A Sunny (ish) Day out : 17/8/2011
After one of the worst summers for a while, the rain finally stopped and the Sun returned for a full day, so I went out to Oubeck Loops, just south of Lancaster, and then popped up to Ribblehead for the southbound freight. The sun shone for most of the passenger workings of units, but kept vanishing for the real trains.
Oubeck Loops, Lancaster
The TESCO Express rattles past the loops with 92037 in Triple Grey and "Luverly" EWS Sticker Livery (but for how long??).
The sun vanished just before this came, and promptly re-appeared just afterwards. 1Q12 runs north with BR Blue 31106 on a Derby RTC-Mossend test train.
Again the sun vanished, as 92017 Bart brought the China Clays through the loops.
Ribblehead
A recent GBRF acquisition, ex 66843 sits at the head of 6Z70 which was being loaded ready for the run to Chirk later that day. In the background is Pen-Y-Ghent.
EWS 66182 comes off Ribblehead viaduct with the Gypsum working from Kirby Thore.
6Ko5 Carlisle-Basford Hall, comes off the viaduct with 66012. By now the sun had started to make the occasional appearance!
Colas 66850 heads towards Ribblehead station with 6J37 to Chirk
A shot of 66744 in the sun. Ex-Colas 66744 stands at Ribblehead in the sidings whilst the train crew secure the payload.