The Olympics 2012

You may be asking what on earth have the London Olympics of 2012 to do with our blog? Well the answer is simple. A class 87 locomotive was used as a communication tool in 2005/06 to "provide visual reinforcement" to the general public of the London Olympics bid. Today's post (7th November 2010) is about that locomotive.
Class 87 locomotive 87012 was named Coeur de Lion from 2001 - 2005 but in the latter year she was renamed The Olympian and the slogan 'Back the Bid London 2010' was added to the sides of the locomotive. The locomotive was liveried in Network SouthEast colours. However, in December 2006, the locomotive was sold to a Bulgarian Railway Company (see the post for 26th May 2010 for details), so the PR excercise was short-lived.
The first pic is from Bob McClellan and shows the locomotive 'dragging' class 325 Royal Mail emus through Red Bank. The shot is dated 22nd August 2005.
John Smith has supplied the second shot taken on 3rd October 2005. The locomotive is shown in a consist of three, light-engine, with class 73s, 73204 and 73205 behind. The slogan seems to be slightly different in this shot - it appears to read 'Host City London 2012'. Not too much info on this working but John thinks that the locomotives were travelling to Scotland.

First 'B1' on the Blog

I am delighted to include a pic of an LNER class 'B1' of Edward Thompson in today's post (5th November 2010), a 'first' for our blog. The pic was taken ion 4th April 2005 as the locomotive and support coach passed, southbound, through Winwick.

Edward Thompson succeeded Sir Nigel Gresley in 1941 as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the LNER. His class of 'B1' 4-6-0, mixed-traffic locomotives was the LNER equivalent of the GWR 'Hall' class and the LMS 'Black 5' class - 410 'B1' locomotives were eventually built. The first one, No.8301, hit LNER metals in 1942 and was named Springbok. The 'B1' in Bob's shot, No.61264, is owned by the Thompson B1 Locomotive Trust; she was rescued from the scrap heap in 1976 and completely restored for mainline duties by 1997. She is currently undergoing boiler renovation. A second 'B1' is currently preserved on the Nene Valley Railway - No.61306, Mayflower.

The second pic in today's post is from Bevan Price. He shot a triple-heading, light-engine consist of EWS liveried, DBS locos passing through Winwick, northbound, on 18th October 2010. They were class 67, 67026, class 67, 67017 Arrow, and class 92, 92019 Wagner. The working was Arpley-Mossend.

The final pic is from Jeff Nicholls, taken at Winwick on 3rd September 2005. BR, two-tone green class 47, 47851 (D168) Traction Magazine, is depicted according to Jeff "on a northbound special working that returned behind locomotive No.71000 Duke of Gloucester".

Measurement Trains

John Smith and Alan Sherratt have provided the pics for today's blog (3rd October 2010), both based on railway measurement trains.

The first pic is John's - two DRS class 37s are shown with the yellow-liveried overhead wires measurement coach, Mentor, (provided by Serco*) sandwiched between them. Mentor ensures that the overhead lines are in specification to supply power to electric trains. The locomotives are 37208 in front and 37069 at the rear. The pic is dated 11th October 2010; the location was Winwick.

Alan's shot is of a yellow- liveried Network Rail Test Train. A class 31, 31285 and class 97, 97303 passed through Winwick on Saturday 30th October 2010 with the a Serco* Structure Gauging Train (SGT). The working was Mossend-Derby RTC.

*Serco Rail Operations is a licensed train operator, specialising in measurement trains on behalf of Network Rail, to ensure that the UK rail infrastructure is managed as a safe transport environment. The Structure Gauging Train (SGT) uses light and laser technology to measure the distance between the track and structures to ensure that there is sufficient clearance to operate trains.

Three from Three

Three pics from three contributors comprise today's post (1st November 2010).

The first is a shot from Jeff Nicholls showing a different viewpoint for blog photographers. The Fertis hire livery is shown clearly on DBS class 56, 56018, which has been stabled at Arpley Yard for ages, (or so it seems). The locomotive is used as a front for the New Measurements Train, on the mainline behind. The Network Rail liveried train is headed by class 43, 43013. The pic was taken on 22nd September 2010.

Bob McClellan has sent in pic number two, taken on the approach to Bank Quay on 27th January 2005. The DRS livered class 37, 37029, is heading empty flats. The Epping Ongar Railway is now the home for this class 37.

The third and final pic is from Dave Harris. The 'West Coast Circular' charter of Rail-Blue Charters was pictured as it passed through Red Bank on 30th October 2010. The Watford - Carlisle - Watford special composed of InterCity stock, was headed by EWS liveried, DBS class 67, 67025 Western Star. The TOC was WCRC.

The 'Earl' and The 'Duke'

Todays post (30th October 2010) comprises three pics from three different photographers, two pics of Earl of Mount Edgcumbe and one of Duke of Gloucester.

First, the 'Earl'. One of Charles Collett's finest, 'Castle' class 4-6-0 No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe passed through Winwick, with support coach, on 15th October 2010. The first pic, by David Quayle, shows the consist passing under Old Alder Lane bridge. The second pic, from John Smith, shows the consist heading towards the bridge. The 'Earl' is northbound in both pics.

