JAMIE'S RANDOM UK RAILWAY PICTURES

[jamie92208]

Good evening from a rather wet Gnosall in Staffordshire.  I had to make a trip to Stafford this afternoon  and ended up parked near the railway station.  It would have been rude not to go and watch a few trains. As it was persisting down I didn't take my camera.  There were a lot of trains coming through and in the 40 minutes that I was there a lot came through.  Mostly Pendelino's and 350's but several freight and other spevial workings.

66621 went north with stone hoppers at 15.42.  At 16.00  Wext coast Pullman set came south with 573q4 on the front and, I think a 47 on the rear.  I got chatting to a young spotter who told me that there was a GBRF working due soon.  I decided to wait for thst but to my surprise this emerged from the south.

20 142 and 20 007 leading with blue liveried 20189 and 20 205 on the rear. The youngnlad had never seen a 20 hauling a train before.

Then at 16.14 the GBRF intermodal working crept slowly south having been held until a 350 had headed towards Brum from platform 1.

166716 up front.

 

As I walked back to the car 66102 in DB livery came south with what looked like stone hoppers.

 

All in all a very good 40 minutes.

 

Jamie

 

 

Edited April 7, 2022 by jamie92208

[jamie92208]

Just a quick note to any readers.  I've now reloaded all the photos back to 1st June 2021.  Some of the earlier ones are gradually coming back.  If anyone has uploaded their own photos on replies feel free to reload them.  As I've got several thousand reloads to do I haven't reloaded any of my photos that have been quoted.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Back in the UK again for a vosit.  Whilst family vosits have taken up most of my time, I dud get a bit of time trackside yeasterday.  I spent a pleasant hour at Morley Low and watched Northern and TPE services. First off the new order cometh. 195 132 heading towards Huddersfield.

Then  a TPE 802 heading the same way.

 

The older order was still in evidencecthough with a 4 carc158bworking towards Leeds.

Jamie

 

[jamie92208]

I don't have any editing software with me so am limited as to what I can upload but I did try a photo from the depths of the cutting near the tunnel mouth. It does provide a different viewpoint.

Therecwere still plenty of 185's in evidence though

All very different from when I used to have a cuppa with the signalman at 2 in the morning when I was a youngish bobby, watching the peak hauled newpaper trains came through. 3 of them that together formed the Red Bank empties next afternoon.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Good afternoon from the Charente.  This morning we were still in the UK staying at Stanstead Airport before  a flight out at stupid o'clock this morning, courtesy of Ryanair.  Walking the short walk from the hotel to the terminal this happened to be in the platform alongside us and it would have been rude not to take a photo of the first Stadler Flirt that I've ever seen.

My sheer devotion to the ancient art of trainspotting at 05.15 should I feel be commended, especially as my slight detour to take the photo did not go down well with my other half.   Anyway can anyone on this forum help me by telling me what class this is. I want to underline it in my new combine.

 

Jamie

 

[brushman47544]

I think there are two classes of Flirt on GA. 745/0 and 745/1 for LS-NOR and LS-STA respectively and 755/3 and 755/4 for the rest. The three digit number on the front should identify the class as they are different for each type.

[31A]

I thought one of the differences between the two types was that the Norwich line ones have First Class and the Stansted ones don't, so it's surprising to see the one in the picture has got First Class.

[jamie92208]

5 hours ago, brushman47544 said:

I think there are two classes of Flirt on GA. 745/0 and 745/1 for LS-NOR and LS-STA respectively and 755/3 and 755/4 for the rest. The three digit number on the front should identify the class as they are different for each type.

 

2 hours ago, 31A said:

I thought one of the differences between the two types was that the Norwich line ones have First Class and the Stansted ones don't, so it's surprising to see the one in the picture has got First Class.

Thanks. It had 004 on the front so I think that must make it a 745/0 then.  Thanks again.

 

Jamie 

[jamie92208]

Just a heads up to anyone who is interested.  I've started reloading the lost pictures from before the great crash.  So far I'm up to page 7 which takes me up to uploads in June 2020 and 1980 in the chronology.

