RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted February 19, 2018 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 19, 2018 What exactly was the potato traffic finishing in 2008? I presume it was loaded going out, too early for my time down here. There were also deliveries of sugar stone a sugar beet facility (not Cantley). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium uax6 Posted February 19, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 19, 2018 Was it not inbound Scotch Seed Spuds?? Andy G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted February 19, 2018 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 19, 2018 Was it not inbound Scotch Seed Spuds?? Andy G No idea Andy - it was before my time. Googling brings up a reference to seed spuds so it looks like you're right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 Was it not inbound Scotch Seed Spuds?? Andy G It was; from around the Perth- Montrose area, IIRC. Lasted for a couple of seasons. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 I remember a picture in REX about the time of a 37/4 with cargowaggons in a loop in Scotland before a 66 took it forward with the spuds Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajwffc Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 It was; from around the Perth- Montrose area, IIRC. Lasted for a couple of seasons. They came from Elgin I think? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Ben Posted March 2, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 2, 2018 Hi there, Any idea which issue of REx? I'd be interested in looking up that shot. Cheers Ben A. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted June 19, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 19, 2019 (edited) Time for an update as it's been a while, the trains still appear on average around every 3 weeks, it's not regular and not predictable as sometimes the stockpile is empty and no trains run, sometimes its full and a train runs ! Eccles Road 14 June 2019 66087 on 6Z59, 22:27, Briggs Sdgs Steetley Coy - Eccles Rd Johnston's Sdg (08:12) - loaded stone (16 MMA) Setting back In need of a trim - at this point the 66 shuddered itself to a halt, the shunter and driver couldn't work out what was wrong and it was fine a couple of minutes later - I wondered if maybe some mulch had gone onto the tyres and caused the issues. Checking things out before heading to the unloading area. After unloading (in 2 rafts of 8 MMA) - taken (with permission) from a back garden. Slightly bizarre view of a 66 among the poppies ! Pushing out - taken from private land with permission I'll edit and add a departure shot, the 10MB limit has stopped me uploading any more today. Edited June 19, 2019 by beast66606 18 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 4630 Posted June 19, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 19, 2019 3 minutes ago, beast66606 said: Time for an update as it's been a while, the trains still appear on average around every 3 weeks, it's not regular and not predictable as sometimes the stockpile is empty and no trains run, sometimes its full and a train runs ! Eccles Road 14 June 2019 66087 on 6Z59, 22:27, Briggs Sdgs Steetley Coy - Eccles Rd Johnston's Sdg (08:12) - loaded stone (16 MMA) Slightly bizarre view of a 66 among the poppies ! Nice set of photos there. Perhaps DB Cargo should have a friendly word with Freightliner to see if they can hire in 66614* next time. * Freightliner 66614 is named '1916 POPPY 2016', to save everyone wondering why. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted June 20, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 20, 2019 Eccles Road - private land with permission 14 June 2019 66087 on 4Z88, 15:18, Eccles Rd Johnston's Sdg - Briggs Sdgs Steetley Coy (06:30) - empty stone (16 MMA) 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted June 22, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 22, 2019 (edited) Annoyingly the same loco was used on the service this week, it also suffered the same wheel slip problem. Same trains as last week :- Loaded in : 66087 on 6Z59, 22:27, Briggs Sdgs Steetley Coy - Eccles Rd Johnston's Sdg (08:12) - loaded stone (16 MMA) and Empties out : 66087 on 4Z88, 15:18, Eccles Rd Johnston's Sdg - Briggs Sdgs Steetley Coy (06:30) - empty stone (16 MMA) Something unusual was the departure from the second road, this was due to a brake issue on one of the wagons which meant it needed to be towards the back of the train to maintain the brake force so the empties could still run as a class 4 (75 mph) and this involved a bit of extra shunting. Part 2 tomorrow Edited June 22, 2019 by beast66606 12 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted June 23, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 23, 2019 Part 2 All taken from private land with permission 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted June 23, 2019 Share Posted June 23, 2019 So that’s the new anti graffiti plan , to spray it out with Halfords primer ? 