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If it was the 1st April we'd presumably be thinking something along the lines of what a good joke. As it's not the 1st April the only appropriate reactions are "Really?!" and "Oh FFS".

On a cool and misty 2nd April 2024, GBRf 60076 Dunbar rumbles towards Brighouse with 6M34, Drax Power Station to Tuebrook Sidings, discharged biomass hoppers.

I know Halifax Old Road very well as my house is located on the other side of the Grimscar Valley looking across towards it. It’s a well known short cut into Hudds from the M62 and is also now a nighttime racetrack for the local boy (and girl too I would guess) racers. 😕 It’s a bit of road around here that I go out of my way to avoid! There is a lot of enabling work going on now virtually the full length of the line between Huddersfield and Dewsbury. There was a short concrete span on an artic trailer when I was there on the 31st, but it appeared to me to be too short to bridge the gap. It’s on my list to investigate tomorrow.

Here are some photos @jamie92208 from 30th and 31st March of the work in Huddersfield, involving the removal of the steel span across the A641 Bradford Road. And for those unfamiliar with the area, the following Google Maps reference might help; A641 Bradford Road Huddersfield Mid-morning on the 30th March. Late morning on 31st March. There were three engineers' trains at Mirfield over 30th/31st March which seemed to be in connection with further track fettling around the station following the work to remove platform 2 there a couple of months ago. Photos can be found in the class 66 thread here; Huddersfield station is currently closed with diversions along the Calder Valley line via Brighouse. Only limited services are available from Huddersfield between 2nd and 5th April - basically an hourly TransPennine Express stopping service westwards between Huddersfield and Manchester Piccadilly and an hourly Northern service along the Penistone line between Huddersfield and Sheffield. The line between Huddersfield eastwards to Heaton Lodge Junction is closed, with the exception for access for around a dozen engineers' trains scheduled over the coming days, until 'normal' service resumes on the morning of 8th April 2024. I believe the majority of these engineers' trains are in connection with work ongoing around Deighton, Bradley Junction and Colne Bridge that I referenced in my post on 6th February 2024. Work was ongoing at Deighton on 30th March as shown in the following photo;

Yes, I thought exactly the same, that it could do with a bit of tlc . I'm guessing that it was on rail head treatment duty last Autumn, but that finished almost four months ago!

Infrastructure work on 31st March 2024 in connection with the Transpennine Route Upgrade produced three engineers' trains at Mirfield. GBRf 66773 Pride of GB Railfreight slowly draws through the worksite on the Up Huddersfield Fast with a mixed consist of JNA and MXA wagons... ...taking up a position next to 6G81 which is standing on the Up Huddersfield Slow, and is top 'n' tailed by, in the far distance (according to RealTime Trains) 66725 SUNDERLAND and 66722 Sir Edward Watkin. In the opposite direction also on the Up Huddersfield Fast line is (again according to Real Time Trains) 66784 Keighley & Worth Valley Railway 50th Anniversary 1968-2018 with 6G83, standing adjacent to signal HM566. With its work completed at Mirfield, GBRf 66773 Pride of GB Railfreight leads 6G82, Bradley Wood Junction to Doncaster Belmont Down Yard through Brighouse, taking a lengthy route via Stockport and Sheffield to reach its destination.

There are around 12 engineers' trains, all operated by GBRf, scheduled to run over the next six days in connection with TransPennine Route Upgrade work between Dewsbury and Huddersfield. The return working of the first of these approaches Brighouse on 29th March 2024, with recent acquisition from Europe now GBRf 66308, in charge. 66308 6G80 Marsden to Doncaster Belmont Down Yard.

I would suspect that the issue for the ORR will be to ensure that in the (probable/likely/inevitable)* future incident, that they are not left in the legal firing line for having granted some form of exception. Particularly so if they do come under political interference as you can guarantee that the politicians will make sure that they’re not left embarrassed. Plausible deniability is everything here. * delete as appropriate.

