Michael's Train Pix http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/ 33 rows en-gb 60 Arizona and California, September 2009 http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1759792.html A selection of my images taken on a trip to the USA during September 2009. Friday 25 September 2009: A selection of my images taken on a trip to the USA during September 2009.

Leaving Winslow Yard on 8 September 2009 with a Westbound manifest are BNSF Nos 4658, 4673, and 4720. This arid location is just a small town gaining its income from the railway and the interstate freeway which passes through. With Doyle Peak visible on the skyline, BNSF diesels No. 5292 is acting as rear-end helper to a massive Westbound manifest as it leaves Winslow on 8 September 2009. With dpus BNSF No 5292 pushing hard a Westbound intermodal train leaves Wilmslow for its run to the West on 8 September 2009. Notice the freeway running parallel on the right. A photographers nightmare. An interesting train about to plunge into cloud shadow. A Powder River Basin to Oro Grande (CA) cement works loaded coal train is departing from Winslow Yard (AZ) on 8 September 2009. BNSF diesels Nos 5293, 4530, and 7225 providing the power. Under a gloomy sky following a thunderstorm BNSF diesels Nos 4644, 5211 and 8287 take a westbou7nd manifest through Holbrook on 8 September 2009. Even in high summer the furthest west that 'AMTRAK's ''South West Chief' can be recorded is in the Holbrook, AZ, area. Here AMTRAK Nos. 64 and 133 approach Holbrook at dawn on 9 September 2009. Approaching Winslow, AZ, are BNSF Nos. 4489, 4415, 4969 and 4354 with an Eastbound stack train on 9 September 2009. The telephoto lens emphasises the undulating nature of the desert terrain in this area. Approaching Winslow, AZ, are BNSF Nos 4489, 4415, 4469 and 4354 opn the point of an Eastbound stack train on 9 September 2009. The arid nature of the desert in these parts is very evident. With the mountains around Flagstaff visible behind, BNSF ldiesels Nos. 7315, 4759 and 7417 power an Eastbound stack train through Winona, AZ, on 9 September 2009. BNSF Nos. 4330, 4432, and 8265 head a stack train at Winona, AZ, on 9 September 2009. Winona, AZ, is a great place to take photos with a fine view in both directions. BNSF locos Nos. 5154, 7269, 4894 and 7791 pass with an enormous train of grain hoppers heading west on 9 September 2009. Passing through the mountains west of Flagstaff, AZ, BNSF units Nos 7454, 4369 and 4077 haul a Westbound stack past Parks Road Xing, Maine, on 9 September 2009. Besides being a state on the east coast of the USA, Maine is a hamlet high in the mountains west of Flagstaff. Passing Parks Road Xing, BNSF locos Nos. 5154, 7269, 4894 and 7791 are on full power as they take a Westbound grain hoppers through the hills. Photo taken on 9 September 2009. After a heavy thunderstorm Grand Canyon Railway F40 No. 295 with 'B' unit No. 6860 tucked inside arriver back at Williams with another load of tourists from the Grand Canyon rim on 9 September 2009. The telephoto lens emphasises the power of BNSF units Nos 7565, 7591, 5321 and 5356 at Maine,AZ, on 10 September 2009. I was taken by the reflected light on the side of the containers of this Eastbound stack train recorded west of Flagstaff, AZ, on 10 September 2009. Traction was being provided by BNSF diesels Nos. 7565, 7591, 5321 and 5356. Just west of Flagstaff, AZ, at Parks Road Xing, BNSF Nos. 4437, 4500 and 4510 head a manifest to Phoenix which will take the 'Peavine Route' at Williams Junction. Photo taken on 10 September 2009. Approaching Parks Road Xing, Maine, AZ, are BNSF nOS 4994, 4093 and 4194 with an Eastbound stack train on 10 September 2009. On the 'Peavine Route' BNSF Nos. 4437, 4500 and 4510 take a Phoenix bound manifest past Cruice Stn , south of Ash Fork, on 10 September 2009. The leading loco has the faded paintwork synominous with the batch constructed in Mexico. Traversing 'The Peavine'towards Phoenix are BNSF Nos. 4437, 4500 and 4510 recorded passing Cruice Station AZ, deep in Indian country on 10 September 2009. BNSF diesels Nos. 1116, 5136 and 4589 take a heavy westbound intermodal thgrough Crookton, AZ, on 9 September 2009 A telephoto shot of BNSF diesels Nos. 7243, 4457, 692 and 1083 taking an Eastbound intermodal train through Crookton, AZ, on 10 September 2009. Taken from the old Route 66 bridge at Crookton, CA, this photo depicts BNSF locos Nos. 7243, 4457, 692 and 1083 with an intermodal train heading east on 10 September 2009. These BNSF diesels, Nos. 4632, 4005 and 4065 are acting as rear-end helpers on a grain train of massive proportions. Photo taken at Crookton, AZ, on 10 September 2009. BNSF locomotives Nos. 7261, 1038, 4059, 7404, 4789, 5363, 5235 and NS9807 TAKE AN e3Astbound manifest through Crookton, AZ, on 10 Se[tember 2009. Threading the Arizona Desert at Crookton, BNSF units Nos. 5477, 4128 and 4750 hurry with their manifest train on 10 September 2009. A Westbound manifest passes Crookton, AZ, with BNSF locos Nos. 5477, 4128 and 4650 providing the power. Photo taken on 10 September 2009. This is the rear-end helper, BNSF No.7643 passing Crookton, AZ, on the rear of a Westbound manifest train. Photo taken on 10 September 2009. With a 'Route 66' logo on the highway bridge at Crookton, AZ, BNSF locos Nos 7542, 1027, 4582 and 4070 head west with their manifest train opn 10 September 2009. This long bare train is no match for BNSF Nos. 4061 and 5076 recorded heading west at Crookton, AZ, on 10 September 2009. The Kingman to Winslow 'local' passes Seligman with BNSF Nos 105. 8704 and 541 in charge on 10 September 2009. Threading the arid rocks of Crozier Canyon, AZ, are BNSF Nos. 4061 and 5076 at the point of a relatively light bare train on on 10 September 2009. Here I was standing on a rocky knoll high up in Crozier Canyon, AZ, as BNSF locos Nos. 5299, 7225, 4530 and 5221 approached with an Eastbound intermodal on 10 September 2009. Having had a busy morning of traffic further east I was somewhat disappointed to arrive at this scenic location during a lull in trains. In remote Arizona desert, BNSF Nos. 7574, 4491, 5077 and 4044 are at the point of a Westbound intermodal train at Hackberry Road, Az, on 10 September 2009. Late evening in Kingman Canyon, AZ, and the temperature is well over 100 F. BNSF Nos 5102 and 5438 head a lengthy Eastbound intermodal train through the canyon on 10 September 2009. Clinging to the canyon sides at Kingman, AZ, BNSF locos Nos 6615, 5038, 4566 and 4461 head an eastbound stack train on 11 September 2009. There is wealth of photographic viewpoints at all times of the day as the railroad snakes its way through the canyon. Threading the arid Kingman Canyon are BNSF diesels Nos. 7650, 4629, 5381 and 5327 with an Eastbound inermodal train on 11 September 2009. BNSF units Nos. 5276 and 4051 head a Westbound intermodal train through Kingman Canyon, AZ, on 11 September 2009. A photo depicting the extreme length of American trains. These locos, BNSF Nos. 691 and 4564 are the dpus (distributive power units) on this massive intermodal train heading west at Kingman Canyon, AZ, on 10 September 2009. With a very long train in tow, BNSF diesels Nos 4119, 5425, 7297, and 4845 weave their way through Kingman Canyon heading West on 11 September 2009. Threading the arid rocks of Kingman Canyon, AZ, are BNSF Nos. 4131, 4407, 5841, and 5131 heading an Eastbound stack train on 11 September 2009. Kingman Canyon, AZ, is a great place to photograph trains because photos can be taken at all stages of the day. BNSF machines Nos. 7512, 2843, 5183, 7266, 5426, 7442, 5313 and 5222 take an enormous Westbound manifest through the canyon on 11 September 2009. In the searing heat of the desert BNSF locos Nos. 7797, 1075, 5016, and 8213 slog up Kingman Canyon with a heavy Eastbound manifest train on 11 September 2009. Passing a level crossing in downtown Kingman, are BNSF diesels Nos. 749, 5361, 8265, and 4330 with an intermodal train heading East. Photo taken on 11 September 2009. These BNSF locos, Nos.4544 and 5491 are acting as rear end helpers (dpus) to an eastbound 124 wagon train pasing Kingman Canyon on 11 September 2009. Clinging to the side of Kingman Canyon, AZ, BNSF locos Nos.4955, 4865 and 5189 work an autorack train east on 10 September 2009. Kingman Canyon, with BNSF locos Nos 4955, 4865, and 5189 heading east with a train of autoracks. The railways of the USA pick up traffic from the Detroit area to California and return fully laden with importede vehicles from the Orient offloaded at San Francisco and Los Angeles Docks. That's good railroading! Catching the rays of the setting sun, BNSF diesels Nos.4475, 4446, 4413, 4187 and 512 thread Kingman Canyon, AZ, with an Eastbound manifest on 10 September 2009. Traffic levels in Kingman Canyon, AZ, can be high at times. On the low level line in the foreground BNSF locos Nos.4110, NS 6753, BNSF Nos. 717, 5385, 991 and 4976 head west while on the high level line beyond BNSF Nos. 4475, 4446, 4413 and 4187 head east. That makes eleven locos at the same time!. Photo taken on 11 September 2009.

Published in Michael's Train Pix

]]> Fri Sep 25 2009 Digital Images (Anglia Excepted) Part 2 http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1693316.html My original non- Anglia collection now has a hundred pictrures and is becoming unwieldy.. Time for a new one. Tuesday 5 May 2009: My original non- Anglia collection now has a hundred pictrures and is becoming unwieldy.. Time for a new one.

HST Power Cars Nos 43060 + 067 race downhill at Souldrop forming a Sheffield-St. Pancras service on 29 April 2009. 'Meridian' No. 222016 forms a St. Pancras-Derby service past Souldrop on 29 April 2009. 'Meridian' unit No.222021 passes Souldrop on 29 April 2009 with a Corby-St.Pancras service. Class 143 No.143612 forms the 14.23 Exmouth-Paignton recorded passing Starcross 0n 2 June 2009. GWT HSTs Nos. 43063 plus 43169 greet the sea at Starcross while forming the 13.06 Paddington-Plymouth on 2 June 2009. A couple soaking up the early summer sunshine at Starcross on 2 June 2009 are oblivious to both the camera and the passing of Class 159 No. 159019. The unit was forming the 14.47 Plymouth-Waterloo service. One of the Class 158 sets that were refurbished at Doncaster Wabtec for use by South West Trains, No. 159104 forms the 12.20 Waterloo-Plymouth recorded passing Starcross on 21 June 2009. Passing the tower of the one-time Brunel puiming house for the atmospheric railway at Strarcross is Cross Country HST Nos. 43303 plus 43378 forming the 13.21 Plymouth-Newcastle service of 2 June 2009. Cross Country HST No. 43303 leads the 13.21 Plymouth-Newcastle through Starcross on 2 June 2009. The leading unit No. 142030 is still in North West Trains colours as it pairs up with 142063 while forming 15.23 Exmouth-Paignton service at Starcross on 2 June 2009. Former BR Class 03 shunter No.D2133 rests at Minehead Station on 3 June 2009 after completing a shunting move with some empty coaching stock. Class 67 No. 67008 and Class 47 No.47145 outside the Wabtec premises at Docaster on 11 June 2009. EWS Class 66 No. 66069 takes a load of empty coal hoppers from Belmont Sidings destined for Immingham through Doncaster Station on 11 June 2009. Hull Trains Class 180 No.180111 forms the 09.48 from Kings Cross at Doncaster on 11 June 2009. A short train of empty bitumen tanks, 6D42 Eggborough-Lindsey, is worked through Hatfield and Stainforth by Class 60 No.60013 on 11 June 2009. Freightliner Heavy Hauil No. 66598 eases through Stainforth and Hatfield with 6E06 Bredbury-Roxby Gullet 'binliner' on 11 June 2009. Class 67 No. 67008 works light engine past Stainforth and Hatfield on 11 June 2009 destionation Immingham. Later in the day it returned, dead in train, on 6M29 Immingham-Warringtom Enterprise. A Hull - Lincoln service passes Stainforth and Hatfield on 11 June 2009 formed of Class 144 No.144008. Note the female driver - good to see in these days of equality. Class 142 'nodding donkey' No.142093 is recorded in the spotters notebooks as it leaves Doncaster Station with a service to Lincoln via Sheffield on 11 June 2009. Class 66 No.66001 takes the Barnby Dunn-Peterborough sand empties through Doncaster Station on 11 June 2009. The wagons will be tripped down to Middleton Towers the next day. HST power car No. 43306 heads the 18.07 Leeds Kings Cross at Doncaster Station on 11 June 2009. Hurrying through Doncaster non stop is NXEC Class 91 No.91110 heading the 17.00 Kings Cross-Edinburgh on 11 June 2009. HST Power Cars Nos. 43312 plus 295 provide the power for the 1705 Kings Cross-Leeds at Donmcaster on 11 June 2009. DBS Class 37s Nos 37401 plus 37670 recorded at Selside on 20 June 09 with a 'Compass' Railtour for Carlisle. Pen-yGhent broods in the background. Class 153 No.15330 is coupled ahead of a Class 158 forming the Su. 13.15 Leeds-Carlisle on 21 June 09. Photographed at Selside with Pen-y-Ghent in the background. FLR Class 66 No. 66518 passes Selside on 22 June 09 with 6M31 Ravenstruther-Ratcliffe Power Station coals. The driver of DBS Class 66 No.66047 is just about to run over the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! The working is 6S00 Clitheroe-Mossend cements recorded at Selside on 22June09. DBS Class 66 No.66047 struggles up the long drag on 22 June 09 with the heavy 6S00 Clitheroe-Mossend cement train. An unidentified Class 153 unit forming the 15.33 Lancaster-Barrow service scuttles out of Arnside on 23 June 09 and prepares to cross the River Kent estuary. DBS Class 66 No. 66182 has just cleared Ais Gill summit with 4S70 Milford-Ayr empty coal hoppers on 24 June 2009. DBS Class 66 No. 66173 heads the 4S72 Drax- Hunterston coal empties about a quarter mile from Ais Gill Summit on 25 June 2009. An unidentified Class 158 has charge of the 15.03 Carlisle - Leeds service south of Ais Gill summit on 25 June 09. Without a yellow waring panel Class 25 No. D5185 pilots Class 27 No.D5401 with the first train of the day - the 09.00 Loughborough to Leicetser North - into Quorn and Woodhouse station on the GCR on 25 July 2009. The loco and first vehicle are in full sun. Everywhere else is in full gloom! Nobody complains when this happens. Preserved Class 47 No. D1705 passes Woodthorp on 25 July 2009 with a demonstration TPO service. Making a very smoky departure from Loughborough, GCR diesels Nos D5185 plus D5401 pass Woodthorp on 25 July 2009 with a Loghboroughy-Leicester service. Evoking memories diesels on unfitted freight trains, GCR diesels Nos D5185 plus D5401 haul a rake of mineral wagons along the GCR at Woodthorp on 25 July 2009. Hauling a demonstration TPO set GCR diesels Nos D5185 plus D5401 pass Woodthorp on 25 July 2009. Virgin 'Vomiter' No. 221106 passes Old Linslade on 18 August 2009 with a morning Chester-Euston service. On hire to GBrF, 'Virgin' Class 57 No.57311 heads the 5021 09.51 Bletchley-Eastleigh empty stock move on 18 August 2009 as the ensemble passes Old Linslade. For the record the 'Silverlink' Class 321 units in the consist were Nos 321419 and 321420. FLR Class 66 No. 66591 is recorded passing Old Linslade on 18 August 2009 with an unidentified southbound service. In brand new 'London Midland' livery Class 321 No.3214111 speeds past Old Linslad on 18 August 2009 while forming a Euston-Milton Keynes Central working. DRS Class 66 No.66424 passes Old Linslade on 18 August 2009 with the Tilbury-Daventry intermodal service. Passing Old Linslade on 18 August 2009 is the New NetWork Rail measurement Train, this time surveying the slow lines. Power car N.43013 is leading with, for the record, 43062 bringing up the rear out of sight beyond the bridge. GBrF Class 66 No.66727 passes Old Linslade on 18 August 2009 with a Hams Hall-Felixstowe intermodal service. With Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium Augustiflorum) in bloom on the lineside banking, Virgin 'Vomiter' No.221111 forming a Chester-Euston service passes Old Linslade on 18 August 2009. On hire from Arriva Trains Wales Class 150 No, 150267 forms an Exmouth-Paignton service at Teignmouth on 18 August 2009. In spite of the sunny appearance the heavens opened five minutes later from a black cloud lurking behind the cliffs! On Thursday 20 August 2009 the South Devon town of Dawlish hosted its annual air fare. A number of local services were strengthened with loocos and coaches for the event. Here, Class 67 No. 67025 (with 67005 at rear) passes Starcross with an Exeter-Paignton all stations service. XC HST passing Exminster 0n 20 August 2009 forming a Plymouth-Manchester service. The rear power car was recorded as being 43384. Unfortunately the front machine was not noted. HST Power Car No. 43384 haeds north past Exminster on 20 August 2009 with a service from Plymouth The farmer has conveniently left the gate to his field open as a Cross Country 'Voyager' unit forms a service from Paignton as it passes Exminster on 20 August 2009.

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]]> Tue May 5 2009 Part 4 Essex & East Anglia (Digital Images) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1663170.html Another collection of modern traction digital images from my local area. Friday 6 March 2009: Another collection of modern traction digital images from my local area.

