Mike H's Railway Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/ 22 rows en-gb 60 Digital Pics - 2008 http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c1503822.html Pictures taken during 2008. Tuesday 1 January 2008: Pictures taken during 2008.

Over running engineering work at Rugby on 3rd January 2008 saw 66722 diverted through Kenilworth with the 325 units on the 1F31 0655 Willesden PRDC-Warrington RMT mail. Also diverted off the WCML on 3rd March 2008 was 1A84, the 1019 Warrington RMT-Willesden PRDC additional Mail with 47847 in charge of a pair of 325 units. 47826 heads a 1Z87 0718 Reading-Manchester BUPA staff charter through Kenilworth on 1st February 2008. 57601 brings up the rear. 66237 powers the diverted 4O53 0430 Wakefield Euro Terminal-Eastleigh Yard through Kenilworth on 12th February 2008. 66535 heading north at Kenilworth in the wintry morning sun on 12th February 2008 with 4M50, the 0725 Southampton MCT-Basford Hall. 66501 has charge of the diverted 4O54 0613 Leeds FLT-Southampton MCT through Kenilworth on 12 February 2008 66188 in the sun at Kenilworth on 12th February 2008 with the 4O21 1033 Washwood Heath Up Sdgs-Eastleigh Yard, diverted due to the Tyseley blockade. 66571 accelerates away from Kenilworth loop with 4O27, the 0712 Ditton FLT-Southampton MCT on 12th February 2008. 66166 heads south through Kenilworth on 14th February 2008 with a late running 4O53 0430 Wakefield Euro Terminal-Eastleigh Yard. 66501 again powers 4O54, the diverted 0613 Leeds FLT-Southampton MCT through Kenilworth on 14th February 2008. 66091 passing Kenilworth on 14th February 2008 with the diverted 4O21 1033 Washwood Heath-Eastleigh Yard. Stoneblower DR80204 pauses in Kenilworth loop on 14th February 2008 while enroute as 6U24 1030 Walsall Tasker Street-Banbury. 66536 heads 4O27, the 0712 Ditton-Southampton MCT Freightliner through Kenilworth on 14th February 2008. 66592 heading north through Kenilworth with the diverted 4E44 0525 Millbrook FLT-Leeds FLT on 14th February 2008. Heavily delayed by an earlier fatality at Coventry, 66135 heads the diverted 6V25 0414 Bescot Engineers Sdgs-Hinksey Yard through Kenilworth on 14th February 2008. 66180 powers the late running and diverted 6M31 1050 Banbury Redland-Mountsorrel Lafarge SDT empties through Kenilworth on 14th February 2008. In very poor light, 66508 passes Kenilworth on 14th March 2008 with the diverted 6M01 1408 Hinksey-Stud Farm ballast empties. D1015 Western Champion seen storming through Kenilworth on 16th February 2008 with 66573 passes through Kenilworth on 26th February 2008 with 4M50, the 0725 Southampton MCT-Basford Hall. Colas Rail's 47727 was caught finally leaving Kenilworth loop after festering for best part of an hour on 26th February 2008 with a 6Z47 1100 Crewe-Banbury track machine move. A cable theft at Stechford on Saturday 8th March 2008 saw things all badly screwed up! First freight to eventually pass a chilly Tile Hill was 66593 on 4M47 0028 Felixstowe-Hams Hall, several hours late. 66550 had been stuck at Bescot on 8th March 2008 with the 6Y37 0338 Basford Hall-Hillmorton ballast, eventually passing Tile Hill at 1156. Next along at Tile Hill on 8th March 2008 was the heavily delayed 4M30 1954 Grangemouth-Daventry with 66407 in charge. Some three and a half hours after departing, 66570 has got as far as Tile Hill with the 4L90 0843 Hams Hall-Felixstowe on 8th March 2008. Another heavily delayed DRS service, 66406 with 4M62 2333 Coatbridge-Daventry, passes through Tile Hill station on 8th March 2008. 92007 heads north through Tile Hill on 8th March 2008 with the delayed 4M05 0423 Felixstowe-Trafford Park. 66590 approaches Tile Hill station on 8th March 2008 with the delayed 4M88 0357 Felixstowe-Lawley St . Another delayed northbound at Tile Hill on 8th March 2008 was 90048 working 4M45, the 0311 Felixstowe-Ditton. Resplendant in the new London Midland colours, 323201 pauses at Tile Hill on 8th March 2008 while working 2Y13, the 1236 New Street-Coventry local. 24th March 2008 saw some more freight diverted via Kenilworth. The only one I managed to photograph was 66085 with 6A42 1235 Arpley-Wembley. Trial running by Wrexham & Shropshire Railways saw 67012 passing Kenilworth on 22nd April 2008 with 1P03, the 0725 Wrexham-Marylebone. The service proper started on 28th April. Dead on the rear of 1P03 on 22nd April 2008 was 67012. The remaining consit being Cargo D Mk3s that will be used until WSMR's own stock is available. 66128 yings up Hatton bank on 3rd May 2008 with 4M72, the 0505 Southampton western Docks-Washwood Heath Up Sidings, with 766 tonnes in tow destined for Burton-on-Trent. 66161 has charge of 6T95, the 0930 Bescot Up Yard-Hinksey Yard engineers trip, seen passing Hatton on 3rd May 2008. EWS Silver 67029 with Cargo D Mark 3s form Wrexham & Shropshire's 1P03 0855 Wrexham-Marylebone at Hatton on Saturday 3rd May 2008. 67026 was bringing up the rear of 1P03 0855 Wrexham-Marylebone as it descends Hatton bank on Saturday 3rd May 2008. 66543 drifts down Hatton bank on 3rd May 2008 with 4O02, the 1114 Lawley Street FLT-Southampton MCT Freightliner, which today will be diverted via Westbury and Salisbury. D1015 EWS liveried 67024 heads the 1J41 0912 Marylebone-Wrexham WSMR service past the entrance to Kenilworth loop on 4th May 2008. A quick sprint across the road to get a grabbed shot of 67012 tailing 1J41, the 0912 Marylebone-Wrexham at Kenilworth on 4th May 2008. Bank Holiday Sunday 4th May 2008 saw 67012 as the only WSMR liveried loco in use, seen here at Leamington Spa working 1P52 1412 Wrexham-Marylebone. Rear loco on 1P52 1412 Wrexham-Marylebone on 4th May 2007 was EWS liveried 67024, seen on the Up Through road at Leamington Spa. In the down direction at Leamington Spa on 4th May 2008 came 1J43, the 1517 Marylebone-Wrexham, hauled by red Skip 67026. Dead on the rear of 1J43, the 1517 Marylebone-Wrexham on 4th May 2008 was EWS silver 67029. The train is taking the Coventry line at Leamington Spa Junction.

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]]> Tue Jan 1 2008 2007 pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c1314880.html Finally got around to adding some more, recent, pictures taken during 2007. Monday 1 January 2007: Finally got around to adding some more, recent, pictures taken during 2007.

66727 climbs Hatton bank on 13th January 2007 with a pair of Barrier coaches as 5Z81 0715 Old Oak Common-Litchurch Lane with 66726 on the rear. In First Group 47854 heads the 1Z56 0725 Carnforth-Windsor & Eton Riverside 37425 storms through a foggy Wythall station on 17th February 2007 with Pathfinder Tour's 1Z37 0626 Bristol TM-Straford-upon-Avon 37411 brings up the rear of the 1Z37 0626 Bristol TM-Stratford-upon-Avon Pathfinder charter at Wythall on 17th February 2007. 47839 has charge of the 1Z49 0800 Barking-Kidderminster SVR 47853 trails the 1Z49 0800 Barking-Kidderminster SVR 37411 squeals round the curve at Hatton Station Junction heading the 1Z38 1300 Stratford-on-Avon to Quainton Road charter on 17th February 2007. After a lengthy wait while points were hand cranked over by the Network Rail MOM due to the train not clearing a signal overlap, the 1Z38 1300 Stratford-on-Avon to Quainton Road charter heads away from Hatton on 17th February 2007 with 37425 bringing up the rear. 47847 heads into the low (and rare!) sun at Kenilworth on 21st February 2007 with a 5Z47 0900 Crewe CS-Kineton MOD stock move. 60083 heading North at Berkswell on Saturday 3rd March 2007 on the diverted 6H55 1036 Bletchley Yd-Peak Forest Cemex empties. Network Rail's 86901 & 86902 were caught passing Berkswell on 3rd March 2007slowly going the long way round on an 0Z86 0630 York-Crewe CS move. 66207 approaches Tile Hill station on 10th March 2007 with an additional 6A15 0945 Bescot Yd-Forders Sdg engineers working. For a second Saturday the 6H55 1036 Bletchley-Peak Forest was diverted via the West Midlands with 60082 seen here at Canley on 10th March 2007. Ivatt 2mt mogul 46443 arrives at Kidderminster Town with the 1335 from Bewdley on SVR Gala Day 11th March 2007. 46443 then departed Kidderminster with the 1419 shuttle to Bewdley on 11th March 2007. 5164 & 4566 had 10 on with the 1437 Kidderminster Town-Bridgnorth on 11th March 2007. GWR 66568 heads North through Foleshill on the Coventry-Nuneaton line on 19th March 2007 with the late running 4M58 1100 Southampton MCT-Ditton Freightliner. Trains to the Prologis Distribution Park at the old Coventry Colliery site initially ran at night so a daytime 6B42 1317 Wembley Yd-Coventry Prologis Park was of interest passing the old Foleshill station with 66227 in charge on 19th March 2007. 66227 restarts it's 6B42 1317 Wembley Yd-Coventry Prologis Park train to cross Wheelwright Lane crossing on the branch from Three Spires Junction on 19th March 2007. Because of the gradient here for a while Class 60s were used on these trains which can load to 27 IZAs of Evian water. Now the train is split at Coventry North Yd and runs up in two portions with a 66 diagrammed. After arrival at Pro Logis Park on 19th March 2007, 66207 is released from it's train and will run light diesel back to Bescot. An 08 shunter is used to berth the vans for unloading. Unusually, Heavy Haul's low emission 66952 has charge of the 4M61 1300 Soton MCT-Trafford Park Freightliner seen here at Foleshill on 19th March 2007. 60019 leans into the curve at Hatton North Junction on 21st March 2007 with the 6E55 1333 Theale-Lindsey Oil Refinery empties. 67029 passes the old Sutton Park station on 31 March 2007 with 5Z47 1150 Crewe CS-Doncaster Belmont, the first of two ECS for Doncaster Rovers footex's the next day. 66093 passing the old Sutton Park station on 31st March 2007 with 4O69, the 1336 Hams Hall-Dollands Moor intermodal service. 66040 at Sutton Park on 31st March 2007 with the 4V22 0911 Fidlers Ferry-Portbury empty MGR. 67005 passing a now damp Sutton Park on 31st March 2007 with the second ECS, 5Z41 1250 Crewe CS-Doncaster Belmont Yd. 67029 is in charge of a 1Z41 0825 Doncaster-Cardiff footex for the Doncaster Rovers-Bristol Rovers Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final on 1st April 2007, seen near Water Orton. 67005 approaches Water Orton with 1Z47 0840 Doncaster-Cardiff, the second Doncaster Rovers footex on 1st April 2007. With a Pendo set short following the Lambrigg derailment a 90 & Mk.3 set are again in use on an EBW diagram. 90020 runs into Birmingham International on 4th April 2007 with 1G21, the 1651 Euston-New Street. For a brief spell in April Didcot coal trains return to the old GW lines south from Birmingham. 66069 decends Hatton bank on 5th April 2007 with the 6V32 0857 Daw Mill-Didcot PS MGR. 66505 passing Hatton Locks with 4O54, the 0613 Leeds FLT-Southampton MCT on 5th April 2007. 66579 powers the 4E44 0525 Southampton MCT-Leeds FLT north at Hatton Locks on 5th April 2007. 66148 trundles up Hatton Bank with the 6M31 1024 Banbury-Mountsorrel empty Lafarge SDT on 5th April 2007. 66139 powers a lightly loaded 4M36 0810 Soton Western Docks-Birch Coppice up Hatton bank on 5th April 2007. 57011 has charge of the 4M55 0928 Southampton MCT-Basford Hall Freightliner as it climbs past Hatton Locks on 5th April 2007. 66571 powers through Harbury Cutting on 5th April 2007 with the 4M58 1100 Southampton MCT-Ditton Freightliner. 66232 emerges from Harbury Tunnel on 5th April 2007 with 4M66 1115 Soton Western Dks-Foundry Lane. 66527 and a rake of empty JNAs form the 6M01 1408 Hinksey-Stud Farm at Harbury cutting on 5th April 2007 Later in the day, 66069 returns through Leamington Spa on 5th April 2007 with the 4M53 1553 Didcot PS-Daw Mill MGR empties. 66526 passing through Leamington Spa on 5th April 2007 with a 6Z28 1200 West Ealing-Doncaster comprising DR92331 Plasser Spoil Power Wagon, DR92332 Plasser New Ballast Power Wagon, DR76502 Plasser RM900-RT & DR73113 Plasser 09-3X Dynamic RT . 66573 runs through Leamington Spa on 5th April 2007 with 4M61 the 1300 Southampton MCT-Trafford Park 60068 takes the centre road at Leamington Spa with an additional 6E55 1333 Theale-Lindsey empty tanks on 5th April 2007. The consist of red Murco tanks had worked to Theale that morning on 6A11 from Robeston. 66133 approaches Hatton on Good Friday, 6th April 2007, with the 6M76 2130 Mossend-Wembley, diverted due to a WCML engineering blockade. 66505 approaching Hatton Station on 6th April 2007 with the diverted 4O14 0433 Garston FLT-Southampton MCT liner. Shown on TOPS as operated by 60063, there was surprise and disappointment when 66163 turned up at Hatton with 6V32 0857 Daw Mill-Didcot on 6th April 2007. 66077 passing through Hatton Station with the 4E69 0515 Southampton Western Docks-Wakefield Euroterminal on 6th April 2007. With just empty flats in tow, 66572 runs through Hatton Station with 4O54 0613 Leeds FLT-Southampton MCT on 6th April 2007. Engineering work at Rugby saw DRS Daventry traffic diverted to Birch Coppice over Easter 2007. Here 66404 passes Wood end with a very late running 4S44 1136 Birch Coppice-Coatbridge.

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]]> Mon Jan 1 2007 Industrial Locos http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c981155.html Often neglected as not being "real trains", I am now glad I took the opportunity to photograph various industrial locos at work. As it now seems to be a criminal offence to actually make anything in this country, industrial locations are dwindling alarmingly , most of the sites featured in this collection have long disappeared. I only wish I had taken more when I had the chance. Still, you never know, one day Tesco or B & Q might have their own engines... Monday 5 June 2006: Often neglected as not being "real trains", I am now glad I took the opportunity to photograph various industrial locos at work. As it now seems to be a criminal offence to actually make anything in this country, industrial locations are dwindling alarmingly , most of the sites featured in this collection have long disappeared. I only wish I had taken more when I had the chance. Still, you never know, one day Tesco or B & Q might have their own engines...

