Two Double-Headers and a Treble-Header

Three contributors in today's post (19th October 2010) have forwarded pics comprising seven locomotives.

Pic number one is from Geoff Monks. Double-heading DRS class 37s, 37218 and 37603 are depicted on the popular Sellafield - Crewe nuclear flasks working. The location was Winwick; the date, 2nd October 2010.

The second pic, taken on 11th October 2010, at Winwick, is from Bevan Price. He has been having a little trouble sending his shots to me in the past, via email, but I hope this is the start of something regular. In his pic, two DRS class 47s, 47802 Pride of Cumbria, and 47712 Pride of Carlisle are joined by Stobart liveried class 66, 66414 James the Engine, to treble-head a Carlisle - Barrow Hill empty stock working.



The last and oldest pic in this post is from John Smith. The double-heading combination shown here comprises class 87, 87001 Stephenson and class 86, 86101 Sir William A. Stanier FRS "on a loaded test run". The location was Winwick; the date, 16th July 2008. 87001 is preserved at the NRM; 86101 is owned by the AC Locomotive Society.

Semaphore Sunset

For today's post (17th October 2010) I have chosen four pics, taken at or close to Bank Quay, from two contributors. They include a first for our blog - a rather picturesque sunset with a semaphore signal as a focal point.

I will begin with Chris Sutcliffe's magical sunset shot which he titles 'Semaphore Sunset'. The signal in question is the Arpley signal and the background is the Unilever plant. The date was 5th October 2010.

Another shot from Chris is shown next. Taken at Bank Quay on the same date, 5th October 2010, class 221, 221115 Polmadie Depot displays the Virgin - Bombardier joint branding (see earlier post, 3rd September, for more details). The nameplate - "marking the completion of a multi-million pound upgrade to the facilty carried out by Bombardier Transportation" - is shown inset by Chris.

The final two pics are both from Andy Appleton. They were taken at Bank Quay on 11th October 2010. Sandwiched between two DRS class 37s, 37218 and 37069, is the overhead wire measurment coach 'Mentor'. The two pics show the consist from both ends.

I must admit, we have had some superb weather this October, conducive of course, to excellent photography. Let's hope both continue.

Back to Steam

Well, after all of those 'Tugs' (ten in the last four posts) it is necessary to change the subject. In this post (15th October 2010) we revert to steam - from the present day and the 1930's. The pic from the latter decade has been forwarded by David Hey, whose nostalgic website (the best on the web) is linked to the right of our blog. The pic is by E.R. Morten, a superb photographer of yesteryear. Two of the other pics are from regular contributors whilst a third is from another new contributor.

The 1939 pic is of a Hughes/Fowler 'Crab', 2-6-0 No.2892 taken at Winwick Junction, showing the superb signal box, in 1939. This is the oldest pic to be included in our blog.

In contrast the second pic was taken today (15th) at Winwick and is the most current pic on our blog. One of Charles Collett's finest passed through heading a support coach on its way north to Carnforth - 'Castle' class 4-6-0 No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe. The 'Castle' is heading a charter tomorrow (Saturday 16th) - the 'Pride of Swindon' - from Hellifield to Carlisle. The pic is by regular contributor Jeff Nicholls.

The third pic is of a similar consist but including the 'Black Duchess'. Stanier 'Pacific' 4-6-2 Duchess of Sutherland was heading south through Winwick on 8th October 2010. The pic is by another regular, John Smith.

The final pic is by new contributor (No.27) David Quayle. David shot the 'Severn Valley Limited' steam charter on October 2nd headed by 'Jubilee' class 4-6-0 Leander. The train was photographed, northbound, at Winwick as it stormed past two WCRC diesel locomotives which were held at signals on the slow line. The two were class 37, 37685 and class 47, 47760.

Five photographers; Two 'Tugs'

Today's post (14th October 2010) comprises six pics of class 60 locomotives (two of them) from five different contributors. I am forced to use so many pics in a single post because of the huge number of contributions I am receiving currently (keep them coming) but this also means a reduction in text space. All six pics reflect the current renaissance of 'Tugs' on coal hopper traffic (empty or loaded) through 'our patch'.The first two pics both show EWS (DBS) class 60, 60013 Robert Boyle. Pic one is from David Wood, taken at Winwick on 13th October 2010.