Framed in the branches of a very conveniently placed pine tree, NXEA CLass 317 No.317515 passes Stansted South Jct with a service from Liverpool Street to the airport on 18 April 2009. It was hard work chopping that bough off with my trusty loppers, but I think that it was worth it! Class 317 No. 317710 passes Stansted South Jct with a Liverpool Street-Stansted Airport service on 18 April 2009. Class 317 No.317714 passes Cannons Mill Lane Foootpath Crossing, Bishops Stortford, with a Stansted Airport-Liverpool Street service on 18 April 2009. Still in its blue livery NXEA Class 317 No. 317723 approaches Stansted South Jct with a service from the airport to London Liverpool Street. Balfour Beatty tamper No DR73424 makes its way up the Cambridge Main Line on 18 April 2009 destination and originating point unknown. The 6V79 Marks Tey-Hayes sand train became the responsibility of Freightliner Heavy Haul for haulage as from 6 March 2009. Here the inaugural FLHH train is seen passing Domsey Chase with 66522 (Shanks' Pony!) in charge. Crossing the 'other' bridge at Brantham-the one where nobody bothers to go-is Class 66 No.66587 at the helm of 4R97 Felixstowe-Tilbury on 16 March 2009. 'Bluebird' No 66715 hauls the Felixstowe-Hams Hall intermodal over the 'other'bridge at Manningtree on 16 March 2009. Quite why this bridge is s neglected by photographers defeats me because in my opinion it is a far superior view these days since trees obscure much of the train at the more well-known location just a few yards further south. A soft job for FLR Class 66 No. 66589. The loco has more than enough power to handle this miniscule load of two empty flats which are being delivered to Felixstowe North Terminal. Recorded passing Gaymers Lane Crossing, Trimley, on 16 March 2009. The driver looks back to ensure that his consist negotiates the crossover as 66591 gets away from Trimley with a Felixstowe North-Ipswich trip on 16 March 2009. FLR Class 66 No.66591 leaving Trimley with a Felixstowe North-Ipswich trip on 16 March 2009. Class 66 No.66722 crosses the Fens at Little Downham with a Selby-Felixstowe Intermodal on 21 March 2009. Despite the economic downturn this train lkooks to be well loaded. Providing a welcome splash of colour to the Fens is this Class 158 unit on hire from South West Trains. No.158881 forms the 08.57 Norwich-Liverpool service of 21 March 2009. The round straw bales are great folis for train photography in my opinion. HS power cars Nos 43065 plus 067 provide the power for 1A60 06.53 Sunderland-Cambridge service. Grand Central trains were being diverted to the university town during an engineering possession at Welwyn. GBrF Class 66 No.66704 heads for a possession in the Colchester area as it passes Little Downham on 21 March 2009. Now owned by Hull Trains, former First Great Western 'Adalente' unit heads across the Fens near Little Downham with 1A92 08.09 Hull-Cambridge service - diverted away from the ECML because of engineering work at Welwyn. On 21 March 2009 engineering work at Welwyn reultred in Grand Central Trains being diverted and terminated at Cambridge. Here 43067 plus 065 pass Little Downham with the 11.25 Cambridge-Sunderland return working. GBrF Class 66 No.66726 passes Little Downham on 21 March 2009 with an engineer's train from Whitemoor to Acton. Ex First Great Western 'Adalente' unit No. 180109 crosses the Fens near Little Downham with 1H04 12.15 Cambridge-Hull service on 21 March 2009. Hull trains were diverting their services to the university town on this occasion because of a blockage on the ECML at Welwyn. Class 158 No. 158864 passes Little Downham on 21 March 2009 forminmg the 11.57 Norwich to Liverpool service. Class 66s Nos 66713 plus 716 ( top 'n tailed) passing Little Downham on 21 March 2009 with an engineer's train from Whitemoor to the possession beyond Colchester. The Leeds=Felixstowe Freightliner passes Little Downham on 21 March 2009 with 66541 in charge. Hull Trains 'Pioneer' unit No.222104 brings some variety to the Fens as it passes near Little Downham with 1A94 Hull-Cambridge service on 21 March 2009. The green 'un and the pink 'un! No, not sports news papers but disparate liveried Class 158s! agareen No. 158788 heads pink 158810 past Little Downham on 21 March 2009 while forming the 14.50 Norwich to Liverpool service. East Midlands Trains Class170 No 170103 passes Hinxton Crossing with a Birmingham New Street-Stansted Airport service on 24 March 2009. NXEA Class317 No. 317658 passes Hinxton Crossing with a Liverpool Street-Cambridge service on 24 March 2009. The 5G96 empty stock train from Ilford-Crown Point on Mondays is worth keeping an eye on. Clas 90 No.90014 had only two coaches in tow when it pased Kelvedon on 30 March 2009 with this train. Class 86s Nos 86604 plus 639 head towards the capital with 4M81 Felixstowe-Ditton service near Kelvedon on 30 March 2009. Cotswold Rail 'Thunderbird' No.47813 has rescued a Norwich set at Liverpool Street on 30 March 2009 and is recorded threading the Essex countryside near Kelvedon on 30 March 2009. Clas 66 No.66504 passes close to Kelvedon on 30 March 2009 in charge of 4M81 Felixstowe-Crewe service on 30 March 2009. FLR Class90 No.90041 passes near Kelvedon with 4L41 Ditton-Felixstowe on 30 March 2009. The Networkrail 'Eurailscout' train passes nea Kelvedon on the up road on 30 March 2009. Ex Works Class 90 No. 90008 passes Kelvedon on 30 March 2009 with the 11.00 Norwich-Liverpool Street of 30 March 2009. DBS Class66 No. 66169 passing near Kelvedon wiyh the Trafford Park-Harwich/Felixstowe Intermodal on 30 March 2009. NXEA Class 360 No.360115 paes nea to Kelvedon on 1April 2009 with a Harwich Town-Liverpool Street service on 1 April 2009. I think that this might have been 6V79 Marks Tey-Hayes sand train. With ex National Power hoppers in tow EWS Class 66 No.66250 pases Kelvedon 0n 1 April 2009. NXEA Class 90 No. 90008 has the 10.00 Norwich-Liverpool Street in tow as it passes Kelvedon on 1 April 2009. Freightliner Class 90 No 90046 passes a footpath crosing near Kelvedon on 1 April 2009 while in charge of 4R97 Felixstowe-Tilbury on 1 April 2009. It is astounding how a bit of spring sunshine makes trains look better! NXEA Class 90 No. 90006 passes Kelvedon with the 11.00 Norwich-Liverpool Street on 1 April 2009. Looking good in the spring sunshine, GBrF Class 66 No.66727 passes Kelvedon in charge of the Felixstowe-Hams Hall intermodal on 1 April 2009. On 16 March 2009 GBrF added two more intermodal services on its Felixstowe-Hams Hall axis. Here, one of them, is hauled through Ipswich on 7 Aprilo 2009 with 66714 at the helm of 4M04. Hinxton Crossing in Cambridgeshire is a quiet spot to reord trains traversing the West Anglia route. Locomotive hauled trains, however, can be a bit sparse and photographers have to put up with a diet of mainly passenger trains. Class 170 No. 170508 passed the crossing on 8 April 2009 with a Stansted Airport-Birmingham New Street service. I find taking good photos in dull weather challenging. I think that this one just about works. Class 90 No.90044 passes near Kelvedon with 4M88 Felixstowe-Crewe Freightliner on 16 April 2009. GBrF Class 66 No.66712 has just passed Kelvedon at the head of 4E33 Felixstowe-Hams Hall Intermodal on 16 April 2009. DB Class 66 No.66192 approaches Kelvedon with a Trafford Park-Harwich/Felixstowe intermodal on 16 April 2009. A Liverpool Street-Stansted Airport service passes Stansted Mountfitchet on 18 April formed of Class 317 No.317708. Class 317 No.317892 forms a Liverpool Street-Stansted Airport working at Stansted Moiuntfitchet on 18 April 2009. A Liverpool Street-Stansted Airport service passes Stansted Mountfitchet formed of Class 317 No. 317709 on 18 April 2009. Diverted from its normal route, Class 66 No.66536 has charge of the 4L89 Freightliner from Coatbridge to Felixstowe as it passes Stansted Mountfitchet on 18 April 2009. NATEX Class 317 No.317706 passes Stansted South Junction with a train to Stansted Airport from Liverpool Street on 18 April 2009.

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]]> Fri Mar 6 2009 A Last Breakfast on NXEA http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1646589.html On Thursday 29 January 2009 I went with three friends to sample 'The Great British Breakfast' on offer by NXEA in their restaurant cars. This feast of a breakfast is served 'at seat' and we had heard that the facility was to be withdrawn the following day. We caught the 09.00 from Liverpool Street to Norwich at Colchester (traction provided by 90012) and we certainly enjoyed a magnificent start to our day. By chance we timed our visit admirably because the chef of the day, John Smith, was completing his final shift ever and ours were the last four breakfasts that he prepared before finishing his career and retiring. They were superb, John, a testament to your skills. Thank you, enjoy your retirement. Here are a few photographs from the trip. Sunday 1 February 2009: On Thursday 29 January 2009 I went with three friends to sample 'The Great British Breakfast' on offer by NXEA in their restaurant cars. This feast of a breakfast is served 'at seat' and we had heard that the facility was to be withdrawn the following day. We caught the 09.00 from Liverpool Street to Norwich at Colchester (traction provided by 90012) and we certainly enjoyed a magnificent start to our day. By chance we timed our visit admirably because the chef of the day, John Smith, was completing his final shift ever and ours were the last four breakfasts that he prepared before finishing his career and retiring. They were superb, John, a testament to your skills. Thank you, enjoy your retirement. Here are a few photographs from the trip.

This looks good. JD gets started. GH looks pleased with himself as he starts his orange juice. JY toasts the start of the day with his orange juice. First things first! The gripper checks our tickets! Here you are sir! Waitress Emma Walker serves JD his breakfast. Now where do I start? The black pudding or the sausages first? JD loves his cups of tea too. Chef of the day, John Smith, came out of the kitchen to greet us having cooked his last four breakfasts EVER before retiring. Oh dear! JY turns a whiter shade of pale as he gets his bill! Thinks.....I wonder if he is a 'Procul Harum' fan? The kitchen team in their 'galley'. Chef John Smith looks pleased with himself after just finishing cooking his last four 'Great British Breakfasts'. If any of them would like to contact me they are welcome to a copy of this picture.

Published in Michael's Train Pix

]]> Sun Feb 1 2009 London Trains(Digital) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1628131.html To complement my 'London Trains' scanned slides collection I am going to slowly assemble a collection of digital pictures of trains around the Greater London area. There is a fantastic variety of trains to go out for around the London area. Stay tuned for future uploads! Monday 22 December 2008: To complement my 'London Trains' scanned slides collection I am going to slowly assemble a collection of digital pictures of trains around the Greater London area. There is a fantastic variety of trains to go out for around the London area. Stay tuned for future uploads!

In steam days Bethnal Grreen Bank was a stern challenge for any train that was leaving Liverpool Street. Class 315 No 315852 is just breasting the summit on 20 December 2008 with a Chingford service. In NXEA livery, Class 317 N.317709 forms a working to the capital from Stansted Airport at Hackney Downs on 20 December 2008. Meanwhile, simlarly liveried 317508 passes on a Cambridge service. A Liverpool Street-Hertford East service approaches Hackney Downs on 20 December 2008 formed by Class 317 No.317887. Class 315 No. 315840 pauses at Hackney Downs Platform 1 with a Chingford-Liverpool Street service on 20 December 2008. Getting away from its stop at Tottenham Hale, Class 317 No.317729 forms an airport service on 20 December 2008. NXEA Class 317 No. 317666 approaches Tottenham Hale station on 20 December 2008 while forming a Liverpool Street-Cambridge service on this busy line. Class 317 No.317656 slows for the Tottenham Hale stop while forming a service from Cambridge to Liverpool Street on 20 December 2008. Suburban EMU, Class 315 No. 315819 calls at Hackney Downs station on 20 December 2008 with an Enfield Town - Liverpool Street service. Up and Down Cambridge services passing south of Hackney Downs on 20 December 2008. On the left 317510 and on the right 317501. Class 315 No.315508 pauses at Hackney Downs station on 20 December 2008 with a service from Enfield. The chap on the left, despite successfully balancing a station awning on his head, was obviously 'on something' and looked threatening. So I hastily gathered my belongings and made a bolt for it. Such are the hazards of using expensive photographic gear alone in inner-city areas! Not many 'Western' Class diesels have worked on Bethnal Green Bank! On 20 December 2008 No.D1015 made a fine sight at the helm of a 'Pathfinder' special from Swindon to Great Yarmouth via Liverpool Street. The sound of the twin Maybach engines working hard was a pleasure to hear. Memories! The Class 317s are somewhat ubiquitous on Cambridge line services these days. Here No. 317666 approaches Hackney Downs with a Liverpool Street-Cambridge service on 20 December 2008. It is 20 December 2008 and the Christmas rush to Stansted Airport has just begun. Passengers laden with baggage rush to jopin Class 317 No.317729 on an airport train at Tottenham Hale. 'Stansted Expess' Class 317 No.317729 approaches Tottenham Hale with a service from Liverpool Street to the airport on 20 December 2008. Sporting its distinctive livery to good effect, unique Class 317/7 No. 317729 passes Hackney Downs station with a Stansted Airport-Liverpool Street service on 20 December 2008.

Published in Michael's Train Pix

]]> Mon Dec 22 2008 Transys Clacton Depot http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1625049.html On Friday 12 December 2008 I was privileged to be allowed to attend a small ceremony at the Transys Clacton train facility. It marked the completion of a project to 'refresh' the entire fleet of Cross-Country Clas 170 dmus. The final two units were present in the depot with 170110 finished and about to be released into traffic later that day. My thanks are extended to Cross Country Trains, Transys Projects and Porterbrook Train Leasing for their hospitality on the day. The complimentary fish and chips were excellent! Monday 15 December 2008: On Friday 12 December 2008 I was privileged to be allowed to attend a small ceremony at the Transys Clacton train facility. It marked the completion of a project to 'refresh' the entire fleet of Cross-Country Clas 170 dmus. The final two units were present in the depot with 170110 finished and about to be released into traffic later that day. My thanks are extended to Cross Country Trains, Transys Projects and Porterbrook Train Leasing for their hospitality on the day. The complimentary fish and chips were excellent!

Driver's position, 170110. Clacton 12 December 2008. 170110 Driver's cab, right hand side. 170110 driving cab. Driver's side. Refreshed interior of Class 170 No.170110 This is where the buffet used to be. 170110 refreshed interior. 170110 refreshed 2nd class interior 170110 refreshed 2ns class interior. Disabled Toilet 170110. Class 170s Nos 170116 and 110. Clacton Depot 12 December 2008. The last two Cross Country Trains Class 170s to be refreshed at Clacton Depot. 170110 (right) 170116 (left) Class 170 No.170116. Clacton Depot 12 December 2008. The Transys production team stand proud with their Managing Director, Porterbrook management and Cross Country Trains management at Clacton Depot. The last two Cross-Country dmus to be refreshed at the depot for Cross Country Trains are on view in the background.

Published in Michael's Train Pix

]]> Mon Dec 15 2008 A Lazy Day at Cossington http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1582992.html After almost three weeks without any significant sunshine in Essex, a good forecast for Friday 19 September 2008 tempted me to do a longish daytrip to the Midlands. Having driven from Colchester to Cossington (near Sileby in Leicestershire) I was in no mood to chase about. So I stayed where I was and let the trains come to me. And a good variety there was, too, despite the stone traffic being at a low ebb because, presumably, of the onset of the recession. Here is a sample of what was on offer. For once the weather forecast was more-or-less spot on. Monday 22 September 2008: After almost three weeks without any significant sunshine in Essex, a good forecast for Friday 19 September 2008 tempted me to do a longish daytrip to the Midlands. Having driven from Colchester to Cossington (near Sileby in Leicestershire) I was in no mood to chase about. So I stayed where I was and let the trains come to me. And a good variety there was, too, despite the stone traffic being at a low ebb because, presumably, of the onset of the recession. Here is a sample of what was on offer. For once the weather forecast was more-or-less spot on.

An HST rushes south at Humble Lane Bridge, Cossington, on 19 September 2008 forming an express to St. Pancras. EMT 'Meridian' unit No.222003 heads south with a St. Pancras express at Cossington on 19 September 2008 EWS Class 60 No.60002 has a heavy load of steel coil which is forming the 6M96 Margam-Corby train. Cossington 19 September 2008. 'Pride of Acton', EWS Class 66 No.60100 has a couple of cranes in the consist of 7D42 Forders-Toton at Cossington on 19 September 2008. EWS Class 66 No. 66088 heads the 6M70 12.37 Chesteton Junction-Mountsorrel stone empties past Cossington on 19 September 2008. EWS Class 66 No.66121 is in charge of 6E33 14.48 Mountsorrel-Peterborough pastCossington on 19 September 2008. The train will be worked forward to one of the East Anglian stone terminals the following (Saturday) morning. EWS Class 66 No. 66184 passes Cossington with 6F71 Toton-Stud Farm stone train. Meanwhile 'Pioneer' unit No.222005 heads north with a train from St. Pancras. 19 September 2008. EWS Class 66 No. 66193 heads for the west with 6V59 10.32 Mountsorrel-Westbury train of loaded JNAs at Cossington on 19 September 2008. 'Fastline' Class 66 No. 66305 heads the 6D06 Daw Mill-Ratcliff Power Station load of coal past Cossington on 19 September 2008. Freightliner Heavy Haul Class 66 No.66608 heads 6M23 Doncaster-Mountsorrel train of stone empties past Cossington on 19 September 2008. GBrF Class 66 No.66707 heads the 6T78 Whitemoor-Toton train composed of empty JNA s past Cossington on 19 September 2008. Heading back to Whitemoor, Class 66/7 No. 66707 is photographed the second time on the same day heading 6T79 JNA fulls from Toton. A very clean GBrF Class 66/7 in the shape of No.66721 heads south at Cossington on 4E80 13.15 Hochley Hill-West Burton gypsum empties on 19 September 2008. This train will reverse at Leicester before heading back down the Midland Main Line to reach its destination. 'Meridian' Class 222 No. 22200 heads north at Cossington on 19 September with a down express from St. Pancras. Another shot of 60002, this time with a shorter focal length lens, as it ambles south at Cossington on 19 September 2008. The working was 6M96 05.48 Mrgam-Corby train of steel coil. The last picture of the day. Class 60 No.60045 passed Cossington at the head of 7L15 18.00 Toton-Whitemoor on 18 September 2008. EWS Class 60 No.60045 approaches Cossington with 7L15 Toton-Whitemoor on 19 Sepember 2008. 'Fastline' Class 66/3 No 66304 heads 6D00 07.28 Daw Mill Colliery-Ratcliff Power Station coal haul through Cossington on 19 September 2008. 'Fastline' Class 66/3 o.66305 passes Cossington with 6D06 15.46 Daw Mill Colliery-Ratcliff Power Station coal haul on 19 September 2008. FLHH Class 66 No.66608 at the head of 6M23 12.57 Doncaster- Mountsorrel stone train passes Cossingon on 19 September 2008. The train had reversed at Leicester to gain access to the quarry sidings at Mountsorrel. Glimpsed through the lineside trees at Cossington EMT Class 156 No.156406 forms a Lincoln-Leicester service on 19 September 2008. EMT Class 156 No.15641 forms a Leicester-Lincoln service and passes Cossington on 19 September 2008. A sranger in the shape of former TPX Class 158 No.158770 forming a Lincoln-Leicester service passingCossington on 19 September 2008. EMT 'Meridian' unit No. 222003 forms a St. Pancras-Derby express past Cossington on 19 September 2008. 222006 heads south at Cossington with an express for London on 19 September 2008. 'Meridian' unit No. 222014 has just passed a freight train at Cossington during its journey north on 19 September 2008. Heading south to London, EMT Class 222 No. 222022 crosses 222007 'City of Derby' in the old livery at Cossington on 19 September 2008. EMT Class 222 No.222022 heads north with an express from St. Pancras at Cossington on 19 September 2008. HST pwer cars Nos 43045 plus 430-46 form the traction for this St. Pancras express recorded at Cossington on 19 September 2008. In the background EMT Class 156 No.156411 can be seen forming a Leicester-Lincoln local train. Power car Nos 43075 plus 43073 provide the traction for a St. Pancras bound express recorded at Humble Lane Bridge, Cossington, on 19 September 2008. Unusually on the down main, 'Fastline' Class 66/3 No.66301 provides the power for 6D03 Daw Mill Colliery-Ratcliff Power Station coal train at Humble Lane Bridge, Cossington, on 19 September 2008. GBrF Class 66/7 No.66707 passes Cossington on 19 September 2008 while heading the 6T38 11.30 Whitemoor-Toton service. An up HST roars along the Midland Main Line at Cossington while forming an express to St. Pancras on 19 September 2008. In oriinal livery 'Meridian' unit No.22207 heads past Cossington with a Nottingham-St. Pancras service at Humble Lane Bridge, Cossinngton on 19 September 2008.

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]]> Mon Sep 22 2008 Variety at Newport http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1558123.html August 2008 and a day trip to Newport, South Wales, from my home in Essex. A rail fare of just over twenty pounds (using my senior railcard) represented outstanding value and what a variety of traction and liveries on view! Booked on-line with NatEx East Coast to get a 10% on-line booking discount for great gricing entertainment. On the day, First Great Western excelled themselves, too, modifying my ticket validity when trespassers on the line disrupted train services and disabled a booked connection. Here are a few pictures from the excursion. Friday 8 August 2008: August 2008 and a day trip to Newport, South Wales, from my home in Essex. A rail fare of just over twenty pounds (using my senior railcard) represented outstanding value and what a variety of traction and liveries on view! Booked on-line with NatEx East Coast to get a 10% on-line booking discount for great gricing entertainment. On the day, First Great Western excelled themselves, too, modifying my ticket validity when trespassers on the line disrupted train services and disabled a booked connection. Here are a few pictures from the excursion.

Class 143621 and 620 form the 2U18 13.07 Taunton-Cardiff service at Newport on 6 August 2008. 'Nodding Donkey' No.142083 forming the 2C55 11.45 Cheltenham-Maesteg service. Newport 6 August 2008. Running nearly two hours late, Class 09 No.09017 takes the 8F05 14.02 Llanwern-Newport Docks trip freight to Alexendar Dock Junction at Newport on 6 August 2008. First Great Western HST, power car No.43032 leading, slows for the stop at Newport with the 1B31 12.15 Paddington-Cardiff service on 6 August 2008. HST power car No.43129 leads 1B28 11.45 Paddington-Swansea express into Newport Station on 6 August 2008. The driver of HST power car No.43152 is a bit camera shy as he accelerates away from the Newport stop with his 1B42 14.15 Paddington-Cardiff train on 6 August 2008. Class 60 No.60052 takes 6V07 13.21 Round Oak-Margam through the centre roads at Newport on 6 August 2008. Centre of attention on the down through road. Class 60 No. 60029 takes the 6H28 Llanwern-Margam freight through Newport on 6 August 2008. Class 60 No.60085 takes 6B33 13.33 Theale-Robeston empty oil tankers through Newport on 6 August 2008. EWS Class 66 No.66015 takes 6W85 16.45 Filton Abbey Wood-Alexander Dock Junction autoballasters through Newport Station on 6 August 2008. Class 66 No.66016 threads the down through road at Newport Station on 6 August 2008 with 6H26 Llanwern-Margam freight. EWS Class 66 No.66063 has a rake of JNAs in tow as it heads east through Newport on 6 August 2008. EWS Class 66 No.66118 hauls 6B64 Didcot-Wentloog intermodal through Newport Station on 6 August 2008. EWS Class 66 No 66143 takes a load of rails ( 6M82 18.25 Alexander Dock Junction-Crewe Basford Hall) through Newport station on 6 August 2008. Class 66 No. 66149 passes Newport on the up through road with 6C89 Alexander Dock Junction-Tavistock Junction box wagons on 6 August 2008. EWS Class 66 No. 66186 heads west through Newport Station with 6W84 Filton Abbey Wood-Alexander Dock Junction autoballasters on 6 August 2008. EWS Class 66 No. 66213 heads 6C02 Bristol East Dock- Alexander Dock Junction freight through Newport Station on 6 August 2008. 142083 forming a Worcester-Maesteg service at Newport on 6 August 2008. One of the local trainspotters watches Class 143 No.143603 depart from Newport with the 2U23 15.15 Taunton-Cardiff service on 6 August 2008. I remember these Class 143 units when they worked solely services in the North East. No. 143617 prepares to leave Newport with the 2U16 12.07 Taunton-Cardiff service on 6 August 2008. Class 150 No. 150121 (formerly used by Silverlink) enters Newport station with train 2C85 17.00 from Cardiff to Bristol Temple Meads on 6 August 2008. Arriva Class 150 No.150213 forms a service to Cardiff Central at Newport on 6 August 2008. Class 150 No. 150260 forms the 2L59 13.45 Cheltenham-Maesteg train at Newport on 6 August 2008. 'Arriva' Class 158 No.158835 forming the 1V55 service from Holyhead to Cardiff at Newport on 6 August 2008. First Great Western Class 158 No.158950 forms the 1F16 11.22 Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff service at Newport on 6 August 2008. First Great Western 3-car Class 158 No.158956 calls at Newport on 6 August 2008 while forming the 1F14 10.22 Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff Central working. Class 158 No.158956 forms the 1F14 10.22 Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff service at Newport on 6 August 2008. Central Trains Class 170 No.170107 forms the 1V23 11.00 Nottingham-Cardiff service at Newport on 6 August 2008. 'Coradia' unit No.175008 forming the 10.34 Manchester Piccadilly-Milford Haven train calls at Newport on 6 August 2008. 'Coradia' unit No.175111 forming the 1V82 13.34 Manchester Piccadilly-Carmarthen working calls at Newport on 6 August 2008. 'Coradia' unit No.175111 with the 1V82 13.34 service from Manchester Piccadilly to Carmarthen at Newport on 6 August 2008. Class 170 No.170107 forms the 1V23 11.00 Nottingham-Cardiff train at Newport on 6 August 2008. On the left, Class 142 No 142083 forms the 2L55 11.45 Cheltenham-Maesteg service while, on the right, EWS Class 66 No 66016 passes with 6H26 13.30 Llanwern-Margam steel train at Newport on 6 August 2008. I was somewhat surprised to see tubs at Newport. Class 66 No.66070 passes the station with 6F53 14.00 Newport Docks-Uskmouth Power Station MGR train on 6 August 2008. This must, surely, be one of the shortest MGR workings in the country. FLR Class 66 No. 66566 passes Newport on 6 August 2008 with 6Z61 12.14 Alexander Dock Junction-Crewe Basford Hall autoballaster on 6 August 2008. Class 143 No.143603 ready to depart Newport forming the 2U23 15.15 Taunton-Cardiff service. In the background a former Midland Class 170 units takes off for Nottingham with a Cross Country service from Cardiff. Former 'Silver;ink' Class 150 No.150121 forms 2C85 17.00 Cardiff-Bristol Temple Meads service at Newport on 6 August 2008. 'Coradia' Class 170 No.175004 pauses at Newport on 6 August 2008 with a Manchester Piccadilly-Carmarthen service. I like to include the public in my station shots and there are plenty of people on view here. Class 175 'Cotadia' unit No 175105 forms 1W92 17.30 cARDIFF-mANCHESTER SERVICE ON 6 aUGUST 2008. EWS Class 60 No.60052 pounds through on the centre road at Newport heading 6V07 Round Oak-Margam train on 6 August 2008. EWS Class 66 No.66096 passes slowly through Newport Station on 6 August 2008 with 6B66 Portbury-Aberthaw coal haul on 6 August 2008.

