WINWICK & BEYOND
The first thirteen shots are from David Quayle, all taken on his recent trip to South America.
First up are the two shots above, showing the locomotives or 'mules' that haul the ships through Panama Canal locks on a 5ft gauge railway. 'Mules' are electric powered using a third rail laid below the surface on the land side of the locks. Each 'mule' has a powerful winch which the driver operates to control two cables attached to ships, which can be hauled in a controlled manner. Four 'mules' are used per ship, two on each side. The new Panama Canal, for larger ships, employs tugs rather than locomotives. the pics are dated 21st January 2017.
The next six shots were taken on 12th February 2017 near Ushuaia in Argentina, on the island of Tierra del Fuego. The railway is Ferrocarril Austral Fueguino or 'Train of the End of the World'. The first shows a 2-6-2T steam locomotive Camila, designed and built by Winson Engineering of the UK, in 1995.
David's next pic features Ing L D Porta built in Argentina in 1994.
Next is a narrow gauge, Beyer Garratt 0-4-0 + 0-4-0 locomotive, Ing H R Zubietta introduced to the railway in 2006. This engine was built in South Africa.
Pic number six from David shows Camila again.
Double heading diesels are heading this train. At the head is a loco named Tierrra del Fuego.
An unidentified red locomotive (although numbered 15) is shown here, with Camila in the background.
A small 0-4-0 steam loco is the subject of pic number nine from David taken at the Patagonian Institute Museum at Punta Arenas, Chile on 10th February 2017.
Another shot from Chile depicts a steam loco on static display at Arica - a 1924, German-built, rack and pinion loco for working to Bolivia. The pic is dated 31st January 2017.
A third shot from Chile was taken at Valparaiso. Pictured is an electric unit passing the harbour on 3rd February 2017.
Pics twelve and thirteen from David, of steam engines on display, were taken in Peru. The first was taken at Salaverry on 25th January 2017, and features an 0-6-0 tank engine.
This one was taken on 30th January 2017, at Mollendo. The 0-4-0 tank engine is named Mollendina.
The next four shots are from Geoff Monks. His first, left,t features 'T9' class 4-4-0, No.30120, awaiting departure from Shackerstone (Battlefield Line, Leicestershire) with a passenger service, on 25th March 2017. His second shot shows the same service departing Shackerstone on the same date.
DB class 67, 67005 (with 67006 trailing) is the subject of pic number three from Geoff. The train is approaching Hartford Junction taking empty stock of the 'Orient Express' from Runcorn to Crewe for stabling, on 8th April 2017. The loaded train had, earlier, run from London Victoria to Runcorn in connection with the Grand National.
Double heading DRS class 37s are up next from Geoff, approaching Hartford Junction with a Sellafield - Crewe spent nuclear fuels flasks on 8th April. They were 37218 and 37609.
Jeff Nicholls now follows with nine shots. His first shows double heading DRS class 37s at Stafford on 29th March 2017. The working was 'Northern Belle' empty stock - the locos were 37716 and 37038.
Pic two from Jeff shows DRS class 57, 57002 taking a DBSO car (Driving Brake Standard Open) from Derby to Carlisle on 4th April 2017. The location was Acton Bridge. A DBSO is a coach which has been converted to include, among other things, driver cab and signal tansmission/receiving equipment.
DB (EWS) class 66, 66094 is pictured at Winwick on 30th March 2017 on cement empties, working Avonmouth - Clitheroe.
The next two shots feature both ends of a Network Rail train at Stafford on 29th March 2017. Left is Colas Rail class 67, 67023 at the head, and right is CR 67027, on the tail. The working ran Crewe-Crewe via other locations.
Pics six and seven from Jeff feature the same working - double heading DRS locos class 88, 88002 Prometheus and class 68, 68025 at Dutton Viaduct(left,) and at Acton Bridge (right), on 4th April 2017. The working was a Carlisle - Crewe and return, test train.
DRS class 88. 88002 Prometheus is pictured working light engine at Earlestown on a crew training run, Carlisle - Crewe, on 30th March 2017.
Network Rail class 97, 97302 is depicted in Platform 8 at Crewe on 6th April 2017 in Jeff's ninth shot.
The final pic in this post is from myself and features Gresley class 'A1/A3' 4-6-2, No.60103 Flying Scotsman with support coach, at Red Bank on 8th April 2017.