There were several freights diverted round the Dark Side & this was one of them. Stopped off briefly to see it on our way to Arley.

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Stopped off at Hagley to see a freight on the way over today, so was late arriving & missed the DMU. In fact I was only just in time to see 2857 arrive & 1501 was already at the platform, so no arrival shot of the Pannier.

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I didn’t think 6M56 was coming round the Dark Side today, but I’m pleased to say it did. Dull as usual down in the cutting in late afternoon, but I think I’ve worked out the best manual focus setting for this sort of shot now – certainly better than last week.

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Only a northbound train to Round Oak this morning, and I was on my way to Stourbridge anyway so worth stopping for a few minutes to see it.

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It was dull & drizzling, so focus would be a problem, so I set it to manual – but it didn’t work too well. Still, mustn’t grumble, the sound was good.

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I don’t always bother if just one freight is running, but today it was a class 60 – and not to be missed!

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I was there from about 2pm until 6.45pm. Only 1 freight in the first hour – really boring except it was 68008, so worth seeing. It gets dark early these evenings so many of the videos are in the dark, and that is when it seems busy. It was also another test of manual focus, to try & see how well I cope with dark conditions. As long as I can read the numbers from the videos when I get home, then I know what I’ve seen. Must admit, I had to search a few email postings for the numbers of the pair of Freightliner locos that passed on the far side. Still all good fun.

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List of numbers, in numerical order:-
37218
37610
66051
66068
66416
66508
66570
66571
66606
66607
66615
66723
66742
68004
86610
86622
86628
86638
90044
90046
90048
92010
92029
92043

This was a busy day, 1450 was on a charter with the Venturer dining set & D8059 was bringing the siphons & tank wagons to Arley for the Christmas Santa workings. The other extra working with 2857 was the Limited dining train, with the DMU and other two steam locos on the normal service trains. The clip of D8059 is very long, as it shows most of the shunting moves between arrival and departure – hope you don’t get bored!!

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A dry day & nothing else happening locally, so where else would I be? KC appears at the start of the video of 2857, which lasts for quite a while as I zoom in on the cab of the loco – which is working a Footplate Experience charter. The DMU and other locos are working the normal service trains.

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I didn’t see it on the railtour up the Lickey in the dark, and the railtour to Liverpool was cancelled, so my only chance to see it on the mainline was when it returned south with the support coach.  A rather nice shot from the roadbridge as the loco leaves the loop and accelerates under the bridge.

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A southbound DMU was running late and timings showed it would be at Rowley the same time as 6M56. Which side shall I go? Risk being bowled by the DMU or play safe? I decided on the latter, but the video shows I would’ve got away with it had I stayed on the other platform. Oh well, never mind.

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