Chris T's Railway Adventures

[Chris Turnbull]

For the last few months I have been thinking about starting a new topic to show a few of my photographs of the current scene and have now decided to make a start.  It won't be a regular series, just as and when I have something to post.  Most of the posts will be of East Anglia but to start here's a few from a recent trip to sunny Yorkshire.

 

 

This is the delightful station of Hebden Bridge on 26th September 2023 with 195005 and 023 forming the 14.12 Leeds to Manchester Victoria.

 

 

And here are the same units on the return leg approaching Hebden Bridge on the same day with the 15.57 Manchester Victoria to Leeds.

 

 

I was fascinated to see that the waiting room is a proper traditional affair, not a bus shelter.  It even has a piano although it sounds like a h-o-n-k-e-y tonk.   It even had pictures of the station in steam days on the walls!   (I have to spell h-o-n-k-e-y like this for it to pass RMWeb censorship).

 

 

How much longer will this be a feature of the British railway station?  Hebden Bridge on 26th September 2023. 

 

 

A couple of days later on 28th September I was further along the line at Todmorden.  This is 195120 forming the 09.43 Leeds to Chester.

 

 

Lastly here's Trans Pennine 187117 as 5P44, the 09.56 Ardwick TMD to Ardwick TMD.  I'm not sure what this was - it ran through non-stop - perhaps crew training?  Todmorden on 28th September.

 

Chris Turnbull 

Edited October 1, 2023 by Chris Turnbull
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[Chris Turnbull]

 

Trimley: one of my favourite railway stations.   Why?  Not because it has any great architectural merit and certainly not because it has been lovingly restored like Hebden Bridge, but because on a weekday there is never a dull moment.  For those not familiar with this country station it is on the Ipswich to Felixstowe line and is where the relatively new North Quay Branch (mid 1980s) to the docks at Felixstowe North diverges from the original line at the cunningly entitled Trimley Junction. 

 

 

The passenger service is operated by Greater Anglia class 755s one of which shuttles between Ipswich and Felixstowe every hour.  On 22nd September this year 755336 was doing the honours and here it is on the 09.58 Ipswich to Felixstowe entering Trimley.

 

 

I was religiously following the freight trains in and out of the docks on Real Time Trains (RTT) when this appeared.  66747 Made in Sheffield  was not shown on RTT and arrived light engine from Felixstowe South which caught me on the hop.

 

 

It ran through the station and stopped alongside 66724 Drax Power Station which had been patiently waiting in Trimley Loop with 4L43 Doncaster Iport to Felixstowe North. 

 

 

This blocked the line to Ipswich and meant that 755336 forming the 10.38 Felixstowe to Ipswich had to be held at the home signal.  The North Quay Branch to Felixstowe North can be seen diverging to the right.  This is Trimley Junction. 

 

 

66747 then crossed over to take the North Quay Branch at Trimley Junction which allowed 755336 to continue its journey.

 

 

After this bit of excitement things reverted to normal except that 4M29 Felixstowe North to Birch Coppice didn't appear.  I waited and waited but nothing happened.  Then 755336 reappeared with the 10.58 Ipswich to Felixstowe just as 66724 came through behind it with 4M29 55 minutes late.  Clearly something had happened in the docks although I have no idea what and it did add a frisson of excitement to a morning's photography.

 

Chris Turnbull  

Edited October 2, 2023 by Chris Turnbull
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[Chris Turnbull]

I'm starting today's selection at Woodbridge on the East Suffolk line.

 

 

On 4th August 2023 755336 enters Woodbridge with the 10.07 Lowestoft to Ipswich over weed-strewn bullhead track.

 

 

Later on the same day 755417 departs with the 10.16 Ipswich to Lowestoft over the same dreadful track.

 

 

Half a mile south of the station some relaying has taken place.  On 30th August 2023 this is 755338 forming the 11.06 Lowestoft to Ipswich about to cross The Avenue level crossing.

 

 

And in the opposite direction here's 755406 forming the 12.16 Ipswich to Lowestoft. 

 

 

Moving westwards to Stowmarket on the GE Main Line here's 66764 Major John Poyntz Engineer and Railwayman on 4L02 Hams Hall to Felixstowe North on 21st July 2023.

 

 

Still at Stowmarket but on 27th May 2023 here's Tamper DR73114 as 6U12 Peterborough Eastfield Junction to Stowmarket Down Goods Loop.  This has crossed from the Up to the Down line north of the station and is working in the Up direction through the Down platform to access the Down Goods Loop.

