tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31470380957021924702024-02-08T17:16:53.790+00:00RailwaymediaMy wanderings and musings whilst I take railway pictures throughout Britain, and sometimes abroad. Normally also involving drinking beer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-89936725239953862032015-08-07T14:01:00.000+01:002015-08-07T14:01:00.479+01:0069: A Scandanavian Sojourn: Sweden and days in Denmark and Deutschland<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello and a warm welcome to the latest <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog covereing my recent(ish) holiday to Germany, Denmark and Sweden a few weeks ago. Usually I'm pretty quick at downloading, captioning and processing all the pictures once I return but this time it has taken me several weeks to catch up with them, hence the delay in writing about where I went and what I saw!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-NpCq5QG/0/L/i-NpCq5QG-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-NpCq5QG/0/L/i-NpCq5QG-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The main reason behind our choice of destinations for the trip was the planned diversion of all Denmark to Germany freight trains via the diesel only route via the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsh_Railway">Marschbahn</a> which runs from Tønder via Niebüll down to Hamburg. Usually freight runs via the electrified route through Flensburg but engineering work on that line for the second year running necessitated the diversions.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It is an interesting area to visit anyway as all trains on the route, currently, are diesel hauled with <a href="http://www.nob.de/">Nord Ostsee Bahn</a> providing the roughly hourly 'local' service from Hamburg to Westerland using ex Norwegian MAK diesels and more modern Siemens Eurorunners, and Deutsche Bahn's Inter-City service utilising pairs of class 218 'Rabbits'. In addition to this, as Westerland is on the Island of Sylt which is only accessible by train there is a frequent service of car trains between there and Niebüll on the mainland, also at the moment hauled by class 218s. New diesels are on order though.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-j4CRnmF/0/L/i-j4CRnmF-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-j4CRnmF/0/L/i-j4CRnmF-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After an evening arrival in Hamburg on Sunday night there was just time for a couple of evening pictures at Hamburg Altona station. There are still a few local DB hauled trains in the Hamburg area, mainly using class 112 electrics (similar to the former East German <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DR_Class_243">BR143s</a>), principally on Regional Expresses from Altona towards Kiel and also on the frequent trains on the line from Hamburg Hauptbahnhof towards Lübeck, which has been electrified since my last visit to the area.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-VnZ7rvH/0/L/i-VnZ7rvH-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-VnZ7rvH/0/L/i-VnZ7rvH-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our evening meal was in the Paulaners 'Miraculum' opposite Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, several litre-sized tankards of Weißier being in order. We stayed in the Novel Hotel Alster St Georg which was only 5 minutes walk from the station and very reasonably priced for where it was located.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The next day started with the journey up to Niebüll which is several hours on the train from Hamburg. As previously mentioned, NOB run hourly from Altona but the Inter-Cities which come from elsewhere in Germany serve the Hauptbahnhof so we caught the one that left just after 0900. Nice and quiet the train was too for the journey with an electric loco pushing as far as Itzehoe then a pair of Rabbits taking the train forward from there. I had a staff pass to use for this train, my friends bought cheap 19 Euro advanced tickets: the local 'Länder' ticket is not valid on the ICs. In common with most of Germany these tickets though are excellent value allowing travel through a wide area on all local buses and trains (Hamburg to Westerland is three hours on the train) and in this case for only 28 Euros for one but even better value as each additional person (up to maximum of 5) is only an additional 3 Euros so five people can travel all day after 0930 for 40 Euro (about £30!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-4qg56kC/0/L/i-4qg56kC-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-4qg56kC/0/L/i-4qg56kC-L.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One oddity of the operation of these Inter-City trains is that most convey through coaches to Dagebüll Mole. Whilst Westerland is itself on the Island of Sylt there are several other Islands in the area served by ferry services from Dagebüll. For the coaches to reach here a complex shunting move takes place at Niebüll with the DB train locos taking off the front two coaches, attaching them to the back of private company NEG's branch unit which then in turn has to attach to the rear of those a generator van to power the electrics for the coaches. The Deutsche Bahn locos then take the rest of the train to Westerland and on their return the whole process is reversed. The front two coaches off our train are seen above attached to the DMU and generator van in the adjacent NEG station.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
First stop photographically was Langenhorn, the first station south of Niebüll, and an excellent all-day photographic location with shots available in the morning south of the station and all afternoon and evening from the road that parallels the line to the north. This was another place I had visited back in 2007 and we returned several times on this holiday. We spent the first afternoon there hoping some of the diverted freight would appear. Several did although it was a bit dull.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-8pbvzXp/0/L/i-8pbvzXp-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-8pbvzXp/0/L/i-8pbvzXp-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The evening was spent the other side of Niebüll at Morsum on the Island of Sylt where there is a nice bar located on the station. After a little while the owner and her friends were highly amused that we kept disappearing every time we heard the level crossing gates go down. With several NOB trains and car shuttles (autozugs) each way every hour, this happened a lot. We had a couple of hours there before retiring to the convenient and highly recommended <a href="http://www.inselpension.de/en/">Hotel Insel Pension</a> in Niebüll.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The following day was another full one spent in the area and we decided to do the long (approximately 6km) walk from Klanxbüll station to the start of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburgdamm">Hindenburgdamm</a>, the 11km causeway which is the only fixed link between Sylt and the mainland. I really should have taken a hat as we had uninterrupted sun all day and, although it was a tiring hot walk in both directions, well worth it. The new engines on order to replace the 218 'Rabbits' are due to start arriving by the end of this year so it was probably my final chance to photograph them at work on the Autozugs crossing the dam. Just a word of warning though-walking along the dam itself is strictly forbidden.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-cRBnHNm/0/L/i-cRBnHNm-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-cRBnHNm/0/L/i-cRBnHNm-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A few shots to illustrate the location: when we first arrived mid-morning the sun was just right for trains heading east coming off the dam heading towards Niebüll, as the sun moved round it obviously started favouring the view the other way. The NOB locos are usually on the Westerland end.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-pBtPZq3/0/L/i-pBtPZq3-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-pBtPZq3/0/L/i-pBtPZq3-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One further location was round the landward part of the causeway towards Klänxbull and we had a further hour or so there. All in all it was about a 75 minute walk each way.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-THsRzvq/0/L/i-THsRzvq-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-THsRzvq/0/L/i-THsRzvq-L.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We had 30 minutes respite changing trains at Niebüll to stock up with beer from the garage near the station, much needed, before we returned to Langenhorn for the evening. Once again it was a diet of Inter-Cities and NOB push-pull services with a slightly disappointing number of freight trains. We only had a rough idea when they would be running as we had the previous years timetable to go by, this being the first week of the diversions. The following day we did acquire an up to date one which proved to be much more accurate. I shall spare you more details of Langenhorn that evening but we finished off the day with a nice pizza from an Italian restaurant not far from Niebüll station.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The next day was a move from Germany and into a new country for me, Denmark. Usually there is a roughly two-hourly train service provided by Arriva Denmark from Niebüll to Tønder and up to Esbjerg but due to the freight diversions over this single track route all services to Tønder were replaced by buses and only a handful of trains were running north of there to Ribe. This was then the second time I've crossed an International border on a local bus (the previous being Eupen in Belgium to Aachen in Germany). 20 minutes in Tønder bagged a picture of a waiting freight before the Arriva unit appeared to take us north towards Esbjerg. The junction of this branch and the Danish 'main' line is at Bramming; we alighted at Tjæreborg, the only intermediate stop bewteen there and Esbjerg.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-gsRQFsH/0/L/i-gsRQFsH-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-gsRQFsH/0/L/i-gsRQFsH-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Although the station didn't look too promising on Google Maps it proved to be a reasonably good spot. The main advantage of the location is because there isn't room to do so at the junction at Brammiing all the diverted freight trains have to head west to Esbjerg before going back east towards København, so every train has to pass Tjæreborg twice. We weren't sure exactly how things worked but it turned out that the German BR232 and BR233 'Ludmillas' which were powering the trains up from Germany were replaced at Esbjerg by former Danish Nohab 'MZ' Class diesels for the run to Fredericia where the usual electric took over. I had hoped to maybe see one or two of these MZ class engines but as it turned out there were five in regular use operated by DB Schenker Rail Danmark plus a couple more engines hired from other operators. More about these later on.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This particular day we remained on the station. The view of westbound trains (above) was reasonable, especially in the afternoon when the sun became better, eastbound trains were on the near track so a shot of the end of the platform was more constrained but at least with signals each way and the passenger timetable, we had plenty of warning when something was approaching.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We were heading across to København that evening so had to leave at teatime. We went to the junction station of Bramming for the final two hours and were lucky to discover that the local railway society were running two return trips from there to Lunderskov each Wednesday for a few weeks in the summer and the second trip of the day was due to return. Unfortunately we had no idea which platform it was to arrive on, it came in on the wrong one for the sun, but was still nice to see.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-cBCKKZ7/0/L/i-cBCKKZ7-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-cBCKKZ7/0/L/i-cBCKKZ7-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We stayed at the <a href="http://www.firsthotels.com/Our-hotels/Hotels-in-Denmark/hojetaastrup/First-Hotel-Hoje-Taastrup/">First Hotel Taastrup </a>near Høje Taastrup station on the edge of København which is very convenient as every train heading west out of the city stops there. It worked out about £55 a night which for Denmark was very cheap. I had three full days left, the main aim being to get pictures of the ME class diesels used on passenger trains out of København but with Tim only having one full day left we decided to wait for those and instead the next day to do another new country, Sweden.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There is a fantastic rail service between København and Malmö, peak hours they are every 10 minutes, using the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%98resund_Bridge">Øresund Bridge and Tunnel</a> which gets you across the approximately 8 mile strait seperating the two countires. The service is operated by a large fleet of three car units which not only link the two cities but also provide the local services from København to Helsingør and Nivå on the Danish side and long-distance services from Malmö to as far north as Göteborg in Sweden.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I
had looked at possible locations to visit in the Malmö area and one that seemed from
google Maps to be reasonable was Hjärup on the mainline between there
and Lund. North of Lund the line diverges, left towards Göteborg and
right towards Stockholm so before Lund seemed to be the best bet for getting
any freight that might run in the country having struggled to find much
information on the internet about traffic patterns in Sweden.
I had therefore hoped to maybe see one or perhaps two freight
trains but as it transpired there was almost one an hour, counting both
directions together. With another day of unbroken sun though we could
only ever really photograph trains heading south. In between the
occasional freights there was an never ending procession of units.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-sV5FgsZ/0/L/i-sV5FgsZ-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-sV5FgsZ/0/L/i-sV5FgsZ-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The particular spot I had identified was just south of Hjärup station where there was a grassy mound near a road. On Google Maps this looked ideal however foiliage and lineside cabins made it not as good in real life as it had appeared on the computer. The Hector Rail train above appeared whilst we were investigating what turned out to be an official patch of grass for use as a dogs toilet. We therefore made our way along the edge of the cornfield further on which looked better and had a very pleasant hour watching the frequent Øresund and local units, regular Inter-Cities and freights.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-FzZPGDn/0/L/i-FzZPGDn-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-FzZPGDn/0/L/i-FzZPGDn-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The sun was starting to get a bit head on so we made our way back to Hjärup station. Originally we had thought of moving on at this point but with such a busy line, perfect weather and a reasonable location we decided to spend an hour in the very odd village of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakriborg">Jakriborg. </a>We had spotted this quaint old village as we alighted from the train so found a cafe and sat for an hour or so whilst the sun moved round enough, having a couple of expensive Swedish beers. Something didn't seem right about the place though and a quick look on the internet provided the answer as the whole village, complete with cobbled town square, only dates from the late 1990s!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-WKPHksG/0/L/i-WKPHksG-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-WKPHksG/0/L/i-WKPHksG-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Once the sun was beginning to get more side on to the railway we decided to investigate the railway just north of the town and came across the perfect location to spend the rest of the day. A large mound again, similar but larger to the one to the south of the station, this offered various viewpoints of the line looking towards Lund. We finally left there about 8pm but we could have had another hour or two more with the sun setting across the open field. Certainly the shot of the holiday up until that point (and there had already been a few contenders) came about an hour after we returned lineside with a pair of Green Cargo (the former national freight operator) Rd2 Electric locos.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-ktjbd4v/0/L/i-ktjbd4v-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-ktjbd4v/0/L/i-ktjbd4v-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This section of line sees between three and six Øresund trains, four local Skånetrafiken units and one or two SJ X2000 Inter-cities each way every hour. To be honest after I had exhausted the many different views you could take them from by the end I wasn't botheroing pointing my camera at most of them! The X2000s I found though particularly photogenic, reminding me of an East Coast class 91 in a way, the locos are virtually always on the south end heading towards Malmö and København.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-MWP6G8L/0/L/i-MWP6G8L-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-MWP6G8L/0/L/i-MWP6G8L-L.jpg" height="398" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We decided to call it a night eventually and headed into Malmö for tea. There was no rush with Øresund trains all night and the last train from København back to our hotel about 0230. Malmö is a lovely city but take plenty of money! It was a Thursday evening but very busy though we managed to get a table in a steak restaurant; a few beers and a meal for two came to just under £100. Before we caught the train back to Denmark we called into the main bit of the station (most trains now use the underground section next door) to see the nightly Stockholm sleeper train. All in all a visit to Sweden is well worth it. As expected it was a
really nice country but it might be worth your while taking a packed
lunch from Denmark if you do a similar day trip to us rather than eating out!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-CWtdtkg/0/L/i-CWtdtkg-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-CWtdtkg/0/L/i-CWtdtkg-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So the next day it was time to bag a few pictures of the Danish Railway's ME class diesels. I was quite impressed with these big, noisey diesels with some producing copious amounts of exhaust fumes. During the day there are four departures from København every hour that can be hauled, although the relatively new Ansaldobreda DMUs are starting to make inroads into this. A long running saga like the Ansaldobreda built high speed units for the Netherlands, they were meant to be in service in 2008 but still aren't authorised to run in multiple. I'm guessing when this finally happens it will probably be the death-knell for the MEs. Going by the dreadful noises the gearboxes on the new units make though the diesel locos might be safe for some considerable time however!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-Mccb6xv/0/L/i-Mccb6xv-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-Mccb6xv/0/L/i-Mccb6xv-L.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anyway, the MEs generally run hourly to Nykøbing F, hourly to Kalundborg and most of the twice-hourly stoppers to Holbæk, the latter two destinations being the same direction meaning upwards of three an hour on the recently doubled branch from Roskilde to Holbæk. All of these operate along the mainline as far as Roskilde and served our base at Höje Taastrup; the engines are on the western (country) end of the double-deck rakes so light is generally best for them in the afternoon.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After a few shots at the station of Trekroner midway between Taastrup and Roskilde, once the sun had moved round enough we ventured onto the Holbæk branch. The first stop at Lerje had looked promising on maps and the recent double tracking of the route helped as it has cleared quite a bit of vegetation. The shot from the end of the platform looking east was pleasant enough.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-Zk66nP3/0/L/i-Zk66nP3-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-Zk66nP3/0/L/i-Zk66nP3-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After a couple of pictures here both of oncoming trains and going away shots, we investigated a footbridge about half a mile to the west. Again with the lineside clearance this proved to be an excellent location. We were there about 2pm but maybe an hour or so earlier would have been better as the light was just starting to get head on. The sun eventually went in anyway, though not before we had managed a few shots of passing Ansaldo units and a few class ME's too.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-TrQD6fx/0/L/i-TrQD6fx-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-TrQD6fx/0/L/i-TrQD6fx-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With the clouds increasingly moving in we headed back to Trekroner to track down the one all day diagram for the class EA electric locos that exists on the Østerport to Roskilde stopping services. The light, when the sun made the odd appearance, was ideal mid-afternoon for trains on the 'slow' line coming out from København though wrong for fast line trains from that platform. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-c7DxZSw/0/L/i-c7DxZSw-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-c7DxZSw/0/L/i-c7DxZSw-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It was even trying to rain by this stage (how rude) so we headed further into the city. From Høje Taastrup the mainline becomes two track with just one intermediate station as the others are served by the 10-minute frequency S-Tog. The best station we found was Danshøj, by my reckoning late evening the sun would be ideal for trains coming out on the mainline. There was a steady procession of ME diesels and units to watch which passed the time before Tim had to head to the airport.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-Q4TpHM2/0/L/i-Q4TpHM2-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-Q4TpHM2/0/L/i-Q4TpHM2-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
With myself being the last man standing, what could I do on my own in Denmark on a Friday night? Well I decided on a trip to Kalundborg on the train taking a stock of beer which was far more pleasant than festering in a pub or bar on my own. I had of course no idea what Kalundborg was like, I had about 30 minutes there whilst the train was serviced. It turns out Kalundborg is a container and ferry port and, at least round the station, not much happens on a Friday night. Fortunately a 5 minute wander and I found a Netto that was open until 9 o'clock so I could restock for the journey back.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-XhZXpJG/0/L/i-XhZXpJG-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-XhZXpJG/0/L/i-XhZXpJG-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The final full day was of course mine to choose what to do. It seemed daft not to revisit the Tjæreborg again as we had had such a good day on the Wednesday. I got up reasonably early for the three hour journey, of course returning back to Taastrup would be late on so like the Kalundborg trip the night before was just a case of stocking up on enough beer to enjoy the scenery.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rather than stay on the station this time I went for a walk and found a farm track I had spotted from the train located just over a 20 minute walk to the east of the village. This turned out to be a nice spot, the bend of the line wasn't quite right for eastbound services but the sun was moving from the front by the time I arrived anyway. I settled down to about 3 hours sat there during which time I didn't see another person so relaxed on the banking with a book and a bottle of coke awaiting trains.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-b8hPNp9/0/L/i-b8hPNp9-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-b8hPNp9/0/L/i-b8hPNp9-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The view looking east was much better and with the line dead straight offered plenty of warning of approaching trains. This caused a bit of consternation at times though with the very fast moving clouds wondering if the oncoming train would arrive before the next cloud. I probably had a 50% success rate with this but at least got one of the required MZ class locos in sun.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-CBc4Rfq/0/L/i-CBc4Rfq-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-CBc4Rfq/0/L/i-CBc4Rfq-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Between Tjæreborg station and the farm track was a road bridge. Tim had checked it out earlier in the week and it looked a nice view. Having got the westbound freight pictured above I reckoned I had time to await the next eastbound one and get to the bridge before the following one heading towards Esbjerg, however it came much sooner than expected, though fortunately before I started walking. I went to the bridge not expecting much to come so I was therefore a bit suprised to see the signal beyond the station clear when I knew no passenger trains were due, and even more so when I heard a loud noise from around the corner. Whilst the MZ's were built by Nohab, when that manufacturer is mentioned most people think of the earlier MX and MY classes which were much more streamlined and stylish. CFL (Luxembourg National Railway) Cargo Denmark own a few and it was two of these that appeared, though for a second I thought the clouds would spoil things.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-sgBRS9v/0/L/i-sgBRS9v-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-sgBRS9v/0/L/i-sgBRS9v-L.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These by far trumped the Green Cargo Rd2s as the 'shot of the week' as they are rare enough to see in action as it as let alone a pair on a freight train, and I returned to the station via the supermarket to pick up some beer to celebrate. This line is in the process of being electrified so the three views above may change considerably in the next 12 months if diversions take place next year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I only really had Sunday morning left as it was a mid-afternoon flight back from København to Manchester. I went the other side of Roskilde for the last few pictures of MEs, a number of which operate even on Sundays. I finished off seeing a little bit of København itself. In my mind it is nowhere near as nice as Malmö but maybe I missed the decent bit. The final shot of the holiday was taken in the main station, a lovely building but not very easy for photography.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-wctnkR4/0/L/i-wctnkR4-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-wctnkR4/0/L/i-wctnkR4-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All in all a very successful week away with two new countries covered. I liked Denmark but apart from the diverted freights and the ME diesels there isn't an awful lot else of interest. Sweden I would like to see more of, maybe when I have won the lottery. North Friesland in Germany I would recommend anytime, even when next year the 'Rabbits' have been replaced.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All the pictures can be found for a short while in the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions">New Additions</a> section before they will be moved to the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips/Trips2015">2015 Trips</a> folder. I hope the details of the locations etc will be of use, especially if the Denmark to Germany freight diversions take place next year. Thanks as always for taking the time to read this, please look out for the next addition of the blog and I'll leave you with a picture of two men and a level crossing, I'm not sure where the third of our group was... Bye for now!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-7ZC9h5v/0/L/i-7ZC9h5v-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-7ZC9h5v/0/L/i-7ZC9h5v-L.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-2187671040511707812015-07-06T15:23:00.003+01:002015-07-06T15:23:51.134+01:0068: Stirling, Stranraer and Other Scotrail Scenes Concluding With Some Tales of Tractors<div style="text-align: center;">
Welcome to edition 68 of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog. It was exactly two months ago since edition 67 appeared covering my trip to the Czech Republic; a forthcoming trip next week to Germany and Denmark made me realise I'd forgotten to write one in the meantime, so here it is.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Looking back at the trips I have made since the last blog, I think the reason I have neglected until now to pen (can you use the verb 'to pen' for something written on a computer?) this edition of my ramblings is because I have always tried to keep my blog mainly relevant to the railway side of my photography, only mentioning the increasingly frequent bus trips in passing. The last two months have mainly been bus orientated though with a few significant exceptions.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-D2j7jwz/0/L/i-D2j7jwz-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-D2j7jwz/0/L/i-D2j7jwz-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Launching straight in with a picture of a bus simply because the first two trips of May were virtually entirely bus focussed. The first one was ostensibly to mop up some Wetherspoon branches I hadn't previously visited in the Central Belt of Scotland, wonderful places like Falkirk, Grangemouth, Stirling and Alloa. The latter was useful as I also hadn't previously travelled over the railway line to there that reopened several years ago. Any non low-floor bus is quite rare now so shots like that above of a First Group Olympian leaving Stirling Bus Station are worth having.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-wJNsHQv/0/L/i-wJNsHQv-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-wJNsHQv/0/L/i-wJNsHQv-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My next photographic expedition was once again principally road based, a few beers enroute from Warrington to Southport, though I did stop off at Winwick Junction for a picture of 4M25 which runs daily from Mossend to Daventry and for a few months now has been hauled by pairs of class 90s displaced from Sleeper duties. It's not ideal for the light as it passes through the North West around lunch time when the sun is generally head-on. The return working is at night.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The awarding of the Scotrail franchise to Abellio was 'celebrated' by the company by offering free tickets online. I used this as an excuse to visit Stranraer, one of the longest sections of line I had never travelled on with the exception of the Highland routes. Out via Glasgow and back via Kilmarnock it was a pleasant day, the line from Ayr south is very scenic and an enjoyable ride on the class 156s that usually ply their trade on the route. Stranraer Harbour station is a shadow of its former self, once a Motorail terminal for cars heading to Northern Ireland even the ferries have now gone as they now operate from a new harbour at Cairnryan further down on the other side of the Loch.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-X9jTKCS/0/L/i-X9jTKCS-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-X9jTKCS/0/L/i-X9jTKCS-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The rest of May involved a few bus photographing outings plus a quick visit to Grange-over-Sands for my first photo of the Northern Rail loco hauled trains run by DRS on the Cumbrian Coast. More about these later. The 31st of May was the <a href="http://www.nwvrt.co.uk/">North West Vehicle Restoration Trust's</a> running day from their base at Kirkby. Lots of buses provided free rides to Liverpool, Prescot and the surrounding area. Most vehicles were of a North West origin but there were plenty of visiting buses from other areas. Sunday 12th July is the running day of the other local group the <a href="http://www.mttrust.co.uk/">Merseyside Transport Trust</a> based at Burscough. I've covered their days before and they are well worth visiting if you can.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-RWMksMM/0/L/i-RWMksMM-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-RWMksMM/0/L/i-RWMksMM-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Besides the Cumbrian 37s perhaps the other big passenger train development locally was the introduction into wide-scale service of the former Thameslink Class 319 EMUs onto Liverpool to Wigan and Manchester trains. Since the wires were energised between Edge Hill and Earlestown there had only been two diagrams on the Liverpool to Manchester Airport service but from May the half hourly Wigan all stations trains and the Liverpool to Manchester Victoria services went over to 100% Class 319 operation on weekdays. here 319365 arrives at Garswood heading for Wigan.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-VnDjRfc/0/L/i-VnDjRfc-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-VnDjRfc/0/L/i-VnDjRfc-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As promised, returning to the Cumbrian Coast, from May there was also a big development with the introduction of two loco-hauled diagrams Mondays to Saturdays. Coupled with the 319s operating out of Liverpool this enabled Northern to release enough DMUs to start the much delayed Manchester to Blackburn via Burnley service over the new curve at Todmorden.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One of the class 37 diagrams is out all day starting with the 0546 Barrow to Carlisle it then shuttles between these two towns finishing at Carlisle at 2031. The other starts with the 0515 Carlisle to Preston, the 1004 to Barrow, then after 4 hours 'rest' the 1437 to Carlisle and return finishing at Barrow at 2029. These services have so far proved exceedingly popular with enthusiasts, helped by a regular cheap promotion in local papers for day tickets and of course the highly scenic nature of this line. Currently both services have been top and tailed by two engines although anytime soon one is expected to be operating with a former Anglia Driving Van Trailer at one end.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-cmkVWLM/0/L/i-cmkVWLM-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-cmkVWLM/0/L/i-cmkVWLM-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
With a week off work I took the opportunity myself to travel on the trains a few times, sometimes just for beer and other times for photography. I wasn't as fortunate with the weather as when I went to Brock one morning to see it (pictured above) but the scenery, good pubs along the route, and of course the sound of the class 37s working hard pulling away from the many station stops made up for that. A good example of the weather is this picture of 37606 powering away from Seascale; there is actually some sea about 50 yards away on the right through the fog that had rolled in.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-fZ2zLvS/0/L/i-fZ2zLvS-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-fZ2zLvS/0/L/i-fZ2zLvS-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A brief interlude between trips to Cumbria was a day in Edinburgh. Generally there isn't an awful lot of interest railway-wise in the area unless you go out to the likes of Prestonpans when something special is due, but the one regular highlight is the two class 68s used on peak hour trains between Edinburgh and Fife. Like with Northern Rail these are used to release DMUs for elsewhere, the two evening trains leave Edinburgh at 1703 and 1719. Good shots of these can be had crossing the Forth Bridge. I didn't have time to go there but I did get to see them heading into Edinburgh empty as they both go to Motherwell in between the AM and PM journeys, so can be pictured returning. The light would usually be wrong at Slateford for these but on this day as it was dull it hardly mattered.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-cT7j6g7/0/L/i-cT7j6g7-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-cT7j6g7/0/L/i-cT7j6g7-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It is just possible if the second of these is on time to hoof it down to Saughton about a mile away to see them both come back out of Edinburgh. There is a view from the new tram bridge although the trees are growing very quickly. <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions/180615/i-SNF86Lt/A">HERE</a> is a picture of the other set heading to Fife.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Trying to avoid too many mentions of buses, apart from two Wetherspoons trips to Yorkshire that obviously also included a bit of bus photography, that pretty much concludes where I've been during May and June. As always all these pictures can be found either in my <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions">New Additions</a> section or after about a month they get moved to the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips/Trips2015">Trips of 2015</a> page.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will endeavour to write the next edition sooner rather than later, hopefully there will be plenty to describe from Northern Germany, Denmark and hopefully even Sweden. Thanks for taking the time to read this, please look out in a few weeks for the next blog. Bye for now.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-cqdwrGS/0/L/i-cqdwrGS-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-cqdwrGS/0/L/i-cqdwrGS-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-3034872105641208462015-05-06T16:58:00.003+01:002015-05-07T16:18:44.212+01:0067: Chasing Czech Locos along the Labe<div align="center">
A warm welcome as always to the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog, edition 67 which will cover last weeks trip to the Czech Republic, principally to Ústí nad Labem in the north of the country.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
It was a trip organised by a friend so for once I was really just tagging along, he had sorted out the best photo locations in the area and the times of day the sun, if any, would be optimum for getting those shots. All in all it turned out to be a very succesful trip and probably one of the most enjoyable foreign jaunts I've been on to date with plenty of freight and loco-hauled passengers seen.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-cGwkn42/0/L/i-cGwkn42-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-cGwkn42/0/L/i-cGwkn42-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Outbound we went on a mid-morning flight from Stansted. This put us into Prague at about half past two local time so once the hire car was sourced we were straight out. Unbeknown to me there is a diesel line not very far from the airport, it would be pretty easy to create a spur to the terminal itself, but I guess the cost of upgrading this single track route to carry airport services would be high (though not as high as extending the metro or tramlines). Current options for getting to and from the Airport and Prague itself is a half-hourly shuttle bus direct to the main station or a frequent local bus to one of the two nearest underground stations for the Metro onwards.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Anyway, as we had a car this wasn't an issue right then so we drove the 15 minutes round to <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Hostivice,+Czech+Republic/@50.0852333,14.2514,731m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x470bbec4977408e3:0x400af0f66151900!6m1!1e1">Hostivice</a> located pretty much at the end of one of the runways. A small town, the station is a major passing place on this single-track route. The first <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Czech-Republic/SDKD/i-TxS6NfZ">picture</a> of the holiday was of a pair of rebuilt 'Goggles' working for private operator SD Kolejová doprava which were shunting onto a rake of wagons in the yard. 'Goggles' is the nickname for a common Czech and Slovak diesel locos from classes 750, 753 and 754 so named because of their distinctive cab windows. The main reason we went to Hostivice was because one of these was due on the 1502 Prague to Rakovnik passenger train. There is a frequent local service on this route usually provided by rebuilt and unrebuilt class 810 and 814 railbuses but in addition there is this loco hauled train every couple of hours. </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-xnMPnrG/0/L/i-xnMPnrG-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-xnMPnrG/0/L/i-xnMPnrG-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The next location we visited was about 30 minutes down the motorway past Beroun at the very similarly named <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Horovice,+Czech+Republic/@49.8491106,13.9097038,735m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x470b0763bbe1d68b:0xe64e7ac332498eae!6m1!1e1">Hořovice</a> located on the Prague to Plzeň mainline. This was a busy road bridge but with a pleasant view across the fields. We had about an hour there in which we saw four loco hauled passenger trains plus a Czech <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%8CD_Class_680">Pendolino.</a> There appears to be little freight on this route despite the fact that beyond Plzeň (Pilsen, home of the famous beer type) the line extends into Germany.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-TJxmfmC/0/L/i-TJxmfmC-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-TJxmfmC/0/L/i-TJxmfmC-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After the hour here it was back finally to near the first location to <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Ruzyn%C4%9B,+161+00+Prague-Prague+6,+Czech+Republic/@50.0820205,14.2969481,731m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x470bbe344703e759:0xd6c85f3440b6d659!6m1!1e1">Ruzyně</a> for the passing of two diesel hauled passengers on that route, the second being the next run-by of the 'Goggle' we had photographed earlier but the first a peak hour diagram with a smaller class 714 engine hauling a rake of what I call 'Wheelie Bins', which are basically glorified tin cans on four wheels.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-Z8BPwVt/0/L/i-Z8BPwVt-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-Z8BPwVt/0/L/i-Z8BPwVt-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There was a fairly long drive then as it started to get dark north to our base for the rest of the week at the <a href="http://hotelvetruse.cz/en/">Hotel Vetruse</a> in Ústí nad Labem. Ústí is a large town on the River Labe (known better perhaps as the Elbe), 'nad Labem' literally meaning 'above Labe', and is appendaged after virtually every town name along it. The hotel itself is highly recommended. Four star it is spotlessly clean and whilst probably expensive at Czech prices very reasonable to us at about £45 per night.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Rather than list what we did over each of the next three days it will probably be easier to describe where we went in terms of the railway routes along each side of the river. The line through Ústí is the main route between Dresden in Germany and Prague. In Germany it is a single route along the west bank of the river but when it reaches Děčín it divides and there is then two routes, one along each side. In generally trains bound for the Prague area must travel along the west bank and trains heading towards Kolín and the east have to take the other bank south of Děčín. It is possible for them to go along the west side as far as Ústí but they then have to enter the yard there and run round.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-vXVS4V6/0/L/i-vXVS4V6-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-vXVS4V6/0/L/i-vXVS4V6-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I shall start the main bit of this blog about the Czech Republic with a picture of a local German train. After a hot partly sunny first half day in the country with temperatures exceeding 20 degrees the next day was 3 degrees with rain and even a heavy snow for several hours! With there being no possibility of any master scenic shots along the river near Ústí given the weather we decided to head over the border to the section of line near Königstein on the German banks of the river.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My last visit here was during my first foreign jaunt in 2006 when the half-hourly Dresden based S-bahn was entirely in the hands of former East German class 143 locos. Most now are pulled by new Taurus engines but it was nice to see a couple still with more classic traction. We spent a good part of the day at <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Kurort+Rathen,+01824+Rathen,+Germany/@50.9553328,14.0787595,718m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x4709bb2bb0c36e47:0xc1a46975cdcf15c!6m1!1e1">Kurort Rathen</a> where there are several vantage points; with the S-bahn stopping here it is very doable by public tranport. This shot, and many others, was taken at the level crossing to the south of the village, there is also a <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Czech-Republic/CD/i-rkC7rkg">shot</a> available to the north of the station but the southern crossing offers views either way, plus a bit of warning from the bell on the barriers, and more importantly on this day, some shelter in the form of a wooden public gazebo next to it. We returned here later in the day too as the others could watch the trains from the warmth of the car whilst I got wet and cold rushing about photographing the regular passenger and freight trains.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-LQKChx2/0/L/i-LQKChx2-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-LQKChx2/0/L/i-LQKChx2-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In between we retreated from the rain by having coffee and dinner in a nice little cafe in Königstein before trying another shot which promised to be a good location (if the sun was out) near <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Krippen,+01814,+Germany/@50.9122192,14.1628424,359m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x4709a4016cc36623:0xa21b1cdd48f22b0!6m1!1e1">Krippen</a> station. The long straight provided a bit of warning of oncoming trains, although the view of their approach was somewhat marred by the lack of visibilty caused by the weather.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-t2ncF6s/0/L/i-t2ncF6s-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-t2ncF6s/0/L/i-t2ncF6s-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For completion of the area, Königstein itself can be good for pictures too, a popular place in summer months with a small ferry across the river. Photos from my previous trip can be found <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips/Trips2006/190506/">HERE.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Between Děčín and Ústí we only tried one location, that being on the east bank at <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/T%C4%9Bchlovice+Nad+Labem+-+Obecn%C3%AD+%C3%9A%C5%99ad/@50.6927289,14.2026403,722m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x4709763100b213c9:0x1c8e3d001f77a538!6m1!1e1">Techlovice.</a> We had heard that the east bank was generally busier for freight, in practice we found not much between the two. The west bank has more, and more variety, of passenger services but south of Ústí freight levels seemed pretty consistent on both sides with generally two or three each way an hour (though with the occasional longer gap). North of Ústí is a bit quieter on the east bank as there are additional trains coming out of the yards at Ústí, however Techlovice was a nice location with views from the lane and the field and we did get three freight trains in the hour we were there.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-VDgdMXd/0/L/i-VDgdMXd-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-VDgdMXd/0/L/i-VDgdMXd-L.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As can be seen from the above picture, the following day was again a massive contrast in terms of weather and we had unbroken sunshine virtually all day enabling us to tour all the locations we had wanted to visit. Staying on the east bank of the river, but heading from the south, our first port of call that day was <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Litomerice,+Czech+Republic/@50.5316144,14.1344925,724m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x47097f136576a66b:0x400af0f66156060!6m1!1e1">Litomerice</a> where there is a nice early morning view from the road bridge across the river with the attractive town as a backdrop. The bridge was being reconstructed when we visited but apart from a bit of rubble in the foreground it didn't detract from the shot. Unfortunately only one freight train came the required way whilst we were there (as usual three went the other way). Fortunately the hourly passenger service on this section of line is loco hauled, usually in push-pull mode with the engine on the south end, which gives a bit of added interest whilst waiting.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-zZhKrrv/0/L/i-zZhKrrv-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-zZhKrrv/0/L/i-zZhKrrv-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-WVJ4JsS/0/L/i-WVJ4JsS-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A location we didn't visit that particular day but we found the next was two villages down the river at <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Litomerice,+Czech+Republic/@50.5688912,14.042234,1447m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x47097f136576a66b:0x400af0f66156060!6m1!1e1">Libochovany</a>. We actually spotted it as a possible photo opportunity from the station at Prackovice on the opposite bank, about 3/4 mile away as the crow flies but about 40 minutes by road. There is a road and cycle path flanking the railway to the north of the village, in investigating the latter we found a nice spot in a small grass lined cutting where the light was right for most of the afternoon. We were a bit unlucky with the sun that day but did get one passenger shot in nice light.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-gFDqvnc/0/L/i-gFDqvnc-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-gFDqvnc/0/L/i-gFDqvnc-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On our way back from Litomerice on the morning of the second full day we stopped off for 15 minutes at <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Brn%C3%A1+nad+Labem,+403+21+%C3%9Ast%C3%AD+nad+Labem-%C3%9Ast%C3%AD+nad+Labem-St%C5%99ekov,+Czech+Republic/@50.6167996,14.0775643,723m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x47098306f6a4e123:0x53afa15540983704!6m1!1e1">Brná nad Labem</a> south of Ústí where there is an excellent morning shot good for southbound trains from about 0930 at this time of year until about 1100. We were rewarded by two freight and a passenger train within 10 minutes, we noticed that the freight trains often seem to be clustered around the time the passenger service is due. I wasn't keen on the steep bank we had to climb as it was still very wet from the previous days' downpours but it was well worth the effort. There are no stations nearby but there are frequent buses on routes 17 and 27 from Ústí.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-ZDRhdqv/0/L/i-ZDRhdqv-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-ZDRhdqv/0/L/i-ZDRhdqv-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I will actually leave the main location on this line for last, partly as it does sort of span the river, so with that logic I will move to the west bank. We only visited two locations on the line running towards Prague; in general the east bank is much quiter in terms of road traffic and built up areas and is also less enclosed by trees. I spent an hour at <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Prackovice+nad+Labem,+Czech+Republic/@50.574036,14.0367001,724m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x4709814136b42c49:0x400af0f6615afd0!6m1!1e1">Prackovice</a> station whilst the others went in search of somewhere better. There are loops here which I guess are probably well used by freight; the local hourly passenger service operated by Ceske Drahy's only double deck stock, Prague based three car electric units called 'City Elefant', use the loop heading south to serve the platform. The view off the end of the platform wasn't at all unpleasant, the sun was trying to come through but failing and at 1330 when this picture was taken was just starting to be good for southbound shots.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-W9kft7j/0/L/i-W9kft7j-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-W9kft7j/0/L/i-W9kft7j-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Moving north the other location we tried was at <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Va%C5%88ov,+400+01+%C3%9Ast%C3%AD+nad+Labem-%C3%9Ast%C3%AD+nad+Labem-m%C4%9Bsto,+Czech+Republic/@50.6241322,14.0623064,361m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x470983654fb92081:0x2b0e7f91f0c795d9!6m1!1e1">Vanov</a>. Again there is no station here but bus number 15 runs roughly hourly. The main shot is in an afternoon one of northbound trains taken from a minor road parallel to the line as it passes a small attractive chapel. There are morning shots of southbound trains available but they are on the nearest line so the banking makes them less than ideal. If anything the west bank line sees more activity by private operators than the east where elderly CD classes 122 and 123 dominate on freight. I like the new Siemens Vectron and this livery suits it well.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-LZhktSZ/0/L/i-LZhktSZ-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-LZhktSZ/0/L/i-LZhktSZ-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Having described all the places we visited outside Ústí there just remains to mention the main one at <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Va%C5%88ov,+400+01+%C3%9Ast%C3%AD+nad+Labem-%C3%9Ast%C3%AD+nad+Labem-m%C4%9Bsto,+Czech+Republic/@50.6378128,14.0516848,1445m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x470983654fb92081:0x2b0e7f91f0c795d9!6m1!1e1">Střekov</a>, a suberb location to the south of the town. You could spend virtually all day from sunrise to sunset at this particular spot as it offers numerous views of the east bank line. There is a railway station at Strekov which is about a 15 minute walk from the weir, dam and locks that forms the centrepiece of this part of the river. It would be also possible to walk along the river from Ústí itself or there are three bus routes running regularly, the 9, 17 and 27.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-KNtt4gB/0/L/i-KNtt4gB-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-KNtt4gB/0/L/i-KNtt4gB-L.jpg" height="259" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As mentioned there is a gigantic lock complex stradling the River Labe, one of several along the river large enough to take massive leisure boats and industrial barges. There is a footbridge across this enabling shots looking over the water, indeed you can get across to the west bank and also get nice images looking right across to the castle that dominates that side of the river. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
