Diesel, Electric, DMU, EMU, Green, BR Blue, InterCity (Exec, Mainline, Swallow etc), NSE, Railfreight, and EVERYTHING else from the core British Rail 1965-1997 era. If like me, you are only really interested in BR, and you spend most of your time wading through the other thread (which is predominantly full of modern-day screenshots and/or other countries) looking for BR stuff, then I thought this could be a thread for you.... I'll get things going with a few of my WCML shots...
Gonna have to split this into 2 pages, but here are some of mine: Image 1: 86254 working 3M07 Image 2: A representation of the clay trains in the 70s, with D1055 at the helm Image 3: A “what if” in my 80s world, a 31/1 running a DMU replacement service to Morecambe Image 4: Caroline in Blackpool (of which I realised and is my fault on the skin that the br blue skin has the blue star, whilst in 1986 it wasn’t) Image 5: 47s in the snow working a nuclear service
The Other 5 (Image 5 MIGHT not count, but that’s up to your opinion) Image 1: Class 40 working The Stone Scratcher tour Image 2+3: 47s in the snow working a nuclear service 2: Scotrail boogaloo Image 4: 08911 hauls some faulty container wagons to Currock for repair work Image 5: Maroon MK1’s sit in Preston.
Late 80s at Oxenholme..... 87101 "Stevenson" heads a southbound service to London filling in for a failed classmate. Shortly afterwards 47120 (ex "RAF Kinloss") and recently unofficially named "Osprey" after being transferred to Tinsley depot heads northbound through the station with an RTC test train from Derby to Carlisle.
47710 and an unidentified classmate sit at Glasgow Queen Street, 710 would shortly depart on a run to Edinburgh. 47710 pauses at Polmont whilst working an express from Glasgow to Edinburgh.
47973 slowly passes through Lancaster with a test train bound for Morecambe, 47971 is on the rear. 47973 has arrived at Morecambe with a test train from Derby. 47971 is on the rear. 47971 is at the head of a Derby RTC bound test train, seen at Morecambe with 47973 on the rear.
Bashing Memories - 86225 in charge of a southbound cross country service with a quick shot looking forward and aft. Honestly being able to have moments like this really brings back so many happy memories for me
An unidentified 31 and 47 sit waiting to be called up for banking duties, not really sure how much help the Ped would be... A Regional Railways "Express" 158 pulls into the background with a Liverpool - Yorkshire service with the DMU's recently coming onto the scene. Taken a few years earlier than the last image is a busier Man Vic, a 47 passes alongside Platform 11 with a Stanlow tanks working, an unidentified Peak in the distance is hauling GMC waste containers and the Pair of 31s are bound for Hope Street with an RMC Roadstone train.
Sometime around 1994 a Merseyrail sponsored 142058 is snapped passing the approach end of Runway 24 at Manchester Airport as it leaves with a Liverpool via Chat Moss "all shacks" stopping service.
86258 "Talyllyn" is snapped racing past a level crossing out near Barton & Broughton, the old Zenit camera doing a good job fighting against the sunlight and keeping everything clear. The loco was working the 1S45 Manchester Piccadilly & Liverpool Lime St combined service as far as Carstairs where it would again split with one portion bound for Glasgow Central with 86258 continuing on in charge and the other portion would be diesel hauled to Edinburgh Waverley. 87030 "Black Douglas" is snapped heading down from Shap Summit with a southbound parcels working, it was about to photobomb 86258 heading north. 86258 working hard to maintain speed on the long steep slog up towards Shap Summit, the loco had 12 carriages as it was formed of two joined portions for 1S45. 86258 photographed just as it reaches Shap Summit at a respectable 89mph, very respectable considering it had 12 coaches on and of course couldn't go faster anyway due to the 90mph slack...
90026 barrels through Lancaster on a run bound for the Citadel, as a unknown 101 boards passengers, also bound for the Citadel, but going via the Cumbrian Coast 45136 backs into Leeds City light engine (oddly with its marker lights on) as a 101 passes overhead. An unknown 86/2 departs the Citadel working a express parcels, passing the High Wapping sidings, which has an outlier of D264 (40064) in BR Green! 47609 “FIRE FLY” departs Preston on a route learning run to Ormskirk on 0Z02 Preston to Ormskirk.
86208 "City of Chester" and an unidentified 87 head across a snowy Shap Summit with a delayed London Euston bound express, I think the 87 was "Black Douglas", it had failed and was being dragged DIT by the 86. An unidentified Class 86 heads along the brief coastal portion of the West Coast Main Line, approaching Bolton-le-Sands with a cross country working. 86225 "Hardwicke" approaches Preston with a southbound cross country service, the loco would be staying on as far as Birmingham.
An unidentified Class 31 sits at Morecambe with a track inspection train, my recordkeeping was atrocious back then but I recall that it was bound to return to the RTC at Derby via Carnforth and Leeds. A pair of WYPTE Metro-Train branded Class 155s waits at a red signal in the loop just outside of Oxenholme, 87020 is also pegged on the main line. The 155s were returning to Workington for attention and made a very unusual sight on this part of the WCML, they had ventured to Blackpool on some services from Leeds/York. There was track circuit trouble in the area causing trains to be held here before being allowed to proceed, the 155s waited for nearly an hour with several northbound services overtaking them.
45134 heads through Dawlish Warren on a hot summer day, note how the cab door is open to try and vent the hot cab...
Taken barely 30 seconds later than my friend's shot I snap a photo of 45134 in that infamous spot between Dawlish Warren and Dawlish, the Peak was deputising for something given the typical Western Region formation of the stock with the buffet at one end of the rake. I ventured down from the mound and snapped this shot of 43107 leading a Penzance to Paddington service, the power car had recently been repainted into the new "Executive" livery but the stock is still in the traditional BR Blue & Grey. Moments after the HST passed 47736 heads west with a Plymouth bound parcels working.
