With the regulations regarding "essential travel only" which was being used by various rail and bus companies since lockdown was introduced by the UK government to try and control the Coronavirus pandemic which was sweeping the globe, I opted to have a go and see what the "new normal" -  a term mostly coined by the media - was like. Now, since mid-June, it has been compulsory to wear a face covering (not necessarily a mask, but any thing that literally covers your mouth and nose), so in keeping with this, I took my London Underground themed mask, which I had recently purchased through Splash Maps, I would seriously recommend them as they are of good quality and well worth the money, plus they are washable too, and can be put with your regular laundry.

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. 

A short session at Burbage Common, which as many of you will know (or should know anyway ;)) is my local line side location. The main reason for coming here was the movement of MKIII coaches from Long Marston to Castle Donington, which had been previously used by Transport for Wales (Trafnidiaeth Cymru), as well as 37421 returning to Derby RTC with inspection saloon; 975025 Caroline. An earlier photograph had shown that the Class 37 was propelling the saloon vehicle (powering from the rear) on it's outward trip from Derby RTC to Crewe, taking in Leicester, Nuneaton and the West Coast Mainline to Crewe via Stafford, so therefore an assumption was that the Class 37 would be leading on the return trip. Needless to say it wasn't to be.....

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

Monday 6th July 2020 seen another trip out, this time to the Leicestershire location of Cossington on the Midland Mainline, between Loughborough and Leicester, (or Leicester and Loughborough - depending on which way you look at it). Another spur of the moment trip too, as there was some info about that a couple of Class 37 workings were due through, plus several passenger services operated by the venerable High Speed Train (HST).

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.