 

Jamie 

[jamie92208]

Well that's that done.  All the photos have been reloaded.  I've also got the ones that were the wrong way round have been corrected along with a lot of typos.  No idea when we are next going to be n the UK so ttfn from a very warm Charente.

 

Jamie

[JeffP]

Don't worry about the heat or lack of rain.

We are due out 30th August, then cometh the rain😁

Edited August 9, 2022 by JeffP

[jamie92208]

Good afternoon from a warm and sunny Charente.   Over the past few weeks I've made two trips to the UK.  One to the north to spend time with the family and one to the South East.

On 27th March I managed a trip to Garforth station hoping to see some class 68's.   Sadly none were running due to the blockades at Stalybridge.   However there was a lot of work obvious at the station.  This works compund has appeared at the end of the car park.

They oviously weren't keeping the gate closed though nobody was around.

A 158 did appear on a local service though.

It looks as if a track access point is being made.

It was apparently all part of the Trans Pennine upgrade.

There is a lot of angst locally about the fate of the NER designed footbridge so here are a couple of photos. This one looking west.

 

And another looking east with anther 158 heading away towards York.

All being well some more tomorrow.

 

Jamie

 

[jamie92208]

Another day another dollar or so they say. After a stay in Allerton Bywater we went to our old haunts in the Morley area for a few days.  Much is happening at Morley station as part of the Trans Pennine upgrade.  A totally new station is being built just 75 yards from the old with longer platforms.  It will have lifts and all the usual mod cons of a modern station.

There are some track alterations coming to raise the speed limit apparently.  I'm not sure that they can change the curve radius but some superelevation might make things better.   As at Garforth there was a reduced service but this 158 formation arrived whilst I was there.

And pulled away past the new platforms.  These were all taken on 30th March. 

    A few days later on 4th April I headed off to Embsay to meet two great granddaughters of the founder of a wagon works at Keighley.  J B Beadmans which I am researching.   On the way as I drove past Bingley a GBRF hauled stone train passed me. To my surprise another followed only 3 minutes behind.   4000 tons of stone for Leeds and somewhere else.  Both GBRF.  Great to see but as I couldn't get a photo as I was driving.

 

I met the ladies on Embsay station but the refreshment room was shut.  However it looked quite nice.  The first time I've ever called there.  My lucky brother travelled that way many years ago to visit an aunt in Ilkley.   He also got to Ballahulish by train in 1951.   I wasn't around then. 

The next day we headed south and due to a cancelled ferry ended up on Eurotunnel but again no photos though I did see one new shuttle loco.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

After leaving the UK on the 5th of April I was back there on the 13th, this time on my own to attend a family reunion in Cambridge on the 14th.  Helpful Ryanair changed the time of the flight by 12 hours so I had to fly the day before form Limoges rather than Poitiers.   Anyway I arrived at Stansted in the afternoon of the 13th.   As I had time on my hands, and being a free agent for once, I had planned to spend the evening looking at new trains n East London and booked a Travelodge in Barking. This Stadler unit had just arrived from London.

Mine was waiting to depart for Liverpool Street.

I wanted to get to Stratford to see as many items of new stock as possible and realised that the Elizabeth line would get me direct to Stratford.  There I spent a happy 90 minutes watching many new trains, 720's.755's a few 745's and quite a few 345's.  here is one heading for Shenfield.

As new stock is on it's way i thought I better get at least one photo of the current DLR stock.

Then DLR to Barking and change into a 710 to do the new line to Barking Riverside.   Here is the train that I was going to get back to Barking.

And the one that I had come in on.

I had started with a 2 hr drive to the airport.  Then eaten sandwiches that I'd made before flying.   Dinner was a Beef and Ale Pasty bought on Liverpool Street plus an Eccles Cake.

 

Jamie

 

[jamie92208]

Good afternoon from a sunny Charente.   My travels round the UK are now going to continue.  It's still Thursday 13th April and I had just left Barking Riverside to traverse the new viaduct back to Barking.   On my way oout I'd seen my first loco of the day so photographed it on the way back.

66089 on a stone train just west of Ripple Lane Yard.