Bardon Hill Quarries No.59 A pair of MOD Thomas Hill 4wDH locos, AD262 & AD264 head a rake of air braked vans down the former S & MJR line from CAD Kineton to Fenny Compton on 19th June 1985. The vans will go forward to Bescot on the 6G55 feeder service from Banbury for onward distribution via the Speedlink network. AD264 & AD262 are seen again on 19th June 1985, returning to Kineton with a longer rake of vans, including a former ferry in use as a barrier. Armed guards were often in evidence on thse trains in view of the comodities carried. The locos were built in 1983 and 1982 as works numbers 306V & 302V respectively. A later view at Fenny Compton on 5th July 1991 sees MOD 273 Tunnel Cement used this Bagnall 0-6-0DM, works number 3160 of 1959 to trip between the exchange sidings on the WCML and Pitstone Cement Works, near Tring. On 21st August 1986 a single PCA was the only load. The former Harbury Cement Works in Warwickshire was retained for many years after closure as a distrubution point by Blue Circle Cement and employed this 1959 4wDH Sentinel to shunt rail traffic, seen on 17th February 1990. Known to BR as Greaves Siding, traffic arrived either by block train from Northfleet or Earles or by Speedlink trip from Bescot via Banbury. Traffic to Greaves Siding ceased with the demise of Speedlink, and in this view of the site on 5th July 1991, the last loaded PCAs are being collected after being dropped off by the 6M85 1100 Fenny Compton-Bescot. A picture of 37047 on that train appears in the Class 37 Gallery. Another view of Greaves Siding taken on 5th July 1991 from track level, the previous view was looking out of the window of Greaves Siding Signal Box. The Blue Circle engine has been listed as having fleet A cab ride on 25198 from Leekbrook Junction on the sand empties on 10th May 1985 gave an opportunity to photograph the appropriately named Yorkshire Engine 0-4-0DH Rail traffic to Hams Hall Power Station, near Coleshill in Warwickshire, had ceased in 1982, the short remaining life of the station meant investment to handle MGR working was not viable. The fleet of English Electric 0-6-0DH locos wwre still present though when visited on 19th August 1983, with No. 1 (D1137 of 1966) seen hear outside the loco shed. A second 0-6-0DH, No.3 (D1228 of 1967) was outside on 19th August 1983. The power station, which once consisted of three stations, One of the few locations in this collection that is still active is Croft Quarry in Leicestershire, which still pushes out a considerable amount of rail traffic. On 25th July 1983 John Fowler 0-4-0DH A second view of John Fowler works number 4220016 on BR metals at Croft Sidings on 25th July 1983, complete with ECC shunter. Built in 1962 it shared the duties at the time with a 1960 Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0D called By 1987, ECC Quaries had replaced Cohen's Scrapyard at Kingsbury, Warwickshire is now part of the EMR Group and notorious for breaking up both shunters and ex mainline locomotives. On 9th May 1985 only domestic scrap was bering processed, and with little in evidence, resident NBL 0-4-0DH The branch from Three Spires Junction to Coventry Colliery is a steeply graded as the Lickey Incline, thus needed powerful locos such as Another of the colliery Hunslets, NCB South Midlands No. 24 (6690/1969) sets off from the mine with more loaded HAAs on 13th August 1983. The branch from Three Spires was refurbished a few years ago when a new Prologis Distribution Park was built on this site but so far none of the promised rail traffic has materialised. Another shot of Not a redundant Class 08, This Ruston 0-4-0DE (544997 of 1969) was caught shunting chemical tanks off the No.16, a Rolls Royce 6wDH (10275/1969) stands alongside a rake of PCA cement tanks at Halling Cement Works, Kent on 24th August 1983. These had recently arrived as the 6Y80, 0955 from Southampton Up Yard behind 73004. A visit to Littleton Colliery on 9th July 1987 saw little used No.6, a Yorkshire Engine 0-6-0DE (2748/1959) used for a brake van tour of the system, including a run to the exchange sidings at Penkridge. Main power at Littleton were a fleet of five modern and powerful GEC Traction 6wDE locos. One of these, Another load of empties at Otherton Sidings, powered by Final Industrial in this series and saving the biggest for last! 1980 built General Motors Bo Bo Switcher

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]]> Mon Jun 5 2006 Digital Pics 2006 http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c870339.html A first collection of pictures taken in 2006. Thursday 23 February 2006: A first collection of pictures taken in 2006.

47847 and 47815 provide super power for the first of three private charters for JCB from Birmingham International to Euston on 23rd February 2006, caught here departing with 1Z60, the 1220 departure. Bringing up the rear of the 1Z60 1220 Birmingham International-Euston charter on 23rd February 2006 was 47805. 92024 sporting yellow EWS stickers hurriesthrough Birmingham International on 23rd February 2006 with the 6G62 Daventry-Bescot. 67019 arrives at International with 5Z62, the 1045 ECS from Crewe to form the 1Z62 1245 International-Euston charter on 23rd February 2006.

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]]> Thu Feb 23 2006 Class 31 Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c744627.html When 31s started appearing in the West Midlands to replace the ubiquitous Class 25s, they were universally disliked by enthusiasts and railwaymen alike. Where as the 25s could (and did) go anywhere and pull anything, the 31s with their cumbersome A-1-A wheel arrangement and low adhesion, would struggle in many a yard and were the last thing you needed if your rice-pudding had some skin on it... Nevertheless they did become a part of the local scene and so had to be photographed, as this collection on Midlands passenger and local freight workings, plus a few from farther afield, will show. Sunday 30 October 2005: When 31s started appearing in the West Midlands to replace the ubiquitous Class 25s, they were universally disliked by enthusiasts and railwaymen alike. Where as the 25s could (and did) go anywhere and pull anything, the 31s with their cumbersome A-1-A wheel arrangement and low adhesion, would struggle in many a yard and were the last thing you needed if your rice-pudding had some skin on it... Nevertheless they did become a part of the local scene and so had to be photographed, as this collection on Midlands passenger and local freight workings, plus a few from farther afield, will show.

31101 & 31170 approach Grendon Underwood Junc on a cold, misty Saturday morning, 12th January 1985, with 6B20, the 1020 Akeman Street UKF-Bletchley Yd fertiliser empties. In 1986 Hitchin still boasted two Class 31 duties, T42 & T44. Here 31105 departs from Hitchin on 3rd October 1986 with an 8T42 1315 Hitchin Engineers Yd-Peterborough DCE trip. 31105 trundles through the disused Sutton Park station on 5th July 1991 with 6D56, the 1129 Bescot Engineers Sdgs-Toton Old Bank. Even a pair of 31142 eases out of the Engineers Siding at Berkswell on a very murky 23rd February 1987, with 9T95, the 1045 trip to Bescot Up Yard. 31142 stands on the Down Middle road at Leamington Spa on 15th February 1988 with a 7T51 1500 Fenny Compton-Bescot Yard additional trip for MOD traffic from Kineton CAD. 31144 passes Berkswell on 29th June 1983 with a well loaded 8T45 1800 Banbury Yd-Bescot Down SS Speedlink trip. 31154 crosses Water Orton East Junction on 19th August 1983 with 4G50, the 1523 Nottingham-Lawley St Freightliner service. 31155 prepares to depart from Charrington's private siding with the 7E53 1342 Hawkesbury Lane-Ripple Lane empty tanks on 18th October 1985. 31155 propels the 7E53 1342 Hawkesbury Lane-Ripple Lane empty tanks past Hawkesbury Lane 'Box prior to running round on 18th October 1985. 31158 is in charge of the 2R15 2350 Rugby Sdgs-Coventry Yd OHLM train in a possesion north of Canley Station on 26th August 1990. 31159 trundles past Moors Gorse crossing on Cannock Chase with the 6T42 1240 Bescot Yd-Lea Hall Colliery trip with 8 empty HEAs for loading on 9th August 1988. 31159 approaches Hednesford with four loaded HEAs forming the return 6T42 1340 Lea Hall Colliery-Bescot Yd Speedlink Coal trip on 9th August, 1988. 31166 & 31119 with a 9L02 track relaying train from Northampton PAD in the possession at Kenilworth on Sunday morning 19th August 1984. 31166 & 31146 round the curve at Bordesley Junction on 22nd May 1993 with the 5J02 0827 Tyseley CS-Birmingham New Street ECS. A rather scruffy 31170 hurries through Hitchin on 13th October 1986 with the 5A46 0643 L:incon Central-Ferme Park RS empty vans. 31184 passes Sleaford West Crossing on Saturday 30th June, 1984, with the 1A38 0946 Skegness-Kings Cross. Another service that has been 31206 waits at Fenny Compton on 25th June 1985 to proceed along the branch to CAD Kineton with the 7Z07 0430 Walsall Tasker St-Walsall Tasker St weedkilling train, while 31158 has arrived with MoD traffic on 6T45 from Banbury. The 7Z07 0430 Walsall Tasker St-Walsall Tasker St weedkilling train proceeds along the former S&MJR line towards Kineton MoD past Burton Dassett on 25th June 1985 with 31206 in charge. 31209 waits with a single brakevan on the Down line south of Beechwood Tunnel while working a 8L21 Sunday engineers trip from Bescot on 6th November 1986. 31217 comes off the Nuneaton line at Water Orton on 19th August 1983 with the 6T47 1610 Nuneaton-Bescot Yard trip having collected six empties from Distillers, Coleshill. 31227 runs east through Coalville on 24th May 1988, having run round the 7A23 1755 Cliffe Hill-Bletchley Yd ballast at Mantle Lane Sidings. The last train to traverse the full length of line from Rugby to the cement works at Southam was a weedkilling special on 20th June, 1985 running as 7Z07 0430 from Walsall Tasker St. Here 31247 passes New Bilton on the section which reamined open for traffic. From New Bilton to the cement works at Southam had been out of use for some years so it was suprising that 7Z07 sprayed the full distance on 20th June 1985. Proof that it did, 31247 traverses Marton Junction in the Warwickshire countryside. Needless to say the track was lifted shortly afterwards... 31257 stands in winter sun at Akeman Street UKF Sidings on Saturday 7th December, 1985 while the 6B19 0520 trip from Bletchley Yard is unloaded. 31257 arrives at a busy Croft Sidings with the 7L02, 0958 Bescot Up Yard-Croft additional empty ballast on 26th May 1987. More weedkilling, 31292 this time has charge of 7Z07 from Tasker Street on 4th July 1985 and it traverses the line to Northampton Bridge Street. 31301 was the second trip engine at Hitchin on 3rd October 1986 and departed south at mid-day with an 8T44 ballast trip. Another long forgotten freight flow was cement from Ketton to Castle Bromwich. On 19th August 1983 31309 passes Whitacre Junction with 6M44, the 1121 from Wards Siding. 31404 provides assistance to a failed DPU on the 3L86 1513 Birmingham New St-Norwich, seen passing Bromford Bridge on 23rd February 1990. 31408 stands in the long since vanished Lincoln St.Marks station in very poor evening light on 25th June, 1983, with the 2T14, 1712 Cleethorpes-Newark. Class 120 DMU set EP502 stands in the opposite platform with the 1805 Newark-Lincoln and set EP508 is stabled in the middle roads. ETH fitted 31/4s were staple power for Norwich-Birmingham trains in the early 80s until displaced by the Sprinter. On 17th January 1983 31412 has the road from Hinckley with 1M30, the 0740 Norwich-New Street. Mainline liveried 31422 is paired with 31432 pulls into Poulton Le Fylde with 2F51, the 1320 Blackpool-Liverpool Regional Railways North West service on 23rd June 1993. These diagrams were a last fling for 31s on regular passenger workings. 31452 & 31439 race south through Hitchin on 29th May 1987 with the 4R40 0924 Wrenthorpe Reception-Dagenham Dock Speedlink on 29th May 1987. 31460 heads a short 5A45 0805 York-Ferme Park ECS through Hitchin on 3rd October 1986. The consist includes the High Speed Track Recording Car DB999950. Newly painted in engineers grey, 31461 worked 1V94, the 1106 New St-Reading on Thursday 28th September 1989. Having seen it go south I managed to photograph it on the return 1M12 1334 Reading-Manchester as it passed through Kenilworth. 31512 trundles along the up slow line at Cathiron on 15th June 1993 with the 7A75 1438 Hartshill-Willesden High Level Sdgs loaded ballast.

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]]> Sun Oct 30 2005 Class 60 Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c744052.html When they first appeared the Class 60s were not well liked by enthusiasts, particularly as their introduction saw numbers of older engines withdrawn and their impressive pulling power lead in many cases to longer but fewer trains. Nowadays, of course, the "Tugs", as they are nicknamed, have a big following as they have become the last indigenous diesel class and the remaining interest in an otherwise DMU and "Shed" dominated railway. Having started to become an endangered species during the early part of 2005, numbers were back up to 85 in traffic out of 100 by the end of October. However, it remains to be seen what future they have with EWS. One can only speculate what might have been if BR and Brush had continued the development of the type and we had not sold the family silver off to the yanks... Saturday 29 October 2005: When they first appeared the Class 60s were not well liked by enthusiasts, particularly as their introduction saw numbers of older engines withdrawn and their impressive pulling power lead in many cases to longer but fewer trains. Nowadays, of course, the "Tugs", as they are nicknamed, have a big following as they have become the last indigenous diesel class and the remaining interest in an otherwise DMU and "Shed" dominated railway. Having started to become an endangered species during the early part of 2005, numbers were back up to 85 in traffic out of 100 by the end of October. However, it remains to be seen what future they have with EWS. One can only speculate what might have been if BR and Brush had continued the development of the type and we had not sold the family silver off to the yanks...

60005 starts it's journey with 6H54, the 0928 Washwood Heath RMC-Peak Forest SS empties on 22nd May 1993. 60013 descends Hatton bank with the re-routed 6V52 Lindsey-Langley tanks on adull 10th May 1994. Metals sector 60022 passes through Toton on 28th March 1991 with a 6Z77 0945 Lackenby BSC-Etruria BSC loaded steel slab special. 60026 at Lea Marston on 14th May 1994 with the late running 6V53 0220 Lindsey-Langley tanks. 60029 snakes across Milford South Junction on 6th August 2003 with 6M62, the 1350 Tees Dock-Toton New Yard - the Stanton pipe empties. Having given up the Boulby trips as a bad job due to sea fog, at least we got 60039 on the 6N32 1159 Lackenby-Tees Yard at South Bank on 7th August 2003, even if the weather was still not wonderful! 60041 nears it's destination at Bagworth on 5th July 2001 with the 6M54 1240 Thorney Mill-Bardon Hill empties. Still in Mainline blue livery, 60044 passes Hatton Station Junction with the 6O72 1045 Wolverhampton Steel Terminal-Hoo Junc on 14th June 2003. One of a series of trains run to move stockpiled coal, 60047 was ready to depart from the soon to be closed Padiham Power Stn with 7P59, the 1128 Padiham PS-Rugeley PS on 23rd June 1993. The Padiham-Rugeley trains were tripped in two portions to Rose Grove. 60047 runs through Padiham with the second part, 7P59, the 1128 Padiham PS-Rugeley PS on 23rd June 1993. Having been stabled during the day at Nuneaton, 60054 now prepares to depart from Bedworth Murco Sdgs with 6E27, the 1508 to Humber Oil Refinery on 28th June 1991. 60054 eases 6E27, the 1508 Bedworth Murco-Humber Oil Refinery into Hawkesbury Lane Yard on 28th June 1991, where it will run round. 60054 passes by Hawkesbury Lane Signal Box on 28th June 1991 while running around it's train, the 6E27 1508 Bedworth Murco-Humber Oil Refinery. Now a Transrail locomotive, 60058 at Lea Marston 14th May 1994 with the 6H54 0928 Washwood Heath RMC-Peak Forest SS empties. Still in Loadhaul colours, 60059 heads south at Croome Perry Wood, near Defford with 6V70, the 1000 Cliffe Vale-St.Blazey, on 12th October 2001. 60059 heads south past Spetchley loop on 13th July 2002 with a 6Z25 0900 Hartlepool-Margam special. It's old Loadhaul colours looking decidedly grubby, 60059 slows for a crew change at Landore Street on 3rd August 2003 while working the 6V42 0945 Lackenby-Llanwern. A bright, sunny (yes it does happen…) 4th August 2003 saw 60063 pass Lea Marston with the 6E08 0658 Wolverhampton Steel Terminal-Scunthorpe. 60065 runs through a forlorn St. Helens on 23rd June 1993 with the 6V65 1515 Cowley Hill-Tidal Sdgs empty tanks. 60071 heads home past Saltley viaduct on 30th April, 1994 with the 6M48 1610 Didcot PS-Toton N.Yd MGR empties. 60075 passes Bordeseley Yard on 22 May 1993 with a 6Z65 0718 Gascoigne Wood-Didcot PS MGR. Once a staple traffic, coal trains to Didcot through Birmingham are now very rare indeed. 60075 approaches Pinxton on 3rd March 1994 with 7V06, the 1020 Welbeck-Didcot PS MGR, passing 60056 with the 6A25 0801 Toton N.Yd-Bentinck Colliery empties. Grafiti covered 60075 heads a 6V27 1305 Bescot Up Yard-Didcot TC additional engineers working through Dorridge on Bank Holiday Monday 27th August 2001. 60078 trundles through Castle Gresley on 29th August 2001 with 6T15, the 0900 MGR empties to Swains Park, starting today from Washwood Heath instead of Toton. 60078 waits at Swains Park while the 7A15 1230 MGR to Ratcliffe Power Station is loaded on 29th August 2001. 60086 throbs up Hatton Bank with the 6M48 1610 Didcot PS-Toton DSLL empty MGR on a grey 29th June 1993. 60088 passes the site of Brickyard Crossing on the Camp Hill bank on 5th June 1993 with 7V65 the 0718 Gascoigne Wood-Didcot PS MGR. A banker will not be required… 60090 departs from Oxcroft Opencast Disposal Point on 25 March 1993 with 7Z30, the 1745 MGR to Toton New Bank. Running alongside the M40 motorway, 60098 passes Rowington with the 6M48 1610 Didcot PS-Bescot Yd MGR empties on 13th May, 1994.