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]]> Fri Aug 8 2008 Part 3 Essex and East Anglia (Digital Images) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1554882.html The third collection of digital images from my local area. Saturday 2 August 2008: The third collection of digital images from my local area.

Still showing its former 'Transrail' livery, Class 60 No 60082 passes Silt Drove, March, with a stone empties from Bury St Edmunds to Stud Farm. With Weybourne windmill visible on the horizon, Class 47 N.47367 heads for Holt with a train from Sheringham. The first Freightliner Class 66, No.66501, takes an Ipswich-Felixstowe trip over Gimston Lane Crossing, Trimley on 19 July 2007. DRS Class 57 No. 57009 (with 57011 on the rear) wait in Cambridge station yard with the RHTT to Norwich on 8 October 2007. On the right GbRf Class 66/7 No. 66712 waits to proceed to Ipswich via Dullingham having been diverted from its normal path by the bridge collapse at Soham. DRS Class 20 No. 20312 (with 20313 on the rear) waits for the road at Witham Down Goods Loop (signal L779) on 12 October 2007 while working 3S60 Shenfield-Clacton RHTT. Class 360 No.360106 formimg the 13.00 to Liverpool Street photographed just outside Clacton Station from the cab of DRS Class 20 No 20315 on 13 October 2007. DRS Class 57 No 57011 ( with 57009 on the rear) wait to work 3S61 RHTT to Clacton from Shenfield Down Loop on 15 October 2007. Meanwhile, Class 360 No.360117 passes with a Liverpool Street-Clacton service which the RHTT will follow. DRS Class 57s Nos 57011 and 57009 had failed at the top of Belstead Bank and we had managed to 'freewheel' as far as Manningtree North Curve. A class 90 on a Felixstowe-Crewe service can be seen in the background. Photo dated 17 October 2007. DRS Class 37 No.37038 explodes into life at Stowmarket before working 3S60 RHTT to Shenfield on 18 October 2007. For the record, Class 57 No.57009 was the loco at the rear. DRS Class 37 No.37038 (with 57009 at rear) photographed at Shenfield Down Good Loop on 18 October 2007 before heading off to Clacton with 3S61. DRS Class 57 No. 57009 )with 37038 at rear) posed on Colchester Down Goods Loop on 18 October 2007 while working 3S61 Shenfield-Clacton EHTT. DRS driver Tony Taylor looks on enjoying his fag! DRS Class 37 No. 37038 (with 57009 at rear of train) on 3S62 Clacton-Colchester RHTT paused at Hythe Station on 18 October 2007. DRS Driver Tony Taylor enjoys a smoke while waiting in the autumnal sunshine. FLR Class 66 No.66578 approaches Shenfield on the up main with the Felixstowe-Tilbury service on 19 October 2007. Meanwhile DRS Class 20 No. 20306 waits for the road onto the down main from the down goods loop with 3S61 RHTT to Clacton. DRS Class 20 No.20308 halted at signals at Hythe Station, Essex, while working 3S62 RHTT Clacton- Colchester on 19 October 2007. DRS driver Danny Hirtle dismounts from Class 20 No.20315 at Clacton buffer stops having worked 3S61 RHTT from Shenfield on 20 October 2007. DRS driver Tony Course was delighted to start his shift on 16 November 2007 because he was rostered to drive the new to DRS ex EPS Class 37 No.37601. Class 37s Nos 37601 plus 603 working the RHTT train from Stowmarket to Shenfield recorded at Marks Tey up loop on 16 November 2007. EPS Class 37s Nos 37601 and 37603 had been acquired by DRS just days befoe the pair were recorded at Clacton on the RHTT train to Stowmarket on 16 November 2007. 'One' Class 90 No.90010 approaches Colchester heading the 13.00 from Norwich on 16 November 2006. Photo taken through the centre cab window of 37601 which was turning at Colchester while operating 3S65 Clacton-Stowmarket RHTT. Shenfield down loop 28 November 2007. DRS Class 37 No.37667 (with57009 at rear) prepares to leave with 3S61 RHTT train to Clacton which departed at 11.18 precisely. A busy scene recorded at Shenfield Down Goods Loop as workers on the track ignore a Class 90 hauled up Norwich express as it rushes past them. The picture was taken from the cab of Class 37 No.37603 which was at the head of 3S62 RHTT train to Clacton on this day. Sadly these white liveried Class 170/3s have now been painted in Cross Country colours. 170397 passes Horsemoor, March, with a train from Stansted Airport to Birmingham. Freightliner Class 90 No.90042 crosses the tidal River Stour at Manningtree with 4M88 Felixstowe-Crewe service on 4 February 2008. NXEA Class 90 No.90015 passes Kelvedon on 19 November 2008 in charge of the 09.30 Norwich-Liverpool Street. Former Trans Pennine Class 158 No 158770 makes up a Norwich-Liverpool service at Ely on 1 August 2008. Norwich station 1 August 2008. BT Police were everywhere. I'm nosey, so I asked why! They were having one of their periodic drug swoops with sniffer dogs. I thought they made an interesting picture, so I took this one. Class 158 No.158865 has just arrived on the 10.52 from Liverpool Lime Street. The new white cab roof can be seen on Class 66 No. 66177 passing Bield Drove Crossing on 15 August 2008 with 6E88 Middleton Towers-Peterborough Yards train of WBB minerals hoppers containing sand. On hire SWT Class 158 No. 158882 approaches Bield Drove on 15 August 2008 forming the 15.52 Ely-Liverpool Lime Street train. East Midlans Norwich line services were terminating at Ely during this week because of an engineering block. EWS Class 66 No. 66065 passes Bield Drove on 15 August 2008 with a Stud Farm-Marks Tey train of empty box wagons. FLR Heavy Haul Class 66/5 No. 66524 passes through the Fens near Chettisham with 6M19 Barham-Dowlow stone empties on 15 August 2008. 'Barbie'liveried Class 66/7 No. 66723 heads a Chesterton Jct-Whitemoor train of spent ballast empties past Bield Drove on 15 August 2008. GbRf Class 66 No. 66723 passes Bield Drove on 15 August 2008 with a Whitemoor-Chesterton Junction train of spent ballast. Typical Fenland scenery at Bield Drove Crossing. NatEx Class 170 No. 170207 passes with the 15.47 service from Peterborough to Ipswich on 15 August 2008. Cross Country Class 170 No.1700397 passes Bield Drove, Ely, on 15 August 2008 with the 13.25 service from Stansted Airport to Birmingham New Street. FLR Class 90 No.90049 conveys NatEx Class 90 No.90006 dit passing near Kelvedon with 4M88 Felixstowe-Crewe on 1 September 2008. Class 153 No.153322 crosses Chappel Viaduct forming the 15.00 service from Sudbury to Marks Tey on Saturday 30 August 2008. NXEA Class 170 No.170201 forming the 09.38 Liverpool Street-Lowestoft passes a public crossing just north of Hannover Bridge, Kelvedon, on 18 September 2008. FLR Class 66/5 No. 66567 approaches the public foot crossing just north of Hannover Bridge, Kelvedon, with a Felixstowe-Ditton service on 18 September 2008. DRS Class 37 No.37423 is seen at Colchester North on 25 September 2008 propelling the inspection saloon 'Caroline'. It did a mini-tour of the southern part of East Anglia, starting at Liverpool Street nd going t Thorpe-le-Soken and then back to the capital via Colchster Town and Southend Victoria. I love trainspotters! They can be relied upon to look at the train. This group at Colchester on 25 September were thrilled to see FLR Class 66/5 No.66571 come stroming through the station in charge of 4M81 Felixstowe-Ditton. Is that the redoubtable Mr. Tibble on the left? More trainspotters! The pair on the right were practically ejaculating in their own trousers as NXEA Class 90 No. 90015 passed Colchester at the head of an express from Norwich to the capital. 'Thunderbird' Cotswold Rail Class 47 No.47813 stabled in its usual strategic place at Colchester on 25 September 2008. The plants in the foreground make this windy Essex station look almost tropical! DRS Class 37 No.37194 cautiously approaches Stowmarket with 6Z60 10.20 York Works-Stowmarket train of RHTT sets for the new leaf fall season. DRS driver Terry May can be seen at the controls. Photograph taken on 26 September 2008. NATX Class 90 No. 90002 sweeps towards Lancaster's Crossing, Stowmarket with the 15.00 Norwich-Liverpool Street on 26 September 2008. In the latest livery, NATX Class 90 No. 90003 passes south of Haughley Junction with the 14.30 Norwich-Liverpool Street on 26 September 2008. Class 90 No. 90005 passes the stone terminal at Barham, Suffolk, while in charge of the 12.00 Norwich-Liverpool Street on 26 September 2008. Hired in EWS Class 90 No.90036 dashes past the sone unloading terminal at Barham, Suffolk in charge of the 11.30 Norwich-Liverpool Street service on 26 September 2008. Still without its NATX stripe on the bodyside, Class 153 No. 153314 forms the 13.43 service from Cambridge to Ipswich on 26 September 2008. It was recorded about a mile south of Haughley Junction. Class 156 No. 156409 approaches Lancaster's Crossing, Stowmarket, on 26 September 2008 while forming the 14.43 service from Cambridge to Ipswich. EWS Class 66 No.66193 passes Little Downham with 6L93 Mountsorrel-Trowse stone fulls on 8 October 2008.

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]]> Sat Aug 2 2008 Part 3 Anglia Scanned Slides http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1552709.html The third part of my Anglia Scanned Slides collection. Tuesday 29 July 2008: The third part of my Anglia Scanned Slides collection.

DRS driver Tony Course got down to some serious cleaning on Class 20 No. 20312 when it visited Crown Point Depot with its RHTT train during November 2006. Although it was nearly dark I couldn't resist climbing down to get this rare shot at Berney Arms when the locos inexplicably stopped in the correct position. Class 20s Nos 20310 plus 311 at the head of a special 1Z69 RHTT from Great Yarmouth to Norwich on 24 November 2006. Class 20 No.20310 leads this pair of DRS machines through Shenfield Station with the Wembley-Leiston nuclear flask during August 1998. The guy on the left was trying to wind me up by getting in the photo, but, ironically, I think that he has actually improved it. Do you agree? Class 31 No.31411 prepares to head the 22.03 to Liverpool Street into the night from Ipswich on 19 January 1985. At the time this was the last train of the day from Ipswich to London. Class 50 No. 50017 passes Colchester with an enthusiasts special from Liverpool Street to Harwich Parkeston Quay on the occasion of the depot open day held on 26 August 1991. Sandite Unit No.302996 stabled at Colchester during January 1991 Class 58 No.58016 negotiates the Fletton Loop with a Flyash train from Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station on 3 January 1987. Class 47 No.47225 passes Bradfield, on the Harwich Branch, after a heavy overnight snowfall with a West Midlands-Harwich PQ train of loaded Cartics on 13 February 1991. Unusual visitor to Colchester Depot. Class 47 No 47145 photographed during June 1991 The crew of DRS Class 20 No. 20310 take a well-earned break in the sunshine adjacent to signal L779 in Witham down loop on 25 September 2002. Class 60 No. 60048 has a train of Class 312 in tow as it forms the 08,00 passenger special to Kings Lynn from Cambridge on 14 September 1991. Passing Laundry Lane, Cambridge. Class 40 No 40122 (D200) passes Newmarket gallops having just passed Chippenham Junction with 'The Whistler Farewell' railtour on Saturday 9 March 1985. Class 321 No.321360 threads the single line section between Harwich International and Dovercourt with a Manningtree-Harwich Town shuttle in January 1998. 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel' , Class 47 No 47484, at the head of a 'Test Coach Mentor' train at Marks Tey on 30 June 1987. Even as late as the 1990s March Depot used to be a great place to visit on a Saturday evening. Lots of locomotives would be stabled right up against the public road. Just look at this mix of Class 20s, 37s, 31s and 45s during April 1991. In those days it was quite normal to leave locomotives switched-on and ticking over all weekend! No problem with fuel prices in those times! After the diesel depot at March had closed for normal operations it was used as a base for carrying out modifications to the then new Class 60 fleet. Here, No.60001 is present on accomodation bogies during January 1992. Crewed by EWS men departmental 'Bubble' No 960011 negotiates Ipswich Station during 1998. Class 20s Nos 20904 and 20901 have just arrived at Harwich Town with the Normix Chipmans weed killing train on 18 September 1994. PTR 'The Norfolk Broadsman' of 21 June 1997 brought a rare visit of HSTs to East Anglia. Power car No 43179 passes Marks Tey with the railtour with, for the record, No 43136 on the rear. Class 86 No.86217 approaches Colchester North with the 09.30 Norwich-Liverpoo Street service on 3 December 2000. A 1Z14 Colchester-Derby 'Mentor' test train with 37698 leading the colourful ensemble passes Shepreth Branch Junction on 1 September 2004. For the record No.37114 was conveyed dead on the rear of the train. Long before the erection of overhead wires marred this location, Class 58 No.58009 makes a smoky departure from Peterborough with Fletton-Ratcliffe-on-Soar Flyash empties on 24 April 1984. Can it really be nearly 25 years ago? Tempus Fugit! The 6O50 sand train to Crawley is ready to leave Marks Tey Yard behind Class 58 No.58026 on 17 April 2001. Passing Werrington, Peterborough, with a Mountsorrel-Kennett train of stone is Class 58 No.58015 on 23 July 1994. Class 58 No.58014 descends Belstead Bank on 25 August 1999 with one wagon from Harwich to Ipswich Wagon Works. Pausing at Peterborough Station on 8 December 2000 is Class 58 No.58013 in charge of the daily Kings Cross-Ketton cement empties. Does anybody know anything about this loco? It is a 'fireless' machine and I took the photo outside the 'Carless Solvents' plant in Harwich (Parkeston Quay) on 9 May 1999. It carries the number 35. I can't seem to find any other details or history of it! 'Warship' Class No.D821 Greyhound looks very incongruous at Colchester Shed on 25 August 1991. It had just arrived for exhibition in an open day event held the next day. A scene of dereliction. With the remains of the one time Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Line in the foreground, Class 305 No.305437 awaits its last journey from Whitemoor to the cutters torch on 8 December 1985.

Published in Michael's Train Pix

]]> Tue Jul 29 2008 Spanish Railways http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1498551.html In April 2008 I visited sunny Spain. I found a superb line close to where I was staying which was both scenic and with good traffic levels. Here are some of my photos from this trip. Thursday 24 April 2008: In April 2008 I visited sunny Spain. I found a superb line close to where I was staying which was both scenic and with good traffic levels. Here are some of my photos from this trip.

There is a metre gauge FEVE rail system in Spain which connects the city of Cartagena with the popular coastal resort of Los Nietos. DMUs Nos 2601 plus 2602 have arrived at the terminus with the 12.20 from Cartagena on 17 April 2008. My little dog,Ruby, made the long journey to Spain. She can be seen on the platform with my dear wife. Metre gauge FEVE dmus Nos 2601 plus 2602 form nthe 17.20 from Cartagena at Los Nietos Pescadaria, a station about 3/4 of a mile from the terminus at Los Nietos itself. FEVE dmus Nos 2617 plus 2618 form the 17.00 service from Los Nietos to Cartagena at Los Nietor Pescadari station. In rural Spain lineside photographers can forget regular interval train services - gaps between trains often require a long wait. Here is me, and my little miniature schnauzer, waiting in the hot sun at a level crossing on the single track Murcia-Cartagena main line. Passing the closed station of Canteras RENFE dmu No. 9-596-013-3 forming regional 4520 Murcia-Cartagena. RENFE dmu No 226M passes grapefruit trees north of Basilca with Regional 4519 Cartagen-Murcia on 11 April 2008. RENFE dmu No 250M forms Regional 4519 at Canteras on 14 April 2008. RENFE dmu No.250M tforms Regional Train 4519 Cartagena-Murcia north of Canteras on 9 April 2008. Lots of the big Spanish diesels are, unfortunately, heavily grafitied. This was the case on No. 333.337 heading train 55405 Escombreras-Cementos Tajo clinker hoppers near Canteras. I only managed to secure one photograph of this working during my trip.Train 53403 Esombreras-Getaf (Madrid) train of gas tanks passes north of Basilcas on 12 Aril 2008 The main line from Cartagena to Murcia sees a fair amount of freight traffic emanating from the dock area of Cartagena - a significant port. Here RENFE nO.333.353-1 takes train No.55405 Escombreras-Cementos Tajo through the dry hills north of Basilca on 17 April 2008. Passing the now closed station at Canteras, RENFE Class 334 No.334.010 was recorded in charge of the international Montpellier-Cartagena through train on 17 April 2008. The broader gauge tracks of the RENFE system are very evident in this picture. One of the great aspects of train photography in the Murcia region of Spain is that the climate is so arid that the lines don't get bushed up.Nearing Basilcas - about two miles from the photographer- RENFE No. 334.010 threads the countryside with the daily train from Montpellier, France, to Cartagena on 17 April 2009. RENFE Class 354 No. 354.008-5 passes a lone conifer tree near Canteras with Alteria 225 Cartagen-Madrd on 14 April 2008. Only three of these superb diesel locomotives remained in service at the time of my visit to Spain. RENFE No. 354.009-9 heads Alteria 227 Cartagena-Madrid north of Canteras on 17 April 2008. By the way, yes, I did manage to secure pictures of all three survivors. RENFE Class 354 No.354.001-0 in charge of Altaria 227 Cartagena-Madrid passes north of Canteras on 9 April 2008. The doyen of Class 354 No.354.001-0 heads towards Cartagena north of Canteras with Alteria 228 from Madrid on 9 April 2008. RENFE Class 354 No.354.006-9 heads towards Basilcas with Altaria 228 Madrid-Cartagena on 17 April 2008. Sweeping round the bends north of Canteras RENFE 354.006-9 heads Alteria 225 Cartagena-Madrid. RENFE 354.006-9 heads towards Murcia with Altaria 225 Cartegena-Madrid. This vanbtage point is just north of Baslicas. Passing flowering lavendar bushes RENFE 354.008-3 heads towards Murcia with Altaria 227 Cartagena-Madrid. Behind the lavendar can be seen one of the enormous cacti which seem to flourish on the lineside in this area bearing testament to the extremely arid climate. It rains on average on about 30 days a year here! Crime rates are high in Southern Spain and farmers have to protect their crops of citrus from thieves with these heavy gates and stout fencing. RENFE 354.008-5 passes grapefruit trees north of Basilca with Alteria 228 Madrid-Cartagena on 11 April 2008. Some of the Spanish .scenery reminds me of the Wild West. RENFE 354.008-9 heads Alteria 224 Madrid-Cartagena south of Murcia RENFE diesel No. 333.351-5 heads train 55405 Escombreras-Cementos Tajo north of Canteras.This train seems to be a good runner-it obliged every afternoon that I went out for it. An unidentified RENFE dmu forms Regional 4520 Murcia-Cartagena as it threads the barren landscape of southern Spain. No lineside fencing here to prevent the kids from playing football on the tracks - the choice is up to them!

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]]> Thu Apr 24 2008 Part 3 Scanned Slides (Anglia Excepted) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1467379.html Parts 1 and 2 now contain over a hundred slides. Time for a new one! The same theme - just non-Anglia train slides that I find interesting. Saturday 1 March 2008: Parts 1 and 2 now contain over a hundred slides. Time for a new one! The same theme - just non-Anglia train slides that I find interesting.