Then back to Barking where I was able to let two trainspotters know that the loco was there.  They quickly altered their plans and set off for Riverside as one of them needed the loco and both of them needed the trackage.   Then it was off to the delights of the Barking Travelodge where I had an early night.   Next morning I discovered that they had no breakfasts so went out t look for a cafe.   A helpful markets officer directed me to one across a park.  A good fresh cooked breakfast set me up for the day and the park with it's church and the remains of an abbey were nice to see.

Then back to barking station to catch a 710 along the Goblin line.

Two stops along then change for Forest Gate.

Then a 345 direct to Liverpool Street, one of the residual services on the Liz Line.   However it took several announcements including a rather sharply worded one from the driver to get people to realise that they weren't heading to Paddington for Heathrow.   The stock at the buffers was all new.

And another 710.

That's it for today.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Good afternoon, by the miracle of this tardis it's still the 14th April 1923.  From Liverpool Street I caught a Class 720 to Cambridge.   This was to attend a reunion with many of my multitudinous cousins at one of the Cambridge Colleges.   My residence that night was somewhat better than the Barking Travelodge.

My bedroom was behind the 2nd pillar from the left.  No my cousin isn't a multi millionaire, she just happens to be married to the master of the college and this was the tied cottage that came with the job.   They leave in September.  Anyway  the next morning I walked back to the station and this was the 'traon' that was waiting for me.

A rail replacement bus to take me to Royston.

From there I was lucky enough to catch a direct class 387 to Kings Cross.  A very quick journey with no intermediate stops.

Then It would have been rude not to go via St Pancras.

To catch a class 700 to Farringdon.

My aim that day was to ride all the remaining parts of the Elizabeth Line, including Abbey Wood, and the Heathrow terminals.

So it was off to Abbey Wood then with a change at Paddington to Terminal 4.

Quite a long wait to get back to Terminals 2 and 3 then a 387 to Terminal 5 .

Then a 345 back to Farringdon.

 

Jamie

Edited April 23, 2023 by jamie92208

[jamie92208]

We are still on 15th April in the bowels of Heathrow.  Here the 387 that I rode from terminal 5 is heading for Paddington.  Much more comfortable than a 345.

Then it was back to Farringdon before changing to Thameslink and then walking across to the Cross.  Here I was catching a train to Stevenage to meet up with a friend that I hadn't seen for over 30 years.  By chance the timing fitted in well and I got an Azuma which had had a couple of extra stops added.  This 91 was waiting to head north as we exited.

The automated announcements hadn't caught up with the extra stops so we had several ad hoc ones from the gaurd to reassure people that we would in fact be stopping at St Evanage.  

I then spent a very pleasant evening catching up with Paul and his wife. Some old photos were produced. This was me in 1981.

The next morning they took me to Harlow town to catch a Stansted express.  Here a 755 heads south.

Then a 720 headed north.

And another 755 headed south

Then it was time to catch my train to the airport and entrust myself to Ryanair for the journey home.

 

All in all a very busy and tiring but enjoyable 4 day trip.

 

Jamie

 

Edited April 27, 2023 by jamie92208

[franciswilliamwebb]

33 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

I then spent a very pleasant evening catching up with Paul and his wife. Some old photos were produced. This was me in 1981.

 

You were in Frankie Goes To Hollywood? 😉

[jamie92208]

4 minutes ago, franciswilliamwebb said:

 

You were in Frankie Goes To Hollywood? 😉

I'd just shaved my beard off because someone told me that I looked like Peter Sutcliffe.

 

Jamie

[The Lurker]

On 23/04/2023 at 13:58, jamie92208 said:

Good afternoon, by the miracle of this tardis it's still the 14th April 1923.  From Liverpool Street I caught a Class 720 to Cambridge.   

That really was a miracle. Was the 720 teak?

[jamie92208]

Good afternoon from a very sunny Bournemouth.   I was allowed some time off for allegedly good behaviour yesterday and took the train from Bournemouth to Swanage via Wareham to sample the new service.

