geoff

66147 coasts across the Welland Valley (Harringworth) viaduct with the 05:51 Margam T.C. to Corby B.S.C steel coil train on time at 15:12 on Friday 17 October 2014 while Harringworth village church guards its passage. Geoff

One after another, numerically. 66613 powers through the sunshine and showers up the gradient towards Desborough at Glendon, on time at 15:46 with the 12:20 Colnbrook Lafarge Fline Hh to Bardon Hill Quarry Fhh empties. Wednesday 8 October 2014. 66614 rolls down the grade from Corby towards the former Glendon South Junction at 16:34, 12 minutes early on the 11:49 Tunstead Sdgs to West Thurrock Sidings Fhh service, Wednesday 8 October 2014. Geoff

One for Beast! 66606 at the head of the 12:40 West Thurrock Sidings Fhh to Hope (Earles Sidings) Fhh powers up the bank towards Desborough at Glendon North 2 minutes early at 17:11 on Saturday 27 September 2014. Geoff Apologies for the inadvertent tree lopping, also the original picture is sharp.

MML electrification works at Harrowden Junction. Gt Harrowden, The Slips to Finedon road bridge, Harrowden Junction south side.15 April 2014. Gt Harrowden, The Slips to Finedon road bridge, Harrowden Junction north side. 15 April 2014 The Slips or Harrowden Lane bridge between Gt Harrowden and Finedon. 14 August 2014. The Slips or Harrowden Lane bridge between Gt Harrowden and Finedon. 3 September 2014. Harrowden Lane bridge undergoing re-construction in preparation for the electrification of the Midland Main Line. Monday 15 September 2014. Harrowden Lane Bridge, near Harrowden Junction. Sunday 21 September 2014. That's all, you can relax now. Geoff

Cambridge 13:33, 12 June 2013. Geoff

66020 rolls gently down from Corby towards Kettering North Junction witth 14:20, 1400 Tonnes, Toton North Yard to Kettering ballast train, 4 minutes late at 16:33 on Saturday 30 August 2014.The train continued on to West Hampstead Thameslink before returning to Kettering, finally arriving at 22:32, 11 minutes late. This working was presumably in connection with track renewals between Kettering and Leicester on the following Sunday while all trains were diverted over the Manton line and a substitute bus service operated between Kettering, Market Harborough and Leicester. 66621 rolls down from Corby towards the former Glendon South Junction and Kettering North Junction with the 11:49 Tunstead Sdgs to West Thurrock Sidings Fhh service loaded to 2020 tonnes at 16:35, 3 minutes early, on Wednesday 3 September 2014. It will be stopped at the signal protecting Kettering North Junction to allow the 11:56 Angerstein Wharf Flhh to Bardon Hill Quarry Fhh to cross over to the down main at 16:53.It was released to pass Kettering North Junction at 16:54, 5 minutes late. 66529 hauling the 8 minutes late 11:56 Angerstein Wharf Flhh to Bardon Hill Quarry Fhh empties leans to the curve past the site of Glendon North Junction as the 1B61 16:05 Nottingham to St Pancras International passes, which is also running 3 minutes late, at 16:54 on Wednesday 3 September 2014. 66515 at the head of the 13:24 Luton Crescent Road (Fhh) to Mountsorrel Sdgs empties powers round the curve at Glendon North Junction on the ascent to Desborough 148 minutes late on Wednesday 3 September 2014. Links to my Flikr photos. https://flic.kr/p/p4WwhW https://flic.kr/p/oMukUe https://flic.kr/p/p4YEMF https://flic.kr/p/p2WNky Geoff

Two together! DBS class 60s 60064 and 60024 accelerate the13:53 Colnbrook Elf Oil Siding to Lindsey Oil Refinery up the climb to Desborough 5 minutes early at 17:48 on Wednesday 3 September 2014 in spite of a signal check at Kettering North Junction. Links to my Flikr photos. https://flic.kr/p/oMtP86 https://flic.kr/p/oMuvd5 https://flic.kr/p/oMuwUS Geoff

My pleasure. Geoff

Further developments. https://flic.kr/p/oDVRKA 1M21 10:01 St Pancras International to Corby passes a work party just after passing under the Glendon Iron Coy’s Bridge on the final leg of its journey to Corby, 11:03 on Wednesday 27 August 2014. Geoff

I don't think it is a poor photo at all. The experts may point to specific issues but the important point is that it is a record of the line at that moment. The pictures we take today are tomorrow's history and we need to record as much as we can. When it is gone, it is gone and memories do not last unfailingly for ever. With the threat / promise of electrification of the Midland Mainline I set out to try to record the over bridges around Kettering before they are replaced or altered to accommodate the wires. Similarly there is talk of re-instating the double track between Kettering and Corby and so I keep an eye on things there as far as I can. All these pictures are valuable records. Thank you for posting it and the link to it. Geoff