The third pic is another of class 8P 4-6-2, No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester. I have used several pics of 'The Duke' before but no apologies for using another one of this magnificent locomotive. Heading the 'Cumbrian Coast Explorer' charter into Bank Quay, the train was photographed by Ken Young on 3rd July 2010.

Class 37s and Class 47s

Bob McClellan (2) and Geoff Monks (1) have forwarded three pics for todays post (28th October 2010) showing two locomotives in each pic. All six locomotives are from just two classes.

Pic one from Bob shows DRS class 47s, 47298 and 47802, double-heading, light engine through Winwick, southbound, on 8th February 2004.

Bob's second shot, taken on 7th December 2004, features weathered EWS class 37s, 37706 and 37682 on the water cannon train.

Geoff's pic is of WCRC duo of class 37, 37685 and class 47, 47760 heading to Blackpool, on 2nd October 2010, to head a Kiddermister - Blackpool charter, originally headed by 'Jubilee' class 4-6-0 5690 Leander, back to Kidderminster. The locomotives are on the northbound slow line where they were held at signals, waiting for the charter to pass on the main line.

A Different Viewpoint

The three pics in today's post (26th October 2010) are from yours truly and offer another photographic vantage point to those already featured on our blog. A location in Warrington Road (East Lancs from St Helens, Golborne roundabout, turn right) offers a side-on view of rail traffic from the roadside. All the pics were taken on 16th June 2010. The only problem is that a pic of anything but a very short train, is not possible, as the available lineside gap is not wide enough; anyway, judge for yourself.

Pic one is an empty logs working headed by Fastline class 66, 66434.

Pic two is a coal working featuring Freightliner class 66, 66603 at the head. I also photographed Freightliner class 66, 66606 on the tail of the same train, but this pic is not included.

The final pic is of Colas class 66, 66843 on the popular logs working.

3 x 47

Three class 47s, in three differen liveries, feature in this post (24th October 2010) in pics from three different contributors.

The first pic is from Andy Appleton. Bank Quay is the location and Colas class 47, 47739, Robin of Templecombe the locomotive, running 'light engine'. The working was Washwood Heath - Ribblehead, the date, 11th October 2010.
Jeff Nicholls has sent in pic number two, a WCRC clas 47, 47500 heading empty coaching stock through Winwick on 8th October 2010. The locomotive was only acquired by WCRC in December 2009 hence its absence from early 2010 pocket books. Jeff adds that the working was Carnforth - Southall with the stock required for a steam charter on the following day, headed by the 'Black Duchess'.

The third and final pic is another taken at Winwick, this one by Alan Rigby. Riviera Trains liveried class 47, 47839 Pegasus, is depicted banking a rake of InterCity passenger coaches on the northbound main line, on 2nd May 2007. Out of view, class 86, 86101 Sir William A. Stanier FRS, was at the head of the train. The post of 5th July features 86101 at the head.

Three from the 1990's

Three scanned pics from the 1990's comprise todays post (23rd October 2010), all from Alan Sherratt.

Alan adds "towards the end of June 1993 BR ran a series of IC 225 'Awareness Specials' from London to Manchester, Liverpool, Carlisle and Glasgow. The governmemt of the day was deciding where to spend money on a new fleet of trains - west coast or south east for commuter trains. Eventually the west coast lost out to the south east and the money was spent on class 465/466 EMUs. The class 91 in the first pic was returning north on a London - Carlise service for invited guests; these 'specials' were NOT for ordinary travellers." The location was, of course, Winwick, the locomotive depicted, class 91, 91001.

The class 33s in pic number two 33026 and 33008, passed through Winwick on a Pathfinders 'Crompton Crusader' tour from Swindon to Carlisle via the S&C on 30th July 1995.

Earlestown is the location for Alan's third pic depicting a colourful combination for a diverted London-Liverpool 'drag' , class 47, 47715 and class 87, 87032, on 30th July 1995.

These pics are excellent examples of what can be achieved by a decent slide/negative scanner.

Four Locomotive Classes

For today (21st October 2010) I have chosen three pics, showing four different locomotive classes in three different locations, from three different contributors.

The first pic is from Bevan Price, taken at Winwick on 18th October 2010. In Bevan's pic DRS class 47, 47712 Pride of Carlisle is towing Network Rail liveried (yellow) class 86, 86901 Chief Engineer, northbound, from Crewe to Carlisle. 86901 is probably en route to Scotland for use in tests on the newly reopened electrified route between Glasgow & Edinburgh, via Bathgate. The two Network Rail class 86/9s are used to test overhead power lines, as load banks to draw current.

The second pic is from Geoff Monks and shows a Freightliner class 70, 70002, crossing the Mersey bridge heading the Liverpool Docks - Fiddlers Ferry coal working on 12th October 2010.

The third and final pic is from Chris Sutcliffe. Taken in the not-so-popular, but highly effective vertical format, Freightliner class 66, 66614 is shown heading empty coal hoppers from Fiddlers Ferry on the Bank Quay low level line. The pic is dated 5th October 2010.