From the early morning shot pictured below to the afternoon shot taken from a small metal jetty in the river itself (above and at the top of the blog) to views from the dam itself (very last picture at the bottom) there is a wide range of views available. Apart from the few pictures I have added here the rest of the shots I took over the course of the week in this location can be searched <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/search?q=strekov&c=photos#i=0">HERE.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-wf2r6sm/0/L/i-wf2r6sm-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-wf2r6sm/0/L/i-wf2r6sm-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A couple of other things I should add about this spot, first being there is a small car park by the line just as the road bends away from the railway which is useful but also there is a convenience store about 100 yards up this road which would live up to its title should you wish to spend all day here. The signals looking north before the dam give you good warning of approaching trains in that direction but the southbound signal is automatic so no help regarding what is coming.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Having had three and a half excellent days photographing, Friday was the day to head home. We had all decided to go our seperate ways back, my flight back to Manchester was just before teatime so I caught the train back to Prague for a few hours photographing the trams and trains in the city. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-j8gvVkv/0/L/i-j8gvVkv-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-j8gvVkv/0/L/i-j8gvVkv-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was lucky enough to see a class 749 diesel on a working to Čerčany, these were endangered on my last visit so good to see one or two are still holding out covering for unavailable 'Goggles'. They sound a bit like a British Rail class 25 or 33 so have long been a favourite with British enthusiasts. A quick visit to the nearby Marasykovo terminal station also produced a shot of a 'Goggle' waiting its next duty to Rakovnik, plus a few pictures of trams were taken in the vicinity.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As it turned out it tried to rain around midday so finding myself at Florenc Metro station I searched out the excellent <a href="http://www.pivovarskyklub.com/">Pivovarsky Club</a> which has six Czech beers on draught plus a wide range of bottles and food. I managed to drag myself away early enough to do a bit of photography on the Metro itself. I always find it easier to stand on busy underground stations with a camera after a few beers, though obviously not too many so that you keep the lens pointing the right way...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-Lkx38Dg/0/L/i-Lkx38Dg-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-Lkx38Dg/0/L/i-Lkx38Dg-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All in all, as I have said previously, this was an excellent trip and one which makes me want to return to the Czech Republic again. Lots of freight trains were seen and although the weather was a bit hit and miss we did well and got to all the locations we wanted. Many thanks to our <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joe_bloggs_railway_photos/">Chauffeur</a> for both doing the homework on the best places to visit and of course for doing all the driving. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'll leave you with the promised view taken from the top of the Střekov lock. Thanks for taking the time to read all this, I hope it will be of use to anyone wanting to visit the Ústí nad Labem area, hopefully all the links in the place names should take you on Google Maps to the rough spots the pictures were taken from enabling you to find them easily. Please keep a look out for the next edition of the blog, providing I get to go anywhere in the next few weeks, bye for now!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-txZrjqJ/0/L/i-txZrjqJ-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-txZrjqJ/0/L/i-txZrjqJ-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-46052343849977878572015-04-23T23:21:00.000+01:002015-04-23T23:21:17.395+01:0066: To Lowton and Laxey, Southend and Kings Sutton, to Westcliff and Winwick<div align="center">
Hello. As April is drawing to a close I thought that it was time I wrote another edition of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog chronicalling where I have been to with my camera over the last four weeks or so, so as always a warm welcome and I hope a little bit of it might be of use to someone!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
A rare moment occurred at the end of March as good weather coincided with me being up early enough to leave the house to get a picture of the Preston Docks to Lindsey tank train. This normally thrice weekly working doesn't leave Preston until around 0900 but in order to fight through the school traffic to a location where I can get a decent picture it requires leaving the house not long after 8. This is why since the train began to be worked by Colas Rail Class 60s I hadn't yet managed to get a picture of it: I can't find the motivation to go for it unless there is almost guaranteed sun.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-ZxzgFgx/0/L/i-ZxzgFgx-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-ZxzgFgx/0/L/i-ZxzgFgx-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Wednesdays traditionally in summer are the day that West Coast Rail run (or used to run) steam specials over the Settle and Carlisle line from Preston. It also seems to be a favoured day for other workings too, so it was that an hour after the log train a Kidderminster to Carlisle working was due hauled by the former LMS locomotive Galatea. I moved from the Gregson Lane location pictured above slightly nearer Bamber Bridge to a foot crossing I hadn't been to previously. Astonishingly considering there was a steam train due I was the only person there. I'll save that picture to the end of the blog in order not to upset anyone as apparently the LMS red livery isn't authentic.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Anyway, I had planned staying out all day but by late morning it started clouding over so after a <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-GLNm7wB">picture</a> of another Colas Rail engine, 56113, heading south down the West Coast Main Line on aviation fuel tanks I adjourned to the pub for the afternoon instead. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-xmsPhBr/0/L/i-xmsPhBr-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-xmsPhBr/0/L/i-xmsPhBr-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The beginning of April saw a few short trips out mainly to photograph buses. One particular aim was to get some pictures of Atherton based South Lancs Travel which has recently been bought by Rotala and rebranded <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/North-West/South-Lancs-Travel/">Diamond North West</a>. I did though pay a short visit to Winwick Junction. A popular vantage point north of Warrington, for some reason I've never really liked the spot. Maybe I'm getting less fussy with age but I've been twice now this month! The first visit was in pretty poor weather; the only things of note were GBRF's 66701 on an empty coal train and the regular class 67 (pictured above) on Arriva Trains' loco hauled circuit. Details of its duty can be found in blog <a href="http://blog.railwaymedia.co.uk/2015/02/64-two-months-to-merthyr-from-bury-to.html">65.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-H4BbZdP/0/L/i-H4BbZdP-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-H4BbZdP/0/L/i-H4BbZdP-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Into the week after the Easter Bank Holiday and I had two days in the Isle of Man thanks to the fact <a href="http://www.citywing.com/">Citywing</a> have resumed daily flights from Blackpool following the Airport's closure in 2014. With the family there anyway and a return flight going for £46 it was rude not to. As with last year I had a day touring the island myself sampling the excellent local beers before a day with the family.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have been across there a few times now recently so have covered fairly comprehensively the Island's three main railways, so just the odd shot here and there was taken mainly at Laxey of both the Snaefell Mountain Railway and, pictured above, the Douglas to Ramsey Electric Railway. Having only seriously started photographing the local buses last year that was perhaps my main focus. Unfortunately the old red and cream livery, which itself had given way to an attractive maroon and cream based on East Yorkshire's livery has now been superseded on most of the fleet by a very bland all over silver. A lot of the islands double deck buses have also been replaced by single deckers, mainly Mercedes Citaros. They now have a modern but quite boring fleet. Even worse though are the two Mercedes-Benz minibuses, though to be fair they are only used on the sparsly used 13 to Old Laxey and 4 to Niarbyl. The latter route serves an isolated beauty spot near Peel. By far the nicest picture of the two days, just a shame the subject of wasn't remotely more interesting!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-2ZLJ6tK/0/L/i-2ZLJ6tK-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-2ZLJ6tK/0/L/i-2ZLJ6tK-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I had taken a couple of days off work for the Manx trip but the following week was a booked full week off anyway so I made the most of that by having a few longer trips out too. The weather this month has been pretty decent and with a good forecast for most of the country I headed down to Oxfordshire with the purpose of ending up for the afternoon at Kings Sutton near Banbury.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Chiltern Railways have started using class 68s now instead of the class 67s it has been utilising until now on its premium 'Mainline Silver' trains. Apparently they will be using all five of their own branded engines by the end of April but only three of the new engines were out that particular day. The trains they work can easily be identified by the code 'MS' at the top on the Chiltern timetable leaflets with the exception of one peak-hour train to Banbury, the 1750 from London Marylebone. I wasn't sure if this was still loco-hauled so as a result just missed a picture of it. Traffic on this section of the line from Banbury to Aynho is very busy with a good mix of both passenger trains (Chiltern, Cross Country and Great Western) and freight too so a visit is highly recommended.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-KQP8Nnt/0/L/i-KQP8Nnt-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-KQP8Nnt/0/L/i-KQP8Nnt-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Whilst the Oxfordshire trip was principally for railway photography with just the few bus pictures thrown in, a few days later a trip to Essex was for the entirely opposite reasons. Mainly centered around visiting some Wetherspoons I'd not yet patronised it also offered me chance to see what was happening on the Southend bus scene. My last visit was in 1992 at the height of a bus war between Southend Transport and Thamesway which saw both operators competeing on most routes with many second-hand vehicles and even former London Routemasters. Needless to say that has all finished although those former operations can still be discerned with Arriva running the former Council routes and First Group operating the former Eastern National (Thamesway) routes and depots. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
First Bus seem quite keen at the moment in repainting various vehicles in heritage liveries throught the country, this very attractive colour scheme seen in Southend celebrates the former Westcliff on Sea Motor services which became part of Eastern National in 1952.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-GVV7fGQ/0/L/i-GVV7fGQ-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-GVV7fGQ/0/L/i-GVV7fGQ-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The other main aim of the day was to see and ride upon the Southend Pier Railway. At about 2km long, Southend Pier is the longest in Britain and the railway dates from around 1890, though was shut in the 1970s and got rebuilt in the 1980s. Formerly double track it is now single track with a passing loop half way to enable a two train operation at peak times. There are two identical six-coach trains, each with a diesel loco built by Severn Lamb though only one train was in operation this particular day as it was midweek. There is also a single-car railcar for use at really quiet times.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-PkJFSHF/0/L/i-PkJFSHF-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-PkJFSHF/0/L/i-PkJFSHF-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Finally, onto the last 'trip' of this blog, well not so much of a day out but just a few hours back in the Winwick area. With class 319s now having been in use on Northern Rail services for a month or so I had only until now got a picture of one, still in First Capital Connect livery, on training duties. There are currently three diagrams in operation on the Liverpool to Manchester Airport route but all three are only in use at peak hours. This should change within the next few weeks as Liverpool to Wigan, Warrington and Manchester Victoria services become converted to electric traction. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Highfield Common is near Lowton east of Newton-le-Willows. A nice quiet location although step ladders are useful to see over the pallisade fencing! I finally managed to get that picture of a Northern 319 with a shot of 319361 on a Manchester Airport to Liverpool Lime Street service.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-8NpZSkN/0/L/i-8NpZSkN-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-8NpZSkN/0/L/i-8NpZSkN-L.jpg" height="420" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With the aforementioned visit to Winwick Junction following an hour in Lowton I then ended the day at Red Bank about a mile away from both locations. 66849 has been the chosen power for Colas' daily log train from Carlisle for months now. Signs are this may change as a class 60 has been trialled, though unfortunately for this shot it was removed from the front each day at Hellifield.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-wgDsRXL/0/L/i-wgDsRXL-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-wgDsRXL/0/L/i-wgDsRXL-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
That about concludes my wanderings for April so far. The month should end with a visit to the Czech Republic; I'm sure that will feature in the next edition of this blog. Thanks as always for reading, I will leave you as promised with the shot of Galatea near Gregson Lane in Lancashire with 25th March's Kidderminster to Carlisle special. Apparently the London Midland and Scottish colours were never carried by it in service but it looks good despite that. Bye for now.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-b8B8BTd/0/L/i-b8B8BTd-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-b8B8BTd/0/L/i-b8B8BTd-L.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-27462027366091767122015-03-17T14:53:00.000+00:002015-03-17T15:55:22.552+00:0065: A Fair Few Firsts<div align="center">
Welcome to the 65th Edition of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog covering where I've been and what I've been photographing during the past month. Amazingly I have managed to even have a full day out photographing mainly railways as opposed to buses for the first time this year.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
My March trips started out in Scotland two days running, both work related, with visits to both Glasgow and Edinburgh. I managed a bit more time in the latter and have finally got to ride on most of the new tramway there. As is usual for Britain, unlike many European cities, you have to pay a massive surcharge to travel the about 3/4 mile from the final stop before the Airport to the terminal itself. For all the rest of the route the tram fares are the same, and integrated, with the buses (to be fair that in itself is highly unusual in Britain), so you can go all the way from the City Centre to Ingliston for £1.50 (or £3.50 for an entire day) but to go one more stop it is £5 or £9 return. My advice - alight at the Ingliston Park and Ride and catch the 35 which runs every 15 minutes to the Airport.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-mGkwxtr/0/L/i-mGkwxtr-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-mGkwxtr/0/L/i-mGkwxtr-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The following day I ended up in the Cheshire area with work. I thought I'd use the opportunity to photograph the 'new' class 319 EMU's which had begun service for Northern Rail that week on Liverpool to Manchester Airport services, utilising the recently electrified section from Edge Hill to Earlestown. There were two out in service in the morning before I set out unfortunately as not enough drivers are yet trained on them only one was out in service between the peak periods, so what I was expecting to be a newly painted four car electric turned up as a bog-standard class 156.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-WJTzTkw/0/L/i-WJTzTkw-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-WJTzTkw/0/L/i-WJTzTkw-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I spent the rest of the day wandering slowly home via bits of Cheshire and Merseyside I had not visited for a long time; place like Widnes and Runcorn I used to go to regularly when I was at school and college so it was nice after 20 years to get some more pictures of the local Halton Transport buses, one of the few council owned operators that managed to survive the demands by the previous Conservative Government to privatise the industry. Back then Halton could generally afford new buses but more as a result of the decline of the area rather than anything the company has done this is less the case now. Alongside some of their own vehicles they have now got a batch of secondhand Scanias from Metrobus. They are being rebuilt to do away with the centre doors so some, like this one seen in Runcorn Old Town have only had the front painted as an interim measure.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-JqT8P5V/0/L/i-JqT8P5V-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-JqT8P5V/0/L/i-JqT8P5V-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The following Tuesday was very much a day of 'firsts' with not only my first proper railway photography day of the year but my first shots of several classes and types of loco. With good weather forecast for much of the country I had the choice of pretty much anywhere to go. Heading down towards Cheltenham and beyond was a non-starter due to it being the first day of the Cheltenham Cup Festival; Scotland I had visited the previous week and I didn't feel like heading somewhere like London, so I settled on the tried and tested Willington area in Derbyshire. I have been there several times previously as the line from Derby towards Birmingham is probably the best in the country for variety of freight trains running. Unfortunately the excellent <a href="http://www.visionsinternational.biz/html/books.html">book</a> to the locations on this route has long since sold out but Marcus Dawson's <a href="http://www.trainspots.co.uk/">Trainspots</a> website will give you the same details as to where the various bridges and footbridges are and how to reach them.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Willington is served by an infrequent Cross Country train service with some of the Nottingham-Birmingham-Cardiff trains stopping there, but you need to check very carefully which ones. The most popular footbridge is at North Stafford Junction about a 15-20 minute walk along the canal from the station, but I thought I would make a first visit by way of a change to the footbridge to the west of the station. If anything this is quicker to reach and a much nicer location, although you miss any trains that head towards Stoke via Uttoxeter as they turn off before reaching Willington.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-pxwkdhg/0/L/i-pxwkdhg-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-pxwkdhg/0/L/i-pxwkdhg-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
At the time I took it I thought this picture of 70809 on a Ratcliffe to Gloucester empty coal train was my first picture of one of this subclass but I had forgotten that 70802 was trialled on the Carlisle to Chirk log train last July which I saw at <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/70/i-vQJtjPm">Brock</a> on the West Coast Main Line.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Another of the new types of loco I saw that day was again a Colas Rail one, being my first <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/60/i-WsDFfdg/A">picture</a> of one of their refurbished class 60 locos on a move from Toton to Crewe. The highlight for me and the main reason for choosing the area to visit though was the likelihood of one of DRS' new Class 68s on its regular Mountsorrel to Basford Hall working, one of the few trains almost gauranteed to produce one of the class at the front, aside from the ones starting to haul Chiltern passenger trains. </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Unfortunately the sun wasn't guaranteed and as can be seen it was 'almost but not quite'.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-HMjXcKL/0/L/i-HMjXcKL-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-HMjXcKL/0/L/i-HMjXcKL-L.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
After this passed I had a bit of a dilemna: whether to head back to Willington for a train to Birmingham where there were pubs to wait in but the picture of the expected Colas Class 56 on the Boston Docks steel train would be looking straight into the sun (if there was any), or to continue walking towards Derby to Stenson and then be forced to get a bus into Derby.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The bridge you can see in the distance (behind the class 68 pictured above) is the road bridge at Stenson Junction; by following this road you get to a small bridge crossing the freight only line round the corner. Had it been a Friday I might have gone for the Willington option but knowing there are a few excellent pubs near Derby station which wouldn't be too busy on a Tuesday I decided to go for a walk that way. The light, whilst still wrong at Stenson, wasn't nearly as bad as it would've been at Willington so this proved the best option. I also found an excellent pub by the canal near the bridge (<a href="http://www.thebubbleinn.com/">The Bubble Inn</a>) so had a nice wood-fired pizza and a few pints there as the sun was setting before catching the bus from nearby Stenson Fields into town. The two best pubs near Derby station incidentally are <a href="http://www.brunswickderby.co.uk/">The Brunswick Inn</a> and <a href="http://www.alexandrahotelderby.co.uk/">The Alexandra Hotel.</a> I settled on the latter purely as I hadn't visited it previously. If you like railwayana that's the place to go by the way, more later.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-BTncbpn/0/L/i-BTncbpn-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-BTncbpn/0/L/i-BTncbpn-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Incidentally there was one final 'first' that day in so much as one of the class 92s recently repainted for the new Serco Caledonian Sleeper contract was parked in the bay platforms at Crewe as I passed through. There had been two there in the morning but the other was out on test.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-WmCwqKv/0/L/i-WmCwqKv-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-WmCwqKv/0/L/i-WmCwqKv-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I didn't plan on going too far the following day as I intended another full day out on Thursday. With driver training stepping up on the class 319s for Northern Rail they have hired one in, 319366, directly from Thameslink in order to familiarise Wigan based crews pending introduction on services from there to Liverpool as soon as enough units arrive in the North-West. An intensive series of training runs from Preston to Carnforth are being undertaken so it was a good opportunity to finally get a picture of one, albeit a scruffy First Group liveried example. I don't normally take going away shots but as the sun was out I took one of the set heading north through Lancaster: just as well as it was very dull and pouring down with rain when it returned less than 25 minutes later.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-JL392N2/0/L/i-JL392N2-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-JL392N2/0/L/i-JL392N2-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The Thursday trip I wanted to include a few Wetherspoons branches I hadn't previously visited. Cheltenham and Gloucester would have been ideal but again the horse racing, and more specifically the number of people who try to use the train from Birmingham to reach there, put me off that idea so I decided on an area based around Aldershot and the Blackwater Valley, as it is known. With five branches to visit in Alton, Aldershot, Farnborough, Fleet and Camberley (and a sixth in Woking as I was passing) it took me a bit of working out the optimum way of fitting them in as it isn't an area I had up until now known very well. I used to pass through Alton in the car enroute home when I lived in Sussex but I had never, to my knowledge, ever caught a train to the town.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Alton is of course at one end of the <a href="http://www.watercressline.co.uk/">Mid Hants Railway,</a> though being midweek there were no trains running on it. The town is well served from London every 30 minutes, except for one mid-morning gap of an hour which needless to say coincided with the time I wanted to reach there. This gap is due to the presence of an oil depot at Holybourne mid-way down the single track section from Farnham. This appears to be timetabled to run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and travels to Alton for the engine to run round the train before reversing into the oil terminal. It departs then in the evening. This gap forced me to spend half an hour extra somewhere so I settled for Brookwood on the South West Main Line, rather than Farnham, and managed a few pictures at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Necropolis_Railway">Necropolis Central</a>.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-QXqMs9b/0/L/i-QXqMs9b-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-QXqMs9b/0/L/i-QXqMs9b-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The rest of the day was spent around the not entirely inspiring centres of Aldershot and Farnborough. The military presecne (Aldershot being known as the Home of the British Army) is everywhere but large parts of both towns, and Camberley, have been pretty unsympathetically pedestrianised with large shopping centres built. When it came to trains the only thing of note for me was to ride on the line from Ash Vale to Ascot, though due to ending up on a college bus which I though was going to Farnborough but instead whisked me off to some random part of Aldershot, I never got to do the short curve of line between Ash and Aldershot. I'm sure I'll get time to do that again. On the bus theme, there are still quite a few Volvo Olympians being used for school work in the area. The Stagecoach garage is quite near Aldershot station; one good place to see a few of them working is Farnborough Sixth Form college at home time. This is the bus I ended up lost on.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-wHxHFx4/0/L/i-wHxHFx4-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-wHxHFx4/0/L/i-wHxHFx4-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
As I mentioned I ended up on the train to Ascot. The Guildford to Ascot service is currently being operated by, from observation, five double sets of former Southern two-car Class 456 units. To me this is a total waste of resources as they don't appear to ever need more than two coaches, certainly a lot of commuters in the North rammed into two-car Pacer units would be interested to see how much room travellers in that area get to themselves on the train. The service itself seems very loosely timed with a turn round of 27 minutes at Ascot and reversal times of 12-14 minutes in each direction at Aldershot. I know it isn't quite as simple as it would seem to alter these whilst maintaining good connections from London but something surely better can be done.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-gncjcn3/0/L/i-gncjcn3-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-gncjcn3/0/L/i-gncjcn3-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
With a day of rest Friday to catch up with sorting a few of the weeks pictures out, Saturday was unashamedly about buses and beer. The <a href="http://mttrust.co.uk/">Merseyside Transport Trust</a> have several bus running days a year, the March one featured two half-hourly free routes centered on Burscough in Lancashire serving neighbouring towns, and more importantly pubs. As always an excellent day and even if the real ale on offer in all the country pubs isn't your thing, a nice ride on 40+ year old buses round the West Lancashire countryside is a pleasant way to spend a day. Thanks to the organisers.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-FCr9K6G/0/L/i-FCr9K6G-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-FCr9K6G/0/L/i-FCr9K6G-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I think that about concludes this edition of the blog, a busy two weeks and now hopefully a couple more weeks to catch up on more of my re-processing of my older scanned pictures for the website. I'll leave you with a picture of what is 'parked' round the back of the car park at the Alexandra Hotel in Derby to go with all the railway-related signs inside the pub. The friendly guard on the train back to Crewe told me which engine it had come from, which was a bit of a shock as it is one cab from the celebrity green 37411. Last time I saw this engine was during the final weekend of hauled services on the Cardiff to Rhymney trains, seen <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/37/i-vRQPc8C">HERE</a> on the Saturday night after arrival at Rhymney. </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
On that sad note I'll take my leave, thanks as always for reading and I hope you will keep checking my <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions">New Additions</a> section for updates. Bye for now.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-f4SD8X5/0/L/i-f4SD8X5-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-f4SD8X5/0/L/i-f4SD8X5-L.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-63390540667363585472015-02-25T15:22:00.003+00:002015-02-25T15:22:44.333+00:0064: Two Months, To Merthyr, From Bury to Buses<div align="center">
A warm welcome as always to the latest <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog, having managed to miss doing one in January entirely I thought I'd better squeeze one into February, even if only just.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I normally try to keep this blog mainly relevant to the railway side of my photography which explains the two month gap between editions as I haven't pointed my camera at trains much since Christmas. This hasn't been a planned policy as such, just with short days, cold weather and a lack of motivation, I have tended on days out to aim for nice warm pubs and so, by necessity, more in the way of bus photography as they tend to be seen more near the area of where the beer is located! </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/31/i-hZVL4VH/0/L/31466%20Rawtenstall%20100115g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/31/i-hZVL4VH/0/L/31466%20Rawtenstall%20100115g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/33/i-MMwF5hj/0/L/33109%20Rawtenstall%20100115g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Having said that, my first day out of 2015 was entirely train orientated being a visit to the mini diesel gala that the <a href="http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/">East Lancs Railway</a> were holding on the second Saturday of January. Being my one day off between two weeks of night shifts, rather than drive I went by bus and train to Bury so I could have a few beers. Even travelling by train it is possible to get some good pictures on this railway by getting off the train at, principally Summerseat and Irwell Vale, but I had already decided to just spend the day travelling up and down in the comparative warmth of the railway's Mk1 coaching stock. I have anyway got a pretty comprehensive set of pictures over the years from most of the locations on the line, 31466 pictured above at Rawtenstall being the only engine out that I haven't previously photographed. All my East Lancs pictures over the years can be found <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Heritage/ELR/">HERE.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I finally managed the following week to get a shot of Arriva Trains Wales' North Wales Coast loco-hauled set stabled for the night at Crewe, usually on my visits it is obscured by Voyagers parked up. I think ever since the start of this second diagram in December 67001 has been in charge but as I write this 67020 has made an appearance, although I understand there are wheelset problems on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_Van_Trailer">Driving Van Trailer</a> for the train which may mean it is substituted by a DMU for some time.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The normal diagram for this train is as follows (Mondays to Fridays only):</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1D51 0711 Crewe-Chester (0730)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1H82 0738 Chester-Manchester Piccadilly (0851)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1D34 0950 Manchester Piccadilly-Holyhead (1236)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1H89 1301 Holyhead-Manchester Piccadilly (1551)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1D31 1650 Manchester Piccadilly-Llandudno (1903)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1K96 1934 Llandudno-Crewe (2106)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/67/i-JRnqRHX/1/L/67001%20Crewe%20200115g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/67/i-JRnqRHX/1/L/67001%20Crewe%20200115g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After a few bus-orientated trips my next full day out was to Cardiff for a mixture of bus, train and Wetherspoons spotting. The journey to Cardiff was made in luxury, or as much as you can do these days. By changing off the 0708 Crewe to Milford Haven service at Shrewsbury and waiting 25 minutes you can travel down on the other Arriva loco-hauled service , the 0533 Holyhead to Cardiff. Known as the 'WAG Express' Arriva promote it as their '<a href="http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/BusinessClass/">Premier Service'.</a> Again it is class 67 hauled with Mk3 coaches and you can buy a full breakfast from the buffet for around £7. Certainly beats travelling on the all-stops class 175 and it reaches Cardiff only a few minutes behind.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The main aim of the day was to visit the Wetherspoons pubs in the area I had not already been to and in so doing cover a couple of the branch lines I had not as yet travelled over. Number one for this was Merthyr Tydfil, then end of one of the three valley lines radiating from the Pontypridd area, the others being Aberdare and Treherbet. I shall wait to do the Treherbet branch in case Wetherpoons decide to open a branch there, I had to revisit Aberdare purely for the pub but fortunately the bus only takes 25 minutes across the top of the valley from Merthyr so is much quicker than retracing your steps on the train back down via Abercynon. 150217 awaits departure from Merthyr Tydfil: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/150/i-9FD3hQp/0/L/150217%20Merthy%20Tydfil%20020215g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/150/i-9FD3hQp/0/L/150217%20Merthy%20Tydfil%20020215g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There was no time to do my remaining three '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valleys_%26_Cardiff_Local_Routes">Valley Lines</a>', Treherbet, Maesteg and Ebbw Vale, but we did get to do the shortest branch in the area from Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay. I missed travelling on this when Arriva still ran an elderly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_121">Class 121</a> 'Bubble Car' on the shuttle, now it is usually a class 153 on the 12 minute frequency service which takes a wapping 3 minutes end to end. Cardiff Bay station was formely called Cardiff Bute Road before the area was redeveloped into the important business district it now is containing, amongst other things,Welsh Parliament.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A reminder to the old station name can be seen on the street sign on the adjacent road.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/153/i-fgrMRfJ/0/L/153323%20Cardiff%20Bay%20020215g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/153/i-fgrMRfJ/0/L/153323%20Cardiff%20Bay%20020215g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
That really concludes the entire railway part of this blog. Throughout the rest of February photography has mainly been concentrated on buses. The following Friday I had organised a trip with a friend to Kent where Stagecoach still runs a sizeable quantity of old Volvo Olympian and B10M buses. I've mentioned visits to the area before and the reason for them being that the PSVAR (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bus-coach-accessibility-faq">Public Service Vehicle Accessibilty Regulations</a>) stipulate that all single deck large buses must be disability compliant from January 2016 and Double Decks the following year. The first low-floor bus in Britain was introduced in February 1998 so any buses built before that, and quite a few after, will have to be withdrawn within the next 11 to 23 months depending on their type. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
West Midlands Travel was meant to introduce that first ever fully accessible low-floor vehicle, an Optare Spectra double deck, but in holding off to make a big midday launch a small company in Bristol managed to get their Spectra in service in the morning beating the large company to the accolade. The West Midlands bus is still remarkably in service and I managed to photograph that at the end of January. The first of a batch of 20 Spectras delivered they are all based at Wolverhampton and can be seen on a variety of routes operating across the Black Country.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Midlands/WMT/i-W3BKKNv/0/L/West%20Midlands%204001%20Bilston%20270115g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Midlands/WMT/i-W3BKKNv/0/L/West%20Midlands%204001%20Bilston%20270115g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Anyway, before I start going too deeply in depth about buses I shall finish. All the recent photographs can as always be found on my <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions">New Additions</a> page, other bus jaunts have included St Helens, Southport, Cumbria and a few local ones to me around Preston.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I aim to get a few railway pictures taken before the next edition of this blog, I have plenty to aim for now as I have yet to photograph the Colas class 60 hauled Oil Train that runs three or four times a week to Preston, I could do with taking some more pictures of the North Wales Coast class 67 if it is running, Northern Rail are about to launch their 'new' class 319 EMUs on the newly electrified Chat Moss line and I have still not, despite them being out for almost a year, got a picture of one of DRS's new class 68s. Rather than sit on my computer reprocessing old bus pictures I really should check the <a href="http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/">Real Time Trains</a> website more often to see what is passing through the area.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thanks as always for taking the time to read this, I shall endeavour to write the next one a bit sooner! I shall leave you with a picture that covers both rail and bus photography, the ubiquitous 'railbus'. Taken on my trip to Cardiff, Radyr is a good station to photograph the Valley Line units and here a brace of class 143s head towards Cardiff enroute from Treherbet whilst another of the class on the right waits to start its journey the other way to Cardiff via the City Line. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/143/i-8smsPnc/0/L/143601%20143622%20143607%20Radyr%20020215g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/143/i-8smsPnc/0/L/143601%20143622%20143607%20Radyr%20020215g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-72473825768399008972014-12-19T15:40:00.001+00:002014-12-19T15:49:07.435+00:0063: From the Tyne to the Tees and Tooting<div align="center">
