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SET UP JANUARY 2010. PLEASE SEND ANY PHOTOGRAPHS/INFORMATION ETC., TO DAVE, AT THE FOLLOWING NEW EMAIL ADDRESS platt.precology@gmail.com
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Wednesday 29 August 2012

Drainage Work at Winwick

I am using this post to inform everyone of the current drainage work, ongoing at Winwick. Pictures below emphasise the problem facing photographers. The duration of the work is not known yet. Also in today's post, 29th August 2012, are twelve other pics covering locations in the UK, IOM and Sweden.

The blog has been modified from today. Because of the huge numbers of pics (1826) posted to date a third PICASA slide show has been required to show them all.  Also a new feature has been added - the top ten posts to date (updated continuously). If you like the changes please let me know and if you can suggest any other mods, let me know about them also.


WINWICK



First up, pic number one,  is a montage shot from yours truly taken yesterday, 28th August 2012. Pictured is the drainage work at Winwick which will seriously impact on any  photography (southbound workings) for the near future. On top is a shot of EWS (DBS) class 66, 66060, with an engineers working, passing workmen who are placing a marker pole. Beneath is a shot showing the machines at work in the farmer's field adjacent to the line.






Pic number two is from Jeff Nicholls. The 'Ynys Mon Express' railtour is the subject, taken at Bank Quay on 27th July 2012. Heading the train is WCRC class 47, 47854 Diamond Jubilee. The railtour ran Carlisle - Holyhead.






Our third shot is another from myself. Pictured is DRS class 66, 66432 heading the 'Malcolm' intermodal through Winwick today, 28th August 2012.


 Code - August W12






Pic number four has been sent in by Ken Young. Ken's pics remind me of buses, none sent in for ages then a whole host all at once. This one features the preserved, blue class 86, 86259 Les Ross, on a 'special' at Bank Quay on 14th June 2012. On the left is an unknown 'Pendolino'.






The fifth and final shot in this section is anther from Ken Young. The preserved class 47, 47580 County of Essex, is pictured at Bank Quay on 5th August 2012.

Code - August W13







ALTERNATIVE UK PICS



David Quayle's pic taken on the Swanage Railway is up next, pic number six overall. Pictured is class 33, 33111 (D6528) standing at Swanage on 17th June 2012.








Our seventh shot is a third from Ken Young. Featured is First Great Western class 43 HST, 43040, standing at Hereford with a EWS (DBS) class 66, 66172, in the foreground. The pic is dated 23rd May 2012.







Ieuan Wood has sent in the next pic, number eight, taken at Llandudno on 29th July 2012. Royal Train liveried class 47, 47798 Prince William, is shown standing in the station.








Pic number nine is from Alan Rigby. Stanier 'Black Eight' (class '8F') 2-8-0 is depicted on 'The Fellsman' railtour at Hoghton, on 18th July 2012.








John Smith has sent in pic number ten, taken at Mill Lane, St Helens on 19th August 2012. The pic features John Cameron's famous 'Streak', No.60009 Union of South Africa.  The railtour was Liverpool - Holyhead.

Code - August  A8





David Hennessey's series of IOM pics is continued with pic number eleven. Manx Electric Railway 'Tunnel' car No.5 is shown standing at Douglas Derby Castle with trailer No.46 and mail van No.4. david's pic is dated 25th July 2012.








Geoff Monks has supplied pic number twelve. GBRf 66, 66720, in its psychedelic livery is pictured approaching Manchester Oxford Road with a Barton Dock - Felixstowe intermodal working. Geoff's pic is dated 24th August 2012.

Code - August A9






ALTERNATIVE WORLD PICS



The thirteenth pic, first and only one in this section, was taken in Stockholm, Sweden, by David Quayle. The pic is dated 17th July 2012.








Voting ends for the 'Pic of the Month' - July 2012 competition at 2400hrs, on August 31st. The voting system is simple - just send me the yellow code numbers of the three pics you have chosen as 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each section, Winwick and Alternatives (joint UK and World). All July dated pics posted between July1st - July 26th have code numbers. My email address is at the top of the blog. Everyone reading this post is eligible to vote, contributor or not.
NOTE : Because the blog had a two weeks recess at the beginning of the month I will accept August dated entries until September 6th. On September 10th voting can start for the 'Pic of the Month' - August ompetition. August dated pics posted after September 6th (if numbers are too high) will not qualify for competition.
If you are thinking of contributing to our blog - all pics taken anytime, anywhere, historical or contemporary, can be sent in to me for inclusion. Inclusion depends on the numbers in the 'bank' at publishing time and thus cannot be guaranteed.  However, pics from new contributors always receive priority. Original jpegs ex camera, cropped if you wish,  are preferred as resizing is required for the blog.

Friday 24 August 2012

From Winwick to Hamburg

As the title suggests this post, 24th August 2012, continues our international theme, began a couple of posts ago.