 

Chris Turnbull 

[Chris Turnbull]

I've been away for a few days with my darling wife during which time I was allowed time off to photograph a bit more of the current railway scene.

 

On Friday 6th October we were in Stowmarket and, as is my wont, I visited the station.  I like Stowmarket as there is always something going on, and on Friday morning I wasn't disappointed.

 

 

Here is 66745 on the 4L02 Hams Hall to Felixstowe North.

 

 

755414 pulls up in platform 2 forming the 10.21 Ipswich to Cambridge.

 

 

The Rail Head Treatment Train (RHTT) was out-and-about and here it is with 66421 Gresty Bridge TMD (leading) and 66430 (trailing) as 3S00 Whitemoor Yard to Stowmarket Down Goods Loop (DGL).  As you can see from the spray it was hissing nicely.  This is running in the Up direction through the Down platform to access the Down Goods Loop (DGL).

 

 

745001 forming the 10.30 Norwich to London Liverpool Street.

 

 

South of the station there is a useful road bridge - the B1115 Navigation Approach.  In the DGL are 153384 and 153379 which, although in East Midlands livery, are now Network Rail Video Inspection Units.  They were forming 2Q51, the 10.38 Manningtree DGL to Manningtree DGL and doing a couple of visits to Ely in the process.  In the yard is the RHTT topped and tailed by 66430 and 66421 Gresty Bridge TMD.  I assume the tank wagons are being replenished with whatever chemicals are used.  This returned to Whitemoor later in the day.

 

 

After a time in the DGL 153384 and 153379, the Network Rail Inspection Units, departed as 2Q51 to Ely.

 

 

A sign of the times perhaps?

 

Chris Turnbull

Edited October 8, 2023 by Chris Turnbull
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[Chris Turnbull]

A couple of miles down the GEML towards Ipswich is the station of Needham Market.  This was opened in 1846 with the station building being completed in 1849.  With the exception of the first photo which was taken on 27th May 2023, all were taken on 6th October 2023 (after the Stowmarket photos).

 

 

It is a Grade II listed building for obvious reasons but is no longer in use by the railway.  It was closed in 1967 but reopened in 1971.

 

 

As a contrast to the grand station building this is the rudimentary platform shelter on the Up side.

 

 

Connection between the platforms is by subway.  Here is the entrance on the Up platform festooned with modern "Elf 'n Safety" notices.

 

 

Now for some trains!  This is 745010 forming the 13.00 Norwich to London Liverpool Street.

 

 

66787 Three Bridges ASC on 4L28 Doncaster Iport to Felixstowe South.   There was a young lad on the platform who was watching the trains with his grandparents (inspired choice of entertainment) and he was much impressed by the "big train" - this one. 

 

 

745007 forming the 12.30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich.  The young lad and his grandmother can be seen on the platform.

 

 

Finally 755332 forming the 13.58 Ipswich to Peterborough disappears off northwards towards Stowmarket.

 

Chris Turnbull

[Iron Horse]

A nice selection of pictures there Chris. Good to see East Anglian images as it is part of the scene I rarely get to, I travel a fair bit and keep thinking of doing a similar thread so I shall keep an eye on this and see how you go 😃

[Chris Turnbull]

55 minutes ago, Iron Horse said:

A nice selection of pictures there Chris. Good to see East Anglian images as it is part of the scene I rarely get to, I travel a fair bit and keep thinking of doing a similar thread so I shall keep an eye on this and see how you go 😃

 

Thank you very much.  If you haven't already done so then check out my archive thread, link below, where you will find East Anglian images of a historical nature with some "Then and Now" offerings.  I replaced all of my images that were lost in the server crash so the only ones missing are those from others.

 

Chris Turnbull

[Chris Turnbull]

A few photographs from the East Coast Main Line (ECML) today.

 

 

On 30th July 2023 my wife and I visited Huntingdon, a station I had not been to before.  Here is 700118 forming the 08.24 Horsham to Peterborough.

 

 

LNER Azuma 801217 speeds through as the 06.50 Edinburgh to London Kings Cross.

 

 

700118 on the return service, the 11.23 Peterborough to Horsham, is in the platform whilst 801225 speeds past with the 10.02 York to London Kings Cross.

 

 

A couple of weeks later on 18th July 2023 we visited Hitchin.  Although I had trainspotted here in the 1960s I didn't have a camera then.  This is 387123 forming the 09.42 Kings Lynn to London Kings Cross.