Welcome as always to the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog, a short one and obviously the last of 2014. </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Following the last edition at the very start of the month I have been out a few times though not specifically for anything rail related. With a week off work I decided on a <a href="http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/pr45a3aec35ce74100df5de86cc66b24.aspx">North Country 4 in 8 Rover</a> which covers the area north of a line from Preston to Leeds and Hull up to Newcastle and Carlisle. As the name suggests it is valid for four days out of a maximum of eight; I knew from the start I would probably only get to use it for three days but it was still worth doing to try to visit most of the Wetherspoon pubs in the North-East, an area I've not covered too much in the past.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/156/i-ZXrjWC3/0/L/156475%20Middlesbrough%20041214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/156/i-ZXrjWC3/0/L/156475%20Middlesbrough%20041214g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I had two days planned out initially, one to cover the Durham Coast south of Sunderland and the other to do a branch of Wetherspoons in Richmond then to do the line to Whitby which I have never travelled over. Which I did on what day all depended on a right time arrival in Newcastle from Carlisle as the Whitby schedule had only a five minute connection in order to get to Darlington. As I made easily the 1000 High Speed Train from Newcastle on day one that was what I did. There were a few delays heading south but the bus I had planned on catching was late too!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Richmond is about 14 miles from Darlington and has a good bus service during the day with the journey only taking 30 minutes and operating three times an hour. Time keeping on the route left a bit to be desired but as is common now since I resumed taking pictures of buses, I leave myself extra time in order to try to get some photographs whilst I am visiting places. Richmond itself is a nice town with a large Market Square (used normally as a car park). It was a pleasant place to visit on a dull wet December day though I can imagine it gets a bit busy with tourists in the summer.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Arriva/Arriva-North-East/i-L9m8q4k/0/L/Arriva%202849%20Richmond%20041214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Arriva/Arriva-North-East/i-L9m8q4k/0/L/Arriva%202849%20Richmond%20041214g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I had about 45 minutes in total in Richmond which was enough time for a beer, a few bus pictures and to buy a couple of pies from a local bakery, before I returned to Darlington in order to get the train to Middlesbrough. I arrived at the station to find a Rail Head Treatment Train sat waiting in one of the bay platforms. The class 142 behind it was meant to be working the train I wanted but as it was blocked in by the class 37s the spare unit in the other platform had to be used instead.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/37/i-5NP5NcH/0/L/37612%2037425%20Darlington%20041214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/37/i-5NP5NcH/0/L/37612%2037425%20Darlington%20041214g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There are three Wetherspoons in Middlesbrough. I had another 45 minutes between trains so only had time to visit the one nearest the station and to stock up with some beer for the 90 minute journey to Whitby. There is currently only four trains a day between Middlesbrough and Whitby although there is talk of more services being added. The 1404 from Middlesbrough was the last one I could catch: I could have returned on it to Middlesbrough but I would have only had 20 minutes in the town. Fortunately there is a good bus service linking Whitby hourly with Scarborough, it taking just over 60 minutes and, fortunately like the Darlington to Richmond service, provided by Arriva so I could utilise the same £7.50 day ticket. This is very reasonably priced as it covers all Arriva services from Scarborough in the south to Berwick in the north (and even west as far as Carlisle).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/156/i-hBGHhtx/0/L/156475%20Whitby%20041214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/156/i-hBGHhtx/0/L/156475%20Whitby%20041214g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As can be seen it was dusk by the time I arrived in Whitby so the bus journey to Scarborough was in total darkness. I am sure <a href="http://www.robin-hoods-bay.co.uk/">Robin Hoods Bay</a> is lovely to see in daylight but all I could tell, even sat at the front upstairs on the bus, was that there are few street lights there and that there is a very big hill to climb out of the village. The bus was obviously still geared for service in London where it started its life based at Edmonton rather than 1 in 5 climbs along the North Yorkshire coast!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After a rare weekend away with the wife in Edinburgh, the following week I managed a further two trips to the North East. All three trips were made by going out via Carlisle and returning via Leeds and with the Whitby trip boxed off the next on the agenda was to do the Wetherspoons south of Sunderland. Again this was mainly a drinking day with a few bus pictures and the odd railway shot too. Having missed a picture of it on the previous trip my first aim of the day was to photograph the DB Schenker additional postal service that is running daily up until Christmas. At this time of year it is only just getting light in Carlisle at 0800 but the newly repainted and named 90036 brightened things up a bit. Named after Jack Mills the driver of the train involved in the Great Train Robbery it is very appropriate that it should have been being used on a postal service.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/90/i-7vDpRh4/0/L/90036%20Carlisle%202%20081214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/90/i-7vDpRh4/0/L/90036%20Carlisle%202%20081214g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
First call of the day was Seaham. The old railway line to the docks is now a walking route from the station to the town centre. The harbour is still used for commerce although obviously no longer rail connected. A few rails and a memorial to the mining industry are nice touches.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Peterlee is not rail served either so it was a bus that I had to catch there. As I was going to use several bus operators I had to get a £9.50 <a href="http://www.networkonetickets.co.uk/tickets/explorer-tickets">North East Explorer Ticket</a>. This shows what can be done to benefit passengers, very few areas ouside the former Metropolitan PTE areas have multi-operator tickets so unless you have a pensioners free pass you end up having to buy several expensive tickets to make a few journeys if they aren't all run by one company. Valid on everything except trains in roughly the same area as the Arriva day ticket I mentioned earlier this is also very good value.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After Peterlee it was on to Hartlepool. I had allowed myself an hour to visit the two Wetherspoons there and to get some bus pictures. My last visit to the town was in 1991 when the then local council company were still running a large fleet of elderly Bristol RE buses. I have a few pictures that I took that day of <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/North-East/Hartlepool/">Hartlepool Transport</a> which not long after got purchased by Stagecoach. The hour ended up being barely enough as I noticed a GBRF coal train was due through so I went for a picture of that just south of the station. I unfortunately just missed a pair of Balfour Beatty Class 20s.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-7/i-nGjVk2s/1/L/66737%20Hartlepool%20081214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-7/i-nGjVk2s/1/L/66737%20Hartlepool%20081214g-L.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
By the time I got the train to Billingham the sun was starting to set. I used to have relatives in the town, which was the main reason for the visit to the North East in 1991. I don't remember much of the town from those days but the centre certainly appears to be a depressing place now. Billingham is not somewhere that is on my list of towns to revisit anytime soon!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The final of my three trips was two days later. The now customary journey on the 0828 from Carlisle to Newcastle was made. This starts from Dumfries nominally as a Scotrail service though using a Northern Rail class 156 unit. It is one of a handful of services that run through from the Glasgow and South Western route to the Tyne Valley line; most are Scotrail trains running from Glasgow Central to Newcastle but two 'Northern' ones start each morning at Dumfries. Despite being Northern crewed and operated this service shows up as being a Scotrail train on the electronic station boards.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Signalling/Eastern/i-3KJTmsj/0/L/Bedlington%20South%20Signal%20Box%20101214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Signalling/Eastern/i-3KJTmsj/0/L/Bedlington%20South%20Signal%20Box%20101214g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This day was very much bus based as it was the only way to get to the towns north of Newcastle like Ashington and Blyth. There is still a network of railway lines in this area but now only used for freight. A long campaign has been underway to restore passenger trains to these lines; as it is at the moment there is a frequent network of buses linking them to Newcastle some running as frequently as every 10 minutes. Every so often on these buses you cross the railway: one place I had to jump off at was Bedlington when I spotted a signal box; there turned out to be two (North and South) within about 200 yards of each other, protecting a junction and level crossings. The area they are actually situated in is officially called 'Bedlington Station' as Bedlington itself is about two miles away. Unlike similarly named 'Carstairs Junction' which still has a junction 'Bedlington Station' no longer has a station of course, though you can easily make out where it was once situated.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Finishing the main bit of the bus journeys at Morpeth I had two options for returning. My original plan was to do the remaining Wetherspoons I needed in Newcastle City Centre then travel back via Carlisle whilst the other was to visit a new branch open in Spennymoor near Durham and return again via Leeds. I had to pick up a bit of time on my schedule to do this second option but that was a good idea as I could use my Arriva day ticket for this bit too and, as it turned out, I got home on time. The west had been suffering all day from gales and the West Coast Main Line had been effectively closed since dinner time north of Preston. I didn't find this out until I had already committed myself to the Spennymoor option, had I stuck to returning via Carlisle I would have literally been stuck!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/91/i-f7sxhF6/0/L/91111%20Newcastle%20101214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/91/i-f7sxhF6/0/L/91111%20Newcastle%20101214g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What may well be my final trip of the year was a day trip to London. Yet again this was for Wetherspoons, there are currently 128 of them in the Greater London area (as always this <a href="http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ccaajpa/pubs-spoons.html">list</a> is invaluable), and I now only have 7 to visit. The day was one of those really dull days where even if there is anything worth photographing you can't pluck up any interest to point your camera. I managed a handful of shots as I toured the South-West corner of the capital. I would have liked to get a few shots of the District Line <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_D78_Stock">D78 Stock</a> which are due to be withdrawn as the new Bombardier S7 stock arrives but the few times I went for a picture it was a new train that appeared.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/London/i-7PpLQB8/0/L/LU%2021306%20Putney%20Bridge%20181214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/London/i-7PpLQB8/0/L/LU%2021306%20Putney%20Bridge%20181214g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Travelling on the D-stock it was odd to think that there are plans by some to re-engineer these trains and add diesel engines to possibly replace the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/142/">Class 142</a> Pacers in the North! After the first few pubs in Fulham and Putney that were easily reached by tube the rest of the day was mainly spent on buses going to the exotic parts of London like Tooting and Mitcham. I ended up in Croydon where I would have liked to get a few shots of the Tramlink there but it was too dark, and frankly too busy with Christmas shoppers, to get more than just one shot of their fairly new Variobahn <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Croydon/i-HjqsMB6/0/L/Croydon%202556%20George%20Street%20181214g-L.jpg">trams.</a> With so few Wetherspoons to visit now in the capital hopefully my next trips can concentrate more on the public transport side of things rather than rushing round pubs!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm not sure if I will get chance to get out again this year, tomorrow being the last day of the Northern class 47 hauled specials for Christmas Shopping in Manchester so I might try to get a picture or two if the weather is reasonable, anything else I will leave until my next blog which I'm sure I will get round to writing some time in January. As always thanks for reading not just this edition but all those over the last three years. A merry Christmas and good New Year to one and all, hopefully in the new year we might get some snow to enable me to get some more pictures of trains in it as I'm running out of suitably wintery shots to make into Christmas greeting 'cards'. Here is one from Christmas Eve 2010, one of the few Christmas's I can ever remember that were actually white! Bye for now.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-WgmnMLp/0/L/i-WgmnMLp-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-WgmnMLp/0/L/i-WgmnMLp-L.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-54175845006895936862014-12-03T14:25:00.000+00:002014-12-03T14:26:42.426+00:0062: From Haverhill to Humberside, Cleethorpes to Chorley, Chester and Clacton too.<div align="center">
A warm welcome to edition 62 of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog, and warm it needs to be as its a bit nippy outside with the first real frost we have had this year. I should really be making the most of crystal clear winter sunshine outside by going somewhere with my camera but I have been putting off sitting down to write this for too long: November was the first month since I started my blog that I haven't managed to squeeze some kind of rambling essay out. So I had better start this one now!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The highlight of autumn is always the annual Rail Head Treatment Train (RHTT) season when Network Rail sends out various Water Cannon trains over the system to blast the fallen leaves off the track and help to increase adhesion between the wheels and the rail. Forget the Press and its perennial jokes about 'leaves on the line'; it is a serious problem and Network Rail chuck a serious amount of money each year into trying to prevent trains sliding past stations and signals.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/97/i-bFThhTG/0/L/97304%2097303%20Chester%20171014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/97/i-bFThhTG/0/L/97304%2097303%20Chester%20171014g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
As is usual various types of engine and track machine are used in different bits of the country, the one that covers Mid and North Wales usually uses Network Rail's own class 97 diesels (former class 37) as they need to have the new ERTMS In Cab Signalling installed to traverse the lines west of Shrewsbury. Most of that section is done at night but usually the trip to Holyhead and back from Crewe is undertaken during daylight, it is seen above arriving into Chester.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
East Anglia is another area where interesting locos can be seen on these workings with the last few years DRS providing several trains based at Stowmarket. I had a few branches of Wetherspoons to visit in the Colchester area so tried to tie them in with a couple of shots of the RHTT that covers Southend Victoria and Clacton. I ended up with two hours at Wivenhoe just south-east of Colchester to get a picture of it going up and back the Clacton branch. There was a nice location 15-20 minute walk from the station back towards Colchester along the side of the River Colne.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/57/i-gmXPhw8/2/L/57011%2057303%20Wivenhoe%20231014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/57/i-gmXPhw8/2/L/57011%2057303%20Wivenhoe%20231014g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am lucky to still have this picture. My camera dropped out my bag at Basel Airport in September damaging the hatch to the battery compartment. I shoot in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_image_format">RAW</a> but as the camera was saving the file of this shot the battery must have become loose and so corrupted the image. Not one to be held back I looked into things and fortunately a JPEG is saved first in the RAW data so with the correct program, I used <a href="http://www.irfanview.com/">Irfanview</a>, you can obtain that JPEG even if the entire RAW file isn't there. Of course it's sods law that this happened on the principle shot of the day as it has only done it once since, but at least something got salvaged! No such problems with the returning working.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/57/i-BfzsMLM/0/L/57303%2057011%20Wivenhoe%20231014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/57/i-BfzsMLM/0/L/57303%2057011%20Wivenhoe%20231014g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I should really have made the effort and written this blog after these two trips but with short periods of daylight and not many rail based pictures taken during it I thought I would leave the blog for a bit in hope I'd get out more, but after a few weeks scanning more old bus pictures my next days out were towards the end of November (hence why its now December that I'm writing it!) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Having been to Braintree on my Colchester trip I had hatched a plan to visit the Wetherspoons at Saffron Walden and Haverhill. They aren't too far from Braintree by road but since the Beeching cuts there is no railway so they needed to be attacked, as it were, from the Cambridge side. This was never going to feature many rail pictures, in fact not many pictures at all, with most of daylight hours taken up travelling on buses between the towns rather than wielding my camera.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Haverhill is a quite large place now, one of many where had the railway remained open another 10 years (only the section from Marks Tey to Sudbury remains) it would have once again become useful, though presumably mainly as a means to get out. Saffron Walden is a much nicer town, again its station closed in the 1960s although this was just a loop off the main London Liverpool Street to Cambridge line. The town itself is only about 2 miles away from the present station of Audley End. OK if you have a car but with only one bus an hour not much use otherwise.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/East/Independents-East/i-cJMmMLk/0/L/TGM%203317%20Saffron%20Walden%20171114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/East/Independents-East/i-cJMmMLk/0/L/TGM%203317%20Saffron%20Walden%20171114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The following day and work took me to Manchester where I made time to see the newly opened Airport extension of the Metrolink tramway. Opened 15 days previously it was a year early into operation. This seems to be happening a lot now which makes me suspect timescales are being extended unnecessarily as a contingency so they can trumpet it being ahead of time...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Featuring a mix of street running and segregated running it has extended the network to almost 60 miles in total, though until the second route through Manchester City Centre is opened trams from the Airport are only going as far as Cornbrook for onward connections to prevent tram congestion between there and Piccadilly. As with other routes trams run every 12 minutes.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Manchester/i-rS5sNX2/0/L/Metrolink%203030%20Martinscroft%20181114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Manchester/i-rS5sNX2/0/L/Metrolink%203030%20Martinscroft%20181114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Humberside was my next destination. I had hoped to again mix a bit of Wetherspooning with a shot of the local RHTT before the season finished, class 20s supplied by DRS have been featuring on a diagram working from York. Twice now though the day I could manage has been one of the days the circuit doesn't run to Grimsby, which appears to only occur on alternative days.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
To fit all the pubs in I wanted to visit plus a bit of 'line bashing', travelling two routes I've never been on a train over, took a bit of doing but I got an itinery worked out with even the prospect of a picture of a freight and a Network Rail test train. Of course the freight turned out to be a light engine and the test train was just Network Rail's unique class 950 Sprinter unit but, hey ho.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-7/i-Mnzskh4/0/L/66708%20Selby%20241114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-7/i-Mnzskh4/0/L/66708%20Selby%20241114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Selby was the first destination and 66708 was the light engine. I suppose if I had looked at <a href="http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/">Real Time Trains</a> closely I would have realised that it was just going to be an engine. I blame the excitement. In order to do the Barton-on-Humber branch and to save time I went via Hull and used the half-hourly Fast Cat bus service over the Humber Bridge. The bus was a bit late leaving Hull meaning I was a little worried at missing the once every two hours train. The train ended up being almost 30 minutes late anyway due to a road traffic collision conveniently in the middle of one of the busy level crossings in the centre of Grimsby blocking the line whilst an ambulance attended.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I had though left myself plenty of time in Cleethorpes to have a few beers and photograph the test train. My plan was to get off at New Clee, the stop before and to walk to a footbridge for photographs of the test train arriving and departing however I hadn't bargained on it being a request stop and the train sailing straight through! In the end it didn't matter with the test train being the Sprinter rather than a loco hauled one, and it went into the 'wrong' platform for a decent picture.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Other/Departmental/i-LhkdpgX/0/L/950001%20Cleethorpes%20241114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Other/Departmental/i-LhkdpgX/0/L/950001%20Cleethorpes%20241114g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I returned from Cleethorpes via Scunthorpe and Grimsby, two towns not especially on my list of must-visit-again places. I had time for some tea in the Grimsby Wetherspoons before my ride back to Leeds which was the 1849 via Knottingley, a route that only has three passenger trains a day over the whole length: 0704 and 1849 Goole to Leeds and 1716 Leeds to Goole. Presumably any commuters finishing at five need to finish work on time and rush for their last train home!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Acton Bridge is a popular place with enthusiasts as it is one of the busiest freight spots in the country and a nice quiet station. I was the only photographer there last week when I visited as the weather was foul but I was rewarded by a busy hour or so. Highlight was probably former European <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-7/i-qhKs48q/0/L/66749%20Acton%20Bridge%20281114g-L.jpg">66749</a>, now working for GBRF on an Ironbridge to Liverpool coal train, but another freight flow I saw was a new one serving Folly Lane at Runcorn operated by Freightliner taking domestic waste from Greater Manchester for incineration at a new plant there. These Runcorn rubbish trains used to go to Roxby Gullett near Scunthorpe, so two places with lots in common in terms of desirability</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-5/i-mNgVMdk/0/L/66545%20Acton%20Bridge%20281114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-5/i-mNgVMdk/0/L/66545%20Acton%20Bridge%20281114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-7/i-qhKs48q/0/L/66749%20Acton%20Bridge%20281114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There were about 9 freight trains in total in just over an hour which is pretty good going, and I even got to see Pendolino 390112 which for December will be a bit of a celebrity as it has had its two driving cars at either end vinyled up as a 'Traindeer'. I'll put a picture of that at the bottom of the blog but for now here's a picture of 86604 on a Garston to Crewe Basford Hall Freightliner also seen that day. A slightly early happy birthday to it: one of only two class 86s left running (the other being 86610) with a build date of January 1965, it will be 50 years old next month.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/86/i-SqfSS3k/0/L/86604%20Acton%20Bridge%20281114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/86/i-SqfSS3k/0/L/86604%20Acton%20Bridge%20281114g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There were two bits of excitement in the North West this last Saturday. First was 40145 which was doing a railtour from Southport to York and beyond. It is many years since a class 40 has visited Southport so it was too good an opportunity to miss to get up early and drive over to the Southport to Wigan line at Hoscar to see it pass. Annoyingly another 10 minutes would have seen the sun rise high enough above the early morning clouds that were hanging over Parbold hill.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/40/i-Q4BdG3G/1/L/40145%20Hoscar%20291114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/40/i-Q4BdG3G/1/L/40145%20Hoscar%20291114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The other railway fun in the area was the loco hauled shopping specials being run by DRS for Northern Rail. Christmas Shopping and the now obligatory German-style markets make trains into Manchester far busier than they normally are. Most trains into Manchester from Preston are full and standing all day as it is, even mid-week, so Northern decided to lay on relief trains.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The first week of operation was 22nd November with 47818 and Northern Belle 47790 in charge and run each Saturday until Christmas. Whilst they all operate between Preston and Manchester Victoria, in order to stop overcrowding not every journey is in passenger service throughout with many starting or terminating at Buckshaw Parkway or Chorley. Last Saturday again saw 47790 and 47818 in charge, though on opposite ends of the coaches than the previous week. There are rumours class 57s might be used once they return from RHTT duties. A list of times is below.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2Z04 0835 Buckshaw Parkway-Manchester Victoria</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2Z05 0932 Manchester Victoria-Preston</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2Z08 1045 Chorley-Manchester Victoria</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2Z09 1137 Manchester Victoria-Preston</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2Z12 1247 Buckshaw Parkway-Manchester Victoria</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2Z13 1352 Manchester Victoria-Chorley</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2Z16 1512 Preston-Manchester Victoria</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2Z17 1617 Manchester Victoria-Chorley</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2Z20 1729 Preston-Manchester Victoria</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2Z21 1829 Manchester Victoria-Buckshaw Parkway</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2Z24 1937 Preston-Manchester Victoria</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2Z25 2028 Manchester Victoria-Preston</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2Z28 2133 Preston-Manchester Victoria</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2Z29 2220 Manchester Victoria-Preston</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/47/i-HLhWC6m/1/L/47790%20Chorley%201%20291114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/47/i-HLhWC6m/1/L/47790%20Chorley%201%20291114g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Finally I think I've caught up with everything important since my last blog, I've omitted a lot about buses to shorten it slightly, the scans of buses from 1991 and 1992 I have managed to process during this period can still be seen <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions/071114/">HERE</a> for now, please check my <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions">New Additions</a> section for any days out I manage to squeeze in during the next two or three weeks, alternatively check back on my blog as I shall try to find the time to write one more before the end of the year. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All that remains to be said is thank you for finding time to read this, I shall leave you by trying to make you feel slightly festive with a shot of the 'Traindeer'. Bye for now!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/390/i-2ngK3G9/0/L/390012%20Acton%20Bridge%20281114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/390/i-2ngK3G9/0/L/390012%20Acton%20Bridge%20281114g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-2348000802057890452014-10-10T13:33:00.003+01:002015-08-17T06:41:52.397+01:0061: Seeing Switzerland: To the Gorgeous Gotthard<div align="center">
Welcome to the latest installment of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog, this one as promised will cover my recent trip to Switzerland to view, possibly for the last time, the stunning Gotthard route.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The railway linking the German and Italian speaking parts of Switzerland currently winds up the valley from Erstfeld to Göschenen before passing under Andermatt in the 15km long Gotthard tunnel. In 2016 it is planned that a new '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotthard_Base_Tunnel">Base Tunnel</a>' will be opened cutting out the entire route through the valleys either side of the old tunnel and creating the world's longest rail tunnel at 57km. With the Base Tunnel itself basically complete, just needing track and wiring, there is only a year or so in which to view the busy old route and its procession of passenger and freight trains. Hopefully this edition of the blog will encourage you to visit the line next year in what will probably be the last full year before it is reduced to a secondary line with probably just a local passenger service.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Germany/DB-Deutsche-Bahn/i-34hGTkz/0/L/185130%20185133%20Wassen%20021014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Germany/DB-Deutsche-Bahn/i-34hGTkz/0/L/185130%20185133%20Wassen%20021014g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With a flight into Basel arriving early afternoon I only had time on the first day to spend an hour or so in the City Centre photographing the trams. There are a few different makes of trams to be seen with two operators, BVB which operate in a green livery and do more of the local routes, and BLT operating in yellow and red and which runs some longer routes to outlying towns.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/BVB/i-V9sZmBh/0/L/Basel%20492%201479%201443%20Mittlere%20Brucke%20290914g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/BVB/i-V9sZmBh/0/L/Basel%20492%201479%201443%20Mittlere%20Brucke%20290914g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Before my train to Erstfeld I stocked up on beer at the excellent beer shop located on the SBB station, it is a two and a half hour journey by way of a reversal at Luzern and the journey flew what with decent beer, comfortable train and stunning scenery. Lucky too to have the classic Swiss traction of their standard Re 4/4 Electric locomotives hauling the train for both sections.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Over the Gotthard route there are up to three trains an hour; there is an inter-regional to Locarno, an inter-city to Lugano, and a Pendolino to Milan running generally every other hour. The Pendolinos all originate in Zürich but the IR and IC trains alternate between Basel and Zürich with them both meeting at Arth-Goldau to allow cross-platform connections. That is how to run a railway! On my last visit both these services were loco hauled but now only the IR's are, the ICs are covered by SBB's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBB-CFF-FFS_RABDe_500">class 500</a> tilting units. I expected as a result most locos to now be the newer Class 460 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBB-CFF-FFS_Re_460">Lok 2000</a> type engines but I was pleasantly suprised that most were still Re 4/4s.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-4t4qF5m/0/L/11152%20Silenen%20300914g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-4t4qF5m/0/L/11152%20Silenen%20300914g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Whilst the trip was organised around just myself and my friend Richard, two others were meeting up with us on the Tuesday to see the Gotthard for themselves. The weather wasn't great but we still went to show them the classic locations of the line, starting with Silenen. This is the first large village up the valley from our base at Erstfeld. There is an hourly bus that runs alongside the line from Erstfeld to Göschenen; Inter-rail and certain other railway tickets are valid on the bus as it serves the places where SBB has in the past closed the stations serving the villages.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For this location at Silenen you alight the bus at Silenen Dägerlohn. Continue walking along the main road up the valley for about 500m, past the Post Office, then turn left up a footpath that takes you under the railway. Turn right at the top and you are on the road that turns parallel to the railway, as seen in the picture above. If the sun is out then it is best to visit here in a morning.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-h6xJDKf/0/L/11111%20Wassen%20300914g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-h6xJDKf/0/L/11111%20Wassen%20300914g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After a few hours at Silenen we caught the bus again up the valley to Wassen. It is about 25 minutes ride between the two; Wassen is perhaps the classic location on the route. As the valley rises faster, despite the lines gradient, than the railway can climb, at two points on the 'north ramp' the line has to spiral to gain height. The first is at Grünellen where it does a simple spiral, the second is at Wassen where it does two 180 degree turns (actually the first is almost 270) and so passes through Wassen on three seperate levels with the station and village being on the middle tier.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Previously I had only done the bottom location so wanted very much to try the others. It is a bit of a climb to the very top but as can be seen above it is worth it! Again if the sun is out then this would be best probably from late morning for a few hours before the sun becomes head-on. To reach this place you take the only road climbing west out of the village and after 200m take a small lane on the left that takes you under the (middle) railway. Immediately through the bridge there is a track on the left, simply follow this all the way up the hill, it zig-zags up the final bit, until you reach a tunnel mouth on the top level. There is a well worn path alongside the railway. From this location you get a fantastic view of the railway on all three levels looking down into the valley; a train appearing at the bottom will take about 6 or 7 minutes to reach you at the top with it being visible half way up too. To illustrate a little <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-VgDGPsk/1/O/500027%20500012%20Wassen%20AB%20300914g.jpg">HERE</a> is a stitched view showing the top two levels.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-5TJ4xp7/0/L/470009%20Wassen%20300914g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-5TJ4xp7/0/L/470009%20Wassen%20300914g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We had planned then to show Tim and Mark the classic bottom shot, however a sudden deterioration in the weather meant we had to shelter in the old station on the middle level enroute. The station is easy enough to find being on the main road through the village just south of the centre.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Continuing past the station you will come to a steep farm track on the left that descends below the motorway and through a long curved tunnel. This is the route you take to reach the main afternoon spot where the lower section of track turns out the valley straight into the hillside to do its first full turn in order to climb to reach the station. The picture at the very top of this blog is the view from this location taken on the Thursday when the weather was very slightly better!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/Places-Abroad/i-xJGXB8s/0/L/Devils%20Bridge%20Schollenen%20Gorge%20011014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/Places-Abroad/i-xJGXB8s/0/L/Devils%20Bridge%20Schollenen%20Gorge%20011014g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The next day we planned to do a longer trip having a day away from the Gotthard, and intended to head to Chur to see once again the excellent narrow gauge Rhätische Bahn. The quickest way to reach there from Erstfeld is via Zürich taking about 2 and a half hours but a far more pleasant way to reach it is by using the Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn (MGB). Catching the train up the valley from Erstfeld to Göschenen you change there onto the rack railway to Andermatt. This climbs very steeply (<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/MGB/i-hvDjPhk/0/O/MGB%2094%20Goschenen%20180908g.jpg">HERE</a> is a picture of a MGB train leaving Göschenen) through the Gotthard Pass, from where the mainline and tunnel takes its name. On my last visit I failed to get the picture from the train of the Devil's Bridge half way up (pictured above), but was a bit quicker at remembering this time!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Changing at Andermatt the main route of the MGB heads either direction to Brig and Visp in the west and up via Oberalppass to Disentis in the east. This latter is the route to Chur. Unfortunately the low clouds obscured the view of Andermatt from the train as it climbs to the 2048m high Oberalppass; we had better weather in 2008 and this picture below shows what you can see as the train climbs, you can make out at the bottom the start of the line this was taken from curving to the left away from the station and depot on its 600m ascent from Andermatt to the summit.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Foreign-Infrastructure/i-RDKSm6s/0/L/Andermatt1%20180908g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Foreign-Infrastructure/i-RDKSm6s/0/L/Andermatt1%20180908g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I managed to cover reasonably well the MGB and its trains in 2008 with a day spent at Oberalppass photographing the Glacier Express portions. There are usually two seperate Glacier Expresses in each direction. During the summer months as these have more coaches they have to each run as two seperate portions over the steeply graded MGB so eight different workings can be viewed at Oberalppass within just over two hours. The day I spent there can be seen <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips/Trips2008/180908/">HERE.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The main purpose was to get to the Rhätische Bahn so we stayed on through to Disentis where a cross-platform transfer is made onto the waiting RhB service. Whilst the RhB have bought a few new units in the last few years they have largely replaced older EMUs, the main exception being the locos on the Chur to Arosa line. Fortunately two major loco hauled routes still exist, that from Disentis through Chur to Scuol Tarasp and from Chur to St Moritz, both running hourly.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/RHB/i-gJjjFkw/1/L/RHB%20642%20Reichenau%20Tamins%20011014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/RHB/i-gJjjFkw/1/L/RHB%20642%20Reichenau%20Tamins%20011014g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These two routes meet at Reichenau Tamins. There is a good location to the west of the station (above) where the line crosses the point where the Vorderrheine and Hintererrheine rivers meet and form the River Rheine itself. Before we reached there we stopped off at another classic location, Versam-Safien, where the Voderrheine passes through a spectacular gorge.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/RHB/i-tQVWxMw/0/L/RHB%20621%20Versam%20Safien%20AB%20011014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/RHB/i-tQVWxMw/0/L/RHB%20621%20Versam%20Safien%20AB%20011014g-L.jpg" height="540" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I had been half tempted to spend the day, given the poor weather, travelling on the RhB as it possible to do a circle from Chur via Filisur, Davos and Klosters but that would have taken me all day and so I went for my original plan of visiting the section of the route between Chur and Landquart where it runs parallel with the SBB mainline. This is nowehere near as interesting as the mountainous bits to the west and south but I had found using Google 'Streetview' a reasonable location at Zizers. Unlike Britain, Switzerland hasn't allowed Google to map all its roads with car mounted cameras however the RhB has allowed them to set up a camera on a truck and has toured all the RhB routes, which can now be seen on Google streetview! The view of the bridge at Zizers I went to is <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Reichenau-Tamins/@46.942206,9.5587983,3a,75y,180h,90t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1svkL7tO68IJI7kTume883Og!2e0!3e5!4m2!3m1!1s0x4784c38b0e35ff65:0xfea09b94054f3745">HERE.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/RHB/i-KWPfNf2/0/L/RHB%20621%20Zizers%20011014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/RHB/i-KWPfNf2/0/L/RHB%20621%20Zizers%20011014g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was starting to get a bit cold and wet by this point but it was worth a walk up to the bridge as there are good views either way (a zoom lens would be useful) of both the mainline and the Rhätische Bahn. There is a fair bit of freight on the RhB, generally running to set timetables. I'm sure these are available somewhere but I wasn't aware of the times so getting a couple of pictures was a matter of luck. Most of the RhB engines are of two types, the older Re 4/4s pictured above and the newer design as seen in the Reichenau-Tamins shot. They also have a handful of Ge 6/6s designed more for freight work, one appeared heading towards Chur with a slightly untaxing load.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/RHB/i-KLD3wF7/1/L/RHB%20707%20Zizers%201%20011014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/RHB/i-KLD3wF7/1/L/RHB%20707%20Zizers%201%20011014g-L.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We woke up Thursday morning to blue skies over Erstfeld, although with the sun not yet penetrating the valley. As I had never visited the 'south-ramp' the other side of the Gotthard Tunnel we caught the train through to the other side. The valley the railway runs down is quite a bit different to that on the north side, not withstanding the place names all sounding Italian. We weren't really sure of any decent locations for photography so caught the train two stops to Faido. With a centre platform and the sun worng we quickly caught the train 15 minutes later back up the hill to Airolo which, like Göschenen to the north, is at the end of the tunnel. As such there is a fire train stabled there for emergencies, there was also when we arrived a diesel shunting trucks round the station area. The platform again was central which wasn't ideal but the sun was good for southbound trains. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The road you can see zig-zagging up the mountain behind the train is the other end of the Gotthard Pass and takes you to Andermatt then back over the Devil's Bridge down to Göschenen, a slightly longer journey though than the direct 15km tunnel the trains traverse!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-DmWH6vQ/0/L/11336%2011670%20Airolo%20021014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-DmWH6vQ/0/L/11336%2011670%20Airolo%20021014g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Rather than waste the sunshine trying to find any locations this side we returned through the tunnel to Wassen. We went to the top location but the sun was already starting to get head on. I found a decent spot half way down the path for a view of northbound trains on the middle level through the village and spent an hour there before moving on to the main loacation at the bottom. Two oddities passed whilst I was waiting there, one was a single coach infrastructure diagnostic <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-9Sg5LT7/0/O/160001%20Wassen%20021014g.jpg">EMU</a> and the other was this diesel shunter which for some reason was pushing an old EMU coach uphill.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-pXHDzxg/1/L/18808%20540052%20Wassen%20021014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-pXHDzxg/1/L/18808%20540052%20Wassen%20021014g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Having bought a few beers from the convenient supermarket in Wassen village before I climbed up to the top level, I think I bemused the woman by buying some more two hours later enroute to the lower level. We had done the classic Wassen shot in 2008 but with perfect weather it needed to be repeated one last time before the Base Tunnel opens, though being October the shadows from the steep valley sides meant we lost the sun early so retreated to the excellent bar in the village. The best shot of the day was of heritage livereied Re 4/4 number 11108 on an inter-regional service.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-MtCsCzR/1/L/11108%20Wassen%20021014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-MtCsCzR/1/L/11108%20Wassen%20021014g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The final day our flights weren't until late from Basel, mine back to Manchester not until 2130, so we had a full day to spend somewhere. My initial plan was to work my way to Basel covering one or two railways I've not yet photographed; there are many in Switzerland! It was again blue sky when we awake in Erstfeld so Richard decided to head up the valley again whilst I caught the 0832 train towards Luzern, planning to make an initial stop in Arth-Goldau to see how restoration of the wooden station of the Rigibahn spanning the mainline was going on. The further north I got though the murkier it became and Arth-Goldau was almost foggy and pretty cold.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Rigibahn is a rack railway, the first in Europe, that climbs from Arth-Goldau to the top of Rigi Kulm (1752m) with a second line that goes down from there to the shore of Lake Lucerne. The old station is still being restored, the interior of which trains used to stable at night (see picture <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/Rigi-Bahn/i-3Zkx7TW/0/O/Rigi%20Bahn%2021%2011%20Arth-Goldau%20190908g.jpg">HERE),</a> and what at first looks like a temporary station is now situated just outside, though the massive concrete stop blocks suggest it is not temporary and it is awaiting buildings. There is actually another temporary station in use further up the line past the workshops and shed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/Rigi-Bahn/i-cBzbdP3/0/L/Rigi%20Bahn%2021%2011%208%20Arth%20Goldau%20031014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/Rigi-Bahn/i-cBzbdP3/0/L/Rigi%20Bahn%2021%2011%208%20Arth%20Goldau%20031014g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With the weather looking no better I decided Richard had had the right idea so caught the next train back to Erstfeld connecting onto the bus towards Silenen. The sun had apparently only reached the level of the line at about 1000 so I hadn't missed too much with my diversion to Arth-Goldau. Having done the main Silenen shot before I got off the bus two stops early to try a different location, a small road bridge. The curve of the line, the cutting and the nearby barn is not ideal but at least it was a different view looking down towards Erstfeld. I believe there is another location, probably best in summertime, beyond the bridge in the distance, so a friendly local told me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/BLS/i-s7M45K9/0/L/187008%20187004%20Buchholz%20031014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/BLS/i-s7M45K9/0/L/187008%20187004%20Buchholz%20031014g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The locos pictured here are brand new Bombardier Traxx engines to an updated design, owned by Railpool and leased to BLS. They are of course electric locomotives but also have a small diesel engine fitted for working in sidings and yards that don't have overhead wires.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
By the time I reached the Silenen location Richard was ready to move on. He headed back to Wassen I had another hour or so then moved to another new location for me, Gürtnellen. This was a bit of a risk as I was unsure what time the sun bacame right, nor for how long, at this spot. I got there about 2pm and the light was only just becoming correct, by 4pm when I had to catch the bus in order to get back to Basel for my flight, the shadows were already becoming a problem. I understand that in summer this location is best from about 3pm onwards until early evening.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-cJFXg2k/0/L/500017%20Gurtnellen%20031014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-cJFXg2k/0/L/500017%20Gurtnellen%20031014g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
