release whilst looking up at the viewfinder Be advised however, that a wireless remote shutter release WILL NOT work in correlation with SnapBridge, or I found that it didn't anyway unless anyone has found a way to get round it. Also available on the market is another app called DSLR Dashboard, but sadly this isn't compatible with the D500, as Nikon's latest camera's (D500, D850, D5600 etc) already have SnapBridge on them.

L.G. Harris 731 5m Premier Extension Pole.The main tool for the job, seen with my Nikon D500 DSLR adorning the top, although it is a good idea to use a clothes peg to keep the straps together in windy weather. L.G. Harris 731 5m Painters Pole.

Tencro 4-12.5 inches Smartphone/Tablet Holder.The tablet/mobile phone holder which would be used as a viewfinder and camera control point using the various apps available on the Play/IOS Store. Tencro 4-12.5 inches Smartphone/Tablet holder.

EVO PA-100 Painters Pole ¼-20 Thread Adapter.A small, handy gimbal, which screws onto the top of the pole, and is additionally secured with a small nut, using the supplied allen key. EVO PA-100 ¼-20 Tripod Adapter.

As mentioned previously, how you choose to fire the camera is entirely up to you but I use a combination of SnapBridge for stationary objects, and the flip out screen via live view for moving objects.

Cheers

James

Last but not least on the day, and another welcomed appearance was 66413, which had recently been reliveried into Freightliner's parent company Genesee & Wyoming Inc. working 4L93 Lawley Street - Felixstowe freightliner.

PHOTO'S

• 37611 5L46.
• 66735 92018 0Z92.
• 66413 4L93.

Cheers

James

68019 on 6U76.

70005 on 4L93

Cheers

James

47727 1Z47 Crewe - Scarborough.

47727 1Z48 Scarborough - Crewe.

It was also my first attempt at low light photography using my new Nikon D500 with a prime lens too, and to be fair, I'm satisfied with the results.

Cheers

James

HAULAGE:

• 07:08 170117 Nuneaton - Birmingham New Street (1P02 LEI - BHM).
• 08:18 43285/43366 Birmingham New Street - Bristol Parkway (1V44 LDS - PGN).
• 10:09 43027/43188 Bristol Parkway - Pembroke Dock (1B15 PAD - PMD).
• 14:55 43188/43027 Pembroke Dock - Bristol Parkway (1L90 PMD - PAD).
• 19:10 2211140 Bristol Parkway - Birmingham New Street (1M69 BRI - MAN).
• 20:22 170522 Birmingham New Street - Nuneaton (1L56 BHM - CAM).

LOCOMOTIVES:

HAMS HALL.

07:27 66508.

WATER ORTON WEST JUNCTION.

07:36 37025 3Q17 Crewe C.S. - Tyseley LMD.

BROMFORD BRIDGE.

07:39 66528 + 66555 4O14 Lawley Street - Southampton. 

LAWLEY STREET.

07:41 66588, 66592, 66956.

STOKE GIFFORD.

09:40 66536, 66554, 66571, 66587.

LLANWERN.

10:24 60001 6B13 Margam - Westerleigh.

EAST USK.

10:26 66102 6H35 Llanwern - East Usk.

NEWPORT A.D.J.

10:32 66040, 66044, 66127, 66155.

WENTLOOG.

10:37 43185/43071 1L48 09:29 Swansea - London Paddington.

CARDIFF CANTON.

10:50 08499, 70810, 70815.

ST. FAGANS.

10:55 66083 6H25 Margam - Llanwern.

TREMAINS (Near Bridgend).

11:09 66161 + 66187 0O12 Margam - Eastleigh.

MARGAM L.I.P.

11:20 60015, 66021, 66034, 66506.

LLANELLI.

12:05 43030/43018 1L62 10:01 Pembroke Dock - London Paddington.

LECKWITH NORTH JUNCTION.

18:19 66169 6V58 Acton - Margam.

NEWPORT A.D.J.

18:34 66040, 66102, 66127, 66155, 66187.

CHELTENHAM SPA.

19:41 66069 6V81 Rotherham - Cardiff Tidal.

LAWLEY STREET.

20:25 66415, 66508, 66546, 66592.

NUNEATON.

21:01 66523 t/n/t 66593 6X04 Crewe Gresty Lane - Weedon.

On the return trip, Margam and Cardiff Canton still had the same loco's as was seen on the outbound leg and as such I never included them.

Cheers

James.

HAULAGE LOG.

• 09:16 350368 Nuneaton - Rugby.
• 09:38 350124 Rugby - Coventry.
• 10:27 221137 Coventry - Leamington Spa.
• 11:25 68008 Leamington Spa - Birmingham Moor Street.
• 11:59 172333 Birmingham Moor Street - Stourbridge Junction.
• 12:55 139001 Stourbidge Junction - Stourbridge Town.
• 13:00 139001 Stourbridge Town - Stourbridge Junction.
• 13:10 172340 Stourbridge Junction - Worcester Foregate Street.
• 14:16 172215 Worcester Foregate Street - Birmingham Moor Street.
• 15:55 68015 Birmingham Moor Street - Banbury.
• 17:13 168003 Banbury - Leamington Spa.
• 18:08 153354 Leamington Spa - Coventry.
• 18:45 153375 Coventry - Nuneaton.

LOCO LOG.

NUNEATON.

• 07:57 66763 4M06 Felixstowe - Hams Hall.
• 08:14 66537 4O14 Garston - Southampton.
• 08:39 66740 4M21 Felixstowe - Trafford Park.
• 08:44 66516 4M45 London Gateway - Garston.

HIGH OAKS JUNCTION.

09:27 66194 6M13 Dollands Moor - Ditton.

RUGBY.

09:35 57308 86259

LEAMINGTON SPA.

• 10:55 70007 4O90 Leeds - Southampton.
• 11:12 47805 + 34052 5Z32 Crewe C.S - St. Philips Marsh.
• 11:23 68008 1R21 London Marylebone - Birmingham Moor Street.
• 11:25 68015 1H33 Birmingham Moor Street - London Marylebone.

STOURBRIDGE JUNCTION.

• 12:28 68010 (on stabling point).
• 12:40 88004 0Z77 Long Marston - Carlisle Kingmoor.
•  

LEAMINGTON SPA.

• 17:34 66594 4O95 Leeds - Southampton.
• 17:37 66951 4M67 Southampton - Hams Hall.
• 17:59 66566 4O17 Lawley Street - Southampton.

NUNEATON.

• 19:06 90043 + 90042 4S45 Daventry - Coatbridge.
• 19:18 66548 4M56 London Gateway - Garston.

**Of note, after leaving Coventry, we passed a Cl. 70 working 4O29 Trafford Park - Southampton awaiting a path through the station to access the Leamington line.**

Cheers 

James

Starting off as per at Nuneaton, my main aim was to take in the Stratford Upon Avon branch and to do the North Stafford Line from Crewe to Derby, which I was unable to do on Day 1 (18/06/18).

HAULAGE LOG:

• 09:18 350115 Nuneaton - Rugby.
• 09:38 350373 Rugby - Coventry.
• 10:36 153354 Coventry - Leamington Spa.
• 11:32 165027 Leamington Spa - Stratford Upon Avon Parkway.
• 12:06 172331 Stratford Upon Avon Parkway - Smethwick Galton Bridge.
• 13:08 350248 Smethwick Galton Bridge - Crewe.
• 14:07 153379 Crewe - Derby.
• 15:55 153308 Derby - Matlock.
• 16:37 153381 Matlock - Nottingham.
• 18:12 222010 Nottingham - Leicester.
• 19:49 170110 Leicester - Nuneaton.

As it was a double Class 153 on the Matlock service, I think it would have been rude not to have a ride in both lol ;).

LOCO LOG (inc HST Power Cars).

NUNEATON. 

09:20 66594 London Gateway - Lawley Street.

BRINKLOW. 

09:27 66077 6M13 Dollands Moor - Ditton.

RUGBY. 

09:36 57308 (Thunderbudgie).

COVENTRY. 

10:05 57313 t/n/t 57314 1Z71 Manchester Victoria - Ascot.

LEAMINGTON SPA.

11:07 66087 4M31 Banbury - Mountsorrel.

11:25 82301 68010 1H33 Birmingham Moor Street - London Marylebone.

11:26 68014 82303 1R21 London Marylebone - Birmingham Moor Street.

NORTON BRIDGE.

13:43 66750 6V35 Clitheroe - Avonmouth.

BETLEY ROAD (Just South of Basford Hall). 

13:53 66418 0Z18 Lawley Street - Crewe Basford Hall.

CREWE LNWR.

14:00 08868, 09204, 68022, 345039

CREWE DMD.

14:00 47790

DERBY.

15:27 60040 6E08 Wolverhampton - Immingham.

DERBY RTC. 

17:18 08536, 08588, 31105, 37198, 37421, 73138 There was a few more bits but couldn't see them properly.

DERBY LITCHURCH LANE. 

17:18 08899

NOTTINGHAM.

17:45 43059 43052 1B69 Nottingham - St. Pancras International.

EAST MIDLANDS PARKWAY. 

18:22 66618 6Z45 Barham - Tunstead.

LEICESTER (DEPOT).

18:36 37905, Assortment of 56's, 58016.

LEICESTER (STATION).

18:49 43049 43089 1D90 St. Pancras International - Derby.

18:55 43073 43055 1D57 St. Pancras International - Nottingham.

19:12 37601 + 710261 + 37611 5Q57 Willesden TMD - Chaddesden Sidings.

19:27 43081 43083 1B74 Nottingham - St. Pancras International.

NUNEATON. 

20:08 66951 Hams Hall - Daventry.

Cheers

James

For the first time in about a decade, yes it's really been that long since I last did a rail rover ticket, I treated myself to a 3-in-7 Heart of England Rover ticket, which costs £86.20. For the area covered, from Leicester and Nottingham in the East, to Northampton, Oxford, Gloucester and Hereford in the South, Shrewsbury and Chester in the East and Crewe and Derby in the North and points in between, £86.20 seems a pretty fair price, from my point of view with all the services that are available, the only restriction is that it is only valid from 9am onwards (any time on weekends or bank holidays).

Starting off at Nuneaton Railway Station, mainly due to the fact the car parking is better and there's more services available to use as well, my first train of the day was at 09:10, which was CrossCountry Trains 170107. The 3-car DMU was quite healthily loaded as we departed Nuneaton on time for Birmingham New Street, just a minute or so after leaving Nuneaton, we pass by Abbey Street Junction and Station, it's hard to believe that this was once a busy junction and sidings, where the former Nuneaton & Ashby Joint Railway branched off towards Stoke Golding, Market Bosworth and finally Coalville and Moira on the current freight-only line between Leicester and Burton On Trent. The N&AJR seen it's passenger services cease as far back as 1931, but goods trains continued to use the line for another 40 years, until British Rail closed the line in 1971, a small section has since reopened and operates under the auspices of The Battlefield Line Railway between Shenton and Shackerstone. 

Part of the former Nuneaton Abbey Street Station can still be discerned through the overgrowth just the other side of the Midland Road overbridge, this was a victim of the infamous Beeching Axe, closing in March 1968. 

Passing through the Arley Tunnel, we now head into rural Warwickshire and shortly pass the site of the now demolished Daw Mill Colliery, which closed in 2013 and demolished soon after.

Rounding the curve at Whitacre Junction, we arrive at one of two intermediate stations between Nuneaton and Birmingham of Coleshill Parkway, the second one, Water Orton is only a couple of minutes away, and having past under the M42 Motorway, we are soon passing the delapidated station that is Water Orton, the main railway line from Derby via Tamworth also converges here and it is more or less a straight run into Birmingham passing alongside the elevated M6 motorway as well as the remains of Washwood Heath Yard, this area of Birmingham is set to change within the next few years with the impending arrival of HS2. Just prior to arriving into Birmingham New Street, we pass under the WCML from London Euston via Coventry and also the former GWR route from Birmingham Moor Street, nowadays a popular service operated by Chiltern Railways.

Arriving into Birmingham New Street, I had about just under half an hour before my next journey, and as such I used the time to venture to different platforms to see what units were about and to see if there was any "cops" to be had, sure enough there was a couple I required.

Leg 2, was to take me from Birmingham New Street, to one of the Southernmost points that is covered by the Heart of England Rover;Oxford, CrossCountry Trains Class 221, 221134 was the unit, and the service was 1O10 Manchester Piccadilly - Bournemouth, with an on time departure from Birmingham New Street at 10:04, the route was taken via Birmingham International to Coventry, where then we would say goodbye to the West Coast Mainline and take the branch to Leamington Spa, a route which has seen a resurgence in passenger traffic in the last couple of months with the reopening of Kenilworth Station at the end of April, the station has enjoyed healthy usage since the town returned to the railway network after a hiatus of 53 years, Kenilworth's original station was closed in 1965 - a victim of the infamous Beeching Axe.

Somehow or other, we lost time between Birmingham International and Coventry, I expect as we were following a local service, we were more or less 5 minutes late from Coventry all the way to Oxford, not helped by the fact I was standing in a vestibule all the way due to the number of people on the train. Departing Leamington Spa, it was a fast run to Banbury and then Oxford. I must admit, I wasn't sorry to see the back of 221134, and a quick wonder round Oxford Station, scoring some more units (there was only 2 Chiltern ones awaiting the service to London Marylebone).

Leg 3 was a lot more pleasant trip, definitely the most pleasant of the day I must say, and was also the main reason of this trip anyway, a trip along the Cotswold and Malvern Line from Oxford all the way to Hereford, and the train for this was one of the iconic High Speed Train - or HST. Quite a lot of people disembarked at Oxford, more less leaving the train empty but a fair few also boarded, the traction was provided by GWR power cars 43015 at the front, and 43018 at the rear, working 1W01 London Paddington - Hereford. Make the most out of the High Speed Trains on the Great Western Railway network as they are slowly being phased out in favour of more modern IET (Intercity Express Train) Class 800 bi-mode units, which can operate by both diesel and overhead electrification.

Departing the university city, we followed the route North for a short distance before taking the Cotswold Line at Wolvercote Junction, calling at many small stations en-route, so much so, an announcement was made prior to each call of where to alight the train as some coaches wouldn't be on the platform, it is also pleasing to see the vast infrastructure improvements over the last few years to increase capacity along the line between Worcester and Oxford, the most common one being the re-doubling of many parts between Charlbury  and Evesham, and even the station of Honeybourne has some improvements to the station, mainly for a time in the future to allow the preservation movement of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway to run their trains into Honeybourne. After leaving the last station on the Cotswold Line at Pershore, it is a short distance before we cross the Midland Railway route from Birmingham to Bristol, of note you can see construction of the new Worcester Parkway Station on the mainline. 

Worcester Shrub Hill is soon reached, with it's signal boxes and semaphore signals, and literally a couple of minutes away is Worcester Foregate Street - which is more centrally located for the City of Worcester. Leaving Worcester over an impressive viaduct that takes us above street level and the River Severn, the route somewhat reminds me of leaving Nottingham Arkwright Street heading South over the River Trent on the former Great Central Mainline after I had seen a video on YouTube of the aforementioned route before British Rail axed the spur in the 1970's. Perhaps if politics had have been different maybe we would have seen HST services running up and down the Great Central Mainline today??.

Another 2 small stations in quick succession are 6 miles away at Malvern Link and Great Malvern, at this point the Malvern Hills are clearly seen, leaving Great Malvern, we pass under the Hills in a single bore tunnel before emerging into daylight at Colwall, and shortly after we arrive at Ledbury where there is a passing loop; the track between Malvern Wells Junction and Shelwick Junction is predominantly single track with the exception of Ledbury, where, as mentioned previously, there is a passing loop, although looking at Ledbury viaduct with it's wide formation, this suggests that the line may have been double track in the distant past. Passing through glorious Herefordshire countryside, we soon join up with the Welsh Marches Line at Shelwick Junction and we're once again on double track to Hereford.

Leaving the HST at Hereford, it was over to Platform 3, and the start of Leg 4. There was only a very short wait, 7 minutes to be precise, before my next train, Arriva Trains Wales 175109 arrived, which was working 1W60 Carmarthen - Manchester Piccadilly service. This was quite a busy train but luckily I managed to obtain a seat, this part of the journey would take me just under an hour up the line to Shrewsbury, calling at Leominster, Ludlow, Craven Arms (where the Heart of Wales line branches off), Church Stretton and finally Shrewsbury, with it's iconic 180-lever manually controlled signalbox and with Network Rail suggesting that replacing the semaphore signals in favour of colour lights could make Shrewsbury complicated to marshal trains, the semaphores and associated signal boxes look set to remain for the foreseeable future.

At Shrewsbury however, the plan  began to go awry, originally I had planned to catch the next service at 15:29 to Chester, then jump on the Virgin Trains service to Crewe and then sample East Midlands Trains over the North Staffs line to Derby, before going to Nottingham, Leicester and back home, however, it was announced that the 15:29 would be 10 minutes late, we eventually got away at 15:44, and a further 8 minute delay ensued at Gobowen, stopping at Gobowen, Chirk, Ruabon and Wrexham General, before arriving into Chester 22 minutes late. Only option available was the 16:55 Chester - Crewe bouncer, which on this occasion was 150258, and as such this was Leg 6.

Arriving at Crewe after a fantastic trip from Chester, and seriously I liked it as I have a thing for Class 150's as they are nippy little units, I decided to weigh up all my fast-diminshing options. The next departure to Derby was 18:07, in theory this would still give me time to get to Derby, over to Nottingham, back to Leicester and than a fast service from Leicester to Nuneaton, but then the plan was finally scuppered as the inbound unit from Derby was delayed between Longton and Stoke On Trent. The only feasible service open was the service to London Euston.

Leg 7, and the final leg was London & NorthWestern Railway's 350114 working 1U42 18:02 Crewe - London Euston semi-fast, which would call at Alsager, Kidsgrove, Stoke On Trent, Stone, Stafford, Rugeley Trent Valley, Lichfield Trent Valley, Tamworth, Atherstone and Nuneaton. These semi-fast services are going to change as the eventual plan is to run them via the mainline to Stafford in the next 18 months or so.

10½ hours after leaving Nuneaton, I arrived at Platform 4, however the day wasn't quite done, as there was a few freight services that was imminent, so I hung about for those before finally calling it a day and heading home.  

H.U.L.L

HULL is an acronym for Haulage, Units & Loco Log :)

HAULAGES:

• 09:10 170107 Nuneaton - Birmingham New Street.
• 10:04 221134 Birmingham New Street - Oxford.
• 11:25 43015 + 43018 Oxford - Hereford.
• 13:55 175109 Hereford - Shrewsbury.
• 15:44 175007 Shrewsbury - Chester.
• 16:55 150258 Chester - Crewe.
• 18:02 350114 Crewe - Nuneaton.

