Skymonster's RailTrek

[Skymonster]

The UK network, definitely not the final frontier. These are the voyages of the occasional traveller Skymonster. His ongoing mission: to explore strange new lines, to seek out new stock and new railway stations, to boldly go where many have gone before.

 

[Skymonster]

Previously on RailTrek...

Early memories of the railway were my father taking me to see Flying Scotsman in the '70s, and my grandfather putting me on his shoulders to look over the redundant tracks out of Nottingham Victoria after it closed for good but before the Victoria shopping centre was complete - I'm not old enough to remember the station when it was open. Nothing much else happened until my teenage years, when myself and a friend occasionally took diversions from our aviation interests and ventured to Nottingham Midland. Buying a platform ticket enabled us to while away the holidays watching the activity (which was much more plentiful than the aircraft movements at East Midlands Airport), and especially the regular freight. In those days Peaks ruled the London services, 47s worked Harwich to Glasgow via the Settle and Carlisle, and first generation DMU coaches had six digit identities starting with M, W or E, plus five numbers. Pairs of 20s hauled rakes of MGRs on the through roads, often pausing for a signal check or a crew change, during their almost continuous round trips from the Nottinghamshire coal fields to the power stations in the Trent valley. Class 56s started to supplant the 20s but by the time the 58s arrived I was more interested in other things. Now I just wish I'd kept the notebooks!

I then stayed away until a few years ago, when work began to demand travelling by rail on a fairly regular basis. After a while the journeys started getting a bit boring, and out of curiosity I began to record the identities of the EMT stock I saw or travelled in with the aim of getting them all. Interest subsequently extended to noting loco stock of any operator including at the stations at either end. I even set up a database of sorts to keep track of what I'd seen. I eventually discovered WNXX, and began to do trips with the other regulars - Saturday tours of Basford Hall, night photo shoots at Barrow Hill, a trip round Neville Hill hauled by all the EMT 08s, and a couple of visits to WCRC at Carnforth being the most notable.

Ongoing work (and occasional leisure-related trips) enabled me to get into a good or almost complete position on TOCs such as EM, LM, XC, TL, VT, EC etc. Significant inroads were also made into SR, GA, TP, NR, SW, and especially GW during frequent visits to Reading. More recently I've done fairly well with AW during visits to South Wales, and OK with LO, CC and SE. But almost all of what's been caught has been while travelling for other reasons and days out just for the railway are few and far between unless there is something special on. Occasionally though it's nice to have a look at what's happening.

the area between St Pancras, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield has been a staple and there's little in the area that is likely to attract attention - other than the wonderful Sheffield Tap. Over the years DBS (thanks to my proximity of Toton and visits to Crewe) and FL (due to regular organised visits to Basford Hall) have been pretty much cleared, and GBRF and Colas are almost complete. The biggest gaps now are Jockrail (non seen) and Merseyrail (one). There's also a strong desire to try the Island Line some time. I don't do mileage and I don't note haulage - all I'm really after is noting stock I haven't seen before, and some photos.

So now, the adventure continues.


Coming soon on RailTrek: Season 2, Episode 1: To Crewe and back

Once a regular haunt, it's four years since Skymonster last did the DRS open day at Crewe. So taking advantage of the beautiful weather, an afternoon out was planned. With very few of the DRS fleet required, was it all duds are were there a few winners on Gresty Bridge?

 

[Skymonster]

Season 2 Episode 1: To Crewe and back (air date July 21, 2018)

In this episode: It'd been four years since I'd last done the DRS Open Day at Crewe Gresty Bridge, and although I needed very few of the firm's older locos for sight some of the newer 68s and all the 88s were calling for attention - and the fair weather encourage me to venture out for a brief afternoon visit.

Long Eaton at 12:20 was the stepping off point, with a short ride on an EMT 222 (non required by me, so not recorded) depositing me at Derby about ten minutes later. It's always good to have a ride past the RTC but I never hold out much hope there, and on this occasion it failed to deliver again (I'll admit it has been very good to me in the past though):

COL 37198 67027
NRL 08417 31105 73138
LORAM 08536

Nevertheless it was nice to see former Grand Central powercar 43423 on Etches Park carrying its new EMT-lite livery, even though I'd seen all six with GC and have already been 'hauled' by four of the since they moved to the Midlands.

With only seven minutes to change, it was onto an already crowded EMT dogbox on Platform 3 for the rather boring ride to Crewe. It is a trip I have done too many times before and enjoyed only once, when a four car 222 with a declassified first was unexpectedly provided in both directions, along with a host offering free bottled water and biscuits to those who were bold enough to take advantage of the unadvertised larger seats.

Nothing worth noting during the first part of the journey - just EMT dogboxes going the other way and a lot of kettle-fans decamping at Blythe Bridge for the Foxfield summer gala. Stoke on Trent offered only NOR 323230 and 323235, both of which were duds of course. I did get tantalising glimpses of some traditional traction and Longport TMD but was unable to make the most of it due to the busy load which had denied me a seat on the right.

As the 153 rolled into Crewe NOR 150141 and ATW 158822 were visible in a shed at LNWR, while outside were a couple of Mk3s that looked like they'd been pulled from the Pretendilino rake. The southern platform ends were packed with enthusiasts, and shortly after disembarking it became obvious what they were after - CH/DRS 68010 briefly enjoyed the limelight as it rolled in on a light engine move from Wembley. The rest was rather more mundane:
ATW 150251 158822 175023
DRS 68010 68016
WMT 350115 350375
NOR 150141 319365
VWC 390103 390130
WCR 37706

Oh dear oh dear, all duds so far. With Crewe offering nothing worthy of note - even the WCRC 37 at the head of a steam engine move failed the red pen test (I don't need sight of anything WCRC anyway, stored or active) - I decided to head off to Gresty Bridge. Resisting the temptation of a £2.00 return on a chartered bus service, I started on the easy 15 minute walk down Gresty Lane - I've done it many times before come fair weather or foul and it was a beautiful day. It was just after 14:00 by the time I strolled past the Mornflake factory and under the bridges, and thankfully the queues had completely dissipated.