To reach here you need to alight the bus at Gürtnellen Wiler/Gotthardstrasse. There is just the one road opposite down into the village, cross the river and turn immediately left. Follow this lane until it passes under the railway. Now a track it climbs uphill away from the railway but after about 100m there is a signed footpath back down towards the line through a gate.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I ended up with just under two hours at this beautiful spot and it was strange to think that despite having a full day on the Gotthard (I could only have had another 30 or 40 minutes worth of sunlight here), I still got back home to Preston later that day, well in the early hours of Saturday. My final shot from Switzerland, very nicely, was of a classic pair of SBB Re 4/4s on a freight.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-77JfzGS/0/L/11263%2011357%20Gurtnellen%20031014g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-77JfzGS/0/L/11263%2011357%20Gurtnellen%20031014g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I hope this selection of pictures will be of interest to anyone who might be considering visiting the Gotthard route in 2015 before most trains get diverted away from it through the Base Tunnel, and the directions to the main locations will be of use. All the pictures I took can for about a month be found in my <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions">New Additions</a> section, after which they will be moved to the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips/Trips2014">2014 Trips</a> bit.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've no plans as yet for any more trips, with the clocks due to go back soon light will become even more at a premium in an afternoon so days out will have to involve longer visits to the pub than hitherto. I might make an effort this year to photograph some of the seasons Rail Head Treatment Train workings, I've got a week to research where these are running before my next days off.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thanks as always for taking the time to read my blog, please watch out for future editions or check the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> website for new additions. Bye for now.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-34197755466602933102014-09-25T15:55:00.000+01:002015-08-17T06:42:52.768+01:0060: Sunny September; Narrow Guage in Norfolk, Near Kent and to Cumbria<div align="center">
Hello, and it's that time where I try to squeeze in another edition of this <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog before the month is over. Since I started writing these two and a half years ago the blogs themselves appear to have got longer and longer corresponding to the increasing length of time between myself getting round to writing each one. This one actually should be retitled the 'Busmedia' blog as there is very little railway related this month, for various reasons, but I'll try to squeeze in what I can.<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I like having time off work at the beginning of September as not only have the kids gone back to school but also the weather tends to perk up, as indeed it did again this year. I ended up with two consecutive weeks off work, although I only found out about the first a few days before (note to self to read diary properly). I decided to have a couple of days out each week, though the first week my wings were quickly clipped as one of my daughters caught a virus so had to be off school.<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-ZrdvZFK/0/L/i-ZrdvZFK-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-ZrdvZFK/0/L/i-ZrdvZFK-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<br />
I managed the odd few hours out most days, but was confined to visiting my 'local' pub and getting a few bus pictures from the area. I really have got bored with the railway scene through Preston at the moment, although I must try to get a picture of one of DRS's new Class 68 locos at some point! One of my targets for a photograph was the bus above, Preston Bus's sole remaining Leyland Lynx, in fact possibly the last remaining example in the country still in regular service with its original operator. It is required for a school contract but also does a trip on route 14 after that. In other news, my local bus route has received new buses this month for the first time in 10 years. I'll not subject you to a picture of these boring Enviro buses but if you are really interested they look like <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Stagecoach/27000/i-kk3TphH/0/O/Stagecoach%2027113%20Penwortham%20050914g.jpg">THIS.</a><br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/171/i-XWbQxkx/0/L/171730%20Rye%20120914g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/171/i-XWbQxkx/0/L/171730%20Rye%20120914g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<br />
My one full day out that first week was to Kent and East Sussex. As mentioned in the previous blog Stagecoach in the area is still running round some older vehicles, not many, but in larger quantities than in most of the rest of Britain, so I had wanted to do another trip to that region. Fridays are normally my preferred day for long trips down south as the train is quieter going to London in a morning plus I can get a slightly later train back from Euston and still be able to catch a bus home. </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
With good weather forecast Friday ideal for me, unfortunately with my other aim was to visit the <a href="http://www.rhdr.org.uk/">Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway</a> I found they, like many of the preserved railways in the area, seem to run a reduced service on a Friday for some reason, so (and this is a common theme this month) despite my best intentions I ended up having to concentrate just on the buses.<br />
<br />
The RH&DR now has to be another place to put on my list of trips out for next summer.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
There were two exceptions this particular day, first was the picture above at Rye which I had wanted to get for some time. Even here though I was thwarted a bit by conditions, low sun, lots of shadows, lack of sails on the windmill to name but three. Certainly the resulting picture was nowhere near what I wanted. The other was the <a href="http://www.hastingsminiaturerailway.co.uk/">Hastings Minature Railway</a> which I spotted when I was entering the town on the bus. A short railway of maybe half a mile long at most running at the eastern end of the town near the cliff railway; £22 for a family day rover seems a bit expensive to me.<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Heritage/Hastings-Minature-Railway/i-rKs8sLz/0/L/Speedy%20Fizzle%20Hastings%20Minature%20Railway%201%20120914g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Heritage/Hastings-Minature-Railway/i-rKs8sLz/0/L/Speedy%20Fizzle%20Hastings%20Minature%20Railway%201%20120914g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<br />
The following week I decided to make the most of being able to get out and about starting with a Monday trip to Oxford. The plan was to visit a couple of pubs and photograph buses until just after dinner then move on to the excellent location of <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-0/i-MCZQjbV/0/O/66107%20Kings%20Sutton%20240708g.jpg">Kings Sutton</a> for an afternoon of proper Railway Photography. Again, that was the intention but with everything going well approaching Banbury about 1000 on the train we came to a stand and sat there for four and a half hours because some <a href="http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/11474885.Police_fire_Taser_at_man_to_end_rail_station_stand_off/">bloke</a> had decided to climb up a signal gantry on the station and refused to come down.<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
So it was three o'clock in the afternoon before I got to Oxford and any thought of going to Kings Sutton had gone out the window; mind you the weather wasn't as good as had been forecast anyway. Kings Sutton: yet another place to go on my list for next summers trips out, although as Class 68s will be operating Chiltern's loco-hauled services by then I will need visit for those anyway.<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/First/60000/i-Jxh3Zz2/0/L/First%2060171%20Longton%20160914g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/First/60000/i-Jxh3Zz2/0/L/First%2060171%20Longton%20160914g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<br />
As I'm getting old I can't really manage two long day trips consecutively so the following day I went for a shorter Wetherspoons related trip to the Potteries to visit two fairly newly opened branches (Cheadle and Leek) which aren't the easiest to reach. I had worked out a plan of attack by using Arriva's subsidiary Wardle Transport, the only operator serving the two direct and enabling a round trip starting at Longton. As the train didn't connect with the bus (no surprise there) I had an hours photography at the bus station, the bus pictured above is one of the few left in the former operator PMT's colours that First Group repainted serveral years ago. Whilst I was waiting there was a Crewe to Derby light engine working due past. I was hoping for a 68 but it was 47818 that turned up, with a nice spurt of clag, which provided by far the nicest railway picture of the month.<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/47/i-DLwZG2x/0/L/47818%20Longton%20160914g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/47/i-DLwZG2x/0/L/47818%20Longton%20160914g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<br />
Two more trips to go for the week: the big one was to North Norfolk, purely for buses, to get some pictures of Norfolk Green which was purchased by Stagecoach a year or so back. Unusually for Stagecoach they are retaining the name and livery as it has a strong local identity and following. Rather than just doss around Kings Lynn all day, as nice as the town is (or at least the old town nearer the river), I decided to use the day to visit the coast. Being well off the railway map since Beeching days it isn't an area I have ever visited. Hunstanton is the only East Coast seaside resort that faces west, due to it being on east side of the Wash. It used to have a railway of course, this ten minute long <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYnyOnnlKWk">CLIP</a> of John Betjeman visiting the line has long been a favourite of mine.<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I stayed on the bus to the next resort to the east, Wells-Next-The-Sea. More of a working harbour than a resort I suppose, but also fairly unusual as it is a mile inland, the harbour being at the end of an inlet through the low lying land. Whilst I had heard of the <a href="http://www.wellswalsinghamrailway.co.uk/index.php">Wells and Walsingham Light Railway</a> which runs for four miles from the south side of the town I didn't know about the <a href="http://freespace.virgin.net/michael.l/whr/">Wells Harbour Railway.</a> I wish I'd had a ride on it as it only takes 20 minutes for a round trip but with plenty of heritage railways in Norfolk I'll have to plan a family holiday to the area some time.<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Heritage/Wells-Harbour/i-gLgvt8F/0/L/The%20Duke%20Wells%20Harbour%20Railway%203%20180914g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Heritage/Wells-Harbour/i-gLgvt8F/0/L/The%20Duke%20Wells%20Harbour%20Railway%203%20180914g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<br />
Again with the trip to Norfolk being a full day out I went for something less strenuous the next day. With a lovely sunny morning greeting me I decided to either go to Chester and then back through Liverpool or to Penrith and back through the Lake District. Frankly one of those options sounded far more appealing than the other so I ended up catching the train towards Carlisle.<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
What was nice sunny weather changed to cloudy murk over the fells north of Oxenholme. By the time I reached Keswick though the sun was appearing again and so I went for a ride on the scenic route 78 to Seatoller. A half hourly open-top service in summer by September it is only hourly on weekdays so I got a few beers and pork pies from the Booths supermarket in Keswick and had a pleasant hour in the Borrowdale valley whilst the bus did a round trip back to Keswick.<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Stagecoach/17000/i-4QwBRMw/0/L/Stagecoach%2017217%20Seatoller%202%20190914g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Stagecoach/17000/i-4QwBRMw/0/L/Stagecoach%2017217%20Seatoller%202%20190914g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<br />
Now that the season is finishing Grasmere and Ambleside were a lot quieter than my previous visit last month. Having only spotted a new Wetherspoons in Keswick as I was leaving on the bus I shall have to pay another visit soon, even if just for a few beers rather than for photography, I've pretty much photographed all the Lake District open-top services now anyway.<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
This week I've mainly spent catching up processing the previous weeks photographs, my only outing was to Blackpool to try to photograph the old Leyland Olympians that Preston Bus are using for school services in the area. For those that are interested they have six vehicles based at the Jacksons Coaches depot on Burton Road in Blackpool, they depart there in the afternoon between about 1340 and 1420, and the industrial estate road is quite good for photographs.<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-dwZn4H7/0/L/i-dwZn4H7-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-dwZn4H7/0/L/i-dwZn4H7-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<br />
That is about it for September; next week I have a trip to Switzerland planned. This is likely to be my last visit to the Gotthard Pass before the 35 mile long Base Tunnel opens, probably in 2016. This will be the longest railway tunnel in the world and will take most freight trains off the winding current route from Erstfeld to Bodio via the current 9 mile long tunnel under Andermatt.<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I visited the area in 2008 staying at the Hotel Frohsinn in Erstfeld which is to be our base this year too. This town has the main depot for the locomotives used to bank the freight trains over the steep route and so will see massive changes once the new tunnel opens. A trip report on this will follow in the next edition of this blog, please keep a look out for it in the next three or four weeks.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
In the meantime I will leave you with a picture of Wassen, the classic Gotthard view. Thanks for taking the time to read this, bye for now!<br />
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-PkZvJkh/0/L/11143%20Wassen%20170908g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Switzerland/SBB/i-PkZvJkh/0/L/11143%20Wassen%20170908g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-64718021890951465152014-08-29T13:39:00.001+01:002014-08-29T13:39:14.956+01:0059: Family Frolics: Berkshire and Bootle, Kent and Koblenz<div align="center">
A warm welcome as always to another edition of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog, I thought I'd try to squeeze a quick edition in before the end of August whilst the family are out and I've got a little bit of time to sit down undisturbed. School holidays have determined where I have been this month, rather than having a couple of days out around Britain myself I've been on a couple of longer family trips, although of course I managed to still get a few bus and train pictures along the way.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The final trip of July was on the last day of the month and was a trip to Kent. This area is one of the few strongholds for older Stagecoach buses with a good fleet of Volvo Olympians spread around the depots and a few B10M single decks at each one too. Readers of previous blogs will have noticed my trip to the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips/Trips2014/300614/">Isle of Arran</a> to photograph their fleet of these buses. All single deck buses have to meet the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bus-coach-accessibility-faq">2000 Accessibility Regulations</a> from January 2016 with double decks the year after, so time is running out for these type of buses, generally those with registrations plates of 'S' or earlier.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Stagecoach/20000/i-nx62QPs/0/L/Stagecoach%2020010%20Ramsgate%202%20310714g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Stagecoach/20000/i-nx62QPs/0/L/Stagecoach%2020010%20Ramsgate%202%20310714g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I still need a couple more trips to the area to get some more shots of these buses, Hastings still has a few plus I have been intending to visit the <a href="http://www.rhdr.org.uk/">Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway</a> for some time so hopefully I will try to fit at least one of those in during September.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Continuing with buses, a few days after that I had a trip to Liverpool, an area I spent a lot of my childhood in but haven't taken many bus photographs there since the mid-1990s. I had no firm plans on where I was going to go but started off with breakfast in Bootle where the weather was perfect for a few pictures on Stanley Road near the Strand shopping centre. I then moved on into Liverpool before heading under the Birkenhead Tunnel (pictured below) to the Wirral.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Arriva/Arriva-North-West/i-Zhg8r6g/1/L/Arriva%204000%20Liverpool%20040814g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Arriva/Arriva-North-West/i-Zhg8r6g/1/L/Arriva%204000%20Liverpool%20040814g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Heswall was a place I wanted to go, my first visit there in the 1980s had been suprising as this small town had a massive Crosville bus depot behind the bus station. A pub has replaced that now unfortunately though a small bus station remains. By this point I was getting more interested in having a few beers than taking pictures anyway. I stopped off in Irby on the way back to liverpool for a picture (and a pint) and ended up having some food in the <a href="http://www.shippons-irby.co.uk/">Shippons</a> pub in the village which do the strange offer of giving you a free main course if you buy a starter. You wouldn't really pay £5.50 for the starter itself of course but for two courses, good quality too, I couldn't complain.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I only managed one train picture on the Merseyside trip but managed a few more on the follwoing weeks family trip to Windsor. The kids had been wanting to go to Legoloand for a long time (unlike me) so with a fairly reasonable price for the Travelodge in Windsor for two nights it made for a good mini-break. I've passed through Windsor a few times but never stayed, it is of course a nice town, but avoid the daytime between about 9am and 6pm when the tourists coach loads descend! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/458/i-nZt5K3g/0/L/458031%20Staines%202%20070814g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/458/i-nZt5K3g/0/L/458031%20Staines%202%20070814g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Totally by coincidence (really) the day that was planned for the Legoland visit was the same day that I would normally have gone to the excellent <a href="http://www.eghambeerfestival.co.uk/">Egham Beer Festival</a> which is only about 10 miles from Windsor so, managing to get out of Theme Park Duty I had a pleasant day there instead, managing a few pictures both there and in nearby Staines, including my first sight of one of the former Gatwick Express <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/460">class 460s</a> Juniper units that have now been converted into class 458/5s. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The original <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/458">458s</a> were very similar to the 460s except for the front nose-cone and the luggage areas fitted to the Gatwick trains; the project underway involves converting the 8x8-car 460 units and 30x5-car 458 units into a homogenous fleet of 36x5-car units. The biggest thing to note is the new front which has been made to look similar to South West Trains fleet of Desiros.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Highlight of the day for me was a pair of <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/73/i-BVFV5NQ/0/O/73119%2073109%20Staines%20070814g.jpg">Class 73s</a> running light engine through Staines, a class that I don't get to see too often; the beer festival is only a five minute walk from a footbridge over the railway which is the main freight route from London towards Eastleigh, so I was also able to nip out a couple of times when <a href="http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/">Real Time Trains</a> informed me something interesting was coming.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-8/i-7P45V2B/0/L/66847%20Egham%20070814g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-8/i-7P45V2B/0/L/66847%20Egham%20070814g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The following week was the second family mini-break, this time a slightly longer one to Germany. We travelled by Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn's ICE to Cologne then local train onto Koblenz where we stayed 3 nights in the Hotel Continental next to the Hauptbahnhof. It was a typical European City hotel, fairly old and basic but very convenient for the station and only about a 10 minute walk to the Old Town. Situated at the confluence of the Rheine and Mosel rivers Koblenz is a popular stopping off point for the many Rheine cruise boats that ply the river; the river valley south from Koblenz is an UNESCO heritage site and is well worth a visit for both scenery and railways.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I had a massive stroke of luck when we arrived in Koblenz as three minutes later one of DBs heritage <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Class_103">BR103</a> electric locos arrived on the Salzburg to Münster inter-city service. Brought in a few years ago to solve a minor engine shortage there is still a regular diagram a few days a week for these 1970s locos which were once the flagship of the German fleet. A local photographer told me the time that it was due back in the morning so I was able to get a second shot of it returning before our planned visit for the day to friends staying on a campsite nearby across the river. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Currently these locos are working the 0700 Salzburg to Münster on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays and return the following day on the 0727 Münster to Innsbruck.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Germany/DB-Deutsche-Bahn/i-5DsmD7w/0/L/103113%20Koblenz%20Hbf%20120814g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Germany/DB-Deutsche-Bahn/i-5DsmD7w/0/L/103113%20Koblenz%20Hbf%20120814g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our friends were staying about 5 miles from Koblenz in Oberlahnstein at the campsite Burg Lahnek. I'm not into caravaning but if I were I would definitely stay at this place, high above the Rhine Valley and with an excellent adjoining bar/restaurant and outdoor swimming pool; sat drinking beer by their caravan I was able to see and hear the trains on both sides of the river. Generally from observation most freight trains run on the east bank of the river, which has in addition just an hourly passenger service operated by units. The west bank has some freight but is much more busy with passenger trains with an hourly local service, at least hourly Inter City trains, and a roughly two-hourly Regional Express working that is currently operated by top and tailed BR143 locos.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Germany/DB-Deutsche-Bahn/i-NM8zTwh/0/L/143073%20Boppard%20Hbf%20130814g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Germany/DB-Deutsche-Bahn/i-NM8zTwh/0/L/143073%20Boppard%20Hbf%20130814g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After a lovely sunny day at the campsite the following day started much more dull and by dinner time had descended into heavy rain. I had two hours photographing in the morning at a random station on the west bank then later we went for dinner at the first major town south of Koblenz, Boppard. There used to be a branch line service operated by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Class_218">BR218</a> 'Rabbit' diesel engines but this is now worked by a single car DMU. The town itself is attractive, we ate at a restaurant on the bank of the Rhine watching (to a bit of frustration from me) a procession of freight trains trundling along the opposite side. There is a small ferry across the river at this point but I wasn't allowed away!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We headed back home via the same route we had come, namely via Cologne, Aachen, Brussels and Eurostar, though this time we took the slower trains back to Brussels including the trip across the border from Aachen to Welkenraedt on one of SNCBs elderly units that are still operating despite a big influx of new Desiros that have now taken root in the Brussels area itself.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Belgium/SNCB/i-McHz4BZ/0/L/642%20Welkenraedt%20140814g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Belgium/SNCB/i-McHz4BZ/0/L/642%20Welkenraedt%20140814g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
That has been it this month for trips, I suppose really I've not done too bad as most were made with the family; schools go back next week so I'm already thinking about where I can head on my next days off, Kent as mentioned for one. The end of next month a trip to Switzerland has been booked in order to get some last shots on the Gotthard route through the Alps before the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotthard_Base_Tunnel">Base Tunnel</a> opens in 2016, cutting journey times but also removing most of the freight trains from this busy scenic section of line. I visited here back in 2008, the shots from the Gotthard can be found <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips/Trips2008/170908/">HERE.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For the next week or so I will be continuing the long process of working my way through my scanned pictures Thanks for reading this latest waffle, I shall try to get time to write another before I head to Switzerland, for now I'll leave you with one of my more interesting bus scans from 1991. Hartlepool Transport at the time had a large fleet of rare double-doored Bristol REs that at the time of this picture were over 20 years old and lasted another 3 until Stagecoach took over.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bye for now!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/North-East/Hartlepool/i-hXRTK2D/0/L/Hartlepool%2060%20Hartlepool%20230891g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/North-East/Hartlepool/i-hXRTK2D/0/L/Hartlepool%2060%20Hartlepool%20230891g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-58467710799686672602014-07-23T12:33:00.001+01:002014-07-23T12:33:29.612+01:0058: Some Buses, Brock, Several Breakdowns and a Boat<div align="center">
A warm welcome to Edition 58 of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog, once again I've only just managed to squeeze one in this month, photograph taking tends to go from famine to feast so I'm either too busy taking them and then processing them to write a blog or there's nothing to report!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Once again buses have featured more than anything this period, there is little of interest on the railway at the moment and I am on catch-up photographing buses after many years not bothering. After getting back from Latvia nd Lithuania (see blog number <a href="http://blog.railwaymedia.co.uk/2014/06/57-lincolnshire-then-lots-of-large.html">57</a>) the first few trips were purely bus based, with day trips to the Lake District and the Isle of Arran along with a few odd hours here and there locally. The visit to Arran was due to Stagecoach, the main operator on the Island, still having a fleet of elderly Volvo single deck buses and Mercedes minibuses that have largely been withdrawn from depots throughout the rest of the country. Changes may be happening here in October when I believe the contract for the Islands bus services is up for renewal.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Stagecoach/Stagecoach-Single/i-Lhg6jN8/0/L/Stagecoach%2020595%20Brodick%202%20300614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Stagecoach/Stagecoach-Single/i-Lhg6jN8/0/L/Stagecoach%2020595%20Brodick%202%20300614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
About the only thing still of interest on the West Coast Mainline through Preston is the Colas Log Train. After a period of haulage by their class 56 locos, unreliability has forced them to revert, unfortunately, to using class 66 engines again. 66847 seems to be the loco of choice since the change, the only advantage of that being that particular example wasn't one that I had photographed on the train in years previously. With a choice of engine classes now they have both class 60 and 70 to play with it was only a matter of time before a new class 70/8 turned up, although so far it hasn't been a regular sight and 66847 is still plodding round on the daily circuit. Buried on my website is a gallery displaying all the pictures I've taken of the log trains on the WCML over the last 10+ years, if you are interested please look <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Featured/Logs/">HERE</a> to see all the different locos that have been used.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/70/i-vQJtjPm/1/L/70802%2066847%20Brock%20100714g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/70/i-vQJtjPm/1/L/70802%2066847%20Brock%20100714g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I had to go to Birmingham with work a few weeks back so thought I'd take the opportunity to see if any of the Midland Metro's new trams were on test. Track laying has begun on the City Centre extension in Birmingham, the most obvious sign being a set of points installed outside New Street station. There were about 10 of the new CAF trams visible on the depot, one of which I did see shunting about, however I didn't see any out on the mainline. One tram I didn't know they had though was number 11 out of the original batch of Ansaldo Breda vehicles that has been repainted nicely into Birmingham Corporation livery. Apparently it's been like that for a year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Midland/i-3M4GKhW/0/L/Midland%2011%20Black%20Lake%20010714g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Midland/i-3M4GKhW/0/L/Midland%2011%20Black%20Lake%20010714g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A couple of odd bits of excitement in the Preston area over the last month or so. Early in July the Preston Dock oil train was about 3 hours late after 60015 broke down near Scunthorpe, fairly terminally judging by the amount of oil streaked down the side when it arrived being dragged by another member of the class. Another breakdown more recently was the northbound 'lowland' sleeper when 90019 carelessly lost its pantograph south of Stafford and itself arrived almost three hours late being hauled by a pair of 67s. Picture of that is <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/67/i-Q9s6XCS/0/O/67021%2067007%2090019%20Preston%20190714g.jpg">HERE,</a> the nicer one of the 60s is below.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/60/i-Gv7RbmZ/0/L/60015%2060063%20Preston%20Docks%20030714g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/60/i-Gv7RbmZ/0/L/60015%2060063%20Preston%20Docks%20030714g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More bus orientated trips took place between these two days, usually coupled with the obligatory visits to Wetherspoons that I haven't yet had a pint in. There's lots of areas I need to still go to so at the moment the basis of where I end up is usually a function of where the best weather is and if there are any buses or trains in that area I need to get before they are withdrawn. North London didn't really fit into that latter catergory but weather and a lack of planning meant it was the easiest option. I got a few bus and tube pictures as I wandered about but, as the likes of Hackney and Stanmore aren't very photogenic, there wasn't really much to write home about photographically that day.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I should get down South Wales more often; the other trip I made I did indeed make that effort. It was based on an area where I needed to visit several Wetherspoons, so the day saw me alighting at Abergavenny, traversing several of the Valleys and ending up in Pontypool. It had the advantage of getting a few bus pictures before big changes are made to the Stagecoach network in the area as a result of funding cuts by the Welsh Government. Increasingly the lack of funding for the Pensioners free bus passes is causing operators to remove routes as they become unprofitable. In many cases this means the Council then has to fund a replacement subsidised one at a higher overall cost.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Stagecoach/Stagecoach-Midi/i-NQHwFcC/0/L/Stagecoach%2039608%20Blackwood%201%20110714g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Stagecoach/Stagecoach-Midi/i-NQHwFcC/0/L/Stagecoach%2039608%20Blackwood%201%20110714g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A few days after this was the annual Open Day of the <a href="http://mttrust.co.uk/">Merseyside Transport Trust</a> at Burscough. This is now home to the sole remaining LMS Class <a href="http://www.class502.org.uk/">502 EMU</a> which suffered from many years outside at various places so an awful lot of work needs to be done to replace all the corrosion damage. At least it is in dry storage now. The Open Day also features a program of trips operated by the collection of buses based at the site, plus some visitors. One highlight for me was a ride on former Merseybus Dodge minibus <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/North-West/Merseybus/i-dwm3Gvf/0/O/Merseybus%207685%20Burscough%202%20130714g.jpg">7685,</a> a type that isn't common in preservation, but a superb job has been made on this example. I travelled on them regularly when I was at school so that brought back memories, as did the other highlight for me which was two ex-Ribble National Bus liveried Leyland Nationals which operated a short return trip to Halsall where a nice photo opportunity was staged.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/North-West/Ribble/i-4WBsbnL/0/L/Ribble%20808%20831%20Halsall%20130714g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/North-West/Ribble/i-4WBsbnL/0/L/Ribble%20808%20831%20Halsall%20130714g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After not having been to my old regular photo location of Brock much in the last few years I went twice in a week. First was for the Colas class 70 already mentioned but the other was for a test run of a pair of new class 350 Desiro EMUs for London Midland. The weather wasn't fantastic but it was an opportunity to see what the replacement of the Level Crossing with a footbridge had done to the photo angles available. The former shot over the hedge is still available, providing you have a step ladder, but the view from the small footbridge over the river has been more or less ruined. There is one new angle from the footbridge steps but it is very tight due to a stanchion in the way and requires full 200mm zoom and probably no one else to be there to get in the way.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/92/i-WLjZ5KB/0/L/92016%20Brock%20140714g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/92/i-WLjZ5KB/0/L/92016%20Brock%20140714g-L.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There also appears to be work erecting pallisade fencing at various points between Preston and Lancaster at the moment, quite unecessarily in my opinion, so there is a chance in a few months time the shot from the field at Brock my be ruined too. I will keep you informed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The only other trip to report I've made in July was this week when I had a day visiting Surrey and Sussex. Again it was a mix of buses, trains and Wetherspoons that was the reason for that area being selected. I made my way to Chichester via Redhill, Crawley and Horsham returning via Burgess Hill. I would've liked to have had time to visit the Hove Wetherspoons and to get some pictures of buses on the routes there I used to drive but there wasn't time. Thanks as always to the Real Time Trains website I managed two freight train pictures at Redhill which I wouldn't have known about without that excellent resource being available, although the weather wasn't as forecasted.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/59/i-hfqnXCh/0/L/59102%20Redhill%20210714g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/59/i-hfqnXCh/0/L/59102%20Redhill%20210714g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm still working my way through the bus pictures of that day, but these and all the trips mentioned are now up on my website in either the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions">New Additions</a> section for those taken in the last 4 weeks or so or in the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips/Trips2014">Trips</a> section for those older ones. Now it's school holiday time I will probably not get enough peace and quiet for the next month or so to enable me to sit and write the next edition of this blog, the only trip planned so far is a few days in Germany with the family: fingers crossed I shall get a little of time to photograph something whilst I am over there.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thanks as always for taking the time and trouble to read this, I hope any information is of use to someone in planning a visit or trip anywhere I've been, please feel free to contact me via my <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">website</a> if you want any further information about anything I've mentioned. I'll leave you with a nice boat picture, the Isle of Arran ferry coming into Brodick, bye for now!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/Random/i-gRP9znk/0/L/Caledonian%20MacBrayne%20Caledonian%20Isles%20Brodick%202%20300614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/Random/i-gRP9znk/0/L/Caledonian%20MacBrayne%20Caledonian%20Isles%20Brodick%202%20300614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-89221474111129418512014-06-20T20:37:00.001+01:002014-06-20T20:37:18.943+01:0057: Lincolnshire then Lots of Large Locomotives in Latvia and Lithuania<div align="center">
Welcome to the latest <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog after an absence of almost two months. I had intended to write one before I went on holiday but various things conspired together to mean I never got round to it, so this time will have to be a longer than normal edition to catch up.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
My main holiday for this year was a week long trip to Latvia and Lithuania to see their large double engined freight locos. There is little passenger traffic in both countries outside the main commuter areas surrounding their respective Capital Cities and beyond these areas all lines are diesel hauled and mainly single track, although as they are so busy some lines are being upgraded.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-k8SMnnf/0/L/2TE10%200217%20Taurkalne%20060614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-k8SMnnf/0/L/2TE10%200217%20Taurkalne%20060614g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Before I went there though I had a mini trip to Lincolnshire which was one of the reasons I didn't find the time to write a blog earlier. Thanks to Richard for driving, the two day trip covered firstly Derbyshire and the area around Stenson Junction before staying overnight in Market Rasen and then the following day doing the wider Barnetby area. Both of these I have covered myself before but as I normally travel by train the car helped me get to some locations I normally can't reach.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Starting in Burton-on-Trent, somewhere easy for me to reach by train, we had an hour or so on the footbridge near the Coors Bewery in the town. The Derby to Birmingham line is one of the busiest in the country for freight with usually one or two per hour to be seen. If you can get hold of a copy, Marcus Dawson's <a href="http://www.visionsinternational.biz/html/trainspots_1.html">Trainspots Midlands</a> book is still very useful for reaching the locations in the area, though I know it is now out of stock at the publishers.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/60/i-VF7cttm/0/L/60044%20Barrow%20upon%20Trent%20150514g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/60/i-VF7cttm/0/L/60044%20Barrow%20upon%20Trent%20150514g-L.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
One of the few locations I had not done previously in that region was at Barrow-on-Trent (above) on the freight only line that bypasses Derby. Paces like Stenson and North Stafford Junctions I have walked to in the past from Willington station but Barrow was a bit too far, although there is a bus service from Derby to Sinfin operated by Arriva from where it is about a 20 minute walk.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
We needed to reach Market Rasen by evening. We had intended to wait at Barrow for the Colas steel train to Boston Docks but with no sign of it leaving Washwood Heath we headed east whilst I kept an eye on it on <a href="http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/">Real Time Trains.</a> It departed around 60 minutes late so we stopped off at Ancaster in Lincolnshire to get a picture of it. The sun isn't right anywhere really for this working but with a nice evening low sun glinting off the train it being back lit wasn't too much of a problem.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/47/i-w5KbWp3/1/L/47739%20Ancaster%20150514g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/47/i-w5KbWp3/1/L/47739%20Ancaster%20150514g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
We had got a cheap deal for the night at <a href="http://limescountryhousehotel.co.uk/">The Limes Hotel</a> 5 minutes walk from Market Rasen town centre and finished the day with a rather nice curry at the towns sole Indian restaurant washed down by the obligatory few pints in the pub over the road. A very quiet but pretty town, the station was worth a visit too but unfortunately there wasn't time for any pictures there.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
We rushed breakfast in the morning in order to get out for shots of two freight trains that were due to pass just before 0900. We hadn't researched anywhere to go for them so a quick look at Google Maps revealed a <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Market+Rasen/@53.423908,-0.3391671,700m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x487858836c46c76d:0xf3c184fd5ece621d">Level Crossing</a> that looked reasonable. The crossing itself wasn't fantastic but the adjacent field served our purpose, especially for the westbound coal. </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-0/i-RZGMQmM/0/L/66200%20Claxby%20160514g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-0/i-RZGMQmM/0/L/66200%20Claxby%20160514g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
We picked a bad day to go to the Barnetby area as the Iron Ore trains weren't running. Maybe the plant at Scunthorpe was having a week long closure because there were many fewer coal trains than normal too. On the line between Barnetby and Scunthorpe we did do two new locations, both at the ends of very long tracks from the road making them very hard to reach without a car. One was at Elsham and the other at Worlaby. The first one isn't actually the main road crossing where the signal box is but is the next small farm crossing to the north-west; the track from Worlaby should be fairly obvious on a map. Not withstanding the paucity of freight trains, some midday cloud was also rolling in by this point so we retreated to the tried and tested location at Melton Ross.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The other new location for me was Howsham on the Market Rasen line south of Barnetby. Out of the three lines radiating from the junctions at Wrawby I think this line towards Lincoln is my favoutrite. There are less trains than that towards Scunthorpe but there is a better mix of train types with more class 60 hauled tank trains heading this way. Again we were unlucky with clouds for the most part but we did scrape a nice late shot at the bridge where the A1084 crosses the line.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/60/i-Jt9gL9j/0/L/60017%20Bigby%20160514g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/60/i-Jt9gL9j/0/L/60017%20Bigby%20160514g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The end of the day was planned to be, for the second day running, a shot of a class 47 on a freight train. GBRF have been hiring one to operate a service between Doncaster and Goole to release the normal class 66 power for use elsewhere. Richard went to the Thorne area for it whilst I had to make do with Doncaster station as I had to get my train home. The sun was out so it should have been a good shot except for the fact the 66 stayed on the train and it came on the wrong line!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-7/i-8k52T5Z/0/L/66732%20Doncaster%20160514g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-7/i-8k52T5Z/0/L/66732%20Doncaster%20160514g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Anyway, moving on to the main bit of this blog (and skipping a few outings mainly for bus pictures). The week to the Baltics was always going to be a car based photographic holiday due to the difficulties of getting around the coutries (and especially between the countries) by train. I had sorted the car hire out last year for Bulgaria so I let Richard take responsibility this time; besides he would be at Riga Airport before me. We ended up with an Estonian registered small Skoda which did the job and, hopefully, all the locals assumed we were from Estonia.<br />
<br />
A comparably nice flight time from Manchester with O'Leary-air meant I didn't need to leave Preston until 0700. Previous trips have involved flights from Gatwick, Luton or Stansted so an hour (stood up on the usual full three car class 185) to Manchester Airport was comparatively relaxing. <br />
<br />
I'll give Ryanair their due I've never as yet been late on a plane they've operated but it's everyhting else about flying with them that you end up worrying about. This time it was the new rule that only the first 90 passengers are guaranteed to take their hand luggage onto the plane. Having a soft rucksack containing all my camera equipment I really didn't relish the thought of it getting thrown into the hold. As it turned out I needn't have worried as they only confiscate the popular annoying square wheely cases, so bit of karma for all those times people have tripped me up with them. The new rule does have the advantage that there's now loads of room in the overhead lockers providing you are lucky enough to be able to get past the bag police and get yours onto the aircraft.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/Riga/i-gXKFQLc/1/L/Riga%2088021%20Centraltigrus%20310514g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/Riga/i-gXKFQLc/1/L/Riga%2088021%20Centraltigrus%20310514g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/Riga/i-Qt5bWcz/0/L/Riga%2050661%2050672%20Slokas%20Iela%20310514g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
With the two hour time difference between the UK and Latvia a 1030 flight became a 1500 arrival so I just had the rest of the afternoon photographing the trams in the city. A bus/tram/trolleybus ticket for the whole city coast a massive 2.50 Euro so I took advantage by hopping off the Airport bus when I saw a busy tramline skirting some parkland. Riga is Tatra Tram heaven, certainly on the west side of the River Daugava, modern Skoda trams are in use only on lines 6 and 11. They even have converted examples like above for keeping the rails cool and the dust down.<br />
<br />
The first day is always a bit of pot luck as you find your feet in a place. Once I had sussed out where the trams went in the City Centre I visited the station. There wasn't an awful lot happening and just got one picture of an EMU waiting departure before finishing taking tram and bus pictures until it was time to head out to the hotel to meet the others. Our first night was booked in the <a href="http://www.besthotel.lv/">Hotel Best</a> in the south-western suburbs. As we were leaving by car in the morning this wasn't a problem besides there's something nice about having to catch a trolleybus or tram into the City in the evening. <br />
<br />
