Monthly Archives: November 2012

Update 709. 56311 at Kings Norton, 66204, 66091 & 43062 at Small Heath, 22/11/12

The plan had been to see D1015 at Small Heath, but it ran early and I saw it pass my train just before I arrived at the station. I was stuck there for 20 minutes before the next train back to Birmingham, but was surprised to see 2 freights and the NMT. 56311 was working a train to Cardiff & once back in Birmingham I hurried from Moor Street to New Street to try & beat the 56 to Kings Norton. Surprisingly, I did arrive in time to see it.

Link to photos

56311 at Kings Norton

Update 707. 47853 & 47828 at Leamington, plus a few freights, 19/11/12

It seems many weeks since I photographed any freight trains, but the chance to see a couple of Class 47s at Leamington persuaded me to spend a few hours there. 47853 & 47828 worked the Cruise Saver to Southampton the previous day and were returning light to Crewe. A variety of freights are seen and 70005 was a new loco for me.

Link to photos

47853 & 47828 are seen passing 67015

Update 705. Trains at Coventry in 2003, including Class 86s & 87s

Following on from the photos added yesterday, I found some from Coventry taken on 31/01/2003. Apart from the Voyagers and the Class 66, everything else has changed – no HSTs or Class 321s, no electric locos & the Class 323s in different liveries. The photo quality isn’t there, but never mind.

Link to photos

Sunshine in January and a Class 87, nice.

Update 704. To Stafford, 23/01/03, when 87s & 90s still worked passenger trains

Looking through some of my older photos, I decided to upload some from 2003. Some of the Virgin London trains were still loco hauled by Class 87 & 90 electrics and HSTs were also seen. It was early days for Pendolinos & Voyagers so they were still a  novelty, and a few Class 47s were also seen. The quality of my first digital camera was not good compared with those of today, but it does make a change to see how things used to be.

Link to photos

I think my favourite photo from that day was of 47829 at Wolverhampton

Update 702. The Pannier Rambler hauled by 9600 & 7752, 03/11/12

Unfortunately all the shots show them running bunker first. I headed to Tyseley to see them return from Stratford, then to the next station at Small Heath and finally at Kidderminster. It would’ve been nice to see, or should I say hear them climbing the Lickey – but as it was totally in the dark I didn’t bother.

Link to photos

9600 & 7752 aproaching Tyseley