With fireweed (Epilobium Augustiflorum) plants visible by the fence, Class 47 No.47228 passes Winwick Junction, north of Warringtom with a train of salt from Middlewich to Dalry on 31 August 1993. Specially repainted in its original blue livery, Class 87 No.87001 passes Winwick Junction with a Euston-Preston service on 18 February 2004. Class 58 No.58037 glimpsed through the open door of the semi derilict Barrow Hill roundhouse on 23 October 1990. When I took the photo I never even dreamt that this location would become the thriving preservation centre that it is now! Class 37s Nos 37520 plus 37145 pass Stevenston with Ravenscraig-Hunterston iron ore empties on 28 March 1991. With a fine selection of vans trailing behind it, Class 85 No. 85007 passes Milnethorpe with a Saturday afternoon Glasgow-Wembley working on 26 August 1990. Sadly, interesting trains like this no longer run on the current network and are sorely missed by rail enthusiasts. The reign of 'Eurostar' sets on hire to GNER was sadly shortlived on the East Coast Main Line because they added variety to this section of railway. Here Nos 3301 and 3302 speed past Retford Station with a York-Kings Cross express on 19 April 2000. Ready to head out into the night, Class 37 No. 37414 pauses briefly at Crewe Station while heading a Holyhead-Birmingham International via Stoke train in February 1994. For some reason Sheffield seems to get more than its fair share of bad weather. In appalling conditions Class 47 No.47475 climbs the bank at Millhouses with an up parcels service. Class 60 No.60008 takes the Hull-Grassington stone empties through Bingley on 20 April 2000. Class 56 No. 56121 takes an empty HAA mgr train to Butterwell Open Cast pit for refilling along the Blyth and Tyne system near Morpeth during August 1991. It astounds me how these Chinese girls balance those tall hats on their heads and carry a bag of shopping at the same time! Meanwhile Class 143 No. 143618 waits at Windermere Station to form a service to Oxenholme during August 1990. Class 47 No. 47701 emerges from Falkirk Tunnel in charge of a Glasgow-Edinburgh express during April 1990. The up Bournemouth Belle approaches Woking on 11 July 1987 in the care of Class 33 No. 33051. Stabled between duties in one of the centre roads at Carlisle is Class 143 No. 143321. These units started their railway careers in the North East but they have since all been transferred for work in the South Wales valleys. Whatever happened to these units? Class 151 diesel units in store at Llandudno Junction during September 1993. Meanwhile, inside the shed, can be seen the nose of a stored Class 508 electric. Class 56 No 56114 is providing all the braking power for these vacuum braked hoppers. Loading is taking place at the Alcan Terminal in Blyth and the product is Alluminium Ore which will be transported to Lynemouth for smelting later in the day. August 1991. The last remains of scrap Class 40 No. 40022 photographed at Doncaster Works during an official visit on 16 September 1984. It was a bit nippy at Dalwhinnie on 23 March 1989 but don't be fooled by the conditions portrayed here. It was actually chucking down with rain. All I could do was shelter in the car and get out at the last minute to record this picture. With the famous distillery in the background Class 47 No. 47643 passes with the 13.33 Glasgow-Edinburgh. Class 150s no longer work regularly in Scotland but at one time a sizeable number plied their trade north of the border. Here, No. 150284 takes a Dunblane-Edinburgh train past Inverkeithing on 26 March 1991. A Class 118 unit in 'Strathclyde' livery passes Burntisland on 1 April 1992 forming a Glasgow-Dunblane service. I'm going to make this the cover picture for my next book @Power of the Bikes'! Class 321 No 321425 - still in Network South East livery pauses briefly at Rugby while forming a Euston-Birmingham service on 1 September 1995. Class 37 No.37025 takes a Penmaemawr-Arpley Sidings ballast train through Llandudno Junction during August 1995. A diverted down West Coast Main Line express approaches Dent Station on the Settle and Carlisle line on 2 May 1997 behind Class 47 No. 47447. 'Yeoman' Class 59 No. 59004 rounds Wolf Hall Curve, near Savernake with a train of empties from Acton Yard to Merehead on a sunny Saturday afternoon in July 1990. Class 86 No.86236 takes the 09.40 Glasgow-Euston over the viaduct at Docker, just south of Tebay, on 1 May 1989. Birmingham New Street is not an easy place to take good railway pictures. Class 47 No. 47442 pauses at the station on 20 January 1987 with a Portsmouth-Liverpool service. Class 26 No.26028 in sidings at Ladybank with an engineer's ballast train during March 1990. The flying badger! Class 89 No.89001 speeds past Offord Cluny with an early morning Kings Cross-Bradford service during October 1997. ' Nodding Donkey' No.142011 waits at Crewe to form an evening service to Liverpool Lime Street during February 1994. An impression of speed. The Low Fell-Bristol postal vans accellerates away from York on 17 April 1998. For the record, Class 86 No 86430 was at the helm. A real fluke. Class 60 No 60075 approaches Wellingborough hauling the Bow-Croft stone empties just as HST power car passes No.43081 passes on the rear of a Sheffield-London service. Class 304019 stands at a chilly looking Stoke-on-Trent station on 16 February 1994 with a service to Macclesfield. More at home working in the Manchester area two Class 304 units stretch their legs on the southern end of the West Coast Main Line on 16 May 1992. They are recorded passing Linslade forming a Stockport-London special for the Autoglass Trophy final at Wembley on this date. Hertfordshire Railtours 'Wensleydale Phoenix' of 28 February 1998 passes Connington on the East Coast Main Line behind Cass 47 No.47766. Class 57 No.57601 takes the 15.42 Paddington-Plymouth service through Lower Basildon on 27 March 2002. Class 58 No. 58009 joins the GW main line before entering Didcot Power Station with a MGR train from Barrow Hill on 7 April 1988. Mainline Blue Class 58 No.58013 crosses the canal east of Manton, Nottinghamshire, with the Middleton Towers-Worksop sand train on 19 April 2000. Class 58 No.58014 prepared to take an empty HAA mgr set back to Barrow Hill from Didcot Power Station on 29 May 1985. A Fletton-Ratcliffe-on-Soar train of empty Presflos nears the end of its journey behind Class 58 No.58013 on 29 May 1985. Class 31s Nos. 31215 and 161 pause at Aylesbury with a Derby-Neasden train composed of a prototype underground train for evaluation by LUL. 8 November 1986. Class 31 No. 31106 is silhouetted against the evening sky near Burton Salmon on 22 August 1989 while hauling a departmental train from Toton to York Yard. Class 31 No. 31155 stands at signals at Tupton, south of Chesterfield, with 6Z47 Scunthorpe West ard-East Usk mgr empties on 19 July 1985. EWS Class 58 No. 58050 passes Retford Thrumpton box with a Worksop-High Marnham mgr train on 19 September 2000. Class 58 No.58023 takes a merry-go-round train through Drakelow Power Staton on 29 August 1985. Photographed from high up on the neighbouring fells, Class 31 No.31417 approaches Edale Station with the 15.40 Hull-Liverpool Lime Street service on 19 August 1986. Class 58 No.58018 heads a MGR train to West Burton Power Station past Cresswell Colliery on 23 August 1989.

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]]> Sat Mar 1 2008 Essex and East Anglia Part 2 (Digital Images) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1455630.html My original collection with this title has now reached 100 pictures and is becoming unwieldy. Time for a new one! Saturday 9 February 2008: My original collection with this title has now reached 100 pictures and is becoming unwieldy. Time for a new one!

An unidentified Class 360 forms a Liverpool Street-Harwich Town service recorded passing Rivenhall, Essex, on 8 February 2006. Class 170 No. 170111 forming a Liverpool Lime Street-Norwich service is just about to cross the Hundred Foot Drain at Pyemoor on on 8 August 2006. Class 90 No.90048 gets away from Ipswich with a Freighliner service to Trafford Park on 4 January 2007. 'One' Class 317 No.317660 forms a Cambridge-London stopping service at the university town on 24 January 2007. DRS Class 20s Nos 20314+315+313 approach Westerfield with the returning 20/20 Vision railtour from Leiston to Crewe on 10 March 2007. I have had the pleasure of working on all three of these locomotives. At Clacton Depot for modification and re-livery former SWT Class 170 No 170305 is seen through the depot doors on 8 October 2007. Colchester Station 0n 18 October 2007. Viewed through the cab window of DRS Class 57 No.57009, 'ONE' Class 90 No. 90007 approaches with the 13.00 Norwich-Liverpool Street. The Class 57 was at the head of 3S62 RHTT train from Clacton and was about to proceed to Stowmarket for relief. Taken through the cab window of DRS Class 20 No. 20312 which was halted at signals in the middle road at Ipswich. DRS Class 66 No. 66422 (on hire to Freightliner Heavy Haul) passes on the down road with 6Z06 00.02 Cricklewood-Kennett spent ballast. 21 November 2007. DRS locomotives Nos 57009 and 37667 t&t stand at Ely station on Sunday 9 December 2008. They are about to work to Downham Market on 3S52 special RHTT working to clear leaf debris on the tracks which was causing problems. The view from the cab window of Class 37 No.37601 at the head of 3S65 Stowmarket-Shenfield RHTT train during a pause at Marks Tey loop on 12 December 2007. A Class 321 passes by on the main line on a Liverpool Street-Colchester ecs working. A rare quadruple header on an RHTT train. Class 37 No. 37601 heads 20307 plus 20313 plus 57009 with 37667 tagged onto the rear of the formation. The two Class 20s were being taken to Willesden for onward transit to Crewe. The Class 37 was the taxi to bring the driver back to Stowmarket. The Class 57 continued with the RHTT working after the other three engines were detached from the formation at Shenfield. Photo taken at Marks Tey loop on Wednesady 12 December 2007. Taken through the cab window of DRS Class 20 No.20314 which had suffered a rare failure at Witham on 13 December 2007. As dark clouds gather, Class 360 No.360115 passes on the up-loop with the 11.50 Clacton-Liverpool Street. Dull weather makes photography of trains difficult. One answer is to get deep under the awnings in an effort to gain a bit of contrast. NatEx Class 360 No.360103 pauses at Marks Tey with a LVST-Harwich Town working on 16 July 2008- a day when services were in complete disarray because of a fatality at Romford. GBrF Class 66/7 No 66719 crosses the Fens near Manea with 6H24 Whitemoor-Chesterton Junction spoil train on 6 February 2008. EWS Class 66 No.66138 takes the self discharging set of wagons past Manea with 6M70 Chesterton Junction-Mountsorrel on 6 February 2008. A cliche location, indeed, millions of train pictures must have been taken here. It's still an attractive spot, though, and at least you can watch the parade of birds between the trains. Class 90 No. 90011 crosses the Suffolk Stour estuary at Manningtree with the 10.30 Norwich-Liverpool Street on 4 February 2008. EWS Class 66 No.66080 looks as if it has been through the stone loader a few too many times as it passes Manea on 6 February 2008 with the 4L76 Stud Farm-Bury St. Edmunds sugar stone train. In 'unbranded' livery without its 'Barbie' stripes, Class 360 No. 360108 takes the 11.00 Harwich Town-Liverpool Street near Kelvedon, Essex, on 6 February 2008. In the latest 'Cross Country' livery, Class 170 No.170116 approaches Ely with the 10.24 Birmingham-Stansted Airport on 12 February 2008. Looking rather incongruous in Fenland scenery is hired-in SWT trains Class 158 No. 158886 forming the 10.52 Liverpool-Norwich on 12 February 2008. Looming out of the winter mist, west of Ely is Class 66/6 No.66618 in charge of the 6M19 Barham-Dowlow empty stone hoppers on 12 February 2008. Some photographers don't even bother to get up to go out when it is foggy but I relish the challenge that it brings. Some really moody images are sometimes on offer. Class 170 No. 170520 looms out of the Fenland mist on 12 February 2008 while forming the 08.24 Birmingham-Stansted Airport service. I love this train and I record its movement as often as possible. The Ely (Potters) - Peak Forest empty stone hoppers sets off across the Fens near Chettisham on 12 February 2008. Green Class 66 No. 66574 passes Rivenhall on 18 February 2008 with 4M81 Felixstowe-Ditton Freightliner. GBrF Class 66 No. 66710 passes Rivenhall on 18 February 2008 with 4M88 Felixstowe-Hams Hall Freightliner. The Ilford-Crown Point tyre turning trip is worth keeping an eye on. On 18 February 2008 it turned up EWS Class 90 No.90035 piloting 'ONE' liveried No.90004 together with just three Mark 111 coaches. Recorded passing Rivenhall on 18 February 2008. Framed in some trees Freightliner grey Class 90 No 90049 passes Rivenhall with the Daventry-Felixstowe FLR on 18 February 2008. The Class 360 units which have had their 'Barbie stripes' removed as part of the National Express rebranding exercise certainly look strange. Witness this one, recorded passing Rivenhall on 18 February 2008 while forming the 11.00 Harwich Town-Liverpool Street service. The 'Barbie' stripes on Class 36os are gradually being removed as part of the National Express rebranding exercise. Still sporting its stripes on 18 February 2008 an unidentified member of the class passes Rivenhall forming the 10.00 Harwich Town-Liverpool Street service. In newly applied NatEx livery, Class 90 No. 90008 passes Long Green Footpath Crossing, south of Marks Tey, with the 10.00 Norwich-Liverpool Street on 27 February 2008. Triple 'Cans' ! Albeit with one dead in train. Class 86s Nos 86622 plus 613 plus 637 pass near Kelvedon on 26 Febraury 2008 with 4L89 Coatbridge-Felixstowe. Natex East Anglia is applying white bodyside stripes to its unbranded 'ONE' rolling stock in similar fashion to the job it did on ex GNER stock on the East Foast route. Here, newly treated Class 90 No. 90005 passes near Kelvedon with the 09.00 Norwich-Liverpool Street on 26 February 2008. On Hire EWS Class 90 No. 90035 hurries the 09.30 Norwich-Liverpool Street past Rivenhall on 26 February 2008. Class 90 No 90049 hauls 4L89 Coatbridge-Felixstowe past Long Green Footpath Level Crossing, Marks Tey, on 27 February 2008. The 4L89 Coatbridge-Felixstowe Freightliner heads down the GE Main Line with Class 90 No. 90049 in charge on 27 February 2008. EWS Class 66 No. 66156 hauls 4L97 Trafford Park-Felixstowe (via Parkeston) Intermodal through the Essex countryside south of Marks Tey on 27 February 2008. GBrF Class 66 No 66726 passes Rivenhall with 4M23 Felixstowe-Hams Hall on 25 February 2008. On the public launch day of National Express East Anglia Class 360 No. 360115 (in newly applied NatEx livery) approaches the site of the former Bradfield Station with the 12.18 Liverpool Street-Harwich on 27 February 2008. The old plate layers hut in the foreground gets a little more demolished every time I visit this location. Kingfishers are a common sight in the little brook at Rivenhall seen in the foreground. Class 60 No. 60065 is glimpsed through the trees heading 6Z30 Acton-Marks Tey empties on 25 February 2008. Class 170 No 170206 forms the 09.47 Peterborough-Liverpool Street seen passing south of Marks Teyon 27 February 2008. Class 170 No. 170201 glimpsed through the trees at Rivenhall on the 1038 service from Liverpool Street to Peterborough on 25 February 2008. The grey livery of the Freightliner Class 90s is becoming a little tired, if not a little dated, But 90045 appeared to have been through the loco washer before setting forth on the 4M88 Felixstowe-Crewe on 26 February 2008. Domsey Chase Footpath Crossing. Class 90 No. 90001 photographed near Kelvedon with the 11.00 Norwich-Liverpool Street on 5 March 2008. I used 1/2000th of a second to 'stop' NatEx East Anglia Class 90 No. 90003 at the front of the 10.00 Norwich-Liverpool Street service on 5 March 2008 near Kelvedon. Green Class 90 No. 90016 passes close to Kelvedon with 4m88 Felixstowe-Crewe Freightliner on 5 March 2008. Class 47 No. 47804 passes Kelvedon on 4 March 2008 with 2Z02 an inspection saloon from Clapham Junction to Norwich. Stripped of its 'ONE' markings, Class 90 No. 90012 passes Kelvedon with the 10.30 Liverpool Street-Norwich service on 5 March 2008. Freightliner grey Class 90 No. 90043 passes Kelvedon on 5 mARCH 2008 WITH 4m18 fELIXSTOWE-dITTON SERVICE ON 5 mARCH 2008. Class 315s are not very common north of Witham. On 4 March 2008 No.315815 passed Kelvedon with 5N98 10.07 Ilford EMUD-Clacton-on-Sea empty stock working. The unit was being taken to the coast for modification work to be carried out at Clacton Depot. EWS Class 66 No.66111 was in trouble on 7 May 2008. Hauling 6L27 Wembley-Harwich PQ intermodal the brakes kept coming on for no reason. It is seen here halted at Kelvedon while the driver is phoning-in the problem on the signal post telephone. Meanwhile NatEx Class 90 No.90015 hurries past with the 11.30 Norwich-Liverpool Street.

Published in Michael's Train Pix

]]> Sat Feb 9 2008 Scanned Slides (Anglia Excepted) Part 2 http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1361732.html My original non anglia scanned slides gallery is getting unwieldy with over 110 scans included. This new gallery will continue the theme - just British modern traction pictures that I have taken outside my home area which I find interesting. Sunday 2 September 2007: My original non anglia scanned slides gallery is getting unwieldy with over 110 scans included. This new gallery will continue the theme - just British modern traction pictures that I have taken outside my home area which I find interesting.

