RHTT 2021 Season

[newbryford]

1 hour ago, Davexoc said:

Didcot based pair 66151 and 155 just before lunchtime today

 

 

66155 on the rear as they stormed off on the Westbury bound afternoon blast, passing through Didcot 4 minutes early

 

 

 

Great pic showing how it keeps cleaner above the jetting heads.

 

[ruggedpeak]

Apols if posted already but NR info on RHTT and snowploughing with videos

 

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/our-fleet-machines-and-vehicles/seasonal-track-treatment-and-weather-support-fleet/

[big jim]

 

2 minutes ago, ruggedpeak said:

Apols if posted already but NR info on RHTT and snowploughing with videos

 

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/our-fleet-machines-and-vehicles/seasonal-track-treatment-and-weather-support-fleet/

The in cab video of the beilhack ploughs in action, that’s me driving it! 
 

got to say that job was one of the top  highlights of my driving career so far  

 

as for the RHTT I’ve got it tomorrow with the 66s and Sunday with the MPV 

[Michael Hodgson]

7 hours ago, big jim said:

 

as for the RHTT I’ve got it tomorrow with the 66s and Sunday with the MPV 

 

Don't drive into it any snowdrifts!

[DOCJACOB]

Variation on a theme I feel, same train just very minor nuance on 66’s today. 

[EddieB]

Something unusual, perhaps even a first?  Last Saturday Stowmarket sent out the pairing of 88004 and 68033 on RHTT, with the same pairing out again yesterday and today.  Here's a shot from Ingatestone yesterday, showing 88004 leading and taking power from the overhead supply.

 

Although there are photos of a class 88 working RHTT in the north-west of England, I've only seen them using diesel power.  I'm not aware of any "straight" electrics used on RHTT before.  (Happy to be corrected, of course).

[beaumoc]

66510 & 66519 3j04 Aylesbury Sidings to Banbury Depot via Stratford Upon Avon seen at Hatton 26/10/21

Edited November 2, 2021 by beaumoc
Add image

[beaumoc]

66704 & 66795 3J01 1030 Kings Norton On Track Plant Depot to Kings Norton On Track Plant Depot sits in the sun at Rugby on the 30/10/21

[beast66606]

3 hours ago, EddieB said:

Something unusual, perhaps even a first?  Last Saturday Stowmarket sent out the pairing of 88004 and 68033 on RHTT, with the same pairing out again yesterday and today.  Here's a shot from Ingatestone yesterday, showing 88004 leading and taking power from the overhead supply.

 

Although there are photos of a class 88 working RHTT in the north-west of England, I've only seen them using diesel power.  I'm not aware of any "straight" electrics used on RHTT before.  (Happy to be corrected, of course).

 

 

Saturdays run was 88004 and 37425 - 425 has now returned to Crewe for maintenance and was replaced by 68033, first run of 88004 and 68033 was Monday.  The jetters have failed on both days so they haven't done the full circuit yet (for 3S60)

 

 

[Michael Hodgson]

I could just see the top of the RHTT as it came off the Cambridge branch onto ECML as I was walking back from dropping the car off for MoT the other day.  Surprised they wanted to run that in Up direction early in the the morning rush hour.

[Peter Eaton]

One of my efforts thanks.

 

 

Edited November 3, 2021 by Peter Eaton
photo !

[EddieB]

13 hours ago, beast66606 said:

 

Saturdays run was 88004 and 37425 - 425 has now returned to Crewe for maintenance and was replaced by 68033, first run of 88004 and 68033 was Monday.  The jetters have failed on both days so they haven't done the full circuit yet (for 3S60)

 

 

Yes, quite right that it was 88004 with 37425 last Saturday (I saw the reports, so my mistake).  Yesterday’s run was late leaving (blocked points at Haughley, reportedly) and was turned around short.  Today everything seems to be in good order and at full squirt. 