LOCOMOTIVE LOG.

1. 66434 6M36 Carlisle Yard - Mountsorrel.
2. 66517 4L89 Crewe Basford Hall - Felixstowe. 
3. 66538 4L37 Lawley Street - Felixstowe.
4. 66540 4O18 Lawley Street - Southampton.
5. 66557 4M55 Southampton - Lawley Street.
6. 66568 4M56 London Gateway - Garston.
7. 66593 4L96 Trafford Park - Felixstowe. 
8. 66701 6M26 Eastleigh - Mountsorrel.
9. 66750 6M35 Pengam Sidings - Clitheroe.
10. 66756 6X41 Dagenham - Garston.
11. 66957 4O90 Leeds - Southampton.
12. 70015 4M95 Southampton - Trafford Park.
13. 86639 + 86608 4M87 Felixstowe - Trafford Park.
14. 90028 6X77 Dagenham - Mossend.
15. 90040 + 90018 4S47 Daventry - Mossend.
16. 90045 + 90043 4S45 Daventry - Coatbridge.

UNIT LOG.

1. 150107 1M66 Hereford - Birmingham New Street.
2. 150210 2H33 Chester - Manchester Piccadilly.
3. 150258 1K14 Chester - Crewe.
4. 150284 2V12 Crewe - Cardiff Central (via HoWL).
5. 153364 2K74 Birmingham New Street - Rugeley Trent Valley (with 170514).
6. 153371 2Gxx Nuneaton - Coventry shuttle services.
7. 158827 1G45 Aberystwyth/Pwllheli - Birmingham International (with 158841).
8. 158830 1G50 Holyhead - Birmingham International.
9. 158841 1G45 Aberystwyth/Pwllheli - Birmingham International (with 158827).
10. 165128 2L28 Didcot Parkway - Oxford.
11. 168321 1Y33 Oxford - London Marylebone (with 168327).
12. 168327 1Y33 Oxford - London Marylebone (with 168321).
13. 170101 1P02 Leicester - Birmingham New Street.
14. 170104 1N40 Stansted Airport - Birmingham New Street.
15. 170109 1L00 Ashchurch - Stansted Airport (cancelled between GCR and ASC).
16. 170110 1K03 Birmingham New Street - Leicester.
17. 170114 1P04 Leicester - Birmingham New Street (with 170522).
18. 170398 1N41 Stansted Airport - Birmingham New Street.
19. 170503 1J18 Birmingham New Street - Shrewsbury (with 170505)
20. 170505 1J18 Birmingham New Street - Shrewsbury (with 170503).
21. 170514 2K74 Birmingham New Street - Rugeley Trent Valley (with 153364).
22. 170522 1P04 Leicester - Birmingham New Street (with 170114).
23. 172215 2V22 Whitlocks End - Worcester Shrub Hill.
24. 175007 1W94 Cardiff Central - Holyhead.
25. 175009 1V97 Holyhead - Cardiff Central.
26. 175102 1V96 Holyhead - Tondu (cancelled between TDU and MST).
27. 175109 1W60 Carmarthen - Manchester Piccadilly.
28. 175111 1V46 Crewe - Milford Haven (cancelled between MAN and CRE).
29. 175114 1D30 Manchester Airport - Llandudno.
30. 221104 5D32 Birmingham New Street - Barton Under Needwood.
31. 221109 9M48 Glasgow Central - London Euston.
32. 221118 1R13 HHD/Blackpool North - London Euston (with 221142).
33. 221134 1O10 Manchester Piccadilly - Bournemouth.
34. 221136 1M93 Paignton - Manchester Piccadilly.
35. 221142 1R13 HHD/Blackpool North - London Euston (with 221118).
36. 319386 2H50 Crewe - Manchester Piccadilly.
37. 323235 2A91 Manchester Piccadilly - Crewe.
38. 323230 2K31 Manchester Piccadilly - Crewe.
39. 350114 1U25 London Euston - Crewe.
40. 350125 1U20 Crewe - London Euston (with 350126).
41. 350126 1U20 Crewe - London Euston (with 350125).
42. 350257 2U21 Northampton - Crewe.
43. 350374 2U23 London Euston - Crewe.
44. 390104 1R08 Manchester Piccadilly - London Euston.
45. 390114 1F10 London Euston - Liverpool South Parkway.
46. 390119 1H38 London Euston - Manchester Piccadilly.
47. 390122 1F23 London Euston - Liverpool South Parkway.
48. 390141 1R25 Manchester Piccadilly - London Euston.
49. 390148 9G11 London Euston - Birmingham New Street.

Cheers,

James 

• 12:23 90043 + 90041 4M27 Coatbridge - Daventry.
• 12:35 170272 5K70 Norwich Crown Point - Crewe C.S.
• 12:41 90049 + 90045 4S44 Daventry - Coatbridge.
• 13:33 37601 + 345034 5Q73 Crewe LNWR - Old Oak Common.
• 13:43 66416 4M81 Felixstowe - Crewe Basford Hall.
• 14:37 66553 4L90 Crewe Basford Hall - Felixstowe.
• 14:45 70015 4M63 Felixstowe - Ditton.
• 15:37 66119 6V11 Dowlow - Wembley Yard.
• 15:48 66027 4L56 Trafford Park - London Gateway.
• 15:58 66561 4M58 Southampton - Crewe Basford Hall.
• 16:01 90040 + 90018 4M25 Mossend - Daventry.
• 16:30 170271 5L70 Crewe C.S. - Norwich Crown Point.
• 16:43 66706 4L18 Trafford Park - Felixstowe.
• 16:46 70014 4M61 Southampton - Trafford Park.
• 16:50 66548 4M88 Felixstowe - Trafford Park.

UNITS.

221101, 221102, 221105, 221106, 221107, 221114, 221142.

350101, 350238, 350368, 350372.

390002, 390005, 390009, 390010, 390020, 390040, 390042, 390044, 390047, 390104, 390107, 390114, 390115, 390117, 390118, 390119, 390122, 390127, 390131, 390132, 390134, 390152, 390153, 390156.

• 12:15 90045 + 90042 4S44 Daventry - Coatbridge.
• 12:41 90016 + 90049 4M27 Coatbridge - Daventry.
• 12:47 66552 4M94 Felixstowe - Lawley Street.
• 13:46 66957 4L46 Lawley Street - London Gateway.
• 14:12 90028 + 90037 4M25 Mossend - Daventry.
• 14:27 66508 4M63 Felixstowe - Ditton.
• 14:29 67005 + 67002 1Z55 London Euston - Burnley Manchester Road.
• 15:24 66517 4M58 Southampton - Garston.
• 15:29 66727 4M23 Felixstowe - Hams Hall.
• 15:43 66567 4L90 Crewe Basford Hall - Felixstowe.
• 15:59 70008 4M88 Felixstowe - Trafford Park.
• 16:19 66093 6B30 Mountsorrel - Northampton.
• 16:45 66085 4L56 Trafford Park - London Gateway.
• 16:59 70011 4M87 Felixstowe - Trafford Park.
• 17:05 66558 4L92 Ditton - Felixstowe.

UNITS:

350102, 350110, 350111, 350112, 350115, 350116, 350119, 350120, 350125, 350127, 350129, 350231, 350241, 350257, 350264, 350371, 350374, 350377.

390006.

I had come out hoping to see 350373, the sole London North Western Railway liveried Class 350, alas it didn't appear, still there's always another day right ;)

Cheers

James.

• 13:27 70010 4M81 Felixstowe - Crewe Basford Hall
• 13:30 66598 4L46 Lawley Street - London Gateway.
• 13:37 90028 + 90037 4M25 Mossend - Daventry.
• 13:39 66723 6M26 Eastleigh - Mountsorrel.
• 13:44 66564 4M94 Felixstowe - Lawley Street.
• 13:57 66093 6G33 Mountsorrel - Small Heath.
• 14:16 70806 + 70811 6M50 Westbury - Bescot.
• 14:39 90041 4L90 Trafford Park - Felixstowe.
• 14:41 66557 4M63 Felixstowe - Ditton.
• 15:06 66707 4L22 Hams Hall - Felixstowe.
• 15:10 66764 6M20 Coton Hill - Wellingborough.
• 15:28 37800 0H70 Leicester L.I.P - Wolverton Centre Sidings.
• 15:41 66107 6V11 Dowlow - Theale.
• 15:42 66503 4M58 Southampton - Garston.
• 15:49 66085 4L56 Trafford Park - London Gateway.
• 15:49 66727 4M23 Felixstowe - Hams Hall.
• 16:02 66529 4L57 Birch Coppice - Felixstowe.
• 16:12 70020 4M61 Southampton - Trafford Park.
• 16:26 66722 4M29 Felixstowe - Birch Coppice.
• 16:35 66525 4O17 Lawley Street - Southampton.
• 16:41 70008 4M88 Felixstowe - Ditton.
• 16:42 66512 4L92 Ditton - Felixstowe.
• 16:44 66777 6M40 Westbury - Stud Farm.
• 16:46 66703 4L18 Trafford Park - Felixstowe.
• 16:56 66548 0M05 Crewe Basford Hall - Willesden Euro Terminal.
• 17:10 86622 + 86605 4M87 Felixstowe - Trafford Park.
• 17:28 66773 0M68 Peterborough - Bescot.
• 17:40 66762 4Z44 Longtown MOD - Wembley Yard.
• 18:23 70011 4O29 Trafford Park - Southampton.
• 18:24 66956 4M67 Southampton - Hams Hall.
• 18:40 345032 5Z01 Crewe Carriage Sidings - Rugby.
• 18:52 66763 + 66735 6L48 Garston - Dagenham.
• 19:07 90049 + 90016 4S45 Daventry - Coatbridge.
• 19:15 66957 4M56 London Gateway - Garston.
• 19:17 345032 5Z02 Rugby - Crewe Carriage Sidings. 

UNITS

153371.

170101, 170102, 170103, 170107, 170111, 170113, 170116, 170519, 170523, 170639.

221101, 221107, 221108, 221110, 221112, 221117, 221118.

350105, 350106, 350111, 350116, 350118, 350121, 350123, 350126, 350370, 350371, 350374, 350377.

390001, 390002, 390005, 390006, 390040, 390045, 390046, 390049, 390104, 390114, 390115, 390119, 390121, 390123, 390124, 390125, 390126, 390129, 390130, 390131, 390132, 390134, 390136, 390137, 390154, 390155, 390157.

Overall, it was a pleasant day, and nice to see my first ever Class 345 EMU, which will eventually be used on The Elizabeth Line on the London CrossRail network.

Cheers

James

Speedy Steam.

Our first port of call was Swithland Sidings, with it's semaphore signals, passing loops and of course the junction for the small branch to Mountsorrel Quarry, it's a steam railway photographers dream recreating the halycon days of steam train travel, which of course is the main aim of Timeline Events - to recreate bygone ages whether it's railways, air, water, road or even period dressed cameo scenes. The first set of shots seen the 8F paired up with a mixed freight rake, which was parked up in one of the sidings, and seen perform quite a few run pasts, starting off at the North end where the Mountsorrel Quarry branches off and the various semaphore signals, before gradually working our way down to the Southern part of the loops. 

Afterwards, the mixed freight rake was put away and the windcutter mineral wagons were brought out, of course the fast, windcutter freight services were the main stay of the Great Central Railway when it was part of the UK rail network, and provided the bread and butter of the GCR's London Extension right up until 1965 when freight services were diverted to other routes, and the rundown continued until closure in 1966 as a through route. The 8F certainly looked the part as she strutted her stuff and indeed, photographs do exist of 8F's working the windcutter services between Annesley, Nottinghamshire and Woodford Halse in Northamptonshire, although 9F's were the main loco's.

After we had our fill of Swithland Sidings, we moved a bit further up the line to another location known as Rabbit Bridge, which is just the other side of Swithland Reservoir from Swithland Sidings. Rabbit Bridge has seen a fair bit of pruning of the undergrowth of late to make the location more appealing for photographers on charters as well as lineside pass holders. Again, the 8F was faultless and it would be very easy to imagine you were back in the late 50's/early 60's and seeing an 8F on a Woodford-bound freight service.

Our next location was Kinchley Lane, probably one of the most popular spots on the Great Central Railway for photographers, and offers fantastic views of Southbound services. The 8F was once again put through her paces for a series of run pasts for photographers and the videographers (I was doing both so it was nice to get a bit of variety). Just before 2pm, bearing in mind we'd been photographing since 8am, it was decided that the loco would return to Swithland Sidings to put the windcutter rake away, return to Loughborough to get watered and for the crew to have a break, before returning to Quorn to collect the next, and final rake; the recently repainted van train. Estimating it would take an hour to an hour and a half, we set off for some lunch, coming back into Quorn, we decided to go to the Butler Henderson Cafe at Quorn & Woodhouse Station to get fed and watered, looking at the menu, the All Day Breakfast really stood out and I thought "Ooo, that'll do me nicely...". 

After some time elapsed, it was noticed that the 8F had returned from Loughborough, and after passing through Quorn & Woodhouse, had set back to collect the van train from one of the sidings. Our organiser, Neil, was made aware and such we all finished off our food and drink before heading back to Kinchley Lane for the next set of run pasts with the van train. In the meantime, the train crew waited patiently for us to get into position at Kinchley Lane, before being given the go ahead that we were in position, before performing the first run past with the vans, and a lovely looking ensemble it was too, the vans are a real credit to the volunteers who have given up their spare time to repaint them, I understand that a few more are to be done over time as well to make a longer train. Sadly, as time was getting on, and with the still relatively short days at this time of year, we didn't have time to visit any more locations and before long time was called just after 5pm.

Still, it was a fantastic day of photography, and mostly in the glorious Winter sunshine too. As ever, grateful thanks to Neil Cave of Timeline Events and of course the staff at the Great Central Railway who gave up their free time to allow this charter to take place.

Cheers,

James

Having thought of a few options, we eventually settled on The Wentworth Arms in Elmesthorpe, a small village not too far from Hinckley and, of course, more or less next to the railway line that runs between Nuneaton and Leicester, a coincidence on my part???. Well yes maybe ;). Arriving just after 12:30pm, we located a nice little booth next to the front window of the restaurant which overlooks the main Station Road between the A47 Clickers Way and the next village of Stoney Stanton, as well as a small field, you can also get good views of the railway line too, fancy that lol. Station Road, is so called as there was once a station in Elmesthorpe until 1969, when it was closed and subsequently demolished, however the old goods shed still stands and is now in use as a private business, although sometimes proposals to reopen Elmesthorpe do reappear from time to time. 

Having a guess that we'd be there for the best part of an hour or so, I had a little gander at Real Time Trains website and seen that there was a few movements booked through during the course of our stay, and so in between eating I would have a look out to see what was coming.

The Start of it.

Normally, as a rule, I refrain from having a starter course, but as I was not working today, I decided to push the boat out and indulge in a starter, better the devil you know, I went for the starter I usually have which was the Crispy Chicken Strips, lovely pieces of chicken in a Louisiana-style coating accompanied by a garnished salad and BBQ dip, needless to say they weren't on my plate for very long :P. 

The Main Subject.

After having the starter, and allowing sufficient time to go down, I was presented with my main course, again, in my opinion, was a tasty dish and was the Gammon & Eggs, consisting of quite a thick piece of gammon steak, it was accompanied by thick cut gourmet chips, garden peas as well as 2 fried eggs, ideal if you want to dip your chips in the yolk, because lets face it, we've all dipped chips in an egg yolk at some point or other, you can though have either 2 pineapple rings instead or 1 egg and 1 pineapple ring, it's entirely your choice.

The Inbetweeners.

Whilst it's easy to go on about how good the food was, and believe me, it's very good, it's very easy to overlook another main interest of mine - The Trains!!!. During the hour or so I was there, I seen 3 freight services with loco's from GBRf, Freightliner and finally DB Cargo making appearances:

• 12:43 66740 Sarah 6G16 Stud Farm - Bescot.
• 13:23 70005 4M81 Felixstowe - Crewe Basford Hall.
• 13:46 66183 6B30 Mountsorrel - Northampton Castle Yard.

There was of course the usual diet of CrossCountry Class 170 Turbostars plying their trade between Birmingham, Leicester and East Anglia, but due to operational requirements, 6V92 Corby - Margam steel empties were cancelled, and 6M26 Eastleigh - Mountsorrel empty ballast was running a bit late, and we had to leave before it arrived.

Photting with Style!.

Apart from a very decent place to grab a bite to eat, whether you want a light snack, a big juicy steak or even just a coffee and cake, on the opposite side of the field is a stile which is also a public footpath across the railway line PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS ISN'T A GREEN LIGHT TO TRESPASS ON THE RAILWAY!!. The stile is set a fair bit back from the line and gives quite a bit of height over the overgrowth to view, and indeed photograph passing trains, although the only flip side really is the fact it isn't a particularly busy line, although from time to time, especially at certain weekends you do get diverted container freight services from East Anglia to the Midlands/North-West as well as the odd sand train that originates at Middleton Towers, near Kings Lynn, and if you're really lucky, the occasional discharged oil tank train from Bedworth going back to Immingham's Puma Energy site - usually consisted of a rake of rent-a-wrecks.

Further information about The Wentworth Arms can be found HERE.

Cheers

James

66149 Burbage Common.Looking smart in DB livery, 66149 passes through Burbage Common, near Hinckley, working 6V92 Corby - Margam steel empties.

Arriving to the spot, I seen there was already a few cars parked at the side of the road by Burbage Common and my first reaction was "This is a lot of people just for a DB Shed" alas as it happens, I had just missed Rail Operations Group 37800 working back to Leicester from Northampton Kings Heath Depot as the handful of enthusiasts that were returning to their vehicles told me, once I told them that 66149 was coming some changed their minds and also decided to wait for the shed too anyway.

Afterwards, it was back home as i had dinner to cook and get ready for my first night shift of the week.

CONSISTS:

6V92 10:22 CORBY B.S.C. - MARGAM T.C.

66149 +

910537, 910279, 900243, 900027, 900080, 900087, 900110, 900119, 910197, 910219, 910388, 900304, 910029, 910020.

6G16 11:23 CLIFFE HILL STUD FARM - BESCOT UP SIDE.

66740 Sarah +

394615, 394921, 394263, 394723, 394844, 394846, 396083, 394516, 501320, 501398, 501399, 501400, 501340, 501004, 501135, 501131, 501130, 501064, 501017, 501170, 501171, 501169, 501177. 