Class 20s Nos. 20105 plus 196 take the 12.43 Oxcroft-Barrow Hill mgr through Hall Lane Junction, near Staveley on 23 October 1990. A DBSO brings up the rear of a Class 47/7 hauled express from Glasgow to Aberdeen during April 1990. The location is Kinnabar Junction famous in the nineteenth century during the railway races to the north. Aberdeen expresses left Euston and Kings Cross at the same time and the first train to reach this point won the race to Aberdeen. The now closed line can be seen running-in from the left It is sometimes interesting to make the effort to visit some of the lesser well known outposts on the railway system. During August 1990 I visited Severn Beach. I wasn't at all impressed! DMU B960 prepares to beat a hasty retreat along the single track branch! 'Thumper' unit No.205031 forms the 16.28 Portsmouth Harbour-Southampton service as it passes St. Denys on 27 May 1989. In the background can be seen 'The Junction Inn'- a good place for a swift pint on a sunny day such as this one. Class 503 units for scrapping at Northwich on 20 February 1985. No. M28382 heads the queue. Speeding up the Selby Diversion Class 325 No.325013 forms the 14.40 Low Fell-Wembley postal service on 16 April 1998. Ormskirk used to have through trains to Preston at one time but now it is at the end of a branch line from Liverpool. 507011 waits to form the 11.22 to the city on 2 September 1993. It is hard to believe that this photo was taken only 13 years ago. The station at Rugby has changed beyond all recognition, the old LNWR overall roof having been removed and the platform layout re-modelled. Class 323216 stands in one of the north bays with a Trent Valley service on 16 September 1995. Unlike many photographers I quite enjoy the challenge of foggy conditions. An Hst, with 43016 leading, forms the 07.25 Leeds-St.Pancras as it passes Avenue, Chesterfield, on 2 September 1998. I deliberately included the mile post to give a sense of place to the picture. The 07.30 Perth-Kings Cross speeds across the Vale of York at Pilmoor with 43094 leading on 25 August 1984. Catching the sun in a brief bright interlude is Class 31 No. 31238 in charge of the Kilnhurst-Stanlow tanks at Edale on 21 August 1985. Class 37 No. 37133 has just traversed the Severn Tunnel and is approaching Pilning with a Severn Tunnel Junction-Swindon ballastr train on 28 August 1990. The race is on! Class 31 No.31305 passes Sileby on the 'up' fast with a Toton-Humberstone Road trip freight. Meanwhile another Class 31 gives chase on the 'up' slow line with a Toton-March (Whitemoor) freight working. Refected in the still waters of the Grand Union Canal, Class 31 No. 31260 takes a Rugby-Wembley engineers train up the West Coast main line towards Northchurch Tunnel on 6 Decmber 1986. Class 37 No.37116 has just passed over Battledown Viaduct and is approaching Worting Junction with the 11.34 Andover-Basingstoke special service run in conjunction with a rail event. 26 September 1987 A crew change at Crewe! 'Mainline' blue Class 37 No.37219 pauses having run round its train with a Stoke-Crewe Gresty Lane ballast on 30 December 1997. My paternal grandfather lived for some years in Nant Hall Road, five minutes walk across the fields from this spot. I used to go to this footbrdge to watch trains in the late 1950s when it was a four track busy main line. Revisiting old haunts on 4 September 1993 I photographed Class 37 No.37418 passing Prestatyn with the 13.30 Holyhead-Manchester Victoria. Class 37 No.37422 stands at Crewe station waiting to proceed forward with a Holyhead-Birmingham via Stoke service. 30 December 1997 Dwarfed by the scale of the Scottish mountains near Tyndrum, Class 37 No.37404 battles upgrade with Lynemouth-Fort William allumina train on 1 August 1989. the Carlisle-Wembley vans is negotiating Hanslope Junction on 27 July 1988 behind Class 85 No. 85009. It is the loss of interesting trains such as this that has left such a hole in the level of interest on today's railway. The 'Goyle' enthusiasts are out in force for this return 'Jolly Fisherman' train returning to Sheffield at Skegness during August 1985. The ballast trains from Penmaemawr bring a little bit of interest to the North Wales coast main line. Class 37 N0.37800 passes Mostyn with a ballast to Arpley on 17 April 1998. Class 37 No. 37799 wheels the Saturday afternoon Coedbach-Toton coal train through Culham on 16 July 1994. Class 86/1 No.86102 speeds through South Kenton at the head of a down Manchester express on 9 November 1991 DVT No.82105 is at the head of a Stranraer-Euston express as it passes Preston on 2 September 2003. Note Class 90 No.90001 is propelling in the MIDDLE of the train! This was fairly common practice at the time but is a system of work seldom used today. Class 86/5 No 86508 haus the 12.27 Mossend-Bescot 'Speedlink' past Scout Green on 1 June 1989 Class 86 No.86328 in charge of a Sunday Glasgow- Euston service diverted onto the 'slow' lines at Castlethorpe on 9 December 1984. Switching from the down fast to the down slow lines at Hanslope High Speed Junction is Class 86 No.86322 in charge of a Euston-Manchester 'Adex' on 15 July 1984. RES liveried Class 86/4 No.86425 passes Dudswell witha Daventry-Dollands Moor Intermodal on 30 May 1998. Class 86 No.86438 hauls the 14.30 Euston-Glasgow on Shap at Scout Green on 31 May 1989. Class 310 No.310068 at Northampton Station on 28 September 1985 forming a Birmoingham New Street-Euston service. A Tinsley(Sheffield) to Doncaster Belmont trip freight passes Mexborough on 22 August 1985 with 31152 in charge. Newcastle Central in the small hours. Class 37 No. 37020 stands under the station lights while in charge of 3S96 King's Cross- Edinburgh vans on 14 August 1984. Class 37 No. 37139 passes Hawkeridge Junction on the approach to Westbury with a Severn Tunnel Junction-Westbury 'Speedlink Coal' service. 17 February 1988. The unfortunate 86211 which had to be written off after involvement in the Colwich collision. In happier times the locomotive passes Rugby with a Carlisle-Euston express on 28 September 1985. In evening light, Class 86 No. 86212 approaches Carlisle Citadel with the 09.15 Brighton-Glasgow on 3 September 1998. Also approaching is a Class 142 dmu forming a service from Workington. Well off its beaten track, Anglia Class 86 No. 86221 is in charge of a Newcastle-Wembley FA Cup football special on 22 May 1999. The location is Offord on the southern end of the East Coast Main Line south of Huntingdon. Class 86/2 No. 86245 passes Crawford, Scotland, in charge of the 07.20 Penzance-Glasgow on 1 August 1989. Class 86 No. 86323 was under conversion to an 86/4 when photographed at Crewe Works on 29 September 1986. Under overhaul at Doncaster Plant on 26 October 1991 was Class 86/4 No.86401. Although still in Network SouthEast livery when photographed the locomotive was repainted while still at the works. Ex works Class 86 No.86424 has just arrived at Crewe with mails from Euston during February 1994. Class 25 No.25032 passes Stewartby station with a Liddlington Tip-Bletchley train of empties on 2 November 1985. Just look at all those chimneys in the background which served the local brickyards. I think that most of them have gone now. Passing a typical Great Central layout at the former Calvert Junction station, Class 31 No.31159 heads the Akerman Street-Ince UKF freight train of fertilizer empties on 8 November 1986. The consist is VDA vans and the train has reversed at nearby Aylesbury. Brand new Class 58 No.58015 stands outside Doncaster Plant on 16 September 1984. Participants in this official visit had little idea that these fine locomotives would have such a short working life on Britain's railways. In original livery HST power car No.43076 heads the 12.32 to London Kings Cross beneath the castle at Newcastle on Sunday 9 June 1985 EWS Class 37 No.37370 passes Hatfield Colliery with the Immingham-Doncaster 'Enterprise' on 3 September 1999 Railfreight grey Class 56 No. 56059 takes a full mgr train destined for Fiddlers Ferry PS westwards on the Calder Valley route through Mirfield on 28 August 1996. The Wolverton-Stoke Giford train of aggregates empties approaches Bicester with 56038 in charge on 19 October 1988. The old station at Aynho and Geddington still survives as Class 56 No.56057 passes with Banbury-Merehead stone empties on 17 September 1988. In the background can be seen the old Great Western route direct to Paddington via Bicester and High Wycombe. Still in BR Blue livery, Class 56 No.56031 passes Salisbury station with Botley-Merehead stone empties on 7 September 1985.

Published in Michael's Train Pix

]]> Sun Sep 2 2007 Scanned Slides (Anglia) Part 2 http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1360074.html With 160 slides already uploaded into Part 1 it is time to make another gallery of East Anglian Slides. I will gradually add to this new gallery as time permits. Friday 31 August 2007: With 160 slides already uploaded into Part 1 it is time to make another gallery of East Anglian Slides. I will gradually add to this new gallery as time permits.

The cab windows of Class 20s sometimes get very dirty as this slide shows. I couldn't resist taking a picture of 170397 on a Liverpool-Norwich service at Ely on 26 October 2006 from the cab window of Class 20 No.20311 on 3Z65 Stowmarket-Trowse RHTT. In Network SouthEast livery, Class 47 No.47596 accelerates the 16.09 service from Kings Lynn to Liverpool Street away from the Littleport stop on 1 July 1989. I think that this livery really suited these locomotives. Although Class 317s still appear on the GE Main Line - particularly on trial after overhaul at Ilford or as last minute substitutions for other power- they are now relatively uncommon on service trains. During the late 1990s, however, they were more common, working frequently into Ipswich and Harwich International. Here, 317658 waits to form the11.07 to Liverpool Street at Harwich International on 18 September 1999. The 1E86 07.30 Blackpool North-Harwich Parkeston Quay service passes the former station at Bentley, south of Ipswich, on 15 August 1986. Bentley was the one-time junction for the Hadleigh branch. The 15.40 Great Yarmouth -Birmingham New Street service has travelled via Berney Arms to reach Reedham Junction. Powered by Class 31 No.31458 the train approaches the junction on 24 May 1986. Under a threatening sky Class 31/4 No 31421 wheels the 13.31 Norwich-Birmingham New Street service past Black Bank, Ely, on 28 May 1986. Class 31 No.31225 traverses the peaty fen near Black Bank, Ely with the Colchester-Peterborough parcels on 28 May 1996. Class 31 No.31441 speeds through Marks Tey station with the Sunday Harwich Parkeston Quay-Thornton Fields ecs train on 2 June 1985. An engineers train from Harwich Parkeston Quay to Leyton proceeds along the Harwich Branch near Bradfield on 21 December 1998 behind disparate liveried class 37s. The front loco was 37203 but, unfortunately I couldn't identify the second at this distance. The Class 322 units have had a fairly interesting career. Built for 'Stansted Skytrain' services, their reign on services to the Essex airport was relatively shortlived. 322481 waits at the airport to form the 14.05 service to Liverpool Street on 25 November 1998. After transfer away the units were used on certain long distance services on the West Coast Main Line after which they were briefly transferred back to East Anglia. Now they are at work in Scotland, being particularly associated with services on the North Berwick branch. Passing Kelvedon Church,'Anglia' liveried Class 86 No. 86218 propells the 15.30 Liverpool Street-Norwich on 27 April 1999. Class 86 No. 86214 passes Witham with the 10.30 Liverpool Street-Norwich on 31 May 1985. The 05.30 Liverpool Street-Norwich service used to be an interesting train to photograph. It stopped at most of the larger stations en route and conveyed postal vehicles in the consist. Here, it passes Ipswich East Suffolk junction on 19 August 1989 with 86227 in charge. The driver of Class 86 No.86221 looks back at Colchester before taking off for Liverpool Street at Colchester on 22 August 2001. The train was the 10.40 from Norwich. If the driver recognises himself please contact me and I will be happy to supply a copy of the picture. Class 86 No.86219 approaches Colchester North with the 16.30 Liverpool Street-Norwich on 16 June 1986. Silhouetted against the setting sun, Class 308 No. 308147 forms a Liverpool Street-Colchester train at Marks Tey on 25 July 1986. Passing Rivenhall with a Liverpool Street-Colchester train is Class 308 No 308151 on 3 April 1985. Passing Spelbrook, Class 317s Nos 317662+339 form a Cambridge-Liverpool Street service on 11 May 1999. 317663 forming the 10.34 Cambridge-Liverpool Street service approaches Elsenham on 21 August 2004. One of the first Class 47s to be finished in 'Inter City' livery was No.47475. Here it is stabled at Ipswich under the station lights with a rake of empty coaching stock in December 1985. This example was a very early withdrawal for a machine fitted with eth. It was the 'One' railway that introduced Mk.3 coaching stock to the Norwich-London expresses. Some months prior to the launch 'National Express' exhibited at Norwich some Mk.3 trailers to the media from its Midland Mainline franchise to the assembled media and interested parties. Class 56 No. 56038 stands at the head of this exhibition train at Norwich Thorpe on 27 August 2003. In glorious winter sunshine Class 56 No.56059 in EWS livery passes Whittlesey with empty stone hoppers from Bury St. Edmunds-Scunthorpe on 8 December 2000. With the sun setting in the west, Class 86 No.86214 hurries past Rivenhall with a late evening Norwich-Liverpool Street train on 9 May 1987. Express parcels! The passengers are really struggling with their heavy load-nobody wants to help them. Class 365 No.365533 forms a service from Kings Lynn to Kings Cross at Cambridge station during October 1997. Before the extension to platform three was completed, EWS Class 37 No. 37716 passes Ipswich Station on the centre road with the North Walsham-Harwich Parkeston Quay tanks during September 1997. The AIA Group 'A Farewell 11 Arms' Railtour passes Foxton en route Kings Cross-Lowestoft with Class 31s Nos 31110+154 in charge. 21 August 1989. Former BR Class 10 shunter No.D3489 Colonel Tomline stabled outside Felixstowe Beach station on 13 June 1988. Class 31 No. 31165 prepares to leave Norwich Thorpe with a Birmingham-Great Yarmouth train on 18 July 1992. Class 31 No.31219 descends Dedham Bank with the Chelmsford-York 'Rowntrees' empties on 30 May 1985. This service always utilised these white roofed VDA vans, painted thus to radiate less heat into the interior of the vans for when they are conveying chocolate. The Whitemoor-Norwich 'Speedlink' service has just left March and passes Horsemoor on 30 August 1980. Supplying the power is Class 31 No.31145. The Sizewell flasks are taken past Brantham with Class 31 No.31116 in charge on 20 April 1987. Dating back to the days when trains were shunted onto the train ferry at Harwich Town. Class 31 No.31228 shunts a long string of 'Ferrywagons' onto the ferry. 17 August 1984. During the 1980s the Ciba-Geigy factory situated near Duxford, Cambridgeshire, would send out at least one train a day from their private siding. Here Class 37 No.37066 prepares to leave the siding with the daily train to Whitemoor which would be forwarded through to Tyne Yard overnight. Photo taken on 15 August 1989. Dating back to the days when GN expresses were regularly diverted at Peterborough on Sundays to run to Kings Cross via March and Cambridge. Crossing the flat East Anglian fens at Pymoor, near Ely, 43079 heads the 09.00 Edinburgh-Kings Cross on 15 October 1985. On 17 February 1978 Class 37 No.37260 passes Colchester North with a Stratford-Harwich Town train of 'Carflats'. Observe the 'BRUTE' cages parked on the platform to receive unloaded parcels - a station feature now long gone. Still in BR blue livery, Class 86 No.86243 wheels past Needham Market with the 14.30 Liverpool Street-Norwich on 27 May 1987. Railfreight Grey Class 56 No. 56058 wheels empty stone hoppers from Kennett to Mountsorrel past Silt Drove, March, on 18 August 1989. This is a fine vantage point to view westbound trains in the afternoon. Class 86 No.86215 approaches Manningtree at Cattawade Bridge with the 10.34 Norwich-Liverpool Street of 27 September 1986 Crossing Seven Arches Viaduct, Stanway, Class 86 No.86227 is in charge of the 15.30 Liverpool Street-Norwich on 16 February 1988. Class 31 No. 31417 photographed in charge of a Birmingham-Norwich service passing Pyemoor, between March and Ely, on 29 May 1986. These Swindon built dmus used to make fairly frequent forays into East Anglia from the Midlands; particularly on summer saturdays. Here Derby based set No. EP522 passes semaphore signals at Chettisham, north of Ely. Chettisham signalbox, now long since demolished, can be glimpsed to the right of signal post in the background. I love railway photography in The Fens. Class 31/4s Nos 31425+31427 take the Derby-Cambridge empty vans train past Black Bank, north of Ely, on 9 August 1990. Class 20 No.20150 heads this sad line-up of withdrawn traction stored at Whitemoor, March, on 20 June 1987. Meanwhile, in the background, storm clouds gather. On 29 June 1997 Hertfordshire R'tours ran an 09.30 LVST-Southminster/Southend 'Mystex' dubbed 'The Arch Weaver'. It comprised a GWT HST set with power cars Nos 43185+012. It was photographed stopped at Fambridge - to allow passage of a Southminster-Wickford emu. Meanwhile the bloke who paints the white lines on the station edges takes not one bit of notice of this rare event! 'Virgin' Class 86 No.86209 was on hire to 'Anglia Railways' when it hauled the 12.00 Norwich-Liverpool Street service into Ipswich on 28 December 2001. Still with its old style cross-arm pantograp, Class 86 No.86222 climbs Dedham Bank with the 12.20 Norwich Liverpool Street on 30 May 1985. Stirring up the snow just north of Witham Station, Class 86 No.86237 passes with the 10.40 Norwich-Liverpool Street on 31 January 2003. I was extremely pleased when the Easter Counties double-decker rolled into view at the level crossing at Haughley Junction just as 86220 passed by with a Liverpool Street-Norwich express. It is happy coincidences such as this that sometimes makes train photography so interesting. Class 86 No.86220 hauls a Sunday Norwich-Liverpool Street service across Cattawade Viaduct, north of Manningtree on 18 July 1999. The old boat in the foreground has now all but disappeared. All that remains is the metal cabin, the rest has rotted away. In mixed liveries the 16.00 Norwich-LVST sweeps towards Stowmarket on 6 May 2000 with Class 86 No.86235 in charge.

Published in Michael's Train Pix

]]> Fri Aug 31 2007 British Steam (Digital Pictures) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1359481.html I am gradually building up some digital images of BR preserved steam. I will put them in this collection from time to time. Thursday 30 August 2007: I am gradually building up some digital images of BR preserved steam. I will put them in this collection from time to time.

Summer 2007 was wet! We went to Devon in June. It chucked it down. The 'Trago Mills' supermarket near Newton Abbot has an extensive narrow gauge system to keep the punters happy when the weather is inclement. 'Alice' prepares to go round her circuit once again from Riverside station in appalling weather. 21 June 2007. Visiting GWR 0-6-2T No.6695 nears Weybourne (North Norfolk Railway) on 7 July 2007 with the 12.00 Sheringham-Holt service. The driver and traincrew of SECR Class 01 0-6-0 No.65 are ready for the 'right away' at Horsted Keynes station on 27 August 2007. The train is the 12.00 Sheffield Park-Kingscote service on the Bluebell Railway. This was the first time that I had seen Bulleid Pacific 34028 Eddystone since it was withdrawn by BR! Making a fine sight leaving Horsted Keynes the loco was in charge of the 16.00 Sheffield Park-Kingscote on August Bank Holiday Monday 27 August 2007. I do wish preservation centres would let their locos get just a little bit scruffy - I never saw a REAL West Country Pacific in this condition! Now this is the way to photograph a steam special when it's chucking down with rain! Seen through the cab window of Class 37 No. 37667 Class A4 'Pacific' is shrouded in steam as it waits to work forward from Cambridge Coldham Lane with the 'Cathedrals Express' to Ely on 9 December 2007. 'Battle of Britain' class 4-6-2 No.34067 'Tangmere' hauls 'The Cathedrals Express' from Victoria to Norwich past Domsey Chase, Kelvedon on 22 December 2007. No heads sticking out of the windows, no high-viz vests and the rods are up. Such timing! The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway - known by many as 'The Ratty' is a superb line in the English Lake District. Here 'River Esk' departs from Irton Road on 16 February 2008 with the 14.00 Ravenglass-Dalegarth service. Class 8F No.48151 passes Helwith Bridge on 22 July 2008 heading 'The Dalesman' 1Z10 Hellifield-Carlisle excursion. The train had originated in Carnforth with the loco working the train tender first to Hellifield. 22 July 2008. Class 8F 2-8-0 No.48151 passes Helwith Bridge in full cry with 1Z10 Hellifield-Carlisle 'The Dalesman' steam excursion on 22 July 2008. Despite th rest of the country being bathed in warm sunshine on this day the good old S&C lived up to its reputation! Bressingham Garden Railway No1 Alan Bloom is prepared for the frist train of the day on 27 July 2008. Bressingham Garden Railway No.1 Alan Bloom makes a steamy departure for the first train of the day on 27 July 2008. Making a welcome return to its native Great Eastern haunts, 'Britannia' Pacific No.70013 Oliver Cromwell passes Domsey Chase footpath crossing on 20 September 2008. I don't often go to steam galas because there is always a melee of oter photographers. The 2008 GCR autumn gala tempted me, however, because I had to head north anyway on other business. 'Lord Nelson' No. 850 made a fine sight on an up mixed goods on 12 October 2008. I counted over 50 other potographers at this spot when the train passed. That's why I don't bother with steam galas! Great Western 2-6-2T No.4141 passes Kinchley Lane on a 'Windcutter' during the GCR autumn steam gala on 12 October 2008. A telephoto shot of GW 2-62T No.4141 heading south at Kinchley Lane during the GCR Autumn s008 gala with a 'windcutter' demonstration. During the 50s and 60s I saw all but a handful of the 'Jubilee' 4-6-0s. Indeed, I was hauled to and from school by most of them on my daily commute to Keighley. The heavy exhaust beat evoking childhood memories, No. 5690 'Leander' storms past Kinchley Lane on 12 October 2008 during the GCR autumn steam gala. The SR 'Lord Nelson' 4-6-0s were designed as express engines and were rare beasts indeed on freight trains. Here, No. 850 'Lord Nelson' makes a fine sight on a demonstration mixed freight during the GCR 2008 autumn gala on 12 October 2008. Was this the first freight working for a 'Lord Nelson' in preservation? No doubt somebody will tell me. 'Tornado', No.60163 passes Kinchley Lane on 12 October 2008 during the GCR Autumn Gala. She is hauling a demonstration TPO train. New Class A1 No.60163 recorded hauling a passenger train from Loughborough to Leicester during the GCR autumn 2008 steam gala on 12 October. Another southbound 'windcutter' at the GCR Autumn 2008 steam gala. Robinson 2-8-0 plods south and recreates scenes of a bygone age. What a shame that loco and stock is so clean. I never saw one of these engines anwhere near clean in real steam days! Once heard the shrill chime whistle of a Britannia Pacific is never to be forgotten. The whistle is shrieking on 70013 as the loco passes Kinchley Lane on 12 October 2008 with a Loughborough-Leicester passenger service. I dread to think how many times I said 'Oh no, it's only another Brit' during the 1960s'! I never dreamed at that time that I would, one day, travel hundreds of miles to see one in action. BR 'Standard' 2-6-0 No.78019 hauls a Loughborough-Leicester train during the GCR autumn gala on 12 October 2008. I only saw a handful of these locos during real BR steam days. BR 'Standard' 2--0 No.78029 hauls a demonstration mixed freight past Kinchley Lane on 12 October 2008 during the GCR steam gala event. Double headed 'Standards'. Nos. 76079 and 78019 pass near Weybourne with a Holt-Sheringham service on 27 February 2009. Wheezing well, ex L&Y 0-6-0 No. 1300 passes Weybourne windmill with a Sheringham-Holt train on 27 February 2009. As kids we used to call these locos 'Coffeepots'! Class B1 4-6-0 No.1306 makes a spirited departure from Weybourne on 27 February 2009 with a Holt-Sheringham working. What a shame that those idiots with the orange jackets who are allowed to wander anywhere willy nilly contrive to spoil the scene. It should be stopped. Standard Class 4 No.76079 pauses at Weybourne on 27 February 2009 while heading a Sheringham-Holt train during the 'That's Yer Lot' weekend on 27 February 2009. B1 4-6-0 No. 1306 passes Kelling Heath with a Holt-Sheringham working on 27 February 2009. Note 'The Mayflower' headboard. I used to see these locomotives in my native Yorkshire as a lad. Ex L&Y 0-6-0 No 1300 passes Kelling Heath with a Sheringham-Holt train on 27 February 2009. The loco is ailing judgng from the steam leaking one of its cylinders. Class B1 No. 1306 puts on a good smoke effect as it approaches Sheringham Golf links with a Holt-Sheringham service on 27 February 2009. With four period coaches in tow B1 4-6-0 No. 1300 approaches Sheringham Golf links on 27 February 2009 Lancashire and Yorkshire engines were never very common on M&GN metals! No. 1300makes a spirited display as it passes Sheringham Golf Links on 27 February 2009 during the 'That's Yer Lot' weekend. What a shame it is that the two idiots in the background with hi-viz vests felt able to spoil the scene despite not even being on railway property. I think that one of the challenges of preserved steam photography is to recreate a scene from the past. This one just about does it, no modern cars or vehicles in sight, no fools in orange jackets, no idiots leaning out of the windows. All these distractions serve to give the game away. Class 4F No.44422 passes Sheringham Golf Links on 27 February 2009 with a service to Holt. The photo could almost be passed off as a Great Yarmouth-Leicester service on the old M&GN line which closed forever 50 years previously almost to the day. To make matters worse I remember it happening! A private charter from Kings Lynn to Melton Mowbray heads across the Fens near Little Downham on 21 March 2009 with 'Royal Scot' 4-6-0 No. 46115 Scots Guardsman in charge. As a lad living near Skipton, Yorkshire, I used to see four or five of these handsome locomotives every day on my journey to and from school in Keighley. The memories came flooding back! 'Royal Scot' 4-6-0 No. 46115 Scots Guardsman is silhouetted against the evening sky as it heads a return private charter from Melton Mowbray to Kings Lynn at Little Downham on 21 March 2009. A couple of Shellducks waddling in the Stour estuary mud look on as 70013 Oliver Cromwell passes from Suffolk into Essex at the head of 1Z41 Norwich-Liverpool Street on 23 April 2009. Ex GWR 2-6-2 tank No. 5553 comes to a stand at Watchet station heading the 10.15 Minehead-Bishops Lydeard service of 1 June 2009. One of the delights of the stations on the West Somerset Railway are the beautifully tended gardens. This is evident in this photo of GWR 2-6-2 tank No.5553 departing Watchet with the 10.15 Minehead-Bishops Lydeard service on 31 May 2009. A busy scene at the West Somerset Railway's Blue Anchor Station on 5 June 2009. On the left Class A1 Pacific No. 60163 waits for the road with the 16.55 Minehead-Bishops Lydeard service. Meanwhile ex GWR tank No.5553 approaches with the 16.15 from Bishops Lydeard. Running bunker first former GWR 2-6-2 tank No.5553 prepares to pause at Blue Anchor Station while leading the 10.15 Minehead-Bishops Lydeard service on 5 June 2009. Fairburn 2-6-4 tank No.42085 passes Woodthorp with a Great Central Railway service from Loughborough to Leicester. The loco was on a rare loan from the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. I don't normally bother with tender-first steam workings but I thought that this train 'looked right'. Stanier Class 8F No.48305 passes Woodthorp on 25 July 2009 with a Loughborough-Swithyland Sidings 'windcutter'. On hire to the Great Central Railway from the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, Fairburn 2-6-4 tank No.42085 hauls a demonstration TPO past Woodthorp on 25 July 2009. 'Mickey Mouse' Standard Class 2 2-6-0 No.78019 whistles as it passes Woodthorp with a service from Loughborough to Leicester on 25 July 2009. Styandard Class 2 2-6-0 No. 78019 passes Woodthorp on 25 Julky 2009 with a service from Loughborough to Leicester. 'The Winton Train', with 60163 Tornado in charge passes Kelvedon, Essex, as 1Z70 Harwich Int-LVST on 4 September 2009. An almost timeless scene - save for the modern fashions - at Loughborough Station on 31 October 2009 with Standard 2-6-0 No. 78019 in attendance. A driver experience run with Standard 2-6-0 No. 78019 clanks carefully through Quorn and Woodhouse, GCR, on 31 October 2009. On All Hallows Eve the GCR ran a 'Hogwash Special', the 13.15 from Loughborough to Leicester. Running tender-first Stanier 2-8-0 No.48305 provided the powere and is recorded stopping at Quoprn and