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]]> Sat Oct 29 2005 Class 73 Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c686311.html The Class 73 Electro-diesels (EDs) had a variety of passenger and freight duties around the Southern Region, where their versatility was much valued, and indeed it still is. There are a number of long lost freight workings illustrated here, usually taken on dull, grey days, but I hope the interest value outways the technical quality of the image. Sunday 11 September 2005: The Class 73 Electro-diesels (EDs) had a variety of passenger and freight duties around the Southern Region, where their versatility was much valued, and indeed it still is. There are a number of long lost freight workings illustrated here, usually taken on dull, grey days, but I hope the interest value outways the technical quality of the image.

73004 hurries through Cuxton Station on a very dull 24th August 1983 with 6Y80, the 0955 Southampton Up Yard-Halling RPCM empty cement PCAs. 73108 was photographed on another dullish day passing Hither Green with the 7Y79 1230 Hoo Junc-New Cross Gate Yd on 1st August 1983. 73114 was caught stabled between duties in Rochester Yard on 24th August 1983. 73120 arrives at Dover Town Yard on 26th August 1983 with 6O56, the 1510 Speedlink from Dundee West Yard, having worked the train from Willesden Brent. 73123 runs through Sandwich station with the 6K82 0950 Betteshanger Colliery-Strood CCD on 26th August 1983. There was a supprising amount of coal trafffic still running in Kent in the early '80s. After arrival from Victoria with the 73130 departs right time from Strood Yard with the 6K83 1237 Strood Coal Depot-Betteshanger Colliery empties on 24th August 1983. 73130 and 73106 speed through Eastleigh with 1W14, the 0846 Poole-Waterloo, vice a Class 442 One of the shortest freight flows was the Lavant-Drayton stone. Here 73135 departs from Drayton on 7th September 1988 with the 6J37, 1342 empties to Lavant Tarmac. 73135 was then caught running past Chichester Yard on 7th September 1988 with the 6J37 1342 Drayton-Lavant empties. Finally, we caught 73135 running round the 6J37 1342 empties from Drayton prior to loading 6J38 at the Tarmac terminal at Lavant on 7th September 1988

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]]> Sun Sep 11 2005 The Gen Gallery http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c669595.html Dedicated to those who relentlessly monitor their Blackberries in search of the latest gen... Sunday 28 August 2005: Dedicated to those who relentlessly monitor their Blackberries in search of the latest gen...

The Duff has just gone speeding by and The loneliness of the long distance photter... Shunned by his peers, a forlorn

Published in Mike H's Railway Pics

]]> Sun Aug 28 2005 Class 33 Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c666427.html Coming soon... Class 33 pics. Thursday 25 August 2005: Coming soon... Class 33 pics.

The Portsmouth to Bristol and Cardiff circuit was prime Having worked 1M88 0625 Poole-Manchester as far as New Street on Saturday 2nd February 1985, 33005 returned with the 1O74 0958 Manchester-Gatwick Airport, and was photographed passsing the loop at Kenilworth. 33009 heads the 6V96 0932 Tonbridge West Yd-Meldon Quarry ballast empties past Newbury Racecourse on 3rd August, 1988. At this time up to three trains a day were heading for Meldon, all Class 33 duties. Remember when Bank Holidays warranted booked relief workings? 33017 at Kenilworth Junction has charge of a 1Z21 1117 Southampton-Carlisle relief on Monday 31st August 1987. More from the Cardiff-Pompeys, 33019 approaches the junction at Redbridge with the 1O42 1305 Cardiff Central-Portsmouth Harbour on 15th May 1988. And looking the other way, 33021 pulls away from Redbridge Junction on 15th May 1988 with 1V70, the 1415 Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff Central. A famous diagram in the Midlands saw a Class 33 work the 1E22 1246 Portsmouth Harbour-Leeds to Birmingham New St, then after overnighting at Saltley, work back with the Lawley St-Southampton liner. On 4th March 1983 33021 was caught passing Widney Manor with 1E22. Salisbury was a Class 33 mecca in the '80s with passenger and freight turns in evidence. Here 33023 arrives on 10th August 1987 with 7O70, the 1133 Meldon Quarry-Salisbury Yard ballast. 33027 heads out of Kenilworth loop on 7th March 1988 with a 6Z98 Eastleigh-Castleton LWR Another view of 33027, with 33056, as they ease 1L02, the 0938 One of my earliest Class 33 pics, 33028 waits to depart from Portsmouth Harbour on 21st July, 1982 with the 1V26 1210 to Cardiff Central. Included more for nostalgia than technical merit! The North Wales Coast became another stamping ground for the Class in the 80s. 33044 was working the 1D27 1116 Crewe-Holyhead when caught passing Mostyn Docks on 20th June 1986. Returning from chasing 25034 on the Blodwell trip on 23rd June 1986, we managed to catch 33056 33056 again, this time The 1989 Coalville Open Day saw another charter booked for 33 haulage. 33058 runs through Narborough on 11th June with the 1Z38 0830 Euston-Coalville 33058 passing Bagworth on 11th June 1989 with the 1Z38 0830 Euston-Coalville A third shot of 33058 standing at Mantle Lane on 11th June 1989 while a pair of 20s back on to the stock from the 1Z38 0830 Euston-Coalville 33062 runs through a very damp Severn Tunnel Junction on 24th June 1985 with the 1O67 0805 Cardiff-Portsmouth Harbour. 33065 and 33035 double head a short 6O74 1120 Meldon Quarry-Tonbridge West Yd ballast through picturesque Newton St. Cyres on 3rd May 1991. 33102 stands in Salisbury Station with the 6L65 1020 Speedlink trip from Ludgershall on 26th April 1984. The consist of MOD Warwells loaded with Warrior armoured cars will go forward later to Severn Tunnel Junction. 33106 heads Hertfordshire Railtour's 1Z25 0710 Watford Junction-Uckfield 33110 brings up the rear of the 1Z25 0710 Watford Junction-Uckfield A final, going away, shot of 33110 tailing the The classic 33/1 & TC combination. 33113 departs from Salisbury with 1L10, the 1510 departure to Waterloo on 26th April 1984. These diagrams were interspersed with the Class 50 hauled Exeter-Waterloo workings on the LSW main line. Another view of 1E22, the 1246 FO Portsmouth Harbour-Leeds on 5th August 1983, this time with 33/1 33113 in charge passing Widney Manor station. Another local working from Salisbury on 26th April 1984. 33114 and it's TC set will form the 2L40 1635 Salisbury-Basinstoke departure. More freight workings in the gloom! Slimline 33201 arrives at Hoo Junc on 24th August 1983 with the 7O68 0950 Thame-Hoo Junc empty tanks. 33207 passes the site of Fosehill station on the Coventry to Nuneaton line on 16th June, 1984 with the Southern Electric Group's 1Z27 0800 Waterloo-Wolverhampton 33209 trundles through Sandwich station on 26th August 1983 with the 8K40 0910 Hoo Junc-Betteshanger Colliery empties. A 1Z44 VSOE charter from Victoria to Stratford-upon-Avon on 26th April 1984 was worked by 33209, seen here passing Bishopton shortly before it's arrival at Stratford. Here 33209 has backed into the loop at Stratford-upon-Avon (aka Tandy Town) prior to running round the stock off the 1Z44 VSOE charter from Victoria on 23rd August 1984. Next 33209 passes Claverdon with the 5H50 1205 Stratford-Tyseley Carriage Sdgs VSOE ECS on 23rd August 1984. Finally, 33209 comes off the Bearley line at Hatton Station Junction with the 1Z50 1455 Stratford-Upon-Avon-Victoria return VSOE charter on 23rd August, 1984.

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]]> Thu Aug 25 2005 Class 47 Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c666416.html Coming soon... Class 47 Pics. Thursday 25 August 2005: Coming soon... Class 47 Pics.

47012 was caught passing Eastleigh on a sunny 7th September 1988 with the 6O57 0715 Willesden Brent-Southampton Down Yard Speedlink. Clag a plenty as 47060 comes off the Nuneaton avoiding line at Abbey Junction on 21st May 1987 with an 8T90 ballast trip from Loughboro to Bescot. Taken from the abutments of the old GW mainline bridge, 47096 passes Wednesbury crossing with the 6T52 0910 Washwood heath-Round Oak tripper on 24th May 1988. Steam heat really came into it's own in Scotland in August, as proved by 47109 at Dumfries on 21st August 1982 with the 1S37 1240 Carlisle-Glasgow Central. 47110 was seen at Eagle Crossing on 17th October 1983 in charge of the 4G51 Bescot Yard-Dudley FLT Freightliner feeder service. Green liveried 47114 speeds through Dorridge station on 25th August 2001 with 4O30, the 1238 SO Trafford Park-Southampton MCT Freightliner. 47116 truddles through Poole station on 3rd August 1989 with the 6W51 0803 Eastleigh-Wareham Speedlink. 47120 comes off the Aston line at Stechford on 11th November 1989 with the 4O81 0710 Coatbridge-Southampton Maritime Freightliner. 47128 runs through Kenilworth Common on 7th May 1985, with 6M93, the 1620 Morris Cowley-Bescot Speedlink. 47129 near Bishop's Itchington with a 6Z40 0931 Greaves Sdg-Northfleet BCI extra empty cement on Tuesday 25th June 1985. 47142 shunts the Murco LPG Sidings at Bedworth on 17th January 1983, prior to departure with 7E90, the 1434 empties to Haverton Hill East Grid 47144 at Bescot Junc with the 4D58 1440 Lawley St- Holyhead Freightliner which on 26th September 1986 was diverted via Perry Barr and Soho. 47144 is on the single line from Leamington to Coventry at Gibbet Hill on 1st July 1985 with 1M50, the 0850 Brighton-Manchester. 47145 piloting 47362 on the 4G16 0832 Wembley Yd-Hams Hall Intermodal service near their journey's end at Whitacre Junction on 14th February 1998. RFD liveried 47147 passes Washwood Heath No. 1 'box on 3rd September 1990 with the 6T52 0945 Washwood Heath Up Sdgs-Bordesley Yard trip. 47186 seen passing Berkswell on 7th August 1986 with the 6M23 1030 Fawley-Longport Junction tanks. 47199 passes Bromford Bridge on 8th July 1983 with a 6Z43 1600 Kingsbury Oil Sidings-Llandeilo Junc special empties. No heat 47203 runs through Kenilworth on 27th June 1984 with 1M50, the 0850 Brighton-Manchester. 47204 heads South at Bentley Heath on 20th June 1984 with a 6Z18 Earles Sdgs-Greaves Sdgs cement special. 47212 heads 1O13, the 0629 SO Bradford Exchange-Weymouth, through a very wet Bentley Heath on 23rd July 1983. 47222 passing Harpenden station on 10th July 1990 with the 6E69 1612 Langley Oil Terminal-Lindsey Oil refinery empties 47224 passes Barton-under-Needwood with the 6E48 0740 Hallenmarsh-Immingham Norsk Hydro empties on 24th May 1988 47226 accelerates away from Kenington Junction with the 6M93 1620 Morris Cowley-Bescot Speedlink on 5th August 1988. 47234 trundles through Corby station on 25th May 1988 with the 6T40 0845 trip from Humberstone Road. After dropping off 8 HSAs for loading with scrap the trip continued on to Wellingborough with one ferry van. 47234 passes through Helsby on 1st may 1986 with the 6D36 1350 Fidlers Ferry-Point of Ayr empty MGR. 47236 approaches Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, on 1st June 1984 with a Saturday extra 6V34 1223 Albion Gulf-Llandeilo Junction. RFD Liveried 47236 & 47375 were unusal power for a 6Z17 1009 Bescot Yd-Margam TC additional MGR on 22nd March 1997, photographed passing Hatton. 47241 storms up Hatton Bank with the 6M03 0930 Swindon-Longbridge Rover vans on 10th May 1994. 47252 passes Cooper's scrapyard and the site of Handsworth & Smethwick station on 31st march 1984 whilst working a 6Z23 additional Handsworth-Earles Sdgs cement empties. 47280 heads North past Croes Newydd North Fork Signal Box on 23rd June 1986 with the 6M33, 0700 Llanwern-Dee Marsh steel train. 47280 has charge of the 7F15 1412 Penmaenmawr-Tuebrook Sidings on 29th April 1986, as it arrives at Helsby where the train will be recessed in the Up Siding. Once a regular Class 40 turn, 47309 now has charge of the 7T74 1445 Ellesmere Port-Walton Old Junction trip, seen approaching Acton Grange on 22nd June 1986. 47313 descends from Acton Grange Junction on 11th June 1986 with the 7F26 1420 Dalston-Stanlow empties. 47318 sits at Cliffe Vale, Stoke on Trent, waiting to depart with the 6V70 1358 Speedlink to Severn Tunnel Junc Yard on 19th February 1987. 47325 takes the Hooton line at Helsby Junction with the 6L97 1523 Cowley Hill-Stanlow empty tanks on 1st May 1986. 47347 passing Barton Under Needwood with the 6E70 0952 Langley Green-Wilton ICI empty caustic soda tanks on 27th June 1991 The Mouldsworth signalman prepares to collect the token from the driver of 47375 as he brings the 6E93 1620 Cavendish Sdgs-Whitemoor Speedlink off the single line from West Cheshire Junc at 1951 on 22nd May 1986. 47401 eases out of Cottam Power Station on 25th September 1991 with the 6G61 1120 empty tanks to Lindsey Oil Refinery. 47436 runs through Tyseley station on 7th July 1990 with a 1T07 0745 Southport-Stratford-upon-Avon charter comprising the infamous Pilkington Glass Mark 1 set. 47446 runs through Helsby on a chilly 13th February 1989 with the 6J47 1300 Arpley Yard-Chirk Speedlink. 47513 waits to run round at Leamington Spa on 8th July 1990 while working a 5T89 Marylebone DMUD-Tyseley TMD DMU drag with Tyseley set T313 which had failed with gearbox and battery problems. An unlikely RES 47 duty, 47523 powers the 6Z50 0930 Rugeley PS-Thames Haven empty fuel oil tanks through Berkswell on 7th March 1998. A derailment at Birkenhead on 1st may 1986 saw 47551 in charge of the 1Z99 breakdown vans from Allerton TMD, seen passing through Helsby Junction. Thornaby Metals sector 47597 has charge of the 6C13 1805 Melton Mowbray-Cricklewood 47781 passing Coleshill on 30th August 2003 with the 6B61 1121 Bescot Down Yd-Daventry Reception.