This was after I'd seen an article that told me that through tickets were available from Bournemouth.   There are obviously still glitches in the system as the South West Trains Website wouldn't play and the machine at the station told me that no fares were available but had Swanage in it's index.   Never fear I booked a Wareham to Swanage return on the Swanage Railway site  and after allowing my heart to recover from the price, 25 modelling tokens, I headed for Bournemouth station on Wednesday morning.   I got a day return to Wareham and just managed to catch 444 029 to Wareham.

It was obviously lost or very sad as it announced that the next station was Woking after each stop.   Anyway I arrived at Wareham and found that the departure board seemed to have some omissions.

No 11.19 to Swanage shown.  This poster was in the booking office though.

I did get to see a few more 444's whilst I waited for my train.

Then the platform sign showed this.

Despite this total lack of joined up thinking quite a few people, mostly roundabout my age, male and with cameras had turned up and just after 11.00 this ran into the platform.

It had obviously travelled wrong line from Worgret Junction.

More of the saga tomorrow.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Some more of the trip to Swanage and back.  Wednesday 15th June 2023.  I got a seat behind the driver.  It's a log time since I used to get this view travelling from Giggleswick to Leeds with my mum.  A bit more kit on the desk though.

1The two drivers got in, the one from West Coat Railways setting off from Wareham.   A mile later we got the feather at Worgret Junction.

Not far down the branch a crew were renewing timbers on two bridges.

Then into Furzebrook where the oil sidings are on the left and a sharply curved spur to the former clay terminal is on the right with a steam loco under a shed on the spur.

As we approached Norden a 4 legged trespasser crossed our path.

Then into Corfe Castle where an SR steam loco was waiting with a train.   Here the tablets were exchanged and then the drivers swapped over with a Swanage railway driver taking over for the run down to Swanage.

More in a couple of days.

 

Jamie

 

[jamie92208]

After 2 days of travelling we are now back in Charente Maritime, land of earthquakes, we're safe' and cognac. We are still on the 14th June and the train is now heading down into Swanage.   Eddystone was visible on the right.

 

Then I had time to get off and have a wander round the station and the bookshop before getting back on the train.

There were quite a few passengers getting on.  However someone seemed to have left his crown behind.

Before we set off I had a good chat with the Swanage driver.  Apparently they are looking at getting their own safety case and insurance for the journey into Wareham but the finances are tricky.   Also the bridges over the River Frome need some expensive work.

I did make an important purchase at the bookshop.

Then it was off back with a good view of Corfe Castle.

Then the signal protecting Worgret junction.

Then off at Wareham and over the footbridge to catch my train back to Bournemouth.  The dMU looked nice in the platform.

Whilst waiting I was able to help a confused member of the public who wanted to now when the steam trains left for Swanage.  I explained the problems and lack of signage etc but she and her daughters were going to come back to catch the next train.

 

Jamie

 

Edited June 19, 2023 by jamie92208

[jamie92208]

In the next to last picture above the signal is at red.  We were held for several minutes due to a late running, Waterloo to Weymouth train.   Apparently if the timetable goes belly up they sometimes run into platform 1 at Wareham.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

One last set of photos.   One more of the DMU at Wareham  They have done a great job in restoring it and the doors have to be released by the driver before anyone can open them from inside.  In fact a lot of the doors have had their internal handles blanked off, presumably to make the central locking simpler.

Then it was time to board a 444 back to Bournemouth.   We passed through hamworthy and I was able to see the former branch line still in situ though protected by a stop sign.

And here showing the connection I doesn't look a if t has had any recent use.

then it was back to Bournemouth and 3 days in the company of a very excited 4 yr old. The Purchase from the shop at Swanage was an Ivor the Engine book.   When our daughter and family arrived I showed her the book and said that it was a present for young Emily.  My daughter replied, " That's great I've realised that we haven't brought her any books.   Grandpa then had the onerous task of reading the bedtime story to the young tornado .  Some jobs are s hard.  Here is the miscreant in question.

Then all too soon it was time to set off back home.   I did see a few trains in Portsmouth harbour Station as we walked round waiting for the ferry then as we sailed out this rather large lump was moored up. I believe that ot has a rather extensive automated railway system for moving munitions around.  This includes several lifts.

That photo had been taken on the way in the week before.

 

Jamie