North West Rover
A weeks holiday to travel the north-west and record the different traction on offer, with GBRF 66/7s and 92s, DBS Tugs (8 in total, all different, but could have been 10), and Colas, DRS, Network Rail,Arriva Wales, and Freightliner all featuring during the course of the week. And fairly good weather for the most part.
23/7/2013
Tug 1; DBS 60039 stands on Arpley with 66088 for company having failed the day before.
Later Tug 2 appeared in the gloom with 60074 running Low Level back under WBQ with the empties from Fiddler's Ferry ( a lousy shot not worthy of putting on display)
Later Tug 2 appeared in the gloom with 60074 running Low Level back under WBQ with the empties from Fiddler's Ferry ( a lousy shot not worthy of putting on display)
4M44 arrives at Warrington with tractors 37601/409
Grid 105 arrives for a crew change with the loaded 6J37 to Chirk.
Second pair of tractors, as 37606 and 602 storm through Bank Quay station north with 4S44
Having run round in Latchford, GBRF 66713 awaits departure to Ellesmere Port with 6F65, for loading.
66713 seen passing Arpley Jn, and within a few minutes, 6G70 would run in for reversal and then return south to Ironbridge
Meanwhile 4C77 Fiddler's Ferry-Newbiggin, had come from Ellesmere Port, to head north with MetroNet 66721 seen here entering WBQ's Platform 4
DRS Thunderbird 57302 "Chad Varah" sits in the north bay platform at Preston
24/7/2013
90041 passes south through Piccadilly station, Manchester with 4O09 to Southampton
In the afternoon at Oxford Rd, Manchester, GBRF 92038 heads 4L18 to Felixstowe.
This was after a wasted trip to get 60040 on 6H03 at Altrincham which was a no-show!!
This was after a wasted trip to get 60040 on 6H03 at Altrincham which was a no-show!!
A definite regular time keeper, is 6H60 which arrives at Manchester Victoria with the empties from Hope Street and 60091 in charge, as the rain begins to pour.
This working was to produce 3 different 60's during the course of my week's travels.
This working was to produce 3 different 60's during the course of my week's travels.
And awaiting departure from Platform 6
Meanwhile a short time later, Skips 026 and 005 t'n't 1Q23 out of Piccadilly with Derby RTC-Derby RTC, via the world.
67005
25/7/2013
DRS 66429/426 head the Tesco Express through the down fast at Lancaster as a TPE unit departs south
Totally unspoilt Triple Grey GBRF 92044 heads north, through WBQ to Mossend with 0Z92, to undertake another GBRF aquisition from DBS, as 6m49 and 6S51 Departmentals were to go over to them the following Monday (29th)
A returning working, as 6U68 runs south through WBQ with 70015.
By this time another new Tug, 60019 had arrived at Arpley
By this time another new Tug, 60019 had arrived at Arpley
Another Ugg as 70010 runs south with the empties from FFPS
(the inbound version being 4F02 from Ellesmere Port)
(the inbound version being 4F02 from Ellesmere Port)
The loaded working to Ironbridge, 6G70, with 66713 again
Train Kill!!
Colas 66849 heads 6S96 ThO, Sinfin-Grangemouth past WBQ running early
Newly fixed, 60039 heads 6F84 loaded working for FFPS, seen entering WBQ
A different view of the departure from Latchford, as 60039 edges towards Arpley Jn.
26/7/2013
Yet another Tug, as 60017 approaches Hebden Bridge with 6E32 from Preston Docks -Lindsey.
Wednesday had produced 60020 (1 of the other 2 I could have got)
Wednesday had produced 60020 (1 of the other 2 I could have got)
6H60 arrives at Victoria this time with 60079 in charge.
66708 heads east with the loaded Biomass from LBT-Ironbridge, seen here approaching St Helen's Jn station.
The FO working from Seaforth-Tinsley 6E14 produces 60015 speeding towards St Helen's Jn heading east
and following a 66 on 6F84 instead of a Tug, Blue 60074 passes SHJ with 6F09 to LBT.
27/7/2013
The following morning, and 60019 stands in the south bay at WBQ.
I set out to get 6V75 at Shotton High Level, which actually produced 60063, but was foiled by a late running London Euston service and subsequently missed my onward connection from WBQ-Shotton. (Should definitely have been Tug no 9!!!)
I set out to get 6V75 at Shotton High Level, which actually produced 60063, but was foiled by a late running London Euston service and subsequently missed my onward connection from WBQ-Shotton. (Should definitely have been Tug no 9!!!)
NR 97302 sits in the yard at Arpley, having moved from further up the yard overnight
Approaching Shotton, with a summer relief from Holyhead, 1K52 is headed by Arriva Wales DVT 82306
and 67001 pushing
The main event as HNRC 20314/311 head the westbound working of 1Z28 Cardiff-Llandudno out of Shotton in full sun
And tailing, but idling, were LUL liveried 20189 and Br Blue 20142
67001 departs from Rhyl with 1D74 to Holyhead summer relief
DVT 82306
1Z31 heads through Shotton with the return from Llandudno, having worked an extra Llandudno-Holyhead trip in between, running about 30 late to Cardiff.
By now the sun had been replaced with thickening cloud, before the heavens opened later that evening
By now the sun had been replaced with thickening cloud, before the heavens opened later that evening
swinging on the back 20314/20311 in "unique!" HNRC livery
28/7/2013
Colas 56105 arrives at Carlisle with 6C37 Log empties from Chirk
29/7/2013
GBRF liveried 92032 arrives Light engine at Piccadilly with 0Z92 (0L18?) Rugby-Trafford Park, ready for that afternoon's 4L18 to Felixstowe
another view of 92032
By the time I got to Ashburys, a massive thunderstorm had descended on Manchester and the heavens opened, as Army Tug 60040 passes slowly with 6J46 to Hope Street, as the rain lashes down, (and I get a good soaking)
Getting wetter!
To SH Jn to dry off in the sun, as 60019 runs downgrade from Lea Green to St Helens Jn with 6F74 to FFPS
another view
And later back at Salford Central in the sun, 60040 runs wrong line and about 90 mins late, with 6H60 through the station