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]]> Thu Aug 30 2007 Trams and other transport Stuff (Digital and Scanned) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1324770.html I just love trams! I love anything that runs on rails really. Here are a few such gems from my collection. Friday 13 July 2007: I just love trams! I love anything that runs on rails really. Here are a few such gems from my collection.

Wuppertal Schwebebahn. This railway is quite unique and this particular location is great. I was sitting at a table outside a bar enjoying a glass of fine German wheat beer. Another Basel tram, this time taken in August 1994, in a leafy suburb on the French side of the city. Budapest has a fine and efficient tramway.I managed to secure a picture of this one in the suburbs of the city near my hotel Great Orme Tramway, near Llandudno. Tram No 7. July 1991 Grenoble Tramway No. 2033. City centre 2 August 1995 The Swiss town of Neufchateau has a tranway which runs along the shores of Lake Geneva. Photo taken in August 1996 Tyne and Wear Metro No.4029 approaches Whitley Bay station during August 1991. Grenoble Tramway No. 2016. City Centre 2 August 1995. In Germany the trams of the Karlsruhe system have access to the main line for certain services. Here, an example calls at Rastaat Station while forming a service from Baden Baden. Grenoble is an Alpine city and has a superb tramway - 'TAG'. Here, No 2036 passes 'Lafayette's' shop on 2 August 1995 Basel tram No. 652 photographed in August 1996. Geneva Tramway No 805 threads the shopping centre streets during August 1995. A classic Rotterdam tram being given a special outing. Photographed just outside Rotterdam Centraal station (where else!) on 25 August 2001 The Karlsruhe trams in Germany are somewhat unique because they also run on the 'heavyrail' main line where the look a little incongruous. This example, No.582, was photographed street running outside Karlsuhe station on 28 July 1999 Trolleybuses are great. As a kid I used to see them in Bradford where they had double-deckers. This example was photographed in Budapest during July 2005. Rotterdam Tram No.850 in conventional livery. Rotterdam Centraal station 25 August 2001. I think this line counts as a tramway. The metre gauge line from St. Gervais-Vallorcine in Alpine France. With Mont Blanc in the bacground one of the new EMUs approaches Chamonix. Note the 'river of ice' - a glacier- on the mountainside in the background. Rotterdam tram No 750 in special livery. Rotterdam Centraal station, 25 August 2001 Freibourg in Germany has a superb little tram system. Here No.228 negotiates city centre streets during August 1994. With the Cathedral spire in the background Freibourg, Germany, tram No. 201 negotiates the city during August 1994 A Paris Metro service crosses the River Seine during April 1994. I don't know whether the Docklands Light Railway belongs in this section or not. But I'm going to put in here anyway! DLR No.55 approaches Pudding Mill Lane, adjacent to the Great Eastern main line on 13 July 1996. Tram No.551 at Neuchateau, Switzerland, during August 1995. Docklands Light Railway No.38 near Canary Wharf in August 1997. The Liverpool Overhead Railway closed in the mid 1950s - 1956 I think. Here, unit No.15 pauses at Seaforth with a service to Dingle in about 1955. Sheffield Super Tram No.103 at City Square on 23 July 2008 Sheffield Super Tram No.104 at City Square on 23 July 2008. Sheffield Tram at City Square on 23 July 2008. Does anyone know why dogs are not allowed on Sheffield trams but are welcome on the buses? Strange lot they are in Sheffield! Blackpoo; tram. 12October 2008. Blackpool 12 October 2008. What a shame that the illuminations were so poor in 2008. A real rip-off we thought. Blackpool. 12 October 2008 Blackpool 12 October 2008. The drunk guy playing football in the dark is indicative of the football mentality of the present century. The Seaton Tramway Terminus with tram No. 12 in attendance 0n 21 August 2009. The Seaton Tramway follows the southern stub of the former SR branch line to Seaton from Seaton Junction. Much of the former Colyton Station remains as the northern terminus of the tramway. Car No2 was in attendance 0n 18 August 2009 with a nice show of petunias in the box in the foreground. The driver of Seaton Tramway No.2 is giving his safety lecture to upstairs passengers. 'Do not touch the electric pole or you will be frazzled!' Photo taken at Colyton terminus on 21 August 2009. 'The Pink 'un!' Seaton Tramway No 8 is ready to form a service to the coast at Colyton on 18 August 2009. Krakow still runs some older style trams. I think that this one was bought second-hand from the Vienna system. No. 410 negotiates the corner of Basztowa, near the station, on 2 October 2009. Krakow tram No. 3301 photographed outside the main railway station on 2 October 2009. A Karakow tram crosses the River Vistula just ouside the city centre on 3 October 2009. Tram service No.19 croosing the River Vistula at Krakow on 3 October 2009. The tethered balloon gives tourists a birds eye view of this beautiful medieval city. Krakow tram. 3 October 2009. Krakow tram No, 133 was in special livery on 3 Ocober 2009 when recorded passing Zwierzyniecka street. Krakow tram No. 137 photographed near the river Vistula on 3 October 2009. Krakow tram No. 137. 3 October 2009. Krakow tram No. 2021 in advertising livery on 3 October 2009. Tram No. 2019 recorded passing a Supermarket and cafe complex on Krakow's Zwierzyniecka Street on 3 October 2009. Rounding a sharp curve near the station, Krakow tram No.143 shows its flexibility on 2 October 2009. I couldn't see any numerical markings on this Krakow tram on 3 October 2009. It was wearing 'Tram-Jordan decals. No doubt somebody will be able to tell me what it is! Please do!

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]]> Fri Jul 13 2007 London Railways (Scanned Slides) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1324763.html Some scanned slides taken in the Greater London area over the last twenty years or so. Friday 13 July 2007: Some scanned slides taken in the Greater London area over the last twenty years or so.

47150 approaches South Tottenham with the Dagenham-Crewe car train on 15 September 1999 33050 Stratford DRS 33047+33004 pass Kensington Olympia with an Acton-Crawley stone train on 14 August 1987. The land in the right background, then car-parking facilities, is now occupied by exclusive flats. 20901/04 on a Rail Head Treatment Train passing Wandsworth Road on 18 November 1995. Dawn at London Bridge in January 1995. I could have done without the Penge one legged man standing at the end of the platform! 'Broad Street Banger' No. 501137 on a Ricmond service. Broad Street August 1984 It was cold in London on this night and snow flurries were making photography uncomfortable. 45148 waits at St. Pancras before heading north with the overnight newspaper train to Huddersfield on 1 March 1986. Unusual power for the nightly Newcastle mails from St. Pancras was 47971'Aviemore Centre'. Class 31 No. 31438 was shunting some engineers wagons in Acton South Yard when I caught it crossing the Grand Union Canal on 29 October 1988. A rare visitor to Acton South Yard was Class 45 No 45052 doing a spot of shunting on 5 February 1988. Class 47 No.47201 passes North Pole Junction signalbox with the 13.55 Eastbourne-Edinburgh on 27 June 1988. Class 58 No.58010 hurries through Hadley Wood station with a 'Pathfinder Tours' Yeovil-Spalding train for the Tulip Parade on 1 May 1999. I include Hadley Wood in this collection by virtue of the fact that it is the limit of use of a 'One Day Travel Card' so in my book it is London! 6267 forms a Charing Cross-Sevenoaks service at Petts Wood Junction on 27 December 1985. Customers on the Anglo-Scottish sleepers had been complaining about the noise emitted from the air-conditioning system on Mark III stock which was preventing them from having a good night's sleep. Ilford Depot was awarded the contract for fitting silencing equipment. This accounts for the appearance of former locomotive 84009(departmental ADB968021) at the depot because it could pick-up power through its pantograph to test the modifications carried out. 31 August 1984 Euston is a difficult place to take good train pictures. 87001 in blue and 86248 in 'Inter-City' livery wait to form trains to Glasgow and Liverpool during February 1985. 'Bubble' No.55029 forms a Greenford-Paddington through working as it approaches Acton on 25 June 1988. Stratford Diesel Repair Shop (DRS) usually held a good variety of traction. Recently repaired 40060 and 31199 are ready to go back into traffic during March 1978. A scene from the past. These Class 317 units have had a chequered history. 317309 sits under Barlow's arch at St. Pancras with the 18.20 to Bedford on 2 January 1988. The driver seems to have his feet up in the cab and is having a kip! Glimpsed inside Cricklewood shed are 45149 together with 317324 and 317306. 7 April 1988 The Class 83s finished their working careers on ecs trains between Euston and Wembley. On 7 April 1987 83009 was present on Wembley stabling point. VSOE specials usually start from Victoria terminus. Here, 33061 is ready to head an evening dining special on 13 December 1986 'Slim Jim' Class 33 No. 33211 stands at Clapham Jct. Yard on 13 December 1986. 'The Statesman' was a special charter to The Lake District' It is seen here passing Carpenders Park behind 47823 on a very dull 2 July 1994. It was so dull, indeed, that I was forced to use Kodachrome 200 to record this image instead of my more usual 64 ASA emulsion. Kensington Olympia station in West London is a good place to watch trains by virtue of the fact that it has free toilet facilities - unusual in London. 47840 calls with the 09.18 Brighton- Manchester. During the 80's I possessed a lineside permit which enabled me to reach the top of Harringey Flyover. This was the location for this picture of 47586 pasing with the Leeds-Kings Cross vans on 22 January 1989. Class 47 No.47629 has just left Mitre Bridge Junction and is crossing the Grand Union Canal and the GW main line with the 10.30 Liverpool Lime Street-Dover Marine on 5 February 1988. With youngsters fishing in the Grand Union Canal, Class 47 No.47575 passes Acton with the 13.55 Eastbourne-Edinburgh on 18 June 1988. Class 47 No.47513'Severn' has just taken over haulage of the 07.20 Liverpool Lime Street-Dover at Mitre Bridge Junction on 3 October 1987. Wandsworth Road is always busy and sees a fair amount of freight traffic. 47358 passes on 18 November 1985 with a Crewe-Thameport(Grain) FLR. Three Class 47s, three liveries! Nos. 47802, 47462 and 47366 pass Hayes and Harlington in convoy on 4 March 1995. Shot from atop the crane at Stratford DRS ON 27 fEBRUARY 1988, 47096 IS UNDER REPAIR. Rare traction for the 'beds'! Class 47 No 47114 shunts Mk111 sleeper stock at Bounds Green on 29 January 1989. This spot at West Ealing used to be a great place for railway photography. Unfortunately the erection of overhead wires to Heathrow have completely spoilt it. 47519 passes with the 13.15 Paddington-Oxford on 25 June 1988. Resplendant in First Great Western liovery 47816 charges Southall Station with the 09.30 Plymouth-Paddington on 6 February 2002. In XP64 livery Class 47 No.47583 passes Southall with 1V93 O9.15 Manchester Piccadilly-Paddington on 1 December 2001. 1013'Western Ranger' arrives at Paddington with an extra from Plymouth. 22 January 1977. Two days previously this loco had worked from Swansea to Leeds and return causing a minor sensation in the Yorkshire city. Passing Wimbledon on its way to Waterloo, the 09.35 from Salisbury is being propelled by 'bagpipe' Class 33/1 No.33115 on 5 October 1986. Class 33 No.33047 passes Vauxhall station en route to Exeter on 14 November 1982. During an official visit to Hither Green depot 33050 and 56006 were basking in the sunshine. Despite what it says on the clock the time was not 7 am or pm! With appropriate headboard, Class 33 No.33065 rushes the down 'Bournemaouth Belle' through Raynes Park on 20 September 1986. This used to be a great place to watch trains except for the roar of traffic on the A40 behind. Descending to the GW main line at Acton Wells 37892 takes a short rake of oil wagons from Ripple Lane to Micheldever via Reading. Ripple Lane shed in Dagenham always had a good selection of traction on view. A selection of Class 47s was the order of the day here with 47052 on the far left. March 1987. Passing North Wembley is 47197 at the head of 6m26 Dagenham-Crewe Gresty Lane car train. Bursting out of Gasworks Tunnel, Class 47 No.47570 heads a King's Cross-Newcastle charter on 25 May 1987. The 12.10 Ramsgate-Edinburgh was booked for 'Deltic' haulage throughout during summer 1999. D9000 passes Earls Court on 3 July of that year. Daleks are breeding fast in East London and this one is threatening to 'exterminate' 66712 and its consist comprising Southern EMUs Nos. 3516,3401 and 3575 en route from Shoeburyness-Newport for scrapping. The ensemble was recorded passing Gospel Oak on 7 June 2005. The old order at Stratford, East London. 307102 passes with a LVST-Southend Victoria train on 30 January 1985. The old type signal - I am told it is not a searchlight-looks somewhat dated now. I wonder how many people bother to take pictures of the Waterloo and City Line? When I took this picture it was still in BR hands. Car S62 waits to work back to Waterloo at Bank station on 5 October 1986. Note the car in Network SothEast livery further down the train. Multicoloured 319218 forms the 14.10 Watford-Brighton service at Kensington Olympia on 25 June 2004. Semaphore signals in central London! 501157 arrives at Broad Street with a service from Richmond on 18 August 1984.

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]]> Fri Jul 13 2007 Trains in the Garden of England http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1318698.html I went to university in Canterbury during the mid 1960s and Kent has been one of my favourite counties ever since. Unfortunately it is not always easy to record interesting trains in the county and the choice of routes for anything which does run is bewildering! Here are a few scanned slides of trains in 'The Garden of England'. Wednesday 4 July 2007: I went to university in Canterbury during the mid 1960s and Kent has been one of my favourite counties ever since. Unfortunately it is not always easy to record interesting trains in the county and the choice of routes for anything which does run is bewildering! Here are a few scanned slides of trains in 'The Garden of England'.

92010 Kemsing Class 73s Nos 73131+73101 double head the HRT 'Garden of England' railtour up Hildenborough Bank on 14 February 1998. Eynsford Viaduct is a great place to take pictures of trains. In the late 1990s one was guaranteed at least four freights on a SUNDAY! Here an unidentified Class 92 heads for Dollands Moor on 18 October 1998 ( a Sunday) An air-braked freight from Carlisle is backed into Dover Town Yard by Class 47 No. 47245 on 4 September 1987 A Class 58 in East Kent. 'Mainline' liveried No. 58019 heads west with a train of ballast hoppers at Ashford during April 1996. Class 73 No.73003 heads the daily Ramsgate-New Cross Gate vans through Archcliffe Junction, Dover on 13 February 1988. Snow is quite rare on the coast at Dover. This leg of 'The Vulcan Voyager' Railtour from Ashford-Folkestone East was entrusted to JA Class 73 No. 73003. It was recorded passing Westenhanger Station on 15 March 1986. The land to the right where the parked car can be seen is now occupied by the new Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Class 92 No. 92001 passes Kemsing with a Wembley Dollands Moor freight on 14 February 1998. It was so warm on this February day that people were strutting around in shirtsleeves! AIA Charter 'The Canterbury Tales' nearing Ashford on the Maidstone line hauled by EPS cLASS 37S nOS 37601+602 ON 13 mAY 1995. The AIA Charters 'Canterbury Tales' railtour is hauled up the steep bank from Folkestone Harbour by 31275+207 (rare visitors to East Kent) on 13 May 1995. I could have done with some water in the harbour and done without the dratted seagulls! This manually operated crossing used to be quite an enigma on the main line south of Ashford. 'Eurostar' No 3308 passed with a Paris-Waterloo service in April 1995. Two 4CEP units with 1616 leading form a Victoria-Maidstone service at Petts Wood Jct on 27 December 1985. After a surfeit of turkey and Christmas pudding I had an itchy trigger finger and the railway had just re-opened after the Christmas shut down. The Gypsum factory at Mountfield, on the Hastings line, see 60007 arrive with another load of raw material from Drax Power Station, Yorkshire, on New Years Eve 1996. East Kent sometimes catches some severe weather that escapes the rest of the country. This was the case on 13 February 1986. With snow on the beach Class 47 No.47230 backs its ABS freight from Severn Tunnel Jct into Dover Town Yard. A different interpretation at Ashford. Class 47 No.47367 passes with a Channel Tunnel construction train from Sevington to Westbury on 12 February 1989. Michael J. Collins The Saturdays Only Summer Dated train from Birmingham-Ramsgate passes Farningham Road station on 20 July 1996 behind 47764 A Manchester-Dungeness Railtour crosses Romney Marsh on 11 February 1989 behind 33109. Class 33's Nos 33027+060 have just arrived at Cliffe Brett Marine with 7A63 from Battersea Yard during the afternoon of 25 July 1986. No, not a Railtour! This was a service train - albeit only running on summer Saturdays in 1999. D9000 approaches Faversham on the 12.10 Ramsgate-Edinburgh on 28 August 1999. The former steam shed, still extant, can be seen behind the rearmost carriage. Class 66 No.66042 heads 'The Kentish Container' railtour into Grain on 16 January 1999. 4CEP No.1510 heads a Victoria-Dover Priory service past Newington on 20 July 1996 The empty land to the right used to be occupied by Ashford (steam) running shed. Now it is occupied by the CTRL. 1516 passes with a Victoria-Dover Western Docks train on 16 October 1993 Is this what they mean by 'The Garden of England?' 4CEP No. 1551 passes lupins growing wild on the embankment at Tonbridge with a Margate-Charing Cross working on 1 June 1999. 1561 passes Reculver with a Victoria-Ramsgate service on 9 May 1998 The 'Jaffa Cake'livery suited the 4CEPs in my opinion. Here 1568 emerges from the eastern portal of Shakespeare Cliff Tunnel with a CharingCross-Margate service on on 4 September 1987. An Ashford-Margate service passes Deal on 10 November 1984 formed of 4CEP No.1571. Preparatory work for the Channel Tunnel had just started when I walked my way round to the western portal of Shakespeare Cliff Tunnel on 4 September 1987. 4CEP No.1589 passes with a Margate-Charing Cross working. The superb signalbox at Canterbury West spans all the tracks as 1619 shunts to form the 16.40 to Victoria on 9 May 1998. A 4CEP unit has just crossed the Kings Ferry Bridge, Swale, with a Sittingbourne-Sheernes working on 9 May 1998. A post Christmas 'trigger finger' took me to Grove Park on 27 December 1985 to record Hastings Unit No.1011 passing with a service from Charing Cross. Hither Green Yard is behind the train. In the depths of winter when the sun is not shining one sometimes has to resort to desperate measures to take interesting colour photographers. I was deleighted to find the only Class 73 in overall engineer's grey livery at Hoo Junction on 8 Dedcember 1996 but the light was totally unsympathetic. This was the best that I could do on this cold drizly day! In 'Connex' livery 508209 was recorded at Tonbridge holding sidings ready to form a service to Gatwick Airport on 1 June 1999. Crossing the Swale at Kings Ferry 508210 in 'Connex' livery was forming a Sheerness-on-Sea-Sittingbourne service on 28 August 1999. The aggregate loading facility at Cliffe Brett Marine deals with dredged minerals from the tidal Thames estuary. It is situated on a branch from the Hoo Jct-Grain line. Working on its 750hp diesel engine 'electro-diesel' No. 73103 has just arrived with 6Y94 empties from Purley and has run round its train ready to depart after the wagons have been refilled. 26 July 1986. Cuxton is situated on the line betwen Maidstone and Strood. It used to boast some fine semaphore signals. With the M2 bridge in the background EMU No.6401 departs for Strood on 25 July 1986. More recently another bridge has been erected in the background carrying the CTRL over this line and the Medway Valley. The 'Eurostars' have transformed travel between London and the Continent. No.3005 passes Aldington, south of Ashford, on the classic route working off the third rail. Work on the new high speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link is in progreee behind. Photo dated 21 August 2001 One of the problems of photographing trains in Kent is that much of the network is overgrown making vantage points difficult to find. This was true near Edenbridge when 37602 and 37603 were running on 'Pathfinder's' Medway Medicaster Railtour. 11 March 2000. On the left Class 92 No.92928 waits to go to Frethun with 6B31 Wembley-Lille freight. I was priveleged to ride in the cab of this train through to France. Meanwhile on the right 92036 and 66095 are stabled at Dolland Moor waiting for their next working. 1 June 1999. On the fifth anniversary of freight trains running through the Channel Tunnel - hence the special headboard- Class 92 No.92001 waits to proceed to France. The train is 6B47 Washwood Heath-Brescia photographed at Dollands Moor on 1 June 1999. 'Dutch' liveried Class 37 No.37230 crosses the Kings Ferry bridge with a Sheerness-Finsbury Park charter on 28 August 1999. The Dagenham-Silla (Spain) car parts train is one of the longest hauls on the British network. Class 47 No. 47287 passes Headcorn with the train during August 1997. Heading for the Channel Tunnel Class 47 No 47309 plus another unidentified member of the class pass Headcorn Station with a Wembley-Dollands Moor service during October 1997. EWS Class 37s No.37695+37071 approach Otford Junction with 6Z33 Headcorn-Hoo Junction engineer's spoil train on 27 April 1997. It had been a dreadfully rainy week, I remember, and I was very pleased when Saturday dawned dry and clear. So, I ventured out to Kent to record the special VSOE 12.10 Waterloo-Waterloo via Hastings train passing Tonbridge with sparkling clean EWS Class 37 No. 37697 at the helm. The 4-SUB units (known to enthusiasts as 'Marys') were full of character. Here, in woebegone condition, No. 4714 awaits its fate at the premises of Smeeth Metals who were breaking them up on some spare track at Hoo Junction Yard on 1 June 1984. Another view of 4-SUB No. 4714 awaiting scrapping at Hoo Junction on 1 June 1984. In the background can be seen the diminutive Hoo Junction Staff Halt station - a facility erected solely for the use of railway staff employed in the yards. Work was in full swing on the CTRL when I visited Aldington on 21 August 2001. Passing by was EWS Class 66 No. 66178 on a Wembley-Dollands Moor freight working. Reflected in the still waters of a lake, an unidentified Class 37 descends Hildenborough Bank with ballast destined for Tonbridge Yard on 14 February 1998. One of the features of the Dover Western Docks-Victoria boat trains in the 1980s was the Motor Luggage Vans which used to be placed at the head of the train. Here, No. 9008, in 'Jaffa Cake' livery heads a 12-car 4-CEP rake out of Shakespeare Cliff Tunnel on its way to the capital on 4 September 1987. During the 1990s Channel Tunnel freight trains were frequently handled by pairs of Class 47s. Here, 47298 plus 218 were in charge of the 7M29 11.10 Dollands Moor-Wembley as the train passed Otford Junction on 27 April 1997. As usual the sun goes in on the front of th train leaving the back fully lit. A nightmare to expose!

