| DRS Gresty Bridge Open Day - added 17th July 2010 | ||||||
|
' |
Refurbished by HNRC at Barrow
Hill, 37409 stands at Gresty Bridge during the 2010 DRS Open Day.
Named 'Lord Hinton' at the event after the former head of the Atomic
Energy Authority (AEA) who were responsible for building Britain's nuclear
infrastructure, a name quite fitting as this loco is set to play a big
part in the forthcoming nuclear power station decommissioning programme in
the future. 10/07/10 |
|
Following the closure of
Fastline Freight, the five Class 66s employed on the operation have been
stored as surplus at Gresty Bridge awaiting a new leasee. 10/07/10 |
||
|
' |
The Class 20 fleet seems to
have an uncertain future with DRS following the removal from traffic of
the majority of the fleet. 20306 is seen here inside the shed
awaiting a decision on its future. 10/07/10 |
|
|||
| ELR Summer Diesel Gala - added 17th July 2010 | ||||||
|
' |
In need of some external TLC
but in full working order internally, 47765 stands in Baron Street
Yard at the East Lancashire Railway after taking part in the summer diesel
gala. Stabled behind are 50015 and 50044. 04/07/10 |
|
Visiting from the Great
Central Railway (Nottingham) along with 47765 and making its first foray
away from 'home' since its restoration was completed, 56097 stands
at Heywood awaiting departure for Bury and Ramsbottom during the
2010 summer diesel gala at the East Lancashire Railway. 04/07/10 |
||
| 56311 and 56312 at Bristol - added 17th July 2010 | ||||||
|
' |
56311 and 56312
stand in the sun at Bristol Temple Meads with a Pathfinder Railtours
excursion to Penzance for the Mazey Day local celebrations. This was the
first long distance test run for 56311 (formerly 56057) following
an engine swap with 56114 at Washwood Heath. 26/06/10 |
|
|||
| South Devon Diesel Gala - added 17th July 2010 | ||||||
|
' |
Celebrating its 50th birthday
in 2010, 33002 departs from Staverton with a train for Totnes
during the summer diesel gala at the South Devon Railway. 13/06/10 |
|
Having gained full yellow
ends for the gala only, D6737 (or 37037 in new money) stands at
Totnes awaiting departure for Buckfastleigh in the evening sun during the
South Devon Railway 2010 summer diesel event. It is anticipated that 37037
will be taking part in the Mid Norfolk Railway's Class 37 Golden Jubilee
event in September. 12/06/10 |
||
| Various - added 3rd June 2010 | ||||||
|
' |
Running wrong line, 37109
passes Hagside Level Crossing on the Manchester Metrolink with an
engineering train bound for Whitefield bank. In contrast to previous
engineering works, the trains, saw traction and drivers provided solely by
the East Lancs Railway with rakes of wagons provided by DB Schenker. 06/02/10 |
|
Further down the line,
37109 rounds the bend into Radcliffe station before entering the
worksite. 37418 was on the rear providing assistance up the bank. 06/02/10 |
||
|
' |
The use of 37410 as
carriage heater at Stoke on Trent Marcroft Works has ended and the loco is
now dumped at the end of the works' headshunt with an uncertain future.
Note taken from a public viewpoint. 22/05/10 |
|
Former resident of the
Llangollen railway, 46010 makes a pleasant sight with a matching
rake of coaches arriving at East Leake on the Great Central Railway
(Nottingham) during the recent Summer Diesel Gala. This was the first gala
featuring the 46 following return to traffic. 15/05/10 |
||
|
' |
The unmistakable
characteristics of 56097... 15/05/10 |
|
|||
| Magnificent Seven to the Black Sea - added 17th May 2010 | ||||||
|
' |
With a backdrop unlike
anything seen in the UK apart from maybe on the classes old stomping
ground when passing through the Lune Gorge, the second photostop of the
tour and 87003-0 stands at the rural station of Bunovo, which is 60km from
Sofia by rail, en route to Pirdop for the first loco change. The Bulgarian
additions of a cowcatcher, rear view mirrors and sideways facing horns do
give the locos a rather alien appearance when compared with their
traditional British look however compared to sitting in a scrap yard,
that's a small price to pay! 01/05/10 |
|
The former 'North Briton' and
'Patriot' stand side by side at Pirdop during the shunt manoeuvre
which saw 87020-4 replacing 87003-0 on the railtour. Pirdop is one end of
the well beaten track for the type in Bulgaria, seeing use on trainloads
of calcium carbonate and copper between here and Razdelna towards the
coast. 01/05/10 |
||
|
' |
Final photostop of the day
and 87020-4 is carefully positioned in the evening sun at Struia. 01/05/10 |
|
A close up of the cab
highlighting some of the Bulgarian modifications; the cowcatcher, the rear
view mirrors, the sideways facing horns, the new pantograph without arc
horns and not least the moveable kitchen style chair in the cab which
seems to be a feature of most Bulgarian locos! 87020-4 again at Struia. 01/05/10 |
||
|
' |
Day Two and 87028-7 stands at Razdelna
before detaching from the rake of coaches having worked the short distance
from Varna that morning. 87004-8 waits patiently alongside to replace the
former 'Lord President' which, like 87022 and 87006 also in
Bulgaria - still carries
remnants of DRS and GBRf livery due to the good condition of the paintwork
when initially sent abroad. 02/05/10 |
|
Loco number 4 and
appropriately it is 87004-8 to work for the majority of the next two days.