Gresty Bridge
DRS 20202 20203
DRS 37069 37218 37259 37403 37407 37422 37424(37558)
DRS 57007 57301 57303 57312
DRS 66421 66424 66425
DRS 68014 68019 68020 68021 68029
DRS 88005

At last some winners - eight was more than I expected. Noteworthy was 37424 that I last noted when it was seemingly fit only for scrap at the Churnet Valley Railway, so to see it back in fine fettle was rather pleasing. But I couldn't count it as a winner despite it now carrying 37558 on its sides as its still officially registered as 424. Nevertheless it was good to catch three legacy machines including the 57 (class completed) and to finish the DRS 37s again. I've got all the original batch of 68s, so having a few newer ones on display was also useful - just a shame about the other six destined for TPE (five of which were required but not seen) hidden away in the Basford Hall and LNWR.

The locos hauling the Pathfinder tour from Euston also passed Gresty Bridge twice on the main during the afternoon as the rake was repositioned into the station:
DRS 68016
DRS 88002

All in all a good hour or more was spent mooching about before taking a stroll back to the station. I thought about continuing on over to the Heritage Centre, but passed as I've done it plenty of times before.

Crewe
Like many stations in the area I find it quite hard to catch winners at Crewe these days and nothing was going to be different this time (I still need one VT 390 though!):
ATW 175007
WMT 350126 350250 350260
NOR 150141 323230
VWC 221101 221104 221117 390010 390043 390046 390154

In all honesty, despite some good conversation with a fellow new-returnee to the hobby, boredom with the railway set in rather quickly. As he was heading off to the East Midlands and beyond, instead of staying any longer we got the EMT 153 back to Derby at 16:07.

Longport TMD
Another chance to check out the stock situation just north of Stoke that had been problematical earlier due to the 153 being rammed, this time from the appropriate side of the train.
08220
56009
DBC 66048 (black shell on stands)
FLR 66414
Two more winners, total 11 for the day. They were accompanied of course a number of GBRF / Fertis / EWS 56s recently transferred from Leicester LIP, all duds as they've been stored at Crewe and/or Leicester or a long time. However a fleeting glance of blue 56009 (it's the only one so painted there, and I am happy to take it on that basis) was great as I'd never bothered with it during its years with Brush at Loughborough before it moved to the Battlefield Line. The DRS-come-Freightliner shed in Powerhaul colours was a nice bonus given I need so few for sight.

Derby
Catching something new at Derby is as rare as hens teeth for me, and so it would prove to be again:
COL 37219 37521 67027
EMT 43484
NOR 31105 31233 73138 97303 97304
AXC 221138 221139
Plus 08588 on the RTC and 08899 on Etches Park.

And with a XC Turbonasty taking me back to Long Eaton that was that. A good day out and 11 in the bag. The cost : winter ratio of nearly £2 per (given the rail fare, parking and a £5.00 donation at Gresty Bridge) wasn't great but even so I was glad to have done the trip, especially for the inroads into the DRS fleet that two or three years ago I thought I'd almost done with.


Coming soon on RailTrek: Season 2, Episode 2: Little objects of desire

The Parry People Movers (class 139s) have always be a source of fascination - don't ask why, there's no logical reason for it. Finally deciding to do something about it, Skymonster ventures out to Stourbridge Town and via Birmingham - which has long been a constantly reliable source of duds. Was the smallest fleet on the national rail completed, and were there a few other pluses?

 

[Skymonster]

Season 2, Episode 2: Little objects of desire (air date July 26, 2018)

In this episode: Skymonster decides to make a trip to track down the lowest capacity passenger vehicles and the smallest class / fleet on the national network (I don't need reminding of the likes of 89001 thank you, and it doesn't run at the moment anyway).


The day started with an easy drive from home to Long Eaton to catch the 09:40 EMT service towards St Pancras. While sitting on the platform I was pleasantly surprised to see four of Harry's old clunkers - 20118, 20314, 20107 and 20096 - hauling a London Underground S-Stock set north towards Derby. Maybe they were a good omen for the day, even though non of the 20s were required and the EMT service was running slightly late.

A five-car Meridian (non of the 222 fleet required) duly arrived, my favourite as free wifi can be obtained in the standard half of the composite coach. Five minutes down off Long Eaton didn't matter much, and was compensated for with a glimpse of a light ROG / Europhoenix 37 working the 09:00 Old Dalby-Derby North Dock on the slows just south of Loughborough. Sadly the DBC 66 on Mountsorrel defied identification as it was partly in the tiny shed, only ....3 being visible. As the 222 slowed, it was evident that the recent clear out at Leicester LIP for the Derby remodelling has made sighting the remaining stored 37s, 47s and 58016 somewhat easier. ROG 47813 and GBR 47749, the latter still in basic Colas livery, added to the colourful scene. Europhoenix 37884 was also near the main, while having just disembarked onto Platform 3 50008 "Thunderer" edged out of the depot and onto the avoiding line before reversing to head off to the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley. I required nothing on the depot but classic traction was in abundance and I'd only been going 30 minutes.

Thunderer at Leicester
View media item 3158
Well-loaded Cross Country Turbonasty 170110 (non required) provided onward transport to Birmingham New Street. Vegitation clearance at Knighton Junction enabled a glimpse of 27059 (winner) looking rather the forlorn painted in primer. Nothing worth noting arose for the next few minutes and Nuneaton was disappointingly bereft of anything really interesting - Powerhaul liveried FL 66504 edged through working a Lawley Street - Felixstowe as my train arrived, but it wasn't required. Colas DR73922 and SB Rail DR73940 were also present, but track machines are scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as I'm concerned. Colas DR73923 was also noted at Whittaker Junction (why do I bother?) and while there were plenty of stacked containers visible at Hams Hall (opposite Coleshill Parkway) nothing railway-related could be seen through the gaps in the trees. Washwood Heath was empty, a sad reflection of periods past when it could be relied on to yield an 08 or two and even a glimpse of Colas 56s at Boden's facility - the downside of HS2 progress I guess. Lawley Street offered 66415 still in basic DRS colours propelling a rake of flats into the yard, along with 66588 just outside the gates and 66520 on the sidings - again non required.