On 21st March 2024, 4079 Pendennis Castle makes an energetic start from Keighley as it tackles the 1 in 66 gradient on the curve out of the station, before the longer climb of 1 in 58 towards Ingrow West.

Watching the road ahead. BR Standard 2 78022 shunts ahead at Keighley to wait for its next working on 21st March 2024 during the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway's steam gala.

Not sure if you're wanting a rural or an urban location particularly, but try Leeds in West Yorkshire. Google maps reference below. Leeds Station and Neville Street

A hive of activity at Haworth engine shed on the morning of 21st March 2024 as the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway steam gala gets underway.

Interesting and perhaps clause 1.6 'Passenger Service Performance' within Chapter 9.4.1, on page 359, perhaps goes someway to explaining the current news story that Avanti is to pay train drivers £600 a shift for overtime, which I note is a time-limited arrangement with ASLEF (until 13th March 2025). A last ditch attempt to avoid falling foul of the provisions within that clause. I would surmise that Avanti has already been shown the metaphorical 'yellow card' by its minders at the DfT...probably several times.

After an overnight rail drop on the other side of the Pennines, Colas 70816 heads east at Colne Bridge on 24th March 2024 working from Bolton to Doncaster Belmont Down Yard.

L&Y Railway 52044 immortalised in a pencil sketch at Haworth engine shed on 21st March 2024. Photos taken with permission.

The crew of 6990 Witherslack Hall* share the responsibility of topping up the water at Keighley on 21st March 2024, during the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway's steam gala. * A visiting loco courtesy of David Clarke Railway Trust & The Great Central Railway.

I can't come out to play today as it's a steam gala. Relegated to a siding adjacent to the engine shed at Haworth Sc51803, paired with M51189 and both looking very smart in their BR corporate blue livery, has a few days off whilst the steam gala is held at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

On 21st March 2024 GBRf 66728 ‘Institution of Railway Operators’ passes through Keighley, currently being refurbished, with loaded aggregate bogie hopper wagons working 6D25 from Rylstone Tilcon to Hull Dairycoates. Image taken from over the fence from the adjacent Keighley & Worth Valley station as I was there for the steam gala.

I think I know where I’ll be placing my bet on the options that you’ve suggested.

Hitching a lift through Brighouse on 17th March 2024 DRS 66427, led by Chiltern Railways liveried 68014, working light locomotives as 0Z14 from Crewe Gresty Bridge to Leeds Balm Road, presumably for tyre turning at Freightliner's Midland Road facility.

A stranger in West Yorkshire on 17th March 2024, Chilternrailways liveried 68014 with DRS 66427 pass through Brighouse working 0Z14, Crewe Gresty Bridge to Leeds Balm Road, presumably for tyre turning at Freightliner's Midland Road facility.

It certainly gives it a unique look - almost like a black eye. I wonder if Bachmann will reproduce this oddity in their forthcoming model?

GBRf 69005 'Eastleigh' was the chosen class 69 for this weeks 0Z08, 0Z09, 0Z10 driver training/route training trips in West Yorkshire, passing through Deighton on a dull and drizzly 15th March 2024, with 0Z09 Marsden to Marsden via a reversal at Wakefield Kirkgate. Northern 150228 also getting in on the act, with 2W06 Huddersfield to Bradford Interchange via Halifax.

On 8th March 2024 a Schweerbau High Speed Milling Machine, comprising three vehicles DR 79602 to DR 79604, passing through Deighton in the consist of 6X69, York Skelton OTM Sidings to Crewe Basford Hall.

On 8th March 2023, GBRf 66784 'Keighley & Worth Valley Railway 50th Anniversary 1968-2018' passing through Deighton, top 'n' tailing with 66767 'King's Cross PSB 1971-2021', 6X69 York Skelton OTM Sidings to Crewe Basford Hall. The consist of 6X69 was a Schweerbau High Speed Milling Machine, comprising three vehicles DR 79602 to DR 79604.