Immaculately carrying BR Blue livery with cast BZK operator crests,
'Britannia' - which has only been in Bulgaria a matter of months being
exported from the UK in November 2009 - took us to Varna Ferryboat, a line
which has reportedly not seen a passenger train for 15 years, then on to
Veliko Turnovo via a number of photostops. 02/05/10 |
||
|
' |
It's the end of Day Two and
87004-8 shunts the stock at Veliko Turnovo prior to being put to bed for
the night but not before a wash and brush up by the loco crew. No. 4 has
received celebrity status since it was learned that it hauled the royal
train - hence the BR Blue livery and Britannia name being reapplied - so
much so that the loco now carries its own dedicated washing bucket and
cleaning brush. 02/05/10 |
|
At the end of a beautiful
mountain climb which on a heavy load would undoubtedly have taxed
'Britannia' but load 3 certainly didn't, 87004-8 runs round its
train at Gabrovo. Judging by the state of the trackwork, this vast
expanse of yard hasn't seen any kind of train other than the unit operated
passenger service for a good number of years and is the last thing you'd
expect to find at the end of such a convoluted bit of railway! 03/05/10 |
||
|
' |
A lunch stop on the final day
of the tour, en route back to Sofia, sees 87004-8 'Britannia'
resting at Kazanluk in the sunshine. The difference in gauge profile
between the British loco and foreign stock is particularly evident here
and has allowed roof mounted horns to be installed on the 87s - relocated
from the recess in the cab roof now occupied by the high intensity
headlights. Shots such as this may not be possible in the not too distant
future as BZK have aspirations to export a couple of ex-BR coaches to
operate with 87004-8 on railtours in Bulgaria. 03/05/10 |
|
Nearing the end of the tour
and 87008-9 stands at Sarantsi awaiting a late running local
passenger train from Sofia to Varna to pass. The former City of Liverpool
was one of the first exports from the UK, leaving - along with 87007 and
87026 - by rail via the Channel Tunnel in June 2008. Thanks to the PTG,
all the BZK loco crews and especially Mario Evstatiev for a cracking few
days...we will be back soon! 03/05/10 |
||
| A few oldies (and a few not so old!) - added 22nd February 2010 | ||||||
|
' |
The South Devon Railway's
20110 sits alongside DRS 20304 and 20305 at the
Eastleigh 100 event. 05/09 |
|
33002 'Sea King' looking resplendent in Civil Engineers livery stands at Eastleigh Works during the Eastleigh 100 event held during May 2009. 05/09 |
||
|
' |
During the May 2009 'Class 37
Day' at the East Lancashire Railway, an ex-works 37418 'Pectonidae'
runs round its train at Ramsbottom. 05/09 |
|
A stored 37422 stands
inside Eastleigh Works during the 'Eastleigh 100' event held at the
Hampshire works in summer 2009. The former 'Robert F Farlie' had, by this
time, failed once again with engine troubles and was transferred over from
its storage location at the adjacent Eastleigh TMD for the event. 05/09 |
||
|
' |
'The forgotten pair'.
37886 and 37709 stand forlorn at Millerhill WRD awaiting their fate.
Taken with permission... 02/09 |
|
During the Easter 2006
blockade of the WCML as part of the upgrade, the GBRf operated mail
services were diverted to run via the East Coast Main Line. This also
coincided with removal of the Class 325 motor vehicles after suffering
from mechanical problems necessitating loco haulage with the GBRf fleet of
87s utilised. With freshly applied gold buffers, 87002 stands
awaiting the road North at Peterborough while working 1S04 London-Sheildmuir. 04/06 |
||
|
' |
To commemorate its last
workings in the UK before shipping to Bulgaria - via the Channel Tunnel -
87012 The Olympian was bedecked with Scottish Saltires on
the buffers by the 'Wembley Paintbrush'. The former 'Couer de Lion' passes
Carlisle working 5Z48 Polmadie-Wembley conveying a defective Class 325
unit. 06/06 |
|
|||
| East Lancashire Railway Diesel Running Day - added 02nd February 2010 | ||||||
|
' |
During the January 2010 'Type
4/5' diesel running day at the East Lancashire Railway, 37418 tails
a service to Heywood led by 55022 'Royal Scots Grey'. 09/01/10 |
|
55022 'Royal Scots
Grey' arrives at Irwell Vale on the East Lancashire Railway with a train
for Heywood during the winter diesel day 2010. This event saw the debut of a re-preserved D9016 'Gordon Highlander' which is set to provide its good engine to '22 allowing a return to main line passenger operation. 09/01/10 |
||
|
' |
DB Schenker liveried
66152 with 66250 DIT scales the ski jump after leaving Bury with 6Z41
to Warrington Arpley after delivering a long welded rail train
to the East Lancashire Railway for the forthcoming Metrolink track renewal
contract. 30/01/10 |
|
|||
| A break in the clouds... - added 29th November 2009 | ||||||