We ate at the hotel, nice food though maybe not cheap for Latvia. We found a good pub in the centre, <a href="http://www.lido.lv/lat/uznemumi/edinasanas_uznemumi/alus_seta/">Alus Seta</a> which is owned by the Latvian brewing company Lido. Their unfiltered beer was superb. We went back the following Saturday but it wasn't on, which was a disappointment. We could've eat here too as they do a sort of buffet/canteen food service in addition to the bar.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-PL3LqDb/0/L/2M62%200268%20Iecava%201%20010614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-PL3LqDb/0/L/2M62%200268%20Iecava%201%20010614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We had planned to spend the Sunday slowly making our way across to Lithuania and our base in Vilnius for the next two nights. Looking at the map we decided to head south down the A7 from Riga first of all to Iecava which is on the cross-country freight line from Jelgava to Krustpils. We of course had no idea if it would be busy or not on a Sunday morning but it turned out to only be about 20 minutes before the first train turned up. We had an hour to hang around follwing that but then got two within 10 minutes. The great advantage of single track lines in these coutries is that providing you can see a signal it can give you a good idea of which way the next train will be coming as, when the route is set for a train coming the opposite way, the light goes out. In the case of the train above we actually saw it arrive in the loops behind and wait for a westbound working to pass.<br />
<br />
With plenty of time later in the week to concentrate on Latvia we crossed the border into Lithuania with the minimum of fuss (I think officer in the sole police car at the crossing was asleep) and headed to Radviliskies where there are large freight yards. We were going to call in at the station but with the expected passing of one of the three or four daily Vilnius to Klaipeda expresses we went instead to the crossing at the eastern end of the yards by Karcemos. Obviously a lot of these place names are lifted from Google Maps rather than the fairly spartan road map we had but hopefully Googling the place names I give should reveal easily our exact locations should you want to find them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Lithuania/LG/i-DG9T9mc/0/L/2M62%200536%20Karcemos%20010614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Lithuania/LG/i-DG9T9mc/0/L/2M62%200536%20Karcemos%20010614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Our first Lithuanian 2M62-hauled freight train arrived 2 minutes after we did and the passenger was right behind that (though I made a bit of a mess of taking that shot). After a few more freights and light engines passed all hauled by the new Siemens ER20 class, rather than head back to Radviliskies we continued east to a small crossing near Bebrujai, the first after the lines towards Vilnius and Latvia split. The light was getting a bit ropey by now but a shot of an eastbound passenger from Klaipeda came out OK. All loco-hauled passenger trains in both countries are now in the hands of TEP70 diesel engines which look massive next to the usually smaller height coaches.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Lithuania/LG/i-bHCrZFv/0/L/TEP70%20335%20Bebrujai%20010614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Lithuania/LG/i-bHCrZFv/0/L/TEP70%20335%20Bebrujai%20010614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Continuing east and more or less following the railway line we stopped off once more before deciding due to the weather, and time, to get much nearer Vilnius before a final stop. Zasliai is on the only electrified line in Lithuania that runs between the two major cities of Vilnius and Kaunas (the former Capital). In both countries electric trains comprise only of EMUs. Unlike Latvia where they are still using RVR design units Lithuania have modernised most of their fleet. With this line forming part of the major freight artery between the Russian enclave at Kalingrad and the Motherland there was lots of freight to be seen even on a Sunday though rain stopped play for us in the end.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Lithuania/LG/i-Z7mJmTj/0/L/2M62%200752%20Zasliai%20010614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Lithuania/LG/i-Z7mJmTj/0/L/2M62%200752%20Zasliai%20010614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.cornerhotel.lt/en/">The Corner Hotel</a> in Vilnius was our chosen bed for Sunday and Monday night. A small walk from the centre but it did the job. It was I think the most expensive of all the hotels we stayed in that week at about 50 Euro a night. Tea both nights ended up being Pizza, the standard fall back option for most countries in Eurpoe, especially when you don't have the foggiest idea about the language. Having said that with the exception of a few older people in some of the out-of-the-way villages we ended up in most people spoke excellent English. We also found a good bar, Alynas, on Jogailos gatve serving 20 Lithuanian beers. The barman wasn't the freindliest but the beer made up for it.<br />
<br />
Freight usually bypasses Vilnius itself, the main yards are located to the south of the city and there is a freight avoiding line running right around the bottom of the suburbs. As with most of the rest of the area this was single track but, quite understandably, they are in the process of doubling it. We drove down to Siaudine where the freight line meets up with the line running due south towards Salcininkai. We had no idea what, if anything, went due south but we soon realised that the avoiding line wasn't currently being used at all. We discovered why as further to the east when we crossed the line we could see it was completely dug up whilst the track laying was taking place. <br />
<br />
What appears to be happening therefore at the moment is that freight from Kalingrad and the west is running as normal into the freight yard to the south of Vilnius. Engines are then being put on the back end and the trains are being dragged out west then back through Vilnius main station in order to reach the mainline to the south-east and Belarus. This also explains why we saw so many ER20's on the line to Radviskilies as they are being used for the main trunk haul with just a handful of 2M62s shuttling the freights between the yard at Vilnius and the Belarus border.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Lithuania/LG/i-CqfHbzk/0/L/2M62%200283%20Saduniskes%201%20020614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Lithuania/LG/i-CqfHbzk/0/L/2M62%200283%20Saduniskes%201%20020614g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We spent the day at two locations on the Vilnius to Belarus mainline, Saduniskes and Pakene. They are a short distance apart; Pakene is a small station and has a basic four or five train a day DMU service from Vilnius so is easily reachable by public transport. With the weather generally dull this helped us as it meant we could photograph either way and we were fortunately at Pakene when the heavens opened so we could keep dry in the small station waiting shelter.<br />
<br />
The station before Pakene, Kyviskes, we understood to be a good location as it is at the junction between the freight only line and the mainline. We drove down to it but didn't stop as the formely rundown halt is being transformed with new tracks and new platforms in conjunction with the line enhancement so has been totally ruined, for now at least, for photography. By contrast Pakene was a good spot to wait. With trains running relatively slowly there was usually plenty of time to get to the correct end of the right platform before they arrived. One of the highlights of this line is the Belarus TEP70s that power International trains. Unfortunately though the shorter distance cross-border Vilnius to Minsk services have gone over now to plastic units.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Belarus/BCh/i-JkgnHx2/1/L/TEP70%20172%20Pakene%20020614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Belarus/BCh/i-JkgnHx2/1/L/TEP70%20172%20Pakene%20020614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I always think it is a bit of a cheat getting photos of trains from a country without actually visiting, especially as we were so close to Belarus, however the coutry is very much like Russia from a security point of view and you require a costly and complicated Visa just to enter so I will stick with just having photographs of their trains operating in Lithuania nd Latvia for now!<br />
<br />
After our second night in the corner of the Corner Hotel we had an hour or so sightseeing in Vilnius. I must be getting old wanting to do this. Alas there are no trams in the City but there are trolleybuses. Anyone interested in the vehicular conveyances of Vilnius can see the pics <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Foreign/Vilnius">HERE.</a><br />
<br />
Before we left Lithuania for good and headed north back to Latvia we had an hour on the Kaunas mainline west of the City where the line crosses the River Voke. A morning location we unluckily just missed a TEP70 that crossed the viaduct in the sun as we arrived and needless to say after that the only trains that crossed whilst it wasn't cloudy were units. We drove and parked on the west side of the river where a small suspension bridge leads to the spot however continuing up the footpath brings you to Voke station itself which has a roughly hourly stopping service.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Lithuania/LG/i-LmFHXwK/0/L/2M62%200284%20Voke%20030614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Lithuania/LG/i-LmFHXwK/0/L/2M62%200284%20Voke%20030614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We bit the bullet after that and did the longish drive north to Daugavpils. We did really well until we neared the border, between Utena and Zarasai, on the A6. Admittedly this is a major trunk route with lots of International lorries so needs maintaining and upgrading but the roadworks were something else! Mile after mile of traffic light controlled contra-flows where you could wait 10 minutes at each one! It must've been an EU grant to just Lithuania because they stopped literally at the border, not that the road surface was in a much better condition any after changing countries.<br />
<br />
We skirted Daugavpils and headed east along the line from there to, again, the Belarus border. Unlike the line south from Vilnius where loco changes occur almost at the border, on this line the swaps occur at Daugavpils yards themselves so the line is worked purely by Belarus 2TE10s. The only passenger trains on this line are the overnight sleepers to Belarus and Russia so it is just freight to be seen during the day, mainly long rakes of huge coal hoppers but also oil for export.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Belarus/BCh/i-bztt5xB/0/L/2TE10%200082%20Naujene%201%20030614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Belarus/BCh/i-bztt5xB/0/L/2TE10%200082%20Naujene%201%20030614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Like most lines in this part of the world freight is plentiful with on average at least one or two per hour to be seen. There are loops about every 10km to enable trains to pass; the speed of the trains mean they can follow each other about 10 minutes apart but you are talking at least 20 minutes for one to get from a loop to the next. The speed also means if you know where you are going it is easy to chase them in the car. Mind you dependent on whether or not they have to stop to let another train go the opposite way, even if you don't know where you are going you can still beat them. We spent the rest of the afternoon here at Naujene before heading to our Hotel in Daugavpils.<br />
<br />
We had been recommended the Hotel Duets as being handy for the railway. In fact it is located in the middle of the yards! Whilst Richard got refreshed Neil and myself were able to make the long 50 metre journey from the front door to get a picture of some of the various engines shunting.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-MXJhnrS/0/L/2M62%200266%20Daugavpils%201%20030614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-MXJhnrS/0/L/2M62%200266%20Daugavpils%201%20030614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
One advantage of going in June was that it was still light when the Sleeper trains arrived at Daugavpils. There are two, one from Vilnius and one from Riga which then get reformed into trains to Minsk and St Petersburg. A Lithuanian TEP70 from Vilnius and a Latvian one from Riga are joined by a Belarus example which takes the Minsk portion away, all assisted by a local shunting engine. The Latvian one then heads the St Petersburg portion north to Rezekne.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-WpWq8VB/0/L/TEP70%200268%20Daugavpils%203%20030614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-WpWq8VB/0/L/TEP70%200268%20Daugavpils%203%20030614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Richard was starting to panic we wern't going to find anywhere for tea by this point, even the local burger joint had shut at 9pm. We were lucky though that the only other restaurant we found, needless to say a Pizza place, was still serving, but only just! Some welcome grub and Latvian beer to finish the day. I put my headphones in to sleep in the hotel to cover up the sound of the woman voice who was constantly issuing instructions over the shunting yard tannoy system.<br />
<br />
There are three tram systems in Latvia, Riga of course, Liepaja on the coast and <a href="http://tramvajs.daugavpils.lv/">Daugavpils</a>. I have no idea what the Liepaja one is like but I'm guessing the Daugavpils one is the most run-down of the three. There is modernisation work taking place and I understand new trams should have already been delivered, but haven't, but for now it is still being operated by Latvian built RVR trams and Russian built KTM ones along with several, presumably second-hand, Tatra examples.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/Daugavpils/i-gWDMmbX/0/L/Daugavpils%20059%20Ventspils%20Iela%20040614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/Daugavpils/i-gWDMmbX/0/L/Daugavpils%20059%20Ventspils%20Iela%20040614g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There are three routes all running on very odd frequencies and the trams are staffed with conductresses in traditional Russian style. All lines run for some length along the main A13 'Novembre iela' east of the railway bridge though only routes 1 and 3 serve the actual City Centre (Line 1 operates every 9 or 12 minutes and Line 3 every 25 minutes). Line 2 (roughly every 28 minutes, I told you the frequencies were bizarre) turns off the main road before it reaches the railway and runs down Ventspils iela, pictured above. We were lucky, after a few phone calls by the cleaner, to get a guided tour of the tram depot by her. Well done to Richard for somehow explaining what we wanted! All my pictures of this interesting tramway can be found <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/Daugavpils/">HERE.</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/Daugavpils/i-MZGJcP4/0/L/Daugavpils%20044%20043%20046%20045%20078%20Butlerova%20Iela%20Depo%20040614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/Daugavpils/i-MZGJcP4/0/L/Daugavpils%20044%20043%20046%20045%20078%20Butlerova%20Iela%20Depo%20040614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Following this we headed east again to have the remainder of the morning on the Belarus line. As we were getting provisions from a garage on the outskirts of Daugavpils we could hear a train behind the houses so chased it to Naujene for a shot. We then continued east into the 'Border Area' (so the road sign worryingly said) and beat it by about 20 minutes to the next location, a crossing on the road to Ludvikova. We got a freindly wave off the driver as it went past and following it was another five freight trains at intervals of about every 10 minutes, all headed by Belarussian 2TE10s.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Belarus/BCh/i-PmhMbh3/2/L/2TE10%203608%20Ludvikova%20040614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Belarus/BCh/i-PmhMbh3/2/L/2TE10%203608%20Ludvikova%20040614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The weather had set fair now finally but with sun moving round we waited for one westbound working before heading back towards and round Daugavpils and up the A8 towards Jekabpils. Glimpsing a train as we crossed a bridge over the main line we diverted off into the woods to a small crossing near Ruzi for a <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-s6KmjGR/O">shot</a> of what turned out to be a rare LDV 2TE11 in a blue livery. the only other ones in this kind of livery we saw were operated by open access operator Skinest Rail. One of these we saw at our next stop, Upenieki, to the south of Jekabpils where we spent the rest of the afternoon. The line wasn't very busy but we did see five freight trains plus a couple of passenger DMUs in our few hours there. This is the Skinest Rail picture, the engine named after me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/Skinest/i-fNkppVD/0/L/2TE11%201060%20Upenieki%20040614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/Skinest/i-fNkppVD/0/L/2TE11%201060%20Upenieki%20040614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We arrived in Jakobpils just in time to see the Riga to St Petersburg and Minsk sleeper train call off at the towns station, actually situated the opposite side of the river in the neighbouring town of Krustpils. This station is also being totally redeveloped in conjunction with more doubling work, this time of the line north from Krustpils towards Riga. The train stopped for less than a minute so after an initial shot of it arriving I only just got to the front in time to catch the results of the eruption of thick black smoke eminating from the engine as the driver opened it up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-3RqGbcg/0/L/TEP70%200250%20Krustpils%202%20040614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-3RqGbcg/0/L/TEP70%200250%20Krustpils%202%20040614g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We had struggled to find anywhere in Daugavpils the previous night to have our tea, Jackobpils was even worse. As far as I can make out there are only three places to get hot food in the town. There is the obligatory Pizza Restaurant (which had already closed at 9pm), a kebab shop/chinese takeaway and a burger place on the edge of Krustpils which was the Baltic equivelent of McDonalds or Burger King called Hesburger. It actually turns out this is a Finnish company but we only discovered this (where the restaurant was, not where its from) the next day so the only thing we could do for tea was go to the supermarket and get some beer, bread, cheese and salami. The hotel we were staying in (probably the only hotel in Jekabpils) was the <a href="http://www.daugavkrasti.lv/en">Hotel Daugavkrasti</a> a rather bizarre communist era building located on the river bank that's certainly seen better days. Having said that apart from the lack of facilities there or in the town it was a decent place to stay, certainly interesting.<br />
<br />
The following day Neil was meant to be getting an early train to Riga for his flight home. There are two trains in a morning from Krustpils at 7am and 9am (the next train isn't until 1800), he was aiming for the second of those, however it turns out that randomly it doesn't run on a Thursday. I think it might be half-day in Riga on a Thurday, this is the only explanation I can think of, so he ended up having the morning with us photographing at nearby Mezdarzi on the line to Jelgava.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-9JZknpd/0/L/2TE11%200670%20Mezdarzi%20050614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-9JZknpd/0/L/2TE11%200670%20Mezdarzi%20050614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We had to drive 50km to Aizkraukle so Neil could catch a train, that being the limit of the electrification from Riga and so having a reasonable EMU service (or bus replacement for part of the way, again probably due to the doubling work). After Jekabpils the next point you can cross the River Daugava is beyond Aizkraukle so taking advantage of being that way we headed across to meet up again with the Jelgava cross-country line which runs through some lovely wooded countryside for a long distance south of the river. Taurkalne was the nearest point, one of the many passing places on that single track route. There are level crossings at either end, the one at the eastern side being best for the sun at this time of day, not that there was too much of that to be seen by this point.<br />
<br />
Once again there was a fairly steady stream of freights passing every 30 minutes or so and after a few pictures here we headed towards the next loop deep in a pine forest at Menta. Besides the forestry vehicle we saw as we turned up we didn't see another road vehicle for the next couple of hours: it was a lovely spot to wait marred only be the inconsiderately dumped rake of loaded coal hoppers on the nearest of the three tracks which blocked the shot of trains somewhat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-Ds39pfw/0/L/2M62%200009%20Menta%201%20050614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-Ds39pfw/0/L/2M62%200009%20Menta%201%20050614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We finished off the day with another shot of the sleepers back at Krustpils before a visit to the Hesburger, and to a supermarket for a new pair of trousers as my jeans had mysteriuosly got ripped somewhere. Plus of course the important bottles of Latvian beer so we could chill out with them back at the hotel. By the way the jeans only cost 11 Euros and seem far better made than the rubbish you get in this country from Primark for about the same price. The one big advantage of having to buy these was I got to spend the end of the week with a fresh pair of trousers on!<br />
<br />
Our final full day was to be more of the same, except without ripped jeans, working our way back to Riga for another stay in the Hotel Best. We weren't sure how busy the mainline from Krustpils to Riga would be, especially with the cancellation of the passenger train the day before. We hedged our bets and went to Spungeni a few miles outside Krustpils where a small lane crosses both the line to Riga and the one to Jelgava seperated by only a few hundred yards. This time it turned out there was far more moving on the mainline. We worked out you could sit in the car watching the signal at the top crossing and if you heard the bottom crossings sirens sound just make it down to the bottom in time to get across the tracks on foot to get a shot. Thank god for slow moving trains!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-KZtsSSc/0/L/2M62%201233%20Spungeni%20060614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-KZtsSSc/0/L/2M62%201233%20Spungeni%20060614g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Again the signals going blank when a train was approaching from the opposite direction was helpful to know, although as can be seen from the picture above the second track is in situ and once that open the signals will cease to be of any use for giving you that slight extra warning.<br />
<br />
Heading along the mainline we took a bit of a short-cut through the town of Plavinas which meant we totally missed out the bridge we were aiming for and so wasted more than 30 minutes driving trying to work out where we had gone wrong. The location was a high bridge near the edge of Plavinas on the main road that skirts the town. The road is very busy but personally I didn't have a problem as there is plenty of room to stand off the road behind the crash-barriers. It's a morning shot of stuff coming from Riga, and late morning onwards for stuff leaving the station. You don't get much warning of trains approaching from the west but again observing the signals proves to be useful. Even when the additional line is commissioned as the station loops start just beyond the bridge the controlling signal will still have to be cleared when a train is due.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-NfpGdJ2/1/L/2TE11%200667%20Plavinas%20060614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-NfpGdJ2/1/L/2TE11%200667%20Plavinas%20060614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We wanted to return to Taurkalne on the other line whilst the light would be best for the first crossing which we hadn't covered the day before so when a tank train headed west at Plavinas we chased that to Aizkraukle and got two more shots of it enroute. There is a decent level crossing immediately to the west of the station which would be useful for anyone based in Riga to reach by train.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-TDBcfZF/0/L/2TE10%203450%20Aizkraukle%20060614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-TDBcfZF/0/L/2TE10%203450%20Aizkraukle%20060614g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Heading south across the river (which the road crosses underneath a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%BCavi%C5%86as_Hydroelectric_Power_Station">hydro-electric dam</a>) we returned to the Jelgava line in the forests. there was the usual steady flow of freights, not just coal and oil but some more interesting mixed trains too. We ended up at Vecumnieki which was a convenient final location being located at the eastern end of the former stations loops and near a decent road, the P89, back to Riga. The weather had broken by this point with us narrowly missing a passing thunderstorm. Fortunately it was one of those crossings where you could sit next to it in the car and listen for the distant sound of a train or the lights to flash so we didn't get too wet waiting.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-dX4XTrc/0/L/2M62%200009%20Vecumnieki%20060614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-dX4XTrc/0/L/2M62%200009%20Vecumnieki%20060614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It was quite late by the time we got back to Riga and after another quick meal in the hotel bar we only had about 90 minutes in Riga itself for some final beers. It seemd much busier too than the previous Saturday but I suspect it was some kind of public holiday that weekend.<br />
<br />
Richard had an earlier flight than me, in essence I had the best part of the day still to go. We drove briefly to Daugmale depot in the suburbs. Located in the middle of the main Riga yards a handy footbridge crosses over them all giving good views. There is a station next to the footbridge with trains stopping fairly frequently, otherwise if you're worried which one to catch bus route 18 runs every 30 minutes from the City Centre and stops outside Be aware though that there are several railway stations you will pass in the yards, Daugmale is the second.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-t4v2pkr/0/L/2M62%200928%202M62%200125%20Riga%20Daugmale%20070614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-t4v2pkr/0/L/2M62%200928%202M62%200125%20Riga%20Daugmale%20070614g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Richard dropped me off in the City Centre by the river and I had 45 minutes sat on the front as the light was good for pictures of the EMUs crossing the substantial bridge over the River Daugava. I'm not sure if much freight passes across here, I'd seen a Skinest Rail operated one the previous week but in the rest of the time I was near enough the line to see anything I didn't see any others.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-XPFLtDV/0/L/ER07%202118%20Riga%20070614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDz/i-XPFLtDV/0/L/ER07%202118%20Riga%20070614g-L.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A place I had wanted to visit was the Latvian Railway Museum which is located on the far side of the river by the new National Library (if you look closely the Library is the traingular shaped building beyond the rear of the unit in the picture above). It turned out to be well worth the 3 Euro entry fee (though you could probably get away without paying that) and the 20 minutes it took to get shots of the exhibts outside including an elderly TEP60, an old TEE (I think) double loco, a few shunters, steam engines and this weird beast. It's a battery/overhead power loco built in the Ukraine initially for use for construction of a dam but in use as a shunting and trip loco in Latvia until as recently as the late 1990s. Apparently it only dates from 1978 so is only as old as a British Class 87!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDV-Museum/i-87HF7XL/1/L/VL26%20005%20Riga%20DV%20Museum%20070614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/LDV-Museum/i-87HF7XL/1/L/VL26%20005%20Riga%20DV%20Museum%20070614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I still had about 3 hours to waste so went for a ride on Riga's antique tram car 1901 which operates at weekends on what is essentially the route 11 from the City to the municipal parks and Zoo called Mezaparks. The tram itself only dates from about 1910, the figure 1901 referring to the date the first Riga tramline opened. A single costs the princely sum of 1.50 Euro so I had a ride up to Mezaparks and, as it goes one stop past there, had time to get off and catch a normal tram back a few stops to get a decent picture of it returning. The 11 tram route is very busy, again I am guessing it was a public holiday as the line also goes past the city cemetery and there was a massive queue of people there waiting to buy flowers and go in there to pay their respects to loved ones. Or maybe it wasn't a special day and is just a normal Latvian weekend tradition.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/Riga/i-5CVP2m6/0/L/Riga%20Retro%20Tramvajs%201901%20Gaujas%20Iela%20070614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Latvia/Riga/i-5CVP2m6/0/L/Riga%20Retro%20Tramvajs%201901%20Gaujas%20Iela%20070614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And that was pretty much it. Bus to the airport to find one of Ryanairs scams namely the 7 Euro 'Security Charge' only its passengers have to pay in order to get through the baggage scanning bit at Riga Airport. I can't say I remember reading anywhere about that one when I booked my tickets. The only thing I will say is though that on the flight back it was, highly unusally for Ryanair, not completely full with the seats left being the 'large legroom' rows immediately in front of me that they usually try to charge more for. As they are emergency exit rows Aviation rules mean they have to have people sitting in them so I quickly volunteered and had a lovely relaxing flight back with lots of room. Sods law though getting to move as its the first time in all the occasions I've flown anywhere (without the family that is) that I've been allocated a seat next to a young attractive female. She did look a bit miserable though so the legroom was far more important.<br />
<br />
I hope this blog will help anyone thinking of going to the area to photograph the railways. Again the locations I have mentioned, if you put them in Google Maps, should be obvious as to where they were taken from, Streetview if available should also help you find the spots. It's well worth a visit to these countries, lots of big smokey diesels on fairly frequent freight trains and no hassle from anyone anywhere. Even Riga, known for its stag parties, was a nice place to visit. Thanks for taking the time to read, I'll leave you with a picture of my fellow crazy Estonians. Bye for now!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/People/i-td2JnmZ/0/L/Richard%20Stiles%20Neil%20Caplan%20Saduniskes%20020614g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/People/i-td2JnmZ/0/L/Richard%20Stiles%20Neil%20Caplan%20Saduniskes%20020614g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-48944598056145907682014-04-25T21:52:00.002+01:002014-04-25T21:52:29.181+01:0056: Buses and Barnetby, Cleethorpes and Kent then A Moment in Mann<div align="center">
Welcome to another installment of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog, this being the 56th (well really the 58th due to several 'two-parters'), and the first for over a month. The tardiness of getting round to writing this has been more down to me being too busy taking and processing pictures for once rather than not having any trips to talk about: I thought I'd better squeeze an April edition in somehow!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Having resumed taking pictures of buses, when convenient, I am finding more time then ever is spent processing the pictures. Whereas a good days railway photography can result in maybe 20 to 30 images, just an hour in a busy town centre location can result in that quantity of bus ones. Again as I have mentioned before, the bus side of things isn't really taking the place of railway photography but rather using up time when I would either be in the pub or nowhere near the railway anyway. Certainly I am finding on my outings to Wetherspoons I am having to leave far more time in the respective towns than hitherto due to trying to hunt down the dwindling stock of older buses.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Stagecoach/Stagecoach-Single/i-5bwJL5F/0/L/Stagecoach%2020644%20Margate%20270314g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Countrywide/Stagecoach/Stagecoach-Single/i-5bwJL5F/0/L/Stagecoach%2020644%20Margate%20270314g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Volvo Olympians and B10M's (pictured above) are increasingly hard to find with the three major bus groups (Arriva, First and Stagecoach). Like railways where I only resumed photographing again after the older engines had been retired I appear to have done exactly the same with buses.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I got to both Glasgow and Chester with work, which enabled an hour or so of photography on the streets of both cities after local buses, though a longer trip to Northamptonshire was aimed more at visiting Wetherspoons pubs with a few bus pictures in the likes of Corby and Kettering. The one railway picture of the day was a surprise find in the town of Rushden, about midway between Kettering and Bedford. There is a railway <a href="http://www.rhts.co.uk/">Transport Museum</a> situated in the old station area. It was dusk when I arrived but having about 15 minutes until the bus I had chance to take a quick look. A shame I hadn't arrived earlier as it is open to the public most Fridays and Saturdays. There are various small steam and diesel locomotives and even former Blackpool Tram number 634.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Heritage/Other-Heritage-Sites/i-cGvwBkK/0/L/WD7222%20Edmundsons%20Rushden%20210314g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Heritage/Other-Heritage-Sites/i-cGvwBkK/0/L/WD7222%20Edmundsons%20Rushden%20210314g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Another long trip was made the following week to Kent, this time with more of a railway theme. Again the main purpose was to visit the remaining Wetherspoons in the area I'd not previously had a drink in. As Thanet is normally only served by South Eastern's class 375 units I wasn't expecting too many pictures although a mediocre shot of a class 59 at <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/59/i-KBWXsNc/0/O/59004%20Gravesend%20270314g.jpg">Gravesend</a> was a bonus.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The main place I was aiming for was Deal where not only was there a new Wetherspoons but also one of the Southern Region's few remaining mechanical signal boxes. Even with little variety of trains passing it was still worth a few shots of the station area before the signals get removed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/375/i-SKMJhqZ/0/L/375701%20Deal%201%20270314g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/375/i-SKMJhqZ/0/L/375701%20Deal%201%20270314g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My plan was to get the 1845 High Speed Javelin service from Dover to London for an easy walk to Euston for my train home. Sat in the pub outside the station 15 minutes before departure there was an almighty bang and flash as a thunder storm suddenly burst over the area. Another, followed by the station lights going out, wasn't a good omen, and I ended up stuck there for two hours as more lightning had burnt out a substation at Folkestone. At least I did eventually get home, unlike many Eurostar passengers, as they were badly affected by this storm for the rest of the night. At least once signalling control was restored I could make my way back via Faversham.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My next rail trip wasn't for two weeks. I wanted to get some reasonable railway shots for the first time in a month so chose Barnetby as it was some years since my last visit to this freight hotspot. I was lucky with the weather: I had decided on the destination without really studying the forecast, and arrived to lovely clear skies. Clouds did drift over for a few hours mid-morning but either side it was beautiful sunshine and well worth a few hours watching the regular coal and iron ore trains.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Other/DVT/i-7R9PRSs/0/L/9701%2031465%20Barnetby%20140414g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Other/DVT/i-7R9PRSs/0/L/9701%2031465%20Barnetby%20140414g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/60/i-2mhT3D9/0/L/60001%20Barnetby%20140414g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If you've never done the classic Barnetby station shot before (above) then it is time to get over as there are plans underway to resignal the Barnetby and Wrawby Junction areas removing the best collection of working semaphore signals still left in the country.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Many people will visit the area by car enabling easy access to the various locations on the route between Scunthorpe and Brocklesby Junction where the majority of the freight trains can be seen, however even if arriving by train there are a few good locations easily reached on foot. A footpath heading east behind the signal box from Barnetby station takes you to the popular overbridges at <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-5/i-LHM9QRh/0/O/66599%20Melton%20Ross%20140414g.jpg">Melton Ross</a> and <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/60/i-PHHBhZg/0/O/60024%20New%20Barnetby%20140414g.jpg">New Barnetby.</a> There is also a shot from the field just past the latter. I went there for the return of the Network Rail test train. Whilst it arrived at the same time as a cloud, 60001 I had also photographed earlier returned from the docks in a nice piece of April sunshine.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/60/i-344694r/0/L/60001%20New%20Barnetby%20140414g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/60/i-344694r/0/L/60001%20New%20Barnetby%20140414g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have often found at Barnetby that things go a bit quiet in the afternoon so I had already decided to move on after dinner time and head towards Cleethorpes for several reasons. First of these was to do the railway line to the resort, I have never previously been by train past Habrough; I would have liked to also do the Barton-on-Humber branch line but there wasn't the time. Second was, as always, to do several branches of Wetherspoons. Annoyingly the one at Cleethorpes doesn't open until July so I shall have to return then. Third was, as common now, to get some bus pictures from the Grimsby area but fourth was to see the minature <a href="http://www.cleethorpescoastlightrailway.com/">Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In hindsight I would've liked more time at this small line, especially as there is a fine real ale bar in a small signal box at the main station. There was only one engine in action as I caught the last few trains of the day, the engine being a diminutive 0-4-0 diesel locomotive that the railway acquired from, of all places, Tasmania. Built for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Mill_Railway">Bush Mill Railway</a> in 1986 it makes quite a good noise as it trundles along the edge of the Cleethorpes boating lake. Well worth a visit.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Heritage/CCLR/i-sb5QK4q/0/L/Cleethorpes%20Coast%20Light%20Railway%206%201%20140414g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Heritage/CCLR/i-sb5QK4q/0/L/Cleethorpes%20Coast%20Light%20Railway%206%201%20140414g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The rest of the family had gone on holiday to the Isle of Man that week as I was, nominally, working, however I took a couple of days off to make a short trip over to see them. Given the presence of three railways, buses and excellent beer the decision to go wasn't difficult! It was the first time I had flown from Blackpool Airport. A convenient departure point, except for their £10 'Airport Development Levy' which, for a family parking their car for free and going on a week's foreign holiday isn't too bad, but for a lone traveller making a short flight becomes a very sizeable addition to the airfare. There also doesn't appear to have been much development taking place recently.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Anyway, the 25 minute hop over to Ronaldsway airport was by far the shortest flight I've ever made and on the smallest plane I've yet been on. The Citywing <a href="http://isleofman.isle-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Let410-Citywing.jpg">LET 410</a> was quite an experience! I spent most of the first day there on my own getting a £7 bus day ticket and having a tour around a fair bit of the Island visiting some of the excellent pubs and also getting pictures of the steam railway and electric trams. The weather wasn't fantastic but improved the following day.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/IOM/MER/i-J5KqDTw/0/L/MER%206%2047%20Laxey%20170414g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/IOM/MER/i-J5KqDTw/0/L/MER%206%2047%20Laxey%20170414g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I had to spend at least a bit of the visit with the family but managed even on this second day, when the weather was beautiful and the sun scorching hot, to get some pictures. We went first to Douglas for the family to do a final bit of shopping, though we went via Onchan so I could get a nice panoramic tram <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions/180414/i-zQchqqK/A">picture</a> with Douglas Bay behind. The Sidings pub next to Castletown Station was an excellent place to go for dinner, not only because of the cheap food and superb range of hand-pulled beers, but also because it enabled me to nip out for a picture whenever a train was due.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/IOM/IMR/i-TpBQ4qM/0/L/IMR%2010%20Castletown%201%20180414g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/IOM/IMR/i-TpBQ4qM/0/L/IMR%2010%20Castletown%201%20180414g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Usually the Isle of Man Railway run a two-hourly timetable using two locomotives, however as this was Good Friday and so a Bank Holiday it meant there was a slightly more frequent train service operating with three engines in steam. One of these was number 15 'Caledonia', former Manx Northern Railway's number 4. In my last few visits I had never seen, let alone photographed, this particular engine which looks outstanding in its old MNR colours, so leaving the family sunbathing on the beach 5 minutes walk away, I nipped up to Port Erin Station for its arrival.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/IOM/IMR/i-QCv8gtH/1/L/IMR%2015%20Port%20Erin%20180414g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/IOM/IMR/i-QCv8gtH/1/L/IMR%2015%20Port%20Erin%20180414g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I even managed a final shot of number 10 'G.H. Wood' leaving Castletown on the 1757 departure, got to the airport in time for my 1900 flight, and still had time for a leisurely pint of beer before boarding. Both at Blackpool and Ronaldsway airports it took longer to take my belt off and on for the scanners than it did to get through the rest of security. Shame every airport isn't like that!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As the rest of the family, travelling by ferry with the car, weren't expected home until after dinner the following day I went over the Blackpool to see some of the heritage trams that were in operation over the Easter weekend. There were four trams booked to be operating tours from the Pleasure Beach to North Pier and beyond. I like going via Poulton and the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/Random/i-wfS5tVf/0/O/Knott%20End%20Ferry%20Wyre%20Rose%20190414g.jpg">Knott End Ferry</a> to Fleetwood. At very low tide the ferry has to stop running, on this day the 1100 one was the first that could run so I just missed the morning run of the heritage trams to Fleetwood. I did get a picture of Bombardier Flexity tram 016, the first of the new trams to recieve all over advertising. Personally I don't think it looks too bad externally but apparently it is very difficult to see anything out of the windows and it has even been pointed out that the have covered up the external destination displays!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Blackpool/i-vhhhfNB/0/L/Blackpool%20016%20Fishermans%20Walk%20190414g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Blackpool/i-vhhhfNB/0/L/Blackpool%20016%20Fishermans%20Walk%20190414g-L.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Like the first day in the Isle of Man clouds came over during the mid-part of the day. Heritage trams 230, 600, 717 and Twin-car 272+T2 were out in operation in addition to two Balloon cars (713 and 719) being parked out in the street next to Rigby Road depot for a few hours. I could of course wait for a sunny break for a picture of the two Balloon cars, I also got in sun newly named <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Blackpool/i-m2VPhN4/0/O/Blackpool%20717%20Pleasure%20Beach%20190414g.jpg">717</a> which was on display at the Pleasure Beach awaiting a final evening trip to Fleetwood.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Blackpool/i-bTZVzRN/0/L/Blackpool%20719%20713%20Rigby%20Road%201%20190414g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Blackpool/i-bTZVzRN/0/L/Blackpool%20719%20713%20Rigby%20Road%201%20190414g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am hoping to get one or two trips in somewhere next week: I might intersperse these with a few local bus pictures as I am trying to make up for not photographing any for the last 20 years. As always any new trip galleries will be held in the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions">New Additions</a> section for the first month or so before being moved to their permanent home in <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips/Trips2014">Trips 2014</a>; when galleries are predominantly of buses I try to include the word 'Buses' in the title. I also need to continue with the job of reprocessing the scanned 1990 bus pictures that I already have uploaded before I can recommence the actual scanning: all my vaguely useable railway pictures from the 1990's have finally been done.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thanks as always for taking the time to read this blog, please look out for the next or become 'friends' on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/railwaymedia">Facebook</a> to receive more information on where I've been. At the bottom of the page you will find a list of the ex-Isle of Man double deck buses now in service with Blackpool Transport. I've been unable to find a definitive list so I've cobbled this one together mainly from posts on the excellent <a href="http://fyldebus.blogspot.co.uk/">Fylde Bus Blog</a>. I've included it here principally to save me trawling the internet to find details everytime I need them though hopefully someone else will find it useful too! I'll leave you with a picture of a pleasant way to spend a nice sunny hour by a busy freight railway. Bye for now!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-ZmpDsRt/0/L/i-ZmpDsRt-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-ZmpDsRt/0/L/i-ZmpDsRt-L.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Ex Isle of Man Transport buses in service with Blackpool Transport:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
343-353 Chassis: Dennis Trident. Body: East Lancs.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
343 H 1FBT (EMN 53Y)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
344 E 11BTS (EMN 50Y)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
345 E 12BTS (EMN 48Y)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
346 E 13BTS (EMN 51Y)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
347 E 14BTS (EMN 52Y)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
348 E 15BTS (EMN 49Y)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
349 E 16BTS (EMN 93F)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
350 E 17BTS (GMN324F)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
351 E 18BTS (FMN158E)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
352 E 19BTS (FMN412E)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
353 E 20BTS (FMN158E)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
354-372 Chassis: DAF. Body: East Lancs.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
354 L 50BTS (FMN835J)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
355 L100BTS (FMN622J)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
356 L200BTS (FMN621J)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
357 L300BTS (FMN620J)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
358 L400BTS (FMN623J)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
359 L500BTS (FMN836J)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
360 L600BTS (FMN299J)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
361 L700BTS (FMN503J)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
362 L800BTS (FMN619J)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
363 L900BTS (FMN618J)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
364 J 70BTS (FMN181P)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
365 J 90BTS (FMN804T)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
366 J200BTS (FMN501T)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