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]]> Thu Aug 25 2005 Class 37 Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c666411.html Coming soon... Class 37 pictures. Thursday 25 August 2005: Coming soon... Class 37 pictures.

37011 with 1T34, the 1415 Fort William-Glasgow Queen St, arrives at Tyndrum Upper on 19th August 1985 where it will cross 37108 on 7Y37. 37022 & 37033 await the right away from Spean Bridge with 1T18, the 0840 Fort William-Glasgow Queen St on 22nd August 1985. Waterman Railways 37029 was hired by Freightliner on 19th July 2001 to work 4O24, the 0938 Basford Hall-Soton MCT and is seen taking the Up Goods Loop at Banbury North. 37033 and 37021 are about to run under the A82 at Derrydaroch on 19th August 1985 with 7D10, the 0601 Mallaig Junc Yd-Mossend NY Speedlink. 37036 passes Gateshead TMD on 14th September 1983 with a loaded coal trip to Tyne Yard. Southbound at Keilator is 37037 with 1T28, the 1300 Oban-Glasgow Queen St on 19th August 1985, having passed 1Y13 at Crianlarich. 37037 arrives at Taynuilt on 23rd August 1985 with the 1Y13, 1220 Glasgow Queens St-Oban. Under a threatening sky, 37043 approaches Banavie on 22nd August 1985 with 1Y51, the 1005 Fort William-Mallaig. 37043 arrives at Garelochhead on 19th August 1985 with 1T12, the 0800 Oban-Glasgow Queen St. 37043 passes Mallaig Junction on 20th August 1985 with 1T46, the 1550 Mallaig-Fort William. 37043 just North of Banavie on 20th August, 1985 with 1Y54, the 1220 Mallaig-Fort William, complete with observation car. 37043 runs into Spean Bridge with 1T18, the 0840 Fort William-Glasgow Queen Street on 21st August 1985. 37046 passes Water Orton East Junction on 27th December 1985 with a 6Z48 0735 Lindsey Oil Refinery-Bromsgrove Unitank special. 37047 powers past Alstone Level Crossing, Cheltenham on 26th June 2002 with the 6B36 0651 Didcot-Ashchurch MOD trip. 37047, with a minimalist 6V03 0950 Kineton MOD-Didcot Yd, passes 66032 unloading stone from Mountsorrel at Banbury Reservoir Sdgs on 25th June 2002. 37047 reverses out of Greaves Siding with the last 6M85 1100 Fenny Compton-Bescot Speedlink to call there on 5th July 1991, having attached two empty PCAs. 37068 hurries through Berkswell on 17th April 1993 with 8X03, the 1450 Didcot TC-Bescot Yd, comprising LUL surface stock for refurbishment at Crewe. A gloomy afternoon at Margam Moors on 3rd February 1993 saw 37108 arrives at Crianlarich on 19th August 1985 with 7Y37 the 1223 Mossend NY-Mallaig Junc Yd Speedlink. 37109 & 37248 growl past Bentley Heath crossing with 6O72, the 1249 Wolverhampton Steel Terminal-Hoo Junc Yd on 23rd May 2002. 37110 departs from Washwood Heath with a single POA forming the 6T44 0845 Metals trip to Tyseley Rowlands Scrapyard on 3rd September 1990. Recently named 37154 passes through a damp Severn Tunnel Junction on 24th June, 1985 with a lengthy, unidentified, ECS working. 37158 was unusual power deputising for a failed Virgin Brush on the 1V96 0910 Edinburgh-Reading, seen leaving Birmingham International on 14th February 1998. In engineers grey livery, 37162 makes a lonely sight on Bescot Holding Sidings on Sunday 3rd May 1993. Engineers Grey liveried 37162 has charge of a 6T84 1005 Chaddesden Sdgs-Bescot Up Yard trip at Lea Marston on 15th June 1993. 37167 & 37072 arrive at Tyseley with a 9X38 1330 special from Barnt Green with a HST set for assesment following a collision with a digger on the track there on 29th July 1989. 47337 brings up the rear. 37175 passes Lochaber Junction on 21st August 1985 with 7D19, the 1223 Corpach-Mossend Speedlink. 20048 shunts the 7Y02 trip in the background. With much clag, 37175 leaves Mallaig Junction Yard on 21st August, 1985 with a 7Y03 trip to Corpach comprising much of the consist it had brought from Mossend as 7Y31. 37179 heads 1J24, the 0935 Euston-Aberystwth, through Moel Brace on 25th September 1985. Having passed 37263 on 1Y21, 37184 restarts 1T18, the 0840 Fort William-Glasgow Queens St away from Arrochar & Tarbet on 19th August 1985. 37184 seen North of Tulloch on 21st August 1985 with 6E46, the 1519 Mallaig Junc Yd-Blythe Alumina empties. 6E46, the 1519 Mallaig Junc Yd-Blythe, heads through Spean Bridge on 22nd August 1985 with 37184 in charge. 37184 runs into Spean Bridge on 20th August 1985, with 7Y37, the 1223 Mossend-Corpach Speedlink. 37186 at Moel Brace on 25th September, 1985 with the 1A50 1110 Aberystwth-Euston. 37191 has charge of the 7Y33 0952 Mossend NY-Mallaig Junc Yd Speedlink on 19th August 1985, caught running through Arrochar & Tarbet station. 37192 rounds the curve at Auch, North of Tyndrum on 19th August 1985 with the 6E46 1519 Mallaig Junc Yd-Blythe alumina empties. 37194 passes Berkswell with the 6G55 1120 Banbury-Bescot Speedlink on 26th September 1986, comprising traffic from Greaves Sdg and Kineton MOD. 37203 heads south at Kings Sutton with 6O72, the 1249 Wolverhampton Steel Terminal-Hoo Junction Yd, on 25th June 2002 37209 passing Warsop Junc with the 6V69, 1025 Tuxford C-Llandarcy BP tanks on 7th September 1984. 37212 squeals around the tight curve at Canning Street Crossing on 13th February 1989 with the 6F46 0755 Washwood Heath Up Sdgs-Cavendish Sdgs DCN service. 37213 heads 6T69, the1030 Pensnett LCP Fuels-Washwood Heath Up Sdgs trip, through Sutton Park on 12th October 1987. Trainload Coal liveried 37223 passes Talaton on 3rd May 1991 with the 6C34 0950 East Usk Yd-Exmouth Junc CCD Speedlink coal service.

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]]> Thu Aug 25 2005 Digital Pics 2 http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c637392.html Another collection of digital pictures taken around the West Midlands area, starting in July 2005. Monday 1 August 2005: Another collection of digital pictures taken around the West Midlands area, starting in July 2005.

Sunday 3rd July 2005 saw three EWS Class 90s in use with Virgin West Coast, two of which were on Holyhead diagrams. Here 90020 passes Cathiron with 1A41, the 1309 Holyhead-Euston. Running around an hour early, 47853 heads a 5Z49 1535 Preston-Old Oak Common ECS past Cathiron on Sunday 3rd July 2005. The stock had been used for a Deltic hauled charter the previous day, and 55019 had been dropped off at Crewe enroute, to go light engine to Barrow Hill. Late running of the southbound working on Friday saw the Murco tanks running on Saturday 9th July, 2005 as 6E70 1015 Bedworth-Port Clarence. Having been tipped off that blue 60078 was running round at Whitacre I made the dash to Hinckley to get this very worthwhile shot... Having had a blue 60 in sun at Hinckley a shed on an MGR was a bit of an anti-climax but hey, two freights in sun on a Saturday morning... A nice sunny Sunday morning on 10th July 2005 saw 67025 take the Northern Belle ECS to Oxford, running as the 5Z21 0850 from Crewe CS and seen at Hatton South Junction. As the previous down Euston service had terminated at Birmingham International due to late running, 90034 unusually departs from platform 5 with the 1B58 running as the 1410 International-Euston on 12th July, 2005. A second chance to get 90034 in the evening sun on 12th July saw it powering 1B89, the 1800 New Street-Euston past Berkswell. 66538 climbs Hatton bank on Friday 15th July 2005 with the 4M55 1000 Southampton MCT-Lawley St FLT liner. Having been a regular performer on the EBW circuit all week, I managed another shot of 90034 on 15th July, this time at Bradnocks Marsh, south of Hampton in Arden, with the 1B67 1506 Wolverhampton-Euston. The 6A42 1515 Bescot Yard-Wembley Yard And the final shot of the week of 90034, as it approaches Canley station in the evening of 15th July, with the 1G23 1740 Euston-Wolverhampton. In nice evening sun, 66036 runs through Canley on Friday 15th July 2005 with 5Z66, the 1552 Old Oak Common-Birmingham International ECS for an overnight Pathfinder tour to Scotland. The Shed worked the train as far as York. While waiting for the last Eastleigh unit move on 29th July 2005, the only other traffic on offer was 4M55, the 1000 Southampton MCT-Lawley St FLT liner with 66542 in charge as it approaches Hatton station. 67017 reaches the summit of Hatton bank on 29th July 2005 with the last refurbished Class 508 unit from Eastleigh Works, running as 5X47 0842 Eastleigh Works-Birkenhead North TMD. Another shot of the 6A42 1515 Bescot Yard-Wembley Yard Having suffered some minor damage in a derailment at Barton Hill depot, Voyager set 220011 was passed to be dragged to Central Rivers at 40mph, and VXC hired a Freightliner 47 to do the honours. Here 47197 passes the brickworks at Kingsbury with the 5Z11 1300 Barton Hill-Central Rivers on Sunday 31st July. West Coast Railway's 47851 and 47826 were rostered to work a 1Z59 0717 Oxford-Carlisle private charter on Monday 1st August, 2005. Having worked south overnight from Carnforth with the ECS, they are seen here passing the old station site at Kenilworth. Continuing the Class 90 theme (who would have thought Skodas would be interesting...), RFD liveried 90022 propels the 1B89 1800 Birmingham New Street-Euston through a sunny Berkswell on 2nd August 2005. A different view of 90029 arriving at Birmingham International on 9th August 2005 with the 1B76 1606 Wolverhampton-Euston. Taken from the Bickenhill Parkway bridge at the north end of the station. Freightliner Heavyhaul's 66555 has the road through Bloxwich on 17th August 2005 with the 4E42 0930 Rugeley PS-Welbeck Colliery empty MGR. Having not been to Bloxwich for many years, it was nice to at least get sun on 66068 with the 6G55 1038 Bloxwich-Bescot trip on 17th August 2005, even if it wasn't a Tractor... A ten minute late start meant typically just missing the sun at Leamore when 66068 passed with the 6G55 1038 Bloxwich-Bescot trip on 17th August 2005. Backlit, but at least in sun, 66187 approaches Madeley Junction on 17th August 2005 with the 6Z59 0450 Liverpool Bulk Terminal-Ironbridge PS MGR. A telephoto shot of 66241 just getting the road at Madeley Junction on 17th August 2005 with the 6C82 1100 Ironbridge PS-Carlisle Yard. A second shot of 66241 joining the main line at Madeley Junction on 17th August 2005 with the 6C82 1100 Ironbridge PS-Carlisle Yard empty MGR. We were waiting at Madeley Junction on 17th August for 37427 running via Salop with a 5Z37 1129 Crewe-New Street when we heard that due to a late start it was now routed via Stafford. A dash to Bescot frustratingly saw it wait on the main line north of the station until right time then appear just as the sun dipped... Having got 37427 at Bescot, a mad dash to Ryecroft was rewarded just in time by this nice shot of 47355 on a 5Z47 1100 Barrow Hill-Oxley move on 17th August 2005. A second go at 37427 on the 17th August saw it pass Cosford in sun with the 1Z37 1451 New Street-Aberystwyth additional for the annual Jewish Convention in the Welsh seaside town. 66218 captured passing Cosford with loaded HTAs forming the 6Z57 1050 Liverpool Bulk Terminal-Ironbridge PS MGR on 17th August 2005. 66187 was caught, again backlit, at Cosford on 17th August 2005 with the 4Z69 1426 Ironbridge PS-Walton Old Junction return MGR empties. Part GNER liveried 90024 made a rare apperance on Virgin's EBW circuit on 18th August 2005, seen here approach International with the 1G12 1241 Euston-Wolverhampton. A spell at Lea Marston in the morning of 23rd August netted five shots, a good haul these days, starting with 66011 on 6E08 0718 Wolverhampton ST-Belmont Yard. Next to turn up at Lea Marston on 23rd August 2005 was 66066 with HTAs on a late 4T18 0900 Toton Up Yd-Daw Mill empty MGR. Another, sunny, shot a Lea Marston on 23rd August 2005, this time 67030 with a 1Z67 0900 Lincoln Central-Bath Spa My first glimpse of a 66/9, 66952 at Lea Marston on 23rd August 2005 with the 4E42 0930 empty MGR from Rugeley PS, today running to Thoresby Colliery. The main reason for the visit to Lea Marston was the appearance of Royal Skip 67005 in multiple with Silver 67029 on the 4T20 1056 Toton Up Yd-Daw Mill MGR empties on 23rd August 2005. A double success - in sun and not routed via the slow lines.... A dispute at Bromford on 23rd August 2005 meant that 66078 on the 6V45 1026 Banbury RS-Cardiff Docks conveyor was diverted via Coventry and Nuneaton to avoid the run-round. I caught it at Hoggrill's End, approaching Whitacre Junction. Fragonset's 47145 was caught approaching Whitacre Junction with a 2Z01 0814 Sheffield-Derby RTC saloon special on Tuesday 23rd August 2005. GBRF's 66712 heads throught the Warwickshire countryside at Shustoke with 4L22, the 1410 Hams Hall-Felixstowe Medite Shipping charter, on 23rd August 2005. The second Lefarge conveyor of the day had 66148 on 6B30 1405 Mountsorrel-Northampton, seen here at Shustoke before running round at Whitacre on 23rd August 2005. Having lost the sun, I was at least able to do this shot of Corus liveried 60033 from a footpath crossing at Shustoke with a late running 6V92 1010 Corby-Margam on 23rd August 2005. Having been delayed running round at Bromford by a dispute, the sun had gone by the time 67029 & 67005 appeared at Shustoke with the 4T20 1056 Toton-Daw Mill MGR on 23rd August 2005. Who says Sheds don't clag? 66148 makes hard work of the climb from Whitacre Junction on 23rd August 2005 with the 6B30 1405 Mountsorrel-Northampton at Shustoke. About to give up due to poor light, the appearance of 67005 & 029 with 6A20 to Ratcliffe PS at Whitacre was a suprise. Originally booked to depart Daw Mill at 1610 via Nuneaton, they had been retimed to a 1640 departure and went via Washwood Heath. Thursday 26th August saw a pair of Skodas, 90026 & 90029, working a VWC diagram, here they depart Birmingham International with 1B58, the 1400 New Street-Euston. Another shot on 26th August of 90026 & 90029 pushing the 1B89 1800 New Street-Euston through Berkswell. This shot has been heavily cropped to avoid the Pendolino that tried to bowl us! Only digital can do this... 90037 was working 1G23 1740 Euston-Wolves on 26th August 2005. as it approached Berkswell the sun vanished behind black storm clouds. Answer crank up to 1800 ASA with 1000th at f2.5. Not a perfect shot but at least it's possible... The Rugby League Cup Final in Cardiff on 27th August 2005 saw a trio of Class 47 hauled trains. The first of these, 1Z47 0802 Manchester Picadilly-Cardiff Central was top & tailed with 47839 in charge heading past Sutton Bridge Junction. The lack of sun allowed the going away shot of 47847 on the rear of 1Z47, passing the site of Coleham Shelf Sidings on 27th August 2005. Compare this with the shot in the Class 25 gallery of 25259 here in 1985...! Trains were being cautioned by the Bobby at Sutton Bridge due to some sheep on the line further south. Here 47841 creeps up to the 'Box with the 1Z48 0830 Manchester Piccadilly-Cardiff Central on 27th August 2005.