 

 

180105 forms the 10.57 London Kings Cross to Bradford Interchange.

 

 

And, yes, there was some freight.  Here is 66702 Blue Lightning on 4L98 Masborough to London Gateway.

 

Chris Turnbull

[Chris Turnbull]

A trip around Ipswich today from the main station to Derby Road.

 

 

Sometimes a London service is rostered for a trio of 755s in lieu of the usual 745.  This is 755424, 329 and 328 forming the 11.32 Norwich to London Liverpool Street on 16th June 2023.  There is no connection between the sets so do they have three train managers / guards / whatever they are now called?  If not, what happens if there is an emergency?

 

 

On 18th August 2023 here is 66538 on 4M63 Felixstowe North to Trafford Park.

 

 

On the same day 755426 crosses the River Gipping at Boss Hall Junction as the 10.07 Lowestoft to Ipswich.

 

 

Again on 18th August 2023 here's 66753 EMD Roberts Road on 4L02 Hams Hall to Felixstowe North at Boss Hall Junction about to cross the River Gipping bridge seen in the last photo.  It has just come round Bacon Factory Chord.

 

 

The line to Felixstowe diverges from the East Suffolk Line at Westerfield Junction.  This is 755326 forming the 13.58 Ipswich to Felixstowe departing from Westerfield on 22nd June 2022 about to pass over the junction and take the line to Felixstowe.

 

 

 

66724 Drax Power Station approaches Ipswich Derby Road with 4L02 Hams Hall to Felixstowe South on 16th June 2023.  On the left is 4M33 Felixstowe North to Hams Hall (seen in the next photo) which had been held at signals whilst 4L02 passed.  Such are the problems operating heavy freight traffic over a single track branch line.

 

 

66779 Evening Star passes through Derby Road with 4M33 Felixstowe North to Hams Hall (seen on the left in the previous photo).  Love the 82F shed plate!

 

Chris Turnbull

Edited October 12, 2023 by Chris Turnbull
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[lmsforever]

On 10/10/2023 at 15:20, Chris Turnbull said:

A few photographs from the East Coast Main Line (ECML) today.

 

 

On 30th July 2023 my wife and I visited Huntingdon, a station I had not been to before.  Here is 700118 forming the 08.24 Horsham to Peterborough.

 

 

LNER Azuma 801217 speeds through as the 06.50 Edinburgh to London Kings Cross.

 

 

700118 on the return service, the 11.23 Peterborough to Horsham, is in the platform whilst 801225 speeds past with the 10.02 York to London Kings Cross.

 

 

A couple of weeks later on 18th July 2023 we visited Hitchin.  Although I had trainspotted here in the 1960s I didn't have a camera then.  This is 387123 forming the 09.42 Kings Lynn to London Kings Cross.

 

 

180105 forms the 10.57 London Kings Cross to Bradford Interchange.

 

 

And, yes, there was some freight.  Here is 66702 Blue Lightning on 4L98 Masborough to London Gateway.

 

Chris Turnbull

Used to be at Hitchin in the 1970s,s to see the last Deltic hauled express go through always a couple of dozen there.

[Chris Turnbull]

A trip from Bury St Edmunds to Peterborough today.

 

 

On 5th December 2022 66749 Christopher Hopwood MBE 60 Years Railway Service  passes the site of Bury St Edmunds goods yard on 4M29 Felixstowe North to Birch Coppice. 

 

 

At the relatively new station of Soham 755403 heads southwards as the 07.50 Peterborough to Ipswich on 4th July 2023.  This is the site of the 1944 ammunition train explosion.

 

 

On to Ely on the same day where 66508 is on 4E23 Felixstowe North to Leeds with 387105 and 305 in platform 2 forming the 08.42 Kings Lynn to London Kings Cross.

 

 

March on 19th October 2022 where 170622 forms the 10.27 Stansted Airport to Birmingham New Street.

 

 

And finally to Peterborough where DVT 82214 is at the rear of set 91107 forming the 09.06 London Kings Cross to York on 5th July 2023.

 

 

Looking northwards at Peterborough, this is 66775 HMS Argyll on 4L28 Doncaster Iport to Felixstowe South on the same day.

 

 

Looking south also on 5th July, 180105 passes under Crescent Bridge, Peterborough as the 12.56 London Kings Cross to Sunderland.