Sightings for the just over 2-hour spell were:

• 10:20 66745 + 66767 + 66769 0M22 Peterborough - Hams Hall.
• 10:22 66428 6U76 Crewe Basford Hall - Mountsorrel.
• 10:43 73969 0Z30 Loughborough Brush - Washwood Heath.
• 10:55 66304 6C89 Mountsorrel - Carlisle Yard.
• 11:18 70010 4L93 Lawley Street - Felixstowe.
• 11:55 159003 5O96 Loughborough Brush - Salisbury T&RSMD.
• 12:15 170205 5Z70 Norwich Crown Point - Crewe C.S.
• 12:22 66021 6V92 Corby - Margam.

UNITS:

170103, 170107, 170113, 170117, 170636, 170638.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONSISTS.

6C89 09:38 Mountsorrel - Carlisle.

66304+

501087, 501200, 501199, 501201, 501027, 501025, 501193, 501195, 501194, 501085, 501080, 501180, 501178, 501179, 501020, 501062, 501132, 501138, 501124, 501003. 

6V92 10:22 Corby - Margam.

66021 +

900119, 900099, 900203, 900080, 900087, 900110, 900223, 900205, 900060, 900066, 900221, 910252, 900158, 900253, 900153, 900218, 900188, 900253, 900218, 900188, 900035, 900084, 900038, 900027.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All in all, not bad for a Monday on what is usually a quiet day.

Cheers, 

James

Parking up, it was a brisk 15 minute walk to Bermuda Park Station, which has been made easier since new traffic control flows were installed on the Griff Roundabout a few years earlier, walking down St. Georges Way, I had a brief remembrance looking at the big piece of wasteland where Lynx Express use to be, I worked there for 2 years from 2001 until 2003, when I left and went to pastures new. Lynx later got took over by UPS (United Parcel Service), who then moved all their operations to a huge, new site at Birch Coppice, near Tamworth. Funnily enough, UPS also had their hub on Bermuda Park, just down from Lynx on Gresham Road, and like Lynx, I also worked there from 1999 until 2001 when I actually went to Lynx.

Arriving at Bermuda Park Station, I purchased my ticket from the self-service ticket machine, personally I think it's a little exposed to the elements and maybe a bigger shelter could have been provided, although I expect the machine is weather sealed anyway.

Walking up the stairs to the platform, I was the lone passenger at first until 3 other passengers joined me, and we waited for the train to arrive.

On time, at 12:59, 153365 arrived and we boarded, there was a few other passengers on board so it was nice to see the service is used in off-peak periods - I understand the peak periods is like a sardine express for the single coach service. 4 minutes after leaving Bermuda Park, we arrived at Nuneaton Station, where I made my way across to The Ginger Tree, for a couple of hours.

After a nice hearty dinner, I made my way back to Nuneaton Station, where I decided to stay for an hour or so, and get some numbers in for 2018 :), at one point, it really chucked down with rain, the remnants of Storm Eleanor - which  had wreaked havoc across the country in the previous 24 hours. 

I met a couple of old faces when I was at Nuneaton, some I hadn't seen for a couple of years and had a nice catch up, but soon enough, it was time to head to work.

Making my way back to Platform 1 for the Dogbox of Doom for the short trip back to Bermuda Park, luckily the rain had stopped and the sky was clearing slightly, it was an on time departure of 16:14 and 4 minutes later we was back in Bermuda Park, again, there was a couple of people getting off and on, so it's nice to see the station is being used, hopefully it'll see more use if and when the half-hourly service is implemented between Coventry and Nuneaton. Retracing my steps back to work, I had to be extra careful as the volume of traffic on the A444 around Griff Island was building up with the rush hour fast approaching.

-------------------------------------------------

12:59 153365 Bermuda Park - Nuneaton.

16:14 153365 Nuneaton - Bermuda Park.

-------------------------------------------------

• 14:41 66761 6M26 Eastleigh - Mountsorrel.
• 15:05 66763 4L22 Hams Hall - Felixstowe.
• 15:16 66514 4M88 Felixstowe - Ditton.
• 15:48 66515 4M58 Southampton - Garston.
• 16:07 66206 4L56 Trafford Park - London Gateway.

UNITS: (STOPPING SERVICES ONLY).

153365.

170109, 170110, 170397, 170521, 170636.

350105, 350126, 350130.

Cheers,

James

Happy New Year to my viewers, fellow photographers and fellow transport enthusiasts alike.

As you can probably see if you've visited my site since Midnight (01/01/18), I've created new galleries and collections in the relevant areas ready to fill with - hopefully loads - of photographs during 2018.

As I mentioned previously, 2017 seen me divert attention away from the road haulage scene and as such no lorries were photographed, however, these will be returning in 2018 so keep your eyes peeled when the Road Haulage 2018. collection will be updated, as I can give no definite dates for updates I can only advise that you check back periodically. 

Other collections will carry on as previous years, and already I have 3 confirmed Timeline Events photo charters in the pipeline between now and March, involving steam trains, aircraft and even trolleybuses.

In the meantime, happy snapping and have a photastic 2018. 

Cheers

James

Well I must say it's been a fair while since I did a blog on here, April 2016 to be precise (it's December 2017 now.....).

So why has it taken me so long to write a blog??, to be honest I do not have an answer I'm afraid, maybe just laziness, or just forgot about it perhaps??.

Anyway as 2017 draws to a close, It's very unlikely I'll do a major update before 2018 starts, so I'll do an end of year summary now.

First and foremost, I would like to Thank everyone who has visited this site over the course of 2017, it is appreciated indeed and I'm also glad of the feedback I received too.

It has been asked why have I not bothered with road haulage this year, it's NOT a case of I can't be bothered, but I simply haven't had time, not to mention my days off this year haven't coincided with any Truck Events, which I am somewhat disappointed in but hopefully 2018 will be different - well actually it will be, as my Truckfest galleries have been popular over the last few years.

As you may have also seen, my enthusiasm for aircraft hasn't abated either and I still managed a few trips out to Heathrow and Manchester, can we expect anything different in 2018??, possibly more visits to Birmingham as that's my local airport but it's too early to say as and when I will visit airports, of course I will also still do aviation-themed Timeline Events.

The railway front has, however, proved quite productive, with a nice selection of workings captured over the year, as well as some nice photo charters attended as well and of course this will continue in 2018 :). 

Arriving at the location, which on RTT is classed as Daventry North Junction, no surprise really seeing the junction is literally just North of the bridge. Another glance at RTT seen there was also 2 engineers' services due so I hung about to see what materialised.....

• 12:12 66168 6O38 Halewood - Southampton Eastern Docks.
• 12:22 66060 6R04 Weedon - Bescot via Swanbourne Sidings.
• 12:56 66182 6R05 Weedon - Bescot via Swanbourne Sidings.

ELFORD.

• 12:04 60044 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber.
• 12:21 60020 6M57 Lindsey - Kingsbury.
• 12:33 66014 + 90019 6D44 Bescot - Toton.
• 12:40 66150 4M07 Felixstowe - Burton Yard.
• 13:19 66144 6O01 Doncaster - Hinksey.

PORTWAY.

• 13:49 66144 6O01 Doncaster - Hinksey.
• 13:55 66605 6Z90 Southall T.C. - Barrow Hill.
• 14:27 66054 4M11 Washwood Heath R.M.C - Toton Yard.

COSSINGTON.

• 15:22 66610 6L89 Tunstead - West Thurrock.
• 16:06 37884 + 37503 + 56104 6Z37 Barrow Hill - Leicester L.I.P.

WOODTHORPE.

• 16:44 48624 16:40 Loughborough Central - Leicester North.

ELFORD.

• 18:27 60017 6M00 Humber - Kingsbury.

TAMWORTH.

• 19:03 60020 6E59 Kingsbury - Lindsey.
• 19:17 60017 6M00 Humber - Kingsbury.

Cheers,

James

Well it wasn't an ideal day to be out with the camera with it being dull and a forecast of rain for some parts of it, nevertheless there was some workings which commanded my attention.

Seen, in order, was:

• 10:50 66504 4L93 Lawley Street - Felixstowe.
• 11:05 47773 5Z47 Soho L.M.D - Old Dalby.
• 11:25 73970 + 92023 0Z73 Loughborough Brush - Crewe H.S. 

I was also aware of 68011 working 6U76 Crewe Basford Hall - Mountsorrel empty ballast boxes but this seemed to have had issues near Stafford and with the rain starting I decided to shut up shop and go home.

Cheers,

James

Needless to say, upon arriving at Burbage Common, I was getting my camera and video camera out of the car when the unmistakable sound of a Class 56 horn cut through the still, calm chilly air - heralding the approach of the locomotive to any ramblers near any of the 2 foot crossings in the area, all I could do was watch as she passed by. OK no problem, I proceeded with getting my equipment and lugging it the couple hundred yards to the foot crossing whilst dogging the various puddles and wet patches, I still had 15 minutes or so to kill before the arrival of 68019 which gave ample time to get set up. Before long, she came into view with a tasty rake of former Railtrack liveried MRA wagons as opposed to the more common rake of yellow IOA boxes.

Getting back to the car, it was a case of checking the gen to see what else was happening as well looking at Realtime Trains, as I hadn't done much on the West Coast Mainline, I checked to see what was running and seen first off there was a light loco move, running as an 0Z92 from Crewe to Willesden, this was down as a Caledonian Sleeper loco and so naturally I though "Oooo.......A Class 92" especially as GBRf have given quite a few a new lease of life over the last couple of years, and with more to come too. Driving away from Burbage Common though a new situation arose whereby I had to relieve myself, it wasn't extremely urgent but there was no way I was going to make it to Atherstone in time without leaving a tidy little mess. Fortunately I don't live far from The Common so a small divert was made back home. 

Having relieved myself, it was back in the car and getting myself acquainted with the A5 for the trip to Atherstone - where, unbeknown to me at the time, I would spend the best part of 3 hours. The actual location was the footbridge off of Westwood Road - a handy place for anything going South but useless for anything going North. Meeting a couple more enthusiasts we all soon got talking and before long 0Z92 was almost upon us, in the shape of Freightliner's 90049 as GBRf have been hiring a fair few Class 90's from Freightliner of late due to ongoing issues with the Class 92's, in all fairness though most of the Class 92's haven't turned a wheel in nearly a decade and so you can't expect them to run straightaway without ironing a few kinks.

Whilst at the bridge, we were also aware of a 3Z68 test train running from Derby RTC to London Euston Down Carriage Shed Neck, yes I know it's a bit of a tongue twister lol, the info originally was it was to be a DBSO + loco combination with the DBSO leading from Derby, as the move was booked to turn off the Derby - Birmingham line at Wichnor Junction and meet up with the West Coast Mainline at Lichfield Trent Valley, the loco would therefore lead to London, at this point we had no idea what the loco was although the train hadn't left Derby and was running late. Soon enough it flagged up as leaving Derby - 120 minutes late, but it made good progress down to Lichfield, even though we still had no idea what the loco was, until it got to Comberford where an enthusiast reported it as 37219 top and tailed with 37175 on the rear. Happy Days as both tractors are in Colas livery and would look nice in the sun.

Soon, and as with Burbage Common, the still atmosphere was shattered with that all too common English Electric thrash as the train came into view, even more surprising was that the train was on the Up Fast as well which in my opinion was even better.

Another nice surprise for the day was a pair of Gatwick Express liveried Class 387 units doing mileage accumulation tests between Wembley and Crewe, with 387213 and 387214 being the pair.

The Sightings is as follows:

Burbage Common.

• 10:07 56098 0Z56 Leicester Depot - Cardiff Tidal.
• 10:23 68019 6U76 Crewe Basford Hall - Mountsorrel.

Atherstone.

• 11:43 90049 0Z92 Crewe - Wembley.
• 11:51 66059 4O21 Trafford Park - Southampton.
• 12:30 387213 + 387214 5K55 Wembley - Crewe.
• 12:41 70003 4Z44 Daventry - Coatbridge.
• 13:07 70011 4Z27 Coatbridge - Daventry.
• 13:34 66566 4M81 Felixstowe - Crewe Basford Hall.
• 13:42 90018 + 90036 4M25 Mossend - Daventry.
• 13:54 37219 t/n/t 37175 3Z68 Derby RTC - London Euston DCSN.
• 14:09 66109 6O42 Halewood - Southampton.
• 14:43 90042 4M63 Felixstowe - Ditton.
• 14:47 66572 4L90 Trafford Park - Felixstowe.
• 14:55 387214 + 387213 5A55 Crewe - Wembley.

Cheers,

James

The first service to run was 1Z68, the 10:05 Liverpool South Parkway - Wembley Central, this train was consisted with EWS-liveried 90035 leading with Royal Train 67005 Queen's Messenger on the rear, running approximately 4 minutes early, I photographed the train at Atherstone Westwood Road just as a Virgin Pendolino train was overtaking, originally I didn't think much of the shot but on the other hand I think it represents a good West Coast Mainline shot.

The second service was 1Z57 10:48 Liverpool Lime Street - Wembley Central, which was DRS Northern Belle set, Northern Belle-liveried 57312 Solway Princess was leading, with DRS-liveried 57310 Pride of Cumbria on the rear. I shot this train at Atherstone Station, with the classic station building forming the back drop. 

90035 Atherstone.90035 passes through Atherstone working 1Z68 10:05 Liverpool South Parkway - Wembley Central foot-ex. An unidentified Virgin Pendolino runs alongside working 1A10 10:01 Preston - London Euston Virgin Trains service.    

Since opening in January 2016, the station has received much bad publicity mainly due to the fact that despite being situated next to the Arena, there would be no extra capacity available on match days or events due to London Midland only using a single coach Class 153 DMU which can only carry 75 passengers. 

To overcome this, The Wasps and London Midland, in a joint venture with DB Schenker hired in a 6-coach train set formed of former Anglia Railways MKII coaches from Riviera Trains. The motive power came in the shape of 2 Class 67 diesel locomotives with one at each end of the set to ease run round at Nuneaton and Coventry stations. The particular loco's on the day was EWS-liveried 67028 and Royal Train 67006 Royal Sovereign with the latter being on the Nuneaton end from Coventry.

I took full advantage of the day and photographed the train at various points along the Coventry - Nuneaton line starting off at Bermuda Park Station, another new station which also opened on 18th January 2016 alongside Coventry Arena. Unlike the usual London Midland service -  which on this day was in the hands of 153364 and 153354, the loco-hauled service did not call at Bermuda Park or Bedworth, only just stopping at Coventry Arena and then Coventry.

TIMINGS.

• 2T01 12:18 Coventry - Nuneaton.
• 2T02 12:50 Nuneaton - Coventry.
• 2T03 13:20 Coventry - Nuneaton.
• 2T04 13:50 Nuneaton - Coventry.
• 2T05 14:19 Coventry - Nuneaton.
• 2T06 14:50 Nuneaton - Coventry.
• 5T08 15:25 Coventry - Nuneaton.
• 2T08 16:50 Nuneaton - Coventry.
• 2T07 17:19 Coventry - Nuneaton.
• 2T10 17:50 Nuneaton - Coventry.
• 2T09 18:19 Coventry - Nuneaton.
• 2T12 18:50 Nuneaton - Coventry.

Personally, I can't figure why it was an ECS movement from Coventry back to Nuneaton but I'm sure there was a reason.

​ 67028 Nuneaton.67028 recesses in Platform 1 at Nuneaton Station whilst awaiting it's next diagram; 2T08 16:50 Nuneaton - Coventry service.  

Burbage Common.

• 12:23 66095 6V92 Corby - Margam.

Narborough.

• 13:03 66752 6V16 Stud Farm - Hinksey.
• 13:15 66504 4M81 Felixstowe - Crewe Basford Hall.
• 13:37 66129 6B30 Mountsorrel - Northampton.

Cheers,

James

• 13:19 66762 6V16 Cliffe Hill Stud Farm - Hinksey Yard.
• 13:25 66540 4M81 Felixstowe - Trafford Park.

Cheers,

James

STENSON JUNCTION.

• 11:03 60011 6M57 Lindsey - Kingsbury.
• 11:09 31452 0Z31 Derby RTC - Washwood Heath.
• 11:15 66090 4M11 Washwood Heath - Peak Forest.
• 11:42 68017 t/n/t 68004 1Q18 Derby RTC - Crewe Carriage Sidings.
• 11:59 66170 0Z98 Toton - Bescot.

BARROW UPON TRENT.

• 12:28 60020 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber.

STENSON JUNCTION.

• 13:06 66046 6D44 Bescot - Toton.
• 13:09 66719 6V09 Tinsley Yard - Shrewsbury Coton Hill.
• 13:13 37603 0Z37 Derby RTC - Crewe Gresty Bridge.

TAMWORTH.

• 14:21 66566 4M81 Felixstowe - Trafford Park.
• 14:35 60017 6E08 Wolverhampton - Immingham.
• 14:41 66413 4Z54 Coatbridge - Daventry.
• 14:44 90016 4M63 Felixstowe - Ditton.
• 14:45 90029 + 90036 0A06 Crewe IEMD - Wembley.

PORTWAY.

• 15:19 56113 + 60087 0G66 Toton - Bescot.
• 15:56 60059 6E41 Westerleigh - Lindsey.
• 16:01 56087 6E07 Washwood Heath - Boston Docks.
• 16:06 66708 + 66777, 66776, 66779, 66778, 66774, 66773, 66775 0X66 Newport Docks - Doncaster Roberts Road.

As always thank you to the usual gen providers and Wayne Radford for company. 

92220 Evening Star is indeed recorded as working the Pines Express back on the 8th September 1962 and, coupled with the fact the Great Central Railway is a mixture of double and single track this proved a great recreation. The S&DJR was indeed a combination of single and double track running as well.

Photo's can be found here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p52083215

And some video footage here: https://youtu.be/Dh819c5AJ2o?list=PLYjn95V7D_2yrAtkVzT8YiTwdIttR8IPQ    

1. 12:21 66158 6V92 Margam - Corby empty steel.
2. 12:41 66182 6M31 Banbury - Mountsorrel empty self-discharge set.
3. 12:41 66769 6G16 Stud Farm - Bescot loaded ballast boxes.
4. 13:18 20189 + 20142 0Z20 Barrow Hill L.I.P. - Rugby D.E.D.

12:28 66136 6V92 Corby - Margam steel empties.

12:43 66709 6G16 Stud Farm - Bescot loaded ballast.

13:42 70009 4M81 Felixstowe - Crewe Basford Hall freightliner. 

13:50 66012 6B30 Mountsorrel - Northampton Castle Yard loaded box wagons.

Cheers,

James

60100 http://goo.gl/AzbNJi

37425 http://goo.gl/tGQAIo

Cheers,

James 

If you haven't already, please bookmark my site into your favourites as this year looks like it will be a bumper year especially with new vehicles on the road and of course the last ever Class 66's to arrive for GBRf and not to mention Class 88's for DRS.