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted September 15, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 15, 2019 Saturday 14th September saw a Branch Line Society tour traverse the sidings. The train left Nottingham top and tailed by 66088 (leading) and 66041. On arrival at Brandon smoke was seen coming from the front bogie of 66088 (reported to me by one of the merry band of around 10 enthusiasts at Eccles awaiting it's arrival). I was chatting with the others and watching the train on opentraintimes.com and we commented that it was getting later and later. It appeared to depart but then went back into the sidings, this was later discovered to be 66041 running round and dumping the stricken 66088 in the yard. After about 90mins (after it's booked arrival) the train went to cancelled on several real time systems so everyone grumbled and headed home. I decided to wait around as there was a 156 on the approaching GA Cambridge - Norwich service. After the 156 had passed Thetford I noticed the special step out behind it, interesting. After a few minutes the AHBs on the approach to Thetford cycled meaning only one thing - it was on the move again and had been reinstated - I managed to let one guy, who had decided to photograph the out of use box before leaving, know. The two of us hung around waiting to see what happened. Because the train had been cancelled the MOM who was to supervise the shunts had gone, I could hear the phones at the signals ringing as Cambridge PSB tried to contact him. The train duly arrived and after further delay while an on board member of staff discovered he didn't have a key for the phone boxes so one of the train crew liaised with Cambridge while he performed the point clipping, the train finally made it into the sidings some two hours or so late. It pushed back into one siding, was drawn down to the unloading point, then pushed back into the other siding and finally left. After an hours break at Norwich it passed Eccles again on it's way to some other freight lines around Cambridge. It should have gone to Littleport so it could return via the Ely chord but as it was now a single loco its not clear exactly what happened but I don't think it made it there and the train missed the chord. As it was late I made no attempt to get into the field, which was a good choice and it was a very quick down and back and I'd have been stuck in limbo land. The GA service was cancelled so it was out onto the main line quicker too. Eccles Road 14 September 2019 66041 on 1Z14, 06:25, Nottingham - Norwich (13:52) - The Breckland Freighter, BLS tour arriving at Eccles pushing back into the sidings Heading down to Johnstons unl;oading point Returning with train crew supervising from the front coach Leaving the sidings for Norwich And returning from Norwich 66041 on 1Z15, 14:52, Norwich - Littleport (17:45) - The Breckland Freighter, BLS tour 15 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium uax6 Posted September 15, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 15, 2019 The train went to Cambridge as booked (although late, and I don't know if it visited the Redlands sidings at Chesterton). On the return it was booked to use the Ely Up Goods Loop, but the panel pulled off via the Down Goods. The route was queried and the correct one pulled in the end. The train then went on it merry way straight to March, leaving LTP well alone! Andy G 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted September 15, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 15, 2019 26 minutes ago, uax6 said: The train went to Cambridge as booked (although late, and I don't know if it visited the Redlands sidings at Chesterton). On the return it was booked to use the Ely Up Goods Loop, but the panel pulled off via the Down Goods. The route was queried and the correct one pulled in the end. The train then went on it merry way straight to March, leaving LTP well alone! Andy G It did visit Chesterton, I watched it on signal diagrams 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted February 8, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 8, 2020 On a cold morning the first arrival for nearly 3 months : Eccles Road 07 February 2020 66054 on 6Z59, 21:47, Dowlow Briggs Sdgs - Eccles Rd Johnston's Sdg (08:11) - loaded stone (16 MMA) 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted May 24, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted May 24, 2021 The stone still runs but is very infrequent, it ran last Friday with a DBC repaint at the helm Eccles Road 21/05/2021 (Friday) 66131 on 6Z59, 04:45, Toton North Yard - Eccles Rd Johnston's Sdg (08:55) - loaded stone (16 MMA), +190 As it was so late a decision was made to only unload 10 MMAs, so 131, with a lot of effort, took 10 loaded MMAs to the unloading point, locos normally struggle with 8 - the "empties" (ie those to go back loaded) sit in the Exchange Sidings while the 10 are unloaded to the left of the view With some good work by all concerned the (63%) empties left on time . 66131 on 6Z88, 15:00, Eccles Rd Johnston's Sdg - Dowlow Briggs Sdgs (06:43) - empty stone (16 MMA), first 6 still loaded due to late arrival - these two photos are taken from private land, with the owner's permission. Propelling out onto the down main And away to the High Peaks - via a stopover at Toton 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted August 12, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 12, 2021 After several paths had appeared over the last few weeks and then vanished with no actual train (although on one occasion no-one told the ground staff who drove up from Essex ...), the stone ran again on Monday this week - it's run a couple of times since my last update but this one was more interesting - and annoying for me. Monday 09 August 2021 arrived, the Eccles stone was running and also the blue 60 was running to Brandon, perfect (so I thought), I can get the Eccles and then head to Brandon to get the blue 60 ... Eccles Road 09/08/2021 (Monday) 66021 arriving on 6Z59, 04:30, Toton North Yard - Eccles Rd Johnston's Sdg (08:56) - loaded stone (16 MMA) Having collected the radio the train continued passed the trailing connection into the Exchange Sidings and prepared to set back The clamp locks duly made the usual noise of a hamster being squashed but continued to drive for far too long. Mmmm, thats not good, I commented to Paul - groundstaff - that the white "tamp here" marks