 

Chris Turnbull

Edited October 13, 2023 by Chris Turnbull

[Chris Turnbull]

Last Saturday (14th October) I decided to taken a trip from Felixstowe to Colchester as this was a station I hadn't been to for some years.  The return fare was not unreasonable - £8.95 - so I caught the 11.28 to Ipswich.

 

 

Here is 755415 after arrival at Ipswich as the 11.28 from Felixstowe.

 

 

755337 arrives at Ipswich with the 11.40 from Halesworth.  A bus replacement service took passengers on to Beccles due to engineering works.  745009 is on the right forming the 11.30 from London Liverpool Street to Norwich.

 

 

Colchester: as I hadn't travelled on a 720 before I decided to catch the 12.52 to London Liverpool Street which was formed by 720526 and 511.  I was not impressed.  The seats were hard and in a 3+2 arrangement and the luggage rack was so low I banged my head on it.  This is sister unit 720584 at Colchester forming the 12.18 London Liverpool Street to Clacton-on-Sea.  You have to feel sorry for those who have no option but to use these things.  They are hardly a good advert for train travel. 

 

 

There was also some freight.  This is 90043 and 90009 on 4L97 Trafford Park to Ipswich.  As well as Halesworth - Beccles, there was a replacement bus service between Ely and Peterborough so all freight was going via London.

 

 

The RHTT was out-and-about again.  66753 EMD Roberts Road and 66776 Joanne top and tail 3S60 Stowmarket DGL to Stowmarket DGL.

 

 

I was getting a bit chilly on platforms 3 and 4 so I moved to platform 2 for a bit of sun.  This is 755327 as 5T20 Norwich Crown Point to Marks Tey.  I'm not sure what this was as it was not a service train.  Route learning perhaps?

 

Having learnt a lesson with my outward journey I caught what I thought would be a 745 back to Ipswich.  But what turned up was a trio of 755s on the Liverpool Street to Norwich service which gave me a chance to find the answer to my question I posed earlier in this thread - are there three guards?  No there aren't; one person has to nip between each unit when they are in a station - as does the refreshment trolley.  "So what happens if there is an emergency in a unit with no guard?" I asked.  The protocol is "unclear" I was told.  Apparently this has happened; there was a problem in the centre unit of a train with no guard and no driver.  He wouldn't say exactly what happened but it was a "nightmare".

 

Chris Turnbull    

Edited October 16, 2023 by Chris Turnbull
More info

[Chris Turnbull]

As a break from East Anglia, here's a few more shots from the north of England.

 

 

On 18th April 2023 66075 passes through Hebden Bridge on 6E26 Knowsley Freight Terminal to Wilton Efw Terminal.

 

 

Burnley Manchester Road on 28th September 2023 with 150114 and 225 forming the 10.55 Rainford to Blackburn.

 

 

Same place, same day, with 195112 forming the 11.23 York to Blackpool North.

 

 

In the opposite direction here's a return service, the 11.23 Blackpool North to York formed by 195108.

 

 

Manchester Road is not the only station at Burnley although it is the main station.  This is 150129 forming the 13.52 Colne to Preston at Burnley Central, again on 28th September.

 

 

And here is 150129 disappearing off towards Preston.

 

Chris Turnbull

 

 

Edited October 19, 2023 by Chris Turnbull
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[Chris Turnbull]

On Friday 11th August I spent another morning photographing the action in the Felixstowe area.

 

 

66770 has just come up the North Quay Branch and is passing through Trimley station with 4M33 Felixstowe North to Hams Hall.

 

 

Going in the opposite direction, this is 66788 Locomotion 15  on 4L43 Doncaster Iport to Felixstowe North.

 

 

Providing the passenger service that day, this is 755333 forming the 10.58 Ipswich to Felixstowe.

 

 

Coming through Trimley from the Felixstowe Beach Line this is 66771 Amanda  with 4E21 Felixstowe South to Tinsley Yard.

 

 

Walking back to Felixstowe through the pleasant countryside of the Colneis peninsula takes you across Blofield Track Crossing on the North Quay Branch.  This is 66777 Annette with 4L02 Hams Hall to Felixstowe North at that crossing.

 

Chris Turnbull   

 

 

[Chris Turnbull]

It's been a while since I last posted anything on this topic and the reason is simple - I haven't had any railway adventures recently.  That changed in this last week when my darling wife and I had a coach trip to Cornwall.  The weather wasn't too good as you will see from the photos, nor did I have my Canon with me, but I did have my trusty mobile on which I managed to capture a few shots.