Cheers and Here's to Happy Snapping.

Loco's on Display.

20304.

37401, 37602, 37603, 37606.

47712, 47813, 47828.

57009, 57011, 57307, 57312.

66302, 66304, 66422.

68003.

Images can be viewed here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p767660042

Not much has been happening of late due to a combination of poop weather, work and other commitments, but a couple of updates which I have managed to do.  Bank Holiday, May 4th seen the annual pilgrimage to the East of England Showground near Peterborough for the first Truckfest Show of 2015, as I arrived late in the morning, I spent most of the day outside the showground as most of the vehicles on display were departing then heading back to base ready for the start of the working week.

• 12:55 66176 6X01 Scunthorpe - Eastleigh.
• 12:59 60024 6X44 Bescot - Toton.
• 13:56 66616 6M49 Immingham - Rugeley Power Station.
• 14:13 68001 6U77 Mountsorrel - Crewe Basford Hall.

​

Whitacre Junction.

• 16:02 66741 6V83 Peterborough Yard - Moreton On Lugg.
• 16:15 66418 4O17 Lawley Street - Southampton.
• 16:16 66738 4M23 Felixstowe - Hams Hall.
• 16:30 66729 6M40 Westbury - Stud Farm.

Burbage Common.

• 19:09 66758 + 92038 0B92 Rugby - Loughborough Brush.
• 19:21 66074 6M88 Middleton Towers - Ellesmere Port. 

Burbage Common.

• 12:43 66739 6G16 Stud Farm - Bescot.

Whitacre Junction.

• 14:03 70010 0O13 Lawley Street - Daventry.
• 14:04 66418 4M94 Felixstowe - Lawley Street.
• 14:26 66755 6Z32 Tinsley - Coton Hill, Shrewsbury.
• 14:42 66616 6M49 Immingham - Rugeley Power Station.
• 14:45 66093 4M31 Wembley Yard - Hams Hall.

​Water Orton.

• 15:44 56087 6E07 Washwood Heath - Boston Docks.
• 15:56 66739 0G92 Bescot - Hams Hall.
• 16:07 66543 4O17 Lawley Street - Southampton.
• 16:17 60010 6E79 Wolverhampton - Rotherham Masboro.
• 16:25 66729 6M40 Westbury - Stud Farm.
• 16:44 66078 4G76 Bescot - Burton On Trent Maurice Hill.
• 16:48 60054 6E41 Westerleigh - Lindsey.
• 17:12 70807 7M50 Westbury - Bescot.
• 18:12 66076 6V55 Bedworth - Robeston.  

• North American P-51D Mustang 44-72035.
• Hawker Hurricane MKIIB BE505.

We also had some fine re-enactor friends dressed in period clothing which of course, the shoot was set during the dark days of WWII, and for added interest there was some period correct vehicles as well.

Images from this superb evening can be found here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p851000599

Watch this space later this year for a couple more aviation shoots which will feature Lancaster Bomber Just Jane and the superb Vulcan at Wellesbourne in Warwickshire, I'm led to believe that the powers-that-be want to turn Wellesbourne Airfield into a housing estate in the future so  get those visits in while you can....

Cheers, James

• 12:21 66085 6V92 Corby - Margam.
• 12:47 66536 6V16 Stud Farm - Hinksey.

Portway.

• 14:21 66616 6M49 Immingham - Rugeley Power Station.
• 14:49 60066 6E41 Westerleigh - Lindsey.
• 15:07 66172 4E69 Southampton - Wakefield.
• 15:28 60100 6E08 Wolverhampton - Immingham.
• 15:53 57310 0Z96 Crewe Basford Hall - Toton via Bescot.
• 16:00 56087 6E07 Washwood Heath - Boston Docks.
• 16:20 70017 + 66537 4O55 Leeds - Southampton.
• 16:53 66025 4O76 Burton - Southampton.
• 17:06 60001 6E59 Kingsbury - Lindsey.
• 17:14 60054 6M00 Humber - Kingsbury.

Cheers,

James

• 12:44 66752 6G16 Stud Farm - Bescot.

Atherstone.

• 13:44 66074 6O42 Halewood - Southampton.
• 14:03 31601 + 50015, 33109 and 50008 0Z50 Castleton Hopwood - Leicester.
• 14:06 92029 4M25 Mossend - Daventry.

Cheers 

James

• 10:21 66715 0M70 Peterborough - Longport.
• 10:37 68005 6U76 Crewe Basford Hall - Mountsorrel.

East Goscote.

• 13:07 37419 5Z52 Norwich Crown Point - Derby RTC.
• 13:09 66109 6L62 Mountsorrel - Chesterton Junction.

Cossington.

• 13:23 66718 6M01 Tinsley - Bardon Hill Quarry.

East Goscote.

• 14:10 66735 6M60 Whitemoor - Mountsorrel.
• 14:44 66232 6F93 St. Pancras Churchyard - Ketton.
• 14:48 66508 0Z67 Stapleford & Sandiacre - Parkeston Quay.
• 14:50 66771 6M14 Harlow Mill - Bardon Hill Quarry. 

Cossington.

• 15:45 66507 6M91 Theale - Hope Cement Works.
• 15:48 66706 6M23 Doncaster - Mountsorrel.
• 16:17 37419 0Z53 Derby RTC - Norwich Crown Point.
• 16:42 66706 6M23 Doncaster - Mountsorrel.
• 16:43 66621 6V08 Barrow Hill - Brentford.

Cheers,

James

• 13:04 66725 6Z32 Tinsley - Coton Hill.
• 13:08 66186 6D44 Bescot - Toton.
• 13:11 66564 6M33 Crewe Basford Hall - Derby Litchurch Lane.

Barrow Upon Trent.

• 13:58 66605 6M49 Immingham - Rugeley Power Station.
• 14:40 68005 6U77 Mountsorrel - Crewe Basford Hall.
• 14:49 66011 6M00 Humber - Kingsbury.
• 15:16 60054 6E41 Westerleigh - Lindsey.
• 15:43 66759 6K50 Toton - Crewe.

12:22 60059 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber.
12:49 60096 6D44 Bescot - Toton.
13:01 66174 6O01 Doncaster - Eastleigh.
13:19 66135 6M96 Margam - Corby.
13:26 66175 6M11 Washwood Heath - Peak Forest.
13:39 68001 0Z96 Crewe Gresty Bridge - Toton.

• 37232 in Transrail Dutch livery at Wigan CRDC: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p137639462/h2d34bfa3#h2d34bfa3
• 37428 in Trainload Petroleum livery at Eastfields: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p241069002/ha54fd5d#ha54fd5d
• 37717 in Trainload Metals livery at Immingham: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p445557100/h35642aae#h35642aae
• 37883 in Trainload Metals livery at Immingham: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p445557100/h35642aae#h2cdf7021

Cheers,

James.

Photo can be found here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p496923352/h44c2c2#h44c2c2

Cheers,

James

3 new images now added to the site of different Class 08 diesel shunters:

• 08626 at Allerton Depot: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h26c0ca40#h26c0ca40
• 08648 at Old Oak Common: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h26c0ca40#h1a217d13
• 08730 inside the works at Eastleigh: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h26c0ca40#h192b8998

Cheers,

James

As many of you know, I am a member of the EMRPS (East Midlands Railway Photographic Society), and have been - since 2007 - been attending, where possible, the photo shoots that have been arranged which tend to be mainly diesel locomotives on a train representing a certain period from the railway past at various preserved lines around the country. The charter organiser, Jason Cross who I also view as a good friend as well as a valuable assistant with regards to photography is a Leicester man born and bred and this is where this charter comes into it.

A first time shoot that the EMRPS has done seen a band of photographers take to the streets of Leicester on Sunday Night (11/01/15) to photograph two heritage buses, these being a Leyland Titan PD3 (no 48) and Metro Scania (no 301) both in the attractive livery of Leicester City Transport which were posed at various locations throughout the city, starting off in the suburbs of Braunstone and Glenfield before moving into the City Centre at various local landmarks such as the town hall and Leicester's sole surviving railway station (there use to be 3 in the City Centre: Leicester London Road which is still used today whilst Belgrave Road, and the much missed Great Central station were closed). The photographers including myself also rode the buses in between different locations, I opted for the Metro Scania for my chariot of choice which was actually a very pleasant ride and was in fact the first time since I got my car, travelled on a bus.

The idea of the shoot, which I think was pulled off very well, was to recreate a period between the mid 1970's to the early 1980's when the two types of buses were seen working in Leicester side by side. The crew operated (driver and conductor) PD3 was being phased out in favour of the driver-only operated Metro Scania in the period.

The locations visited - in order - were:

• Cort Crescent, Braunstone.
• Liberty Road, Glenfield.
• Woodgate Library.
• Humberstone Gate
• Charles Street.
• Leicester Railway Station.
• Horsefair Street. 

After an enjoyable 7 hours of photography, it was back to Causeway Lane adjacent to the High Cross Shopping Centre when the photographers dispersed.

Images from the shoot, in chronological order with the newest first can be found here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p51806620

The second gallery is the modern buses which we photographed in between shoots with the brucie bonus being First Leicester's KX05 MJF, 66965 which is currently sporting the heritage livery of Leicester City Tramway. This gallery can be found here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p64704500  

Hope you enjoy these images.

James

Well my 2015 railway galleries have got off to a good start with a bit of variety. Starting at one of my regular haunts - Portway -  which is just North of Tamworth.

Pulling onto the bridge, I was greeted with the site of 60017 stationary just up the line in Elford Loop waiting time to carry on the last few miles of it's journey working the 6M57 Lindsey - Kingsbury loaded bogie tanks. However, this wasn't to be the first train I was to photograph as a look at Realtime Trains revealed 4L07 Burton Yard to Felixstowe intermodal was running 24 early passing Burton On Trent Station, this takes a somewhat long route, running into Bescot via Tamworth, Water Orton and Walsall, before running round and carrying on it's journey back to Water Orton before heading towards Nuneaton, Leicester and East Anglia. 66138 was to be my first "red pen" sighting for 2015.

Afterwards, 60091 appeared working 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber empty bogie tanks, I even got some tones from the driver as well which was nice, the photograph leaves a bit to be desired as it was badly backlit, not helped of course by the lowness of the sun in the sky. Come April time this will not be too bad. After 60091 had passed, this had cleared Kingsbury and sure enough 60017 departed Elford Loop and took her load of tanks through Portway and onwards to Kingsbury. Despite the dickyness of the sun going behind clouds, this was a full sun shot.

Next up, 66079 appeared working 6D44 Bescot - Toton deparmental which consisted of concrete sleepers on what appeared to be brand new wagons, however as I'm no wagon expert I couldn't tell what classification they were. In the area as well was one of GBRf's new toys in the form of 66762 working 6E81 Portbury - Hexthorpe empty box wagons. Booked to depart Portbury (which is near Bristol) at 04:57, it departed 3 early. Missing out stops at Parsons Street, Bristol Parkway, Charfield and Spetchley it was a massive 222 minutes early at Bromsgrove (3 hours 22 minutes). This was to change though as it was held just before Longbridge for some considerable time from 07:24 until 10:17. Another wait at Landor Street Junction near Birmingham and a small divert at Water Orton via Whitacre Junction to Kingsbury seen it pulled back to time.

My last "red pen" at Portway was a rather mucky 66164 which was still bearing the grime from the 2013 RHTT season working 4D76 Bescot to Burton Yard empty container flats. Once it was gone, it was camera and video camera packed away and off to Barrow Upon Trent which seen a nice leisurely drive from Portway, up the A513, A38 and through Willington. An earlier gen post and confirmed sighting from Stafford seen 2 Class 37's working 0Z96 Crewe - Bescot light engine. It was then booked to take a load of 10 wagons from Bescot to Toton. The light was still doable for it had Barrow Upon Trent, sadly a 64 minute late departure put paid to this :(.

At Barrow though, I was greeted to 3 more "red pen" moves starting with 66531 working 6M49 Barrow Hill - Rugeley Power Station loaded coal hoppers, afterwards another new locomotive introduced by Direct Rail Services last year was 68004 working 6U77 Mountsorrel - Crewe Basford Hall loaded ballast boxes. In total there is to be 25 of these machines. Next heavy freight was 66102 which was working 6M00 Humber - Kingsbury loaded bogie tanks. 66102 was looking far more cleaner than it's classmate 66164 seen earlier in the day.

I ended the day with Freightliner's 66597 working 0M46 Aldwarke - Crewe Basford Hall light engine. After which a huge cloud bank rolled in it was game over and a nice drive back to Hinckley and thence home ensued.

Cheers,

James

Both pictures are now available to view in the Mainline Freight 2014 gallery.

Cheers,

James

Although it started as a pleasant drive from Hinckley down the A5, M1 and the A14, the weather changed and was quite variable along the A14 between Catthorpe Interchange and Thrapston where me and the A14 parted company and I headed off onto the A605 towards Peterborough and the A47. Some people might say why didn't I travel on the A47 from Hinckley seeing as I only live yards from it, well the answer is simple I didn't fancy the assault course negotiating Leicester what with it's myriad of traffic lights, roundabouts and road works plus there isn'y much difference in the time (5 minutes or thereabouts).

Back on the A47, passing the delightful Fens, I encountered one heck of a rain shower between Guyhirne and Wisbech,  the rain was coming down that hard it was akin to someone turning on a high powered pressure hose and was like it to a point just before Kings Lynn where the rain eventually eased off, and I was able to get up to above 30mph which other motorists and myself had been doing for the previous 18 or so miles from Guyhirne roundabout (A47 and A141). Upon arrival at Kings Lynn it was a fond farewell to the A47 and onto the A149 for a short distance then the A148 for the final lap through Fakenham and Holt and then to Weybourne.

Upon arrival at Weybourne Station, the scene was being set up for what would be a great nights of photography as is always the case with the EMRPS. First up was Class 37 D6732 on a short rake of MKI's facing towards Sheringham and Cromer sporting the headcode 1E87. As and addition we also had period dressed re-enactors, courtesy of Central Scenes posing as passengers, platform staff and a driver to add some life to the photo's. Afterwards, it was the role of Class 31 D5631 to take the helm on the stock.

The roles were then reversed with poses on the opposite platform facing towards Holt, with D5631 first and then D6732, again the re-enactors performed excellent and it really was like a return to the 1960's, until of course I got into my trusty Peugeot 208 then I was back in 2014 :).

The link to the images of course is here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p890613668

Cheers for now.

James    

Well this was certainly short notice and indeed unexpected, a night shoot at the Midland Railway Centre in Derbyshire based around their Swanwick Junction site.

The night seen Standard 5 73129 masquerading as 73154 for the evening on a rake of maroon MKI coaching stock to represent a period passenger train of the late 1950's, early 1960's. Another locomotive we had use of was the 148 Year Old Midland Railway Class 156 no. 158A on a short, mixed traffic train, representative of the early 1900's. There was also period re-enactors to give some life to the photographs.

Later in the evening, we moved on up to Swanwick shed for some depot scenes including 73154 having it's fire disposed of which added some nice effects. The MR Class 156 was a different story though, as it's a static exhibit and has not been fired for many years, so some improvisation was needed to replicate a fire for the cameo scenes. In this case, a 120W lamp, complete with an orange London Undergound hi-vis jacket - belonging to the EMRPS' own Jason Cross who is a big LU fan - was the order of the night and as can be seen it passed off quite well.

The images can be viewed for your perusal. http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p444562958

Cheers, and hope you enjoy.

James  

Well another new addition to my site, this time an EMRPS night shoot at the Epping and Ongar Railway in Essex.

On 30th September 1994, London Underground ceased services on the Central Line between Epping and Ongar, and this was commemorated with the night shoot utilising the original 1960 Cravens 3-car set. As the line is no longer electrified the train was propelled along using 2 London Underground (Transplant) Schoma diesel locomotives 12 and 3. The Cravens set was the same set that operated the last service over the line in 1994, and the original headboard complete with a second replica headboard to try and replicate as near as possible the last train. However it would have been impossible to recreate the scene 100% as we have needed the conductor rails and a couple hundred re-enactors but was still a good scene.

On top of the Cravens set, we also had 03119 and 31438 posed on a short MOD freight service and of course the Schoma diesels were posed in a separate scene by the signalbox. 

Outside the station, there was also a Daimler Fleetline XF1 bus to give some variety.

Many Thanks to Jason Cross for organising the shoot and of course the Epping & Ongar Railway for allowing the shott to take place.

The train pictures: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1009237426

The bus pictures: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p100321164

Hope you enjoy.

A new gallery now added to my website, featuring a photo charter in conjunction with the EMRPS and David Williams at the Crich Tramway Village Museum in Derbyshire.

It was the first time I have attended a tram shoot as mainly I do heavy rail and road haulage, and in my personal opinion was a very enjoyable evening of photography by both myself and other photographers who attended. We had three trams in use on the shoot and these were:

• Gateshead & District 5.
• Blackpool & Fleetwood (Box) 40.
• Newcastle 114.

The shoot started on the depot apron with Gateshead 5 and Newcastle 114 posed next to each other before we moved onto the street to see Box 40 posed up. To add some life to the pictures, we also had some period dressed re-enactors posed in various cameo scenes featuring tram crew and passengers.

Photo's can be viewed here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p298815014

There is a small gallery in addition to this which feature a few shots not connected to the shoot but nevertheless thought it's worth showing, my favourite being an attractive 1955 Standard Eight Saloon parked outside The Red Lion Hotel, as well as some shed scenes.

These photo's can be viewed here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p816261049

Hope you enjoy the photo's.

Regards and Best Wishes,

James

Well it's been a number of weeks since my last update and in the interim period there's been quite a few updates. Notably the 2014 Railway Collection has been updated with Mainline Passenger, Mainline Freight and Specials seeing some new additions added.

The railway archive has also seen some additions with new images of locomotives from years ago added, most of which have either since been scrapped, re-liveried or even renumbered. The updated galleries are as follows:

• Class 08: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631
• Class 31/1: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p512890583
• Class 31/4: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p328139996
• Class 37/4: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p241069002
• Class 37/5: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p47004512
• Class 43 (HST): http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301
• Class 47/0: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p455848416
• Class 47/4: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074
• Class 47/8: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p629950660
• Class 56: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p848082466
• Class 59: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p832814522
• Class 66 (EWS): http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p439070374
• Class 90: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1059922307

All photo's are in upload order so you will see the most recent additions first.

On the road transport side of things, there is also some new additions with new photo's added from a session over the M1 at Junction 17 on the 5th Septemeber.