Thank you for your kind words Edwin. I just got lucky. I had set out to see the 07:35 Hope (Earle Sidings) Fhh to Theale Lafarge Fhh working which was coming down the Manton Line and then the 09:31 Radlett Redland Roadstone to Mountsorrel Sdgs working which would be on the main line through Leicester. They were due to pass the junction 9 minutes apart. The Hope - Theale working was a minute early and I was a minute late, I must walk faster, so I only saw the tail of the Hope train disappearing around the curve. I could see the down Meridian approaching but then heard the up train coming behind me so I just aimed and clicked, I didn't really think about the 'off railway' scene. My photo of the, on time, Radlett train is on the 66 thread and is, I hope, a better composition. I just wish that the downsizing of the pictures to post them here didn't degrade them so much. The two Meridians are a 7.9 Mb picture on my computer and much sharper. Link to Flikr https://flic.kr/p/oDVskm Geoff

1C30 09:29 Sheffield to St Pancras International meets 1F21 09:58 St Pancras International at Kettering North Junction. 10:42 on Wednesday 27 August 2014. Apologies to the Diocese of Peterborough for knocking the top of the spire off St Peter and St Paul's, Kettering. Geoff

66067 brings the 09:31 Radlett Redland Roadstone to Mountsorrel Sdgs empties through Kettering North Junction on time at 10:48 on Wednesday 27 August 2014. The spire of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, parish church of Kettering, stands guard with the telecoms mast at the former EMEB Kettering Distict depot, now home to Western Power Disribution. Link to my Flikr picture https://flic.kr/p/oWsQH4 Geoff

1M21 10:01 St Pancras International to Corby passes a work party just after passing under the Glendon Iron Coy’s Bridge on the final leg of its journey to Corby, 11:03 on Wednesday 27 August 2014. There is definitely something afoot on the Manton Line! Link to Flikr https://flic.kr/p/oDVRKA Geoff

ameyCOLAS at work at Isham, 13 March 2014. Why do my pictures lose their sharpness when reduced to be able to attach here?

The Manton line just north of the former Glendon South Junction, do the barriers signify a start on the re-doubling between Kettering and Corby? Does anyone have any info on this? Geoff Looking south from the Glendon Iron Coy’s bridge. 23 August 2014. Looking north from the Glendon Iron Coy’s bridge. 23 August 2014.

13:30 Theale Lafarge Fhh to Bardon Hill Fhh empties rounds the curve past the site of Glendon North Junction with 66613 in charge just 1 minute late at 16:51 on Saturday 23 August 2014. 66623 ‘Bill Bolsover” leans to the curve past the site of Glendon North Junction on the climb up to Desborough with 12:42 West Thurrock Sidings Fhh to Hope (Earles Sidings) Fhh empty tanks, on time having left Kettering 7 minutes early only to be held at Kettering North Junction’s signal to allow passenger services to pass. Saturday 23 August 2014. Geoff

Thank you for that Rugd1022. It is always interesting to get a professional's perspective on what can be seen from the line side. I don't suppose you have any info on the possible re-doubling through to Corby by any chance. I haven't noticed any more mention of it since a snippet earlier in the year about consultations? Geoff

Well I have no idea about that, I was just going by the designation of the signals which is LEI XXX I believe. I certainly bow to more informed knowledge so will be pleased to know just who or what is in charge. Thanks in anticipation of enlightenment. The breadth of knowledge shared is one of the great pleasures of these forums (fori). Geoff

Coming back up to date, here is another freight on the Manton line just north of the former Glendon South Junction.

A view of activity at Kettering back at the end of 2013. The signalmen (signallers) at Leicester were pretty sharp setting the road for the 66! Geoff

To add to the above here are a couple of different items of plant spotted lurking near Glendon South Junction and Kettering North Junction. Preparing to give the MML a wash and brush up? 8 July 2014 Could this herald the start of re-doubling to Corby? 21July 2014 Geoff

I guess we will not see this brought back into use! The old swing bridge over the ‘Sheepwash channel’ at Rewley Road, Oxford. 21 June 2014. Geoff

APT-E approaching Glendon North Junction from Rushton. 10:33 31/7/75. APT-E approaches Glendon North Junction on the down main 13:33 14/4/75. The real thing at large on the Midland Mainline, Glendon North Junction. Will this be the next project? Geoff

Thank you for your kind words Peter, I can't promise that they will all be like that! Geoff