367 J300BTS (FMN498T)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
368 J400BTS (FMN502T)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
369 J600BTS (FMN500T)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
370 J700BTS (FMN505T)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
371 J800BTS (FMN499T)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
372 J900BTS (FMN497T)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-18075792767702371262014-03-16T17:18:00.001+00:002014-03-16T17:19:32.649+00:0055: Cement and Sun, Twenties and Trams<div align="center">
Welcome to edition 55 of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
In the four weeks since i got round to writing the last blog I've managed to make progress with my scanning and also had a few trips out with the camera, especially over this last week when the weather has perked up nicely giving some pleasant late winter (or is it early spring) sunshine.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/57/i-DDmQtGK/0/L/57007%2057003%20Greengate%20110314g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/57/i-DDmQtGK/0/L/57007%2057003%20Greengate%20110314g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The first week or so was spent getting through another batch of my early 1990's pictures. Increasingly the quality is getting poorer as I move back from prints taken from SLR film to those taken on a 110 point and shoot camera and finally to the few which were taken on a quite dreadful 126 film camera. Oh for the technology of today back then as there are very few images of reasonable enough quality that I can realistically salvage for the website. I've got 17 left to process, and I don't expect some of those will meet the grade once I start trying to improve them in Photoshop. What appears to be a half-decent picture on the print rarely can be increased in size enough for web viewing, as this shot of a Class 58 taken at Crewe in about 1987 illustrates, coming from a square 126-film print. Oddly I only have a handful of Class 58 pictures but I have three of this particular loco alone!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/58/i-2BV73vt/0/L/58009%20Crewe%201987g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/58/i-2BV73vt/0/L/58009%20Crewe%201987g-L.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The first really sunny day for a bit in the North West was at the end of February and I spotted that this now seemingly regular twice-weekly working from Avonmouth to Castle Cement at Clitheroe was running. I can get to Bamber bridge in about 20 minutes from my house so timed it nicely to see it pass through. Depending on what schedule it is running to it sometimes waits 30 minutes at Blackburn for a path to Clitheroe thus enabling a second shot of it further up the Ribble Valley.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-0/i-XRQGsqv/0/L/66012%20Bamber%20Bridge%20270214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-0/i-XRQGsqv/0/L/66012%20Bamber%20Bridge%20270214g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Testing of Edinburgh's new trams has now started right through to the City Centre terminus of York Place during daylight. I had to go there with work two days running and just caught the end of the days testing at about half past four. The official website currently has a cab ride video of the whole route from the Airport and can be seen <a href="http://www.edinburghtrams.com/news/a-trams-eye-view">HERE.</a> Sometime in May has been suggested as the possible date for the opening of the route to the public. The view of a tram with a Union Jack behind might be a rare sight soon, depending on the result of the Scottish Independance Referendum.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Edinburgh/i-hg4k7CV/0/L/Edinburgh%20264%20St%20Andrews%20Square%20040314g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Edinburgh/i-hg4k7CV/0/L/Edinburgh%20264%20St%20Andrews%20Square%20040314g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The following week I had a trip down to Portsmouth. Ostensibly for a few beers I never anticipated getting many railway pictures but did manage a couple of shots at Havant and Cosham. The weather cleared up really well in the afternoon so I ended up also getting a few bus pictures. I was suprised to find a new busway operating between Fareham and Gosport utilising the trackbed of the old railway. The line closed as far back as 1953, presumably before much of the housing in the area was built; the fact that there is a bus every 6 minutes illustrates how much demand there must now be. There was talk about creating a tram route linking Portsmouth via a new tunnel (details can still be found <a href="http://www.lrta.org/southhants.html">HERE</a>), but for now you have to use the busy Gosport Ferry instead, below is a view taken from it showing the waterfront of Portsmouth with HMS Victory and the Spinnaker Tower.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/Places-Britain/i-fkgR2c6/0/L/Portsmouth%20The%20Hard%20070314g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/Places-Britain/i-fkgR2c6/0/L/Portsmouth%20The%20Hard%20070314g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
With nice weather on my week of night shifts I was able to get out a couple of times in the afternoons. After another shot of the Avonmouth to Clitheroe train I headed up the M6 to Kirkby Stephen on the Settle and Carlisle line to photograph a <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-0/i-PSvBwFp/1/L/66016%20Greengate%20110314g-L.jpg">gypsum train</a> out of Newbiggin and the old faithful 6K05 departmental that was about 30 minutes behind. I haven't got many pictures of this train since DRS started operating it last year so a pair of class 57s was nice (picture at the top of the blog). I then only just had time to get across to Docker on the West Coast Main Line for a southbound New Measurement Train working, the first of two times I photographed it that week.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/43/i-z4PNvWq/0/L/43062%20Docker%20110314g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/43/i-z4PNvWq/0/L/43062%20Docker%20110314g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The Colas operated log train is currently operating via Shap rather than via Settle so would normally have been due just after the NMT but unfortunately wasn't running that day. The following day I didn't wake up until after dinner so hadn't the time to go too far. Rather than fight my way across the Preston traffic just for a single shot of the log train, I went to a location about a mile from my house near the site of the old LNWR Farington station at Lostock Hall. The low banking allowed the late afternoon sun to still be high enough to light the Fast Lines by the time the Class 56 turned up. Whilst this will be less of a problem once the clocks go forward in two weeks time, unfortunately this location isn't as good in summer once the lineside grasses regrow.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-6TZXQB9/0/L/56087%20Lostock%20Hall%20120314g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-6TZXQB9/0/L/56087%20Lostock%20Hall%20120314g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Finally on the Friday I was able to go a bit further. Not wanting to go all the way down to London for some photography I plumped for Willington on the Derby to Birmingham line. This is one of the best sections of line in the country for the variety of freight trains you can see passing: during the course of the day I saw almost 20 ranging from coal trains to steel, departmental freights to infrastructure test trains, as well as the constant stream of Cross Country Turbostars and Voyagers.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I would recommend <a href="http://www.visionsinternational.biz/html/books.html">Visions International's</a> excellent Trainspots book for the area as a good guide to the many locations in this area however the Midlands book is now sold out. There are a few others though covering several other areas or instead go to the <a href="http://www.trainspots.co.uk/">Trainspots</a> homepage.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-0/i-DffnJND/0/L/66083%20North%20Stafford%20Junction%20140314g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-0/i-DffnJND/0/L/66083%20North%20Stafford%20Junction%20140314g-L.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The footbridge at North Stafford Junction (view looking east seen above) is about 15 minute walk along the canal towpath from Willington station. In the distance can be seen the road bridge at Stenson Junction, both of which give good views in either direction, though the sun favours trains heading towards Birmingham from mid-morning until mid-afternoon.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
With the help of <a href="http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/">Real Time Trains</a> you can easily move between these bridges, and another on the Castle Donnington branch at Stenson itself, in between trains. I had just missed a Derby to Old Dalby move of new London Underground S-Stock as I arrived at Willington, hauled as usual by two pairs of class 20s. Of course I was a bit annoyed I didn't manage to get that particular working however the highlight of the day turned out to be almost last thing and after the clouds had moved in.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
By about 3pm the sun, had it been out, would have been head on down the line so it was as well for once that it did turn cloudy. A Toton to Basford Hall Infrastructure train was due and what a pleasant surprise it was to see it appear being hauled by yet another pair of class 20s. Coming five minutes after a blue class 60 headed east and also five minutes before the Colas class 47 hauled Boston Docks steel train also went that way, this made a very good end to a productive day.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/20/i-2xbKhrn/0/L/20142%2020189%20North%20Stafford%20Junction%20140314g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/20/i-2xbKhrn/0/L/20142%2020189%20North%20Stafford%20Junction%20140314g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The rest of that days pictures can be seen in the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions">New Additions</a> section for the next month before they move to the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips/Trips2014">2014 Trips</a> section. Please have a look if you have time.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I am hoping that I shall be able to make a few trips again over the next two weeks so please check for another edition of the blog shortly after that. I will leave you with a sign at Langho station which is 20 years old this May: the Blackburn to Clitheroe line has gone from strength to strength since. Thanks for reading, bye for now!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Other/Signs/i-XhbjGJG/0/L/Langho%20Station%20Sign%20270214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Other/Signs/i-XhbjGJG/0/L/Langho%20Station%20Sign%20270214g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-43537913915958976152014-02-24T13:47:00.001+00:002014-02-24T13:47:52.248+00:0054: Scans, Shields, Steam and a Shedcode<div align="center">
Welcome as always to the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog, which appears to have settled down to a monthly appearance, principally as a result of work patterns dictating when, or if, I get out and about.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
That a few weeks would pass I predicted in the last edition along with the fact I might near the end of reprocessing the pictures already on the website. This I managed to accomplish; there's always more that can be done, especially to the older poorer quality images that need a lot of work to make them look reasonable, but at least the captioning has now been standardised and it is largely for now a case of scanning in some old pictures and, of course, occasionally taking some new ones.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/50/i-9hnPvm6/1/L/50020%20Rotherham%20290292g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/50/i-9hnPvm6/1/L/50020%20Rotherham%20290292g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At the moment of writing this there are two albums in the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions">New Additions</a> section containing those railway images from 1992 I managed to scan in over the last few weeks. A lot of my 6"x4" prints aren't really up to the quality for scanning in at high resolution and adding to the site, but there are still a few images, like those I took on a trip to an open day at the Booth's Scrapyard in Rotherham in February 1992 (50020 pictured above) that are well worth the effort to clean up.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With three weeks spent mainly scanning images I did then manage a few days out with my camera. I had intended to go to the Newcastle area for a few beers during January but a freight train derailment near Penrith on the day planned had (fortunately as it turned out given the weather) sent me for a day to <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips/Trips2014/130114/i-QDvcsnf">Cambridgeshire</a> instead. Again I was lucky with the sun for the day this month I chose to head to Tyneside, principally to visit a range of the areas Wetherspoons pubs I hadn't yet visited but also to get some more photographs of the unique <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyne_and_Wear_Metro">Tyne and Wear Metro System</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Tyne/i-3dSV9Ps/0/L/TW%204061%204057%20Byker%20100214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Tyne/i-3dSV9Ps/0/L/TW%204061%204057%20Byker%20100214g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I made the effort to get a shot I particularly wanted of the stunning Byker Viaduct. Just behind this 1979 built concrete structure can be glimpsed the rather more ornate Ouseburn Viaduct built in 1839 by John and Benjamin Green for the Newcastle and North Shields Railway and which is now part of the East Coast Main Line. The photo was taken from the third massive structure crossing the valley which carries the A193 road and itself dates from 1878, though since much widened.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I had a pleasant day working my way round the area including visiting for the first time in many years Whitley Bay and Monkseaton. These Metro stations are worth seeing, along with Tyne Dock, for their ornate North Eastern Railway station buildings and canopies. I also had a trip across the Tyne on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shields_Ferry">Shields Ferry</a> between North and South Shields which, as it is run by Nexus the local transport organisation, the price is included in their all operator day <a href="http://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/tickets">ticket.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Tyne/i-PPMWxKK/2/L/TW%204028%204077%20Monkseaton%20100214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Tyne/i-PPMWxKK/2/L/TW%204028%204077%20Monkseaton%20100214g-L.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Despite having a few days out over the next week I couldn't work up the enthusiasm to take my camera with me so it was 8 days before a Grand Central HST heading down to Crewe for tyre turning gave me a reason to head out in the car for an hour or so. I can rarely be bothered to drive across Preston for just one picture but the HST fortunately coincided with a freight train and a Trans Pennine Desiro too so a trip up the A6 to Woodacre was worth making despite the weather.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/43/i-Hth6mVv/1/L/43180%2043123%20Woodacre%20180214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/43/i-Hth6mVv/1/L/43180%2043123%20Woodacre%20180214g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As it was half-term for the children last week in our area I couldn't really go for any long days out but had arranged a nights stay in Edinburgh with the family. I took my camera in case daytime testing of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Edinburgh/">trams</a> had reached Princes Street. Apparently they started the afternoon we headed back! Whilst my first love as a child was always railways, regular readers will also know that I have had an interest, and worked on, buses too. I have about 800 bus pictures from the 1990's I have yet to scan in, plus captioning and reprocessing work on those I have already done, but only occasionally do I take pictures of modern vehicles. With nice weather and the rest of the family wanting to look round shops I took the opportunity to get some pictures of the always immaculate <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Scotland/Lothian/">Lothian Buses</a> fleet.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Usually on a Saturday, having been working Friday night, I don't tend to get up until dinner time but being awake early and with a friend heading up on the train to Glasgow I decided to have a ride up to Carlisle for an hour before returning to my regular Saturday afternoon <a href="http://blogpreston.co.uk/2014/02/goodbye-bitter-suite-hello-ale-emporium/">pub.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What really swung it for this trip was that the regular Cumbrian Mountain Express from London to Carlisle was running and it enabled me to get shots at both Preston and Carlisle, though inevitably just end-of-the-platform pictures. The sun was out in Preston which made the shot of 86259 arriving there problematic. The train changes to steam traction at Carnforth enabling you to get ahead of it and a bank of cloud cover as it arrived in Carlisle actually enabled a better south-facing shot.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Heritage/Steam/i-H4fz3hb/0/L/46115%20Carlisle%20220214g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Heritage/Steam/i-H4fz3hb/0/L/46115%20Carlisle%20220214g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For those who don't like buses please look away from that day's <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions/220214/">trip</a> pictures too as I took some more bus pictures on my return to Preston. I'm not sure that I will be starting to regularly take photos of them but I found it quite pleasing to get some shots of local buses purely as a record. Maybe once I get back into the scanning of my old bus pictures this will further awaken my interest but I'm not as yet planning on standing too much on too many street corners for the time being at least!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thanks as always for reading, please check the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newaddtions">New Additions</a> section for not just any recent trips I've been on but also for progress with my scanning of the remainder of my railway pictures. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We went for a family meal at an Italian Restaurant on Leith Walk in Edinburgh during our trip there. I was suprised to see this obvious railway reference on the frame of a T-shirt hanging on the wall. 65A used to be the code for Eastfield depot in Glasgow; bye for now.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-85hJkqM/0/L/i-85hJkqM-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-85hJkqM/0/L/i-85hJkqM-L.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-32980151336853504092014-01-22T15:37:00.000+00:002014-01-28T20:22:40.238+00:0053: Metrolink, March, Tubes and Trams<div align="center">
Welcome to the first <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> blog of 2014. As I predicted before Christmas it is well into January before I've been able to sit down to write it. The first few weeks of the New Year were taken up working but a week off afterwards enabled a few jaunts out with the camera.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The first two days out were actually work related in that I had time to get a few shots in the areas I ended up. The first of which was Manchester. The prize for the first picture taken in 2014 goes to Metrolink's Bombardier tram number 3009 at the new Ashton-under-Lyne terminus.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Manchester/i-ww3Mktw/0/L/Metrolink%203009%20Ashton%20under%20Lyne%201%20090114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Manchester/i-ww3Mktw/0/L/Metrolink%203009%20Ashton%20under%20Lyne%201%20090114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ashton was one of the two recent line extensions I hadn't previously covered, the section east of Droylesden opening on the 9th October last year. There are 4 stops on the route, the line following a dual carriageway for the most part serving little except a couple of designated 'Park and Ride' sites. A 20 minute bus journey from Ashton took me to Oldham. The other new section I hadn't done was between Shaw and Rochdale Railway Station. This has actually been open now for 11 months though two additional bits will open this year, between Rochdale Station and the town centre and also the new loop through Oldham's centre. Three trams were in use testing this bit when I visited.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Manchester/i-9VLWM8W/0/L/Metrolink%203071%20Oldham%20King%20Street%20090114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Manchester/i-9VLWM8W/0/L/Metrolink%203071%20Oldham%20King%20Street%20090114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There is a detailed map showing the new route through Oldham <a href="http://www.metrolink.co.uk/futuremetrolink/Documents/ORL-Hollinwood-to-Derker-Current.pdf">HERE.</a> It will replace the course of the old British Rail route between Werneth and Oldham through Werneth and Central tunnels which will presumably get blocked off once the track and overhead equipment is removed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/142/i-7LSKcFH/0/L/142053%20Oldham%20Werneth%20100107g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/142/i-7LSKcFH/0/L/142053%20Oldham%20Werneth%20100107g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The following day I had a few hours spare in Birmingham so made my way along the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-City_Line">Cross-City</a> line to Northfield to the south of the city. Located on the main line towards Worcester and Bristol in addition to the 6 stopping trains an hour operated by London Midland's class 323 units there are also regular long distance services to Bristol, Cardiff and Hereford passing through. There is also quite a bit of freight at certain times of the day and I was lucky to get 4 in just over an hour. Most will run on the fast lines (pictured below) but they can run on the slow line, depending on traffic levels, which isn't quite as good for photography. As always <a href="http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/">Real Time Trains</a> was invaluable.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-8/i-dm8Dvh9/0/L/66850%20Northfield%20100114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-8/i-dm8Dvh9/0/L/66850%20Northfield%20100114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Moving on to my full week off work, I made three trips out, on alternative days, as always in search of both photographs and beer. The first was intended to be to Newcastle; I really need to get some more pictures in that area and especially of the Metro, but the combination of a derailed freight train at Penrith and the weather forecast steered me to East Anglia instead.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Wetherspoons pub chain, for so long the preserve of large towns only, is increasingly expanding to smaller places and Whittlesey about 5 miles from Peterborough is one of those. The local station (with the different spelling of Whittlesea) only has a two hourly service so a 10am arrival gave me plenty of time for an early-doors pint and also time for some railway photography.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-7/i-qV65L7X/1/L/66736%20Whittlesea%20130114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-7/i-qV65L7X/1/L/66736%20Whittlesea%20130114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There is still semaphore signalling here, and as can be seen a signal box. Being on quite a busy cross-country freight route, the large yard at Whitemoor near March being about 10 miles east, it is worth a visit. Be warned though that the level crossing at the station is hand operated by a crossing keeper who has to get permission from the signalman to open them. I very nearly missed my train as the freight pictured above took so long to come the gates remained closed for the approach of the train I wanted. The platforms are also staggered so it is a long run to the eastbound platform!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
March was my next destination. Again the town still has signal boxes for now, two in fact are still in operation, although there are only a few shunting signals that remain as semaphores. Again this small town has a Wetherspoons so another two hours brought another beer and a few more pictures. This freight I got to photograph twice, once at the station and once here after being looped.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-0/i-kWC9CTs/0/L/66118%20March%20South%20Junction%20130114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-0/i-kWC9CTs/0/L/66118%20March%20South%20Junction%20130114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Despite the lovely winter light the sun of course starts dropping fast before 1500 so the rest of the day was spent making my way round the remaining Wetherspoons I needed in the area. A bus ride was needed to get to <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/Places-Britain/i-TmbHTQx/0/O/River%20Nene%20Wisbech%201%20130114g.jpg">Wisbech</a> and then onward to Kings Lynn. This was my second visit to this lovely Fenland town, the area around the station and bus station is pretty unremarkable but the Old Town near the River Great Ouse has some really beautiful buildings.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/Places-Britain/i-MNrkL2c/0/L/Captain%20George%20Vancouver%20Kings%20Lynn%20270911g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/Places-Britain/i-MNrkL2c/0/L/Captain%20George%20Vancouver%20Kings%20Lynn%20270911g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I called into Cambridge on the way back to London. I'm fairly sure this was my first ever visit to the centre of the City and three observations stand out when comparing it to Oxford. First being Oxford is much nicer, the second that Cambridge Station makes Oxford's look positively central and thirdly that all cyclists in Cambridge should be shot. They get everywhere!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After a day on Tuesday to recover (I'm getting old!) and to process the previous day's pictures, Wednesday saw me heading south once again for a day in London. I'd arranged to meet up with some friends for a few beers after they finished work so that decided the general destination. On the train down to Euston I worked out my itiniary, again based around Wetherspoons, and this took me east towards Romford via the Docklands, returning along the District and Central lines to Leyton.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/321/i-dJzNpsf/0/L/321306%20Emerson%20Park%201%20150114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/321/i-dJzNpsf/0/L/321306%20Emerson%20Park%201%20150114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've said it before, but chasing round Wetherspoons pubs sometimes distracts me from the Railway photography side of a day out but also can guide me to areas I wouldn't otherwise have been. Whittlesea and March were good examples earlier in the week, Emerson Park on the Romford to Upminster line is another, although maybe not in quite the same league! There is a quiet foot crossing to the west of the line's only intermediate station. Alas there is usually little other than the lines single unit going backwards and forwards every 30 minutes past it, but it is worth knowing about.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The London Underground's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_D78_Stock">D Stock</a> on the District Line eneterd service in 1980 and is now the second oldest in service on the network after the Hammersmith & City and Circle line's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_C69_and_C77_Stock">C Stock,</a> both of which are due to be replaced over the next 2 years by new units, indeed the C Stock is already quickly being replaced with the new Bombardier built S7 and S8 trains.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/London/i-KJkdPBj/0/L/LU%207021%20Hornchurch%20150114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/London/i-KJkdPBj/0/L/LU%207021%20Hornchurch%20150114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/London/i-wH8sLnM/0/L/LU%207059%20Hornchurch%20150114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The weather was starting to get dreadful by the time I was heading back towards Central London so the intention again as it was getting dark was to move from photography to beer drinking, however ending up after dark at the relatively quiet Central line station of Wanstead I did have time for a bit of tube train photography using the good low light capabilities of the Canon 5D.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/London/i-rZsvpJL/0/L/LU%2091129%20Wanstead%20150114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/London/i-rZsvpJL/0/L/LU%2091129%20Wanstead%20150114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Friday was another day where I was in several minds where to go. I discounted Newcastle as I didn't fancy running the risk of a train load of drunken teenagers that potenetially I might have faced returning on a Friday evening between Newcastle and Carlisle. Edinburgh had been a consideration the previous week as a place to end up. With testing finally starting on the long-delayed new Tram project I had been following them on <a href="https://twitter.com/EdinburghTrams">Twitter</a> to see what testing, if any, could be expected. Night-time testing has been taking place all the way through to the terminus in Edinburgh itself, including along Princess Street, however the previous week little else had been mentioned.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I took a chance and went up to Edinburgh Park station where there is an interchange between National Rail and the trams. I was pleased to see a tram standing there as I arrived on the train, in fact the driver was out of the vehicle operating the points to bring the tram back across onto the westbound track. I even got a picture of it in the only 2 minutes of sunshine I saw all day.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Edinburgh/i-F9DhLt8/1/L/Edinburgh%20265%20Edinburgh%20Park%20170114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Edinburgh/i-F9DhLt8/1/L/Edinburgh%20265%20Edinburgh%20Park%20170114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There turned out to be two trams out undertaking testing and driver training between the depot at Gogarburn and Edinburgh Park, a distance of 2 miles at the most. They both disappeared about 1130, presumably for an early dinner break, however it was good to get to see them actually in operation, something a good many Edinburgh residents I know have yet to witness!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Edinburgh/i-nSXVZc5/0/L/Edinburgh%20277%20Edinburgh%20Park%20Central%202%20170114g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Edinburgh/i-nSXVZc5/0/L/Edinburgh%20277%20Edinburgh%20Park%20Central%202%20170114g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With three weeks of night turns to look forward to (and I DO look forward to them), I'm unlikely to get out and about for a few weeks again now, however it does give me time to keep going with the re-processing of my website's images. I'm over halfway through doing my EMU pictures now, which is the final section I need to do and re-caption. Once those are complete it is simply a case of checking this blog for any missing pictures and similarly with my <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips">Archive of Trips</a> where the galleries need refreshing once the pictures have been reloaded. Once that's all done I can look at getting out and dusting down my scanner with a view to scanning in my older railway and bus pictures.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thanks as always for taking the time to read, I hope some of my talk about where I've been might be of use to someone in planning a trip themselves. One place I don't particularly recommend visiting is Livingston. The shopping centre is about the only redeeming feature of the place (which of course isn't saying much). It contains the two closest branches of Wetherspoons I have as yet come across, the NewYearField on the left and the Almond Bank on the right. Both were very busy too as there is probably little else to do in the area! Bye for now.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-mfnRQmG/0/L/i-mfnRQmG-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-mfnRQmG/0/L/i-mfnRQmG-L.jpg" height="406" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-6217134650246715622013-12-18T12:54:00.000+00:002014-12-19T13:15:26.419+00:0052: Desiros and DCR, Barton and Buckinghamshire<div style="text-align: center;">
Welcome to the Christmas Edition of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/">Railwaymedia</a> Blog; not that there is anything especially Christmassy about it, but I am certain it will be the last one of 2013 as I am working more or less solidly over the Christmas period so, barring a sudden snowfall or hearing about anything extremely special running, I'm unlikely to get out with my camera until January.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It has also probably been my longest ever gap since the previous blog, getting on for a month and a half, for two quite opposing reasons: first off I didn't go anywhere for almost three weeks and then I had two weeks where I was out and about all the time, though not necessarily with my camera.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/350/i-wn6bXFD/0/L/350401%20Brock%202%20151113g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/350/i-wn6bXFD/0/L/350401%20Brock%202%20151113g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/350/i-kgH75rQ/0/L/350401%20Brock%202%20151113g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The biggest news of November in the North West was probably the arrival of the first of Trans Pennine Express' new class 350/4 Siemens Desiro EMUs. As the future of the TPE franchise is still unclear, though an extension is likely, they have been delivered in a similar undercoat livery to that which London Midland's original batches of class 350's were first seen.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
350401, seen above, was initially used for type testing between Crewe and Carnforth and could be seen heading up the main line following the hired in London Midland class 350 that was being used for driver training. That has since been returned, with one of the three 350/4's that have so far been delivered taking up this duty. They have also been used to test the newly electrified Chat Moss line between Newton-le-Willows and Manchester, which was finally energised this month.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/350/i-7xPTWJM/0/L/350403%20350402%20Crewe%20271113g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/350/i-7xPTWJM/0/L/350403%20350402%20Crewe%20271113g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/350/i-ndhHNPT/0/L/350403%20350402%20Crewe%20271113g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Through electric services between Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester, which were due to start with the December timetable change, have now been postponed until the new year. Services have been altered though to enable the 350's to be filtered into service one they are delivered and commisioned, much to the chagrin of commuters from Bolton who now have one less train an hour.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
With the electrification complete of the eastern end of the Chat Moss route, work has now started on the sections between Earlestown and Wigan to Edge Hill (Liverpool), causing much consternation to one particular pensioner according to the <a href="http://www.wigantoday.net/news/local/rail-structure-causes-a-shock-1-6276105">Wigan Observer</a>. I love local news reporting!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Three weeks spent on night shift was
the reason I didn't go anywhere for most of November, though I did take
my camera with me to work most nights, principally to get shots of the
newly delivered 350's, but there was also an ecclectic mix of locos
appearing at Crewe over that time. Devon and Cornwall Railway's 56311
was a surprise visitor one night on the former Diesel Depot.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-SW4MWFv/0/L/56311%20Crewe%20221113g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-SW4MWFv/0/L/56311%20Crewe%20221113g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The start of more or less two weeks off was marked by a plan to visit a few Wetherspoon pubs in Yorkshire with a friend. With a few days available I took the opportunity of getting a <a href="http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/prc43aadc35ce7410164353812d29a02.aspx">Coast and Peaks Rover</a>. It's a good value ticket covering from Sheffield and Derby right across to Holyhead and was a regular purchase for several of us in school holidays back in the 1980's.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
With a lot of bus journeys needed to get to some of the places we wanted to visit I ended up not taking my camera on a few of the days. It made a nice change not to have to carry a bag around with me. I got to visit places I've not been to for years; places like Wombwell that we used to visit for the bus scrap yard there and Sandiacre which was the destination if trying to get round Toton Yard. Alas the Barton buses that used to operate the route from Long Eaton station have changed; on my last visit in perhaps 1989 they were still using elderly coaches complete with conductresses.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Midlands/Trent/i-4rWjhxS/0/L/Trent%201376%20Nottingham%20040392g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Midlands/Trent/i-4rWjhxS/0/L/Trent%201376%20Nottingham%20040392g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Midlands/Trent/i-xZ4V4vf/0/L/Trent%201376%20Nottingham%20040392g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On my final day using the Coast and Peaks Rover I knew I would be making more use of trains than I had on the other three so I took my camera. I started at another place I'd not visited for years, Worksop. Nearby Retford was a popular place for us to trainspot then as you got both trains on the East Coast Main Line but also the frequent class 56 hauled coal trains on the bottom line heading to Cottam and West Burton power stations. Whilst the 56's have of course gone I was pleased to see there is still a bit of coal train movement in the area with two passing not long after my arrival.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-0/i-nTND8Fj/0/L/66183%20Worksop%20091213g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-0/i-nTND8Fj/0/L/66183%20Worksop%20091213g-L.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I then headed down the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood_Line">Robin Hood Line</a> towards Nottingham, the northern end of which I have never previously travelled over. This end of the line, although it only has an hourly passenger service in the main, is worth investigating further: I noticed some nice semaphores at Creswell. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I alighted at Bulwell for a quick change onto the Nottingham Tramway. I wanted to call off at Wilkinson Street depot to see if any of the new trams were visible. 22 new Alstom Citadis trams have been ordered to supplement the current fleet of 15 Bombardier ones for when the extensions of the network to Beeston and Clifton are completed by the end of next year, 2014. There were four of the new trams visible, this one, number 218, was
obviously being used for load tests judging by the quantity of
sandbags placed next to it. Testing is taking place at night apparently.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Nottingham/i-swqKCRT/0/L/NET%20218%20Wilkinson%20Street%20Depot%20091213g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Nottingham/i-swqKCRT/0/L/NET%20218%20Wilkinson%20Street%20Depot%20091213g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I managed one more trip out last week. Again it was based round visiting Wetherspoons, at this time of year with it getting dark so early it is a challenge finding locations worth going to for photography, so I prefer to do other things and to just try to build in a little time for pictures enroute.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The plan was for a trip across Buckinghamshire starting at High Wycombe and ending up in Milton Keynes. The itinary worked suprisingly well enabling me to get to not only 10 Wetherspoons I hadn't previously visited but also to ride on three railway lines I've never traversed before.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/165/i-Cb5sFgK/0/L/165134%20Marlow%20131213g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/165/i-Cb5sFgK/0/L/165134%20Marlow%20131213g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The first of these was Marlow which is only a 20 minute bus ride across country from the Chiltern line at High Wycombe. Hugging the River Thames for most of its route this branch line runs hourly at off-peak times with a change of ends required at Bourne End. During peak times through trains from Paddington run to here with the branch unit shuttling between Bourne End and Marlow.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The second branch, which actually terminates only a few miles from Marlow, was from Twyford to Henley-on-Thames. My first stroke of photographic luck was as I alighted at Twyford I knew from <a href="http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/">Real Time Trains</a> that a Theales to Earles Sidings cement train was approaching. I decided to go to the east end of the platform to avoid the train I had alighted from getting in the way. As it turned out I would have been better going to the other end, but it would have been close.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-5/i-LDqLn4t/0/L/66511%20Twyford%20131213g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-5/i-LDqLn4t/0/L/66511%20Twyford%20131213g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Back on the bus to High Wycombe and again I was lucky that during my 5 minute wait for a northbound train there <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/67/i-LfR8hRB/0/L/67018%20High%20Wycombe%202%20131213g-L.jpg">67018</a> came the other way propelling the 1312 Birmingham to London Marylebone service. The diagrams for their loco services have obviously changed from the new timetable as I'm fairly certain this wasn't one of their booked services earlier in the year. Usually the loco-hauled services are shown in Chiltern Railway's timetable as 'MS' for Mainline Silver, the rest being units, so maybe this was filling in for a failed class 168.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Onto Princes Risborough in order to do the branch line to Aylesbury and again I was lucky to get a freight train in the 20 minutes I had there changing trains. GBRF's 66723 came through heading for Calvert with a load of London Clay excavated from the Crossrail tunnels. Judging by the state of the leading cab it had been parked a bit too close to the conveyor belt filling the wagons.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-7/i-BbTFbxW/0/L/66723%20Princes%20Risborough%201%20131213g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-7/i-BbTFbxW/0/L/66723%20Princes%20Risborough%201%20131213g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
With the light rapidly fading now it was gone 3pm, I expected that to be it for the day for photography but I arrived at Aylesbury to find Chiltern's converted former class 117 unit about to leave on a water-cannon duty to Harrow. I have better shots of the unit as it was now almost dark, but it was a nice end to the day with just the delights of Milton Keynes to look forward to after.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/117/i-jpCmGJ4/1/L/960301%20Aylesbury%20131213g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/117/i-jpCmGJ4/1/L/960301%20Aylesbury%20131213g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So as mentioned earlier that is probably the last with regards to pointing my camera at anything for 2013. I am still ploughing through reprocessing and recaptioning pictures on my website, I should have all the DMUs done by Christmas leaving me with just EMUs to do in January before I can get on with the job of scanning in my remaining railway and bus pictures from the 1990s.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks for reading, please look out in January for the next edition of my blog, here's wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-MSRTHN2/0/L/i-MSRTHN2-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-MSRTHN2/0/L/i-MSRTHN2-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-41157985216390049702013-11-08T11:50:00.001+00:002014-01-08T22:43:27.458+00:0051: Fake Moustaches and File Mortality<div align="center">
Hello and welcome to edition 51 of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/" target="_blank">Railwaymedia</a> blog. This will probably be quite a short one (hopefully!) as I've not really been anywhere, especially since I returned from my last Foreign trip to Austria and Hungary (as detailed in my previous blog).</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I have actually been working more or less solidly since my return; this week would usually have been a full week off and so I would have probably made a day trip to somewhere further afield but I have had to make do instead with a couple of photos taken whilst at work. It looks like yet again I will more or less miss the Rail Head Treatment Train season, unless I get chance to photograph one or two over the next couple of weeks, though this will have to be done in between night shifts.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/97/i-cn9xPBB/0/L/97304%2097303%20Crewe%20051113g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/97/i-cn9xPBB/0/L/97304%2097303%20Crewe%20051113g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
DRS have as usual got the contract to run a few RHTTs throughout the country and so they are having to press their older locos into service a bit more. 6K05, the Carlisle to Crewe afternoon departmental has on several occasions produced a class 37, not that I have been able to photograph any of them, but they have also had to resort to using pairs of them on their long distance Scotland to Daventry liner trains. Being at Carnforth the other day I waited for a picture of 4M44, the 0847 from Mossend, expecting the usual 66. 37605 and 37259 were a pleasant suprise, though had I known what was hauling the train I would have picked a better location than this.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/37/i-zSqGSdJ/1/L/37605%2037259%20Carnforth%20011113g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/37/i-zSqGSdJ/1/L/37605%2037259%20Carnforth%20011113g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Also still running along the northern section of the West Coast Main Line is the hired in London Midland class 350/2 unit that Trans Pennine Express are using for driver training in advance of the introduction of their own class 350/4 units, the first of which was delivered to Britain this week. The 350/2 spends the night in the sidings at Preston, not a location where vandalism is common, however for the last 3 months two security guards have been posted each night on the end of the old parcels platform to protect the train. I assume this is part of the contract between TPE and London Midland but the poor blokes doing this must be getting frozen now the weather is colder.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/350/i-QFGfhmt/0/L/350231%20Hest%20Bank%20011113g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/350/i-QFGfhmt/0/L/350231%20Hest%20Bank%20011113g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/350/i-cjL6G3X/1/L/350231%20Hest%20Bank%20011113g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With the weather now chillier and wetter I feel less guilty about spending so much time at home on the computer processing and sorting out pictures rather than going out taking photographs. As regular readers might perhaps know I am constantly, it seems, going through all my pictures on my site reprocessing them to try and at least get a fairly consistent quality to how they look even if I don't always manage to improve them! From time to time as a result some of the thumbnails on the albums, in particular the '<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips" target="_blank">Archive of Trips</a>' section, may be missing as it is a time consuming job to keep checking these after I have updated pictures in another section. Images on some of the older blogs here may also be missing too whilst awaiting me being able to update the links to them.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The other big job I am doing in parallel is renaming many of my pictures files. Storage is a big issue with digital photography. Chris Nevard in his <a href="http://nevardmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/longevity-of-digital.html" target="_blank">Blog</a> recently mentioned the fact that whereas film transparencies, and to a large extent prints, can last almost indefinately given the right type of storage, noone really knows how well digital image files will survive over the years.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Partly through learning from experience, I now back all my files up on two external hard drives which I try to avoid having plugged in at once. I had one fail on me a couple of years ago. Fortunately I still had my original RAW files on CD-ROMs so was able to back most images up again, but it took a long time. I am not a fan of 'cloud' services, and it would be certainly foolhardy to rely on them alone. Many people lost a lot of images when the Fotopic site crashed a few years ago. You also need to bare in mind that if you use RAW files then as these are to the camera manufacturers specifications so they may not be able to be decoded in years to come.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/317/i-wrhGrZS/0/L/317651%20Upminster%20280711g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/317/i-wrhGrZS/0/L/317651%20Upminster%20280711g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/317/i-9gTgHMb/0/L/317651%20Upminster%20280711g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The photo above is a case in point. When my (single) hard drive crashed I had to then retrieve my original RAW files from their CD-ROMs and convert them to TIFF files before putting both on my new pair of hard drives. The 317 seen here at Upminster was one of two files out of maybe 30 on that particular disc that for some reason are now unreadable. As a result I have been left with just the full resolution JPEGs that were stored on a seperate CD-ROM. Fortunately my reprocessing was of reasonable quality so it hasn't been a massive loss but I do have some pictures where my original processing was quite frankly terrible, so in effect I have lost those images completely.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
