The_Train
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Jun 2018
- Messages
- 5,247
Since my outing to the West Midlands last week I've popped to the local a couple of times. Firstly I made a very quick trip out on Friday afternoon as @DenmarkRail was querying what was on the Crewe electric to Stafford run around so thought I'd pop out to find out for them - we are one big team after all 
In the end it actually turned out well for me as it was required 325011 so a worthwhile journey.
A couple of appointments in town today (Monday 1st October) meant that I had time to spare so decided to spend it on the platform. I reaped immediate reward as the return of the empty clay hoppers was piloted by 66117 as they headed towards Bescot to join with other empties before moving on to the South West. A dud 66 and 70 passed before me but it was what came next that was the surprise of the day as my ears were pricked when a XC service was announced as being a 7 coach service - surely we weren't going to be blessed with a HST?!?!?
AXC HST power car 43357 at Stafford by The_Train
Oh, you better believe we are and it got even better as required 43357 lead the set into platform 5 with dud 43366
AXC HST power car 43366 at Stafford by The_Train
After that excitement we were blessed by a visit from more growling diesel traction as 37800, in its lovely Europhoenix livery, came through light on route to Leicester L.I.P before I nailed another winner in the form of GBRf 66755 working the cement from Gloucester to Clitheroe. Having headed back into town for half hour I decided to return back to the station, and was duly informed that I'd missed a required 92 passing through but I wasn't going to let this get me down as I was quickly into a 5 minute spell of winner, winner, winner. The fun started with FLR 66508 working containers to Ditton having worked up from Felixstowe before GBRf "Good Old Boy" 66717 carried containers south to Felixstowe having started at Trafford Park. These were soon followed by a tandem working of DB 90s from Arpley Sidings to Daventry Int Rft Reception with winner 90036 leading dud 90020 southbound
Class 90s 90036 and 90020 pass Stafford by The_Train
Things quietened down but not enough to stop yet another 66 from going into the book. This time it was DB 66063 working the empty car wagons from Southampton to Jaguar Cars at Halewood
DB class 66 66063 at Stafford by The_Train
Today was the day thar just kept on giving and it was the Toton North Yard to Crewe Basford Hall engineers train that came up trumps next as the gorgeous Cemex liveried 66780 rolled up the fast lines
Cemex liveried GBRf 66780 at Stafford by The_Train
Cemex liveried GBRf 66780 at Stafford by The_Train
I also got to see a class 92 back on the Garston to Dagenham empty car trailers as 92044 worked the journey south and even though it was a dud, having seen it heading north last week in readiness for this, it was still nice to see yet another class working freight through the local
Class 92 92044 passing Stafford by The_Train
Having missed it heading south earlier it was nice to see yet another Crossrail unit out on test. Apparently 345049 had only been dragged to Crewe earlier today but it was straight out on test and I caught it working the return journey back to Crewe from Rugby
Crossrail class 345 345049 at Stafford by The_Train
I completed my winners on a high as the back unit of the Willesden to Shieldmuir mail train was 325005 and, as I believe that 325010 was scrapped before I could sight it, I can mark the class 325 units as complete
We did also get to see the return working of the HST set and I will leave you with this photo of the good and the bad of the AXC fleet
AXC HST power car 43357 at Stafford by The_Train
Summary
Winners: 11
Completed Class: 1 - class 325
Completed Sub Class: None
In the end it actually turned out well for me as it was required 325011 so a worthwhile journey.A couple of appointments in town today (Monday 1st October) meant that I had time to spare so decided to spend it on the platform. I reaped immediate reward as the return of the empty clay hoppers was piloted by 66117 as they headed towards Bescot to join with other empties before moving on to the South West. A dud 66 and 70 passed before me but it was what came next that was the surprise of the day as my ears were pricked when a XC service was announced as being a 7 coach service - surely we weren't going to be blessed with a HST?!?!?
AXC HST power car 43357 at Stafford by The_TrainOh, you better believe we are and it got even better as required 43357 lead the set into platform 5 with dud 43366
AXC HST power car 43366 at Stafford by The_TrainAfter that excitement we were blessed by a visit from more growling diesel traction as 37800, in its lovely Europhoenix livery, came through light on route to Leicester L.I.P before I nailed another winner in the form of GBRf 66755 working the cement from Gloucester to Clitheroe. Having headed back into town for half hour I decided to return back to the station, and was duly informed that I'd missed a required 92 passing through but I wasn't going to let this get me down as I was quickly into a 5 minute spell of winner, winner, winner. The fun started with FLR 66508 working containers to Ditton having worked up from Felixstowe before GBRf "Good Old Boy" 66717 carried containers south to Felixstowe having started at Trafford Park. These were soon followed by a tandem working of DB 90s from Arpley Sidings to Daventry Int Rft Reception with winner 90036 leading dud 90020 southbound
Class 90s 90036 and 90020 pass Stafford by The_TrainThings quietened down but not enough to stop yet another 66 from going into the book. This time it was DB 66063 working the empty car wagons from Southampton to Jaguar Cars at Halewood
DB class 66 66063 at Stafford by The_TrainToday was the day thar just kept on giving and it was the Toton North Yard to Crewe Basford Hall engineers train that came up trumps next as the gorgeous Cemex liveried 66780 rolled up the fast lines
Cemex liveried GBRf 66780 at Stafford by The_Train
Cemex liveried GBRf 66780 at Stafford by The_TrainI also got to see a class 92 back on the Garston to Dagenham empty car trailers as 92044 worked the journey south and even though it was a dud, having seen it heading north last week in readiness for this, it was still nice to see yet another class working freight through the local
Class 92 92044 passing Stafford by The_TrainHaving missed it heading south earlier it was nice to see yet another Crossrail unit out on test. Apparently 345049 had only been dragged to Crewe earlier today but it was straight out on test and I caught it working the return journey back to Crewe from Rugby
Crossrail class 345 345049 at Stafford by The_TrainI completed my winners on a high as the back unit of the Willesden to Shieldmuir mail train was 325005 and, as I believe that 325010 was scrapped before I could sight it, I can mark the class 325 units as complete
We did also get to see the return working of the HST set and I will leave you with this photo of the good and the bad of the AXC fleet
AXC HST power car 43357 at Stafford by The_TrainSummary
Winners: 11
Completed Class: 1 - class 325
Completed Sub Class: None
DB class 66 66181 passing Tamworth
Colas Rail Class 37 37219 at Tamworth
DB class 66 66102 at Tamworth
Network Rails 'Flying Banana' HST at Tamworth
Royal claret liveried class 67 67006 passing Tamworth
XC HST power car 43366 pauses at Tamworth
DB class 60 60019 at Tamworth
Colas Class 37 37522 at Tamworth