So finally into Birmingham New Street and while it had been an entertaining hour-and-a-half with plenty to see, only one winner had entered the bag - a dumped / preserved class 27.

Birmingham New Street
I've been through BHM plenty of times and find in utterly uninspiring, the platform levels seeming more like a huge public convenience than a station. It would disappoint yet again:

WMT 170515 323206 323207 323212
VWC 390114
AXC 220033 220034 221106 "No.6 Festival"

With nothing new among that lot and with very little due that begged attention, I decided to make the five minute walk over to Birmingham Moor Street, a station I'd never visited before.

Birmingham Moor Street
CRW 165022 168003 168110 168216
WMT 172211 172212 172214 172215 172216 172218 172219 172220 172222 172331 172332 172334 172335 172336 172337 172338 172339 172340 172343 172344 172345
CRW/DRS 68011
DRS 68008

Purple peril at Moor Street - how long before it goes orange?
View media item 3159
Noting exciting to see here
View media item 3160
Cat power
View media item 3161I had hoped for / expected a few more Chilterns but hey ho - I suppose I should have studied RealTimeTrains more carefully. Never the less, every one of the LMs and two of the Chiltern turbos were winners. Although I'd caught both the Cat-powered beasts at Crewe Gresty Bridge in the past it was nice to see them in action. It needs to be added that I found it a little disconcerting to stand on the platforms at Moor Street and hear rail traffic screeching into and out of New Street below, but non of it can be seen of course. So after an hour and a half in the sun and some good numbers in the bag - plus the added bonus of watching the Emirates A380 descend into Birmingham Airport (aircraft still being my first love) - I boarded 172211/216 on a Dorridge - Worcester Shrub Hill for a half hour trip out into the suburbs.

WMT 172333 was a good catch passing Snow Hill just three minutes later, a gloomy station that has already received West Midlands Railway branding. Smethwick Galton Bridge revealed previously seen 172334 but nice bonuses at Rowley Regis were 170635 and 153336 coupled together - both being winners. Cradley Heath had 172344 (another dud) and just before pulling into Stourbridge Junction 172335 and 172215 passed again.

Stourbridge Junction
Five minutes was just enough to walk from Platform 3, under and up to Platform 2 to photograph Parry People Mover 139002 outside the shed, while waiting for 139001 to arrive into Platform 1. Fifteen people boarded the 21-seat vehicle, and the lack of air conditioning was little unpleasant by the time it moved off for the three-minute trip to Stourbridge Town. How this service justifies a driver and a guard / ticket inspector I'll never know. It must also be one of the least pleasant rail journeys I have ever made. Despite the 20mph limit 139001 lurched over the joined rail accompanied by assorted rattles and bumps, while it would also be difficult to describe the engine as running particularly sweetly either. Ah well, mission accomplished anyway - the two primary objects of the trip in the bag, both now carrying West Midlands Railway branding.

WMT 139001 139002

Strike one - 139002 outside the deport (shed)
View media item 3162
Strike two - transport to Stourbridge Town
View media item 3163
Twenty nine winners so far and I suspected the catches would be much less frequent as the day wore on and the return commenced. So rather than wasting time chasing duds I decided on a diversion to Wetherspoons - just five minutes away on High Street - with Magners at £1.99 a pint being quite agreeable given the hot weather.

The voyage home
Back up to Stourbridge Junction after an hour's break, again on the same PPM. While trying to capture some images of the mighty machine in action (139002 had been put back in the shed, making its sighting earlier even more important), a few LM turbos passed by and two of them turned out to be winners:

WMT 172217 172221 172335 172340

Wonky sign!
View media item 3164
Ready to go again - every ten minutes
View media item 3165
Then it was time to board 172337 for the trip back to Moor Street. The return turned out to be unprofitable as 172 after 172 moving in the opposite direction defied identification. Finally catching sight of two at Smethwick Galton Bridge, neither 172218 or 172222 turned out to be worth the effort. Snow Hill also revealed 172343 and 168216, again both duds from earlier in the day. By the time I got back to Moor Street deja vu had struck and as 17:00 came around I'd had enough of LM Turbostars. Nothing was producing anything new so I decided to take another chance on New Street. Chiltern 168215 and LM 172334 and 172340 were the final duds as I turned my back and walked towards the Bull Ring.

New Street again
The subsequent half hour at New Street was almost as unexciting as ever:
ATW 158819 158823 158830 158832
WMT 170510 170511 170513 170514 170517 170630
WMT 323201 323203 323204 323208 323211 323212 323215 323218 323219 323220 323221 323240 323242 323243
WMT 350119 350120 350264
VWC 221101 390126 390015
AXC 220005 220011 220017 220031 221121 221126

Only three LM 170s had hit the mark - out of six that wasn't bad and I felt I'd been lucky, but I was disappointed with the selection of 323s which dismally failed to include the two I need for sight.

Almost rammed XC Turbonasty 170103 was the chariot back to Leicester, somewhat delayed by excuses that varied between a train fault and speed restrictions due to the hot weather - the industry really doesn't help itself when the impression is that the story is being made up as it goes along. As the ride progressed, Lawley Street offered just a solitary FLR 70 seemingly ready to leave, but having got them all some time ago I decided against decamping at Nuneaton to wait the hour RTT suggested it would take to pass. DR73923 (noted earlier at Whittaker Junction) failed to inspire as the only thing on Washwood Heath and this time Nuneaton delivered absolutely nothing.

A 20-minute wait for a connection revealed DBC 66027 (another dud) at Humberstone Road, and with EMT and XC providing the only other entertainment Leicester was an unsurprising washout. A non-too-thorough glance at Leicester LIP revealed Europhoenix 37884 again along with 37904, 37905 (green), grounded 47843, the same Colas and ROG 47s as earlier, 56060, 56077, 56098, 56301, 56312 plus several others (non required) and 58016.

With the MML being my long-time stomping ground and almost all the DBC, FLR and GBR 66s already in the book the final leg back to Long Eaton was never likely to offer any serious prospects unless Mountsorrel turned up something unusual. And so it was such, with dud GBR 66713 being the only thing of note during a 25-minute journey in a seven-car Meridian. So that was that. Winner count came to 34 - perhaps as many as I could have hoped for given a spend of around £20 (plus beer), but not an overwhelming return on investment. Still it was a pleasant day out, and I'm pleased to have finally sampled a 139 even though I don't think much of them now.


