| Having splashed out and bought myself a digital SLR at last, I was mad keen to get out and try it, not least as I have all the time in the world on my hands at the time of writing this!
These photos therefore are bang up to date, taken in January 2007 at various locations, principally in the Trent Valley, as well as Millmeece (between Badnall Wharf and the former Standon Bridge station site). The accustomed viewer will probably be appalled to see a few Pendos creeping into the collection; well, they are quite photogenic, and so common that I sometimes succumb to the temptation to snap them! The main emphasis, however, is on freight. Unsurprisingly there are a lot of 66s of different sorts, such is their wide sphere of operation these days. A few 57s also appear, as well as several of the dreaded 90s..... At least they're in their rightful place, on freight trains! Woefully rare, at least in the hours of daylight in this part of the world, are the trusty 86/6 beasts. Now in their 41st year of operation, they still put in an occasional appearance on liners. For me, the shot of the pair in this collection was the high point of the month's activity. Lovely! It will be seen that a fair number of 'Desiro' 350s are appearing in The Caledonian Gallery. Top units they are too, so get used to seeing them ! Some of the photographs have been cropped slightly to improve them (I hope!) and all have been compressed to reduce their file size from 4MB+ apiece to something more manageable in terms of download speed, which of course has the unavoidable consquence of reducing their sharpness slightly. The ordering of the photographs in the collection is, incidentally, deliberately random. Finally, my grateful thanks to Wayne, Daniel and Tim for providing very detailed gen on numerous occasions. They are top men, all ! |
Passing Cathiron (between Rugby and Brinklow on the Trent Valley) at 14:36 on 12th January 2007 is 92036, in charge of 4A10, the 12:01 Trafford Park - Wembley. |
66542 heads north at Cathiron, with 4M81, 07:45 Felixstowe - Ditton freightliner, on 12th January. |
The Oxford Canal runs cheek by jowl with the West Coast Main Line for half a mile or so at Ansty, south of Shilton. The weather on this day - 22nd January - was very windy, thwarting any hope of a mirror reflection; nonetheless, 66572 makes a fine sight heading south with 4L90, 13:38 Hams Hall - Felixstowe liner. |
Back now to Cathiron, and the sun illuminates 90047 as it heads south on the Fast line with 4L75, Ditton - Felixstowe liner, on 23rd January. |
A magnificent machine: 92019 trundles through Rugeley Trent Valley with 4H24, 11:31 Wembley - Trafford Park, on 15th January. |
Still at Rugeley, one of Direct Rail Service's immaculate 66s, no. 66419, heads south with 4M34, 05:40 Coatbridge - Daventry International Railfreight Terminal, on 15th January. |
The ever-active 350103 heads past the Oxford Canal, bound for Crewe with 1K82, 12:49 ex Euston, on 22nd January. |
The weather on 25th January was near-perfect - still, cold, and clear with brilliant sunshine. One of 'Tyseley's finest' (hello Tim), 150002 looks most out of place under the WCML OLE as it scuttles north at Little Haywood, just north of Colwich Junction, with a Walsall - Stafford service. |
350103 again, and 1K82 again! The 12:49 Euston - Crewe stopper is seen approaching Rugeley Trent Valley to make its booked stop. This service provides the first direct train from London to such desolate Trent Valley stations as Atherstone and Polesworth for the better part of five decades! |
A GBRf 66 now - no. 66713, passing Cathiron with 4L22, 14:10 Hams Hall - Felixstowe, on 12th January. |
A machine whose days are now numbered, thanks to the ever-increasing numbers of 66s: 57011 passes Rugeley Trent Valley with 4M58, 11:00 Southampton - Ditton, on 15th January. |
As if to assert its supremacy over its ageing stablemate, 66505 tops 57010 on 4M88, 08:49 Felixstowe - Basford Hall on 12th January. Whether it was in fact due to failure. or simply a balancing move, is unknown. |
Already almost up to 100mph after its Rugby stop, 350130 races past Cathiron on 1K82, 12:49 Euston - Crewe, on 23rd January. |
Having been held brielfy at Rugby to allow a Pendolino past, 57003 picks up speed once again passing Cathiron with a lengthy 4M94, 07:38 Felixstowe - Lawley Street, on 23rd January. |
Bathed in winter sunshine, DRS 66403 passes Rugeley Trent Valley with 4M44, 08:21 Mossend - Daventry, on 15th January. |
I suspect that 66723, seen here headed by classmate 66711, had failed in charge of 4M23, 10:59 Felixstowe - Hams Hall, on 22nd January. Illuminated by the very last rays of sun, the pair are seen approaching the site of Althorp Park station. |
A triple set of 325s, nos. 012, 013 and 002, pass a northbound Pendo at Cathiron, on what I think may be 1A97, Dallam Railnet - PRDC service, on 19th January. Further gen welcome! Would that it had been an 87 in charge..... :-( |
About to pass under Cathiron Lane bridge, 92007 makes a welcome sight on 23rd January, in charge of 4A10, 12:01 Trafford Park - Wembley. It will be noticed that the train is at best only half-laden; even if it were full, at this length, it would not test the abilities of the 92 in the least. |
92007 looks so splendid that I can't resist showing another view of it passing Cathiron on 4A10. If only these fine machines saw more use.... |
Network Rail's needless erection of palisade fencing (between a minor road and a farmer's field - why ??) at Millmeece is no deterrent to the keen photographer! 350108 is seen passing with (I think) a slightly late running 1F46, 14:23 Birmingham New St - Liverpool Lime St., on 25th January. |
With the sun fast descending at 16:11, the only way to get a shot of 350111 was to pan it from the field adjacent to the line. This fine unit races south underneath typically bulletproof 1960s WCML overhead gantries with 1G39, 15:19 Liverpool Lime St. - Birmingham, on 25th January. |
Desiro 350120 hurries past Cathiron in lovely sunshine, with 1A95, 10:19 Liverpool - Euston, on 19th January. This service is the balancing 'up' working to 1K82, and serves the local Trent Valley shacks. Never have the good folk of Atherstone had such luxurious transport afforded them!! |
Having just made its stop at Atherstone, 350124 approaches Mancetter with 1A95, 10:19 Liverpool - Euston, on 22nd January. |
The same unit, 350124, is seen this time at Millmeece with 5G99, 15:21 Crewe - Birmingham New St ECS (back working from 1K82), on 25th January. |