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]]> Mon Aug 1 2005 Edinburgh area July 2005 http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c635834.html Taking advantage of low cost flights from Birmingham to Edinburgh with flybe, Wednesday 20th July 2005 saw a bash on the North Berwicks plus a visit to Dalmeny to try and get some shots with the Forth Bridge in the background. Of course we had to go when Longannet Power Station was closed but we didn't know that when we booked the flights... Never mind there was always the Linkswood tanks, which had been known recently to produce a 37... Inevitably the Linkswood was a "Shed" and it passed Dalmeny as we were passing Haymarket on the way there, and of course the sun refused to co-operate, but we had a good day, some nice shots and a few miles of new track, and all for Ł2.98 plus taxes! Wednesday 20 July 2005: Taking advantage of low cost flights from Birmingham to Edinburgh with flybe, Wednesday 20th July 2005 saw a bash on the North Berwicks plus a visit to Dalmeny to try and get some shots with the Forth Bridge in the background. Of course we had to go when Longannet Power Station was closed but we didn't know that when we booked the flights... Never mind there was always the Linkswood tanks, which had been known recently to produce a 37... Inevitably the Linkswood was a "Shed" and it passed Dalmeny as we were passing Haymarket on the way there, and of course the sun refused to co-operate, but we had a good day, some nice shots and a few miles of new track, and all for _2.98 plus taxes!

43096 leads into Waverley station with the 5E08 0902 Craigentinny-Waverley ECS. 90029 arrives at Waverley station with the 2Y35 0837 from North Berwick. 90037 runs into Waverley's Platform 1 with 2Y08, the 0928 Haymarket-North Berwick service. 90037 leaving North Berwick with 2Y09, the 1117 departure to Edinburgh Waverley. 90029 has just arrived at North Berwick with 2Y10, the 1034 from Waverley and will form 2Y11, the 1117 departure back. 43008 heads the 1E12 0755 Inverness-Kings Cross HST as it speeds through Drem station. 90037 has just joined the branch at Drem Junction with 2Y12, the 1134 Edinburgh-North Berwick. Just when you don't want the sun...! 66208 about to enter the Down Loop at Drem with the 6S86 0615 Drax-Millerhill empty MGR. 90029 departs from Drem station with 2Y02, the 1334 Edinburgh-North Berwick. 66208 was photographed for the second time in a day running through Dalmeny station with the 6G72 1417 Millerhill-Westfield empties. 66196 just caught in sun as it comes off the Forth Bridge at Dalmeny with 7G08, the 1555 Inverkeithing-Drax PS MGR. 43197 runs into Haymarket station at the head of 1S15, the 1200 Kings Cross-Inverness. 43116 (with Olympic bid branding) brings up the rear of 1S15, the 1200 Kings Cross-Inverness, as it leaves Haymarket. 90029 again at Haymarket forming the 2Y12 1702 service to North Berwick. 90037 stands at Haymarket station with 2Y14, the 1729 departure to North Berwick. 91116 arrives at Waverley with 1S18, the 1330 GNER service from Kings Cross. A final shot of 90029 in the evening sun leaving Waverley with the 2Y28 1837 to North Berwick.

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]]> Wed Jul 20 2005 Class 56 Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c520567.html A selection of Class 56 pictures, again mainly around the Midlands, from the early 1980s through to their premature demise in the UK in 2004. Saturday 30 April 2005: A selection of Class 56 pictures, again mainly around the Midlands, from the early 1980s through to their premature demise in the UK in 2004.

56014 has just past Crosfield Crossing and is about to pass under Warrington Bank Quay Station, on the low level line, with 6E13, the 0845 Fidlers Ferry PS-Healey Mills empty MGR on 6th June 1986. Loadhaul liveried 56027 was stabled in the Down Local Sdgs at Bescot on Saturday 7th March 1998 at the head of a rake of HBAs. 56033 powers through Harpenden station on10th July 1990 with 6C13, the 1805 Melton Mowbray-Cricklewood Freshly painted in engineer's grey and yellow, the so called 56s took over many of the Didcot MGR turns during the early 1980s from slow speed fitted 47s. Here 56042 rumbles through Widney Manor station on 5th August 1983 with 7V65, the 1215 Bagworth-Didcot PS MGR. A regular 56 turn was the twice daily flow of refuse from Cricklewood to the Shanks & McEwans landfill site at Forders Siding, Stewartby, on the Bedford-Bletchley line. In the late evening of 31st May 1990, having run round, 56045 backs 6A62, the 1812 from Cricklewood RTS into Forders. A flow of limestone from the Steetly quarry at Whitwell to Witton Yard in Birmingham started in 1990. By 1991 the flow was using a rake of POA wagons leased from Tiger Rail and they are seen here passing the disused Sutton Park station behind 56048 on 5th July 1991, forming the 6E92 1155 Witton Yd-Whitwell Quarry. In a variation of the 56053 throbs up the Camp Hill bank on 5th June 1993 with the 6V45 1300 Braunstone Gate-Tidal Sdgs loaded scrap. Berry's yard in Leicester was infamous for breaking up BR locos and DMUs and many a familiar engine will have made it's last journey on this regular Saturday working! 56054 in evening sun passes Harpended on 10th July 1990 with the 6A62 1815 Cricklewood RTS-Forders Siding 56057 hurries along the Up Fast at east Hyde, south of Luton, on 12th July 1990 with the 6C31 0828 Mountsorrel-Radlett. Due to problems at Pleck Junc on 26th September, 1983, 56069 will run round on Bescot Up Goods line before heading north with the 7T78 1355 Daw Mill-Ironbridge PS MGR. Class 56 workings on Ironbridge trips were fairly short lived as they were ousted by the Class 58s . By 1986 56s had put in an appearance on the heavy Stanlow-Leeds trans-pennine oil trains. While not in the same league as a pair of 25s, I doubt many viewing this would miss the chance to see it happen again! Here 56070 eases past Helsby Junction Signal Box with the 6M35 1423 Leeds-Stanlow empty tanks on 1st May 1986. The two-tone grey Trainload Freight livery was, in my opinion, one of the smartest devised. With Construction Sector decals, 56078 has just backed out with 7F51 1620 Thoresby-Cottam PS, while in the distance 58013 waits the road with 6H34 1348 High Marnham-Thoresby on 25th March 1993 Wearing a now tatty Having now loaded it's train under the bunker, 56092 departs from Bagworth on 11th August 1987 with the 7T38 1241 MGR to Mantle Lane Sidings, from where it will later go forward as 7V06 to Didcot PS. Trainload Coal liveried 56093 There was once a network of colieries around Cannock in Staffordshire, but by the 1990s only the Opencast Disposal Point at Mid-Cannock was still sending out traffic. In this view 56093 & 56033 load the 7G18 1345 MGR to Rugeley Power Station at Mid Cannock on 30th April 1994. 56103 heads north through Harpenden on 10th July 1990 with the 6M68 1800 Hayes & Harlington0Stud Farm Tarmac empties.

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]]> Sat Apr 30 2005 Class 08 - 13 Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c496514.html Continuing the shunter theme, a selection of 350 Hp shunt engine pictures from around the country, mainly Class 08s with the odd 09 and one shot of the Class 13 combination at Tinsley. Again industrial type locations form the backdrop to most shots of these photogenic little locomotives. Sunday 10 April 2005: Continuing the shunter theme, a selection of 350 Hp shunt engine pictures from around the country, mainly Class 08s with the odd 09 and one shot of the Class 13 combination at Tinsley. Again industrial type locations form the backdrop to most shots of these photogenic little locomotives.

Traffic at Nuneaton still warranted a Class 08 duty well into the 1980s. In 1983 it was a Saltley loco, Target 95, working from 0630-1430 SX at Abbey Street and Trent Valley Yards. On 30th April 1983 08068 was caught stabled along with 31312. The quaintly named Hookagate PAD was located south west of Shrewsbury on the Cambrian line and was used to assemble trains of long welded rail. The pilot duty, Target 97, was worked by 08132 Sheerness Iron & Steel Co acquired two Class 08 shunters for their Sheerness Works in 1982, 08133 & 08216. The latter was photographed during a pause in shunting PXA scrap wagons on 25th August 1983. This engine was scrapped by Harry Needle in April 2001. 08133 survives in preservation on the Severn Valley Railway. 08266 had been withdrawn for three months when this picture was taken at Swindon Works on 24th June 1985, and was already minus it's rods. Previously at Shirebrook, happily it is now preserved at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. One of the Severn Tunnel Junction Yard pilots, 08354, is seen here tripping fuel tanks to the Locomotive Servicing Depot on 24th June 1985. Caught during a trip to Skegness on 25th June 1983, 08386 was the Boston Yard pilot, seen stabled for the weekend along with two Grainflow polybulks. With the Coventry Homefire Plant in the background, NCB hired 08461 shunts empty MCV & HTVs on 8th August 1983. The wagons, destined for Toton, will be tripped down the branch to Three Spires Junction Yard for forward movement by BR. The NCB at Coventry Colliery had a requirement to hire up to three Saltley (later Tyseley) allocated Class 08s to supplement their own power working the steeply graded branch from Three Spires Junction to Keresley with traffic from Coventry Colliery and to the Homefire Plant. Here 08461 waits the road to Three Spires on 8th August 1983, while 08761 preceeds it with loaded HAAs for Didcot PS and 08067 brings up a rake of empties for loading. Temple Mills Yard was already in decline when visited on 16th December 1982, with the main hump having closed that year and all shunting now concentrated at the south end. There was still enough work for two pilot engines and 08550 was seen busy shunting air braked traffic. Prior to it's unseemly demise, Swindon Works specialised in DMU and Shunter overhauls. 08565 was caught ex works there on 18th March 1983. This particular engine was withdrawn from Motherwell in July 1993 and broken up at MC Metals. Having painted 08604 in BR Green livery, it was only fair that Tyseley TMD should have one in LMS Black! 08601 was chosen and also gained cast nameplates as The other half of the celebrity duo, 08604, in BR Green livery and complete with cast number and The Rugby Cement works at New Bilton, Rugby received weekly trainloads of gypsum from Hotchley Hill in MDV wagons. These were tripped from Rugby Yard along the rump of the old Leamington branch and here 08628 arrives at New Bilton with the 6T07 0730 trip from Rugby Down Sdgs on 20th June 1985. The New Bilton works also still sent out cement traffic by Speedlink services in 1985. 08628 prepares to return to Rugby with loaded PCAs as the 6T07 trip on 20th June 1985. The Freight depot at Longport Junction was busy with Speedlink traffic in 1985 and warranted an outstabled Crewe Class 08 to work the 9T30 Longport Shunt and local trip duty. On 14th June 1985 08737 was the rostered engine. Target 28 was the Shrewsbury shunt engine duty serving Coton Hill Yard, Abbey Yard, Crewe Bank, Shrewsbury Station and the various CCE sidings at Sutton Bridge. Here 08737 propels the 9T28 trip from Coleham CCE Sdgs across the main line to Coleham Shelf Sdgs on Saturday 7th June 1986. The Tip sidings at Alsager were used to reclaim spoil brought in by Crewe's Target 94 trip each morning and were busy enough to require the services of the Longport based 08 on Target 30 to visit to shunt between 1100 & 1145, after the tripper had done it's business. 08784 obliged on 24th September 1986. Another shot of the industrial landscape at Keresley near Coventry, with Coventry Colliery to the right and the Homefire Plant on the left. Tyseley's 08790 was on hire to the NCB on 13th August 1983 and shunts a trainload of loaded MCVs from Toton. In an unusual variation on the Railfreight grey livery, 08832 shunts engineers vehicles at Bescot's Up Yard while working An Eastleigh Class 08 duty was to assist with empty stock workings to and from Portsmouth Harbour station. On a beautifully sunny 7th September 1988 08847 was top & tail with 50017 with the 5P15 1100 Portsmouth Harbour-Fratton CS ECS. Another Railfreight grey painted engine, 08893 is seen on Saturday 3rd October 1987 engaged in positioning locos for the Tyseley TMD open day on Sunday. The exhibits were Hymek D7018 and EM2 Electric 1502. Toton Yard in 1985 still warranted five pilot duties covering the Old Bank (T03), West Yard (T04), C & W Shops and New Bank (T05) and North Yard (T06). On 19th August 1985 08894 works the fifth, the Inter Yard Pilot (T02) duty. The Crossfields private siding in Warrington was situated on the low level lines, and was served by the 9T70 trip which was worked by one of the Arpley Yard pilots. On 5th September 1984 08916 propels two BDAs of steel bar out of the Yard enroute to Crossfields. MAT had a car terminal in the old goods yard at Dorridge until the early '80s which loaded traffic from Rover at Solihull. This warranted a pilot engine outstationed from Tyseley and here 08919 departs light engine back to Tyseley for fuel on Saturday 11th April 1981 after spending the week on Another regular traffic on the former CLC lines from Warrington was cement to a Blue Circle terminal at Tanhouse Lane. This was worked in block trains from Earles Sdgs to the west Deviation Yard at Widnes then tripped to Tanhouse Lane. On 6th June, 1986 08923 shunts with the 8T22 trip at Tanhouse Lane. 09011 was one of the two Dover Train Ferry pilots on 26th June 1983, seen here tripping traffic from Town Yard to the Ferry Terminal ready for shipment. In later years a pair of Class 33s were used on these duties. Hamworthy Goods is situated on a short branch into the docks area, near to Poole in Dorset. On 3rd August 1989 09025 was stabled there in readiness to shunt the sparse Speedlink traffic of steel and scrap. Three pairs of 350hp shunters were converted in 1965 to form the ARC used the former yard at Loughborough to dispatch trains of aggregates from local quarries and employed Class 08 D3101 to marshall trains. It was photographed there on 26th June 1982. It later moved the short distance to the GCR for preservation.

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]]> Sun Apr 10 2005 Class 01 - 07 Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c495406.html A small collection of pics of some of the older and smaller BR shunter classes, many of which had already passed into industrial service by the time I caught up with them. Ignored by many photographers, I have always had a soft spot for shunting engines and for anybody interested in industrial locations they were well worth a look. Sunday 10 April 2005: A small collection of pics of some of the older and smaller BR shunter classes, many of which had already passed into industrial service by the time I caught up with them. Ignored by many photographers, I have always had a soft spot for shunting engines and for anybody interested in industrial locations they were well worth a look.