Coming soon on RailTrek: Season 2, Episode 3: Journey to Scouseland

Despite being frustrated by the Derby blockade options for getting to Scouseland, many of which involve round about journeys or several connections, have already been explored. Finally deciding on driving to Uttoxeter for a trip to Chester via Crewe, the objective was to strike off as many Merseyrail units as possible. Just how many can be red-penned in a single day?

 

[Kite159]

Some good trips

 

[Skymonster]

Season 2, Episode 3: Toton and bust (air date July 30, 2018)

In this episode: With an unexpected gap in my schedule in the Derby area, an unplanned opportunity to spend an hour watching the activity from Toton bank was a no-brainer.

Leaving the city, Derby station was ignored due to the reduced traffic resulting from the partial blockade, and instead I took a drive around the Bombardier works.

Litchurch Lane
It must be hard to move around the Litchurch Lane works at present, so packed is it with new but stored London Overground 710 units. Plenty of them are visible from along London Road and Osmaston Road as well as from Litchurch Lane itself. Sadly hardly any of them (and the Crossrail 345 that was also in the yard) carry cabside or car numbers, leaving just two on the London Road side of the works identifiable:

LOG 710258 710260
How long they remain on site seems to be open to conjecture at present, with software problems rumoured to be delaying deliveries. Bombardier's multi-coloured 08682 (a dud) was also noticeable from Litchurch Lane, but other than that it quickly became obvious no more than the two winners were going to be picked up so it was time to move on.

Toton
Toton was about 20 minutes away, an easy drive via Pride Park, the A52 Brian Clough Way, Stapleford Lane and Banks Road. The turning circle at the end is an ideal place to park ahead of the short walk up to the top of the rise. It was rather unusual to see plenty of EM 222s, along with XC 220s and 221s speeding through the centre roads, but they will be regular features until the Derby remodelling is completed in October.

COL 56096 60... 66848
DBC 66006 66009 66012 66020 66030 66054 66088 66120 66129 66142 66151 66152 66154 66158 66174 66188 66198 66206 67008 67019 67029
DRS 66431
GBR 66770 66776 66786 66789
FLR 66604


Plenty to see but difficult to identify a lot of it - and the vegitation doesn't help. The long line of redundant 60s are to the right, easily visible from a little further down the hill

There were of course a lot more locos present on the depot side but they were hidden by buildings, wagons or other locos. Such is always the way with Toton. Also noteworthy was the lack of 08s, which were once present in good numbers. Non of the dozens - well far ore than dozens actually - of 60s were noted either, partly because most of them are difficult to identify (especially at this time of year with the vegetation growth) but mainly because all of the fleet are duds. The single line of 20 or more are still tucked below the bank, while other groups are north and south of the depot. A few remain operational and one in DB colours was tottering up and down seemingly not doing much. There was plenty of shunting going on (particularly 66198 and 206), with wagons carrying track panels being marshalled into longer rakes.

So around 10% of the DB sheds noted, and all were duds - not surprising but a tad disappointing as one or two are still needed for sight. 66789 looked rather pretty carrying it's fairly new coat of large logo blue paint, but alas I'd seen it at Peterborough a few weeks previously. It was also great to see a Grid at Toton again, even if it wasn't the only one I still need sight of (56090). More disappointing too was failing to pick up a Skip, with seven of the 67s still required for sight. In the end only 66786 was a 'winner' and only a half-winner at that as I'd caught it in the past when it was DB's 66141.

Lock Lane crossing
With no more freights showing on RTT as due through Toton for quite some time, it seemed appropriate to move on and shortly afterwards a stop-off was made near Sheet Stores Junction on the Chellaston / Stenson Jct line to catch sight of a few more moves. Plenty of XC 170s and 220s/221s on Derby diversions, but all of them are duds for me so non were noted. Over the course of around an hour, in addition to the mundane passenger traffic the following passed through:

DBC 60020 (Humber-Kingsbury) 66006+66206 (Toton-Bescot) 66131 (Wolverhampton-Immingham) 67020 (light, Burton-Toton)
FLR 66599
GBR 66729 (Toton-Stenson Jct / Derby remodelling possession)
AXC 43207-43321 (1S52) 43...-43... (snoozing - 1E56)
DR74002 (tamper)

Again all duds unfortunately.

Just before I left Tug 60020 was the last to pass with a slow-moving rake of TEAs, the long queue of cars building up at the crossing not helped by a wait for three trains in succession. It was quite amusing to read the slogans on the oil tanks: "Railfreight delivers... with less emissions" "Taking lorries off the road" "Reducing road congestion" "Supporting greener freight" "Railfreight delivers... With less CO2". I wonder how the road users felt, and no doubt the passengers on the XC 170 that followed closely behind it had a slow run towards Burton too. It's noticeable how much the barriers are down at the crossing at present. It must be quite tricky to squeeze all the rail traffic across Sheet Stores / Trent East junction with all the atypical passenger moves needing paths, and quite a bit of it was running late.

Anyway, a pleasant brief interlude from the mundane, albeit with just two and a half winners in the bag. I shot some video at Toton that I will try to upload later this evening or tomorrow.


Coming soon on RailTrek: The delayed Season 2, Episode 4: Journey to Scouseland

Despite being frustrated by the Derby blockade options for getting to Scouseland, many of which involve round about journeys or several connections, have already been explored. Finally deciding on driving to Uttoxeter for a trip to Chester via Crewe, the objective was to strike off as many Merseyrail units as possible. Just how many can be red-penned in a single day?

 

[Skymonster]

Season 2, Episode 4: Another one bites the dust (air date August 1, 2018)

Yet another drive out of Derby with time to spare, which was better used on things railways-related rather than sitting in traffic.

First up was a glance across the RTC from London Road. A DBS Shed was in the possession just south of the bridge. On the other side of the road a rather dirty Tractor 37402 was easy to identify in large-logo blue with yellow ends, and a little further up were a DRS 57 (non required) and a couple of yellow NRL 97s. Whatever else was on Way & Works sidings was blocked by a rake of yellow coaches.