Geoff Monks has sent in pic number two featuring the same locomotive. This was shot as the coal working approached Bank Quay on 11th October 2010.

Spot the difference between the two pics of 60013? Look at the nameplates. Anyone with any info' let me know. (*see below) The next four pics all show the Load Haul liveried (dark grey/orange) class 60, 60059 Swinden Dalesman, taken at different locations. Pic three is from Bob McClellan and depicts the coal working at Winwick on 12th October 2010.

The fourth pic is from Andy Appleton. 60059 is heading the coal train on the low level line at Arpley Juntion (by Bank Quay) in Andy's pic - it was taken on 11th October 2010.

The fifth pic is from Geoff Monks again. In this shot 60059 is approaching the Mersey Bridge at Latchford; note the semaphore signal. The pic is dated 11th October 2010.

The sixth and last pic is from Chris Sutcliffe. This different shot shows the same locomotive and coal working crossing the Sankey Canal at Sankey Bridges on 5th October 2010. Chris last posted in June, so welcome back Chris.

Can we please put this 'Tug/coal working' to bed now, for a few days, at least.

* Info just in from Bob McClellan (15th) - "The nameplates on this 'Tug' have had different coloured backgrounds for years. I have shots of it in 2005. It is one of the 'special' features of this locomotive, together with having nameplates at all and holding on to two of them". Many thanks Bob.

Scrapbook memories

For this post (12th October 2010) I have raided another nostalgic scrapbook; this time, the one belonging to Ken Young. I have copied four pics but associated dates are from Ken's memory.

Kens first pic is from 2005 and shows DRS class 20, 20302, leaving the EWS yard at Arpley in a less than flattering manner - on the back of a lorry.

The second shot depicts an EWS class 37, 37706, dragging an MPV through Bank Quay in 2004.

The third shot is of an Inter City (large logo) liveried class 50, 50031 Hood, heading a passenger charter through Bank Quay with a class 37 heading (acid?) tank wagons on the adjacent line. The year was 2004.

The fourth and final pic from Ken's scrapbook features an EWS class 60, 60010, heading yellow aggregates wagons through Bank Quay in 2006.

I have over 50 pics in the blog 'bank' at the moment so, once again, please be patient if your pic is in there. And please, continue sending them in.

Class 60

Todays post (10th October 2010) comprises three photographs depicting two class 60 locomotives working a coal train and cargo vans.

The first two pics are from Geoff Monks and depict the same train at two different locations. They both show the recently cleaned EWS (DBS) class 60, 60013 Robert Boyle working empty coal hoppers on a Fiddlers Ferry - Liverpool Bulk Terminal working. The first pic shows the train approaching the Mersey bridge at Latc hford and the second, the same train viewed from Slutchers Lane, after running round. Geoff's pics are dated 6th October 2010.

Pic number three is from Andy Appleton. Depicted is EWS class 60, 60071 Ribblehead Viaduct, heading cargo vans through Winwick on 5th July 2007.

Porterbrook purple

Our fourth October post (8th October 2010) features pics of both sides of a Porterbrook liveried class 87; also double-heading class 66s and a class 70.

The two pics of the class 87, 87002, painted in the purple/mauve Porterbrook livery are scans of early photographs which display acceptable quality. The locomotive is heading Virgin passenger stock in both shots. The pics were taken at Winwick on 21st May 2004 and 3rd November 2004, and show both sides of the locomotive. The photographer was John Smith. The locomotive was named Royal Sovereign between 1978 and 2003. In the latter year she was reliveried into the purple/mauve livery of its new owners, Porterbrook Leasing. It remained nameless until 2005 when it was renamed The AC Locomotive Group, its present owners.

Pic number three is from Ken Young and shows double-heading, light engine Freightliner class 66s passing through Warrington Bank Quay on 21st July 2010. The first loco is 66620 but the second one is hidden behind.