LCP Holdings operated a coal depot at Pensnett, at the end of a short branch from Brierley Hill, which could also handle general Speedlink traffics. The branch was served by Bescot's Target 62 but LCP had two former BR Class 02s to shunt the depot. Here Shipbreakers of Queenborough acquired a number of former BR Class 03 and 04 shunters. Some were scrapped or resold and a few retained to shunt their premises at Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey. One was 03027, withdrawn from Colchester in January 1976, and photographed on 25th August 1983. It is now preserved at Peak Rail. Withdrawn from Norwich in May 1976, 03037 was sold to the NCB and ended it's career at Oxcroft Disposal Point. When photographed on 1st September 1991 it was rarely used and was later sold for preservation at Peak Rail. Newcastle station pilot was a famous Class 03 duty, worked by Gateshead's 03063 on 14th September 1983. The obligatory shunters truck was to ensure the correct operation of track circuits by the short wheelbase engine. One of the last regular Class 03 duties was to trip HEAs of domestic coal betwwen Cavendish Sdgs and Birkemhead North CCD. Here 03073 arrives at Cavendish Sdgs on 13th February 1989 with the empties as the 9T29 1020 trip from Birkenhead North CCD. With an interesting dockside backdrop, 03073 comes off the empties forming the 9T29 1020 trip from Birkenhead North CCD at Cavendish Sidings on 13th February 1989, from where the train loco, 37212, will work them forward to Washwood Heath. Here 03073 has collected the loaded HEAs which formed the 6F46 0755 Washwood Heath Up Sdgs-Cavendish Sdgs service on on 13th February 1989, and is crossing Duke Street enroute as the 9T29 1225 Cavendish Sdgs-Birkenhead North CCD. Much of 03073's journey with the 9T29 1225 Cavendish Sdgs-Birkenhead North CCD trip on 13th February 1989 followed alongside Beaufort Road, Birkenhead at walking pace, allowing lots of photo opportunities such as passing the entrance to Bidston Dry Dock. Allocated to Gateshead, 03079 was outstabled at Berwick on Tweed as the local shunt pilot and was photographed in the late evening sun on 16th August 1982. Withdrawn from Bath Road in May 1981, 03121 was photographed stored at Swindon Works on 24th June 1985. Sadly it met it's end there just three months later. Not technically covered by this heading but similar enough to be included is departmental shunter 97653 (formerly PWM653), seen here on overhaul and Swindon Works on 18th March 1983. It is now preserved at the former Army base at Long Marston. Another Class 03 used at Queenborough was the former D2070, a Thornaby engine when withdrawn in November 1971. The site was linked to the Sheerness branch by a short tramway which can be seen in the background of this 25th August 1983 view. I would not normally include Former Class 04 D2294 was one of a number sold to Shipbreakers of Queenborough, having been withdrawn from Eastleigh in 1971. Having escaped the axe it was shunting condemed EMU stock there on 25th August 1983. It was later scrapped itself there in 1985.

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]]> Sun Apr 10 2005 Class 45 Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c494650.html The Class 45s or "Peaks" were a daily sight around the Midlands, equally at home on passenger or freight work. Never the most glamorous of engines, they were nevertheless masters of just about any type of work, equally at home on Derby-St. Pancras or cross country expresses and heavy coal trains. Always common on Saltley workings, they became regulars on Bescot duties as well, especially following the demise of the Class 40s. Hopefully the following collection will give a flavour of the repertoire of work they performed around the Midlands and even a little further afield as well. Saturday 9 April 2005: The Class 45s or "Peaks" were a daily sight around the Midlands, equally at home on passenger or freight work. Never the most glamorous of engines, they were nevertheless masters of just about any type of work, equally at home on Derby-St. Pancras or cross country expresses and heavy coal trains. Always common on Saltley workings, they became regulars on Bescot duties as well, especially following the demise of the Class 40s. Hopefully the following collection will give a flavour of the repertoire of work they performed around the Midlands and even a little further afield as well.

45006 45007 backs 25 HKVs forming the 8L47 1400 trip from Llandudno Junc Yd into the reception sidings at Penmaenmawr on 21st October 1986. 45009 was caught coming off the Nuneaton line at Water Orton on 22nd March 1986 with a Beeston-Cardiff special conveying scrap in MCV wagons. 45/0s were diagrammed for a number of Birmingham area local trips during the '80s, working from both Bescot and Washwood Heath yards. Here 45015 passes Bromford Bridge on 8th July 1983 with the 8T50 1520 Bescot Down Yd-Tyseley Yard trip conveying empty Cartic 4s. 45026 rounds the curve at Coventry South Junc on 7th May, 1985, with 6V19, the 0605 Bescot-Didcot Yd Speedlink. This train was booked a 47 but could produce anything Bescot had on hand from a pair of 20s to a 56 but Peaks were not unusual on it. 45034 passes Washwood Heath No. 1 on 8th August 1983 with a 6T52 trip from Washwood Heath to the LCP Fuels Coal Concentration Depot at Small Heath. 45037 comes off the Nuneaton avoiding line at Abbey Junction on 21st May 1987 with the 6M44 1135 Ketton Ward Sdg-Castle Bromwich Cement. 45045 45048 45056 shunts the Blue Circle terminal at Queens Head Sidings, Handsworth in Birmingham on 27th April 1985 having arrived with a 6Z26 1005 special from Earles Sidings Although rail traffic to Hams Hall Power Station had finished at the start of the 80s, the Sulphacrete concrete block plant was still rail served with a daily flyash train from Drakelow 45068 crosses the the Erewash Valley main lines into Toton's Down Side with the 9T71 1453 Bestwood Park-Toton New Bank trip on 19th February 1985. These reception lines closed in a major rationalisation in 1986. The stamping ground for the 45101 was caught leaving the Shanks & McEwans sidings at Calvert on the old Great Central mainline on avery wintery 12th January 1985 with a Saturday extra 4L42 1600 Calvert-Northolt, which fortunately departed some 40 minutes early! Although Coalville was synonymous with coal trains, there was (and still is) a fair amount of stone traffic from local quarries. Here 45119 departs from Mantle Lane Sidings after running round the 6O74 1528 Cliffe Hill-Tonbridge West Yd ballast on 22nd July 1986. The Peak will work the train as far as Cricklewood. 45137 passes the closed Water Orton East Junction signal box on 6th June 1986 with the 6E44 0850 Cardiff Tidal-Scunthorpe Speedlink service.

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]]> Sat Apr 9 2005 Class 40 pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c452025.html When I started taking up railway photography seriously, the forties were well in decline and so I got relatively few decent shots of them working trains. I did however manage a few decent studies of engines \"on shed\" which are included as a tribute to these magnificent machines. Friday 4 March 2005: When I started taking up railway photography seriously, the forties were well in decline and so I got relatively few decent shots of them working trains. I did however manage a few decent studies of engines \"on shed\" which are included as a tribute to these magnificent machines.

Reddish TMD in Manchester had a slightly erie feel by April 1982. The site was littered with Class 76 DC electrics which had all been withdrawn by then but was still doing exams and repairs on 25s and 40s. As both classes were well into their demise it was seemed obvious the writing was on the wall for this renown facility, which of course it was. Here 40002 awaits attention on 30th April 1982. One regular working for a 40 into the Birmingham area up to 1983 was the 7G31 1245 Northampton Esso Sdgs-Bromford Bridge tanks, seen here with 40013 in charge at Whitacre Junction on 19th August 1983. Northwich was a favourite place to find a couple of 40s stabled over the weekend and Saturday 17th April 1982 was no exception with 40033 sitting outside the old shed in nice sunshine Back in 1982 Saltley LIP in Birmingham was still a bustling place with 20s, 25s, 45s and 47s the staple fayre. 50s were also common along with a booked turn for a 33 to visit on Friday evenings and of course there were a couple of 40 diagrams that saw the class visit each day. Here 40077 is kept company by a Peak and a line of 25s in the twilight of 16th April 1982. In the early 1980s, Nuneaton Trent Valley was a hive of departmental activity with the up sidings being used to marshall and stage ballast workings from local quarries at Hartshill, Judds and Croft. Most of these workings wre booked for 25s or 40s and usually two or three 25s and a brace of 40s could be found stabled at weekends. Here 40104 was caught departing on 17th January 1983 with an unidentified trip to Rugby or points south. March TMD was visited on 13th April 1982 and amongst the assorted Eastern Region engines was 40133. Another shed shot but utterly unrepeatable! A famous Warrington was a good place to see the last of the Forties in action as well as lots of lovely 25s. Here 40155 pulls away from Warrington Bank Quay Sidings with the 8L81 engineers trip taking empty spoil MSVs to Guide Bridge on 5th September 1984 On 22nd November 1982 we paid a visit to Hinckley station to photograph 31/4s on the Birmingham-Norwich circuits. With no passenger due the peg coming off meant a freight was likely but 40162 was an unusual sight on a late running 6G80 0524 Toton Old Bank-Three Spires Junction. This train conveyed coal bound for the Coventry Homefire Plant was booked a Peak and was often a pair of 20s but a 40 did us nicely! The 4G66 0548 Holyhead-Lawley Street Freightliner was one of the duties that brought a 40 to Saltley each day, although a Peak was not an uncommon substitute. Here 40192 heads the 4D88 1440 Lawley St FLT-Holyhead return Freightliner past Washwood Heath on 8th July, 1983. In May 1985 four withdrawn Class 40s were reinstated as departmental locomotives in connection with the remodelling of Crewe Station. In practice they found use on a variety of ballast trips in the Crewe & Chester areas. Here 97405 (the former 40060) sits in the forlon remains of Croes Newydd Yard, now being used to reclaim track materials, before working the 8L54 trip to Crewe Gresty Lane on 22nd May 1986. Another of the Crewe departmental 40s was 97406, renumbered from 40135. A trip to Crewe and Stoke on 14th June 1985 found '406 on the work she was intended for, in this case at North Staffs Junction, Crewe, on a 9L07 Crewe area ballast trip. After final withdrawal on on 16th December 1986 97406 was saved from scrapping pending sale for preservation and by 25th May 1987 had gravitated to Tyseley TMD were she was photographed in company with 40013 which had, following withdrawal in May 1985, been adopted as a travelling exhibition loco. Having photographed 97406 at Crewe in the morning and missed getting '405 in the bag at Stoke by minutes, we heard that 97408 was working back to Crewe via Stoke on a 9L50 trip with ballast from Nuneaton on 14th June 1985. From a vantage point just off the platform ramp at Stoke station we photographed a couple of electrics but were told to move by jobsworth just before 408 hove into view - hence the hurried nose on shot. All the more annoying in full sun!

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]]> Fri Mar 4 2005 Class 20 Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c449174.html The English Electric Type 1s were the undoubtedly the major success story of the 1950s Modernisation Plan. First introduced in 1957 they are still in revenue earning service with DRS, albeit only a handful remain. Allocated to the London Midland, Eastern and Scottish Regions they were at home on any kind of freight working but were probably best known for use in pairs on MGR trains. They also managed to appear on passenger workings, notably on Summer Saturdays to Skegness. While not having quite the same appeal to me as a Class 25, they were still a ubiquitous part of the local railway scene and the pictures here will attempt to give a flavour of the many and varied workings they were gainfully employed upon. Tuesday 1 March 2005: The English Electric Type 1s were the undoubtedly the major success story of the 1950s Modernisation Plan. First introduced in 1957 they are still in revenue earning service with DRS, albeit only a handful remain. Allocated to the London Midland, Eastern and Scottish Regions they were at home on any kind of freight working but were probably best known for use in pairs on MGR trains. They also managed to appear on passenger workings, notably on Summer Saturdays to Skegness. While not having quite the same appeal to me as a Class 25, they were still a ubiquitous part of the local railway scene and the pictures here will attempt to give a flavour of the many and varied workings they were gainfully employed upon.

Saturday 28th September 1985 saw a trip to Shrewsbury to catch up with pairs of 37s on the Cambrian. While waiting at Sutton Bridge what should turn up but a pair of During the summer of 1989 a shortage of DMUs lead to a number of Derby-Crewe services being worked by pairs of 20s on loco hauled stock. On 7th August that year we were on the way back from a day at Peak Forest and passed through Uttoxeter in time to catch 20069 & 20043 with the 2K49 1913 Derby-Crewe. In 1985 Nuneaton retained a traincrew depot and the prinicipal duties were departmental workings, mainly with ballast from several local quarries. Target 95 was a Birmingham DCE trip based on Nuneaton and on 17th June 1985 20113 & 20081 had charge of an 8T95 empty ballast working from Leamington Spa. As well as power station and household coal mined at Coventry Colliery, the yard at Three Spires Junction also handled inwards traffic from Toton bound for the Homefire smokeless fuel plant at Keresley. On 20th June 1985 20160 & 20060 had brought in a load as 6G79, the 0617 from Toton and are seen here backing out with the 6D85 0830 empties back to Toton New Bank. Probably the most famous Class 20 duties were the summer Saturday Skegness workings from the East Midlands. Nowadays passengers have to suffer two car sprinters but in the 80s they had the luxury of English Electric's finest and a rake of Mk.1s. Here 20113 & 20161 call at Sleaford on 30th June, 1984 with 1M02, the 1158 SO Skegness-Leicester. The South Staffs line was a useful freight corridor bypassing Birmingham and allowing easy access to Bescot Yard. It fell victim to dwindling traffic levels and closed in 1993. Recent re-opening proposals seem to have got lost in the un-Strategic Rail Authorities seeming lack of interest in anything that doesn't benefit Virgin West Coast or London commuters... In this shot 20163 & 20155 are about to pass over Eagle Crossing, Great Bridge, on 17th October, 1983 with the 9V66 1252 Bescot Down Yd-Gloucester New Yard. Two endangered species in this picture! Pairs of twenties were just about extinct on East Midlands MGR duties and Thurcroft Colliery was shortly to close. The opportunity for a last photograph came when on a visit to the area on 25th September 1991 I got word that a pair were allocated on empties from from Worksop. Here 20169 & 20210 have just about finished loading the 7F49 1540 MGR departure to Cottam Power Station. The Prismo sidings at Bardon Hill, near Coalville received trainloads of bitumen from Shell at Stanlow and was served by the 6F34 service from Ellesmere Port, arriving in the early hours, usually two days a week. Although booked direct to Bardon Hill the loads seem to have been tripped into the sidings from Mantle Lane and the empties were then tripped to Mantle Lane for an evening departure back to Ellesmere Port. 20177 & 20192 shunt bitumen tanks at Bardon Hill on 25th July 1983, having arrived as 9T26 1550 from Mantle Lane Sidings. On 21st January 1986 20180 was allocated to Bescot's Target 89 and employed on DCE duties tidying up after weekend engineering work along the Coventry-Nuneaton line. Here it is passing Coundon Road with a 9T89 1410 Three Spires Junc Yd-Coventry Yd trip. Hard to think this is an Inter-City mainline! 20185 approaches Kenilworth on 6th March 2005 with an 8T95 1100 Nuneaton NE Sidings-Leamington Yard ballast trip on 6th March, 1986. Once so common you would barely give them a second thought were pairs of 20s on MGRs in the East Midlands. Now they are history, as is this location, Willington Power Station. Even the ubiquitous HAA MGR wagons are becoming an endangered species now! On a misty 28th March 1991 Railfreight liveried 20215 patners 20142 on the 6D46 1447 Willington-Toton North Yard empties. After the demise of the 25s, Helsby was never quite the same again. The use of pairs of 20s on Warrington trips did have some attraction though, and a visit on 13th February 1989 saw 20218 & 20189 have charge of the 6T74 1330 Arpley-Ince UKF trip approaching Helsby Junction. Pairs of 20s were regular traction on Mossend-Dee Marsh steel trains, with coil from Ravenscraig. Here 20040 & 20131 head south from Acton Grange Junction past Moore on 11th June 1986 with the 6M23 1130 Mossend-Dee Marsh. 20048 positions a single TTA of fuel oil adjacent to Fort William Station on 20th August 1985. 20048 propels the 7Y02 trip from Mallaig Junction Yard into the BAC Sidings at Lochaber on 20th August 1985. 20048 leaves the British Aluminium Co sidings at Lochaber on 21st August 1985, with the 7Y02 trip to Mallaig Junc Yard. 20048 approaches Mallaig Junction on 20th August, 1985, with the 7Y02 trip comprising 2 empty TTAs from Fort William Station. 20048 propels the consist of 7Y31 from Mallaig Junction Yard into Fort William Freight Depot on 21st August 1985. 20048, the Y02 trip engine, shunts Mallaig Junc Yd on 22nd August, 1985. 20065 & 20042 set back into the Field Sidings at Leamington Spa on 8th August 1986 with the 8T95 ACE ballast tripper from Nuneaton, which that day consisted of 11 loaded Catfish (ZEVs), 1 loaded YEV and a Shark (ZUV) plow brake van. 20071 & 20075 bring the 7T77 0930 Parkside-Fidlers Ferry MGR round the curve towards Arpley Junction on 6th June 1986. They will run round in Latchford Sidings and take the low level route under Bank Quay station. 20075 & 20113 come off the Pleck Curve at Bescot Junction with the 8T50 1337 Washwood Heath Up Sdgs-Bescot Down Yd local trip on 26th September 1983. Another pair of 20s, 20076 & 20035 have charge of 6M23, the 1130 Mossend NY- Dee Marsh Junc, this time passing through Helsby on 1st May 1986. The 20s will have replaced AC Electric power at warrington Bank Quay. Railfreight liveried 20077 is paired with grimy blue 20135 to work Mantle Lane Depot's 32 Trip on 15th May 1986. They are seen here running through the centre of Coalville with the 6T32 1306 Drakelow 20078 & 20163 run under the disused Down Arrival lines at Toton as they approach from the south on 28th March 1991 with the 6D45 1320 Willington Power Station-Toton North Yd empty MGR. 20085 leads 20147 through Hednesford on 9th August 1988 with the 7T62 1615 Essington Wood-Rugeley PS MGR. Target 62 would normally work two round trips from the Essington opencast disposal point to Rugeley, a distance of a mere 10 miles. Much of Rugeley's coal now comes from places slightly further afield in Scotland or even South Africa. That's progress...! From a vantage point atop the disused former Great Northern Railway viaduct, 20103 & 20186 are seen heading South past the Bennerley loading bunker on 22nd February 1990 with a 7A32 Bentinck-Ratcliffe Power Station MGR. 20138 & 20066 round the curve from Proof House Junction to St.Andrews Junction on 2nd May 1993 with a 1Z21 0950 New Street-Gloucester charter. This was Pathfinder's