• Coaches: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1058677551
• Lorries: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p989182088

Hope you like these new images.

Cheers 

James

• 11:15 66005 0Z98 Bescot - Toton light engine.
• 11:39 70009 0xxx Crewe Basford Hall - Loughborough Brush light engine.
• 11:42 66520 4E42 Rugeley Power Station - Barrow Hill.
• 11:46 66018 6Z65 Earles Sidings - Walsall.
• 12:04 60099 6M57 Lindsey - Kingsbury.
• 13:03 66081 6X01 Scunthorpe - Eastleigh.
• 13:11 66009 6D44 Bescot - Toton.
• 13:19 66106 6M96 Margam - Corby.
• 14:20 66429 6U77 Mountsorrel - Crewe Basford Hall.
• 14:23 60062 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber.
• 14:37 70004 0V70 Leeds Balm Road - Stoke Gifford light engine.
• 14:53 66509 4O55 Leeds - Southampton.
• 15:20 60017 6E41 Westerleigh - Lindsey.
• 15:40 66745 6K50 Toton - Crewe Basford Hall.
• 15:49 60059 6E08 Wolverhampton - Immingham.
• 16:06 66110 6M00 Humber - Kingsbury.
• 16:20 56087 6E07 Washwood Heath - Boston Docks.
• 16:23 66522 4E82 Rugeley Power Station - Doncaster Down Decoy.
• 16:28 20107 + 20096 t/n/t 20132 + 20118 7X09 Derby Litchurch Lane - Amersham.
• 16:35 37405 0Z37 Crewe Gresty Bridge - Derby RTC light engine.
• 16:57 56302 6S96 Sinfin - Grangemouth.

• 14:59 66522 4E72 Rugeley Power Station - Barrow Hill.
• 15:54 66737 + 66752, 66753, 66754, 66756 & 66755 0X66 Newport Docks - Doncaster Roberts Road.
• 14:07 37601 1Z99 Derby RTC - Dorridge.

• 13:51 90048 4L90 Crewe Basford Hall - Felixstowe.
• 14:08 92016 4M25 Mossend - Daventry.
• 14:24 86639 + 86607 4M54 Tilbury - Crewe Basford Hall.

• 14:39 66518 4E72 Rugeley Power Station - Doncaster Down Decoy.
• 15:13 66420 4O55 Leeds - Southampton.
• 15:19 57009 + 57007 6Z96 Crewe Basford Hall - Toton.
• 15:20 66424 6U77 Mountsorrel - Crewe Basford Hall.
• 15:43 60054 6E08 Wolverhampton - Immingham.
• 15:58 66739 6K50 Toton - Crewe Basford Hall.
• 16:01 60062 6E41 Westerleigh - Lindsey.
• 16:07 31190 + 31452 t/n/t 31601 6Z31 York Leeman Road - Washwood Heath railvac.
• 16:09 56094 6E07 Washwood Heath - Boston Docks.
• 16:13 67030 t/n/t 67025 1Q15 Derby RTC - Derby RTC via Didcot.
• 16:31 20107 + 20096 t/n/t 20132 + 20118 7X09 Derby Litchurch Lane - Amersham.
• 17:08 66147 6M00 Humber - Kingsbury.
• 17:12 66557 6M51 Immingham - Rugeley Power Station.
• 17:31 66107 6V97 Beeston - Cardiff Tidal.
• 17:39 66198 6G45 Toton - Bescot.
• 17:40 60024 6E59 Kingsbury - Lindsey. 

Just a small note that anyone wishing to visit this location be advised that the road is very bumpy.

• 11:12 60100 6M11 Washwood Heath - Peak Forest.
• 11:14 60024 6M57 Lindsey - Kingsbury.
• 11:48 66522 4E42 Rugeley Power Station - Barrow Hill.
• 12:19 60079 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber.
• 13:11 66063 6D44 Bescot - Toton.
• 13:20 66015 6M96 Margam - Corby. 

After which it was off for a KFC at the services on the A38/A50 Junction and off to pastures new.....

For some reason or other, these mid-afternoon jaunts that I seem to do of late have been quite good, Wednesday 25th June also failed to disappoint, first off arriving onto the bridge that bisects Elford Loop, I met a couple of other photographers out. Having not that long missed 56312 working light engine back to Washwood Heath (well you can't win them all can you lol), I wasn't really too bothered as I had a good helping of it at the Nene Valley Railway diesel gala back in May.

With 70007 to make an appearance first working 4O55 Leeds - Southampton freghtliner, in some sunshine which was quite lucky as there was quite a bit of cloud bubbling up, I then attempted to walk to the Elford occupation bridge at the end of the loop where I got 60024 at the start of May, however this had to be aborted as the side of the footpath up to the bridge was that much overgrown as well as the farmers crops not to mention I was stung several times by nettles and thistles. It was decided to head to Portway to spend the remainder of the afternoon for the inward and outbound tank trains to Kingsbury, as well as a quartet of Class 20's on the London Undergroud S-Stock move from Derby Litchurch Lane - Amersham.

SIGHTINGS LOG: 

• 16:17 70007 4O55 Leeds - Southampton freightliner.
• 18:12 60074 6E59 Kingsbury - Lindsey empty bogie tanks.
• 18:13 60062 6M00 Humber - Kingsbury loaded bogie tanks.
• 18:16 66112 6G45 Toton - Bescot departmental.
• 18:24 20227 + 20901 t/n/t 20132 + 20118 7X09 Derby Litchurch Lane - Amersham LU S-Stock move.

*Of note, 66125 appeared into the loop at Elford at 18:31 after the Class 20's had went passed working 6V66 Redcar - Margam loaded coke hoppers. As of 19:00 I didn't hang around as I was feeling hungry lol.

Cheers

James

• 18:26 60087 0Z62 Washwood Heath - Rugby loco move.
• 18:37 70001 4M93 Felixstowe - Lawley Street freightliner.
• 18:51 66303 4S47 Daventry - Coatbridge intermodal.
• 18:56 90029 + 67009 0K06 Wembley - Crewe light loco move.
• 19:25 66206 6O38 Halewood - Southampton loaded cartics.
• 19:29 92019 4S45 Daventry - Mossend intermodal. 

As always, regards to the gen men for the Heads Up.

Cheers

James

• 13:31 66039 6M96 Margam - Corby steel coils.
• 14:23 66433 6U77 Mountsorrel - Crewe loaded ballast.
• 14:41 47580 t/n/t 57315 5Z45 Carnforth - Lincoln Terrace Sidings ECS.
• 14:55 66610 6M46 Aldwarke - Crewe wagon move.
• 15:23 60100 6M00 Humber - Kingsbury loaded bogie tanks.
• 15:27 60074 6E41 Westerleigh - Lindsey empty bogie tanks.
• 15:43 66721 6K50 Toton - Crewe departmental.
• 16:26 56302 6E07 Washwood Heath - Boston Docks steel empties.

My first outing in a few weeks, and needing shots of 60001 and 70016, I headed off to Stenson Junction and here is what was seen:

• 15:03 60001 6M00 Humber - Kingsbury. 
• 15:07 70016 4O55 Leeds - Southampton. 
• 15:08 43xxx/43xxx 1Qxx Old Oak Common - Derby RTC. 
• 15:11 66431 6U77 Mountsorrel - Crewe. 
• 15:26 70006 6M46 Aldwarke - Crewe. 
• 16:03 66718 6K50 Toton - Crewe. 

Then I drove round to Barrow Upon Trent.

• 16:42 60063 6E41 Westerleigh - Lindsey. 
• 17:06 47739/56087 6E07 Washwood Heath- Boston Docks. 
• 17:27 66060 6G45 Toton- Bescot. 

Images now uploaded to my "Mainline Freight 2014" gallery. 

The reason for this is many of my followers are from the railway fraternity and as such rather see photo's of buses and lorries as well as any random things they can go direct to Flickr instead. Of course I will still showcase all my railway imagery on here too :).

If you're interested my Flickr site is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamespowersphotos/

Cheers 

For the second year in a row, the Great Central Railway hosted another steam gala based around Swithland Sidings with a very intensive timetable running between Loughborough Central and Rothley/Leicester North. It was very touch and go whether or not I was going to make the gala owing to the abysmal weather forecast but as it happened, I took the plunge and went to several lineside photographic locations on the railway.

Loco's in use for the day was:

• Lambleton Tank No. 29
• Pannier Tank No. L92
• SR King Arthur Class No. 777 Sir Lamiel. 
• LMS Class 3F "Jinty" 47406
• LMS Class 8F 48624
• BR Standard Class 7 70013 Oliver Cromwell.
• Standard 2 78019
• GNR Class N2 No. 1744
• BR Standard 9F No. 92214

I started at Woodthorpe and made my way down the line to Kinchley Lane before working my way back up again.

Photo's here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p187493406

Hope you enjoy.

Regards and Best Wishes

James 

Another trip out and about starting of at Stenson Junction with the hope of getting 7X23 Derby Litchurch Lane - Old Dalby stock move which was powered by 20311 and 20901 with 66740 on the rear, however this wasn't to be as I missed it by 10 minutes, still some you win and some you lose, still I hung around for a bit longer for some other bits which were due.

After nailing some shots at Stenson Junction and Barrow Upon Trent I then headed off to Cossington as the 2 Balfour Beatty Class 20's were down to work a 6Z20 13:00 Stapleford and Sandiacre to Langley Reception Siding wagon move, I got to the location with about 10 minutes to spare and with the sun dickying around. Surprisingly as soon as the 20's appeared in the view finder a blue hole opened in the sky and the sun lit the scene up.

I hung around for a bit longer for some other freight bits and passenger services and decided to head back towards Barrow Upon Trent to try and get 60065 on 6E41 Westerleigh - Lindsey empty bogie tanks, however upon joining the M1 the traffic was at snails pace and as such this plan was aborted.

Still, all in all I was happy with what I got and the Class 20's were the main quarry for the day :).  

Stenson Junction.

• 11:22 66017 6Z65 Earles Sidings - Walsall loaded cement tanks.

Barrow Upon Trent.

• 12:23 66531 6Z89 Bardon Hill - Tyne Yard loaded ballast.
• 12:31 60099 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber empty bogie tanks.

Cossington.

• 13:30 20189 t/n/t 20142 6Z20 Stapleford & Sandiacre - Langley Reception Siding wagon move.
• 13:38 66601 6M01 Tinsley - Bardon Hill empty bogie hoppers.
• 13:52 66172 6L62 Mountsorrel - Chesterton Junction loaded self-discharge train.
• 14:14 66014 6M96 Margam - Corby loaded steel coils.
• 14:33 66605 6L89 Tunstead - West Thurrock loaded cement tanks.

Photo's of the above can be found in the relevant photo galleries.

Photo's are here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p295935938

Hope you all enjoy. 

It's been a long time coming but I have finally completed adding images to my collection from Hemingford Abbots back on the 14th April.

The gallery consists of 505 truck images of various hauliers and even a nice selection from mainland Europe too feature. The collection can be viewed here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p330492626 and the images are in chronological order with the last photo featuring first. If viewers are after a particular vehicle then use the search facility by typing the registration number you are after.

Cheers for now, I will get on to uploading images to my Truckfest gallery.

Regards and Best Wishes

James

I trust you all had a great Mayday Bank Holiday, well I was out again with the camera, this time at the East of England showground at Peterborough in Cambridgeshire which played host once again to Truckfest Peterborough.

A new collection for the images is now up and running at http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p295935938

As there is several hundred images to go through they won't all be uploaded in one go but will be as and when time permits.

Further Truckfest shows I hope to attend this year will be Truckfest Original at the Newark & Notts showground in August and then a couple weeks later Truckfest South East at the Kent Showground in September.

Upon getting to the footbridge and already seeing a small gallery of photographers, including a couple of familiar faces we soon learned that 7X10 was cancelled, at first we were led to believe that it had failed but this soon materialised not to be the case as the points at Kingsbury were faulty. Upon arrival at Water Orton the train is booked via Whitacre Junction and on to Kingsbury as it is not cleared for the main route between Water Orton and Kingsbury.

Not to be beaten I stayed out to see what else was about and here are my full sightings:

Willington:

• 09:16 66172 0D99 Bescot - Toton light engine.
• 09:24 66004 + 66129 0A11 Toton - Bescot light engine.

North Staffs Junction.

• 10:55 60024 6M57 Lindsey - Kingsbury loaded bogie tanks.

Barrow Upon Trent.

• 12:30 60017 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber empty bogie tanks.

Rugeley Trent Valley.

• 13:47 66080 6M48 Southampton Eastern Docks - Halewood empty cartics.
• 13:56 66558 4M93 Felixstowe - Crewe Basford Hall freightliner.
• 14:52 70018 4M87 Felixstowe - Crewe Basford Hall freightliner.

Elford.

• 17:09 60024 6E59 Kingsbury - Lindsey empty bogie tanks.
• 17:30 66130 1Z99 Bescot - Branston Junction light engine.
• 18:04 66130 + 66126 4Z26 Mossend - Daventry intermodal.

Cheers,

James

Another sightings summary to accompany my live posts on certain gen groups:

Whitacre Junction.

• 09:42 47786 t/n/t 47826 1Z88 Norwich - Chester NENTA railtour.

Barrow Upon Trent.

• 11:22 66172 7G99 Toton - Bescot departmental.
• 12:02 60007 6F96 Ratcliffe Power Station - Warrington Arpley empty coal hoppers.
• 12:14 66621 4E42 Rugeley Power Station - Leeds Hunslet empty coal hoppers.
• 12:53 60040 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber empty bogie tanks.

Cathiron.

• 15:04 66728 4M23 Felixstowe - Hams Hall intermodal.
• 15:09 92003 0K26 Daventry I.R.F.T. - Crewe I.E.M.D light engine.

Photo's are now also online in the relevant categories with 47786 in the "Mainline Charters and Test Trains 2014" http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p973533299 and the others in the "Mainline Freight 2014" http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p540950746

I had planned originally to get 6M57 Lindsey - Kingsbury at Stenson Junction but as luck would have had it it passed under the road bridge just as I was going over running some 20+ minutes early.  

Thursday 17th April I spent at Stenson Junction and the surrounding area with the main aim being to photograph the 7X23 London Underground stock move, which I have never got before and also to try and get the Sinfin - Grangemouth tanks, but in the end bad weather put paid to that (plus they were late too lol).

Stenson Junction:

• 11:04 66025 6M57 Lindsey - Kingsbury loaded bogie tanks.
• 11:17 66017 6M11 Washwood Heath - Peak Forest empty Roadstone hoppers.
• 11:37 60079 6Z65 Hope - Walsall loaded cement tanks.
• 11:43 66526 4E42 Rugeley Power Station - Barrow Hill empty coal hoppers.
• 11:55 20905 + 20901 t/n/t 20314 + 20311 7X23 Derby Litchurch Lane - Old Dalby LU stock move.

Barrow Upon Trent.

• 12:26 60024 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber empty bogie tanks.
• 12:54 66135 + 60045 d.i.t 6X01 Scunthorpe - Eastleigh loaded rails.
• 13:11 66066 + 60062 d.i.t 6D44 Bescot - Toton departmental.

Cheers,

James

• 16:57 66751 6T81 Peterborough - Whitemoor Yard departmental.
• 16:59 66107 6M88 Middleton Towers - Ellesmere Port loaded sand.
• 17:12 66717 + 66707 6L57 Tallington - Whitemoor Yard loaded sleepers.
• 17:52 66850 6C62 Whitemoor Yard - Sleaford South Junction departmental.
• 18:30 66007 4L07 Birch Coppice - Felixstowe intermodal.
• 18:40 66594 4E55 Felixstowe - Doncaster freightliner.
• 18:43 66728 4L22 Hams Hall - Felixstowe intermodal.
• 18:57 66849 t/n/t 47727 6C63 Whitemoor Yard - Sleaford South Junction departmental. 

Cheers, 

James

However due to my camera going into economy mode I missed the shot of 66113 but still managed a video.

D1015 and friends: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p973533299/h12ab7cff#h12ab7cff

Anyway back to the photo's, after the day shoot and delightful evening meal we then had a night shoot featuring the Deltic on the TPO set at Loughborough Central Station. Some may say we've done that shot to death but with the old station and semaphore signals it is a nice shot.

Photo's can be viewed here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p318225335

Video's can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGm-JG-o2kwH0dmP38v6TfMcK8b_TJe-2

Not been as busy as I would have hoped in February partly due to quite a nasty chest infection I had, but there has been some nice updates.

2nd February seen a venture to my local spot; Elmesthorpe which lies between Hinckley and Narborough. Now normally I don't venture out for units but in this case, Grand Central liveried 180105 was working a Heaton - Longsight move which took a somewhat arduous route via Derby, Leicester and the West Coast Mainline, not that I'm complaining and I bagged a full sun shot. Picture here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p973533299/h3bebd5d2#h3bebd5d2

Most notable event was 7th February when I attended a nightshoot at Barrow Hill Roundhouse near Chesterfield which which was a joint effort between Neil Cave and Jason Cross, the main attractions were 3 Class A4's; 60008 Dwight D. Eisenhower in BR Green livery, 4489 Dominion of Canada in LNER Garter Blue livery and also 4464 Bittern also in LNER Garter Blue livery. We also had Class A2, 60532 Blue Peter posed as well.

The images can be viewed here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p655372131/h2b110c9#h2b110c9

19th February, I decided to get my HGV fix and opted to go to Packington Lane near Coleshill which spans the M6 and further up the M6 Toll, I stayed for an hour and got just over 200 different truck images as well as a couple of coaches too. It was a nice surprise to see quite a few Mercedes Benz MP4 units with various hauliers as well as a couple of new style Volvo FH's.

Truck Pics: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p432215213

Coach Pics: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p713436261

26th February I went to Stenson Junction, my main reason was to photograph 20189/142 with a loco convoy consisting of 31459, 47375 and 47769 which is still sporting the old Virgin Trains livery, however just before it was due to depart Derby it was cancelled owing to vandalism, which was the case as stated on RTT, not to give up I decided to hang around anyway for the usual freight workings plus there was a couple of 60's imminent anyway going to and from Kingsbury (60063 going in on 6M57 from Lindsey and 60017 coming out on 6E54 back to Humber). As luck would have it later on in the early afternoon, the loco convoy was reinstated on a later path with a 14:15 departure from Derby to Washwood Heath, a quick look on RTT showed it had departed 5 early so it was camera's poised and ready. Sure enough 20189 appeared unusually running bonnet first with 47769, 47375 and 20142. 31459 had been removed has the air pipes had been damaged. So all in all it wasn't a bad day.