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]]> Wed Jul 4 2007 Benelux Railways (Scanned Slides) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1306211.html Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands have interesting railway sytems which carry plenty of traffic. Here is a selection of slides from my travels around the countries. Monday 18 June 2007: Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands have interesting railway sytems which carry plenty of traffic. Here is a selection of slides from my travels around the countries.

CFL No. 1501 Esch. April 2006 NS1633 has just arrived at Utrecht with thw 13.29 Maastricht-Haarlem train. 27 October 1996 NS electric No. 1732 between duties at Roosendaal station on 25 August 2001. NS 2026 Service to Haarlem. Zandvoort 27 October 1996 SNCB No.1901 ( a prototype dual-voltage locomotive). Arrival from Mons via Tournai. Lille Flandres, March 1997. This was one of its regular workings. SNCB 7753 Liege Kinkempois-Chental steel. Bressoux 8 April 2004 SNCB 2243 Antwerp-Brussels working. Mechelin 24 August 2001 SNCB 1315 Oostende-Eupen service. Verviers 18 April 2001 SNCB 936 Antwerp-Essen service. Antwerpen Oost August 2001 ' Goat' NS 229 Haarlem 27 October 1996 Lovely weather for photography! SNCB No.693 pauses at Ans station forming a Liege-Waremme local service on 19 April 2001 Ans is a small town just outside Liege on the new high speed route to Brussels. Here SNCB unit No. 693 pauses on the classic line tracks forming a local service from Waremme to Liege Guillemans during an unseasonal brief snowstorm on 19 April 2001 These NS electrics are in the same family of locomotives as a number of French machines. NS1855 slows for the stop at Dordrecht with a Heerlen- Den Haag service on 25 August 2001 NS1731 prepares to Leave Hoorn with an express to Amsterdam during October 1996. These locos are almost identical to the SNCF CC71xx series. NS1309 pauses at Utrecht with an express from Amsterdam duirng October 1996 SNCB No.2735 descends the steep bank into Liege Guillimans with an Oostende-Eupen service on 18 April 2001. SNCB No. 1327 heads a Welkenraedt-Liege service towards Verviers station, in the Ardennes, on 18 April 2001. SNCB electric loco No. 1186 at the head of a Brussels-Amsterdam express at Dordrecht on 25 August 2001. These fine machines are almost exclusively used on the international services between the two capital cities. Plastered in snow from an unseasonable snow shower in the Ardennes, SNCB dual voltage electric No. 1603 stands at Aachen (Germany) station before continuing to Koln on 19 April 2001. SNCB diesels Nos 5178+5172 head an intermodal freight through Antwerpen Oost stations on their way to the terminal at Antwerpen Noord 0n 24 August 2001. By virtue of their protruding cab windows these units are dubbed 'Snorkels' by SNCB staff. No.936 passes Antwerpen Oost with a Antwerpen Centraal-Essen working on 24 August 2001. A CFL (Chemin de Fer Luxembourg) diesel working deep into France. No. 1806 passes the abandoned steel works at Uckange while heading an intermodal train from Bettembourg Yard to Woippy Yard (Metz).

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]]> Mon Jun 18 2007 French Railways (scanned slides) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1300775.html If you like railways you like France because it has wonderful scenery and a superb selection of trains to pursue. The country is blessed with significantly better weather than the UK. I particularly like the south, not the hustle and bustle of the Cote d'Azure, but in the Rhone Valley south of Lyon where you get all the climatic advantages of the Mediterranean without the hassel. Tuesday 2 July 1985: If you like railways you like France because it has wonderful scenery and a superb selection of trains to pursue. The country is blessed with significantly better weather than the UK. I particularly like the south, not the hustle and bustle of the Cote d'Azure, but in the Rhone Valley south of Lyon where you get all the climatic advantages of the Mediterranean without the hassel.

BB8213 Portes-Avignon Yard trip. Orange Gare 5 August 1992 25110 Strasbourg- Dijon freight Arzviller 27 July 1999 25170+17047 Oiry-s-Marne 8 April 1999 26043 Paris-Munich, Stambach 27 July 1999 BB8172+66246 N'bound freight. Gevrey Chambertin 30 July 1999 66442 at factory premises at Oiry-s-Marne 8 April 1999 Y Class shunter on the main line near St Jean de Maurienne, August 1995 67001+007 Miramas-Fos oil empties. Martigues August 1999. This fine viaduct spans an inlet of the Mediterranea sea. 68534+003 Ballast to Chalons sur Marne. St Dizier 26 July 1999 67064+053 Steel empties to Metz. Gevrey Chambertin 30 July 1999 20204 Basle-Mulhouse freight. Sieritz 29 July 1999. This class were victims of deliveries of more modern dual voltage machines and are now all withdrawn from service. 22268 Metz-Spain Intermodal, Rochemaure 7 August 1985 'Locotracteur' Locma Y5161 Avignon Depot 30 October 1999 TGV 07 forms a Marseille-Paris at the gvillage of L'Homme d'Arms, Montelimar during August 1996. Another line, largely freight only, runs behind the cooling towers of Cruas Nuclear Power Station seen in the distance. This is the left bank line. TGV 77 Montpellier-Paris Bollene la Croisiere August 1995. I think that the TGVs looked good in their original orange livery. TGV 19 Marseille -Paris St. Chamas 27 October 1999 TGV 111 Lausanne-Paris Mouchard August 1995 66709 Gevrey Chambertin Yard 30 July 1999 CC6517 Nice-Geneva express, Portes de Valence 3 August 1999 CC6523 Port Bou-Paris. Elne 18 August 1993 CC6531 +27020+27021 Miramas-Dijon freight. St. Montan 26 July 2002 CC6534 Port Bou-Paris. Leucate 17 August 1993. The water in the foreground is an etang - a salt water lake. CC6535 Lyon-Miramas freight. St Just d'Ardeche 5 August 1998. Note the fields of vines both sides of the line. They make a very good Cote du Rhone here. BB81xx Paris-Spain cars. St Just Plage 29 July 1998 BB8207 Lyon-Dijon freight. Chagny, 21 July 1991 BB8194 Berre-Paris 'Simotra' tanks. Gevrey Chambertin 4 August 1994 BB8159 Oil train to a factory at Ugine. St Jean de la Porte 30 July 1992. I only saw a few of these venerable locomotives on the Maurienne line. CC6567 Modane-Aix les Bains local Montmellian 2 August 1991 CC6561 Miramas-Lyon freight, Salon de Provence (Grans) 28 October 1999. The direct line from Mirimas up to Avignon. It only has a token passenger service. Waits between trains can sometimes be considerable. CC6568 Mirimas-Lyon freight. Mirimas Yard 7 April 1998 CC6570 Lyon-Miramas freight. Grans, Salon de Provence 1 August 2001 CC6571 Besancon-Bordeuax express. Nimes 29 October 1999 CC6565 Lyon-Modane freight. Eppiere 1 August 2002 CC6558 Test train St. Chamas 27 October 1999 CC6558 Modane-Lyon freight. Brison St. Innocent 27 July 2002. A heavy thunderstorm - so typical of this area in summer- can be seen brewing behind. CC6552 Freight from Paris. Miramas Yard 7 April 1998 CC6549 Freight to Madane Cruet 24 August 1992 CC6548 Metz-Nice express. Chagny 29 August 1994 CC6549+CC6509 Lyon-Miramas ftimber . St Montan 26 July 2002 CC6550 Paris- Marseille oil empties. Gevrey Chambertin 19 July 2002 CC6536 Extra train to Brussels Avignon 30 Oct 1999 CC6543 Lyon-Modane freight. Brison St. Innocent 02 August 2002 CC6565 Fos Yd-Lyon oils. Miramas 8 April 1998 CC6559 with'Poste' vehicles. Aix les Bains 2 August 1991 CC 6555 Paris-Modane overnight extra. St Jean de la Porte 3 August 1992. It was the beginning of the Paris August holidays and this train was full and standing. BB8180+BB8136 Fos-Lyon tanks Pont St Esprit 10 August 1995. Note the absence of fencing between the road and the railway. If the kids want to play football on the tracks it is up to them. Personal responsibility for safety! Quite right too! CC7123 Dijon Perrigny- Nimes freight. Gevrey Chambertin 30 July 1999 BB8140 Paris Austerlitz May 2000. I think the old livery really suited these machines. CC7121 Engineer's train to Nimes Yard. Bagnuls-s-Seze 12 August 1997 BB8101 cement to Lyon. Cruas (Lafarge) works 7 August 1992

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]]> Tue Jul 2 1985 American Railways (Scanned Slides) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1298524.html I took a trip to the west coast of the USA during 2000. Unfortunately Mr. Kodachrome succeeded in losing seven of my precious KR25 films - 900 exposures! I still had a few on Fuji film and here is a selection. Tuesday 18 July 2000: I took a trip to the west coast of the USA during 2000. Unfortunately Mr. Kodachrome succeeded in losing seven of my precious KR25 films - 900 exposures! I still had a few on Fuji film and here is a selection.

A Portland-Seattle 'Ta;go' train recorded near Kelso, Washington. Union Pacific Nos 9036, 9285 and 6117 pass Dunsmuir, Ca, in 100 degree heat during August 2000. Two more locos await their next turn of duty on the right. UP eastbound, Columbia River Gorge Columbia River Gorge, near Wishram Dexter Lake, Eugene, Or. Tehachapi, Ca wEST cOAST sTARLIGHT, NEAR sPRINGFIELD, wA Seattle-Portland 'Talgo', near Springfield, Wa Monolith, Tehachapi, Ca Mojave, Ca BNSF 4907 PLUS Imx 8570. Steel coils from Barstow line. 7August 2000. Springfield, Wa Northbound West Coast Starlight. Klamath Falls, 1 August 2000 'The Empire Builder', Seattle-Chicago, passes near to the Hood River Bridge in the Columbia River Gorge during an August evening in 2000. I had waited for over an hour for this train. What a pity I didn't bother to wait for a couple more minutes after it passed - a freight was right on its tail! Such are the tribulations of railroad photography in the USA.

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]]> Tue Jul 18 2000 German Railways (Scanned Slides) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1298258.html I get much of my railway entertainment abroad these days. The British scene has become so tame and predictable. Particularly sad is the decline of freight traffic in Great Britain. Quite how Germany gets so much traffic onto its railways defeats me! The torrent of freight which traverses the middle Rhine valley is unbelievable. Even at the weekend the freight just rumbles on. Go try it! Saturday 2 August 1980: I get much of my railway entertainment abroad these days. The British scene has become so tame and predictable. Particularly sad is the decline of freight traffic in Great Britain. Quite how Germany gets so much traffic onto its railways defeats me! The torrent of freight which traverses the middle Rhine valley is unbelievable. Even at the weekend the freight just rumbles on. Go try it!

An express from Koblenz-Basel passes near Buhl, Alsace, with 103 220-0 at the head. The locomotive is painted in a special livery for. I understand that the loco has now been preserved in this livery. 101 085-9 Lorchausen. On this day passenger trainswere being diverted through here rather than taking the other Rhine Valley line on the opposite side of the river. 103 109-5 Buhl, Alsace 140 392-2 Kaub 140 759-2 Bad Krozingen 141 xxx Bullay. The line between Koblenz and Trier in the Moselle Valley is very scenic and photographic opportunities abound. 141 299-8 Karlsruhe 155 195-1 Bietigheim, Alsace Rail4Chem 145CL005 kAUB 'Rabbit' No.218 364-8 has just arrived at Cologne Hbf. 103 184-8 Aachen Hbf 101 080-0 Bruhl. It was a real headache getting this 'Aspirin' liveried locomotive on film! 101 143-6 Bruhl 120 130-6 Kaub. Passenger trains were being diverted onto this line on this occasion. 110 360-2 (left) 110 144-3 (right) Cologne Hbf 101 008-1 Basel, Switzerland. The lady in blue standing next to the locomotive was my lady-friend. She became my wife in 2006. Good job she likes trains! 155 272-8 passes Lorchausen with a northbound freight train during April 2002. These East German built locomotives were readily accepted by the German Railway authorities when the two countries were unified and they can now be seen at work all over the country. 218 300-2 Karlsruhe 181 220-5 arriving at Trier Hbf with a train from Koblenz to Luxembourg. 26 April 2000. 140 034-0 Aachen Hbf 140 712-1 with a freight train for Basel passes closes to Buhl, Alsace, on 30 July 1996. Although this line carries a great volume of traffic, good photographic positions can sometimes be difficult to find. 140 652-7 is looped at Bad Krozingen to allow passage of an express. The freight is destined for Basel and onwards into Switzerland. 6 August 1992. 110 411-6 plus a rogue at Koblenz. My mate Steve is a great travelling companion. 112 156-5 AAchen-Dortmund local Rheydt Hbf 14 April 2005 143 972-8 Heidelburg-Basel service. Karlsruhe 28 July 1999 141xxx Trier-Koblenz service. Neef 3 April 2002 Panned shot of 103 206-9 heading a Basel-Mannheim express near Achern, Alsace, in early August 1996 In the Rhine Valley 101 098-2 approaches Boppard with 09.22 Karsruhe-Nordiech-Mole on 3 April 2002. Note the vines on the hillside to the left. Germany produces some excellent wines in this region. 112-155-7 propells its train from Aachen-Dortmund out of Herzogenrath Hbf on 14 April 2005 143 177-4 with a Hamm-Munchengladbach service pauses at Wuppertal Hbf on 14 April 2005 The East German constructed Class 155s are ideal workhorses for heavy freight trains and since unification can be seen all over the German Railway syste. No.155 147-2 passes Achern during August 1996 with a freight for Basel. I think that these German ICE (Inter City Express) trains are superb and really look the part. 401 073-2 approaches Bad Krozingen with a Frankfurt-Basel express on 6 August 2001.

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]]> Sat Aug 2 1980 British Steam (Scanned Slides) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1292192.html My railway interest was spawned on steam as a lad when I lived in Yorkshire during the 1950s and 60s. These days I tend to avoid going out to photograph main line steam. I find the antics of the photographic 'Fangio mob' - chasing trains, trespassing and being generally idiotic very distasteful and embarrassing. I enjoy visiting steam preservation lines but I do wish they would keep their locomotives DIRTY! When I can afford to buy my own Tardis I want to go back into the 1950s. Taking my current photographic equipment and knowledge with me! Thursday 31 May 2007: My railway interest was spawned on steam as a lad when I lived in Yorkshire during the 1950s and 60s. These days I tend to avoid going out to photograph main line steam. I find the antics of the photographic 'Fangio mob' - chasing trains, trespassing and being generally idiotic very distasteful and embarrassing. I enjoy visiting steam preservation lines but I do wish they would keep their locomotives DIRTY! When I can afford to buy my own Tardis I want to go back into the 1950s. Taking my current photographic equipment and knowledge with me!

Castle Class, Burrs 'Crab' 2-6-0 No 42765. East Lancs Railway 6990 Kinchley Lane 92240 Freshfield 41708 Weybourne 33001 Freshfield, Bluebell Railway On hire to the Blebell Railway during March 1996 was GWR tank No. 4567. This brought memories flooding back because I saw this loco at work in South Devon in 1961. My favourite preserved line! Shame it is so far away from home. Ex GWR 2-8-0 Tank No.5228 is in pleasantly dirty condition as it passes Woodthorpe on a demonstartion freight in May 1994. Rebuilt West Country No.34039 heads for Leicester past Kinchley Lane on 30 August 1996. This shot got rid of the train chasing idiots! High up in the multi-storey car park at Bromley South I saw an MN 'Pacific' masquerading as 35017 on a VSOE special to Canterbury on 29 Sepember 1998. Visiting the North Norfolk Railway was 41708 and it is seen here near Weybourne. Class V2 No. 60800 looks distinctly 'odd' in this shot passing Melton Mowbray on a Paddington-P'bor' trip on 1 September 1999. Did V2s ever work through here in real BR days? The 'Bluebell Railway' is great but I wish they would run their locos in a less pristine condition. Standard Class 5 4-6-0 No. 73082 storms Freshfield Bank during December 1996 with a 'Santa Special'. I don't know what was going on here! I was taking pictures at Acton completely unaware that any steam was running! Standard 2-6-4 tank No.80080 heads back to Kidderminster ( I think) during June 1994 The Great Central again. 'Hymek' D7076 pilots 6990 Witherslack Hall towards Kinchley Lane during March 1996. Visiting GWR 2-6-2T No.4141 passes Kinchley Lane with a Loughborough-Leicester service. GCR 2-8-0 No.63601 passes Woodthorpe with a Loughborough-Leicester train. I never saw one of these locos on a passenger train in BR days. The BR Class 9fs were real beasts! In Yorkshire we used to call them 'spaceships'! Here 92212 works hard on the Great Central Railway during December 1999. There is a myth in railway photographic circles saying words to the effect that you can't take a decent picture if the sun isn't out. SECR No.592 steams vigorously at Sheffield Park before heading the first service to Kingscote during a dull February 1996. 46203 seems to have a good head of steam as it passes Hayes and Harlington on 26 March 1994 with a special from Paddington to Cheltenham. As a lad I used to catch my train home from school at this very platform at Keighley. 'Big Eight' No 48431 has just arrived tender first from Haworth. I used to love these machines as a lad. A4 'Pacific' No.60009 (then named 'Osprey') has just passed Sanquhar during March 1991 with a Scxottish Railway Preservation Society special. Although they do not look too brutish, these ex-war department Hunslett built 0-6-0s are immensly powerful. On the Kent and East Sussex Railway Hunslett No.24 William H. Austin blasts up the bank into Tenterden Town with a Santa Special in December 1993. This could almost be a shed scene from the past. Stanier 2-8-0 No. 48305 is being prepared for the days duties at Loughborough. West Country 'Pacific' No 34039 is out of steam behind. Photo dated 28 August 1996. As kids in Yorkshire we called these engines 'Big 8s'. We didn't often see them on passenger trains, however, except occasionally on excursions to Backpool or Morecambe. Here, Stanier 2-8-0 No 48431 has just arrived at Haworth station with a service from Keighley on 28 August 1986. The lady on the footbridge steps is obviously a 'normal' and she can't believe her eyes as Standard Class 4 2-6-0 sweeps past Marks Tey station 0n 4 May 2002 with 'The Easterling' steam tour to Lowestoft. Re-visiting old haunts preserved 'Britannia' Pacific No.70000, the doyen of the class, works through Stansted on the GE Cambridge main line during June 1993.The loco must have worked this way thousands of times in its BR career. When I visited Dai Woodhams Barry scrapyard in August 1987 this was the only remaining steam engine that I could find - the rusting hulk of BR Standard 2-6-4 tank No. 80104. It is a testament to the skills and sheer grit of restoration teams that this loco is now alive and kicking and running in superb condition on the Isle of Purbeck Railway. just over 20 years later. In the 1970s and 80s everything on BR was painted 'Rail Blue' - including the steam engines operating on the Vale of Rheidol Railway. Here, No8 approaches Devil's Bridge with a service from Aberystwyth during May 1977. The Wells and Walsingham Railway in North Norfolk is worth a look. Their loco No.3 is primimg a bit as it departs Wells for Walsingham on a sunny day in May 1992. It's the ugly bug ball! These machines were brutes but they did stirling service on the Southern being immensley powerful. Restored Class Q1 No. C1 (BR number 33001) emerges from Sharpthorne Tunnel on the Bluebell Railway with a Sheffield Park-Kingscote service during July 1996. On hire from the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway 'Sir Winston Churchill' prepares to leave Hoveton and Wroxham with a Bure Valley train to Aylsham during October 1990. In the early 1950s I used to travel this trackbed - then standard gauge- with my mother on our weekly visits to see my maternal grandfather who lived at Buxton-Lammas. Traction in those days was usually an E4 tank! 'Merchant Navy' 4-6-2 No. 35028 was a regular performer on the main line during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Here she passes King's Sutton on 30 June 1990 with a Didcot-Derby working.