|
' |
Looking fantastic in the
winter sunshine with a dark sky in the background, 37901 shunts at
Bury in preparation to haul a freight train at the November 2009 'diesel theme day' at the East Lancashire Railway, its final day of operation in the 2009 season. 05/11/09 |
|
|||
| North Yorkshire Moors Diesel Gala - added 04th October 2009 | ||||||
|
' |
Looking fantastic in the
early evening sun, 26007
approaches Goathland with the last train of the day from Pickering to
Grosmont on the last day of the 2009 NYMR Diesel Gala. 20/09/09 |
|
37901 'Mirrlees
Pioneer' stands at Levisham with a train for Pickering during the 2009
diesel gala at the North Yorkshire Moors. '901, along with 55022 from the
ELR, was guest starring alongside 47580 and 26007. 19/09/09 |
||
|
' |
37901 stands in
Levisham engineers sidings assisting with an ash drop in connection with
the installation of a permanent safe walking route from the level crossing
to the siding
which is shortly to be extended. 20/09/09 |
|
|||
| Gloucestershire Warwickshire and Spa Valley - added 17th July 2009 | ||||||
|
' |
The Growler Group's 37215
stands at Toddington in the sunshine awaiting departure with a shuttle
service to Winchcombe during the July Diesel Gala at the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway which also featured residents 20137, 24081, 37324, 47105 and 47376 plus visiting 20154, 31162 and 33109. 12/07/09 |
|
37254 'Driver Robin
Prince M.B.E' stands during a photo stop at High Rocks station as part of
'The Stag & Syphon' charter. 13/07/09 |
||
|
' |
Can you spot yourself...?
37254 with a few embellishments on the front at High Rocks. 13/07/09 |
|
Making its return to traffic
following major engine repairs, 47376 'Freightliner 1995' stands at
Toddington with a departure for Winchcombe during the July diesel gala.
This loco is the only preserved loco to run in full Freightliner grey livery and was repainted to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Freightliner in 2005. 12/07/09 |
||
| 40145 and 47402 - added 10th July 2009 | ||||||
|
' |
40145 'East Lancashire
Railway' stands at Ramsbottom station awaiting departure with a shuttle
service to Bury Bolton Street during the Summer 2009 Diesel Gala. It is
hoped
that the loco will be forfeiting its 'plates to 37418 in the near future. 05/07/09 |
|
Looking good in its weathered
and faded BR Blue scheme, 47402 'Gateshead' stands alongside
Castlecroft MPD during the East Lancashire Railway's March 2009 Diesel
Gala.
As of July 2009, 47402 has been taken out of traffic for a repaint into BR
Green. 14/03/09 |
||
| 37418, 66157 and 73140 - added 18th May 2009 | ||||||
|
' |
73140 rounds the
curve into High Rocks station during the Spa Valley Railway's Spring
Diesel Gala. Also operating trains was 37254, two shunters and bizarrely,
a track tamping machine! 25/04/09 |
|
66157 is viewed
from above while shunting a rake of HOA and IIA wagons for loading at Peak
Forest. 29/04/09 |
||
|
' |
Making its debut in passenger
service, 37418 'Pectinidae' stands at Ramsbottom ready for
detaching after a short proving/test run from Bury piloting 47402
'Gateshead' following reactivation work. 16/05/09 |
|
|||
| More 37s - added 07th May 2009 | ||||||
|
' |
As part of the publicity for
the forthcoming 'Class
37 Day' at the East Lancashire Railway, a photo call for the
line's fleet was arranged with 37109 ex-works in BR Blue following
its cosmetic overhaul, 37418 following reactivation work and a
repaint into EWS maroon and 37901. All three locomotives will be
taking part in the event with a triple header on the last train of the
day. 03/05/09 |
|
Nearing the end of its
cosmetic attention with only the roof left to complete, 37418 'Pectinidae'
stands atop a short freight train in the sun at Bury on the East
Lancashire Railway. 03/05/09 |
||
|
' |
37418 and 37109
stand side by side at Bury following 37109s unveiling in BR Blue following
month long cosmetic overhaul. Both 37s will be featuring in the Class 37
Day on May 30th 2009. 03/05/09 |
|
The sole remaining Mirrlees
powered Class 37 and baby sister of the Class 60s, 37901 'Mirlees
Pioneer' shunts 40135 at Bury. 12/04/09 |
||
| 37s in The Highlands - added 20th March 2009 | ||||||
|
' |
37401 and
newly reinstated 37670 stand at Rannoch while working Day 3 of
Pathfinder Tours 'The Easter West Highlander' from Fort William to Oban.
Unfortunately, due to the failure of 37406, the promised traction only
produced on two out of the four days with GM traction for the remainder. 13/04/09 |
|
After reinstatement a couple
of days previously after a good number of years of open storage and with
paintwork reflecting this fact, 37670 'St Blazey T&RS Depot' tails
the ECS for Pathfinder Tours 'The Easter West Highlander' into Fort
William prior to leading the train to Mallaig. 12/04/09 |
||