An unknown 47 passes Warren with a clay train, that was a bit longer than usual according to my records. Supposedly due to lack of availability, the 2 planned clay trains were formed into one. Another locomotive I couldn’t get the number off, A Class 37 limped into the platform on a semi-fast service bound for Taunton. It had broken down with some sort of engine fault, so it was turned off as they coasted into the platform. A rescue loco was called and that loco was… ..47484! 47484 “ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL” quickly pulls out of Warren, to make up some of the half a hour wasted sitting there, with the failed 37 DiT. The 37 was detached at Exeter.
I took my trusty Zenit to Heaton Chapel for an hour, I think the old girl is struggling now though so might need to pop in to the camera shop at Piccadilly Gardens and see if I can grab a new one... 47828 races south with a Glasgow - Poole Intercity Cross Country service 86217 speeds northbound for Piccadilly with a working from the South West, the "Can" came on at Brum, the driver was a right comedian and ducked when he saw me taking the photo... One of the new guard, a 150/2 "Sprinter" arrives in with a Hazel Grove bound stopper. Just a quick shot as I was repositioning myself further up the platform. Nearly missed this, 86627 running light engine from Trafford Park to Crewe Electric. The Sprinter from the previous shot is departing behind it. 47639 heads north on a Hertfordshire Railtours tour bound for Holyhead via Manchester, Chat Moss and Warrington. Apparently the headboard was damaged earlier in the morning by a bird strike...
Trying to be artsy and framing the BR/GMPTE emblems through the open door, the driver's door and the secondman's window... The Orange Pacer was 142009 and will soon be no doubt getting the more drab grey variation of the GMPTE livery. 142059 in the foreground was written off spectacularly at Liverpool Lime Street "not long ago"
Only have one today, popped down to Carnforth, didn’t expect this! Might need to pop down here again whilst there is still time! 47646 and another 47 crawl through Carnforth on a diverted container train via the Cumbrian Coast, due to closures between Oxenholme and Penrith. Some of the Scotland-bound expresses were also diverted through here as I’m told.
Took a short trip to Carlisle recently, got some photos for you here. 86242 “James Kennedy G.C.” basks in the morning Carlisle sun, awaiting further duties. A busy scene here! 86259 “Peter Pan” stands at Platform 3 working a CrossCountry service bound for Scotland, another CrossCountry service southbound stands.
Decided to try and do some antics between Blackpool and Preston this time. 47551 (ex-47801) was working a Sheffield to Blackpool North service (1M89 I believe) and I thought “why not chase it?” 47551 departs Preston, passing St. Walburge's Church as a southbound unknown 47 arrives. 47551 passing 47444 “University of Nottingham” on a ballast working near Salwick Friend took this, 47551 speeds through Salwick crossing over with a 142 Pacer Not a shot I’m proud of. The driver decided to do a little horn blast, and I dropped my camera as it took the photo. Wasn’t thinking about showing this one. That’s the chasing done, I heard that a Pathfinder Railtour from Bristol to Blackpool was running, I walked to a level crossing nearby my house to watch it pass by. 33xxx and 33008 “Eastleigh” charge through working 1Z33 “The North-West Coastman” Blackpool North - Bristol Temple Meads via Birmingham New Street.
With Ravensthorpe station closing a few months back for rebuilding, I had a dig through my archives to the 80s & early 90s. It's not everything as there's still a lot to dig out but hopefully these shots will do. 31184 and 312xx "thrashed" past with a short rake of empty Seacows, our unit had raced them in and just overtook them giving us time to get a quick shot from the bridge. Barely a minute after the 31s had passed these 37s thundered on by with 37508 leading. A 2 car 101 arrives with an all shacks from Manchester Victoria to Leeds circa 1984 The same 101 is ready to depart on the all shacks to Leeds. Thornhill Power Station in the background would be demolished a couple of years later with a Gas Turbine facility taking over in 1988, itself decommissioned 20 years after that. One of the "New Guard" Class 158s zooms on by, very sleek and quiet too, it caught us by surprise and barely managed this shot from the steps. Circa 1990.
Some more shots from my visits to Ravensthorpe in 1984 and 1989. A WYPTE Class 158 approaches hot, it was not stopping as it was working an express to Leeds, as these new units have digital displays I couldn't look at the rear display to see where it had been earlier but my guess would be either Manchester or Liverpool. This was a visit in 1989, same as the previous shot of the Regional Railways 158, we'd come down to have a nosey at the new power station. 47487 (I think) with 47542 head through with a rake of very tired looking hoppers. Circa August 1984. A quick turn on the steps and a spot of luck helped get me this shot of 47542, same train as previous image. 45134 sits at a red to let 40160 race by. The Peak was on an engineers working with just three wagons in tow. One more shot of the old guard, a Class 101 is ready to depart bound for Manchester. In hindsight we should have jumped on this as the next hour was pretty bleak on this trip and worse, the next Manchester bound unit that bounced into view was a Pacer...
I nearly missed these, this was from a visit in 1987. 20077 & 20108 working a Stanlow bound tanks train, note the barrier wagon, possibly introduced as a reaction to the Eccles train crash a few years earlier? Just like buses, you wait ages and three come at once. The 20s continue on in the background as 31286 brings and engineers train on by, a class 101 can be seen on the right edge of the frame arriving into the station. ten minutes after the last burst of action it happens again, 31260 comes through with a rake of hoppers. Turn and shoot, a pair of Railfreight "Red Stripe" Class 37s running light engine pass the other way... Ravensthorpe can be quite a busy location, it is just very bleak if the weather isn't so great as there are no facilities on the station nor anything nearby, sometimes it can be worth it though
