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Through the freezing fog on 21st January 2023, GBRf 66712 Peterborough Power Signalbox heads west along the Calder Valley towards Brighouse with 6Z21, Redcar Mineral Terminal to Pinnox Branch Esso Sidings.

Just a heads up, the February 2023 issue of Modern Railways (print versions should be available this coming week with subscriber copies arriving over the next couple of days - mine arrived today. I'm not sure of the publication details for an online version) has a piece by James Abbott titled '2023: key year for TRU'....'Work is due to get under way this year on some of the most important facets of the Transpennine Route Upgrade'. It looks to be a thorough piece that brings everything in the public domain fully up-to-date, with the individual projects within the overall TRU detailed.

Or the photo top right here; http://www.emus.co.uk/zone/mersey/mersey.htm

Not sure if it's important to you in terms of keeping records of what you photograph, but I don't think it would have been 66115 on the back. A TOPS list from late on 17th January records '115 as being at Dollands Moor and by the afternoon of 18th January was at Wembley Reception. It's more likely that it was 66165 which, together with 66034, according to TOPS was at Crewe on the 17th but both at Toton TMD by the afternoon of the 18th. Of course, TOPS isn't always 100% accurate but that's a completely different story. I hope this is helpful.

On 15th January 2023, a pair of Ardwick TMDs finest round the curve from Bradley Junction heading east at Colne Bridge with 2Z65, Manchester Victoria to York... ...before sweeping round the next curve towards Heaton Lodge East Junction.

On 15th January 2023 Colas 70814 climbs away from Heaton Lodge East Junction onto the Calder Valley line heading towards Brighouse with 6C02, Doncaster Roberts Road Shed to Carlisle New Yard.

If you're wanting to see what other activity is currently going on locally, take a short detour to the west end of Morley tunnel and see the scope of the changes taking place around Lady Anne crossing at Batley. As you know Network Rail is wanting to eliminate the level crossing there and the adjacent gate box.

You may already have seen this Jamie, but for the benefit of those who haven't, here's the recent update from Network Rail about the upgrade at Morley. Major upgrade at Morley

Several from the last couple of days. On 15th January 2023 GBRf 66752 The Hoosier State at Colne Bridge with 4M10, Doncaster Down Decoy to Peak Forest Cemex, empty HYA bogie hoppers. On a grey 16th January 2023 with sleet in the air, GBRf 66728 Institution of Railway Operators approaching Brighouse with 6M72, Rylstone Tilcon to Bredbury Tilcon, loaded HYA bogie hoppers... ...the weather deteriorated over the next 20 minutes until 66736 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS approached Brighouse in, at that time, a light snow shower with 6Z58, Wakefield Kirkgate to Llandudno Junction, empty MJA bogie box wagons.

Always nice to see a class 20 on the mainline in this day and age. On 15th January 2023 20007 paired with 20205 at Colne Bridge, heading light engine towards Huddersfield, with 0Z20, Butterley MRC to Peak Forest Cemex Sidings. I presume that the pair are on a short term lease to shunt the Cemex Sidings at Peak Forest,.

I've had this on my phone for awhile - snapped from one of the small ad boards in one of the local supermarkets.

So, if I've understood your post, it's your assertion that all those passengers decided that as the rail network had now been privatised they'd all start using it more?

Reducing or eliminating lens flare in night time photos is always a real challenge, especially if you’re also dealing with the effects of drizzle on the lens. I’d be pretty sure that you’ve come across the solutions for dealing with night photography lens flare before, but if it’s helpful to others this website gives some options. https://www.the-photography-blogger.com/lens-flare-night-long-exposure-photography/ As with many things in photography, they need some experimentation to suit the situation at the time. As far as the drizzle is concerned, if there isn’t an option to fit a lens hood, you’re probably stuck with either trying to find shelter to keep the drizzle off the lens, or experimenting with some form of better DIY hood. The remaining option worth considering perhaps is trying creatively to make the drizzle and or lens flare a compositional feature of the photograph? Were there any suitable large puddles or windows to point the camera at to get a reflection of the subject, in this case the locomotive, for example? The final option I’ve gone for in the past, when it’s wet and cold, and none of the usual options have worked, is to take the best photo that I can at the time and then go home and hope for better conditions next time! For what it’s worth, I really like your photograph. I think the drizzle and flare adds to the overall image, particularly as it’s a night time photo.

I sympathise. I’ve used the DIY option of a piece of card before too, althought that can just create other issues, as I’m sure you’ve probably experienced. From a practical point of view, these days I just try to stand underneath some sort of station shelter, but obviously that does then limit the composition opportunities. Were you using a tripod, or some other form of camera support?

I did wonder if it was drizzling when you took that photo Peter - I presumed that it was drizzle on the front lens element?

On a very dismal and grey 9th January 2023, GBRf 66734, wearing its unique platinum jubilee livery, approaching Brighouse with a train load of MJA box wagons, working 6Z58 from Doncaster Down Decoy to Llandudno Junction. It was a little brighter a couple of hours later when GBRf 66789 British Rail 1948-1997 passed through with 6Z23, a lengthy rake of loaded JNA box wagons, working from Doncaster Down Decoy to Pinnox Branch Esso Sidings. The rake of JNA wagons appeared to be new, with all but 3 carrying 'Land Recovery Ltd' branding.

It's not Sirius Cybernetics we need to worry about; It's the HAL9000 that lurks at the heart of everyones mobile and tablet devices. "I'm sorry Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that". appropriate clip from 2001: A Space Odyssey

Thanks for that Jim. Only 4 packs left now!

Not a regular visitor to the Huddersfield line, DRS 88003 Genesis, with 68017 Hornet, passing through Deighton on 5th January 2023 working as 0Z68, Leeds Balm Road to Crewe Gresty Bridge. The pair had been at Freightliner's facility at Midland Road since before Christmas for a spin on the wheel lathe.

Loram Rail Grinding set C2101, led by DR79237 Pete Irwin’, passing through Deighton on 5th January 2023, working using its set allocated reporting code of 6Z08, from Doncaster to Stafford Down Sidings. Loram C2101 comprises; DR79231, 232, 233, 236, 237 ‘Pete Irwin’.

Here you go. Class 55 allocations

Following my post here showing Freightliner 59202 at Deighton on 2nd January 2023 working 0M59, Leeds Balm Road to Crewe Basford Hall, here are the images of the trailing load of four Freightliner class 66s.

On 2nd January 2023, GBRf 66715 ‘VALOUR - IN MEMORY OF ALL RAILWAY EMPLOYEES WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY’ accelerates through Mirfield with empty autoballaster wagons, working 6G88 from Mirfield East Junction to Belmont Down Yard.

On 2nd January 2023, following its spin on the wheel lathe at Leeds Midland Road, Freightliner 59202 'Pride of Ferrybridge' making its way back south via Crewe to more familiar duties, passing through Deighton with a trailing load of four Freightliner Class 66s for company. 0M59, Leeds Balm Road to Crewe Basford Hall.

Construction work for the relocated station at Morley and the new station at White Rose, on the line between Huddersfield and Leeds via Dewsbury, has generated several engineers' trains over the Christmas and New Year period. On 31st December 2022 GBRf 66751 'Inspiration Delivered Hitachi Rail Europe' powers through Deighton with 6G84, Doncaster Up Decoy Yard to Mirfield East Junction, via reversal at Marsden. On 1st January 2023, following reversal at Marsden, GBRf 66701 draws through Deighton with 6G87, Belmont Down Yard to Mirfield East Junction.