Back on the platform

[Far north 37]

No offence taken Mr Train.
Far North 37, are you doubly sure of that
I'm sure your probably right, anyone any the wiser of an 87 nickname, 86s seemed to be nicknamed cans, can't say I honestly heard them being referred to that but I certainly don't doubt it. Why were 58s nicknamed Bones too, I heard egg timers too, I never saw a 58 shaped looking egg timer or was it a sand thing.

Yeah im pretty sure i would imagine its because of the incredible loads even a small tug boat can shift thats where the comparison is from.
The only reason i can think of a 58 being nicknamed bones is cause of the shape say if you were looking on one from above sort of thing.

 

[Skymonster]

58s were named bones because of their shape, when viewed from above looking down on them - bulging out at each end (cabs) while slimmer in the middle.

 

[47403]

Ah I get you.

 

[The_Train]

Having spied a few moves away from the norm on RTT, I decided to spend a few hours at my local this afternoon and was rewarded reasonably well. I arrived around noon and was almost immediately onto a winner thanks to a delay to the 576E 0934 Northampton Tc Up Sidings to Crewe South Yard which allowed me to see 37884 hauling 365527 and 365535, all winners and moving my 365 count from 0 in the process
37884 passing Stafford by The_Train
365535 exits Stafford by The_Train

I'd not gone out expecting to chalk off any passenger units but the bonus sighting of 365s was followed by 350251, which is my penultimate 350/2 (just 350246 to go now). That was to be it for passenger units but can't complain at what I'd seen and neither could I complain when I saw 37601 roll into the UDG line on a Leicester L.I.P runaround. This had shown on RTT as though it had bypassed the planned visit to Stafford so was a pleasant surprise and as they had an hour and half wait, the drivers went off in search of food leaving us with the glorious sight, sound and smells of an idling beast
37601 "Perseus" at Stafford by The_Train

90019 made an appearance, leading dud 90029 on a Mossend to Daventry. Dud 37424 was a late addition to the schedule as it headed from Crewe to Norwich CP looking grand in its BR Blue Large Logo livery
37424, masquerading as 37558, passing Stafford by The_Train

Bit of a wait for the next success but it maintained my record of a winning 66 on every visit to Stafford so far as 66768 passed through with a Clitheroe to Avonmouth cement train, followed by 66753 which was also hauling cement wagons but northbound towards Clitheroe and then 66185 taking some empties to Bescot. My final and 10th success of my short stint on the platform today came thanks to an ECS movement by West Coast Railway Company towards Acton Lane which was lead by dud 57314 but supported by 57601 at the rear
57601 at Stafford by The_Train

Not a bad couple of hours with plenty of 37 action, getting the 365s up and running and edging ever closer to completing the 350s.

More pics on my flickr here

 

[Kite159]

A productive trip to Stafford.

Seeing the 365s being taken for storage makes me sad

 

[The_Train]

Seeing the 365s being taken for storage makes me sad

Oh, is that where they are headed? Not really followed their story as they have never covered my neck of the woods. I'd thought they might be calling at Crewe as a stop off on route to somewhere else

 

[Kite159]

Oh, is that where they are headed? Not really followed their story as they have never covered my neck of the woods. I'd thought they might be calling at Crewe as a stop off on route to somewhere else

I have no idea to be honest, they are odd so off-lease from Great Northern and I don't think Scotrail are getting any more now the 385s are slowly entering traffic.

 

[47403]

Another profitable day at the local. See you got another of my GB Sheds I'm after, 66768, damn thing was in the North East a few weeks back but buggered off back South, via the Durham Coast line. They're storing them 365s somewhere between Daventry and Rugby. If you watch smilevideotrains on youtube, the guy who does the videos, Keith, keeps passing them..

 

[Kite159]

Another profitable day at the local. See you got another of my GB Sheds I'm after, 66768, damn thing was in the North East a few weeks back but buggered off back South, via the Durham Coast line. They're storing them 365s somewhere between Daventry and Rugby. If you watch smilevideotrains on youtube, the guy who does the videos, Keith, keeps passing them..

There was a lot of 365s in the sidings north of Northampton on Monday.

 

[47403]

That might be it Kite. I think the guys from Corby and uses Northampton, Wellingborough and Wolverton stations when he starts off on his videos.

 

[The_Train]

Well the movement today came from Northampton so that much makes sense. Not sure why they were heading to a yard at Crewe though

 

[The_Train]

Another profitable day at the local. See you got another of my GB Sheds I'm after, 66768, damn thing was in the North East a few weeks back but buggered off back South, via the Durham Coast line.

It's a good thing to Stafford that the services that run through don't seem to keep the same loco for a lengthy period of time. I think that's why I've had such a good run of winner 66s there

 

[Skymonster]

Oh, is that where they are headed? Not really followed their story as they have never covered my neck of the woods. I'd thought they might be calling at Crewe as a stop off on route to somewhere else

ROG have taken a lease on Crewe South sidings for loco / unit storage

 

[47403]

Also absolutely anything can rock up at Stafford, either going or coming from Crewe and a hub for freight to.pass through. I know for a fact, by reading your trip reports I'd have scored 3 of my required GB 66s.
Not a bad place to have as a local for sure.
Not be long before the 350s bites the dust too. A spin to Preston or Wigan will see you go mad with Northern units or the 350/4s.

 

[The_Train]

ROG have taken a lease on Crewe South sidings for loco / unit storage

That explains it then. Is that a recent thing so I get to see more of these moves from the comfort of my local station or have they already filled the yard up?

