Class 70

Like them or not, we have had over a year to reach an opinion on class 70 locomotives since the first two arrived in Britain in November 2009. I like them and even the most intolerant among us accept that they present decent photographic opportunities. This post, 28th February 2011, comprises three different pics covering two locomotives.

Pic number one is from Daniel Irwin. Freightliner class 70, 70002, is shown on a coal working near Fiddlers Ferry Power Station on 20th January 2011. Daniel has produced a fine shot in dense fog.

The second shot, from John Smith, is of the same locomotive. In John's pic, 70002 is heading an engineers ballast working through Newton-le-Willows Station, on 18th February 2011.

The third and final shot is from yours truly and Freightliner class 70, 70011 is the featured locomotive. The working is another engineers ballast example photographed at Winwick on 14th January 2011.
The latest 'Railway Herald' Internet magazine described class member 70004 being named The Coal Industry Society at the NRM on 9th February 2011. 

Reflections and Snow

I am using three pics from regular contributors Jeff Nicholls and John Smith in today's post - 26th February 2011. I have many pics in 'the bank' at the present time so please be patient if your pics are among them; but keep sending them in.

The first two pics are from Jeff Nicholls who has taken advantage of 'Lake Winwick' on several occasions lately. The result, some good reflections shots. The first is of Freightliner class 66, 66612 Forth Raider, heading a concrete sleepers, engineering train at Winwick on 20th February 2011. This is another of the workings in connection with the current engineering modifications on Winwick lines.

Jeff's second shot shows Northern Rail class 142, 142033, heading northwards from Bank Quay, on 24th February 2011. At the present time  'Nodding Donkies' are common diesel multiple units on the Winwick line along with class 150s and 156s. Class 158s are occasionally seen.

Featured next and last is another mail drag shot of John Smith, photographed in good light and picturesque snow. The pic is dated 22nd December 2010. At the head of the Royal Mail, class 325 emus is EWS (DBS) class 67, 67005 Queens Messenger. The class 325s are popular with photographers when being dragged in bad weather. The latter is known to affect their reliability.

Three Locomotive Classes

Today's post, 25th February 2011, features two pics from recent first contributors, and another from a regular.
The first is from recent first contributor, Daniel Irwin . EWS (DBS) class 60, 60010, is shown travelling light engine past the Crosfields Works near Warrington Bank Quay. The pic is dated 27th January 2011. There have been few class 60's extant in our area recently.

The second pic is from the second, recent first contributor, Paul Holland. Freightliner class 70, 70002, is depicted heading empty coal hoppers on the low level line, under Warrington Bank Quay. This pic is dated 23rd February 2011. This line, at Slutchers Lane, is popular with enthusiasts.

The third and final pic is from a regular contributor John Smith.  Freightliner class 66, 66558, is pictured at Newton-le-Willows Station heading an engineers ballast working on 18th February 2011.

The three locations featured in today's pics offer viable alternatives to Winwick, in the current circumstances.

Four from four

I am changing the subject in today's post (23rd February 2011) from the the engineering work at Winwick, which we have used in the last two posts, to four different pictures from four contributors.

Pic number one is from John Smith. Double heading, light engine DRS locomotives, 20309 and 37409 Lord Hinton, are shown at Winwick on 18th February 2011. The working was Crewe - Carlisle. The next pic is from Ken Young. His shot features EWS (DBS) class 66, 66039 on a Fiddlers Ferry loaded coal working at Arpley, on 13th January 2011.

Jeff Nicholls has sent in pic number three taken at Winwick on 10th November 2010. EWS (DBS) class 59, 59203, Vale of Pickering, is shown heading a loaded coal working.

The fourth and final shot is from yours truly. It shows the popular logs working taken at Red Bank on 29th June 2010. I am using this shot to remind people that as the longer days are approaching, this working will be available to photographers. The locomotive is Fastline liveried class 66, 66434.

A New Winwick Junction

Today's post, 21st February 2011, comprises pictures from John Smith and Jeff Nicholls showing the extensive track alterations at Winwick  which are providing alternative shots for our photographers (at weekends).



The three pics were all taken at Winwick/Winwick Junction on 20th February 2011 and show clearly the engineering work being undertaken 'Along Winwick Lines'. The three locomotives in use are Freightliner class 66, 66612 Forth Raider, in Jeff's shot, and Freightliner class 66, 66558, and class 70, 70002 in John's pics. The trains are carrying ballast, concrete sleepers and heavy plant. Can you spot something missing from 66612?

The horse is more interested in John than the railway. 

Six from Three

Today's post (19th February 2011) comprises three pics from three contributors. Featured are six different locomotives representing five classes.
Pic number one is from Richard Jones. Double heading class 20s, 20059 in Railfreight grey/red stripe livery with small logo and 20168 in BR blue livery with large logo are shown heading loaded coal wagons on a Parkside (or Bickershaw) - Fiddlers Ferry Power Station (FFPS) working. The date was 26th May 1992.
Jeff Nicholls has supplied shot number two.  Three locomotives are pictured in Arpley Yard on 9th February 2011. They are EWS (DBS) class 90, 90020 Collingwood, EWS (DBS) class 67, 67029 Royal Diamond and EWS (DBS) class 08, 08879. The class 67 remains in EWS grey livery, initiated in 1998, and including outline drawings of a lion, dragon and stags head, representing England, Wales and Scotland (EWS).

The final pic is from Geoff Monks. Featured is GBRf class 66, 66701 Whitemoor, heading loaded gypsum wagons at Mersey Bridge, Latchford, on 16th February 2011. The working was the standard FFPS - Newbiggin.