London Road
DBC 66197

Derby RTC
COL 67023, 67027
DRS 37402, 57...

Bombardier Litchurch Lane
Nothing much had changed from earlier in the week, although one of the LOG 710s was running up and down the short electrified test track. Wot? OLE in Derby? Yep! At least two XRL 345 and maybe as many as 20 710 driving cars, plus separate trailers, were visible although again only one had cabside or coach numbers applied - very frustrating as could otherwise be easy to strike off a good proportion of the new London Overground units close to home right now.

LOG 710258

With Derby being very quiet because of the blockades there was no sense in prolonging the agony. A brief pause en route at Lock Lane crossing south of Long Eaton station and Sheet Stores Junction yielded a significant winner - my last DRS Shed required for sight (stored and active 20s, 37s, 47s, 57s and 66s all done now, just a few 68s and 88s to go).

Lock Lane
DBC 66119
DRS 66423 (Mountsorrel-Basford Hall)
FLR 66515 (Leeds-Southampton), 66588 (Southampton-Leeds)

Tracing the course of the currently fairly busy Derby diversionary route through Castle Donington there were plenty more AXC Voyagers and Turbonasties in evidence, including the sole four-car 221 221141. Nothing worth getting excitable about unfortunately, although I guess it's a little unusual to see a 67 tucked inside a 66 on a freight working. Annoyingly the leading power car on 1S52 was bowled by an AXC 170 but fortunately I don't need any for sight.

Stenson Junction
AXC 43...+43207 (1S52), 43304+43378 (1E56)
DBC 66021 (Redcar-Margam), 66131 (Humber-Kingsbury), 66206+67020 (Toton-Bescot)
FLR 66613 (Smallheath-Tunstead)

And with that it was time for a bite to eat and a visit to the pub. Just one winner, albeit an important one. But given the expectation was zero and I was only filling in time, I'll happily take that.


Coming soon on RailTrek: Season 2, Episode 5: To Brum and back

With the Scouseland episode still in temporary abeyance, the need to make another trip to Birmingham (for non-railway reasons) is looming. I'm sure there will be time to snatch a few [duds] during the course of the journey which will inevitably involve travelling Long Eaton - Leicester - New Street (with maybe even a break at Nuneaton on the way back). Time will tell.

 

[Kite159]

Good news on clearing the DRS 66s

 

[Skymonster]

RailTrek: Season 2, Episode 5: To Brum and back (air date August 2, 2018)

And so it was off to the Birmingham area again, picking up the 09:40 from Long Eaton. With the Derby blockade ongoing, EMT London services are booked for 20 minutes from Derby to Long Eaton but invariably seem to arrive ten minutes early and then have to wait for time. The five-car Meridian was already there when I walked up to the platform and with no customers travelling from north of Derby, it was easy to find a seat in the composite coach where standard passengers can access the free wifi in first class.

A FLR and a DBC 66 defied identification at Mountsorrel due to obstructing wagons as the 222 sped past and an on on-time arrival into Leicester followed. A good selection of traditional traction was visible on Leicester LIP - some went unidentified as usual due to the way they are stabled - but there was nothing to attract the attention of those who have passed by countless times before.

ROG 47812 50008
UKR 37905 37906 56018, 56060, 56077, 56081 56098, 56106, 56301, 56312

It was nice to catch 47812 again, now with ROG but which I last noted with Riviera Trains at Crewe several years ago. There was nothing else of interest in the area other than EMT HSTs, 222s and AXC 170s. A very lightly loaded 170101 was the transport of delights forward and with a table / window seat easily secured it was possible to check on the forlorn 27059, still at Knighton Junction.

Shortly after departing South Wigston what looked like GBR 66789 (because of the colours and logos) passed on top of a rake of NRL ballast wagons. I was tempted to pause at Nuneaton for some freight action but I decided to press on - I did wonder whether The_Train of this parish was one of the lurkers on the platform end though. A Freightliner Shed approaching on a Basford Hall-Southampton (10:48) just defied identification due to vegetation, although another on a Lawley Street-Felixstowe was less of a problem (but still a dud).

Nuneaton
COL DR73923
FLR 66557

There were two 66s visible from the east in Hams Hall, but the distance and the moving train meant they couldn't be identified. GBR 66744 between Washwood Heath and Lawley Street was much easier as were the two FLH Sheds in the container terminal.

Lawley Street
FLR 66534 66951

From there is was on into New Street, unusually via Curzon Street Junction rather than Proof House Junction, and then after a short signal check back across the throat of the station into Platform 9. I don't think I've ever travelled that route before, so if I was a track basher I guess I'd be quite pleased.

Birmingham New Street
The usual New Street drudgery soon intervened and encouraged a rapid transfer to Moor Street, but surprisingly the first two winners for the day actually entered the bag before doing so.

VWC 390112
WMT 153366 170504 170510 323207

It was great to catch another WMT 153, taking the tally up to seven out of eight. They are all supposedly transferring to EMT in December, but if I can catch the last one beforehand it will save me having to check every EMT 153 I see in the new year.


West Midlands 323214 emerges from the batcave

Birmingham Moor Street
A half hour at Moor Street enabled me to catch a Chiltern 168 and a West Midland 172 that were winners, but sadly the Cat-powered mainline service was hauled by a dud.

CRW 68013 165025 168004 168218
WMT 172211 172212 172214 172215 172218, 172221, 172332 172334 172336 172338 172341 172345

Very confusingly 172338 is mis-formed with DMSL 50333, MS 56338 and DMS 79338 (DMSL 50338 is apparently in 172333) which lead me to a moment of confusion as I tried to work out what I'd seen at one point. Neither were winners anyway, and there's just two WMT 172s to go now. On the way to Stourbridge, a few more of the breed were noted but non were winners.

Snow Hill
WMT 172222

Rowley Regis
WMT 172343

Stourbridge Junction
Neither of the Parry People Movers were winners as I caught them a week or so ago, but it was nice to have 002 for haulage as I had 001 last week - not that I track haulage. The other one, 139001, was outside the depot (actually using the word depot is pushing the definition somewhat). While I was waiting, the WMT 172s came down to just one...

