This is Colin’s other main interest, railways.
DBS diesel locomotive no 66149 has just left the former Springs Branch locomotive shed near Wigan. The engine has been to the part of the site which is now a wagon repair depot and has collected two box wagons that have been repaired. To access the West Coast Main Line again to return the wagons to the yard at Arpley at Warrington for the wagons to again start earning money the train has run up onto the relatively new reversing sidings that where constructed as part of the up grade of the shed to accommodate and service northern trains passenger units and has reversed out onto the main line and is now setting off back to Warrington. The train runs on a Fridays only under headcode 6F47 and is timetabled to leave here at 12.03hrs but today it ran a bit early departing at 10.29 hrs.
Image Cw 7706 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
Three of DRS, Direct Rail services, locomotives travel northwards along the West Coast Main Line beyond at Balshaw Lane junction The front locomotive is number 37 423 which carries the name “Spirit of the Lakes”, the 22nd unnamed one is 37038 and the rear one is no 57002, named “Rail Express”. They are on a “light” engine move from the company’s depot at Crewe Gresty Bridge to its main maintaince facility at Kingmoor near Carlisle. Balshaw Lane junction is between Preston and Wigan and is where the slow lines through Euxton Balshaw Lane station rejoin the fast lines. The date is 30.6.2021 Image Cw 7668 copyright Colin Wareing
DRS diesel locomotive no 66305 crosses the Ribblehead viaduct on the Settle and Carlisle on 21.6.202. The train it is pulling is the 12.58 hrs departure from Carlisle Yard to Chirk loaded with logs for the Kronospan chipboard factory at Chirk. This train is normally pulled by a locomotive from the Colas fleet but on this occasion came from the Direct Rail Services fleet. The train was about 80 minutes late from its planned times so may be there had been a problem with the Colas loco that was planned to originally power it?
The date is 21.6.2021 Image Cw 7663 copyright Colin Wareing
Northern’s “new” flexi units arrives in a sunny Southport on 26.4.2021 The testing of these trains has restarted on the Southport to Wigan line. These are electric multiple units that have been moved up from the south of the country and been reengineered with a diesel engine added to the electrical capability of the train. The service had left Wigan Springs Branch depot at 09.48 and worked to Southport, then to Stalybridge, and back to Southport before returning to Springs Branch in Wigan. The unit is arriving in the sea side town of Southport with the Mersey travel electric units using the platforms to the left of the station. This arrival in Southport was at 10.53 Photo image Cw 7565 Copyright Colin Wareing Published in Rail Express Magazine June 2021 issue 301 on page 31
After long delays Northern’s “new” flexi trains have entered passenger carrying service on the line from and to Southport from the Manchester area. This was the first retinue earning service, the 06.17 hrs departure from Southport to Alderley Edge seen here calling at Burscough Bridge at 06.30hrs on a misty May morning. According to Real Times Trains the service arrived 29 minutes late at Alderley Edge. These are electric multiple units that have been moved up from the south of the country and been reengineered with a diesel engine added to the electrical capability of the train. Photo image Cw 7604 Copyright Colin Wareing
GBRF diesel locomotive no 66710 has left the docks at Seaforth in Liverpool as GBRF 66746 is on its way into the docks. The picture was taken from Lister Drive bridge in the east of the city on the freight only line between Edge Lane Junction and the docks at about 17.25hrs 66710 is at the head of the 17.17 train carrying bio mass wood pellets to Drax power station, running under head code 6E24. 66746 heading into the docks had come from the East Midlands gateway freight near Derby with a train of intermodal containers. The train left at 12.54hrs running under the head code of 4F62. The date is 7.5.2021 Image Cw 7590 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
The testing of the trains and the driver training has restarted on the Southport to Wigan line. These are electric multiple units that have been moved up from the south of the country and been reengineered with a diesel engine added to the electrical capability of the train. The service had left Wigan Springs Branch depot at 09.48 and worked to Southport, then to Stalybridge, and back to Southport before returning to Springs Branch in Wigan. The unit is passing the retail park that is built on the site of the former steam shed and parcels depot. This arrival in Southport was at 10.53 Photo image Cw 7564 Copyright Colin Wareing
4S38 DB Cargo diesel locomotive no 66102 is leaving the docks at Seaforth in Liverpool. The train is an intermodal one and is on the way to Mossend near Glasgow. The train is running under the head code of 4S35 and left Seaforth at 14.24. The locomotive is still in the livery of English, Welsh and Scottish railways, EWS. The date is 20.4.2021 Image Cw 7555 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
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