File names are another element that I am concentrating on at this moment. It has taken me all week so far to go through the files on my hard drive to ensure my file naming is standardised. Generally it is as I have from the outset of digital used a fairly simple file numbering system which is {train number}+{location}+{date}. Except the odd occasion where you take more than one picture of a particular train on the same day this guarantees a unique file name for each picture, along with the basic details of what, where and when always being visible. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Apologies if all this is off-topic to some of you but I really believe it is essential to take full control of the safety of your images as soon as possible. Oh, and also don't forget to let your wife, husband, girlfriend or partner know what all your CD-ROMs and hard drives contain. In the event of your death they may very well come across prints or slides and pass them on to a fellow enthusiast but a hard drive is too easy for them to overlook and either wipe or chuck in the skip. Even a photo of a class 142 or a 317 EMU in 100 years will be valuable to enthusiasts then!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/97/i-HMvbSDw/0/L/97303%2097304%20Chester%20051113g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/97/i-HMvbSDw/0/L/97303%2097304%20Chester%20051113g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So thanks for reading as always, I will leave you with a shot for '<a href="http://uk.movember.com/" target="_blank">Movember</a>', the now annual event supporting male prostrate cancer that encourages men (or I suppose women if they can) to grow a moustache through the month of November. <a href="http://www.northernrail.org/movember" target="_blank">Northern Rail</a> are supporting the cause this year and have 'grown' moustaches on all their trains. Some of them have been placed centrally but others have been put in some odd places! Bye for now.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://railwaymedia.smugmug.com/DMU/150/i-DpNcs46/0/L/150119%20Chester%20071113g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://railwaymedia.smugmug.com/DMU/150/i-DpNcs46/0/L/150119%20Chester%20071113g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/150/i-zmncv2F/0/L/150119%20Chester%20071113g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-11069311577007699942013-10-22T16:13:00.003+01:002013-11-10T12:04:07.749+00:0050: Oldies in Osterreich and a moment in Magyar<div align="center">
Hello and welcome to edition 50 of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/" target="_blank">Railwaymedia</a> blog covering another 5 day trip abroad, this time principally to Austria to see the Mariazellerbahn but with also a quick trip over the border to Hungary in search of former BR Class 86s and GYSEV Ludmillas. It will be a long blog and I make no apologies for the fact most of the included pictures will be of just one type of engine!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-cprx6hV/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20007%20Frankenfels%20151013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-cprx6hV/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20007%20Frankenfels%20151013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
In a way, much of the information in this blog will be academic by the time you get to read it. The <a href="http://www.mariazellerbahn.at/english.php" target="_blank">Mariazellerbahn</a>, which is an 85km long narrow guage line running from St Pölten into the mountains to Mariazell, has for the last 102 years been operated by OBB's class 1099 electric locos dating from 1911, accompanied by an assortment of units and diesel locos. The regional Government took over the line from OBB in 2010 and have invested over €100 million in the line, not just on the infrastructure but also on 9 new units built by Stadler called 'Himmelsteppe' ('Stairway to Heaven'). The apparently silly name is a reference to the fact that Mariazell is a pilgrimage centre.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
The influx of these units, due for completeion this December will mean the end of day to day running of the class 1099s; already there are no booked trains hauled by the 2095 diesel engines and the new winter timetable starting next week (28th October) will eliminate the last of the loco hauled workings, though the Otscher Bar tourist train (pictured above) will return for one round trip daily next summer. Despite there being just two 1099 return workings left I managed a fair few pictures of them over the 5 days, some will be included in this blog the rest can be viewed <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn" target="_blank">HERE.</a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-DjFmwwZ/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20013%20St%20Poelten%20Alpenbahnhof%20141013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-DjFmwwZ/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20013%20St%20Poelten%20Alpenbahnhof%20141013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The two loco hauled trains were departing St Pölten at 0730 and 0830, the first of which was an 'ordinary' train using an old OBB liveried 1099, the 0830 was the Otscher Bar. All week there were only 4 engines used, two for each train, generally running on alternate days. Each day I went up the line I caught the 0730. Boarding at the first stop St Pölten Alpenbahnhof it was barely light enough for a shot as the train ran in. Whilst the first train up came straight back at 1053 from Mariazell, the Otscher Bar waits until 1553 to return so the same problem was encountered by the time that got back to St Pölten, seen above not long after I arrived in the town from Vienna Airport.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My friend Richard had visited the line a month previously and had recommended Frankenfels as a photographic location about 80 minutes journey time up the valley. Even when I arrived there just before 0900 the sun was barely getting over the top of the valley sides. A lucky small dip enabled a sunny shot of the train I had just got off departing the station and it was then a case of hanging around for an hour for the following service. The resulting picture is at the top of this blog.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One advantage of going so late in October, despite the shorter days, is that if the sun comes out then the colours on the trees can be fantastic. Tuesday, my first full day, was also the only day where it was sunny virtually all day. It was a nice feeling to be able to get the shots I wanted on the first day as it took the pressure off the rest of the week. I had to hang round Frankenfels for a couple of hours to await the first loco to return from Mariazell but was rewarded with the shot below.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-C2MWjm7/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20014%20Frankenfels%202%20151013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-C2MWjm7/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20014%20Frankenfels%202%20151013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With 5 hours until the Otschbar 1099 returned I headed back to St Pölten to spend an hour or two on the Westbahn, which is the principal Austrian mainline linking Vienna and Salzburg. Historically only two tracked a lot of work has been undertaken, and is still ongoing, to upgrade the line. As a result many of the stations around Vienna and St Pölten have been upgraded too and so aren't very photogenic. I alighted at Markersdorf two stops west where it is still only double track. Unfortunately out of the 7 freight trains I saw in 90 minutes, 6 were going the wrong way and the one that did appear managed to coincide with some cloud and also only had two wagons!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fortunately, during the afternoon at least, all the OBB passenger trains are loco-hauled with the engines on the correct end for the sun (the western end) including this odd working that I saw twice, the 1404 from Vienna to St Valentin, which is formed of a Taurus loco hauling double deck stock and also an older 1144 Electric on City Shuttle single deck stock both combined into one train.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/OBB-%C3%96sterreichische-Bundesbahn/i-hzDfLKm/0/L/1116%20029%201144%20273%20Markersdorf%20151013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/OBB-%C3%96sterreichische-Bundesbahn/i-hzDfLKm/0/L/1116%20029%201144%20273%20Markersdorf%20151013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I returned to the Mariazellerbahn for the returning 1553 Otscher Bar. I had previously spotted a small bar at the end of Ober Grafendorf station so with open countryside around I went in the hope the train would come just before the sun set. Alas it went behind the hills a few minutes too early. Maybe the week before I would have been able to catch the last of the sun on it as it headed out of the town. Anyway I retired to the station bar afterwards. Shame the last train was only an hour later.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-vVPB3gP/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20007%20Ober%20Grafendorf%20151013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-vVPB3gP/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20007%20Ober%20Grafendorf%20151013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On Wednesday the weather forecast was poor both around St Pölten but also in my intended destination of Hungary. There is a two-hourly Railjet train from St Pölten to Budapest so I used this to get to the border station of Hegyeshalom. On my trip to Hungary last year we had failed to get a picture of any of the former British Rail Class 86s now in use with Hungarian open access operator Floyd, though passing we had seen a pair stabled at Hegyeshalom. There was one stabled down the yard and as is common abroad there was no trouble walking down to get a <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/86/i-xvVL9PG/0/X3/86228%20450007%20Hegyeshalom%202%20161013g-X3.jpg" target="_blank">PICTURE</a> of it. An added bonus though as I stepped off the Railjet was that an enthusiasts tour was just in the process of changing engines from a MAV Class 431 electric to this ex East Germany Class 01 steam engine, now preserved and owned by the Austrian rail history group <a href="http://www.oegeg.at/index.php/oegeg/english" target="_blank">OGEG</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Germany/DB-Deutsche-Bahn/i-FSS4Mnz/0/L/01%201533%20Hegyeshalom%203%20161013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Germany/DB-Deutsche-Bahn/i-FSS4Mnz/0/L/01%201533%20Hegyeshalom%203%20161013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I spent two hours at Hegyeshalom but little else was moving during my stay, so caught the local unit that connected with the following Railjet south to Csorna where four routes meet, mainly operated by the cross border passenger company <a href="http://www2.gysev.hu/" target="_blank">GYSEV.</a> The target here was the two diesel diagrams they operate hauling portions of Inter City trains from Budapest on the non-electrified route to Szombathely. Recently GYSEV have acquired a handful of Ukranian built Ludmillas from Deutsche Bahn to cover their few diesel routes. One arrived just after I did and I was suprised to see it then disappear off light engine back to Szombathely. I was later to realise why.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With the weather dreadful, an icy cold wind was blowing and it was threatening rain, I went to find a cash machine in order to get some Hungarian Forints to enable me to find a bar to shelter in whilst I waited 2 hours until the next Ludmilla was due. A mixture of forgetting what the exchange rate was and a schoolboy error in conversion meant I got out the equivelent of near enough £80 worth instead of the £20 I wanted! I did however find a German style Gasthaus which enabled me to have some dinner and some beer. I had to change the rest of the money back when I got home.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Hungary/GYSEV/i-5DVXnhj/0/L/651008%20Csorna%20161013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Hungary/GYSEV/i-5DVXnhj/0/L/651008%20Csorna%20161013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Having not read the timetable properly I thought the next Inter-City arrival from Szombathely wasn't until almost 1800. There was however a departure the other way at 1600, hence my suprise when the loco had disappeared. There is a good level crossing 15 minutes walk from Csorna station on the Szombathely line which I had planned to go to. I was just approaching it when an Inter-City I hadn't been expecting went past. Not just highly annoying in itself but I also missed a one-car DMU that was literally right behind it whilst I was trying to work out what I had just missed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Being philosophical about things, I hadn't expected that other train to run so I didn't miss anything I was hoping to photograph. Despite the poor weather the shot of the Ludmilla coming back out from Csorna worked well and was what I had gone there for so I can't complain too much. I walked back to the station; I would have liked to get the shot of the next inbound IC here but it would have been pushing it to get back to the station to catch my train back to Hegyeshalom and Austria. Annoyingly the setting sun came out as it was due so it would have been a nice shot at the crossing. I had to, in the end, settle for a back-lit shot as it as it entered the platform with the red sun behind.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Hungary/GYSEV/i-KKXbpf5/0/L/651003%20Csorna%202%20161013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Hungary/GYSEV/i-KKXbpf5/0/L/651003%20Csorna%202%20161013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My original plan was to do just the one day on the Mariazellerbahn. I found out though that whereas a return from St Pölten to Mariazell (in effect a day ticket) is about €29 a ticket for the whole line for all week is only €33 so it seemd churlish not to take advantage of this. Like on the Tuesday I went up the line on the 0730 train, got picture of that and its return, and also the 0830 Otscher Bar, then spent the afternoon down on the mainline before returning for the evening return 1099.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thursday was a right mix of weather. It was thick fog when I walked down to the station. One of the lines 2095 diesels was just about to depart the Alpenbahnhof for Ober Grafendorf. There is an old depot there where the line's steam engine is housed. There were cranes on site so some vehicle was obviously to be shunted out and removed by road for some reason. I went beyond Frankenfels this time to the lines new HQ at Laubenbachmüle where a massive new visitor centre, conference and office rooms, and two three-road sheds to maintain the Himmeisteppe units has been all built in a large construction that takes up a significant part of the valley floor. The sight and sound of the 102 year old 1099 departing from underneath this massive new building was odd.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-sWhVxst/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20014%20Laubenbachmule%20171013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-sWhVxst/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20014%20Laubenbachmule%20171013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Despite the prescence of the visitor centre and cafe, most of the hourly trains from St Pölten terminate 8 minutes down the valley at Frankenfels so, with 3 hours until the next southbound train, I walked the 7 km back down the valley along the road through the gorge. Halfway between the two villages is another, Boding, where I sheltered in a convenient bus shelter to await a photo.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-KRK5g5C/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20007%20Boding%20171013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-KRK5g5C/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20007%20Boding%20171013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I enjoy walking and it was pleasant in the not too warm, not too cold drizzle, but I was a little wet by the time I boarded the unit at Frankenfels. This took me downhill to Kirchberg, the principal town in the Pielach valley. There is a cycle path running south alongside the railway and I utilised this for a shot of 1099-014 as it returned down the valley. I found a nice little kebab 'hut' in the town which served well for dinner. Not that it is something I eat often but Donner Kebabs in Europe always seem nicer than in Britain, plus of course in England you can't usually enjoy a beer with one!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I got back off at the Alpenbahnhof to have a look round the adjacent depot. I asked a driver in my pigeon German if it was OK to go across the tracks to get some pictures. I probably didn't need to ask really as it is a very laid back place. There are several lines of both 1099s and 2095s in the yards, some of which probably haven't been used for some time. They are all apparently on some kind of lease-back arrangement from OBB so there may not be a rush to scrap any of them once the main loco operations cease. I assume the Alpenbahnhof depot will be kept operational to maintain the two engines needed for next summers Otscher Bar trains as I can't see the brand new workshops at Laubenbachmüle having the facilities to work on these locomotives.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-qj3Zbg5/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20013%201099%20014%20St%20Poelten%20Alpenbahnhof%20171013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-qj3Zbg5/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20013%201099%20014%20St%20Poelten%20Alpenbahnhof%20171013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Loosdorf was my destination for the afternoons brief mainline photographic jaunt. This isn't a bad station to photograph from the end of during the afternoon but unfortuantely a new section of line commences just before you reach this station meaning all the IC and Railjet trains bypass it, as did one westbound freight. Yet again most of the goods trains were going the wrong way. I returned later to Ober Grafendorf for a shot of the returning 1099 and a few beers in Gunthers Bar.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Open-Access-Operators/i-NzmDp2b/0/L/Kuhne%20Nagel%20ES64U2-035%20Loosdorf%20171013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Open-Access-Operators/i-NzmDp2b/0/L/Kuhne%20Nagel%20ES64U2-035%20Loosdorf%20171013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For the week I stayed in the <a href="http://www.hausereck.at/elisabeth/" target="_blank">Pension Elisabeth</a> in St Pölten. It was cheap enough, also a bit out of town and not of the highest standard, though it did the job. This was my first major European trip on my own so I needed really somewhere not too busy so I could sit in a corner quietly. The Hotel Alt Wien served food until around 9pm and I ate there two nights. Not the cheapest grub I had but it served my purpose. It is much more conveniently located than the Pension Elisabeth for the Alpenbahnhof; the rooms seem more expensive too but if I went again I would perhaps consider using that as a base instead. Of course there are plenty of hotels in the City Centre itself which would be even better located as a base for reaching the Hauptbahnhof each day. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Between the Alt Wien and the Pension Elisabeth along the main road heading south was the best bar I found (excepting Gunthers at Ober Grafendorf). <a href="http://www.tritsch-tratsch.at/" target="_blank">Bar Tritsch-Tratsch</a> doesn't look very good from the outside, more like a roadside cafe, but it was the only one I came across serving a slightly different beer from the usual Lager/Pils, that being the excellent Hacker-Paschorr on draught.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-wd25cgv/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20016%20Rabenstein%20181013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/Mariazellerbahn/i-wd25cgv/0/L/Mariazellerbahn%201099%20016%20Rabenstein%20181013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Anyway, back to transport. The final day I needed to get over to Salzburg for my Ryanair flight back to Stansted. At £23 this was very cheap, much more so than the £70 Easyjet gatwick to Vienna flight earlier in the week and, to be fair to O'Leary, it actually left and landed early. I still had time for one quick run up the Mariazellerbahn to Rabenstein, pictured above. I am certain that will be my last ever ride behind one of those engines. I wonder if now that they have, or shortly will have, finished in regular daily operation that the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Misc/Hythe-Pier-Railway" target="_blank">Hythe Pier Railway</a> I visited last month (see Blog Number <a href="http://blog.railwaymedia.co.uk/2013/09/48-under-ground-over-water-burton-and.html" target="_blank">48</a> ) is now running the oldest electric locos in daily service in Europe (dating from 1913)?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There is a regualr service from St Pölten to Salzburg, although the journey time is over 2 hours. Salzburg Hbf is being redeveloped at the moment and is really not much good for photography. I decided instead to have a quick hour sight-seeing. The line west from Salzburg crosses the River Salzach near the Old Town. I waited for a shot of an S-Bahn unit crossing the bridge. Rather fortuitously a cloud came over whilst it did, so I waited for the next one. Before that could appear two freight trains crossed which otherwise I wouldn't have seen, the first being hauled by one of OBB's class 1163 centre cab Electric engines, the second by a <a href="http://mainlinediesels.net/index.php?nav=1000128&lang=en" target="_blank">EuroRunner</a> diesel.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/OBB-%C3%96sterreichische-Bundesbahn/i-6k6FjVW/0/L/1163%20006%20Salzburg%20181013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Austria/OBB-%C3%96sterreichische-Bundesbahn/i-6k6FjVW/0/L/1163%20006%20Salzburg%20181013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
By the time I had hung around the river for 20 minutes it was time to get the Trolleybus to the airport. Salzburg as a City is somewhere I very much would like to visit again and see properly.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
To conclude, as I said at the beginning, much of this blog may not be of much use as the main reason for any Enthusiast to visit the Mariazellerbahn is now all but gone. I have visited Austria three times now, though twice only in passing through. There are still plenty of loco hauled trains to see, though the locomotive selection is in general quite limited with OBB and Open Access operators mainly using Taurus Electric locos. The 1142 and 1144 Class electrics still working on many local services are well worth photographing. I actually saw a MAV (Hungary) Taurus on a Salzburg local OBB train. I have no idea how or why, but proves there is still some limited variety.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thanks for taking the time to read this blog, I hope it is of some little use to someone planning a visit to the St Pölten area, or even to western Hungary. I'll leave you with a picture that shows in a small way why train companies in Continental Europe seem to just do things generally better than in the UK. In Britain, even on long distance Inter-City trains, the name of the game is to try and cram as many seats in as possible (try getting on a First Great Western HST). When building the Austrian Railjets, not withstanding the massive legroom they have in comparison to our trains even in Second Class, they also found room to 'squeeze' in a small cinema for children! Bye for now.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-8mRHw4B/0/L/i-8mRHw4B-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-8mRHw4B/0/L/i-8mRHw4B-L.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-73612430623234190002013-10-09T16:19:00.001+01:002013-11-10T12:04:42.539+00:0049: September Sun: Pizza in Pisa<div style="text-align: center;">
Welcome to another edition of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/" target="_blank">Railwaymedia</a> blog. As I had expected it has been about a month since the last blog was published due to having a week away in Italy and, consequently, needing to process all the pictures from there before I could get round to writing this.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was my first visit to the country; there's a diminishing number of (Western) Eurpoean countries I still need to visit, for railway photography at least. Luxembourg, Spain and Portugal are probably the main three. I might give Lichtenstein a miss as it only has 4 stations on a 10 mile line connecting Austria and Switzerland! Further east is probably going to have to be the aim for future trips: Latvia or Lithuania maybe; I would like to do Romania but I'm not keen on going there on my own.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-pv5PNtC/0/L/445%201089%20Certaldo%20240913g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-pv5PNtC/0/L/445%201089%20Certaldo%20240913g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Anyway, moving on to the here and now, or rather the last few weeks, and this blog will mainly describe where we went and what we saw in Italy. The principle aim was to see the FS <a href="http://www.fsitaliane.it/homepage_en.html" target="_blank">(Ferrovie dello Stato)</a> class D445 diesels, pictured above, as rumour has it they are being phased out over the next year or so. One of the principle lines they are used on is that from Firenze (Florence) to Siena. They haul a more or less hourly service, supplemented on the branch by additional DMU operated stopping services. They work in push-pull mode with the engine on the Siena end.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With this line being our target we flew to Pisa with Easyjet. There are flights from the North-West but I chose Luton as the flight times suited me better. Pisa has an excellent small airport with two trains an hour connecting it to the main Pisa station, though it is possible to walk to Pisa Centrale in about 20 minutes anyway if you have just missed one. We stayed in the <a href="http://www.hotellapace.it/en/index.html" target="_blank">Hotel La Pace</a> which for Italy was fairly reasonably priced. It also does a good buffet breakfast and being virtually right ouside Centrale station is handy if you want to take night shots of the sleeper trains.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-fm3QFbS/0/L/444%20074%20Vada%20230913g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-fm3QFbS/0/L/444%20074%20Vada%20230913g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-4G76P8r/0/L/445%201118%20Poggibonsi%20240913g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Before we needed to check in the hotel though, we had a few hours available to try to get a handful of pictures somewhere. Being September we had to find somewhere open in order to maximise the length of the evening light and to avoid the consequent long shadows. Many of the locations we used throughout the week were as a result of taking tips and looking at pictures from a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/joe_bloggs_railway_photos/" target="_blank">website</a> of a friend who makes many trips to Italy.Vada was one that looked reasonable for our requiremnts, although we discovered by ourselves this particular field 15 minutes walk north of the station.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The two hours we spent here started our hatred (or perhaps that's too harsh: let us say annoyance) of FS's ubiquitous class E464 electric locos that are used on virtually all regional services. Now naturally loco hauled trains are preferable to units but as, unlike the Siena line trains where the loco is always at the same end, on the electric network there is no telling which end the loco will be. More often than not it is never on the end that you want it to be for the photograph.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-7zGJqgs/0/L/445%201014%20Certaldo%202%20240913g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-7zGJqgs/0/L/445%201014%20Certaldo%202%20240913g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our first full day was, with excellent sunny weather forecast, aimed at getting shots of the Siena line D445's. The main locations we used were centered on the stations of Poggibonsi, Castelfiorentino and Certaldo. The latter one, pictured above, is by far the nicest station on the line. There is a road bridge to the north of Poggibonsi (about a 20 minute walk) which gives good morning views: we took a <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-4G76P8r/0/X3/445%201118%20Poggibonsi%20240913g-X3.jpg" target="_blank">picture</a> of the 0910 from Firenze here, though the light would be better an hour earlier.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At Certaldo I ended up going for a much longer stroll, bit by bit heading south trying to find a decent location. I ended up near the village of Basseto about 3 miles away. To say I was sweating in the heat was an understatement, but at least I got my best shot of the day from the bridge there.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-ssTHpcN/0/L/445%201132%20Basseto%20240913g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-ssTHpcN/0/L/445%201132%20Basseto%20240913g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-4G76P8r/0/X3/445%201118%20Poggibonsi%20240913g-X3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Meeting back up with <a href="http://mainlinesouth.smugmug.com/" target="_blank">Richard</a> later we headed to one of the locations on our list, that being the river bank at Castelfiorentino. This is a good afternoon <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-3D464HJ/0/X3/445%201132%20Castelfiorentino%201%20240913g-X3.jpg" target="_blank">shot</a> for Siena bound trains, and we could even nip to a local bar between photographs for a very welcome beer. With the shadows starting to lengthen we chanced our luck walking up to a bridge we could see to the north of the town. With the sun moving round and all the locos being at the south end of the trains there was only one more good photograph we could get of a D445, but with lovely evening light and an intersting backdrop it was worth hanging round for an hour to photograph a few of the intersting elderly units.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-9NkCBkK/0/L/668%203146%20Castelfiorentino%20240913g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-9NkCBkK/0/L/668%203146%20Castelfiorentino%20240913g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The next day we decided to hit the 'mainline' to get some Electric loco pictures. We went south from Pisa, past Vada, to San Vincenzo where there is a decent morning location north of the town. Unfortunately Italian railways seem to go very quiet on all lines between about 1000 and 1200 so we didn't get too many pictures, and needless to say any regional trains that did run tended to have the loco on the wrong end. We did though see a couple of freight trains, one of those being a frequent trip working of limestone from San Vincenzo to Rosignano hauled by an articulated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FS_Class_E.655" target="_blank">Class E655</a> loco dating from the 1970/80's which in total we saw 6 times during the day.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-f96cbw6/0/L/655%20531%20San%20Vincenzo%202%20250913g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-f96cbw6/0/L/655%20531%20San%20Vincenzo%202%20250913g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This train was a bit of a life-saver for us as we saw little else all day apart from passenger workings. The line north of Pisa towards La Spezia appears to be much busier for freight, but there aren't as many good scenic locations for photography. During the afternoon we moved north from San Vincenzo to La California which is probably the best photographic location in the area though it is a long 40 minute walk from Cecina. We had maybe 5 hours in total there: fortunately there is a supermarket just before you leave the built up area of the town in which to stock up with provisions! There is a road bridge spanning the tracks and also a quiet lane running alongside the line, so from early afternoon through to late evening shots are possible one way or the other. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-sQSQ9xn/0/L/444%20058%20La%20California%20250913g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-sQSQ9xn/0/L/444%20058%20La%20California%20250913g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We had a choice of rushing back to Cecina station before the sun went down or staying for the last of the light and having two hours to wait for the last train to Pisa. In the end we chose the latter and had tea at the small bar outside the station, which was basic but cheap. Birra Moretti is probably the most widely available beer and is pretty good; pizza is unsuprisingly available everywhere. Even eating in a fairly posh restaurant in Pisa one night it was only about 7 Euro's for a pizza, beer was between 3 and 5 in general. I was warned Italy was expensive but didn't find that to be the case.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Day 3, and after a hour or two east of Pisa at Pontedera where we saw no freight trains, we decided to go north towards La Spezia. Richard carried on to the Cinque Terre tourist area whilst I had two hours at the small station of Camaiore. There are few trackside locations on this section of the line, Camaiore is probably the quietest and most picturesque station, but I was rewarded with a couple of freight trains and even the E464's were mostly on the right end of the trains for once.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-LrFWVtq/0/L/464%20360%20Camaiore%20Lido%20Capezzano%20260913g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-LrFWVtq/0/L/464%20360%20Camaiore%20Lido%20Capezzano%20260913g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-sNcX3LP/0/L/633%20240%20Camaiore%20Lido%20Capezzano%20260913g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I then headed up north to meet Richard. The Cinque Terre is a collection of five villages clustured along the rocky coastline west of La Spezia and is extremely popular with foreign tourists. The railway engineering here is outstanding. There is no easy road access to any of the villages but the railway is hardly any better. From La Spezia the railway is almost continually in tunnel, indeed in the 44km between there and Sestri Levante 28km of it is underground, generally only popping out into daylight to squeeze in a station (some platforms are even in the tunnels themselves).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I alighted the train at the second of the five, Corniglia, just as I saw Richard getting on, so he spent the remaining hour or so of daylight at the next station along. There is a good location in the village of Corniglia overlooking the station and the bay, though it took a lot of climbing of steps. I also got bitten by loads of Mosquitos. Evening is perhaps not the best time to hang about there.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-zhV69cX/0/L/464%20147%20Corniglia%202%20260913g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-zhV69cX/0/L/464%20147%20Corniglia%202%20260913g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We were going to have our tea in one of the villages as they go noticeably quiter after dusk as all the tourists head back to wherever they are staying, but we were a bit anxious about the connection into the last train back from La Spezia to Pisa. In the end we went back early and finished the night in what had been a lucky find on our first night, namely the brewpub Brasserie La Loggia just outside Pisa Centrale station. It claims to be a brewpub, though apart from the standard lager the interesting beers were served only in bottles, but there were four on the menu to choose from; not particularly cheap but it was nethertheless an unexpected find. And they do pizza of course.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With the flight back to Luton not until 4pm that gave a full morning to go out photographing. Getting some more D445 shots I felt was probably the sensible thing, though with a heavy bag to carry about and as the weather had changed and only started to brighten up at dinner time, I restricted myself to principally doing station shots. One thing I will say is that neither of us got any hassle from any railway staff during the visit, something I believe can occasionally happen in Italy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-wwbgMQZ/0/L/445%201073%20Poggibonsi%20270913g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/i-wwbgMQZ/0/L/445%201073%20Poggibonsi%20270913g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I camped out at Poggibonsi for a couple of hours, enforced mainly due to the strange mid-morning service gap I mentioned earlier. Ten minutes of amusement did occur though watching an English woman trying to use the station's self-cleaning toilet. I almost got to spend even longer there as the light engine pictured above broke down at the next station causing 30 minute or so delays, though the man here on the platform as it went through didn't appear to be too peturbed about it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All in all a good trip to cover a new country, if you are interested in the full selection of pictures I took they can be found <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign/Italy/FS/" target="_blank">HERE.</a> I'm not sure if I would make a specific effort to visit again as, certainly with regard to passenger trains, with most regional trains having the same motive power and with rumours that the E464s might even replace the older E444s on the Inter-City trains, there is little new to see. Maybe a family holiday will be in order though, with the odd photographic excursion thrown in if I can escape for a few hours, to get some more scenic coastal shots. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/14/i-SM2wHVw/0/L/D9539%20Preston%20Docks%20061013g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/14/i-SM2wHVw/0/L/D9539%20Preston%20Docks%20061013g-L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With having to fit in processing all the Italian pictures in between work commitments I have not otherwise got out with my camera this month, with the exception of two shots last weekend at the annual Ribble Steam Railway's Diesel Gala.This always seems to coincide with the weekend I have a kind of beer festival at my house which usually prevents me visiting on the Saturday at least. This year there were no visiting locos anyway as such so there was little need to nip down, though with Sunday afternoon turning out quite nice I did nip down the docks for some dinner and a shot of their immaculate class 14 diesel. It just needs some blinds in the headcode boxes!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have, though this hasn't proved popular at home, booked yet another holiday for next week. This one is to Austria to try and get some pictures of the 100 year old locos on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariazell_Railway" target="_blank">Mariazellbahn</a>. With new units having been delivered this year it seems that 27th October is the final date, barring summer specials, that the class 1099 electrics dating from 1911 will be in daily service.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Of course there will be more about the Austrian trip in the next blog, in the meantime thanks for reading this one. I shall leave you with the obligatory picture to take in Pisa. We went to see the Campanile at midnight, which was far better as it was much quieter; during the day it must be as bad as the Cinque Terres are for the numbers of tourists flocking about. Bye for now!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/Places/i-qkqhKvX/0/L/Pisa%20Leaning%20Tower%20240913g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/Places/i-qkqhKvX/0/L/Pisa%20Leaning%20Tower%20240913g-L.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-37840201393215614052013-09-08T17:31:00.001+01:002014-01-25T16:16:06.823+00:0048: Under Ground, Over Water, Burton and Bracknell<div align="center">
Welcome to edition 48 of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/" target="_blank">Railwaymedia</a> blog. It's been over a month since the last posting but school holidays aren't really the best time to try to find a couple of hours to sit down undisturbed to write this waffle! I've had a few trips out photographing over this time and have also been doing a bit of work on my website. Whilst I am reprocessing and captioning all my pictures you will find some pictures in this blog, and indeed on the front of folders on my photo galleries will be missing. It will probably take me a few weeks to do the locomotive section alone.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/60/i-fkR7pR9/0/L/60092%20Burton%20on%20Trent%20220813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/60/i-fkR7pR9/0/L/60092%20Burton%20on%20Trent%20220813g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/60/i-kH8jQLr/0/L/60092%20Burton%20on%20Trent%20220813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My first outing of August was not so much a photographic jaunt as it was a visit to the excellent <a href="http://www.eghambeerfestival.co.uk/" target="_blank">Egham Beer Festival</a> which is held three times a year at the United Services Club. It is easily accessible being only a 10 minute walk from Egham Railway Station, served by the half-hourly London Waterloo to Reading service and always hosts an incredible selection of beers both on the bar and in the rear courtyard. The next one is being held between the 7th and 10th of November.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I went by the way of Reading and stopped off at Wokingham and Bracknell, the latter place appearing to have no redeeming features whatsoever. I'm sure there may well be some nice bits of the town (though maybe not judging by this <a href="http://www.chavtowns.co.uk/2004/08/bracknell-1-chav-town/" target="_blank">website</a>) but I'm afraid the centre itself is a classic 1960s concrete monstrosity which apparently is due, not before time, to be regenerated.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/458/i-NbvLpsd/1/L/458011%20458003%20Bracknell%20080813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/458/i-NbvLpsd/1/L/458011%20458003%20Bracknell%20080813g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/458/i-R26bdfw/0/L/458011%20458003%20Bracknell%20080813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Two days later and I was back down south for a rare Saturday visit to London. I don't usually go anywhere on a Saturday, mainly due to football, but I was promised that there were no premiership games playing so I took the chance that I would avoid any hoards of supporters on trains.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My main aim was to get some pictures of Underground stock on the Hammersmith & City and Piccadilly lines. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_C69_and_C77_Stock" target="_blank">C Stock</a> that is used on the Circle Line and Hammersmith trains is due to be replaced shortly by the new Bombardier <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_S7_and_S8_Stock" target="_blank">S7 Stock</a>, the same as has been recently introduced on the Metropolitan Line but one coach shorter. Following thew withdrawal of the A Stock on the Metropolitan these are now the oldest trains in use on the London Underground.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/London/i-DkpCqkt/0/L/LU%205597%205718%20Latimer%20Road%20100813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/London/i-DkpCqkt/0/L/LU%205597%205718%20Latimer%20Road%20100813g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Piccadilly I had not covered particularly before so I spent an hour on the four track section between Hammersmith and Acton Town where the Piccadilly and District lines operate in parallel, unusually the small tube trains run non-stop whilst the full size District <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_D78_Stock" target="_blank">D Stock</a> provides the stopping service due to the need to speed up the Piccadilly trains as they serve Heathrow.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/London/i-BxQ47JZ/0/L/LU%20165%20Turnham%20Green%20100813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/London/i-BxQ47JZ/0/L/LU%20165%20Turnham%20Green%20100813g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After a morning photographing the tube I paid a quick visit to Holloway Bus Garage where there was a charity open day being held and then it was beer time whilst my friend went to watch Leyton Orient play. As he was heading east it was rude not to join him for a beer after the match in the <a href="http://www.williamthefourth.net/" target="_blank">William IV</a> pub at Leyton. Prices have gone up to a massive £2.35 a pint for their home brewed Brodie's beers. Anyone who knows how much a pint normally is in London will realise how cheap that is. Food is reasonably priced too. Another place I would recommend visiting!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I had an hour and a half in Glasgow with work one day a week or so later so decided to visit the <a href="http://www.spt.co.uk/subway/" target="_blank">Glasgow Subway</a> (colloquially known as the Clockwork Orange). I have not been down there for a few years and in the meantime the trains have been repainted. It was also a good opportunity to test out my new Canon 5D in low light conditions. I used 1600 ISO for most of the pictures and there was little noise at all on any of them, certainly far less than on my 20D. Two pictures here to show the difference, both at 1600, the first on the 5D with no noise reduction and the second from my 20D which needed the use of <a href="http://www.neatimage.com/" target="_blank">Neat Image</a> to reduce the noise levels on the darker areas.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Glasgow/i-cjmqQPV/0/L/Glasgow%20122%20109%20112%20Kinning%20Park%20200813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Glasgow/i-cjmqQPV/0/L/Glasgow%20122%20109%20112%20Kinning%20Park%20200813g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Glasgow/i-FJ9Fb6q/0/L/Glasgow%20114%20124%20113%20Ibrox%20260406g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Glasgow/i-FJ9Fb6q/0/L/Glasgow%20114%20124%20113%20Ibrox%20260406g-L.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A new photo location for me a couple of days after that was at Burton on Trent. The line between Derby and Birmingham is one of the countries busiest for freight and I have visited locations such as <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/search#q=elford" target="_blank">Elford</a>, <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/search#q=water+orton" target="_blank">Water Orton</a> and <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/search#q=north+stafford+junction" target="_blank">North Stafford Junction</a> before. There is a convenient footbridge just to the east of Burton station and during a period of slightly over one hour in the afternoon 6 freight trains and the Network Rail HST went past in addition to the usual class 170s and Voyagers, although the 56 was a bonus as it had been diverted from its usual route to Boston via Nuneaton.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-m9mhx63/0/L/56094%20Burton%20on%20Trent%20220813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-m9mhx63/0/L/56094%20Burton%20on%20Trent%20220813g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-DnnQD2V/0/L/56094%20Burton%20on%20Trent%20220813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I went home via Rugeley and, had I realised earlier, I might have spent the whole day on the line from there to Walsall as it was the last day before the line shut over the bank holiday weekend for resignalling and the closure of the signal boxes at Rugeley (Brereton Sidings), Hednesford, Bloxwich and Walsall. I was fortunate as there was a coal train approaching just as I stepped off the local train at Rugeley Town station. Not the best angle for a photograph but worth the shot including the signal box for posterity on its last day of operation after 105 years in use.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-4/i-xLMKzrZ/0/L/66415%20Rugeley%20Town%20220813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-4/i-xLMKzrZ/0/L/66415%20Rugeley%20Town%20220813g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-4/i-kssjj7G/0/L/66415%20Rugeley%20Town%20220813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Bank Holiday weekend also saw what was billed as the last day that the Blackpool Tramway's heritage fleet would be in operation during daylight in 2013. For the rest of the year they will see use during the illuminations though of course only after it has gone dark. I went over on the monday to have a ride on them. A 'Heritage' day ticket is £10, though also covers you on all other trams and buses, which is just as well unless you are simply going to do round trips from the North Pier or from the Pleasure Beach where the heritage fleet were starting and finishing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There was no timetable as such for the heritage fleet aside from three booked trips to Fleetwood. Due to the lovely weather the open top 'boats' 602 and 604 (now renumbered to their original numbers of 227 and 230) were mainly running between Pleasure Beach and North Pier and were carrying healthy numbers of tourists. The other trams were doing trips further afield to Bispham or Cleveleys, though oddly none seemed to go there between the afternoon and evening Fleetwood trips. Quite a few enthusiasts were waiting in vain for one to appear at Bispham. Some form of basic timetable is needed for this service, even if it is just for one tram with the others operating on demand.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Blackpool/i-C4twjs8/0/L/Bolton%2066%20Fleetwood%201%20260813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Blackpool/i-C4twjs8/0/L/Bolton%2066%20Fleetwood%201%20260813g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The following day I was free to make a longer trip somewhere. I had thought about going to Newcastle to get some Tyne and Wear Metro pictures, in between visiting branches of Wetherspoons, however the weather forecast dictated the south would be a better option so I plumped for a visit to a small railway that has been on my 'to do' list for some time, namely the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hythe_Pier,_Railway_and_Ferry" target="_blank">Hythe Pier Railway</a>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Misc/Hythe-Pier-Railway/i-RrQbFqn/0/L/Hythe%20No1%20Hythe%20Pier%202%20270813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Misc/Hythe-Pier-Railway/i-RrQbFqn/0/L/Hythe%20No1%20Hythe%20Pier%202%20270813g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Misc/Hythe-Pier-Railway/i-4WVKjGR/0/L/Hythe%20No1%20Hythe%20Pier%205%20270813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Built in 1909 and electrified in 1922, there are two locos, four coaches and two trucks, one being a four wheel flat truck for carrying baggage and buggies, the other being a fuel tanker for supplying the companies two ferries. The locos are probably the oldest engines in daily service in Britain dating from 1917 when they were built as battery locos to operate in a mustard gas factory, converted to electric third rail engines in 1922 when they were bought for the pier railway.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The line operates a 30 minute service to connect with the ferry from Southampton. The bus from there to Hythe takes about an hour so the train and ferry are a popular way for tourists and commuters to get between the two towns, the entire journey taking about 15 minutes. Currently a return from Southampton on the ferry is £5.50 with the train being free to ferry users. There is a pub and shops by the station and a nice small seafront where you can sit and watch, or photograph, the train.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Misc/Hythe-Pier-Railway/i-H5xdtxD/0/L/Hythe%20No1%20Hythe%20Pier%2010%20270813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Misc/Hythe-Pier-Railway/i-H5xdtxD/0/L/Hythe%20No1%20Hythe%20Pier%2010%20270813g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Misc/Hythe-Pier-Railway/i-vpTG5nX/0/L/Hythe%20No1%20Hythe%20Pier%2010%20270813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Rather than my usual rush across London to grab an overpriced beer in either the Euston Tap or the nearby Bree Louise pub before my train home, I once again thought I would try and test out my 5D on the Underground, the Northern Line being another that I only had a couple of pictures from. For most of the shots I again used 1600 ISO, but forced by the platform at Waterloo being busy to trying a picture of one entering the station at speed, I needed to use 3200 ISO for one shot. Again there was very little noise apparent on the image. The station was well lit but, even so, being able to take a photograph at 1/640 of a second underground with good results is pretty amazing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/London/i-BS45wQK/0/L/LU%2051526%20Waterloo%20270813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/London/i-BS45wQK/0/L/LU%2051526%20Waterloo%20270813g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