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]]> Tue Mar 1 2005 Class 25 Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c442616.html My favourite class of diesel locomotives, the 25s were such a familiar part of the local scene in the West Midlands. When they started to be withdrawn en masse in the 1980s, myself and partner in crime Ron Kosys, went on a crusade to try and capture as many workings as possible. The following pics may not be of the best technical quality - full sun was a rare commodity even in the balmy 1980s! - but I hope they do give a flavour of the work performed by the "Rats", around the old London Midland Region and beyond. Wednesday 23 February 2005: My favourite class of diesel locomotives, the 25s were such a familiar part of the local scene in the West Midlands. When they started to be withdrawn en masse in the 1980s, myself and partner in crime Ron Kosys, went on a crusade to try and capture as many workings as possible. The following pics may not be of the best technical quality - full sun was a rare commodity even in the balmy 1980s! - but I hope they do give a flavour of the work performed by the "Rats", around the old London Midland Region and beyond.

No feature on the class 25s could miss out Nuneaton. An important junction on the Trent Valley mainline it once paid host to marshalling yards and a loco depot. By the mid 1980s it still retained a train crew depot and holding sidings and the, albeit truncated, yards still featured heavily in the granite traffic from local quarries, much going for railway ballast use. One of those, Croft Quarry is on the Nueaton-Leicester line and still sends out rail traffic today. On 12th February 1986 25032 pauses at Nuneaton Trent Valley while working the 7K03 1030 Croft quarry-Crewe Gresty Lane loaded working. Living by the line in Kenilworth gives the opportunity to dash up to the old Kenilworth Junction if anything interesting goes into the loop heading north, or it did as this shot is now impossible with so much tree growth... On Sunday 5th October 1986 25034 was looped with the 8L02 1100 Leamington Yard-Bescot with recovered rail. 25034 runs past the forlorn site of Oswestry Station on 23rd June 1986 with the 7J02, 1028 Bescot Up Yd-Blodwell Quarry ballast empties. Hard to believe this was once the headquarters of the Cambrian Railway! Most of the west Midlands area ballast came from East Midland quarries such as Nuneaton and Croft so the long trek to Blodwell was unusual to say the least. This was of course a regular Bescot Class 25 diagram until they were displaced by 31s. As well as weekend ballasts, 25s were booked for many local weekday enginers trips. One such was Target 90, a Bescot DCE Ballast trip, which on 9th August 1986 was tasked with taking the The Coventry to Nuneaton line was always primarily a freight artery serving local industry, particularly a string of local collieries. By the '80s though oil was a major traffic and remains so to the Murco sidings at Bedworth. A flow that was lost in 1986 was to the Charringtons terminal at Hawkesbury Lane. This was booked to run MSX and in it's later days was worked from Ripple Lane to Willesden by a Stratford 47 (SF47 diagram), forward to Coventry Goods by a Class 81/85 (AC200) then tripped to Hawkesbury by a Crewe Class 25 (CD304). The return empties used a similar method, CD304 to Coventry, AC200 to Willesden and SF65 to Ripple Lane. Here 25035 is seen on a wintery 12th February 1986 with the late running 6M43 0405 Ripple Lane-Charrington Sdgs on the climb past Longford - oh for a sound clip! The BOC plant at Ditton supplied oxygen to a number of locations around the country including the Austin-Rover complex at Morris Cowley. These ran as specials in MAP timings and here 25037 is seen with the return 6Z53 1427 Didcot-Ditton empties at Berkswell on 7th August 1986. The short branch from Winsford Junction to Over & Wharton saw a short resurgence in the mid-80s with block trains of road salt to locations in Scotland as well as to Reading. After an illicit cab ride down the branch on 11th June 1986, we manged to photograph 25037 & 25034 berthing the 7Z49 empties from Mossend, albeit in appalling light. Weekend ballast programmes were another likely place to find a 25s out on a Sunday. On Sunday 11th January 1986 25057 had charge of the Stafford OHLM train at Colton north of Rugeley, having arrived as 6L83 2155 from Stafford Salop Sdgs and was due off site back to Stafford at 1500. One famous 25 duty right up until the end was the weekly Shell oil train from Stanlow. Here 25057 runs into Machynlleth station on 4th March, 1987 with the return empties, the Wednesday's only 7F49 1528 Aberystwyth-Stanlow. The last chance to photograph 25057 was on 13th March 1987, just two days before withdrawal at Crewe. Having done 25912 on Target 91 ant Trawsfynned, we headed to Llandudno Junction in time to get 25057 arriving with the 7T92 1150 trip from Holyhead. It later worked forward with the 7F10 1530 Speedlink to Walton Old Junction. Another of the originating points for railway ballast in the Nueaton area was at Hartshill. Here granite ballast was loaded in sidings off the WCML north of Nuneaton. Some traffic was tripped to Nuneaton TV but there were also up to three booked trains a day to Guide Bridge, Bletchley or Willesden. A visit on a rather chilly 12th February 1986 saw 25058 waiting while the 1624 departure to Guide Bridge, running as 7L42, was loaded. Caldon Low quarry in Staffordshire was at the end of a rambling branch line from Leekbrook Junc and thence Stoke-on-Trent. Due to the gradients trains were worked in two portions from Leekbrook and here 25059 arrives with the first, 7K06, the 0907 from Longport Pinnox Sdgs, on 24th November, 1986. March 1987 saw the end of Class 25 operations on BR and by the 20th just three were left. 25059 was shown on TOPS at Buxton allocated on The decision to go to mid-Wales for the Stanlow train was reinforced by the word that a pair of Rats were working a test train on the Cambrian. A spot on Tallerdig bank was in order to hear and see 25059 & 25109 thrashing up with the 1T20 1506 Machynlleth-Oxley Sdgs - Hellfire stuff! In the classic view of the low level lines under Warrington Bank Quay station, 25072 & 25271 head the 6H33 1202 Widnes West Deviation Yd-Earles Sdgs on 5th September, 1984 with empty PCVs from the Blue Circle depot at Tanhouse Lane. The wagons would have been tripped to West deviation by the Class 08 working the T42 Widnes area pilot duty. I am not a big fan of stationary portraits of locomotives (or Crewe had one local trip working that was still throwing up a 25 into 1986, despite being nominaly booked for a 31. Target 94 started the day taking spoil to the tip at Alsager, then after taking the empties back to Basford Hall, did a chemical trip to Sandbach. Here 25173 heads a short rake of ZHVs away from Alsager with the 8T94 0825 Alsager Tip-Basford Hall SS spoil empties on 24th September 1986. A day trip to Dumfries on 10th February, 1987 was quite a trek from Warwickshire, but the Carlisle-Dumfries Speedlink was allocated a 25 and as this engine then worked Target 62 to Maxwelltown and then Powfoot it just had to be done. Here 25173 stands in the yard at Annan with 7T62 the 1200 Dumfries-Powfoot ICI trip. Prior to the picture taken at Annan of 25173 on 10th February working the Dumfries local tripper, we caught it on the branch to the ICI plant at Maxwelltown. Here the return 7T62 1025 Maxwelltown-Dumfries Yd passes the old station site and BP oil terminal. An interesting traffic flow along the North Wales coast was petroleum coke from Humber Oil Refinery, Immingham to the RTZ aluminium smelter at Holyhead using distinctive hopper wagons. By the middle of 1986 25s were starting to be at a premium on this train but on 20th June that year we caught 25173 approaching Mold Junction with the 6E36 0738 Holyhead RTZ-Humber ORF return empties. The second part of Crewe's Target 94 tripped to the Hayes Chemicals works at Sandbach, otherwise known as Murgatroyd's Siding. 25173 departs from Murgatroyd's on 24th September, 1986 with 7T94, the 1007 trip to Basford Hall SS North. The other end of the flow from Caldon Low quarry was at Witton Yard in Birmingham, where Tarmac unloaded roadstone. Here 25173 waits to depart with the 7L10 1020 to Longport on 9th August 1986 Three Spires Junction yard on the Coventry to Nuneaton line was a hub for coal traffic, both from Coventry Colliery and to the adjacent Homefire smokeless fuel plant at Keresley. The branch to the Keresley site ran from the top end of Three Spires Yd and was worked by NCB locos. 25175 waits in Three Spires Junction Yard on 22nd November, 1982 while working Coventry's Another duty synonymous with the 25s was the Camp Hill banker or Saltley's Target 57. By 1986 principal business was just the MGR traffic to Didcot Power Station. On 30th September we caught 25176 in action at Brickyard Crossing assisting 58020 with the 7V49 0925 Birch Coppice-Didcot PS. One odd Speedlink trip working in the heart of MGR coal territory was Toton's Target 64 to the Metal Box Factory at Sutton in Ashfield. Here we see 25176 rejoining the main line to Pye Bridge at Kirkby Summit with the return 6T64 1129 to Toton Old Bank on 7th September 1984 Another Sunday, 25th January 1987, saw a search in the Crewe area for ballast trains and 25176 was found dropping ballast in the possession at Winsford Junction with the 9L64 from Gresty Lane. 25181 waits the road on the Down Slow line at Warrington Bank Quay on 20th June 1986 with the 6F32, 1705 Trafford Park Sdgs-Arpley Sdgs Speedlink service. The Warrington yards were a major Speedlink hub and even in 1986 25s could pop up on many of the local feeder trains. In the early 1980s domestic coal was still a fairly large traffic in the West Midlands. The yard at Washwood Heath serviced pits at Baddesley, Birch Coppice and Daw Mill and a concetration depot at Small Heath. Other traffic was tripped round to Bescot to go forward on Speedlink services. 25184 departs from the Bromford end on 8th July, 1983 with the 8T52 1415 trip to Daw Mill Colliery comprising empty HEAs for reloading. Up until the demise of Speedlink Banbury was served by a feeder from Bescot. By the mid eighties traffic to Banbury was sporadic but the loco was booked to trip from there to Fenny Compton for MOD traffic and Greaves Sdg for Cement as Target 45. Often the train would terminate and start at Fenny with just a call at Greaves but on 14th November 1986 there were empty UKF vans from Banbury back to Ince & Elton at the front of the consist as 25191 restarts from Kenilworth loop in my home town with the 6G55 1115 Banbury Yd-Bescot Down SS. Queens Head sidings at Handsworth, Birmingham had once stabled coaching stock for Snow Hill station but were later the site of of a Blue Circle Cement terminal served by block trainloads from variously Hope or Northfleet. Bescot's Target 48 was also booked to call there during the morning to shunt or take out cripples and we caught up with 25191 there on a dull 24th September 1986. Toton Yard was never well served by Speedlink services as coal very much predominated. There was though a feeder service to Derby which served local terminals at Spondon and Beeston, by 1986 running as Target 23. On 30th September 1986 25191 was seen arriving at Toton with the 7T23 1400 Derby St Marys Yd-Toton. No selection of Class 25 pics would be complete with the Cambrian passenger workings which saw pairs work Euston services forward from Wolverhampton. In the last season they were so used, 25193 & 25182 climbd away from Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury with the 1A46 1010 Aberystwyth-Euston on 1st September, 1984. An emergency services excercise was apparently the reason withdrawn 25194 was stabled in Coton Hill Yard, Shrewsbury, on 28th September 1985 along with two condo Mark.1s - 7069 & 18887. 25194 was withdrawn from Crewe Diesel on 17th June 1985 and reputedly stayed at Coton Hill until the following August when it moved to Bescot where it remained in store until going to MC Metals in Glasgow in 1994 for breaking up. The other traffic from Stoke-on-Trent using the line to Leekbrook Junc was sand from the BIS Quarry at Oakamoor, near Alton Towers. on the old North Staffs main line south from Leekbrook (and now preserved). This was a regular diagram for a pair of Crewe 25s until a change to air brake hoppers saw 20s then 47s until the traffic was lost. Here 25195 & 25198 wait at the quarry sidings with the 8F21 1240 departure to Springs Branch on 10th May 1985. Bescot's Target 51 trip saw a 25 collecting household coal from Coventry Colliery at Three Spires Junc and also served Daw Mill Colliery and the Distillers sidings at Coleshill. On 9th May 1985 25196 passes Daw Mill with the 7T51 1450 Three Spires Junc-Bescot. 25196 was next caught shunting the Distillers Company's sidings at Coleshill on 9th May 1985 while working the 7T51 1450 Three Spires Junc-Bescot Yard Speedlink trip. The rest of it's consist sits out of sight on the main down running line. Another classic Warrington view sees 25198 at Arpley Junction on 20th August 1984 with the 7T65 trip from Speke Yard. In the background can be seen a trio of Class 40s, 40012, 40015 & 40118, stabled at Arpley HS. Looking north at Leekbrook Junction, 25198 & 25195 have just run round and head past the 'box towards Stoke-on-Trent on 10th May 1985 with the 8F21 1240 Oakamoor BIS-Springs Branch Junc.The line to the right was the Knotty main line from Uttoxeter to Macclesfield though Leek, with the branch to Caldon Low going off to the right behind the bracket peg. On 24th August 1986, 25201 & 25037 worked 1Z37, the 0439 Paddington-Pwllhel,which was F&W Railtours The cooling towers of the long defunct Hams Hall power station can be seen behind 25202 as it approaches Water Orton East Junction on 4th May, 1985 with a short 4M78 1109 Leeds FLT-Rugby Freightliner. 4M78 is covered in more detail in a later caption. Here I will comment on the field full of spectators, sadly not the local Rat Appreciation Society but waiting for some funny red kettle that was booked through shortly afterwards... A regular passenger turn for the 25s until the early 80s were the Crewe-Cardiffs via Shrewsbury and Hereford. On 3rd September, 1984 25211 leaves Crewe with the 1V04 1003 Crewe-Cardiff. The 25s were replaced by Class 33s on these turns shortly afterwards. Having caught 25173 at Mold Junction with 6E36 on 20th June 1986, the next up working just 13 minutes later was 25211 with the Fisons weedkilling train, running as 7Z07 from Llandudno Junction to Chester. To make the hat trick, 25244 followed a minute later on the down as 0L40 1030 Chester DMUD-Mostyn Dock. Guess where our next stop was? 25213 stands in Holmes Chaple station on Sunday 25th January, 1987 waiting for a possesion to be given up to depart as 9L12 1600 to Shrewsbury Coleham Sdgs conveying the Viaduct Inspection Unit after a job at Dare Viaduct. Another of Bescot's DCE trips was Target 91 which worked as required for the Divisional Civil Engineer. Here 25224 trundles through Berkswell on 5th July, 1983, with an 8T91 1100 Rugby Yard-Bescot Yard trip with a motley collection of engineers wagons. 25235 & 25211 at Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury on Saturday, 1st September, 1984 with 7J65, the 2153 Curzon Street-Penyfford Cement Sdgs, having been recessed from Friday evening. Another regular 25 working, this train was Class 56 hauled for a while before the traffic ceased. The village of Moore south of Warrington was a favourite spot to while away the hours in the Summer of 1986. Just south of Acton Grange Junction, bridges over the WCML and the Chester line afforded a steady procession of freight trains to photograph. Add to that Roarers on the West Coast, Peaks on the Trans-pennines and the odd 25 on a parcels what more could you want? On 20th June 1986 25244 approaches Acton Grange with the 3L09 Chester-Manchester Victoria vans. The UKF Fertiliser plant at Ince & Elton on the Helsby-Ellesmere Port line produced a fair volume of traffic in their distinctive pallet vans. One flow was the 6M60 2212 ThO Craiginches Yard-Ince & Elton which on 6th June 1986 had arrived at Bank Quay behind 81006 and was waiting to go forward using 25244. 25244 departs Fenny Compton with the 6G55 1120 Speedlink to Bescot on 19th July 1985. The train started from Fenny as there was no traffic from Banbury that day. The five Speedlink vans would have been tripped down the branch from CAD Kineton by an MoD Thomas Hill shunter, often with an armed escort to deter photters and the odd terrorist. Fenny is still served by an EWS train from Didcot Yard and there is apparently still the odd terrorist around too... 25244 shunts empty HKVs at Mostyn Dock on 20th June 1986. These were used for a flow of imported sulphur to the Associated Octel plant at Amlwch. On this occasion 25244 was working the 8L40 Chester Departmental trip, collecting cripples for Chester C&W Shops. The Shell complex at Stanlow was once a major traffic source for BR and the line to Helsby a sure place to catch class 25 action. Not any more of course! Here 25244 passes Stanlow on 6th June 1986 with the 6E93 1620 Birkenead Cavendish Sdgs-Whitemoor Yd Speedlink which it would work as far as Warrington.