[beast66606]

Just now, EddieB said:

Yes, quite right that it was 88004 with 37425 last Saturday (I saw the reports, so my mistake).  Yesterday’s run was late leaving (blocked points at Haughley, reportedly) and was turned around short.  Today everything seems to be in good order and at full squirt. 

 

Haughley Junction points lost detection, took a good while and a good deal of disruption before that was restored. The Basil combo failed on Monday and Tuesday due to jetter issues, as you say these seem to have been resolved today. 68/88 supposedly on 3S60 all week but time will tell.

[eastwestdivide]

Noticed quite a bit of wheelslip pulling away from some stations on a couple of Sheffield/Doncaster stoppers today, a 150 and a 158. Fairly windy, plenty of leaves blowing around and light showery rain - is that about the worst conditions?

[uax6]

3S50 had the 68/88 on it last night (pan correctly down as it passed here in both directions). I'm not sure what has happened to it tonight, but it hasn't left Stowmarket yet, and appears to be cancelled....

 

Andy G

[eastwestdivide]

Sharnal Street on the Grain branch in Kent, 16:30ish, just as the light was failing.

Did what I could with my little camera, pushing the exposure to get a holdable shutter speed, but the light had dropped by 3 stops or so in the last 10 minutes.

Shutter speed down to 1/30. It looks light in the sky, but that's because I've attacked it in software. Just look how bright the headlight is!

 

Anyway, approaching:

 

going away, showing the site of the planned new station for Hoo:

 

Realtimetrains tells me 3W75 1508 Tonbridge West Yard to Tonbridge West Yard, with locos 66750 + 66729. The first two "new" class 69s have been out a bit recently on Tonbridge-based RHTTs but not this one.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:77230/2021-11-11/detailed

[birdseyecircus]

37401 & 37402 stand at Filey with York Thrall - York Thrall RHTT working on 11th November 2021

 

Paul

[eastwestdivide]

Second attempt at RHTT on the Grain branch today, as the Sunday one runs earlier, so I had about half an hour more daylight, although it was pretty overcast and dull in any case.

This time at Church Street N of Higham, where there's a foot crossing just to the west of where the Brett aggregates line to Cliffe splits off, "Cliffe Signal NK509" I think. Locos 66793 (leading here, in the retro livery) and 66776 according to RTT, on a 3W75 1445 Tonbridge West Yard to Tonbridge West Yard. via Grain, Swale and Sittingbourne (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:78631/2021-11-14/detailed).

Approaching from the west, first with my little camera, second with my phone:

 

 

 

And going away to the east, stopping at the junction signal (for single line token purposes I think), both on the little camera:

 

 

Those pylons are characteristic of virtually the whole line between Hoo Junction and Grain.

[DOCJACOB]

Little variety still 

 

Speeding through Great Coates on outskirts Grimsby earlier today. 

[woodenhead]

Here's something a little different but related to the RHTT season.

 

The blue HST having some difficulty finding it's feet and getting help from a hand sander, didn't expect to see a chap walking in the four foot towards a HST creeping towards him whilst sanding the track, brave chap.  He certainly got a move on when he did the other track.

 

[Michael Hodgson]

What safe working arrangements is he following ???

[woodenhead]

"What did you do today?"

 

"Got followed down the railway by a strange HST"

 

"Was he creeping up on you?"

 

"Yes, but he had a massive yellow panel so I had no trouble seeing him"

[Phil Mc]

37069 & 37425 leaving Great Yarmouth.

 

 

 

Passing the reactivated carriage sidings.

 

 

 

Heading towards Berney Arms.

 

 

They're in view for quite some time !!

 

 

 

Cheers,

Phil.

[ruggedpeak]

Another NR update

 

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/delays-explained/leaves/ 

[Busmansholiday]

With changes to today's 3J14 in terms of both route and timetable, I had the chance to photo it in daylight heading north towards Barnsley.

It was quite amusing to be stood on Wombwell station as the PA announced, moments before 66 426 & 66 431 came through on their way to Huddersfield, that the 1253 to Huddersfield had been cancelled due to "slippery rails".