ELR 40145 (BR blue) 40106 (BR green)
WMT 139001 139002 172213 172214 172215 172221 172333 172336 172338 172340 172341 172344 172345
The 40s sounded extremely nice thundering through Platform 3 en route from Bury ELR to Kidderminster SVR as 0Z18, but sadly both of them were duds.

Video action from Stourbridge Junction - excuse the wobbles, I'll take the tripod next time.

Then a ride on the PPM60 and quick trip to Wetherspoons for lunch was most definitely in order. An hour and a half later and suitably refreshed, one of the 40s passed through Stourbridge Junction on its northbound run back to Bury as 0Z19 - presumably the other was left at the SVR.

ELR 40145
WMT 172213 172219 172331 172332 172343 172344


West Midlands Railway Parry People Mover 60 139001 outside the depot at Stourbridge Junction

Cradley Heath
Oooo, a 170 coupled to a 153. Surely I couldn't be lucky enough to tick off the last WMT 153 today? Correct, I wasn't that lucky.
WMT 153365 170630

Smethwick Galton Bridge
The orange triangles and cab ends meant only one thing - winner, and the WMT 172s were done! Two trips to the area and no railway-related need to visit again for a while.

WMT 172342

The Hawthornes
WMT 172334

Shortly after alighting at Moor Street, an announcement was made that everything Chiltern towards Marylebone was cancelled due to a broken down freight train in the Leamington area. Dud CRW 165025 was on Platform 4 with nowhere to go. As no WMT 172s were required, prudence suggested a move over to New Street where the question would be: stay in the hope of getting my last WMT 153, 170, or 323 - or make a bolt for Nuneaton for some potential freight.

Birmingham New Street
AXC 43285+43366 (1S52)
VWC 221114 390040
WMT 153334 170504 323214 323216 323217 323220 323221 350108 350111 350267


Cross Country HST (43285 leading with 43366 on the rear) leaves New Street on 1S52

With more of interest seemingly due to pass through Nuneaton the choice was fairly easy and heavily loaded AXC 170519 provided the transport.

Lawley Street
FLR 66515 66533

Shortly after passing Coleshill Parkway FLR 66420 in Powerhaul colours was waiting to leave Hams Hall - I suspected I'd be seeing it again later, and I was right.

Nuneaton
Immediately upon alighting I was rewarded with a Crossrail 345 passing through on a test run from Crewe to Rugby. Then about ten minutes in, unbelievably (I was thinking about it earlier) the last WMT 153 needed for sight was on the Coventry shuttles - winner! And just over an hour later - oh you beauty, GBR 59003 (the only 59 I needed for sight) running Westbury-Cliffe Hill Stud Farm. Probably the loco I most wanted to see had finally dropped, and rather unexpectedly. I'd also seen FLR 86501 many times before, but this was the first time I'd caught in since it got renumbered back to 86608 - a 'half-winner' which completed my FLR electrics again.
FLR 66420 66546 70005 86608 86639
GBR 59003 66711 66712 66714 66732
RML 325001 325003 325008 325013
VWC 390002 390009 390013 390020 390131 390132 390135 390137 390039 390043 390154
WMT 153375 350120 350124 350128 350368 350369
XRL 345046


Royal Mail 325003 arrived from Crewe EMD and reversed to return north

So Nuneaton delivered. Although only one proper freight loco entered the book, it was a most desirable one. In addition to the WMT 153s I also finished the VWC 390s and added three Royal Mail 325s to the list, which was nice as they doubled the number I've seen. Overall a great result which vindicated the decision to ditch New Street.

Subplot - 59003: I've wanted 59003 ever since it came back to the UK to work for GBRF in 2015. After it was put into service it worked Liverpool-Drax with biomass then Bardon Hill-Tinsley (often through Derby, Moira / Coalville) but I was never in a position to grab it. Then it moved down south. A few days ago I read a comment on another forum suggesting it had recently been seen at Eastleigh (I really didn't fancy a trip down just for that) but also mentioning it was regularly working Westbury-Stud Farm. I knew where both places were but I failed to engage the brain and work out what route it would take. Then at Nuneaton realisation final dawned with excellent results.

More classic traction
Despite there being more freight due, by 19:00 I was railwayed out and boarded an AXC Turbonasty for the trip up to Leicester. DBC 66061 was in the goods loop between Wigston North Junction and Knighton Junction. Just as 170110 entered Liecester, the Minions - NRL yellow 73951 'Malcolm Brinded' and 73952 'Janice Kong' - departed to the south on a Crewe LNWR-Ashford move. It'd been quite some time since I'd seen them and I'd wondered where they'd got to; I'm glad they're out and about on the national network.

I thought that was about all but a final treat was watching Class 56 Group 56301 (still in basic Fastline colours) shunting Loadhaul 56077 and DCRail 56312 around Leicester LIP while I waited for a delayed 222006 back to Long Eaton. GBR 47749 'City of Truro' in basic COLAS colours attached to URKL's green shunter, and the two long-term 37/9 inmates were also present on the depot alongside the nostalgic blue pairing of 50008 and 56007, and preserved 58016.

All in all an excellent day. Fourteen and a half winners: WMT 153s complete, WMT 172s complete, VWC 390s complete, FLR electrics complete again, 59s complete. Plenty of classic traction too which is always a bonus, some of it in action, although all duds. I don't think I could have asked for much more. But I have reservations about going back to the Birmingham area until some new stock arrives, as only one WMT 170 and one 323 are required along with four 350/2s (although no /1s or /3s). Aside from the postponed attempt to do the Merseyrail network (which I hope will happen next week) I think another trip to Northern-land is required, as there are still a few 15x units demanding attention.

 

[Skymonster]

Good news on clearing the DRS 66s

Indeed Kite, but not as good as clearing the 59s yesterday!

 

[Kite159]

A productive day in the West Midlands

 

[Skymonster]

A productive day in the West Midlands

Yep Kite, but the last one - no chance of another as good as that for the foreseeable future. Need new stock in the West Midlands now.

 

[Kite159]

Yep Kite, but the last one - no chance of another as good as that for the foreseeable future. Need new stock in the West Midlands now.

New stock will be here in the next couples years, both diesels & electrics.

