Several freights were diverted round the Dark Side & it seemed a good excuse to go down the Junction for some filming in the dark. Worth going, as I hadn’t filmed 60019 or 66596 before. The full list is as follows:-
60019
66059
66139
66140
66596
66758
67010
172212
172221
172222
Link to videos on calendar page
There was much crossing of fingers that the convoy would head to Doncaster via the Dark Side, especially as there had been a set of times for the Lickey on the previous day. Always a case of checking to see that they actually did take the Worcester line at Abbotswood Junction, which they did, following the route and times showing on RTT. Rowley was a popular station for photographers, the approaching shot wasn’t a problem, but turning round for the going away shot was not so clear.
66706 was hauling 66769, 66768, 66772, 66771, 66770, 66767 & 66766.
Link to video on calendar page
A Class 60 was on a steel train on this day, so worth a trip to film it. Also seen were DR98958 & DR98908 on the “squirts” and units 172219 & 172343.
Link to videos on calendar page
“Santa” brought me a Canon 9000F scanner. Looks like I will get further behind with all those winter tasks now, as I have been having fun learning how to use the scanner. So far I have scanned a few old slides and b&w negatives. The results from the scanner are very good, just a pity I wasn’t so good at photography in the “old” days, partly because I didn’t have a good camera and rarely looked at my photos or had them printed, so never realised what I was doing wrong. Don’t expect loads of good old photos, there may be quite a few – but not exactly “good”. Looks like there will always be a backlog of videos and now old photos to fill up any spare time I may have in future. Hey ho, never mind…….
Good old 6M56, my Monday afternoon treat. Always good to see a 37, a pair is even better!
Link to video on calendar page
68013 was booked to run light engine to Stourbridge, supposedly with a stop in Rowley loop. I headed to Smethwick to film it first, hoping then to get in front of it for a second shot, but following it in the next train I noticed Rowley loop was empty, so it had run direct to Stourbridge.
Link to video on calendar page
The weather wasn’t quite what I expected. I headed to Foley Park tunnel area to film the trains on the climb, but it was very windy & started raining, so I headed to Arley & the arboretum for a hot drink. The rain did stop & I headed for the station and on towards the lane that overlooks Victoria Bridge. The only videos from that day that I uploaded were of 43106, 92214, 34053 & 7812 at Arley station, late in the afternoon as it got dark. A very different atmosphere to what I am used to at that station, but enjoyable all the same. So, still more videos to work through at some time, but until then…..
Link to videos on calendar page
I uploaded some of the videos 3 weeks ago, but didn’t manage to work my way through all of them. My day started on the footbridge at Kidderminster & included Freightliner 70003 on an empty coal train speeding south. Locos working the specials were 2857, 7812, 34053, 43106 & my favourite – 92214 ( the visiting loco)
Later in the day I went to film the trains on the climb to Foley Park tunnel near the safari park, those videos are still to be edited & uploaded. I will get to them one day! In the meantime, if you haven’t already seen the ones uploaded…..
Link to videos on calendar page
Apart from the 2 freights hauled by the above locos, I filmed a few units & the “squirts” to test out setting manual focus. It does seem to work well and the camcorder films both distant and close up shots without major problems. MPVs DR98959 & 98909 were seen, also units 172214, 172216, 172333, 172334 & 172340.
Link to videos on calendar page
The Northern Belle was running through Bescot so I decided on a little outing to see it, followed by an hour or so at Walsall. Various trains seen, but so far I have only uploaded 3 videos – the Belle & a couple of freights. So much for catching up during the winter months!
Link to videos on calendar page
Will try & add other videos at a later date.
Right then, time to try & catch up with some of the missing update posts. Probably others I have missed, but for now I will go back to the beginning of December. A Monday evening & 68011 is booked on a couple of test runs to Stourbridge, in the dark of course. I only bothered with the first “down & up”, but also filmed a couple of 67s on Chiltern trains from London – 67010 & 67018.
Link to videos on calendar page
Looks like I’m behind with my winter projects, no updates for over 3 weeks – must try harder. Just managed to finish uploading my Christmas card, so Merry Christmas to all from Sharpo’s World:-