were suspicious, suffice to say the points would not get reverse detection and so the route into the sidings could not be set and proved, a hunt for a point clip was unsuccessful so the decision was made to send the train on to Trowse where it would reverse and then run to Ely where it would reverse again and it would finally return to Eccles Road, several hours late. "Someone" had denied permission for the train to reverse over the crossover at Eccles and then the loco could pull the wagons into the sidings, this has been done once before without issue. The train heads off to Trowse (Norwich) Nearly 3 hours later it returns on it's run to Ely for a second reversal. By this time I had missed the blue 60, but I couldn't pass up a chance to catch the Eccles stone, passing Eccles Road in the wrong direction ! Network Rail had attended the points in the meantime and resolved the issue, the blades were out of adjustment and so reverse detection was failing, almost like "tamp here" was working. 5 hours after it's booked arrival the train returned to Eccles Road for a second go. Success ! The weather took a turn for the worse and I got soaked but at least I recorded the event. The first 8 MMA are taken for unloading. No decision had been made regarding unloading when I spoke to Paul although he doubted they would unload all 16 as staff were going to run out of time. What happened was 8 were unloaded and the loco ran light to Toton - I guessed this might happen but, in a very unusual move, Cambridge PSB let the engine out in a tight path, 10 minutes before I was planning to go and see what was happening, I tried - but failed - to beat the engine for a photograph (there's a "tell" on signal maps when something is ready to leave the sidings, I left the second the tell appeared and arrived at Eccles to see the red flash of the loco traversing the crossing - "DARN" (or similar) I said to myself. The next day - Tuesday 10 August 2021 - I took a trip to see the wagons, they were parked with 8 in each siding, the 8 nearest the footpath were still loaded. As of today - Thursday - they are still there with no engine move in the system to either collect them or - more likely - finished unloading and then take them away. 9 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Ben Posted August 12, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 12, 2021 Hi Das, Thanks for the updates. For those of us who love trains but have never worked on the railway these accounts of prototypical operations - and the things that can go wrong - are fascinating! And in the context of modern block trains running between specialised facilities I find these minimal freight outposts irresistible! cheers Ben A. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted August 12, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 12, 2021 1 minute ago, Revolution Ben said: Hi Das, Thanks for the updates. For those of us who love trains but have never worked on the railway these accounts of prototypical operations - and the things that can go wrong - are fascinating! And in the context of modern block trains running between specialised facilities I find these minimal freight outposts irresistible! cheers Ben A. cheers Ben - I still find it surreal when wandering around a field and look up and there's a rake of MMA parked up ! - normally with a 66 at the far end. I photographed all 16 MMA, both sides, if anyone wants any photos for modelling purposes. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WessexEclectic Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 22 hours ago, beast66606 said: No decision had been made regarding unloading when I spoke to Paul although he doubted they would unload all 16 as staff were going to run out of time. What happened was 8 were unloaded and the loco ran light to Toton - I guessed this might happen but, in a very unusual move, Cambridge PSB let the engine out in a tight path, 10 minutes before I was planning to go and see what was happening, I tried - but failed - to beat the engine for a photograph (there's a "tell" on signal maps when something is ready to leave the sidings, I left the second the tell appeared and arrived at Eccles to see the red flash of the loco traversing the crossing - "DARN" (or similar) I said to myself. Is the 'tell' particular to these sidings or applicable more generally? Also, apologies if mentioned up thread but is this flow for general aggregate customers or for 1 or 2 specifically? TIA Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted August 13, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 13, 2021 52 minutes ago, WessexEclectic said: Is the 'tell' particular to these sidings or applicable more generally? Also, apologies if mentioned up thread but is this flow for general aggregate customers or for 1 or 2 specifically? TIA These sidings I'm afraid, although others may have similar tells, basically on signal maps a particular route which is normally set is cancelled which normally means the train is actually going to leave - the train may have been ready for hours, for example I've just photographed 66136 on the train which has now been fully unloaded and is ready to go but almost certainly won't leave until booked time (15:15) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
009 micro modeller Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 Is the line fenced off from the field edge at all? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted August 13, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 13, 2021 42 minutes ago, 009 micro modeller said: Is the line fenced off from the field edge at all? No 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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