Not sure if you need any of the London Overground 172s as they are due to come up to the West Midlands

 

[The_Train]

A good day out around the Midlands and very productive by all accounts. And to top it off a very good report that I thoroughly enjoyed reading

I was tempted to pause at Nuneaton for some freight action but I decided to press on - I did wonder whether The_Train of this parish was one of the lurkers on the platform end though. A Freightliner Shed approaching on a Basford Hall-Southampton (10:48) just defied identification due to vegetation, although another on a Lawley Street-Felixstowe was less of a problem (but still a dud).

Nuneaton
COL DR73923
FLR 66557

I certainly was one of the platform 4/5 lurkers

66551 was leading the Crewe Basford Hall-Southampton train that the vegetation blocked you from seeing

Edit: I think our paths may have crossed later in the day as well, not that either of us would have known it at the time

 

[55013]

Some excellent trips there, most enjoyable reading.
I always enjoy a spin on the Stourbridge shuttle when I'm in the area - most amusing little things

 

[Skymonster]

I certainly was one of the platform 4/5 lurkers

66551 was leading the Crewe Basford Hall-Southampton train that the vegetation blocked you from seeing

Edit: I think our paths may have crossed later in the day as well, not that either of us would have known it at the time

Thank you for the comments and the FLR 66 Mr Train. Next time it seems like our paths will cross, we must arrange to say hello.

 

[Skymonster]

Some excellent trips there, most enjoyable reading.
I always enjoy a spin on the Stourbridge shuttle when I'm in the area - most amusing little things

Than you 55013. I must admit I find the 139s strangely compelling - yes they are nasty little vehicles (uncomfortable, bouncy, too hot in this weather) but it's only three minutes and it's great to be on a train where you can watch what the driver is doing at see out of the front.

 

[The_Train]

Thank you for the comments and the FLR 66 Mr Train. Next time it seems like our paths will cross, we must arrange to say hello.

I'm always happy to say hello to fellow spotters although, compared to previous outings where I've got chatting to different people, I kept myself to myself on this recent outing. Must have been a combination of the early start and the heat tiring me to the extent that talking was using energy much needed for simple things like standing haha.

If you (or anyone else for that matter) is ever around the West Midlands, particularly Stafford, then just let me know

 

[Skymonster]

RailTrek: Season 2, Episode 6: Catch me if you can (air date August 6, 2018)

Just a fairly short interlude from the normal drudgery today (long lunch) rather than a trip out, and carefully timed to coincide with a specific move. Still not too bad, catching three winners comprising a 56 which I was after (only 090 needed now), an unexpected 50 in the same consist, and a new CrossRail unit:

AXC 170101 170102 170105 170115 170116 170117 170397 170521 170523 170638 170639
AXC 220003 220013 220016 220017 220018 220023 220029 220032 221121 221139
AXC 43321+43207 (1V52) 43304+43378 (1S52)
COL 56049+56096+50017+D400(50050) Nottingham Eastcroft-Nottingham Eastcroft
DBC 60019 Lindsey-Kingsbury
DBC 60020 Kingsbury-Humber
DBC 66145 Bescot-Toton
DBC 66151 Toton-Peartree
DRS 66424 Mountsorrel-Carlisle
GBR 20901+20314+66729 Barrow Hill-Branston Jct
GBR 66708 Tinsley-Bardon Hill
GBR 66779 'Flying Scotsman' Toton-Basford Hall
NRL 9730. Colham-Derby RTC
ROG 37800+XRL 345047 Old Dalby-Crewe

56049 has taken the 'Robin of Templecombe 1938-2013' name plates that were previously carried by 47739 before it was sold to GBRF.


Colourful quartet: Colas 56049 - making its first powered outing on the main line for many years - hauls 50017, 50050 and 56096 on a loaded test run from Nottingham Eastcroft to Nottingham Eastcroft via Stafford, Crewe and Stafford

 

[The_Train]

Nice pic Skymonster. I was annoyed last night as I checked RTT to find that it was an hour late on its 2nd run through Stafford yesterday and I could have made it if I'd have known

 

[Kite159]

A nice short day out

 

[Skymonster]

RailTreck: Season 2, Episode 7: Loogabarooga (air date August 11, 2018)

As the week slowly ebbed away I was watching the forum and decided to take a bit of inspiration from The_Train who was contemplating catching a 92 this weekend. Given the lack of electrification they are not too common in the East Midlands, so opportunities sometimes need to be grasped when they present themselves.

Unfortunately for The_Train the planned transfer of a 92 to Crewe was changed to a move to Wembley, ruling out the opportunity for him to see one at Stafford today. Nevertheless I continued to watch the thread in the Traction forum to see what was expected. When it was suggested the outbound move was 92028 I pretty much binned the idea as it was a dud. However it was also theorised that the hauling traction could be 73969 - and that would have been a winner, so maybe I should still go and take a look? Time moved on and the hauling loco was changed to 50008 - a super-dud for me - so I canned the whole plan and decided to stick to aeroplanes.

Then this morning it was reported that 50008 would be bringing 92010 up from Wembley on its return journey. I consulted the big book of numbers and oooo - to my delight it was my last Cally 92 for sight. So trying to catch another suddenly became game on again. As the afternoon moved on and I became bored of East Midlands Airport, I studiously watched 0Z28 make its way up the MML keeping to time. That was it - a 20 minute trip to Loogabarooga (reputedly so nicknamed because of the way some foreigners mispronounce Loughborough) at 17:00 was going to be worthwhile.

Driving over the MML and past 'The Brush' just as 50008 came off the fasts onto the slows for a reverse towards the spur, the target of my attention was still in tow - almost perfect timing! Just a few seconds needed to stop, park and grab a quick snap.

Garcia Hanson's 50008 slowly draws GBRF / Caledonian 92010 into the yard at Brush, Loughborough - if 92010 stays as long as 92028 which it replaced, it will probably re-emerge around the end of the year

I was also hoping to catch something interesting round the back of the factory, but aside from a coach from a 319 in Northern livery and a pair of unbranded GWR blue HST power cars there was nothing worthy of note. Two more long-stored winners (92006 and 92020) are inside being restored to working order, but alas not to be seen today. Ah well, one is better than non...