WINWICK


Geoff Monks has supplied the first two shots in this section. Pic number one features double heading class 20s, 20314 and 20311, owned by the Harry Needle Railroad Company (but on hire to DRS). The pair passed through Winwick on 22nd August 2012 with two barrier coaches sandwiching a passenger coach, behind. The livery does nothing for me - comments please.
Code - August W7



Geoff's second pic shows the 'Northern Belle' charter passing through Winwick on 20th August 2012. At the head was DRS 'NB' liveried class 47, 47832 Solway Princess, with DRS 'NB' liveried class 47, 47790 Galloway Princess on the tail. The working was Edinburgh - Euston.

Code - August W8



Pic number three is from Jeff Nicholls. Featured is Stanier 'Black Eight' 2-8-0, No.48151, heading the Preston - Blaenau Ffestiniog 'Welsh Mountaineer' railtour through Winwick, on 30th July 2012.






Gresley 'A4' 4-6-2, No.60009 Union of South Africa, is with us again in pic number four, this one from Bob McClellan.  The 'Streak' was heading the return 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' at Landgate Lane in Ashton-in-Makerfield on 18th August 2012.

Code - August W9




The fifth shot has been sent in by David Wood. GBRf class 66, 66726 Sheffield Wednesday, is pictured on an engineers working at Red Bank on 21st August 2012.

Code - August W10






Colas class 66 pair, 66848 (ex 66575) and 66849 Wylam Dilly (ex 66576), are depicted at Red Bank in John Smith's pic, number six. The working was the popular Carlisle - Chirk logs and the date, 20th August 2012.

Code - August W11




ALTERNATIVE UK PICS


First up in this section, number seven overall, is another Colas class 47, 47739 Robin of Templecombe heading empty steel wagons on a Washwood Heath - Boston Docks working. The pic is from Bob McClellan and is dated 10th August 2012. The location was Stenson Junction.

Code - August A3




Next is another John Smith pic taken at Peak Forest on 21st August 2012. Pictured is the double headed, light engine pair of Devon & Cornwall Railways (DCR) class 56s, 56311 and 56312. This is pic number eight.

Code - August A4





That 'Streak' is here again. No.60009 Union of South Africa is pictured at Bryn this time on 18th August 2012. The pic, number nine, is from Matthew Chambers who had to up his iso to 1600 because of lousy weather.

Code - August A5





Pic number ten is from John Smith's Peak Forest collection. EWS (DBS) class 66, 66172, is shown at the refuelling depot in late evening on 21st August 2012.

Code - August A6






The superb 'Caley Blue' livery is up next in the eleventh pic, from Alan Rigby, taken on 15th August 2012. The location was Broomhill Station on the Strathspey Railway and the loco, CR '812' class 0-6-0,  No.828.

 Code - August A7





ALTERNATIVE WORLD PICS



David's Quayle's pic of a railway scene in Hamburg is up next; it was taken whilst walking on his holidays in Germany on 22nd July 2012. For details of the bridge and location check out David's Hamburg shot in the previous post.







Voting continues for the 'Pic of the Month' - July 2012 competition. The voting system is simple - just send me the yellow code numbers of the three pics you have chosen as 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each section, Winwick and Alternatives (joint UK and World). All July dated pics posted between July1st - July 26th have code numbers. My email address is at the top of the blog. Everyone reading this post is eligible to vote, contributor or not.

Saturday 18 August 2012

Diesels, Steam and Electrics

Welcome to post number 400. For this post, 18th August 2012, I am using twelve pictures from eight contributors covering all types and classes of locomotives, including some from Germany and Latvia.



WINWICK



Pic number one in this Winwick area section features the preserved class 47, 47580 County of Essex, heading the 'North Wales Coast Express' near Culcheth, on 5th August 2012. The loco was replacing the failed 'A4' class 4-6-2 steam loco, No.60009 Union of South Africa. This pic is from Jeff Nicholls.

Code - August W4




Pic number two is another from Jeff. Two class 47s are shown at Winwick on 2nd August 2012. WCRC 47798, Prince William, is shown double heading with the preserved 47580, County of Essex, on a Carnforth - Crewe empty stock move for the following day's 'Scarborough Spa Express'.

Code - August W5



Our third pic is from Bob McClellan. This one depicts the blue liveried class 60, 60074 Teenage Spirit, on a coal working approaching St Helens Junction. To increase the Winwick area for photographs I will, from now on, include thoses taken slightly further afield from Earlestown, at St Helens Junction. Bob's pic is dated 2nd August 2012.

Code - August W6



Pic number four is from David Quayle. Taken on 26th April 2012, the pic features Freightliner 'PowerHaul' class 70, 70016, on a coal run through Winwick.







ALTERNATIVE UK PICS




Pic number five, the first in this section has been sent in by David Wood. Yellow/Grey class 507 units (?) of MerseyRail are shown at Chester on 31st July 2012.








Pic number six, of Stanier 'Black Five' 4-6-0, No.44932, is from Ieuan Wood. Ieuan took the shot at York on 31st July 2012.








Our seventh shot has been sent in by Bob McClellan. DBS class 60, 60059 Swinden Dalesman, is pictured at Stenson Junction with a Kingsbury - Humber empty tanks working. The pic is dated 10th August 2012.