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]]> Wed Feb 23 2005 Class 58 Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c440112.html Pictures of 58s mainly taken during the 1980s and early \'90s, mostly doing what they did best - hauling coal. Not only are the locos now part of UK railway history, the locations are nearly all gone too... Monday 21 February 2005: Pictures of 58s mainly taken during the 1980s and early \'90s, mostly doing what they did best - hauling coal. Not only are the locos now part of UK railway history, the locations are nearly all gone too...

58002 passing Wood End on the climb from Kingsbury with the 6G33 0704 Washwood Heath Up Sdgs-Baddesley empties on 9th May 1985, including HEAs for loading with household coal at the front of the consist. 58004 loading the 7T32 MGR trip at Coalfields Farm to form the 1421 departure to Drakelow 58011 heads past Drakelow East Fork Junc with the 7G29 1325 Lounge-Rugeley PS MGR on 24th May 1988. 58014 seen at Calverton Colliery on 6th September, 1991 while loading the 7A25 1035 MGR to Ratcliffe Power Station. 58014 climbs through Coalbrookdale on 15th May 1985 with the 6T64 1315 Ironbridge PS-Kingsbury Branch Sdgs empty MGR. 58015 passing through Staveley on 12th February 1994 with the 7T27 0956 Kiveton Park-Bolsover Coalite trip. On 25th May 1987, the pair of 37s (37517 & 510) working 6E40, the 1007 Corby-Lackenby had failed prior to departure. 56075 was sent to rescue them but only got as far as Corby North with brake problems. 58027 was then used to drag the combine away and is seen passing Melton Mowbray in torrential rain. Not my finest pic but included for the rareity value of the lash-up! 58029 departs from Oxcroft Opencast Disposal Point on 25th March 1993 with the 7F47 1342 MGR to Cottam Power Station 58030 passes Kiveton Park Colliery with 7F43, the 1040 Oxcroft-Cottam PS MGR on 25th March 1993 whilst 58035 readies to depart with 7G32, the 1156 to West Burton PS. 58041 passing Greaves Siding on 5th July 1991 with a 6Z67 0850 Didcot PS-Barrow Hill MGR, while the local shunter readies PCAs for the tripper to Bescot. 58042 58042 runs past Worksop Yard on a misty 12th February 1994 with the 7G44 1250 Kiveton Park-West Burton PS MGR. In the background can be seen 58024 with the recessed 7F49 1315 Bilsthorpe-Cottam PS. 58045 seen arriving at Coalville on 3rd June 1990 with 1T05, the 0824 St.Pancras-Coalville 58050 loads 7B72, the 1030 departure to nearby Drakelow B Power Station, at Lounge on 28th March 1991

Published in Mike H's Railway Pics

]]> Mon Feb 21 2005 Digital Pics http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c418904.html A series of pictures from around the Midlands over the last 12 months or so, all taken with a Canon EOS-300D. More will be added from time to time. Tuesday 1 February 2005: A series of pictures from around the Midlands over the last 12 months or so, all taken with a Canon EOS-300D. More will be added from time to time.

You could hear 37174 & 37047 thrashing all the way from Rugby dragging 92024 and 1200 tonnes of 6G56, the delayed 0301 Wembley-Bescot at Cathiron on 26th June 2004 37408 & 37411 head a 6T95 0930 Bescot-Alexandra Dock Junc engineers special past Besford on 11th December 2004 37608 & 37607 caught growling through Birmingham International on 2nd September 2004 with the 4M44 Grangemouth-Daventry diverted due to WCML blockade 47853 heads a 1Z47 0804 Lichfield City-Bath charter at Hatton South Junc on 6th November 2004 66572 with dead in train 47358 runs through Kenilworth with a re-routed 4O02 0923 Lawley St-Soton MCT Freightliner on 22nd January 2005 66609 seen passing Hatton North Junc on 22nd January 2005 with the diverted 4V60 1055 Calvert-Barrow Rd 66717 at Hatton South Junc on 22nd January 2005 with a late running 4L25 0742 Hams Hall-Felixstowe 37417 & 37427 growl through Birmingham International on a dismal 28th April 2005 with a 6Z21 0930 Wembley Yd-Bescot Engineers Sidings special. 60027 at Berkswell on 9th April 2004 with an Autoballaster set running as 6Z40 1015 Westbury Yd-Bescot Yd 60081 passes a foot crossing near Shustoke reservoir, east of Whitacre Junction on 23rd May 2004 with the diverted 6E48 1020 Llanwern-Lackenby empty steel. 60083 was unusual power for a 4M38 0915 Bescot-Daventry running due to engineering work on the Trent Valley line and seen here at Birmingham International on 4th June 2004. 66707 climbing Hatton Bank on a murky 5th February 2005 with the late running 4M21 0326 Felixstowe-Hams Hall 67019 at Kenilworth on 6th February 2005 with a 5Z37 1402 Crewe CS-Old Oak Common ECS 66610 seen at Whitacre Jnc on 19th February 2005 with the diverted 6E54 1134 Kinsbury-Humber OR. 47805 top and tails with 47839 and two translator vans on the 5Z50 1036 Bedford-Basford Hall at Whitacre Jnc on 19th February 2005 Recently named 67006 The going away shot at Madeley Junction with the other Another shot of 67005 passing 66509 in the loop at Whitacre Junction on 5th March 2005. The Skip was working 1Z60, the 0815 Finsbury Park-Shrewsbury Hertfordshire Railtours charter and had been delayed by the Fred which had brake problems on one of the HQA wagons. On Saturday 5th March 2005 the weekly 5Z50 1036 Bedford CS-Basford Hall translator van move was top & tailed by 47811 and 47829, seen here passing the aforementioned 66509 in Whitacre Loop. In the best light of the day, 66509 pulls away from the Down Goods Loop at Whitacre Junction on 5th March 2005. The train, the 6Y41 1000 Nuneaton-Basford Hall, had spent two hours in the loop following a report of smoke coming from one of the Newly painted 87012 failed at Coventry on Sunday 6th March 2005 while working the 1K13 1229 Euston-Macclesfield. Rugby thunderbird 47826 was summoned and hauled the train to Stoke where it was terminated. 66510 seen on a dull 9th March 2005 at Hatton North Junc with the 6M01 1408 Hinksey Yard-Stud Farm empty JNAs. 37427 runs into Banbury on Saturday 12th March 2005 with 1Z55, the 0645 Derby-Brentford Town Pathfinder 33103 plus inspection saloon crawling through Birmingham International station on 15th March 2005 as a Pendolino had only just departed - though it was everybody else held Virgin up? Train was the 2Z33 0905 Didcot-Machynlleth running somewhat late itself. Another late running special working on 15th March 2005 was a 5Z43 0847 Bicester MOD-Neville Hill which comprised 47197 and a part former MML HST set from storage. They are seen here approaching Widney Manor station. 47200 & 47828 double head the Heartlands Railtours 1Z47 0759 Shrewsbury-York charter through Water Orton East Junction on a foggy Saturday 19th March 2005. Painted in a special Following problems with the booked working on Friday, 67020 heads a 5X47 1030 Eastleigh Railcare-Washwood Heath, seen at Hatton on Saturday 19th March 2005. The consist - one refurbished Merseyrail unit, will go forward to Birkenhead on Monday. The 6G36 0909 Bescot-Birch Coppice tripper is always a bit of a lottery as it can go direct on the fast or via Whitacre Junc on the slow from Water Orton. On a damp and murky 22nd March 2005 I gambled on the fast and was rewarded by 37401, seen just past Water Orton. Despite a requirement for only 87 & Mk.3 set, two EWS Class 90s were being used by VWC on 22nd March 2005. Here 90027 arrives at Birmingham International with 1G05, the 0911 Euston-Birmingham NS The return working of the Birch Coppice trip, 6G42, the 1153 Birch Coppice-Bescot, is booked via the slow lines from Kingsbury via Whitacre Junction but can of course get a run on the fast. On Tuesday 22rd March I guessed right again and caught it at Whitacre Heath. 47816 was used on Tuesday 22nd March 2005 to move a rake of Virgin WC Mk.3 stock, running as 5Z25 0720 Polmadie-Wembley, and is seen here at Cathiron. The pair of 47s and translator vans used on the Thameslink Bedford-Selhurst unit moves have been running back to Crewe for exams & fuel on Saturdays. Routing has been via the MML, Wigston, Whitacre and Sutton Park but on Easter Saturday 26th March 2005 they were booked via Bletchley, Rugby and Bescot. While waiting at Berkswell however, we were tipped that they would route via the Trent so Mr Tandy and I made the dash to Tamworth just in time to get 47830 leading 5Z50 in sun! The going away shot of 47811 tailing 5Z50, the 1031 Bedford CS-Basford Hall at Tamworth Low Level on Saturday 26th March 2005. The Pendo in the platform was a bonus as the duffs were checked on the down fast... After a run down the platform at Tamworth we got this fine shot of 47830 clagging well on as it got the road with the 5Z50 1031 Bedford CS-Basford Hall on 26th March 2005. And finally. in lovely light, the going away shot of 47811 on 5Z50 as it acclerates away from the signal check at Tamworth Low Level on 26th March 2005 Resplendant in LNWR Black livery, 87019 awaits departure from Birmingham International on 1st april 2005 with 1B55, the 1500 New Street-Euston. Only the nameplates spoil the effect - what was wrong with good old Winston Churchil? Having given up hope of getting 37401 in decent light on the Birch Coppice trip, 66107 was failed prior to departure from Bescot on 5th April 2005 and what should be available to take it's place....? Here 401 pulls away from a signal check at Whitacre Junction with the 6G42 1153 Birch Coppice-Bescot return working. A rather scruffy 60033 powers the 6H50 1310 Willesden-Tunstead cement empties past Cathiron on 5th April 2005. Just when you thought you had seen the last tractor on the Birch Coppice another one comes along... A quick detour on the way to work caught 37427 at Water Orton on 6G36, 0909 Bescot-Birch Coppice, on 7th April 2005. Of course the Shed on 6E05 before it was in sun... FM Rail's 47832 & 47709 top & tailed a 5Z59 0900 Oxley CS-Norwich ECS move on a very grey Friday 16th April 2005. Here 47832 is seen passing through Berkswell station at the head of the train. 47709 was bringing up the rear of the 5Z59 0900 Oxley CS-Norwich ECS move at Berkswell on 16th April 2005. The stock was to be used to work a 1Z47 0645 North Walsham-Newcastle charter on Saturday 17th. Another view of a favourite train. 47811 leads 47816 on the 5Z50 1031 Bedford CS-Basford Hall move, this time coming off the Nuneaton flyover towards Abbey Junction on 16th April 2005. 57316 drops down from Abbey Junction to Nuneaton Trent Valley on Saturday 16th April 2005, dragging Pendolino 390035 with the 1B33 1118 Wolverhampton-Euston. Strangely in April 2005 there are Nuneaton-Birmingham drags on Saturdays but not on Sundays, the traditional day. Saturday 16th April saw 57316 in use, here dragging 390018 on 1G08, the 1033 Euston-Wolverhampton. Another view of the climb from Nunetaon Trent Valley to Abbey Junction, this time with a longer lense, as 57304 drags 390034 on 1G10, the 1133 Euston-Wolverhampton. 57313 drags 87019 with the 1G12 1233 Euston-Wolverhampton up the incline from Nuneaton Trent Valley on Saturday 16th April 2005. Sixth time I have photographed 019 and not a hint of sun yet... 66079 passes Cathiron in Warwickshire with a 6Z50 1047 Penmaenmawr-Acton Yard with loaded Hanson JHAs on 16th April 2005. One of two Finally in sun! 87019 was the wrong way round on Sunday 17th April 2005 due to engineering work north of New Street. Still made a nice shot though pushing on 1G09, the 1140 Milton Keynes Central-Wolverhampton at Tile Hill.

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]]> Tue Feb 1 2005