20189 and friends:  http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p973533299/h3bebd5d2#h1417bd29

Rest of the freight which featured  60017, 60063, 66001, 66082, 66424, 66526, 66531 and 66848 can be viewed here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p540950746

Cheers and look forward to some exciting updates in March 2014!!!.

Regards and Best Wishes

James

A small update to the site, this time from another EMRPS photo charter, which was a night shoot at the Epping and Ongar Railway in Essex. The subjects involved were 31438, 47635 and "Thumper" 205205 which looked very smart in Network SouthEast livery.

Both locomotives were posed on a rake of 4 blue and grey coaches to give a 1980's feel to the shoot and as North Weald is a typical GER Station, it would be very easily to place the 31 and coaches on a Birmingham - Norwich service as was the case in the 1980's before sprinterisation took hold. 47635 Jimmy Milne looked as equally at home on stock also, although the star of the show in my eyes was 205205 in the attractive Network SouthEast livery.

For an added bonus, we also had a London Transprt Routemaster bus, RM1966 posed on the station forecourt along with a Morris Minor Van to keep us photographers entertained whilst the trains were shunted about. Over the years I have attended quite a few EMRPS night shoots but this one has to rank as one of the best so far.

The train pictures: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p923780356

The bus pictures: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p698617110

Also the Epping and Ongar is a very friendly railway and is well worth a visit if you're in the area too.

Well with 2014 well underway now, I have made a few additions to my 2014 railway gallery, and so far with heritage traction it's been quite tasty. First off 37405 went South on 2nd January with 2 stoneblowers working 6Z57 Preston Docks - Cricklewood U.G.L, then on the 11th January, 20302 and 20305 worked 1Z20 06:22 Crewe - Ely Papworth Sidings "The Deviationer" rail tour which was seen at my local shack; Hinckley.

The working of the year (so far anyway) which I have photographed had to be Friday's (17th January) 6K50 Toton - Crewe departmental which seen 20142 and 20189 in charge. This was photographed at Alrewas Level Crossing in Staffordshire.

There is of course the usual staple diet of Class 60's and 66's on freight too.

My 2014 Collection can be seen here:http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/f683086423

Hope you enjoy.

Regards and Best Wishes

James

Now these can be of ANYTHING you like and there is no right way, or wrong way of doing it and most people like to photograph subjects which are part of their life or of anything that can reflect on them on any given day. For example the image could be of scenery such as a snowy scene from your back garden or vice versa and have a sunny scene in the height of the summer or it could be an inanimate object which is part of everyday life or a more personal item like a wedding ring or a bracelet - the possibilities are endless.....

Therefore I have took the plunge and started my Project 365 gallery for 2014, I must stress there's no need for the perfect picture in this gallery and it is also intended for fun as well. I will of course endeavour to keep the images in my other galleries as good as possible. My first Project 365 image is already up and as such what better thing to start than my photography equipment. My Project 365 gallery can be viewed here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p548813319 

If anyone would like to do their own Project 365 gallery, this website http://www.captureyour365.com is extremely useful for idea's and highly recommended.

Cheers for now folks

James

Just like to let you all know my YouTube channel is now up and running and can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/user/James60059

There's already some video's on it and there will be more additions throughout 2014.

Cheers for Now

James

From 2014 there will be quite a few video's appearing on this site to augment my digital still photograph's too. I've recently purchased a Panasonic HC-V210 camcorder a sort of Christmas present to myself, which is also complimented with a 16GB SDHC Extreme memory card. The camcorder has already been tried and tested on moving vehicles and performs extremely well so I am looking forward to putting it to good use in 2014 and beyond.

The video's will of course appear in the "Video" collection of this site in the 2014 section once I have set it up, I will be establishing relelvant 2014 galleries shortly on this site although they won't be added to until the New Year.

Cheers for Now 

James

I've started a new gallery of a personal nature showing mine and my partners 2 cats; Cookie and Ellie. Ellie is our youngest addition to the Power-Punshon household following the untimely demise of our other cat Smudge, who was killed in October 2013 by another cat from our neighbourhood. Cookie is 3 years old and Ellie is 17 weeks old, and although a handful at times she is also a pleasure to have around too, currently we have our Christmas tree up and Ellie's favourite hobby is climbing up the top and knocking the star off, as well as other baubles and decorations too.

The gallery can be viewed at http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p145604111/h32161829#h31105ac2

Hope you enjoy this new gallery and will be updated frequently.

Cheers for now

James

A new gallery has now been set up in the Bus Archive collection featuring bus images beginning with the letter "I",

The first, and only image at the moment is Sheffield Omnibus IIL 2501 at Meadowhall Bus Rally in 1992. New gallery can be found here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p445518848     

Cheers for now.

James

Another EMRPS event took place, this time, it was a night shoot at the Midland Railway Centre in Derbyshire. Based round Swanwick Junction, the star attraction was Class 44, D4 Great Gable posed on a rake of coaching stock featuring maroon and blood and custard stock to represent a train of the 1950's. To add to the charter, the diesel shed was also lit up and 08590, 31271 and 47401 was also posed for photograph's to add a bit of variety to the night. Class 11, 12077 which is mainly Swanwick's yard pilot also featured, at first to bring the Class 44 and stock into the station, and then also featured later in the evening on a  cameo appearance at the signal which was set for the branch.

Images from the night can be viewed here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p430060528

Hope you enjoy these images, this is also the last shoot of the year BUT so far one has been confirmed for January 2014 with several more still in the planning stages..........

Regards and Best Wishes

James

The scene is very much different today as the rails have been ripped up at the terminal and new purpose built station has been built 10 minutes walk away, the line from Rosslare Strand to Waterford (also known as the South Wexford line) was mothballed in 2010, with services being "suspended" according to Irish Rail and of course the vast majority of services in Ireland are now operated by Multiple Units.

Images can be found here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p393360954  

 Cheers fpr now...

Been a bit busy so not had time to do a latest blog entry, my last recent update was of a night photo shoot organised by Neil Cave at Didcot Railway Centre on Saturday 23 November 2013 which seen the following locomotives posed for the shoot:

• GWR 14xx Class 0-4-2, 1466
• GWR 43xx Class 2-6-0, 5322
• GWR 56xx Class 0-6-2, 6697
• GWR 57xx Class 0-6-0, 3650
• GWR 57xx Class 0-6-0, 3738
• GWR King Class 4-6-0, 6023 King Edward II

This was my second attendance at a photo charter organised by Neil Cave and like the first one I attended at Barrow Hill back in September was indeed a top night with a great night's photography to boot as well. Looking forward to 2014, there are a few more in the pipeline too which hopefully I will also attend.

The link to the images is here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p239507799

Hope you all enjoy,

Regards and Best Wishes

James

My Class 97 gallery now has a new template http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p582911347

I've used colours from the BR Technical Research era of Blue and Red, I did toy with yellow as is the case with the current Network Rail Class 97's but as there's no images in this collection I decided against it.

Keep tuned for more designs on my galleries over the coming months.

Cheers for now.

James

My Class 47/7 gallery, which to date contains 195 photo's has been given a new template, utilising the colours of the RES (Rail Express Systems) livery.

It was a close call of what theme to use as the 47/7's carried a variety of liveries over their lifetime but I focused on RES in the end as it was the mainstream livery up until the end of their working life in the late 1990's/early 2000's.

I will probably at some point tweak it to try and make it look better but at the moment looks more vibrant than the default theme which is still prevalent on this site.

I will have different themes for different collection but for now they will be done on an "as and when" basis, although with less photographic opportunities now with the shorter days I will crack on and get a few done before the days get longer again.

Cheers for Now.

James

A few more images have been added to the site, in the Railway Archive section featuring locomotives that are no more or in different liveries.

06003: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p702043296/h17032435#h17032435

12088: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p926531335/he706fac#he706fac

31101: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p512890583/h8a57cd8#h8a57cd8

31110: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p512890583/h8a57cd8#h1f657fcb

31422: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p328139996/h1991a656#h1991a656

31424: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p328139996/h237840c3#h15387b38

31432: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p328139996/h2f15c03#h2f15c03

31970: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p512890583/h1642d0d8#h1642d0d8

33025: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p938767223/hd559e22#hd559e22

37013: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p137639462/h6284852#h1f8d0353

37275: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p137639462/h11930dfa#h11930dfa

37350: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p930809/hafc3cc8#hafc3cc8

37372: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p930809/h654d8f2#h654d8f2

37382: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p930809/h14fb27a9#h14fb27a9

37425: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p241069002/h1c8adbef#h1c8adbef

43047: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h1c57f4c6#h1c57f4c6

47108: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p455848416/h13708846#h13708846

47286: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p455848416/h1badb255#h1badb255

47352: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p271990975/h3b9c2c8#h3b9c2c8

47515: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h48cf8ba#h48cf8ba

47519: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h11bb514e#h11bb514e

47522: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/hd07d14b#hd07d14b

47627: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h16b2b470#h16b2b470

47799: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p432303198/h39867d8#h39867d8

59001: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p832814522/h1199ed9#h1199ed9

73205: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p797441282/he611a84#he611a84

86430: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h1f8938af#h1f8938af

97403: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p628012442/h1d12667f#h1d12667f

Hope you like these additions to my site, and please check back to the blog to see further updates and News on whats happening on here :).

Regards and Best Wishes

James

Sorry for the lateness of this blog post, been busy what with work and other commitments etc. My first railway-based trip out in quite a while took place on Thursday 10th October, with my good friend Steve and his Dad - whom I hadn't seen in a number of years so it was nice to have a catch up.

First port of call was Branston near Burton On Trent in Staffordshire, for 60062 working 6M57 Lindsey - Kingsbury loaded bogie tanks. We had originally planned to go to the foot crossing that WAS at the bottom of Warren Lane, but as we soon found out the foot crossing is no more (I was later advised it had been removed in August 2012!), thankfully, a lot of scrub clearance had took place during the removal process and as such - with the help of "an object" - I was able to get some height over the palisade fencing and thus get my shot.

Afterwards, move was made to Barrow Upon Trent, I've been there a number of times but this was Steve's first visit, we was hoping to get the 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber tanks here but as it later materialised they were 94 minutes late departing Kingsbury for reasons unknown, we headed back to Stenson/North Staffs Junction for the aforementioned working and also we were made aware of another Class 60 that was due, 60065 Spirit of Jaguar dragging 2 Class 66's (66198 and 66177) on the 6D44 Bescot - Toton departmental. This was more or less to time by time it reached us at North Staffs Junction footbridge although the Class 60 looked in a real state and could do with a lick of paint or something to smarten it up, I'm not sure if this loco could be a future example for overhaul as currently there are only 2 more in the WNWX pool and that is 60044 and 60066, although things could change from the new tax year in 2014.

Our ultimate aim was to shoot the Sinfin - Grangemouth tanks which are now operated by Colas Rail (and have been for quite a while) which had recently refurbished 56113 working them, I already have photo's of 56113 within this site in EWS livery and latterly Fertis livery when it was used in Europe for a couple of years before being expatriated back to the UK. Unfortunately getting this working didn't materialise and as such due to continuing abysmal weather conditions (plus we were cold and hungry) we called it a day, but never mind as we will no doubt get them another day :).   

Images can be found here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p777316531 and are the 6 most recent images in the gallery.

Cheers for now.

James

• Mainline Charters, Test Trains and Specials

This collection will feature photographs of various charter trains, Test Trains and rare, one-off moves which I have photographed during 2008.

• Mainline Freight.

This collection features photographs of various freight trains  and light loco moves which were photographed in 2008, including the now-defunct Fastline services which operated coal traffic to and from Daw Mill Colliery (a colliery which is now also closed) as well as the intermodal services to and from Doncaster and Thamesport. Notably is the vast number of Class 60's which were still in operation at the time.

• Mainline Passenger.

A straightforward collection which showcases all passenger services, again you can see a number of Class 170 units in the transitional period from Central Trains to Cross Country livery, as well as the West Coast loco-hauled diagram, which at the time featured an EWS Class 90.

• Mainline Steam.

All mainline steam photograph's feature here whether they're loco moves or mainline charter services. 

All my other collections will follow suit in due course, but with also keeping on tabs on the current scene, alterations to past collections will be done as and when time permits, also everything is in numerical order too. 

The 2008 gallery can be found here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/f860522037

More updates will be posted here once completed.

Cheers for now and enjoy!!

Regards and Best Wishes

James

Wednesday night seen me attend my second photo charter within the space of a week, this one was slightly different as it was organised by Neil Cave, viewers to this site will know I generally attend shoots organised by Jason Cross and the EMRPS, Neil Cave's shoot - which took place at Barrow Hill Roundhouse near Chesterfield - was to involve a series of cameo's within the Roundhouse itself.

Until now, I have never done cameo's (where train crews pose with the locomotives doing maintenance, cleaning etc) and as such it was something different - rather than just posing a train and snapping away to my hearts content, which of course there is nothing wrong with that whatsoever ;).

Having done the cameo scenes inside, we headed out where 3 locomotives were lit up, lighting was courtesy of Jason Cross, and we had:

• LNER Class A1 Tornado 
• LNER Class A4 Mallard
• Class 55 Deltic 55002 The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 

As with before, some more cameo scenes were posed with the steam locomotives, as well as some stand alone photo opportunities, the Deltic, which was at the bottom of the yard was lit up on her own.

All in all, it was an excellent night of photography, and I came away one very happy bunny. I certainly look forward to attending more of Neil's (and Jason's of course) in the future.

The pictures are available to view at http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p799067323   

Hope you all enjoy these latest selections.

Cheers for now.

I've updated this site with another EMRPS photo charter at the Great Central Railway which utilised BR Green Class 25, D7612 on a freight train. Despite the cack weather that was forecast we ended up with quite an array of nice, sunny shots, some of which involved waiting in between passing showers, which proves patience is a virtue.

Photo's - along with relevant captions - can now be viewed at http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p32752984

Hope you all enjoy.

Regards and Best Wishes

James

I've set up a new gallery for photo's belonging to Leicester-based haulier, including a new template too utilising the colours of the company.

The collection can be found here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p627016009

It's been a number of weeks since I last done a blog post, so here you go, basically just a summary of what's been added to this site over the last couple of weeks:

COLAS RAIL: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p640475254

Just one image of a Colas working was captured in the period mentioned, which was of Brush Type 4 47727 dragging 66849 past Cathiron, near Rugby. The working was 0Z66 Washwood Heath - Wigan via Rugby and the date was 30th August.

DRS: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p523896763 

Faring better on quantity, but only slightly. First up was a pair of Class 47's; 47818 and 47841 working 0Z47 Norwich Crown Point - Crewe Gresty Bridge on 19th August, the duo of which is seen passing Elmesthorpe, which is between Hinckley and Narborough, later in August (30th), 66428 passes through Cathiron working 4M44 Mossend - Daventry intermodal.    

DB SCHENKER: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p948941434

The red team have been featured quite well over the last few weeks, especially where their "Super 60's" are concerned, first up was 60062, now named Stainless Pioneer seen in Bedworth Murco oil terminal on 19th August after working in to the Warwickshire site from the South Wales Robeston refinery, 4 days later, on 23rd August, another "Super 60" was captured; this time at Lea Marston (near Water Orton) when 60010 was seen at the helm of the 6E41 Westerleigh - Lindsey empty bogie tanks. 28th August seen another visit to Bedworth terminal, this time for 60017 - which like 60062 on the 19th - worked in on 6M03 Robeston - Bedworth.

31st August seen a visit to Stenson Junction, near Willington, for 60040 working 6M57 Lindsey - Kingsbury loaded bogie tanks, the 60 making short work of the 30-tank load (weighing nearly 3000 tons), just minutes later, 66105 was on it's tail working an 0Z98 Toton - Bescot light engine move, of course the "shed neds" would no doubt say it was following 60040 in case she broke down lol. Afterwards, I took a spin round to Barrow Upon Trent which is in the freight-only line between Stenson Junction and Sheet Stores Junction, another 2 60's were imminent with 60092 working 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber empty bogie tanks and 60054 working a 6F96 Ratcliffe Power Station - Warrington Arpley empty coal train. Both these workings passed within minutes of each other, at one point it was a case of "might get bowled by one", luckily this wasn't the case. After bagging these, I learned from another photographer that 60054 was due a 20-ish minute wait at Stenson Junction, so in the car I went and drove round to Stenson for another shot of 60054.

FREIGHTLINER: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p957464360 

Recent Freightliner workings were all in one place, Cathiron on the West Coast Mainline, which seen 66505, 86501, 90041, 90044, 90048 and 90049 appear.

GBRf: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p657412396

A couple of images from the Bluebirds, 18th August seen 66729 work a 6V83 Peterborough Yard - Cardiff Tidal working which consisted of bogie box wagons, this was shot off the stile at Elmesthorpe foot crossing, then on the 30th August, 66705 (with the Union Jack flag still) worked 4M23 Felixstowe - Hams Hall intermodal, which I captured at Cathiron.

RARE, ONE OFF MOVES: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p762981065

Just one image, again from Cathiron on 20th August, when 37516 Loch Laidon worked 5Z51 Ilford - Crewe Heritage Centre dragging Class A4, 60009 Union of South Africa although the biggest surprise was the sun making an appearance just as the train appeared into view, just proves miracles do happen lol.

STEAM: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p545596531

Another singular image, from Cathiron, featuring LMS Class 5MT 44932, and 2 coaches working 5Z44 10:00 Carnforth Steam Town - Southall, sometimes I find it strange how loco's from the early 20th century are still running when classes of loco's from the early days of dieselisation are no more or even from the latter BR period (i.e Class 58).

That's the modern rail stuff for you, and hope you enjoy :). 

Shock horror, I've actually been out and photographed some modern railway bits today, starting off with 57316 working 1Z90 04:20 Norwich - Blaenau Ffestiniog charter at Elmesthorpe (between Hinckley and Narborough).

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p762981065/h69c7dae3#h69c7dae3 

Shortly after, 66717 made an appearance with 4M21 Felixstowe - Hams Hall intermodal:

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p657412396/h6bf20aa3#h6bf20aa3

Now I am back on the road, keep your eyes out for more modern railway bits ;)

Cheers for now.

A small update to the site, this time with 5 HST power cars in Intercity and Great Western Trains livery:.

1. 43002 at Reading: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h67c348fb#h67c348fb
2. 43033 at Plymouth: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h69bfbe6f#h69bfbe6f
3. 43078 at Reading: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h6b24c487#h6b24c487
4. 43136 at Plymouth: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h66bf23ba#h66bf23ba
5. 43148 at Plymouth: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h6c013288#h6c013288

Cheers for now :).

