66781 Ratcliffe Power Station
Shipley Gate, 28 June 2024
Today saw the final delivery of coal to the UK’s last coal-fired power station.
GB Railfreight’s 66781 (the former 66016) was in charge of train 6M61, the 08.25 from Doncaster Down Decoy Yard to Ratcliffe Power Station in Nottinghamshire, its new Ratcliffe Power Station nameplates already uncovered ahead of a low-key naming ceremony at the power station which is due to close in September.
43184
Derby, 6 August 2022
Last month CrossCountry unveiled one of its High Speed Train power cars in the livery it first carried in the 1980s… 43184 was built in 1981 at Crewe Works and renumbered 43384 when rebuilt with an MTU engine in 2008.
CrossCountry have reinstated not only the original TOPS number but also the the set number ‘253051’ across the power car’s nose.
I had a tip that 43184 was leading train 1E67, the 16.27 service from Plymouth to Leeds so I popped down to Derby hoping to grab a pic in the failing light… and I’m glad I did.
For the record 43303 (the former 43103) was on the rear of the train.
57314 Conwy Castle
Belper, 24 June 2022
Spotted last night, West Coast Railway Company’s 57314 Conwy Castle approaching Belper with train 1Z64, the 16.47 return leg of the ‘Scarborough at Leisure’ railtour from Coventry.
Classmate 57313 Scarborough Castle was on the rear of the 11 coach rake.
60079
Derby, 3 March 2015
Seven years ago today I was changing trains at Derby when 60079 (b.1991) passed through with train 6M82, the 12.43 MX-Q (Mondays excepted, as required) empty box wagons from Walsall Freight Terminal to Briggs Sidings Steetley Company (Dowlow).
66717 Good Old Boy
Erewash Valley Line, 5 January 2022
Spotted today, a very grubby 66717 Good Old Boy approaching the site of Shipley Gate station on the Erewash Valley Line with train 6X01, the 10.18 loaded rails from Scunthorpe Trent Terminal Complex to Eastleigh East Yard.
37116
Breaston, 3 April 2021
Spotted today, 37116 (the former D6816, built in 1963 by English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows) passing Breaston (between Long Eaton and Spondon stations) with train 3M03, the 10.52 Colas Rail/Network Rail test train from Dollands Moor Sidings to Derby R.T.C.
The five coach train was made up of Brake Force Runner 96604, Generator Van 6262, Brake Coach 9810, Ultrasonic Test Coach 999606 and Driving Trailer Coach 9702 and was (at this point) running 42 minutes early in spite of having departed Dollands Moor 40 minutes late!
66789 British Rail 1948-1997
Alfreton Tunnel, 26 February 2021
Spotted today, during my daily exercise… 66789 British Rail 1948-1997 exiting Alfreton Tunnel with train 0O01, the 10.50 light engine move from Doncaster Down Decoy Yard to Eastleigh East Yard.
Previously numbered 66250, the loco was one of a batch sold by DB Cargo UK to GB Railfreight (GBRf) in 2017 and now carries British Rail’s ‘large logo’ blue livery.
The 840 yard long Alfreton (New) Tunnel was completed in 1901 by the Midland Railway (MR) when the line here was quadrupled, the new tunnel being used for the fast lines with the old tunnel being relegated to freight traffic on the slow lines.
A 15-minute pause during a stroll in the Erewash Valley (near the site of the Former Shipley Gate station) yesterday produced the following…
66514
Erewash Valley Line, 4 January 2021
Freightliner’s 66514 heading 6M73, the 10.50 departmental service from Doncaster Up Decoy to Toton North Yard.
195009
Erewash Valley Line, 4 January 2021
195009, working 1Y15, the 11.09 Sundays excepted (SuX) Northern service from Leeds to Nottingham.
The class 195s seem to have finally taken over from class 158s on this route, I’ve seen a few but this is the first time I’ve photographed one.
60010 & 66207
Erewash Valley Line, 4 January 2021
DB Cargo UK’s 60010 and 66207 passing with 0F54, the 12.05 light engine move from Belmont Down Yard to Toton T.M.D.
I didn’t hang about any longer, the leaden sky soon produced rain…
Last night I made a pre-Lockdown 2.0 trip out to photograph the local Rail Head Treatment Train (RHTT) having determined that said train stopped at Matlock Station for 45 minutes… plenty of time to set up a tripod and capture a few images.
But as we know ‘the best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley’ and 66114 and 66111 only paused for a moment before heading into the darkness north of the station to make room for…
156401
Matlock, 3 November 2020
… East Midlands Railway’s 156401, working 2A72, the 22.19 (SSuX) service from Derby. After pausing for a couple of minutes 156401 departed with train 2A79, the 22.56 to Nottingham.
Once 156401 had left the single-track branch at Ambergate Junction, 66111 and 66114 reappeared but again only paused briefly before continuing on their way.
66111 (plus 66114 out of sight at the rear)
Matlock, 3 November 2020
The two DB Cargo (UK) locos ‘top and tailed’ the RHTT vehicles and last night their route began at Toton Depot at 21.22 and took in Derby, Matlock, Leicester, Kettering, Nottingham and Newark Castle before finishing at Stapleford & Sandiacre at 04.06.
The RHTTs remove autumn leaf fall from the rails with high pressure water jets and can also apply an ‘adhesion modifier’ to help train wheels grip the rail… Vital for safety!
A couple of weeks ago I paid a (socially distanced) visit to the recently re-opened Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (EVR), treating myself (and the people in my ‘bubble’) to a ‘Bounce Back’ ticket.
33103 SWORDFISH couples onto the 13.20 to Duffield
Wirksworth Station, August 2020
The EVR have chosen to operate a simple timetable of three return trips per day, all starting at Wirksworth with no break of journey allowed.
Tickets are being sold on a compartment basis and each group (of up to six people) is allocated a compartment on arrival and the carriages are clearly marked as to which door to board at.
Limited catering facilities were in operation (although we’d packed a picnic) and apart from the masks and the railway’s staff helping to keep the small groups of people apart everything felt very ‘normal’.
SWORDFISH nameplate (33103)
Wirksworth Station, August 2020
33103 ‘SWORDFISH’ (the former D6514, b.1960, BRCW) made light work of three beautifully turned out BR Mk.1 carriages and a few groups (us included) were lucky enough to be allocated a first class compartment!
33103 SWORDFISH runs round its train
Duffield Station, August 2020
The EVR (and all the heritage lines that have managed to re-open under these difficult circumstances) really need our support to survive… If you can, buy a ticket and enjoy a ride!
Railway Miscellany 