More class 68s

As the title suggests this post, 5th August 2014, includes several shots of a famous 'A4' which has been out and about in the area on several occasions, lately. Sixteen shots from five contributors.

WINWICK AND ELSEWHERE

Our first four shots have been sent in by Jeff Nicholls. First up is the 'A4' 4-6-2 of Scottish farmer John Cameron, No.60009 Union of South Africa. The locomotive is depicted heading the 'North Wales Coast Express'. The location was Culcheth and class 57, 57316 was on the tail. The pic is dated 3rd August 2014.

Jeff's second pic shows a NRTT at Winwick on 1st August 2014. Class 97, 97301 was at the head with class 31, 31465 on the tail. 

DRS class 47, 47841 is up next, in Jeff's third pic. The location was Sankey Viaduct and the date, 5th July 2014.

The fourth and final shot from Jeff was taken on his recent Spanish holiday. Pictured is a Spanish 'Avant' unit at Antequera Santa Anna on a Seville - Malaga service. The date was 28th July 2014. Jeff adds that these trains can reach 160mph.

John Smith has been busy lately and has sent in no less than six shots; the first pair showing what a difference a couple of months can make on track appearance. First up is a pic taken 2nd May 2014 looking west off Broad Lane bridge at Collins Green. The loco is EWS (DBS) class 60, 60065 Spirit of JAGUAR. The second pic was taken at the same spot, of the same working, on 25th July 2014 and shows how the scene has changed as electrification of the L&M line progresses. The loco in this pic is EWS (DBS) class 66, 66066.

Pic three from John features double heading class 47  locos -  47815 Great Western, in Riviera Trains livery and 47812, in BR two-tone green livery. The working was Drax Power Station - Doncaster gypsum and the location was Hambleton Junction (near Selby, N.Yorkshire). The pic is dated 29th July 2014.

Ulleskelf (Selby, N Yorkshire) was the location for John's next shot - of Stratford 47 Group's, class 47, 47580 County of Essex, heading the 'Scarborough Spa Circular'. The pic is dated 29th July 2014.

The 'Streak' is up next again in John's fifth pic. No.60009 Union of South Africa is pictured at Winwick on the 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' on 26th July 2014. Pushing from the tail was class 57, 57316 because of the fire risk. According to my 'Platform Five' guide, the latter loco is a WCRC loco running in the livery of Arriva Trains Wales/ Welsh Government sponsored, dark blue.

John's final shot shows the latest Chiltern Railways liveried class 68 'Vossloh UKLights' locos, leased from DRS - 68010 and 68011. DRS class 68, 68009 is also in the pic, with DRS class 57, 57012 at the head. The working was Liverpool - Crewe; the location was St Helens Junction.

My own shot of the 'Streak' is up next, taken at Red Bank on 26th July 2014. The 'Special' was the 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' and the 'fire risk' loco doing the pushing, was WCRC class 47, 47245.

Next are two shots from Ieuan Wood. First up is class 37, 37518 Fort William/An Gearasdan, heading 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' coaches at around 5.30am on 26th July 2014 at Rainhill. 

Ieuan's second shot features that 'Streak' again 60009 Union of South Africa; this one taken at Winwick on 26th July 2014. The railtour was the' Cumbrian Mountain Express'.

David Wood has sent in the final three shots in this post. The first depicts DBS class 90, 90035 heading the 'Border Raider' railtour through Red Bank, on 5th July 2014.

David's second shot shows DRS class 47, 47810 Peter Bath MBE, 1927-2006 (tail) and 'Northern Belle' liveried class 47, 47790 Galloway Princess (head) at Red Bank on 7th July 2014. 

The third shot from David, also the final example in this post, features Colas Rail class 70, 70810 at Whiston, on 3rd June 2014.