Code - August  A1





John Smith's shot of Freightliner class 90, 90016 is next, pic number eight.The loco is shown heading an intermodal working, Garston - Crewe. The pic was taken at Acton Bridge on 8th August 2012.

Code - August A2






The West Somerset Railway is featured next with pic number nine from David Quayle.The location was Bishops Lydeard and the loco is class 47, D1661 North Star. David's pic is dated 11th June 2012.








The Isle of Man is represented next, with pic number ten from David Hennessey. Manx electic railway unvestibuled saloon car No.1 is shown standing at Bulgham. This car is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest, working electric tram. David's pic is dated 29th July 2012.








ALTERNATIVE WORLD PICS




Pic number one in this section, number eleven overall, was taken on David Quayle's summer holiday. The location was Hamburg and the trains were crossing a bridge over the Alster Lakes between the inner (Binnenalster) and outer (AuBenalster). The shot is over Binnenalster which is in central Hamburg. David was out walking when he took the shot, with a long lens, on 22nd July 2012.




The final pic in today's post, number twelve, is another from David. This one was taken in Latvia's capital city, Riga, on 18th July 2012. The bridge crosses the River Daugava.










Voting is under way for the 'Pic of the Month' - July 2012 competition. The voting system is simple - just send me the yellow code numbers of the three pics you have chosen as 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each section, Winwick and Alternatives (joint UK and World). All July dated pics posted between July1st - July 26th have code numbers. My email address is at the top of the blog. Everyone reading this post is eligible to vote, contributor or not.



Monday 13 August 2012

Winwick, IOM and Abroad

Following my two weeks absence today's post, 13th August 2012, comprises thirteen pics from six contributors. The Winwick area, Isle of Man, Mid Hants Railway, Germany and Holland provide the locations.



WINWICK



First up is a shot from Jeff Nicholls. Featured is Stanier 'Black Five' 4-6-0, No.44871, on a Bury-Carnforth positioning move prior to departure for Fort William. The location was the public footpath at Culcheth and the date, 2nd August 2012.

Code - August  W1





Next, pic number two, is from David Quayle. WCRC class 47, 47798 Prince William, is shown on the rear of the 'North Wales Coast Express' as it passed through Winwick on 29th July 2012. Gresley  4-6-2 'Streak', 60009 Union of South Africa, was up front.







Pic number three has been sent in by Bob McClellan. The blue liveried class 60, 60074 Teenage Spirit, is shown on a FFPS coal working close to the Ferry Inn. Bob's shot is dated 2nd August 2012.

Code - August W2





The fourth pic, of a track machine, has been sent in by Jeff Nicholls. DR73108 Tiger, a Plasser & Theurer tamper, is pictured at Bank Quay on 8th August 2012.


Code - August W3





ALTERNATIVE UK PICS



I am delighted to include three pics from David Hennessey of rail scenes from the Isle of Man (a first for the blog?)

The first, pic number five overall, shows a Beyer Peacock 2-4-0 tank locomotive, No.8 Fenella standing at the Port Erin water tower. She is one of six such locos in service and was built in 1903; a seventh is under restoration. The pic is dated 26th July 2012.







A second 2-4-0 tank engine of the IOMR is shown in David's second shot, pic number six. This is No.12. Hutchinson pausing at Castletown with the Port Erin bound 'Real Ale' excursion. The pic is dated 28th July 2012.







David's third pic, number seven, features a Snaefell Mountain Railway No.2 car, at the mountain summit on 27th July 2012.










Pic number eight is another of David Quayle's shots from the Mid Hants Railway. Bulleid 'Small Pacific', No.34007 Wadebridge, is shown at Ropley, awaiting maintenance, on 18th June 2012.








Bob McClellan's shot of the Gresley 'A4' 4-6-2, No.60009 Union of South Africa, is up next, pic number nine. The loco is pictured near Eldroth on a loaded test run following maintenance. The pic is dated 18th July 2012.







Pic number ten is from Alan Rigby. Colas class 66, 66848, is depicted on the Carlisle - Chirk logs working at Euxton on 18th July 2012.







ALTERNATIVE WORLD PICS




The first pic in this section, pic number eleven overall, is from David Quayle. The location is Warnemunde in Germany which many cruise liners use as a stop for Berlin. The train shown is a local push and pull service to Rostock which David had just left. This pic is dated 20th July 2012.






Another shot from David's recent continental holiday is shown as pic number twelve. The location is Amsterdam (where else with those bikes?) close to the cruise terminal. The pic was taken on 24th July 2012.







The final shot in this section is from David Wood. It was taken in the Canadian 'Rockies' on 6th August 2011and shows the 'Whistler Rocky Mountaineer' train traversing a viaduct above a 1000ft drop.








As previously described, voting began for the 'Pic of the Month' - July 2012 competition on July 28th, earlier than usual because of my holiday commitments. The voting system is simpler than ever - just send me the yellow code numbers of the three pics you have chosen as 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each section, Winwick and Alternatives (UK and World). All July dated pics posted between July1st - July 26th have code numbers. My email address is at the top of the blog. Everyone reading this post is eligible to vote, contributor or not.