Well despite passing my driving test (finally lol!!) a week ago on Friday, I've still been busy catching up on old negative scans, 40 new images are now available to view on this site and these are:

1. 09015 in Departmental Grey livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h6ba4864a#h6ba4864a
2. 31107 in Civil Engineers livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p512890583/h13a23a3a#h6644e538 and prior to naming (nameplate covered up) http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p512890583/h13a23a3a#h63fc8100
3. 31411 in Departmental Grey livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p328139996/h6dbf5803#h6dbf5803
4. 37175 in Civil Engineers livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p137639462/h69ac1012#h69ac1012
5. 37262 in Departmental Grey livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p137639462/h6fcb76e1#h6fcb76e1
6. 37377 in Railfreight Grey Large Logo: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p930809/h69080b0d#h69080b0d
7. 37419 in EWS livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p241069002/h647241b9#h647241b9
8. 37699 in Trainload Coal livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p47004512/h66c6322d#h66c6322d
9. 37715 in Trainload Metals livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p445557100/h64fbf9ca#h64fbf9ca
10. 37718 in Trainload Metals livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p445557100/h6f27b480#h6f27b480
11. 37801 in EWS livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p445557100/h6c22d11e#h6c22d11e
12. 43119 in Intercity livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h66dca971#h66dca971
13. 43135 in Great Western Trains livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h6c31d3f4#h6e0f87cf
14. 43154 in Intercity livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h67fb8285#h67fb8285
15. 43185 in Intercity livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h68c4c9a2#h68c4c9a2
16. 47119 in Trainload Petroleum livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p455848416/h60d7a2c6#h60d7a2c6
17. 47403 in BR Blue livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h6ba345ee#h6ba345ee
18. 47462 in BR Parcels livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h6c5534bf#h6c5534bf
19. 47576 in RES livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h650a0645#h650a0645
20. 47588 in RES livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h650a0645#h687ff0c8
21. 47598 in Network SouthEast livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h650a0645#h638c48db
22. 47604 in BR Blue livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h6c8393f0#h6c8393f0
23. 47626 in Intercity Mainline livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h67c262c2#h67c262c2
24. 47628 in Intercity Mainline livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h67c262c2#h60820d9a
25. 47710 in Network SouthEast livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p432303198/h642e4a37#h642e4a37
26. 47802 in Intercity Swallow livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p629950660/h6347fcab#h6347fcab
27. 47818 in Intercity Mainline livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p629950660/h6d92f1d4#h6d92f1d4
28. 47845 in Intercity Swallow livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p629950660/h3fb51fab#h66038d60
29. 58008 in Trainload Coal livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p675120635/h6364c573#h6364c573
30. 60006 in Trainload Construction livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p993678673/h687553ef#h687553ef
31. 60043 in Trainload Construction livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p993678673/h6c511c72#h6c511c72
32. 86248 in Intercity Swallow livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h66fff330#h66fff330
33. 86503 in Railfreight Grey livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h6948aaee#h6948aaee
34. 90019 in RES livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1059922307/h65a7d9bf#h65a7d9bf
35. 90024 in Railfreight Distribution livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1059922307/h61f2f220#h61f2f220
36. 91015 in Intercity Swallow livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p591263284/h68a1b1d3#h68a1b1d3
37. 92005 in Railfreight Grey: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p207919173/h6961e891#h6961e891

Hope you all like these latest additions and of course please keep checking back on the blog for news of more updates in the future :).

Cheers for now.

James 

Over the coming weeks the layout for the Road Haulage collection will be thus:

ROAD HAULAGE >>> YEAR >>> COLLECTION TITLE

For instance if you wanted view the images from my stint at Corley on 11th July you would select the folder 2013 and then the relevant collection title.

Please bear with me whilst I make the changes to the collection.

Regards and Best Wishes

James

Cheers for now folks :).

10 more images added to my archive collections and as the title suggests it has a HST theme, well 7 of the 10 images are HST power cars in Intercity Swallow livery, Virgin Trains livery and in - in my opinion one of the smartest liveries to ever grace a HST set - the Great Western Trains Green and Ivory livery. The remaining 3 images are of 97252 (Ethel 3), also known as 25314, also 60100 and 90133 make an appearance in Mainline triple grey livery and Railfreight Distribution livery respectively.

Here are the links to the relevant photo's:

43022 | Great Western Trains: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h6e6b2e91#h6e6b2e91

43037 | Intercity: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h612d282b#h612d282b

43068 | Virgin Trains: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h661f4165#h661f4165

43093 | Virgin Trains:  http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h6f491b73#h6f491b73

43103 | Virgin Trains: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h6903f77b#h6903f77b

43121 | Intercity: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h6ad7d1d8#h6ad7d1d8

43140 | Great Western Trains: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h639dcc3f#h639dcc3f

60100 | Mainline Triple Grey: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p993678673/h6b8fecf3#h6b8fecf3

90133 | Railfreight Distribution: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1059922307/h60631624#h60631624

97252 (Ethel 3) | Intercity: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p656156899/h6c6c8429#h6c6c8429

Hope you all like these latest additions :).

• 25244 in BR Green livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p656156899/h68648114#h68648114
• 31106 in Civil Engineers livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p512890583/h6f1ae5ed#h6f1ae5ed
• 31465 in Regional Railways livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p328139996/h69f4a857#h69f4a857
• 33008 in BR Green livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p938767223/h62c287c1#h62c287c1
• 33053 in Trainload Constriction livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p938767223/h62c287c1#h6cfb121b
• 33101 in BR Blue livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p938767223/h62c287c1#h6b0aa70e
• 33112 in BR Blue livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p938767223/h62c287c1#h66d98e49
• 37054 in Civil Engineers livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p137639462/h6a8472db#h6a8472db
• 37668 in Trainload Petroleum livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p47004512/h677f8447#h677f8447
• 43038 in Intercity Swallow livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h6b00c664#h6b00c664
• 43112 in Intercity Swallow livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h64b6af18#h64b6af18
• 47317 in Railfreight Distribution: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p271990975/h68f29531#h68f29531
• 47351 in Railfreight Distribution: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p271990975/h6f403c73#h6f403c73
• 47772 in RES livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p432303198/h644e7751#h644e7751
• 47791 in RES livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p432303198/h66407f66#h66407f66
• 56132 in Trainload Coal livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p848082466/h63d385d2#h63d385d2
• 60013 in Trainload Petroleum livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p993678673/h6ea9948f#h6ea9948f
• 60052 in Trainload Metals livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p993678673/h616961c6#h616961c6
• 73202 in Intercity Swallow livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p797441282/h661c55fc#h661c55fc
• 86252 in Intercity Swallow livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h668342b0#h668342b0
• 86254 in RES livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h668342b0#h62f9a9d3
• 90021 in Railfreight Distribution livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1059922307/h616d92d8#h616d92d8
• 91001 in Intercity Swallow livery: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p591263284/h65dcbee1#h65dcbee1

 Hope you enjoy these latest additions :)

​

Phots here: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1031681519

Hope you enjoy them :)

All in all 180 images have been selected to feature on this site and the link below will take you to them, taken in order with last image first which in this case goes to David A. Guatella's fine looking Scania 530 144L.

Pics at http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p39954912

Enjoy and here's to the Truckfest at Newark in September!!   

170105: 10:35 Hinckley - Birmingham New Street

170631: 11:49 Birmingham New Street - Great Malvern

170631: 18:10 Great Malvern - Birmingham New Street

170639: 19:52 Birmingham New Street - Hinckley

Keep your eyes peeled here for the links to the Truckfest photographs shortly :).

Hope you're all enjoying the nice warm weather that we've been experiencing of late. I've gone and taken the liberty of adding 10 more images to my railway collections, many of which feature locomotives that are no longer in service or have since been reliveried and renumbered.

• 20160: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p621934921/h6b62b160#h6b62b160
• 47472: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h66d19a2e#h66d19a2e
• 47513: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h6465648b#h6465648b
• 47524: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h62fa5d67#h62fa5d67
• 47533: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h6edf2c86#h6edf2c86
• 47571: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h6170d647#h6170d647
• 47588: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h6f6ebf8b#h6f6ebf8b
• 47597: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h642fe395#h642fe395
• 91003: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p591263284/h667d73b4#h667d73b4
• 91005: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p591263284/h667d73b4#h63e25de8

Hope you all like these latest additions.

Cheers for now.

The last 800 days have been somewhat varied with new liveries appearing on road and rail vehicles and also of note is the overhaul program of the Class 60 diesel locomotives, with 60007 being the first one and subsequently being repainted in the house colours of DB Schenker, although 60011 was the first loco to be given the DB Schenker livery although as of 03/07/2013 hasn't been overhauled.

Of course we have also seen new road vehicles appear too with the new Mercedes Benz Actros MP4 proving to be a popular choice of vehicle for UK and European road hauliers likewise the new Volvo FH is also looking quite nice as well. At the moment both the road and railways are proving to be somewhat varied and as such there seems to be a lot of capture on the line side or road side.

With nearly 21000 images to view there is something for everyone to view whether your forte is trucks, trains, buses or just general landscape or miscellaneous photography.

As for the next 800 days, and beyond well it is my ambition to carry on with the site, and capturing (or try to anyway) the latest goings on with railways and road haulage as well as buses, and with the arrival of the Class 68's imminent for DRS, Class 66's for GBRf and - hopefully more overhauled Class 60's rolled out of Toton for DB Schenker there will be plenty to see. Vehicle wise, we also have 63-plate registrations due soon as well so no doubt these will feature as well.

So what are the main highlights from the last 800 days?

• The Class 60 overhaul program for DB Schenker.
• Chiltern Railways loco-hauled
• More Class 70's arriving for use with Freightliner
• 37/4 overhaul program for DRS
• New car transporter vehicles for Eddie Stobart Ltd
• Launch of the Mercedes Benz Actros MP4
• Launch of the new Volvo FH
• DB Schenker repaints on locomotives (albeit slow and gradual)

I'm sure there's many more highlights too but everyone would be too exhaustive to list.

In the meantime I hope you have all enjoyed viewing these images and please keep looking back for updates.

Regards and Best Wishes

James

Enjoy Folks

Another welcome working was 60092 on 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber empty bogie tanks, despite seeing it a few times in between overhaul and repaint I had yet to photograph her in the DB Schenker livery :).

Later it was back to Nuneaton for 37218 and 37606 working 4S47 Daventry - Coatbridge intermodal, which was a sight as she powered through with seismic thrash, good old EE Type 3's. Anyway here are the links to the main bits:

• 47739 approaches Tamworth working 6E07 Washwood Heath - Boston empty steel http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p640475254/h68bc128c#h68bc128c
• 60092 approaches Tamworth working 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber empty bogie tanks http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p948941434/h6f016514#h6f016514
• 92029 passes through Tamworth working 0A06 Crewe - Wembley loco convoy with 92037, 92001 and 92019 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p948941434/h6f9b7db0#h6f9b7db0
• 92032 passes through Tamworth working 4L18 Trafford Park - Felixstowe intermodal http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p657412396/h63dfdba4#h63dfdba4

Several workings were also photographed but rather then post endless links I will just post the main workings of interest, you can of course view the other workings as they're in the relevant TOC category in chronological order.

Enjoy,

Regards and Best Wishes

James

Class 08/09, Class 31/1, Class 37/0, Class 43 and Class 92 

• 09007 in Mainline Blue livery at Doncaster: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h65612d96#h65612d96
• 31108 in Railfreight Grey at Old Oak Common: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p512890583/h6005c19e#h6005c19e
• 31312 and 31217 in Trainload Coal livery at Warrington: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p512890583/h633e887e#h633e887e
• 37116 in Transrail Blue livery at Washwood Heath: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p137639462/h66c3cb4b#h66c3cb4b
• 37285 in Railfreight Grey triple livery at Doncaster: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p137639462/h6a8af786#h6a8af786
• 43015 in First Great Western livery at Plymouth: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h66250967#h66250967
• 43016 in First Great Western livery at Par: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h66250967#h60d8575c
• 43076 in Midland Mainline livery at London St Pancras: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h6efaea98#h6efaea98
• 43169 in First Great Western livery at Plymouth: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h6c448f63#h6c448f63
• 92018 in Crewe Works with SNCF branding: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p207919173/h6a23738d#h6a23738d

Hope you all like these latest additions.

Hope you enjoy.

I've added 2 more new additions to my site this afternoon to my modern railways gallery, this time featuring a run-of-the-mill freight working a also a loco convoy to the Nene Valley Railway.

66232 | 6M31 Banbury - Mountsorrel empty self discharge train. http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p948941434/h5fa1a3d8#h5fa1a3d8

56303 | 0Z56 Washwood Heath - Orton Mere loco convoy. http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p762981065/h5fa1aea2#h5fa1aea2

56303 was taking 50008, 37109, 56103 and 56301 to the Nene Valley Railway for the forthcoming diesel gala.

Hope you enjoy these couple of images.

Colas Rail:

56302 | 6E07 Washwood Heath - Boston | Tamworth | 03/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p640475254/h5e0b2d8e#h5e0b2d8e

47739 | 6E07 Washwood Heath - Boston | Water Orton | 14/03/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p640475254/h5e0b2d8e#h5f5fc350

Direct Rail Services (DRS):

57304 | Rugby | 03/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p523896763/h5e0b39b6#h5e0b39b6

66428 | 4M34 Coatbridge - Daventry | Rugby | 03/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p523896763/h5e0b39b6#h5e0b55a8

66302 + 66426 | 4M44 Mossend - Daventry | Tamworth | 03/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p523896763/h5e0b39b6#h5e0b39e0

EWS/DB Schenker:

60040 | 6E41 Westerleigh - Lindsey | Water Orton | 14/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p948941434/h5f5fca1a#h5f5fca1a

66193 | 4L07 Birch Coppice - Felixstowe | Water Orton | 14/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p948941434/h5f5fca1a#h5f5fd070

66078 | 6M26 Eastleigh - Stud Farm | Water Orton | 14/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p948941434/h5f5fca1a#h5f5fcf8c

66097 | 6M50 Westbury - Bescot | Water Orton | 14/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p948941434/h5f5fca1a#h5f5fcfc6

66070 | 4M66 Southampton - Birch Coppice | Water Orton | 14/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p948941434/h5f5fca1a#h5f5fca40

60099 | 6E08 Wolverhampton - Immingham | Water Orton | 14/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p948941434/h5f5fca1a#h5f5fca26

Freightliner: 

66548 | 4E72 Rugeley P.S - Doncaster | Water Orton | 14/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p957464360/h5f5fde80#h5f5fde80

66597 | 6M49 Hull Docks - Rugeley P.S | Water Orton | 14/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p957464360/h5f5fde80#h5f5fde8e

66601 | 6M40 Westbury - Stud Farm | Water Orton | 14/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p957464360/h5f5fde80#h5f5fde9e

Mainline Charters, Test Trains and Rare Moves:

56303/86228/86242 | 0Z86 Long Marston - Willesden | Water Orton | 14/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p762981065/h5f5fb7d4#h5f5fb7d4

37610 t/n/t 37601 | 1Z14 Derby RTC - ADJ | Water Orton | 14/05/13 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p762981065/h5f5fb7d4#h5f5fb7d0

Hope you all enjoy these latest additions.    

Well it's been quite a while since I last done a blog let alone been out taking photo's, still on Saturday 30th March I went to Barrow Hill for their Southern Saturday theme day with the star of the show no doubt being the Brighton Belle 5BEL unit which is currently undergoing restoration for an eventual return to mainline use. On the demonstration trains, 33108 was in top and tail formation with 71001 sandwiching 4-VEP which had been brought up to Barrow Hill from Chart Leacon. The VEP will be stripped for parts for the 5BEL and then will eventually go for scrap.

Photo's of the event can be found at http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p118843435

Hope you enjoy these latest pics.

• 37038 on an empty stock move at Nuneaton
• 56303 on the Doncaster - Thamesport intermodal
• 57006 in Advenza livery on the loaded scrap from Stockton to Cardiff
• 57009 leading a loco convoy at Water Orton (for RHTT duties in East Anglia)
• 57012 leading a loco convoy at Water Orton (for RHTT duties in East Anglia)
• 57601 on a stock move at Tamworth

Also included are an abundance of Class 60's on various workings, many of which are now stored or have been overhauled and repainted in the current, ongoing DB Schenker overhaul programme as well the usual run of the mill freight workings.

Images can now be found at http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p832166620

Hope you all enjoy these latest images.

Regards and Best Wishes

James

The galleries can be found at their respective links:

June 2010: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p320515274

July 2010: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p346203792

Thank You as ever for looking. 

Photo's can now be viewed at http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p755976686

Please do keep looking back for ex-Fotopic updates.

Cheers for now.

James

Well, my first gallery from my Fotopic Site now available to view is featuring trains from March 2008, hard to believe it was nearly 5 years ago now, funny how things on the railways have changed, such as Advenza Freight no longer operating, of note is several light DRS light engine moves which were used for crew training for an upcoming Fastline Coal flow between Daw Mill Colliery and Ratcliffe Power Station - another company which has since ceased to run. 66048 in her EWS livery as well as several Class 60's which have since been overhauled and given the DB Schenker livery.

Captions will be added at a later date, will need to trawl through the archives of the Yahoo Gen Groups as all stuff that I photographed was also posted too :).

Enjoy Folks

I am anticipating this will take a while to do as over the 5 years I had Fotopic, I had amassed a collection of around 13,000 images and as such I will need to go through each one to see whether or not I want them to feature on here, I am almost certain to bin most images from around when my Fotopic site was started in the winter of 2005 and some from 2006, although quite a few from 2006 have made it on here although this is mainly for the purpose of archiving images such as the old rainbow livery for First Great Western, and Class 37's working on the Cardiff - Rhymney services as well as additional loco-hauled stuff for events at the Millennium Stadium.

Another pointer to point out, which I believe to be of equal importance is that there will be a fair few duplicated shots as well, what I want to do - or intend to do rather - is once I am satisfied the images on my computer are of satisfactory quality I will then trawl through each gallery and delete the duplicates, the better quality ones will obviously stay on here.

I will of course be out with the camera over this time capturing more up to date stuff and of course processing these images will take precedence over the older ex-Fotopic stuff, and I will also include ex-Fotopic updates as well in the blog as and when I do them.

Thank You as ever for viewing :).

Well so much for the 4 inches of snow we were supposed to have had last night, barely a dusting and roads are in good nick outside.

Anyway away from the weather scenario and onto matters concerning this site, I have been busy again with the Zenfolio template designer and this time have decided to give my Class 56 gallery the treatment. Whilst the Class 56 locomotives have carried a fair few liveries over the years (from BR Blue right up to today's liveries of Colas and DCR) I decided to settle on the sectorisation livery of Trainload Coal.

