Freight around London

[50002Superb]

Hi,

I’m in London on Saturday and would like to catch either some 59s, 90s or 92s working freight or light engine.

Does anyone know which diagrams I should be looking for and the best stations for photography please?

Many thanks
50002Superb

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Stratford will get you some 90s and the occasional 59 amongst all the 66s.

There will be more 59s at Acton Yard - although Acton Main Line station is at the wrong end of the yard for most of these; so going west from there should produce some.

There's usually a few 92s in Wembley Yard which can be photographed from passing main line services; the Euston to Tring call at Harrow and Wealdstone which is inside the zones so would be a good move to try this.

I note you say Saturday; there may be less freight on a Saturday than during the week, plus there could be engineering works affecting some of these areas - so do please carefully check before you commit to a ticket.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Saturday 20th -
Mid morning at Willesden Junction and early afternoon at Stratford (freights I've marked with red flash). Details of each service also included.
Although these are booked paths, there may be changes on the day, so Realtime Trains' live updates will be invaluable on the day.

Realtime Trains | Departures from Willesden Junction between 0600 and 2000 on 20/01/2024

Train information at Willesden Junction between 0600 and 2000 on 20/01/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Freightmaster]

Saturday 20th -
Mid morning at Willesden Junction and early afternoon at Stratford (freights I've marked with red flash). Details of each service also included.

With the sole exception of 4E39, none of those trains will run I'm afraid (despite the VAR paths perhaps suggesting otherwise).

In reality there is very little daytime freight in the London area on a Saturday and the vast majority of workings which do run
will be 66-hauled - sorry!

 

[Sun Chariot]

With the sole exception of 4E39, none of those trains will run I'm afraid (despite the VAR paths perhaps suggesting otherwise).

In reality there is very little daytime freight in the London area on a Saturday and the vast majority of workings which do run
will be 66-hauled - sorry!

Thanks for the insight. Blimey, gone are the days when the NLL was heaving with freight. It's now as bleak as the West Coastway down these 'ere parts!

 

[50002Superb]

All noted, thanks for your assistance everyone

 

[Sun Chariot]

All noted, thanks for your assistance everyone

Farther south, there's a 59-booked Mo-We-Th-Fr aggregates service, it runs from Westbury to Crawley. Recent examples are on page 3 of my photo thread, here.

Loco hauled around Havant

A summer "challenge" deep in SWR/Southern land - Photograph loco-hauled, or light, services within within my locality. Focus is freight workings or uncommon traffic. I'll add to this thread during the year.

www.railforums.co.uk

The 59s occasionally appear on the Westbury to Chichester aggregates. Photos on page 1 of this thread - plus a variety of other locos down here (not just Sheds!).

 

[306024]

The GEML is blocked between Colchester and Ipswich this Saturday, so that will reduce the freights you would see at Stratford.

 

[75D]

I find South Kenton Just north of Wembley a good spot. The trains can be a bit fast, when I went to the Milton Keynes model railway exhibition last year there were about 3 sets of 90's went past at around lunchtime, they would also have passed South Kenton.

 

[50002Superb]

Do 92s not work up from the Dollands Moor area anymore?

 

[ac6000cw]

The GEML is blocked between Colchester and Ipswich this Saturday, so that will reduce the freights you would see at Stratford.

...and probably make it unlikely you would see any 90's at all.

Do 92s not work up from the Dollands Moor area anymore?

AFAIK yes, but only between there and Ripple Lane via HS1 (I think DB only has a handful of operational 92's at present).

 

[Western Sunset]

There is still a lot of freight on the lines round London; trouble is most runs Mon - Fri. Most of the 59s will be tucked-up at Merehead or Whatley.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Most of the 59s will be tucked-up at Merehead or Whatley.

They do get out on the Merehead-Crawley weekday turns; and sometimes also on the Merehead-Chichester workings.

Here are recent examples. A bonus - today's two workings were 59-hauled and attached is a ohoto of the two passing.

 

[50002Superb]

...and probably make it unlikely you would see any 90's at all.


AFAIK yes, but only between there and Ripple Lane via HS1 (I think DB only has a handful of operational 92's at present).

Thanks, would be keen to see those operating but seems unlikely on a Saturday by the sounds of it