Monthly Archives: March 2012

Update 579. 46233 on The Night Owl at Stafford, 29/03/12

46233 heads for Crewe on a loaded test run from Derby, with 47760 at the rear of the train. After the boiler certificate expired in November 2010, the Duchess was taken out of service for a heavy general overhaul. It was back in steam towards the end of 2011 and had a successful main line test run 2 days before this test run.

Link to photos

It looked a fine sight approaching Stafford

Update 577. Day 2 of the SVR Spring Gala, 24/03/12

Similar day to yesterday, Kidderminster to Arley for sandwiches, then on to Highley to try & see Bittern chimney first on the teak set passing the Engine House. All the visiting locos are seen in this set of photos, but conditions were quite hazy at times. Day 3 will follow soon, with some photos from a different location…..

Link to photos

Bittern approaching Highley

Update 575. 4464 (60019) Bittern arrives at Kidderminster, 22/03/12

4464 is seen arriving at Kidderminster, having travelled from its base at Southall. After a long delay, due to the NR signalman having problems changing the points for the loco to cross to SVR tracks, it reversed off the main line. After a change of crew, the loco was moved from the exchange siding, uncoupled from support coach & turned in readiness for the Gala, which starts tomorrow.

Link to photos

4464 is seen on SVR tracks soon after arriving at Kidderminster

Update 573. 2857, 4566, 5164, 7812 & 42968 at SVR on 18th March

I haven’t done much with SVR photos in recent months, with the 2-train service it hasn’t been very exciting, but today 5 locos were in steam. Also seen were 69023 & 47406 outside the carriage shed at Kidderminster, hopefully much more will be seen of these visiting locos at the Gala this weekend.

Link to photos

7812 is seen at Arley working a charter

Update 572. 56302 & 47375 at Kings Norton, 08/03/12

56302 is a loco I had never seen, until today. It was working 6Z23 Burngullow to Burton with 47375 dead in tow. The two locos worked south earlier in the week from Burton, but these sort of workings don’t always run to schedule & by the time I knew it was running there was no time to get to Kings Norton to see it – the joys of using public transport!

Link to photos

Sun at the wrong angle, but no other shot available. Follow the link above for a better going away shot.

Update 571. Train photos around London, 11/01/12

A Chiltern Trains £1 each way ticket offer from Birmingham to London tempted me down for the day. With a travel card for the underground trains I visited Stratford, Ealing Broadway, Willesden Junction & Paddington stations. Makes a change to see different multiple unit trains & liveries down there. Not many freights were seen, but did manage to photograph 67018 & 59206 in the new DB livery. 67012 was on the train back from London, it is nice to travel in a quiet coach with no engine under the floor!

Link to photos

67018 was on the Banbury train, 67012 on the Kidderminster.

Update 570. 47727 & 47749 haul 3 Class 56 locos to Kingsbury, 01/03/12

Colas are adding some Class 56 locos to their fleet. This working was to take 3 locos from Crewe to the scrapyard at Kingsbury, then later in the day the 3 locos for the Colas fleet were to be moved from Crewe to Washwood Heath. Unfortunately, the first working was about 2 hours behind schedule and I didn’t see the later move, which was mostly in the dark. The Class 56s I saw were 56058, 56032 & 56096. Also seen are some freight trains passing through Walsall.

Link to photos

The 3 Class 56s are seen disappearing into the tunnel at Walsall