Some may argue it was a dull livery but in my view it suited the Class 56 well, the livery of course is unmistakable with the locomotive being in 3 shades of grey (triple grey as it's known) with the coal symbol featuring a yellow background with 4 black diamonds. Locomotives featuring this livery not only included Class 56's but also Class 08, 37, 58 and Class 60 and - as the livery suggests - was used on Merry-Go-Round coal trains in the UK from various coal mines and opencast sites to the various power stations mainly utilising the HAA-type hopper wagons.

In 2013, the Class 56's are long gone from coal trains as is the HAA hoppers, nowadays MGR traffic consists of Class 66's and bogie hoppers coded HTA (EWS/DB Schenker) HYA (GBRf) and HHA/HXA (Freightliner Heavy Haul) 

At the moment, the Class 56 gallery features 245 photo's at http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p848082466 

Taking a break from the trucks for a moment, I'm starting to design templates for Class 02 locomotives (a new gallery altogether on this site) and the Class 08 diesel shunters. 

I was toying with the idea of rearranging all my archive pictures into liveries/operators in the same way as I have done my truck collections but decided this would be too time consuming plus as there's quite a few locomotives that have "one-off" liveries as well which would only be a one photo gallery.

Therefore all the loco classes will have a template that will feature a livery that the certain class of locomotive carried, for instance taking Class 02 and Class 08 as my guinea pigs, the Class 02 collection template is BR Blue and the Class 08 is using EWS colours - both templates seem quite straightforward. 

Class 02: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p670669224

Class 08: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631

As ever I hope you all enjoy these collections and as ever please keep looking back for updates.

Best Wishes

James

Alcaline UK Ltd (Hythe) http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p678483366

Atchison Topeka (Worcester) http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p637946673

Elite Transport Services (Manchester) http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p666226107

Grocontinental (Whitchurch) http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p727622357

Hickmans (Kidderminster) http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p541365191

Hope you like these latest collections, more will follow in due course.

Bay Freight Ltd (Stalybridge) http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p392362286

Davis Haulage Ltd (Crewe) http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p430276324

D. Mortimer & Sons Ltd (Melksham) http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p124816691

As time progresses, more collections will have their templates re-invented although as it is a timely process this will take quite a while, although all updates will appear here with relevant links.

In the meantime, Thank You all my viewers for looking at these images and hope you will continue to do so :). 

By this I don't mean that I will be copying the livery as each template but rather using the base colours to form a template to accompany that collection, for instance Freightliner's collection of train photographs template will feature yellow and green base colours which are of course the main colours featured on the company's locomotives which can be seen nationwide.

Photo's in the Miscellaneous collection will remain as the default template whilst as of yet I am undecided on what templates to use for my   Railway Archive although at the moment I am toying with the idea of using colours associated with the trainload freight liveries and Intercity/Regional Railways.

In the meantime any feedback will of course be appreciated :)

The Freight: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p556402811

The Passenger: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p888272511

Hope you like these new additions and look back for more in the near  future.

Cheers

James

1. Damory Coaches, Blandford: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p352789734
2. Healings International, Oldham: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p39256887
3. Lincolnshire RoadCar, Lincoln: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p15121591
4. P.C Coaches, Lincoln: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1022940351

Hope all you bus enthusiasts will find something of interest :).

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h523c87a8#h523c87a8

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08827 at Perth in 1985

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h523c87b4#h523c87b4

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08993 at Swansea Landore in 1986

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h523c87c4#h523c87c4

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27055 pilots 26038 away from Inverness in 1985

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p728589843/h523c8874#h523c8874

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33209 at Exeter in 1987

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p938767223/h523c8898#h523c8898

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37502 (and 37501) at Cardiff Central in 1986

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p47004512/h523c88aa#h523c88aa

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47455 at Swansea Llandore in 1986.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h523c891c#h523c891c

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47805 at Bristol Parkway in 1998.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p629950660/h523c8964#h523c8964

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56053 at Cardiff in 1986

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p848082466/h523c89ca#h523c89ca

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56088 and 56039 at Cardiff in 1986.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p848082466/h523c89d8#h523c89d8

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86216 at Carlisle in 1986.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h523c8a1a#h523c8a1a

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86413 at Carlisle in 1986.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h523c8a6a#h523c8a6a

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86608 and 86621 at Carlisle in 1990

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h523c8a9c#h523c8a9c

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87023 at Carlisle in 1986.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p546378282/h523c8ad4#h523c8ad4

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Hope you all like these latest additions :).

Best Wishes

James

5 new images have been added to my Class 60 gallery, these are:

60005 BP Gas Avonmouth passing through Lincoln Central on an MGR train towards Immingham.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p993678673/h51cb248a#h51cb248a

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60008 Moel Fammau in Trainload Metals livery at Lincoln Central.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p993678673/h51cb248a#h51cb2494

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60070 John Loudon McAdam in interim Loadhaul livery at Lincoln Central

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p993678673/h51cb24b0#h51cb24b0

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60087 Siloch in unbranded Railfreight Triple Grey livery at Leicester.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p993678673/h51cb24b0#h51cb251e

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60089 Arcuil in Trainload Coal livery at Peak Forest.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p993678673/h51cb24b0#h51cb2540

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That's all for now folks, but please do look back regularly for future updates :).

47600 Dewi Saint/Saint David in Railfreight Distribution livery.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h51afc1fe#h51afc1fe

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47817 in BR Blue livery.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p629950660/h51afc1f0#h51afc1f0

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56031 Merehead in Civil Engineers livery.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p848082466/h51afc1f8#h51afc1f8

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56093 The Institution of Mining Engineers in Trainload Coal livery.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p848082466/h51afc242#h51afc242

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60038 Bidean Nam Bian in Trainload Metals livery.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p993678673/h51afc262#h51afc262

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85112 in BR Blue livery.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p626984364/h51afc29c#h51afc29c

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85113 in BR Blue livery.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p626984364/h51afc29c#h51afc2b4

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86608 St John Ambulance in Railfreight Distribution livery.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h51afc2da#h51afc2da

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86633 Wulfruna in Intercity Mainline livery.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h51afc2e6#h51afc2e6

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87028 Lord President in Intercity Swallow livery.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p546378282/h51afc30e#h51afc30e

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Hope you like the latest selection, and please check back to the Blog for updates :)

Thanks for Looking.

1) 08786 in Railfreight Grey livery at Plymouth in October 1998:

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h4f4af0fe#h51483c06 

2) 37376 in Railfreight Triple Grey livery at Didcot Parkway in March 1997:

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p930809/h2ce5bdb9#h51483c0a

3) 37696 in Railfreight Large Logo livery at Newport in August 1990

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p47004512/h51483c0e#h51483c0e

4) 43118 in GNER livery waits at London Kings Cross ready to form the 16:00 service to Aberdeen in November 2002.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h51483c5c#h51483c5c

5) 47357 in Civil Engineers livery at Carlisle in March 1991.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p271990975/h51483c68#h51483c68

6) 47814 in Virgin Trains livery at Plymouth ready to form the 10:44 to Manchester Piccadilly in April 1997.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p629950660/h51483c92#h51483c92

7) 87027 Wolf of Badenoch in Virgin Trains livery at Birmingham International on the rear of the 15:55 Wolverhampton - London Euston service in March 2002.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p546378282/h51483cb2#h51483cb2

8) 90031 in EWS livery at Old Oak Common during the Open Day in August 2000 just after naming.

http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1059922307/h51483cc0#h51483cc0

Hope you like these latest additions and please look back on my Blog for more updates in the near future :).

Latest additions now available at http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p148308246

1. 09013 at Plymouth back in July 2003 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h50a017ec#h50a017ec
2. 37372 at Newport in Railfreight Red Stripe livery back in August 1990 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p930809/h50a017f0#h50a017f0
3. 37668 in EWS livery at Plymouth on a rake of china clay hoppers back in June 1997 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p47004512/h50a017f4#h50a017f4
4. 37710 in Trainload Metals livery at Newport back in August 1990 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p445557100/h50a0182e#h50a0182e
5. 43010 in First Great Western livery at Plymouth with a barrier coach in June 2001 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h50a0184e#h50a0184e
6. 43183 in the original Great Western Trains Merlin livery at Plymouth in August 1999 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h50a01852#h50a01852
7. 47746 in RES livery at Plymouth in June 1997 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p432303198/h50a01868#h50a01868
8. 86207 in Intercity livery at Watford Junction in May 1997 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h50a0188e#h50a0188e
9. 90012 in Virgin Trains livery at Watford Junction in July 1997 http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1059922307/h50a0189a#h50a0189a

As ever hope you like these small additions, and please keep coming back as I will add more older bits over time, as well as recent stuff too :).

1. 60059 in Loadhaul livery at Barnetby: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p993678673/h50764b26#h50764b26
2. 86233 in Virgin Trains livery at Preston: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h50763e58#h50763e58

Please keep looking back for new updates in the archive selection. 

Shot in RAW, the collection can be viewed at http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p431053795

Enjoy :)

1. 43113 | GNER: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h505c5a16#h505c5a16
2. 43097 | Virgin: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h505c5a16#h505c5a1c
3. 86604 | Freightliner: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h505c5a26#h505c5a26
4. 156444 | Northern Spirit: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p291156822/h505c5a66#h505c5a66
5. 156502 | Strathclyde PTE: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p291156822/h505c5a66#h505c5a74
6. 170409 | First Scotrail: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p66470625/h505c5a7e#h505c5a7e

All photo's are in the relevant collections :) 

The photo's can be viewed at http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p995933824

Over the course of 2013 and beyond, I will be increasing my scope of photography, to include many other things as well as the trains, trucks and buses.

Hope all my viewers like the images.

MAINLINE FREIGHT.

This collection will consist of - well as it says - freight trains photographed in a calendar year, including light engines and locomotives in freight sidings such as Hams Hall or Bedworth

MAINLINE STEAM.

This collection will feature steam locomotives on the mainline whether it's a loco positioning move or a charter.

MAINLINE CHARTERS, TEST TRAINS AND SPECIALS.

I was at one point going to keep a separate collection for test trains but thought it be more economical to add them with charters and specials. Basically this collection will feature photograph's of rail tours, test trains and rare one-off moves including preserved loco convoys and ECS moves.

MAINLINE PASSENGER.

A straight forward collection, this collection will contain unit photograph's as well as loco-hauled passenger trains (timetabled passenger services only) and HST's, charter trains will go in the relevant collection.

PRESERVED.

Photo's of locomotives that have been preserved (and on preserved lines only). In the event of Diesel and Steam Gala's, these will feature in their own collection on the RAILWAY EVENTS gallery. 

This new set up will only apply to photo's from 2006, prior to that any other photo's will stay in the Railway Archive collection.

The reason for this is because I sometimes don't get out much some months as I do others and as such some collections can be smaller than others, obviously if anyone wishes to view a loco or working then please use the search function on the site to take you straight to it :). 

A photo of 47810 can be found at http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p639384692/h4f7bfab0#h4f7bfab0

1. 08483 | Grey: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h4fd904f2#h4fd904f2
2. 08489 | Triple Grey: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h4fd904ea#h4fd904ea
3. 08947 | BR Blue: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h4fd904f4#h4fd904f4
4. 37677 | Triple Grey: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p47004512/h4fd90550#h4fd90550
5. 43080 | Intercity: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h4fd90558#h4fd90558
6. 43153 | Virgin Trains: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h4fd90590#h4fd90590
7. 47402 | BR Blue: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h4fd905a8#h4fd905a8
8. 47799 | EWS Maroon: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p432303198/h4fd905ec#h4fd905ec
9. 60043 | EWS: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p993678673/h4fd90600#h4fd90600
10. 67001 | EWS: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p723769746/h4fd90624#h4fd90624
11. 67005 | EWS: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p723769746/h4fd90624#h4fd907d0
12. 90026 | RfD: http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1059922307/h4fd9085c#h4fd9085c

Hope you like.

1. 08611 | BR Blue http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/e4f4aef5e
2. 08766 | Grey http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/e4f4aef66
3. 08783 | BR Blue http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h4f4aef5e#h4f4aef84
4. 08786 | BR Blue http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h4f4aef5e#h4f4af0fe
5. 08837 | Departmental Grey http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1029829631/h4f4aef5e#h4f4af122
6. 20209 | BR Blue http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p621934921/h4f4af192#h4f4af192
7. 27059 | BR Blue http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p728589843/h4f4af30a#h4f4af30a
8. 33025 | BR Blue http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p938767223/h4f4af392#h4f4af392
9. 37144 | Trainload Construction http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p137639462/h4f4af43a#h4f4af43a
10. 37408 | EWS http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p241069002/h4f4af458#h4f4af458
11. 37888 | Trainload Petroleum http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p445557100/h4f4af704#h4f4af704
12. 43012 | Great Western Trains http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h4f4af8e8#h4f4af8e8
13. 43117 | Intercity Swallow http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h4f4af92c#h4f4af92c
14. 43161 | Virgin Trains http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p646779301/h4f4afcaa#h4f4afcaa
15. 47150 | Freightliner http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p455848416/h4f4afd80#h4f4afd80
16. 47229 | Railfreight Distribution http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p455848416/h4f4afda6#h4f4afda6
17. 47231 | Freightliner http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p455848416/h4f4affc4#h4f4affc4
18. 47484 | Great Western Green http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h121917fe#h4f4b0028
19. 47522 | Green/Yellow http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h4f4b00ba#h4f4b00ba
20. 47527 | Intercity Mainline http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h4f4b01be#h4f4b01be
21. 47579 | Network SouthEast http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h4f4b01de#h4f4b01de
22. 47588 | Railfreight Distribution http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p293781074/h18c00fa5#h18c00fa5
23. 47709 | Fragonset http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p432303198/h4f4b0402#h4f4b0402
24. 47710 | Fragonset http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p432303198/h4f4b0402#h4f4b04bc
25. 47710 | Network SouthEast http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p432303198/h4f4b0402#h4f4b04d2
26. 56025 | Transrail http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p848082466/h4f4b0792#h4f4b0792
27. 59002 | Foster Yeoman http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p832814522/h4f4b079e#h4f4b079e
28. 59005 | Foster Yeoman http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p832814522/h4f4b07b0#h4f4b07b0
29. 59101 | ARC http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p832814522/h4f4b0904#h4f4b0904
30. 59103 | ARC http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p832814522/h4f4b0b4e#h4f4b0b4e
31. 59104 | ARC http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p832814522/h4f4b0b5a#h4f4b0b5a
32. 59204 | National Power http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p832814522/h4f4b0c5a#h4f4b0c5a
33. 59205 | National Power http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p832814522/h4f4b0eba#h4f4b0eba
34. 66103 | EWS http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p645194340/h4f4b0ed8#h4f4b0ed8
35. 85102 | BR Blue http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p626984364/h4f4b0f02#h4f4b0f02
36. 86256 | Intercity Mainline http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h4f4b1096#h4f4b1096
37. 86621 | Intercity Mainline http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p1021526868/h4f4b10fe#h4f4b10fe
38. 87028 | Intercity Mainline http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p546378282/h19820514#h4f4b1196
39. 97651 | BR Yellow http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p13788523/h4f4b12ca#h4f4b12ca
40. D5054 | BR Green http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p699331149/h4f4b12ec#h4f4b12ec

Hope you like these latest selections of images.

1. 57004 | Freightliner http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p553119149/h4efdac1c#h4efdac1c
2. 66226 | EWS http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p645194340/h4efdac22#h4efdac22
3. 66711 | GBRf http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p619687607/h4efdac2a#h4efdac2a
4. 87030 | Virgin Trains http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p546378282/h4efdad8a#h4efdad8a
5. 92031 | EWS http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p207919173/h4efdada6#h4efdada6

Hope you enjoy :).

The evening began with 47579 James Nightall G.C. posing on a rake of Blue and Grey coaches, this is not an MNR resident and instead belongs to Mangapps Farm and as such was the rare loco of the 3 Class 47's that was used. Next up was 47580 County of Essex complete with it's Union Jack flag on the bodysides to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in the same fashion that 47163 and 47164 carried the Union Jack to celebrate the Silver Jubilee in 1977. Finally it was the turn of Network SouthEast liveried 47596 Aldeburgh Festival to pose.

If that wasn't enough, 08631 Eagle, also looking smart in Network SouthEast livery posed in the yard behind the station with a couple of ballast hoppers, after the 3 Class 47's were photographed at the South End of the station, the lighting was swapped round and the loco's were posed at the North End, this also gave us a unique opportunity to photograph the Class 47's alongside the 08 and as such 47579 was posed and finally 47596 (both 47596 and 08631 look stunning alongside each other in their NSE colours).

All in all, it was a great evening of photography and possibly one of the best EMRPS photo charters I have ever attended although I would not have a particular favourite as each shoot is unique in their own way :).

Many Thanks must indeed go to the Mid-Norfolk Railway for allowing this charter to be held, the EMRPS organisation and lighting crew for their efforts, the train crew who moved and shunted rolling stick around were also superb and of course not forgetting Steve Chaplin for the driving to and from Dereham as well as the overnight stay at Travelodge.

The images from this excellent night can be viewed at http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p754196463

 Hope you enjoy.

I hope everyone remembered the 2 minutes silence at 11am to remember those who have fallen in battle, I did and wearing my poppy with pride as I do my latest update on my gallery.

I was blessed with 2 Class 60's as well as a 92 on a railtour on Saturday 10/11/12, and these are as follows:

1. 60054 | 6E54 Kingsbury - Humber | Portway. http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p773762219/h4b0a6984#h4b0a6984
2. 60063 | 6M57 Lindsey - Kingsbury | Elford Loop. http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p773762219/h4b0a6984#h4b0a6984
3. 60063 | 6M57 Lindsey - Kingsbury | Portway. http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p773762219/h4b0a6984#h4b0a699a
4. 92019 | 1Z92 London - Sheffield | Grendon. http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p773762219/h4b0a6984#h4b0a69b8

Having got the shots I wanted, I decided to see if I could get a few trucks as well so I headed off to the A5 near Tamworth (just East of the roundabout with the A38), needless to say it was quite disappointing with only an Eddie Stobart Scania (Dorothy Laura) still on the plus side it was one that was required so I can't complain lol. The image can be found here:  http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p364301547/h1b4990de#h4b0aa77c

Hope you enjoy

Regards and Best Wishes

James

1. http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p773762219/h4ad32654#h4ad32654
2. http://jamespower.zenfolio.com/p773762219/h4ad32654#h4ad32662

Hopefully more of the same will follow in the future :).