That is it for my August wanderings. As yet I haven't had chance to go anywhere this month, though I do have my first trip to Italy booked for a few weeks time. I hope then to get some pictures of the Italian D445 class of diesel loco which I understand are being phased out over the next year or two, amongst other pictures of course. All will hopefully be revealed in blog number 49.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'll leave you with a picture of a rather unexpected find in Edinburgh whilst I was out having a bit of a stroll. It is now a cycleway but this tunnel formed part of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_and_Dalkeith_Railway" target="_blank">Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway</a> and led to the terminus at St Leonards. Originally built for coal it started being used for passengers after only a year, St Leonards becoming Edinburgh's first railway station, indeed the 566 yard long tunnel under the western flank of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur's_Seat,_Edinburgh" target="_blank">Arthur's Seat</a> is the thought to be the first railway tunnel to be built in Scotland. There is little to be seen of the old station, the site now being a housing development, but the tunnel and trackbed to the south can still be walked along for about 2 miles to the point where it used to meet up with what is now the Edinburgh Suburban line round the southern outskirts of the city near Brunstane; it is well worth a look. Thanks as always for reading, bye for now! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-SLMKfDN/0/L/i-SLMKfDN-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-SLMKfDN/0/L/i-SLMKfDN-L.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-5190302815818352312013-08-02T16:49:00.001+01:002014-05-09T22:09:53.871+01:0047: Banbury, Borismasters, Bo'ness and Brollies<div align="center">
Hello and, after about three weeks, here is another edition of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/" target="_blank">Railwaymedia</a> blog.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
If you have seen my website in the last few days, or indeed have just clicked the link above, you may have noticed a bit of a change to the layout. <a href="http://www.smugmug.com/" target="_blank">Smugmug</a> who have hosted my site since the demise of Fotopic several years ago unveiled a new look this week. Having spent a lot of time customising my own galleries using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML" target="_blank">HTML</a> to create my menus and to display the thumbnail pictures of my own choosing I was highly sceptical about having to redo or change the whole thing.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Looking at the various templates they supply themselves I quickly realised there was potential to both hopefully improve the look of Railwaymedia and also to make life easier for myself in the long run. It's taken me the last few days to get to grips with the new organisational tools, including managing to delete my entire collection of <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Foreign" target="_blank">Foreign</a> pictures by accident, but I'm now about finished.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Diesel/27/i-xc3LqtL/0/L/27001%2026038%20Boness%20270713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Diesel/27/i-xc3LqtL/0/L/27001%2026038%20Boness%20270713g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On to where I've been over the last few weeks. Two of the days of photography were dictated to by where I needed to go with work. The first, with the mainline being dug up between Preston and Warrington for a 9-day engineering blockade, rather than make my way back via Manchester from Crewe I decided to go the even longer way round via Chester and Liverpool. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have travelled on the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/507" target="_blank">Class 507</a> Merseyrail units since they were new, both for pleasure and to get to school. Considering they are, with their <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/508" target="_blank">Class 508</a> counterparts, almost 40 years old I think they are still looking in pretty good condition.Whilst I have never been a fan of the livery carried since their refurbishment around 10 years ago, internally they are kept pretty clean and look modern.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/507/i-3V5tDp5/0/L/507011%20Port%20Sunlight%20160713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/507/i-3V5tDp5/0/L/507011%20Port%20Sunlight%20160713g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/508/i-4shXMzB/0/L/508128%20Hamilton%20Square%20160713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The following day I ended up in Manchester. I hadn't yet visited the latest extension to the Metrolink network, the few miles from St Walburgh's Road to East Didsbury. I probably didn't visit at the best time of day for photography as the sun was almost head-on at most stops, though did manage a shot of tram running along the newly laid track at the almost rural station of Withington.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Manchester/i-fd226hx/0/L/Metrolink%203047%20Withington%20170713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Manchester/i-fd226hx/0/L/Metrolink%203047%20Withington%20170713g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Manchester/i-sMGnkXj/0/L/Metrolink%203047%20Withington%20170713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The new Flexity M5000 trams are now passed to run in pairs following the closure of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosley_Street_Metrolink_station" target="_blank">Mosley Street stop</a>. This stop was unique in being split-height and as such could only be served by double length trams if they were formed from the original T68 vehicles. Now that this has gone and deliveries of the M5000's are reaching the 70th vehicle the end of the older trams is near. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There are still a few pairs of T68's running on the direct Bury to Altrincham services, but apart from that the only other stronghold is the Piccadilly to Eccles route. I have taken some pictures previously near the Pomona stop but, with the angle of the sun right, I walked along the Bridgewater canal towpath to get some pictures of these nearer to the Altrincham Line junction at Cornbrook.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Manchester/i-KS2gTPh/0/L/Metrolink%201023%20Pomona%20170713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Manchester/i-KS2gTPh/0/L/Metrolink%201023%20Pomona%20170713g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Manchester/i-GwMfCsf/0/L/Metrolink%201024%20Pomona%20170713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After yet more tram pictures, pictures of buses next I'm afraid. With an hour or so in London over three days I decided to get some shots of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Bus_for_London" target="_blank">'New Buses for London'</a> (also known as Borismasters after London Mayor Boris Johnson). The first handful of vehicles have been running on route 38 for about 6 months to test them out but they were introduced en-mass to route 24 between Hampstead and Pimlico on the 22nd June. Route 11 is the next to be converted on the 21st September. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/London/LT/i-Lz4vmt3/0/L/London%20LT9%20Hampstead%20Road%20180713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/London/LT/i-Lz4vmt3/0/L/London%20LT9%20Hampstead%20Road%20180713g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/LondonSE/London/i-NSHSCqc/0/L/London%20LT13%20Mornington%20Crescent%20180713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At a reported £350,000 each they are about £30,000 more expensive than a conventional double deck bus, plus there is the ongoing expense of paying for the conductors on each bus to protect the open platform at the rear. I have seen a lot of tourists however waiting specifically to have a ride on one, although of course that might change when there are hundreds of the things about!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And so the Borismaster was the last thing for me to photograph in anger with my trusty Canon 20D. After 7 years of faultless performance I finally decided to splash out on a replacement for it, the Canon 5D Mark III. First results from it are excellent, the larger viewfinder and LED screen on the back are certainly a huge improvement, as appears to be the auto-focus. Being summer I've yet to have found a chance to see how the extremley high ISO setting of 25600 performs. Ironically enough the first thing I photographed with the new camera was also a bus, of sorts.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/142/i-3qRkh9f/0/L/142070%20Farington%20Moss%202%20220713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/142/i-3qRkh9f/0/L/142070%20Farington%20Moss%202%20220713g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/142/i-ZNPb2Zp/0/L/142070%20Farington%20Moss2%20220713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I still have the 20D and will keep that in my work bag for now, although I've found that combined with my zoom lens it's a bit heavy to carry around so I might have to find a different lens.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The next day I had a proper trip out to test my 5D. The original plan was to meet up with a few friends in the Didcot area. After two weeks of hot sun though this was the day it was forecast for the weather to break and thunderstorms and heavy rain were expected throughout most of the country. The others decided to rearrange the outing but, with a new camera to try and a day with nothing better to do, I chose to go myself anyway. I was beginning to regret it when passing through Wolverhampton and Birmingham with the sky as dark as night and lightning everywhere.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Rather than go down as far as Didcot, as I was on my own I decided to stick a bit further north and planned on visiting new locations at Banbury and Hatton. The weather was brightening slightly as we left the Midlands, though a few spots of heavy rain as I walked from the station in Banbury to get some breakfast didn't bode too well. I splashed out on a £4 umbrella as a precaution.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Other/DVT/i-QVmpSVb/0/L/82304%2067010%20Banbury%20230713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Other/DVT/i-QVmpSVb/0/L/82304%2067010%20Banbury%20230713g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Diesel/66-5/i-sV6gXsR/0/L/66503%20Banbury%20230713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It certainly wasn't cold though and I got rather hot walking to my first visit to the bridge at the edge of town at <a href="http://www.trainspots.co.uk/locpage.php?ts_number=788" target="_blank">Grimsbury Green.</a> A pleasant few hours were spent here at this quiet road bridge as the weather got better and better, indeed by the time I left there was hardly a cloud in the sky.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.trainspots.co.uk/locpage.php?ts_number=834" target="_blank">Hatton</a>, my other target location and another I hadn't been to before, is just west of Warwick on the line from Birmingham Snow Hill to Leamington. Whilst there are a few freight trains using the route alongside the regular Chiltern class 168s and Cross Country Voyagers, the highlight perhaps is the Chiltern Mainline 'Silver' trains hauled by class 67s. I've mentioned these before in my blog but the current departure times from London to Birmingham (the loco is normally on the north end of the train) are at 0845, 1015, 1315, 1647, 1715 and 1815 along with the 1750 to Banbury.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/67/i-PhC6G67/0/L/67010%20Hatton%20North%20Junction%20230713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/67/i-PhC6G67/0/L/67010%20Hatton%20North%20Junction%20230713g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Diesel/67/i-gTt3z62/0/L/67010%20Hatton%20North%20Jn%20230713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All the days pictures can be seen <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions/230713" target="_blank">HERE.</a> In the end I never used the umbrella!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A line I have not been to for a long time, nor photographed before, is the <a href="http://www.bkrailway.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway</a>. For obvious reasons I can remember the date of my last visit when I was doing my autumn slip/slide training on a class 158 as it was the 11th September 2001. One of the ways most railway companies train their drivers in dealing with the conditions caused by leaf fall in the autumn is by finding a quiet bit of railway not used by other trains, ideally on an incline and surrounded by trees, and then applying copious amounts of washing up liquid to the railhead to simulate the effect compressed leaf mulch on the wheels causes to the braking cpabilities of the train.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Anyway, a welcome visit to the line for recreation and many thanks to Peter Kellet for driving me about as I was unaware what locations there were available for photography. It turns out that most of the first mile or so is excellent as the railway goes through parkland between the road and the shore. My favourite picture was probably the one at the top of this blog depicting the railway's class 27 and 26 arriving at Bo'ness station, but the other highlight for me was another class of train that I haven't photographed before, namely the <a href="http://www.srps.org.uk/" target="_blank">SRPS's</a> immaculately turned out class 126 DMU.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/126/i-ZjvGpWK/0/L/51043%2059404%2051017%20Kinneil%20270713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/126/i-ZjvGpWK/0/L/51043%2059404%2051017%20Kinneil%20270713g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/126/i-cQn5N8T/0/L/51043%2059404%2051017%20Kinneil%20270713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These units were originally introduced in the late 1950s on the main Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street route, but were perhaps more synonymous with the Ayrshire Coast route from Glasgow Central until that route was electrified in the early 1980s. The front design at one end was similar to that used on the Cross Country class 120, which were also built at Swindon, but unlike those units the other driving end of the 126s was fitted with a gangway to enable two units to be coupled back-to-back as one complete 6-car train. A full history of these units can be found <a href="http://www.class126.co.uk/" target="_blank">HERE.</a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/126/i-VS2fGjN/0/L/51017%2059404%2051043%20Kinneil%20270713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/126/i-VS2fGjN/0/L/51017%2059404%2051043%20Kinneil%20270713g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/DMU/126/i-PpzT4XF/0/L/51017%2059404%2051043%20Kinneil%20270713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was lucky with the weather, it only started clouding up mid-afternoon and by the time I was on the train back to Edinburgh it was pouring down. Fortunately for one of my companions who was staying in Edinburgh for the night and as such commented that he needed to find a shop to get an umbrella, I could help and after £4 changed hands he was supplied with a brand new one from my bag.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Having the 20D in my work bag has enabled a couple of shots over the past few days. The two orange Harry Needle class 20's were parked at Crewe station on Sunday morning and on Tuesday I arrived back to Preston in time to get to Farington for a shot of the ex-LNER engine 'The Great Marquess' leading the Welsh Mountaineer special to Blaenau Ffestiniog. The weight problem I mentioned earlier caused me to take it out the next day, which was a shame as I missed out on some daylight shots of the sleeper trains Friday morning. A train fault on one led to three out of four of the trains running between 2 and 3 hours late, indeed the northbound Glasgow and Edinburgh service was still at Preston when I finished work at 0720. Why buy expensive cameras when you can take pictures with your phone? Not fantastic, but the results are OK for a web sized image.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/90/i-2PgNvFS/0/L/90039%20Preston%20020813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/90/i-2PgNvFS/0/L/90039%20Preston%20020813g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Electric/90/i-NXx55Xs/0/L/90039%20Preston%20020813g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mucking about with my website this week has meant that I haven't got out as I had planned to do to take a picture of 6K05, the regular afternoon Carlisle to Crewe departmental freight, which has after many years changed from being operated by DB Schenker to by DRS. 66428 had the honours on the first day Monday, but given DRS's fleet and the fact it will be a useful train for them to use to transfer engines between their two depots, I would be amazed if it doesn't start to regularly turn up being hauled by heritage traction such as 37s, 47s or 57s. I have been photographing this train since I took the hobby back up in 2002/2003 and in those days it was regualrly hauled by 37s or 56s, I have a seperate <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Featured/6K05" target="_blank">Gallery</a> dedicated to this train so hopefully I can add some DRS engines to it soon.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/37/i-pMNQKCV/0/L/37203%2037707%20Barton%20280503g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/37/i-pMNQKCV/0/L/37203%2037707%20Barton%20280503g-L.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Diesel/37/i-jcG3Q62/0/L/37203%2037707%20Barton%20280503g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thanks as always for taking the time to read this blog. Due to the reorganisation of my site my <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Newadditions" target="_blank">New Additions</a> section will no longer show when I've written a new edition, however there are facilities on Blogger to become a 'follower' or send me an email using the contact button on my website and I will add you to the direct emailing list to be notified of all <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/" target="_blank">Railwaymedia</a> updates.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Over the years I've been suprised by what destinations are contained in the memory of the electronic destination equipment on trains. Voyagers can be manually programmed so in effect anything is possible, but with other units such as the Great Western 180s or London Midland 350s you would expect the destinations contained on it to pretty operator specific. A friend found that the 180s contained place names like Alton and Clapham Junction whilst during a trial of modification to software on a 221 it was announcing stations such as Haddenham & Thame Parkway and Glasgow Queen Street. I suppose compared to that, Dover on a LM 350 is tame. Bye for now!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-RFgJvzR/0/L/i-RFgJvzR-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/photos/i-RFgJvzR/0/L/i-RFgJvzR-L.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-40900283494394667242013-07-15T12:33:00.002+01:002014-05-09T22:09:00.900+01:0046: Logs Again, Lancashire Amblings and a Leyland Atlantean<div style="text-align: center;">
A warm welcome as always to the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/" target="_blank">Railwaymedia</a> blog, this being edition 46.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, another superb week of weather has coincided with a week of nights at work although this time, unlike the good week in June, I had to do a bit more at work during the night so had less time for photography during the day. So no long trips, but I did again catch up with some of the local workings; the biggest development has been Colas starting to use double headed class 56's on their Carlisle to Chirk <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Featured/Logs/" target="_blank">log trains.</a> It did break down on a couple of occasions so they have probably decided that two engines are better than one. Certainly I understand that DRS have found on the Tesco train using two class 66's does not significantly use more fuel than just using one as the extra power means the engines are not being used on full power for as long as they would otherwise be.<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-7rsb5wX/0/L/56105%2056087%20Ramsgreave%202%20110713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-7rsb5wX/0/L/56105%2056087%20Ramsgreave%202%20110713g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-ks8zDSd/0/L/56105%2056087%20Newsholme%20110713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The timings of the train have changed also over the last few weeks. Previously it left Carlisle about 1200 and ran, usually via the Settle and Carlisle line, but occasionally via the West Coast Main Line. Due to engineering work between Chester and Shrewsbury it has had to arrive at Chirk earlier so has been leaving Carlisle at 1000. The first week or so it ran via Shap but last week it has returned to the Settle and Carlisle line. The revised schedule has meant a change to the locations where it is possible to photograph the train due to the angle of the sun at the earlier time.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anyway, my planned scanning in and processing of bus pictures got put on the back burner as a result of the weather. I spent two days scanning in the prints from one of my many albums but only got 50% through sorting them out. They will have to wait for now! The sun made an appearance for the <a href="http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/whats-on/elr-events/" target="_blank">East Lancashire Railway's Diesel Gala</a>. I went on the Friday (I planned to go Sunday too but had an uncharacteristic hangover!). The stars of the gala were the trio of visiting engines from the <a href="http://www.mnr.org.uk/" target="_blank">Mid Norfolk Railway</a>; 47579, 47596 and 73210. The best one for me was BR Blue 47579 on the blue/grey 'shuttle' rake used between Bury and Ramsbottom: the days pictures are <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips2013/050713" target="_blank">HERE.</a><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/47/i-tXsxJFs/0/L/47579%20Little%20Burrs%201%20050713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/47/i-tXsxJFs/0/L/47579%20Little%20Burrs%201%20050713g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As mentioned I flunked the Sunday at the ELR but hopefully made up for it this week by spending whenever possible out photographing the local freight workings. <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips2013/080713" target="_blank">Monday</a> was the first day I realised the log train was running earlier, on this occasion via Shap. Conveniently it meant it was running ten minutes in front of the regular DRS Mossend to Daventry train so it was worth a drive to Standish near Wigan to photograph the pair. Seeing there was also a West Coast Railways train heading from Southall to Carnforth posed a dilema as the light is generally wrong for northbound workings. I decided on nipping up the M6 to Lancaster for a shot of it crossing the River Lune. I was expecting a maroon loco and coaches so 47580 with a train that fitted nicely was a pleasant suprise!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/47/i-4XLKCHC/0/L/47580%20Lancaster%20080713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/47/i-4XLKCHC/0/L/47580%20Lancaster%20080713g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Finishing work at around 5am for a few days gave me the opportunity to go north from Preston to photograph the early morning departmental train that passes Preston about 0530. Obviously this is only possible at the height of summer. Another regular working usually follows this, this being 6C51 the nuclear flask train from Crewe to Sellafield, however this too this week has been retimed, although unlike the earlier logs this has been running about 2 hours later instead.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips2013/100713" target="_blank">Wednesday</a> morning I headed to <a href="http://www.trainspots.co.uk/locpage.php?ts_number=308" target="_blank">Brock</a> for the departmental train and then waited round for <a href="http://www.statesmanrail.com/fellsman.html" target="_blank">The Fellsman</a> which runs every week during summer. It was starting to cloud over as this came just before 0730 so I decided it was bedtime; I did return in the evening to photograph it on its way back but despite leaving home under blue skies Brock, only about 10 miles away, was under cloud. Had I known though that the working from Kilmarnock to Wembley shown on <a href="http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced" target="_blank">Real Time Trains</a> was the Virgin 'Pretendolino' being hauled by a DRS class 57 I would have stayed around. Oh well.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Misc/Steam/i-qdbM4gv/0/L/48151%20Brock%20100713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Misc/Steam/i-qdbM4gv/0/L/48151%20Brock%20100713g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips2013/110713/" target="_blank">Thursday</a> started off as a repeat of the previous day with a shot of the first northbound freight at Brock. With nothing of interest then due for 2 hours I nipped home for breakfast before returning for the first southbound daylight train which is the DRS Coatbridge to Daventry 'Russells' train. This was followed 10 minutes later by two WCRC 47s taking a coach to Ardwick depot in Manchester for tyre turning. I then sat on the footbridge over the motorway for 2 hours awaiting two northbound freight workings (the Tesco Express and a nuclear flask train) and Deltic 55022 running light engine to Glasgow Works to haul some EMUs between there and Shields depot for GBRF.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Typically, a cloud come over just at the wrong time. I also managed to spoil the shot by trying to be clever and get an arty shot of it passing the motorway footbridge. I managed in the end to get two shots of it, but each with one nose of the engine obscured by the fencing. Given the picture was a bit of a write-off anyway due to the cloud I had a play around with it in photoshop and have managed to create the shot I was after (minus the sun) by sticking the two images together.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/55/i-nhwsczc/0/L/55022%20Brock%20110713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/55/i-nhwsczc/0/L/55022%20Brock%20110713g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I realised I had about an hour to get to Ribblehead to see the log train. I made it easily in the end, in fact I only just missed a preceeding coal train, though you are always at the mercy of slow drivers on the single carriageway roads across from Lancaster to Ingleton. With the 56s being booked to wait for 45 minutes at Hellifield and a further 20 near Clitheroe it was possible to get four pictures in total of this one train; the last time I did any train chasing by car was in Bulgaria! The shot of the day by far was of it near Newsholme, a location not normally doable for this train at its normal time.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-ks8zDSd/0/L/56105%2056087%20Newsholme%20110713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-ks8zDSd/0/L/56105%2056087%20Newsholme%20110713g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Diesel/56/i-WRGFDdQ/0/L/56105%2056087%20Newsholme%20110713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After a couple of hours at home to have a well needed doze, before work I returned once again to Brock for the class 47's returning from Ardwick. Having spent quite a few hours hanging around Brock already over the previous few days on <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Trips2013/120713" target="_blank">Friday</a> I decided to try somewhere different for a few morning pictures. I first went straight from work at 6am to Preston Docks to get a picture of the Ribble Steam Railway's ex-Preston Corporation shunter transferring the bitumen wagons from the siding at Lanfina in the dockland to the exchange sidings for collection by DB Schenker.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This train generally runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The move inside the docks happens just before 0700; the shot of it coming across the swing bridge is only of course really possible in summer, indeed even just a few weeks after the equinox the shadow from the control centre begins to cast a shadow on the bridge at just the point where you would want to photograph the engine. I did get this <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Heritage/Ribble/i-6XM4GTZ/0/X3/Ribble%20Rail%20Enterprise%20Preston%20Docks1%20090608g-X3.jpg" target="_blank">shot</a> a few years ago. It is actually 5 years since I last went for this working so it was good to get a picture of it with the new wagons that have since been introduced.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Misc/Ribble/i-9n9bCMp/0/L/Enterprise%20Preston%20Dock%20120713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Misc/Ribble/i-9n9bCMp/0/L/Enterprise%20Preston%20Dock%20120713g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Heritage/Ribble/i-VBMTcfZ/0/L/Enterprise%20Preston%20Dock%20120713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The loaded wagons arrive at the exchange sidings from Immingham about 0730 and are then taken in two halves to Lanfina, the sun is at the wrong angle though for these trips to be photographed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Being bored of Brock I tried a new location for me on the WCML north of Preston at Catterall. It's quite amazing really I can still find these places that I've not done before! There was the promise of the regular DRS southbound freight plus also a test train from Holytown to Crewe. Fortunately the engine was at the right end for this working with the Mk2 driving coach at the rear. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/37/i-F7NkWK4/0/L/37667%20Catterall%20120713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/37/i-F7NkWK4/0/L/37667%20Catterall%20120713g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Not long after these had past there was the northbound Tesco Express, hauled as always by a pair of DRS class 66s. All week 66429 and 434 had been in charge, the latter being in Malcolm livery. I've not managed to photograph this since it recieved the livery so annoyingly all week it has been the second of the two locos. Despite this being the newest of the DRS class 66s it has managed to carry three different colour schemes in total, starting off in normal <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Diesel/66-4/i-qbMZpfb/0/X3/66434%20Brock%20241209g-X3.jpg" target="_blank">DRS</a> livery and then for a time the short lived <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Diesel/66-4/i-GqgPwZC/0/X3/66434%20Barton%20010710g-X3.jpg" target="_blank">Jarvis Fastline</a> livery. The company went bust not long after is was repainted for them.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-4/i-ghvXZSk/0/L/66434%20Barton%20010710g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/66-4/i-ghvXZSk/0/L/66434%20Barton%20010710g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Diesel/66-4/i-HJqfPdw/0/L/66429%2066434%20Catterall%20120713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There was nothing exciting due in the afternoon so I called it a day after the next freight passed. There will be even less freight running through Preston this week due to a 9 day blockage of the mainline between there and Warrington for renewals work on several junctions. Some of the freight, for example the Tesco Express, is being diverted via Chorley and Manchester, others may just not run. TRUST did have the Colas log train shown as booked that way too but at the time of writing of this Monday morning there is no sign of it running yet on Real Time Trains. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sunday 14th July marked the second annual open day at the <a href="http://mttrust.co.uk/" target="_blank">Merseyside Transport Trust</a> near Burscough. Whilst predominately bus orientated, the sole surviving former LMS class 502 EMU was able to be viewed at the rear of the premisis. This former National Railway Museum unit suffered terribly from years in open storage; the <a href="http://www.class502.org.uk/" target="_blank">Friends of the Class 502 Group</a> are in the long process of restoring this unit and I wish them well with what looks a daunting task. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thanks as always for reading. I'm afraid I am going to have to leave you with a picture of a bus, one of many ex-Merseyside vehicles giving free rides from the MTT's premisis. Next year I will have to make sure I haven't got work in the afternoon so I can spend the day riding round on the routes they provide as a 'Real Ale Trail' round the West Lancashire country pubs! Bye for now.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/North-West/Merseybus/i-csZdpJB/0/L/Merseybus%201836%20Burscough%202%20140713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/North-West/Merseybus/i-csZdpJB/0/L/Merseybus%201836%20Burscough%202%20140713g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Merseybus/i-MbmtfdF/0/L/Merseybus%201836%20Burscough2%20140713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Merseybus/i-kP76SrF/0/L/Merseybus%201836%20Burscough2%20140713g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3147038095702192470.post-63543179354692431982013-06-28T22:04:00.000+01:002014-05-09T22:10:37.868+01:0045: Grey Grids, Turquoise Trams then South to Surrey<div align="center">
Hello and welcome to edition 45 of the <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/" target="_blank">Railwaymedia</a> blog.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
As I guessed at the end of my last blog posting, the lovely weather we had been enjoying during the first week or so of June didn't last long enough for my day out the following week. I decided on a trip to Oxford and Kings Sutton, principally for the class 56 hauled trial fly-ash train from Calvert to Didcot Power Station, but also for the Chiltern loco-hauled evening services.<br />
<br />
The first of these aims didn't quite work out as planned. With the fly-ash train booked to finish at the end of that week I planned visiting a few Oxfordshire Wetherspoons before making my way to the footbridge south of Oxford at Hinksey Yard to photograph it. Checking up on the way there <a href="http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/" target="_blank">Real Time Trains</a> was showing the train as cancelled so, with it being somewhat cold (I hadn't taken a coat thinking it would be warm down south!), I was sat in the pub when I realised 3 minutes before it was due that it was now running again. Despite a bit of a jog down the road all I could managed was a glimpse of 56091 from the distance as it crossed the bridge by Oxford station.<br />
<br />
Trying to salvage something however, I did later get myself to Hinksey and was rewarded by the fact I learnt two more class 56's were expected! One was a Colas working with 56105 heading south from Crewe to West Ealing dragging a couple of Network Rail vehicles, the second was another working to Calvert, this one from Thorney Mill hauled by 56311. It was touch and go if we would actually get to photograph them passing each other but in the end they were 3 minutes apart.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-nDq3P6g/0/L/56311%20Hinksey%201%20100613g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/56/i-nDq3P6g/0/L/56311%20Hinksey%201%20100613g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Diesel/56/i-Tc5425n/0/L/56311%20Hinksey1%20100613g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
With at least 9 class 56s currently being used on the mainline (Colas Rail using 56087, 56094, 56105, 56302 and DCR using 56091, 56301, 56303, 56311, 56312), 2013 has seen a remarkable change in fortune for the class. Maybe some operator will start using class 58s? Wishful thinking.<br />
<br />
The evening was finished off at Kings Sutton and Banbury to photograph the Chiltern workings. There are four loco hauled trains out of London Marylebone at the moment on weekday evenings, the 1647 to Birmingham, 1715 and 1815 to Kidderminster and 1750 to Banbury. I travelled from Banbury to Birmingham on the 1815 and what a pleasure it is to be on these refurbished Mk3 coaches with a tasteful and smart grey interior. An hourly all day service with these would be nice.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/67/i-5t2Dsvc/0/L/67012%20Kings%20Sutton%20100613g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Locos/67/i-5t2Dsvc/0/L/67012%20Kings%20Sutton%20100613g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Diesel/67/i-pjF436d/0/L/67017%20Banbury%20100613g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
My other two main trips out this month have been both to South London, with varied results; both I again based around visiting Wetherspoons pubs I had yet to visit. To some extent because there are so many in the London area you can, with the help of a bus/tube/train map, just follow your nose and from one pub go to the next nearest one and so on. I started off going to the one nearest Canary Wharf in the Docklands, with the added aim of getting a few extra DLR pictures.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Dlr/i-qkvRZGT/0/L/DLR%2008%2077%2080%20South%20Quay%20140613g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Dlr/i-qkvRZGT/0/L/DLR%2008%2077%2080%20South%20Quay%20140613g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/dlr/i-n5fXPXV/0/L/DLR%2008%2077%2080%20South%20Quay%20140613g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
My other aim of the day was to end up in the Croydon area to photograph the tramway which I had not covered since June 2007. Since my last visit there has been a small batch of Variobahn trams delivered to increase service frequencies, and all the older Flexity trams have been reliveried from their previous quite nice livery based on the old London Tram red and cream to a much more lurid turquoise, white and blue effort. The weather cleared up nicely in the afternoon so I spent an hour or so photographing the most scenic section of the line, that through the South Norwood Country Park near the Arena stop where the branches to Elmers End and Beckenham Junction diverge.<br />
<br />
Aside from the now obsolete original livery I hadn't realised the other 'nod' to the original London Tram system is that the numbering system for the Croydon Trams commenced at the rather odd number of 2530 because the highest numbered original tram was numbered 2529.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Croydon/i-jT68dfL/0/L/Croydon%202536%20Arena%20140613g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Croydon/i-jT68dfL/0/L/Croydon%202536%20Arena%20140613g-L.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Lightrail/Croydon/i-qGBNwgn/0/L/2536%20Harrington%20Road%20140613g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
A week later and I headed back to London. The intention was to return to South East London and cover both the Wetherspoons and the trains in the area east of Woolwich and Lewisham, but on the train down from Preston I realised that Royal Ascot was taking place that weekend. In past years I have gone down to Egham to photograph the several special trains that run for racegoers, so thought that would be a better idea for the day. The empty stock workings I had seen on the internet turned out though to be just the returning units from the augmented London to Reading service.<br />
<br />
I have plenty of pictures of most of the South West Trains units, certainly plenty of the 450s, so I ended up only taking seven pictures all day and instead made my way slowly across from Windsor to Epsom doing the various pubs I needed in that sector of London. The weather like the previous week cleared up by late afternoon, but by this stage I was mostly well off the railway system and using buses to visit places like North Cheam on the Surrey border at the southern edge of the Travelcard area. When I was (much) younger this was the stamping ground of London Transport's <a href="http://www.countrybus.org/DMS/DMS1.htm" target="_blank">DMS class</a> of Daimler Fleetlines and I think I visited Cheam once back then, I certainly have pictures of those buses in Sutton and Morden taken around 1991 which I will scan in in due time. The one sunny shot I did manage was a bog standard station shot of a class 455 at Epsom<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/455/i-X7MRb7X/0/L/455858%20Epsom%20210613g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/455/i-X7MRb7X/0/L/455858%20Epsom%20210613g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/EMU/455/i-VSLMsjK/0/L/455858%20Epsom%20210613g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
Thinking about those pictures of DMSs spurred me on to finishing the processing of a few scanned pictures that have been on my computer for some time awaiting uploading to the website. Having cleared those I intend over the next two weeks to resume scanning my collection of 6x4 prints, assuming the weather doesn't perk up allowing me to get out with my camera. For now I will recommence scanning in my bus pictures as I am currently about half way through these. The latest batch I finished off this week included shots like this one from Liverpool taken in 1993 depicting a former London Transport Leyland Titan drafted into service with Merseybus.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/North-West/Merseybus/i-Z7cbGK8/0/L/Merseybus%202104%201735%20Netherley%20020193g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/North-West/Merseybus/i-Z7cbGK8/0/L/Merseybus%202104%201735%20Netherley%20020193g-L.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Merseybus/i-4ScBR6K/0/L/Merseybus%202104%201735%20Netherley%20020193g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Buses/Merseybus/i-ZjR2MqZ/0/L/Merseybus%202104%201735%20Netherley%20020193g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
As always thanks for reading and please keep an eye on my <a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/NewAdditions/Menu" target="_blank">New Additions</a> section for any new updates. If you decide to head to East London just be careful of giant cats on the prowl...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/Places/i-tCt4vzN/0/L/Catford%20Centre%20140613g-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Everythingelse/Places/i-tCt4vzN/0/L/Catford%20Centre%20140613g-L.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0