New Contributors

In today's post (16th February 2011) we welcome two new contributors Paul Holland and Richard Jones. Both  take pics on 'our patch' and we will see more in future posts. We now have 33 contributors to our blog  which comprises 610 photographs. The blog has received over 18000 hits - not bad for our first year. Well done everyone.

Paul's shot is of EWS (DBS) class 67, 67008 dragging EWS (DBS) class 92, 92042 Honegger, dead in tow. The working was Arpley - Crewe and the date, 11th February 2011. The location was the Mersey bridge.

Richard has supplied the next two shots, both showing locos in Railfreight, triple grey livery. They are scanned from Kodak slides originally processed  in 1992. The first features double heading class 37s, carrying the Railfreight metals sector logo (blue and yellow chevrons). The locos are 37197 and 37293, depicted on a southbound steel working on 18th May 1992.

The last pic shows class 56, 56083, carrying the Railfreight coal sector logo (black diamonds on yellow background). The working is empty coal, northbound, through Winwick on the same date, 18th May 1992.

More Construction Shots

Following on quickly from yesterdays blog, which described the current engineering work being carried out at Winwick, I have put together (14th February 2011) a montage of pics taken yesterday by John Smith. The collection of four pics shows the trains which are involved in the work programme. They also show the opportunities available to photographer/enthusiasts, especially at weekends.

The Freightliner class 66 locomotives involved yesterday, 13th February 2011, were 66530, 66599 and 66602. The latter two locomotives are seen in Johns pics which were taken at Winwick, by the ex Vulcan Works and at Earlestown.

Obstructed View

The following information is for those enthusiasts who didn't visit Winwick this week; construction work began on Tuesday in the field adjacent to the track on the north side of Old Alder Lane bridge.Throughout the week the engineering site expanded quickly and photographers interested in anything other than a very short working will be disappointed. The site obstructs the view from our normal standpoint. I have used two pics today (13th February 2011) to illustrate the point - 'before and after' shots. The work is rumoured to involve track and point replacement up to Winwick Junction which may take up to eighteen weeks to complete. Bear this in mind if you require a shot of a northbound working.

The first pic, the 'before' shot, is from Geoff Monks. Featured is Freightliner class 66, 66551, on empty coal hopper duty from Fiddlers Ferry P.S.- Hunterston. The pic is dated 14th January 2011. Possibly the same working was photographed by Jeff Nicholls on 11th February 2011. In Jeff's pic, the 'after' shot, Freightliner class 66, 66615,  is shown heading empty coal hoppers with the, as yet incomplete, engineering construction in the foreground.

I have added a third totally unrelated shot from John Smith. A class 175, 175008, is shown in 2007 in a trial Arriva livery. The pic was taken at Parkside.

'Workhorses'

Three of the ubiquitous class 66 locomotives are featured in this post (9th February 2011). The pics, from three of our regular contributors, show the 'workhorses' on different workings.



Pic number one is from John Smith. EWS (DBS) class 66, 66015, is shown with empty fly ash wagons on a Northwich - Drax working. The pic is dated 13th April 2007, the location was Parkside. Note the dust thrown up as the train powers through.

Ken Young has sent in pic number two, which has another Drax link. Freightliner class 66, 66585 The Drax Flyer, is featured at Bank Quay with a coal working on 12th January 2011.

The third pic is from Jeff Nicholls. DRS class 66, 66418, is pictured on a southbound intermodal working through Winwick, on 17th January 2011. The sky, reflected in "Lake Winwick", is impressive.

Three Different Classes

This 6th February 2011 post features three different locomotives, each from a different class. The pics are from three regular contributors.
Pic number one is from Bevan Price and proves that you should not stay indoors when it is cold and foggy outside. Pick up the camera and get down to Winwick and you might be rewarded with a shot like this. Bevan's pic was taken on 19th January 2011 and shows new Freightliner class 70, 70011, heading empty coal hoppers, northbound, from Fiddlers Ferry P.S.
Andy Appleton has sent in the second pic. DRS class 66, 66417, is pictured on a Daventry - Coatbridge intermodal working, northbound, through Winwick. The date was 27th January 2011. 

A rather special class 86 is shown next, in a pic from Jeff Nicholls. ETL liveried class 86, 86701 Orion, (previously 86205) is shown passing through Winwick light engine, southbound, on 1st Febrary 2011. Electric Traction Limited (ETL) lease the locomotives 86101, 86701 and 86702 from Europheonix and spot hire them to other companies.

Another New '70'

Another new class 70 locomotive, 70010, makes an entrance in today's post, 4th February 2011 featuring three pics from three contributors.

The first pic, by Bevan Price, was taken at Latchford Sidings on 2nd February 2011. The Freightliner class 70, 70010,  was on the Ellesmere Port - Fiddlers Ferry P.S. 'run round', its first revenue-earning trip in our area.  GBRf (Europorte) class 66, 66716, was waiting to depart with the Fiddlers Ferry P.S. - Newbiggin gypsum working.

Pic number two is from Andy Appleton. Pictured is EWS (DBS) class 60, 60084, on a Fiddlers Ferry - Liverpool Bulk Terminal empty coal working, northbound at Winwick,  on 27th January 2010.






The final pic is from Geoff Monks. It shows DRS (Stobart liveried) class 66, 66414 James the Engine, on a southbound intermodal working through Winwick on 1st February 2011. Geoff just got the shot immediately the northbound Pendolino had cleared. A close shave Geoff. The working was Coatbridge - Daventry.

"Extendolino"

I make no apologies for including a pic from Dave Harris as the stand-alone feature in today's post, (1st February 2011) although it was taken just outside our photo area. The historical content of Dave's shot is  undeniable showing the new, eleven-car Pendolino set from Alstom, nicknamed the "Extendolino". Unbranded class 390, 390054, was shot at Halebank whilst undertaking trials between Speke Junction and Halebank on 28th January 2011.