 

[The_Train]

Also absolutely anything can rock up at Stafford, either going or coming from Crewe and a hub for freight to.pass through. I know for a fact, by reading your trip reports I'd have scored 3 of my required GB 66s.
Not a bad place to have as a local for sure.
Not be long before the 350s bites the dust too. A spin to Preston or Wigan will see you go mad with Northern units or the 350/4s.

Yeah I suppose that was proven yesterday. In a few hours we were blessed with 3x37s (1 passed us twice), 2x57s and 2x365 units along with all of the standard freight (ie 66s).

Regarding the 350s, I've been told that 350246 has been out of action but may have now returned. Don't know if anyone knows anything about this?

I still have a plan to head into the North West to start clearing Northern units and some of the TPE stuff, particularly the 350/4s. I assume these work the longer diagrams?

 

[47403]

Trans Pennine 350s Glasgow/Edinburgh-Manchester Airports turns. Plus a trip to Manchester will see the 68s on trans pennine turns. Don't ask me when they start though.

 

[The_Train]

Trans Pennine 350s Glasgow/Edinburgh-Manchester Airports turns. Plus a trip to Manchester will see the 68s on trans pennine turns. Don't ask me when they start though.

I'm hoping to pick some of the 68 TPEs on test as they are planned to run through Stafford. Testing was supposed to begin this week but has been cancelled until next week apparently so it's anyone's guess as to when they will actually carry passengers

 

[47403]

I'm hoping to pick some of the 68 TPEs on test as they are planned to run through Stafford. Testing was supposed to begin this week but has been cancelled until next week apparently so it's anyone's guess as to when they will actually carry passengers

Hopefully the sooner the better and I can make plans to do a loco hauled session over the pennines again, been a long time waiting for this and a very long time since these days.

I was broken hearted when these turns went to 158s, for a while I hated 158s, then BR, it meant a downhill spiral for my beloved GD too.
But on another topic, the start of this video, will reopen a chat on this or another thread about mail bags.

 

[55013]

But on another topic, the start of this video, will reopen a chat on this or another thread about mail bags.

I'm glad all those cranks on the platform weren't on board 47443 when it left Newcastle - it was wedged enough as it was.
What a day.

I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but my moves on 20/01/91 were:
47443 Huddersfield - York
47422 York - Leeds
47597 Leeds - York
47640 York - Leeds
47492 Leeds - Newcastle
47443 Newcastle - Huddersfield

And that was that, no more regular loco-haulage across the Pennines, ever....

 

[Far north 37]

Hopefully the sooner the better and I can make plans to do a loco hauled session over the pennines again, been a long time waiting for this and a very long time since these days.

I was broken hearted when these turns went to 158s, for a while I hated 158s, then BR, it meant a downhill spiral for my beloved GD too.
But on another topic, the start of this video, will reopen a chat on this or another thread about mail bags.

158s were not well appreciated up north either when they took over the majority of loco hauled services throughout scotland.

 

[palmersears]

The TPE 68s will eventually work via Victoria with the MK5a stock. They should be in for the December timetable change but I wouldn't hold your breath!

The 350/4s are a small sub-fleet. A day at Piccadilly would get you most of them.

 

[The_Train]

A few hours at Stafford to see the new TPE stock pass by lead to another handful of winners. 68020 was at the rear of the TPE Mk5 test run and I also got to see 57308 as it headed light towards Crewe. 66432 maintained my record of chalking off a winning 66 with every trip before I also bagged 66703 on the Trafford Park-Felixstowe run. 66536 and 66782 made up the final 2 winners of my short time out today.

As it was only a quick visit, I won't post any pictures on here but there are a few from today on my flickr here including the TransPennine test, the 57 and a few others

 

[Kite159]

I saw this on Saturday and you popped into my head as it was Crewe bound

 

[The_Train]

I saw this on Saturday and you popped into my head as it was Crewe bound

Haha amazing how we create links to things. When 57308 went past me earlier I wondered what 47403 would be like seeing one considering their 'bodysnatching' history. Maybe it's just the way this forum grabs hold of you (in a good way of course)

 

[47403]

Haha amazing how we create links to things. When 57308 went past me earlier I wondered what 47403 would be like seeing one considering their 'bodysnatching' history. Maybe it's just the way this forum grabs hold of you (in a good way of course)

Don't like the bodysnatchers, 57/0s look nice but sound awful. The rest of the 57s look ridiculous. It's sacrilege what they done to a perfectly good looking machine.
A thing of beauty

A pile of pony

Stupid noise, silly lights and a whopping great hole in the front end with a dead octopus stuck in it.
Sorry, the soap box i was stood on has collapsed

 

[The_Train]

Don't like the bodysnatchers, 57/0s look nice but sound awful. The rest of the 57s look ridiculous.

Must admit, I'm not their biggest fan to be honest

 

[Cowley]

Don't like the bodysnatchers, 57/0s look nice but sound awful. The rest of the 57s look ridiculous. It's sacrilege what they done to a perfectly good looking machine.
A thing of beauty
View attachment 51733
A pile of pony
View attachment 51734
Stupid noise, silly lights and a whopping great hole in the front end with a dead octopus stuck in it.
Sorry, the soap box i was stood on has collapsed

I’ve been behind a few of them now, and it always feels slightly like I’m having an affair...

 

[47403]

I’ve been behind a few of them now, and it always feels slightly like I’m having an affair...

I can imagine Cowley. I still have one for haulage on my railway bucket list but it's more in the homage to the former loco, who no doubt still lives in the shell.

 

[Cowley]

I can imagine Cowley. I still have one for haulage on my railway bucket list but it's more in the homage to the former loco, who no doubt still lives in the shell.

The Ghost of Thrashness Past...