After a signal check while a 350 overtook at Rugby, 56303 eases away south at Clifton Road with 4O90, from Doncaster to Grain, on 13th April 2007.
A split second after I took this, the driver of 37410+37422 opened them up fully, with much clag and noise resulting! The pair are seen at Clifton Road, Rugby, on Friday April 13th heading south for railtour duty the following morning.
EWS liveried 92001 'Victor Hugo' makes light work of 6A42, 15:15 Bescot - Wembley, as it passes Barby on 17th April 2007.
Running some 50 minutes late but making a colourful sight nonetheless, 66720 hurries past Barby at its full permitted 75mph, with 4M23 10:59 Felixstowe - Hams Hall, on April 17th 2007.
A noise not heard not near often enough on the main line these days is that of a 'Grid' on full power. 56303 was thrashing well as it passed Barby with 4O90 from Doncaster to Grain, on April 17th 2007.
As seems to be the rule - a mixed pair of 86/6s has the grey one on the inside when I view it! In thie shot, 86604 heads 86614 (formerly 'Frank Hornby') past Barby with 4L92, 14:03 Ditton - Felixstowe on 17th April.
An hour late due to various problems in the London area, 86501 takes 4M87, 11:43 Felixstowe - Trafford Park, past Barby at a smart pace on April 17th 2007.
90020 'Colin G Wood' passes Barby with 1G21, 16:51 Euston - Birmingham, on 17th April. Don't expect many more views of 90s on 1G21 in this gallery..... no need for skodas on Class 1 services on the WCML !!
390012 rushes south from the curves at Atherstone on 18th April, with 1A68, the afternoon Manchester - Euston service which is currently booked via Northampton, though apparently not for much longer.
A perfect sunny afternoon illuminates 90041 to good effect as it heads towards Atherstone with 4M88, 08:49 Felxistowe - Basford Hall, on April 18th.
Mixed pair, grey one inside......! 86628+86614 make a fine sight passing the lovely ornate station buildings at Atherstone with 4L92, 14:03 Ditton - Felixstowe on 18th April. It will be noted that, despite perfect blue skies and dazzling sunshine, the station lights are on. Little wonder the planet is slowly cooking......
The condition of the station nameboard on the wall at Atherstone says it all, sadly......
The sun is descending rapidly as 86501 heads past the Oxford Canal at Ansty with 4M87, 11:43 Felixstowe - Trafford Park, on April 18th. The train was over two hours late by this time, due to TCFs in Anglia, and subsequent loss of path down the WCML.
The driver glances across at me as 66403, nicely reflected in the Oxford Canal, heads north with 4S47, 18:45 Daventry - Coatbridge, on April 18th.
86501 in charge of 4M87 once again, this time seen heading north at East Haddon, near Long Buckby, on April 20th.
The photographic opportunities at Long Buckby are at best limited, with the light being less than favourable by the time 4L92 appears. In this view, 86632+86628 cross the road bridge immediately north of the station, bound for Ipswich on 20th April.
An empty first wagon allows a second shot of 86632+86628 as they head south at Long Buckby with 4L92, 14:03 Ditton - Felixstowe on April 20th.
Full tilt in every sense of the term as 390020 rockets round the curve at Dodford, north of Weedon at the full permitted 120mph, on April 20th. These sweeping curves are still limited to 100mph (which feels fast enough!) for loco-hauled stock, and until realignment late in 1989 were subject to an 80mph PSR.
4H24, 11:31 Wembley - Trafford Park heads north past the new bridge at Shaw Lane, Hanch, in the capable hands of 92013, on 26th April 2007.
A few minutes later, the corresponding Up working, 4A10 12:01 Trafford Park - Wembley passes Shaw Lane - but once again with a 'Ying' - 66008 - in charge. Perhaps it's now booked....or maybe EWS were short of 92s....?
Since the closure of Colwich signal box, the memorial garden to Driver Eric Goode has been re-arranged to face the adjacent road which leads to the 'box, though alas the all-pervading palisade fencing is everywhere. As the 'City of Milton Keynes' nameplate replicas attest, Driver Goode had the misfortune to be at the controls of 86211 on 19th September 1986, when the loco collided head-on with 86429 'THE TIMES' which had overshot the signal and come to rest exactly on the diamond cross over of Colwich Junction.
The bridge over the former station at Milford and Brocton (just north of Shugborough Tunnel) affords an excellent view of movements; here, 90042 heads north with 4M81, 07:45 Felixstowe - Ditton, on 26th April.
The sun is too far round for an ideal shot, as 86612+86632 head south at Milford and Brocton with 4L92, 14:03 Ditton - Felixstowe, on 26th April.
90047 approaches the south portal of the 777-yard Shugborough Tunnel with 4M88, 08:49 Felixstowe - Basford Hall, on April 26th.