Thanks to Mr Train for the initial 'alert' and to the contributors on the Traction forum class 92 topic for providing the details. I gather there is just one more Cally 92 to cycle through Loogabarooga for CAF mods and it's a dud so I doubt I'll be doing the same again soon.

 

[The_Train]

Glad to see that someone benefited from the 92 moves haha

 

[Skymonster]

RailTrek: Season 2, Episode 8: A rose among rough diamonds (air date August 13th/14th 2018)

With a few moments to spare and very little of interest showing on RTT in the area, I decided to take walk up Toton bank. As usual, the easy option was to drive from the A52 to the end of Banks Road via Stapleford Lane, but for public transport fans the Toton terminus of the NET tram is about fifteen minutes walk via a footpath across the fields.

Toton depot

Clustered around the depot and in the sidings alongside the main lines were:
COL 56078 60021 66848
DBC 60092 66035 66082 66102 66111 66113 66120 66121 66128 66130 66137 66151 66176 66188 66200 66230 67008 67015 67019
GBR 66724/'Drax Power Station' 66739/'Bluebell Railway' 66779/'Evening Star'

As usual there were other 'active' 60s and 66s north and south of the depot that defied identification due to obstructions including buildings and other locos. Fifteen DB 66s all duds, all the Colas and GBRfs duds too - thank goodness for one beautiful bright red Skip!

As per the new norm, there were plenty of EMT 222s and AXC 220s/221s whizzing up and down due to the Derby blockade, but since they've all been sighted long ago non hold much appeal for me.

Stored near the bank on the east side of the through lines - opposite the depot - from north to south in a single long row are 24 class 60s. Most have been there for several years and are in a bit of a state so are unlikely to run again - but for anyone needs them for sight they are easy pickings:
60067 60052 60060 60086 60050 60088 60018 60027 60037 60042 60097 60014 60025 60031 60005 60053 60078 60023 60089 60004 60093 60083 60006 60081

Other 60s stored north and south of the depot on the west side of the mains included:
60003 60008 60012 60033 60034 60035 60045 60048 60050 60051 60052 60061 60065 60068 60077 60079

The list for the depot side is not exhaustive as there are plenty of other 60s - and some 66s - in the headshunts and the compound, and behind buildings and trees. There are ten 60s active with Colas / GBRf, 18 are working for DBC, five are undergoing rebuild for return to service, six are reportedly stopped at Crewe and four at Doncaster, so there should be around 57 stored at Toton of which I managed to identify 40 - the rest were almost certainly there, concealed by others or the greenery. Not bad, but with no 60s needed for sight and little else booked through the centre there was no need to linger.

For those not familiar with Toton, here are a few pics I took a while ago...

This image is taken from roughly over the bank on the east side of the through lines, and illustrates the challenges of seeing numbers from only a slightly elevated vantage point.
Toton-01JUN2014-9 by Alpha Mike Aviation Photography, on Flickr

This image is looking towards the bank (top left) and illustrates how buildings and greenery can get in the way at lower levels.
Toton-01JUN2014-5 by Alpha Mike Aviation Photography, on Flickr

Another view showing how difficult Toton can be unless you have access to a very tall pogo stick
Toton-01JUN2014-10 by Alpha Mike Aviation Photography, on Flickr

Actually in those circumstances a good digital camera was very useful and enabled almost all of the locos on shed to be indentified... Must do it again one day!

Lock Lane
The few noted at Lock Lane level crossing on the way back home were all duds:
AXC 43207+43321 (1S52) 43366+43285 (1E56)
COL 56078 (Doncaster-Crewe-Doncaster - light loco - route learner?)
DBC 60054 (Wolverhampton-Immingham) 66108 (Redcar-Margam) 66113 (Toton-Bescot)
FLR 66517 (Fairwater-Doncaster)
GBR 66759 (Tinsley-Bardon Hill)

On the next day
The following day only a short break was available to get a catch unusual movements. Indeed I would not have bothered at all except that I was intrigued to find out what was on the Crewe-Crewe that originated at Gresty Bridge (a dud unfortunately - I was hoping for a winning 68) and I was pretty sure the Old Dalby-Crewe on RTT would be another CrossRail unit on its way for mileage accumulation on the WCML:

DBC 60066 (Kingsbury-Humber) 66113 (Bescot-Toton)
DRS 37424 (aka 37558)+Caroline (Crewe-Stockport-Chesterfield-Crewe)
FLR 66571 (Leeds-Southampton)
GBR 66779 (Toton-Basford Hall)
UKR 37601+XRL 345048 (Old Dalby-Crewe)

 

[The_Train]

Loving those pics of Toton. It's clearly another place I need to add to the list of 'must visit'

 

[Kite159]

It's a sad sight seeing the loco graveyard, the line of 60s which most likely awaiting the cutters torch when the area gets redeveloped for HS2

 

[Skymonster]

It's a sad sight seeing the loco graveyard, the line of 60s which most likely awaiting the cutters torch when the area gets redeveloped for HS2

Everything on the bank side (opposite side to the depot) will have to go when work on HS2 starts - that's still a few years away yet though. At one time the whole TMD was thought to be under threat, but more recently it's been announced that the HS2 station itself does not incur onto DBC's area. However, you are right Mr Kite - the 24 dead 60s will have to be moved or cut up eventually. If you look at the plans, most of the bank will go too.

 

[Skymonster]

Loving those pics of Toton. It's clearly another place I need to add to the list of 'must visit'

I had a time when I used to try to photograph a few depots from the air - Toton, Crewe, Barrow Hill, and one or two others. Challenging but rewarding.

As to visiting Toton, it's easy if you are in Nottingham (on the train). NET tram to Toton Lane and a 15 minute walk along a footpath across the fields. Take some optics though - and not the variety you find in a bar - as reading some of the numbers over the distances involved is more than eyesight can achieve. But you'll be rewarded with at least 40 class 60s and as many as 20 class 66s, plus a few other odds and sods.

 

[Kite159]

Certainly the tram extension to Toton Lane has made it easier to visit the bank to overlook the yard area

 

[55013]

Interesting stuff.
Those photos are great, if a little sad.