The final shot in this post is from Jeff Nicholls. Freightliner class 70, 70003, is depicted at Sankey Bridges on an Ellesmere Port - Fiddlers Ferry coal working. The date was 7th October 2010.

New contributor

For this post (6th october 2010) we welcome another new contributor and Winwick enthusiast, John Shoebridge. We also have shots from regulars Geoff Monks and John Smith.

The first pic is from John Shoebridge. Pictured is Leander, 4-6-0 'Jubilee' class loco, on a steam charter the 'Severn Valley Limited'. The pic was taken at Bank Quay on 2nd October 2010.

Pic number two is from Geoff Monks. Class 31, 31465, is depicted on a Network Rail Measurements Train. Geoff adds that the working was Stoke-Polmadie (Glasgow). The location was Winwick, the date was 4th October 2010.

The final pic is of an extraordinary consist of five locomotives travelling through Winwick, light engine, on 25th July 2008. The DRS locomotives were class 57, 57010; class 47, 47802 Pride of Cumbria; class 37, 37229 Jonty Jarvis 8-12-1998 to 18-3-2005; and two class 20s, 20307 and 20302. The photographer was John Smith.

I have many pics in at the moment so please be patient if some of them are yours.

Steam and Diesels

This post (4th October 2010) comprises shots from two photographers who were at Winwick on Saturday 2nd October to shoot a steam charter, and diesel locomotives representing three different classes.
From information supplied by the two contributors, Jeff Nicholls and Geoff Monks, the following was gleaned: The 'Severn Valley Limited' steam charter ran Bridgenorth - Blackpool with 'Jubilee' class 4-6-0, 5690 Leander, at the head. As the charter passed through Winwick, double heading WCRC class 37, 37685 and class 47, 47760 waited on the slow line. As soon as Leander had cleared Load Haul liveried class 60, 60059 Swinden Dalesman appeared with a Fiddlers Ferry coal working from Liverpool Docks - the class 37 and class 47 were held at the lights. The latter locomotives then followed the steam charter to Blackpool to return the train to Kidderminster.

Pic number 1 is from Geoff Monks and shows the steam charter.

The second pic is from Jeff Nicholls - the steam charter is shown heading north past the two diesel locomotives, both on the slow line.

In Geoff Monks' pic, number 3. the class 60 is depicted heading the Liverpool Docks - Fiddlers Ferry coal working with the two diesels held at the lights.

The two photographers also got other shots during a mad hour or so at Winwick - look out for them in the near future.

Incidentally, if you know the guy on the railings in Jeff's pic, please inform him that he is not endearing himself to his fellow photographers by standing in camera shot.

10,000 HITS

We began our journey in January 2010 with just two posts, the first introductory post from myself and the second from Dave Harris. Now 139 posts later (141 in total) we have reached October and received over 10,000 hits - what a story. We must be doing something right. Three hundred and eighty three of your pics have been used so a huge thank you to everyone who has taken part - please continue to do so. Thank you also to enthusiasts from outside 'our patch' who view the blog - please carry on. Also, to Winwick enthusiasts who havn't contributed yet, please send something in to me and let others see your pics.

The first pic for today (2nd October 2010) is from Bob McClellan. Looking almost new, a DRS class 66, 66406, is pictured on a container intermodal, southbound through Winwick, on 9th September 2004.

Pic number two is from John Smith. The popular gypsum working is shown northbound, on the slow line, through Winwick on 22nd September 2010. The locomotive is GBRf class 66, 66732, GBRf the first decade 1999-2009 John Smith MD.

An EWS (DBS) class 66 is featured next in a pic from Ken Young. Taken on the low level line near Bank Quay, 66067 is heading an empty 'cartic' working on 12th August 2010.

To complete this post, comprising all class 66s, is a shot from Jeff Nicholls taken on 22nd September 2010. The short, EWS coal hopper train (empty) was headed by EWS (DBS) class 66, 66122. Jeff adds that the working was probably an Arpley - Horbury Wagon Works trip for wagon overhaul.