 

 

On the morning of 13th February 800027 forms the 10.50 to Cardiff Central.

 

 

Looking the other way towards London you can see how gloomy the weather was.

 

 

After Penzance we headed to St Ives where I caught 150265 forming the 14.33 to St Erth.  The original station was a much more central and grander affair and was situated behind me.  It's now a car park and St Ives is spoilt by the traffic clogging up the streets.

 

 

Here's a closer shot of 150265 awaiting departure.

 

 

The next day we were at Padstow where only the station building remains.  The station and the fish sidings have been turned into a car park giving rise to the same problem as St Ives.  It is hard to imagine the Atlantic Coast Express starting here although there are plenty of photos elsewhere on the internet.  The Disused Stations website is good.

 

 

We were staying in Newquay so I thought I'd stroll down to the station to catch the 15.10 to Par only to find that it had been cancelled leaving a four-hour gap between trains.  Newquay on 14th February.

 

 

The next day we were in Falmouth where the trains were running although the ticket machine was out of order.  This is Falmouth Town with 150232 forming the 14.06 to Falmouth Docks.

 

 

I had a short ride to the Docks where 150232 formed the 14.15 to Truro.

 

Chris Turnbull

 

 

Edited February 18 by Chris Turnbull
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[Chris Turnbull]

I've been waiting for the weather to dry up and warm up.  Well, its dry but hardly warm, at least not in the east, but nevertheless I thought it was about time I got my trusty camera out again.

 

 

Yesterday, the 19th April 2024, my darling wife and I went to Woodbridge for an hour or so.  Whilst she emptied all the charity shops I was allowed to visit the station.  This is 755420 forming 2D83, the 13.06 from Lowestoft to Ipswich entering Woodbridge station.

 

 

Fifteen minutes later 755416 came in with 2D82, the 13.16 Ipswich to Lowestoft..  I had waited in glorious sunshine for this shot but just before the train appeared, the sun went behind a cloud.  Oh, the joys of photography!

 

 

Today, the 20th, I wandered over to Trimley station whilst my wife was buying up a local car boot sale.  Saturday is not as busy as a weekday but it has its moments.  One of the footpaths from Felixstowe to Trimley takes you across Blofield track crossing and it was there that I caught 66778 Chambois Depot 25 Years on 4M29 Felixstowe North to Birch Coppice.  This was running early and it caught me unawares such that I forgot to switch the automatic focus on.  I did think it might be a bit blurred but it seems to be OK to my eye.

 

 

Fifteen minutes later saw me on Trimley Station.  I just missed 4L02 the Hams Hall to Felixstowe North freight - the level crossing lights were flashing as the crossing hove into view so I knew that there wasn't a snowflake's chance in Hell of me getting there in time to take a shot - but I did catch 755413 forming 2R10, the 9.58 Ipswich to Felixstowe.

 

 

And this is the same unit on the return working, 2R11, the 10.28 Felixstowe to Ipswich.

 

 

The last train of the morning was 66782 on 4E22, Felixstowe South to Peterborough North Yard.  After that there was a fair wait for the next  working and, as the weather was somewhat chilly (bloody cold, actually), I decided enough was enough!

 

Chris Turnbull

 

 

[Chris Turnbull]

Now that the weather has warmed up and dried up a bit here in the east, I thought it was time for another railway adventure so off my wife and I went to Stowmarket.  She did all the charity shops while I was allowed time at the station.

 

 

Speeding north, 745103 forms the 9.00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich.

 

 

In the opposite direction 745010 runs through non-stop forming the 10.00 Norwich to London Liverpool Street.

 

 

On the Up line in platform 2 755402 calls as the 10.21 Ipswich to  Cambridge whilst 66712 Peterborough Power Signalbox passes at speed through Platfom 1 on 4L02 Hams Hall to Felixstowe North.

 

 

Taken from the B1115 Navigation Approach road overbridge at thesouth of the station, 745002 forms the 10.30 Norwich to London Liverpool Street.

 

 

And at the north end of the station 755422 enters the station as the 9.50 Peterborough to Ipswich.

 

 

After a very pleasant lunch we set off for Needham Market.  There aren't so many charity shops there as Stowmarket so I didn't have so long on the station but, whilst I was there, I caught 66780 The Cemex Express on 4L28 Doncaster Iport to Felixstowe South.

 

Chris Turnbull