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]]> Thu May 31 2007 Indian Railways (Scanned Slides) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1287552.html In October 2003 I had the chance visit India. It was not an exclusively railway trip but in the three weeks that I was in the country the opportunity arose to take a few pictures. Unlike in this country the local railwaymen are immensley proud of their railway - incidentally India's biggest employer - and they are only too pleased to show hospitality to Western visitors. Here is a selection of scanned slides. Saturday 26 May 2007: In October 2003 I had the chance visit India. It was not an exclusively railway trip but in the three weeks that I was in the country the opportunity arose to take a few pictures. Unlike in this country the local railwaymen are immensley proud of their railway - incidentally India's biggest employer - and they are only too pleased to show hospitality to Western visitors. Here is a selection of scanned slides.

Mumbai Central. Electric loco No. 21829 Delhi express, Dehradun Dehradun shed Evening at Mumbai Central. Electric loco No.21832 Class WDP4 No.20001 Delhi Central Shed Bombay Central WCG/2 No.20146 at Mumbai Victoria shed. October 2003 Indian Railways employees are very welcoming and there was no problem wandering around New Delhi Station loco depot. Electric loco No. 21239 was 'on shed' at the time of my visit. Indian Railways electric No. 21935 at Bombay Victoria station. New Delhi station is a bit like Ipswich nsofar as the depot is alongside the station. There is always hustle and bustle on Indian stations and it is amazing how much parcels traffic travels by rail. Here, another load of parcels is carted manually to its train as electric No. 22547 looks on. During three weeks in India this is the only named loco that I saw. But I'm perplexed! The nameplate reads 'Northen Railway Beauty Contest Winner'. What is going on? I don't quite know what was going on here at Bombay Victoria. Something was changing hands and all the blokes scuttled off looking guilty when they saw me with my camera! I thought it made an interesting picture, however. Bombay Victoria station with one of Indian Railway's big electric locos (No.21935) in attendance. Note the bars over the cab windows - Indian trains sometimes hit elephants! Bombay Central station with a diesel shunter passing with a rake of empty coaching stock. Note the banana trees growing wild within the staion complex on the left. Bombay Victoria shed with two WCAM 3 electric locos Nos 21935 and 21959 in attendance. I like to include people in my railway pictures. These two silhouettes fill an empty and boring space as the diesel loco ticked (No.15521) over at New Delhi station. Meanwhile, in the background, an E Indian Railways diesel locomotive No.16828 on shed at New Delhi. A shunter goes about its business at New Delhi station. Silhouettes of people as Indian Railways diesel No 15525 departs from New Delhi station with a train for Amritsar. Indian Railway police are armed with rifles and go around in triplicate! So beware! Three are seen here at New Delhi with Indian Railways electric Class WAG No.23267 in the background. Only once in three weeks was I asked to desist from taking pictures. A view of Dehradun station from the window of the adjacent signal box. A diele loco shunts the station area. A view from the cab window of the New Delhi Station switcher. An unidentified service ( I couldn't understand the announcements!) prepares to leave New Delhi station behind Indian Railways diesel No 15052. Notice the vast amount of parcels traffic in the foreground waiting to be loaded onto trains.

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]]> Sat May 26 2007 Scanned Slides (Anglia Excepted) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1287462.html Some scanned slides rom my travels up and down the British Isles in the search for interesting railway subjects to photograph. Saturday 26 May 2007: Some scanned slides rom my travels up and down the British Isles in the search for interesting railway subjects to photograph.

The Menstrie Branch was a haunt of Class 26s in the 1980s and 90s. Here 26037 heads for Thornton Junction with the 'almost daily' train of molasses tanks during April 1990 6V57 05.48 Mossend-Llanwern steel empties passes Wooferton with 37203 in charge on 27 May 1992. Glinting in the rising sun, Class 37 No.37411 approaches Healey Mills, Wakefield, with a Doncaster-Castleton train of rails. Photo dated 19 February 2004. A Swansea-Newcastle express speeds along the racing stretch north of York at Pilmoor behind 43079. Photo taken on 25 August 1984. 43082 heads a Newcastle-Kings Cross train past Benningborough on 21 August 1984. The 09.30 Kings Cross - Aberdeen was diverted via Cambridge on 15 April 1987. Here it passes Meldreth with 43084 doing the work. When electrification work was taking place on the ECML north of Darlington many trains were diverted via the Leamside line. This was the case on 19 March 1989 when 43088+079 took the 09.55 Aberdeen-Kings Cross past Wardley Colliery. Old Linslade, on the WCML has a number of photographic possibilities. 47355 has just passed through the tunnel on the 08.35 Wembley-Lawley Street FLR on 29 May 1998. A Birmingham-Glasgow express diverted via the Settle and Carlisle line passes Dent with 47558 in charge on 2 May 1987. The 22.15 Euston-Inverness sleeper approaches Tomatin with 47630 in charge on 23 March 1989. An Aberdeen-Edinburgh express passes Montrose Basin on 9 April 1990 hauled by 47641 The 17.25 Glasgow-Aberdeen hauled by 47707 approaches Montrose on 8 April 1990. The old vacuum braked hoppers for the Blyth-Fort William alluminium ore trains can be seen in profile as 56114 passes Lynemouth during August 1991. As Class 56s are not vacuum fitted the locomotive will be supplying all braking power for the train and the driver will be proceeding very gingerly. 47014 on the Aberdeen-Tees 'Speedlink' at Carmont. 47039 pauses at Exeter St Davids with a Paddington-Penzance service during August 1977. The semaphore signal gantry is, of course, long gone. 47053 passing Marholme with the Ketton-Kings Cross cements long before overhead wires on the adjacent ECML spoilt the view at this location. 47119 Gauber, Ribblehead 47096 passing Edale with the Asburys-Earls Sidings cement train. 47474 on a Skegness-Leeds service crossing the river at Boston, Lincs. Viwed from the top of the 'Boston Stump' - England's tallest parish church. 81009 viewed across a field of ripening oilseed rape near Leighton Buzzard with a Willesden-Holyhead Freightliner. 85007 approaching Berkswell station with a Poole-Manchester train which it has taken over at Coventry. 73126 at the head of a Bournemouth-Waterloo train passing St Denys on 4 April 1987. 58002 Strathclyde liveried Class 101 leaves Heckington with a Sgegness-Nottingham local train. Class 47 No.47706 at Glasgow Queen Street ready to depart for Edinburgh. The little girl in red in the background is my daughte, Sarah, now a fully grown woman and a succesful teacher. 60034 with an mgr train for Ravenscraig Steel Works at Hunterston terminal. The Menstrie-Glasgow molasses tanks passes Stirling behind 26037. One of SAtirling's steam sheds was located on the land immediately in front of the gas holder. Early morning at Shap. Class 85 No. 85037 passes with the first Birmingham-Glasgow service of the day on 1 June 1987 A cold day at Colton Jct. York! An unidentified Class 56 passes by with a Tyne Yard- Drax mgr during February 1998 47550 22.15 Euston-Inverness sleeper. Culloden. 21 March 1989 Conisborough, on the Sheffield-Doncaster line is not an easy location to take pictures. I was pleased to find these wild flowers to add interest to the scene as 31453 passed with the 08.41 Manchester Piccadilly-Cleethorpes on 22 August 1985. Steam heating!25224 plus inspection saloon at Helsby Junction. 20 Feb 1985 A crisp morning at Culloden as Class 47/4 No.47642 heads south with the 10.35 Inverness-Euston on 21 March 1989 Joan Croft crossing is just north of Doncaster on the East Coast Main Line. An HST approaches on an Aberdeen-Kings Cross train as my mate Alan summons the crossing keeper! The North of London Eurostars were a dead duck from the beginning. Having failed at Rugby this set is towed ignominiously south at Bletchley by European Passenger Services Class 37 No.37601 The Newqcastle-Carlisle line is very scenic and the reign of these former West Country based 'Skipper' units was shortlived. Here, one of the units heads towards Blaydon with a Carlisle train in August 1991. The remains of Stella Power Station can be seen in the background. For some reason Class 25s were known by enthusiasts as 'rats'! Possibly because they used to always come out of holes! At Leighton Buzzard Nos25145+057 head a Saturday afternoon Lawley St.-Willesden Freightliner on 18 May 1985. Class 47 No.47120 heads a long string of BP gas tankes past Somerton, Newport, on 2 August 1997. The Uskmouth Branch, then largely disused, can be seen in the right foreground. Winwick Junction, north of Warrington is a fruitful place to take phots. 47228 passes on 31 August 1993 with a Middlewich-Dalry train of rock salt. Class 47 No.47283 has just left Ribblehead stone siding with its train of ballast for Healey Mills. The loco will run round its train when it regains the double track section in about half a mile. Ingleborough broods in the background. Visits to Motive Power Depots are not easy these days. They are also not that rewarding because modern economics dictate that traction units should be out on the line earning their keep. 47414 was recorded under maintenance at Gateshead Depot in May 1985 At Barkeston East Junction Class 47 No. 47537 passes with the Skegness-Leeds Saturdays Only Summer Dated ytrain which will reach its destination via Nottingham Threading the North Downs near Redhill is Class 47 No.47818 at the head of the Brighton-Manchester train during May 1996. Disparate liveried Class 56s Nos 56031+044 Cross the River Usk at Newport on 27 October 1998 witha Port Talbot_Llanwern iron ore train. Class 59/2 No. 59201 ( still in National Power livery) heads for Drax Power Station as it passes Whitley Bridge during August 1997. Fog in the Glasgow suburbs at Johnstoun. Class 60 No. 60034 heads for Ravenscraig steel works with an mgr coal train from Hunterston during February 1991. 'Roarer' Class 81 No. 81004 approaches Marston Gree station on 27 October 1984 with a Motors Show special to Birmingham International from the Preston area. Preserved by the National Railway Museum pioneer electric locomotive No. E5000 gets a trip on the main line.Here. the 'Pathfinder' Southern Coasterman tour passes Southerham Junction om 20 April 1996 with the venerable machine at the helm. Excursion trains to Skegness are still known as 'Jolly Fishermen'. Here the man himself is depicted at Skegness Station during September 1990 with a classic dmu behind. A cold foggy day at Colton Jct, York, called for some creative photography. Differential focussing produced this shot of an unidentified Class 47 on a Newcastle-Liverpool working during February 1992.

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]]> Sat May 26 2007 Scanned Slides (Anglia) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1287459.html My good friend Les Nixon always says that 'you take your best pictures within 20 miles of home'. It may be true where he lives up in the Peak District but I am not sure if what he says is true in East Anglia where I live. Here are a few scanned slides spanning the last 30 years or so from my home area. By the way, Les also says that if he lived where I have to live he would have packed up railway photography years ago! Saturday 26 May 2007: My good friend Les Nixon always says that 'you take your best pictures within 20 miles of home'. It may be true where he lives up in the Peak District but I am not sure if what he says is true in East Anglia where I live. Here are a few scanned slides spanning the last 30 years or so from my home area. By the way, Les also says that if he lived where I have to live he would have packed up railway photography years ago!

These units look really old-fashioned these days. Class 302 No.302226 approaches Marks Tey with a LVST-Colchester train on 2 April 1985. cLASS 37S nOS 37221+054 pass Westerfield Jct with a Lawley St-Felixstowe FLR ON 16 jULY 1988. Class 47 No.47029 grunts a bit working the Mossend-Harwich PQ ABS freight up the bank past Ely Dock Jct on 1 June 1985. Passing Hatfield Peverel, Class 47 No.47569 heads the 11.40 Norwich-LVST on 18 April 1985 Silhouetted against the setting sun, Class 47 No. 47580 passes Black Bank, Little Downham, with the 12.30 Birmingham NS-Norwich on 20 December 1986. 'One' Class 47 No.47818 hauls a DBSO (No.9710) in the same colours with the 08.00 LVST-Norwich which had failed earlier in the same day. Photographed at Rivenhall on 13 May 20005. 86214 passes Bentley, Ipswich, with a Norwich-Liverpool Street train. This trainspotter at Ipswich was so intent on recording the number of 153311 behind him that he didn't notice me taking his picture. They get a rough crowd at Ipswich. 47116 passes Witham in 1985 with a Stratford-Felixstowe Freightliner. A Class 302 is just visible on the left forming a local service to Braintree.Witham Marks Tey signalbox is still extant as 47129 passes with a Felixstowe-Stratford Freightliner on 12 March 1985. 47195 waits to leave March East with a Stanlow-Thameshaven special tank train. 47143 with ballast empties at Croft Street, Ipswich. The former Ipswich steam locomotive depot, now demolished, can be seen in the background. 47055 passes Domseys Farm, Kelvedon during 1985 with a Stratford-Felixstowe Freightliner. This location has changed beyond all recognition in the interim with tall poplar trees growing on the right. 47102 stands at Wisbech with a brake van. The tractor, visible on the right, was used for shunting wagons at this location in the absence of a locomotive. 20214/170 prepare to leave the Barrington Cement Woprks exchange sidings at Foxton with empty mgr hoppers for Kings Lynn on 15 August 1989. The cement works was, at this time, receiving imported coal form Poland. Note the two 'Sentinel' locomotives on the left which had brought the wagons down from the factory area. 47222 at the head of a Sheffield-Great Yarmouth train at Norwich on 18 July 1992. 47492 with the postal vans to Wembley which will depart later in the evening.Norwich Yard 7 November 1999. Engineering work on the Norwich main line necessitated all trains to start from and terminate at Diss on this day. Class 47 No. 47116 ascends Belstead Bank with a LVST train with the remains of the snow proving reluctant to disappear. 47293 passes Silt Drove, March with a Great Yarmouth-Birmingham train on 27 March 1992. 47408 crossing the Fens near Soham with the Manchester-Harwich Parkeston Quay through train. 47014 with the sand train to Mile End Marks Tey Sidings. A class 86 passes on the adjacent main line with an express to Liverpool Street. 56064 passing March Station with a stone train. 47972 on the buffer stops at Norwich with a special train for Great Yarmouth which had brough in from Bury St. Edmunds. 'Cardiff Rod Mill' Ely Dock Jct 47018 with a Coatbridge-Felixstowe Freightliner passing Soham box. The single line section finishes just beyond here. 47655 passes Ely Dock Jct with a Charter train bound for Carlisle. 20311 with a special RHTT train which had been arranged at short notice to help with adhesion problems on the branch line to Great Yarmouth. Acle Station, 7 November 2006. It is quite a walk across the fields to this location at Ely North Junction. Class 47 No. 47010 approaches with the Cpatbridge-Felixstowe Freightliner which used to run by this route. 28 May 1986 HST No. 43112 passes Foxton station with a diverted Newcastle-Kings Cross express on 5 April 1987. 47526 with 1C78 Kings Lynn- Liverpool Street at Littlebury on 5 April 1987. 56061 with a stone train from Mountsorrel at Diss.Diss Cambridge Coldham Lane 47367 passing Ely North Junction with a train from Kings Lynn which on this occasion had been diverted to Kings Cross because of engineering works on the GE main line beyond Cambridge. The 'Networker' test train, hybrid unit No.316999, has just arrived at Colchester for special tests on the Clacton line. Photographed in poring rain and high winds. 47443 with the Leeds-Cambridge vans approaching March East on a particularly dull day. 47656 passes Foxton with the diverted 11.10 Kings Cross-Leeds on 5 April 1987. 86214 with the 09.30 Liverpool Street-Norwich passing Ardleigh. Non heat Class 47/3 No. 47315 forges up Belstead Bank, south of Ispwich with a special Dorridge-Harwich Parkeston Quay car train on 17 August 1989 About thirty seconds before the heavens opened. The daily Leeds-Felixstowe FLR passes Whittlesey during December 1999. I was so excited I didn't record the engine number! I am now reliably informed that it was 47292 working 4L85 Leeds-Felixstowe on 4 December 1999. Painted in 'Network SouthEast, colours Class 08 No. 08631 sits in Cambridge Coldham Lane depot on 19 October 1998 Bields Drove crossing, near Little Downham is one of my favourite East Anglian photo spots. On 18 August 1989 31240 passes with a train of 'RH Roadstone'hoppers. Dating back to the days when Great Northern expresses were diverted via Cambridge and March in the event of a blockage. HST 43079 forms the rear power car of the 09.00 from Edinburth to Kings Cross passing 2nd Drove in October 1989. Unbeknown to me at the time the 'Zetor' tractor in the foreground was quite rare, being manufactured in the Eastern bloc and delivered as a kit of parts! This platelayers hut at Bradfield on the Harwich Branch adds a bit of interest as 47315 passes by with the 12.30 Doncaster Belmont-Harwich Parkeston Quay EWS 'Enterprise' on 17 April 1997. The local gricers are out in force for the visit to Norwich of 'Trans Pennine' liveried Class 47 No. 47475 on 1 July 1994. It is coupled ahead of a Class 86 which it will take down to Yarmouth complete with the train. Contact me if you recognise yourself or anyone else! Summer Saturdays 08.04 Norwich-Great Yarmouth ecs passing Strumpshaw on 28 June 1986 behind 'Network South East' liveried Class 47 No. 47573 Bields Drove Crossing in winter. 'Tug' No. 60028 heads back to Mountsorrel from Chesterton Junction with an empty stone train on a frosty morning in December 1995. Not the splendid bogie brake vehicle behind the loco. Queen Adelaide, Ely, is a great location for picture taking because the cathedral can be included in the background. Class 31/4s Nos. 31420 + 424 double head the 08.00 Birmingham New Street-Great Yarmouth on 15 July 1989. Who is that idiot wth his head out of the train? Pausing briefly at Acle station is Class 31 No.31438 on the 11.08 through service from Great Yarmouth to Liverpool Street on 24 June 1989 The driver of Class 56 No. 56085 appears to be not concentrating too hard as he passes Nacton, on the Felixstowe Branch, with the Felixstowe South-Coatbridge FLR, on 1 May 1997 Class 47 No.47576 passing Wicken Fen at the head of the 09.00 Kings Lynn-LVST on 7 January 1989. My trusty old Ausin Maestro can be seen parked in the road.

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]]> Sat May 26 2007 Monochrome Images ( Anglia Excepted) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1287403.html Monochrome Images ( Anglia Excepted) Saturday 26 May 2007: Monochrome Images ( Anglia Excepted)

73109 Gospel Oak 20073+20016 Treeton Jct Class 87 No. 87024 speeds through Berkhamstead station on 1 May 1982 heading the 13.12 Manchester Piccadilly-Euston service. Class 87 No.87015 departs Carlisle with the 09.30 Euston-Inverness (The Clansman) 0n 31 March 1984 Class 25 No. 25053 rest outside Cricklewood Depot, North London, during October 1978. Class 58 No.58002 has just left the Midland Main Line to enter the Avenue Coking Plant (south of Chesterfield) sidings on 19 July 1985. In tow are empty HBAs from Toton which will be filled with coke at the works. The RPPR 'Welsh Wonder' railtour of 25 November 1978 arrived at Severn Tunnel Jct behind 46001+25175+25225. Here the two class 20s pictured, Nos 20188 and 20044, took over for the run to Blaenavon via Llantarnum Junction. On arrival it was snowing a blizzard! Such are the pleasures of railtouring! Taken from inside the driving cab of Class 56 No.56092 which was on a Kellingly Colliery-Drax mgr train. Approaching is another Class 56 No. 56002 leaving Drax on an empty mgr for Milford Sidings. The Health and Safety man's nightmare! This was NORMAL for Milford Junction on 25 October 1994. Class 56 No. 56006 (newly outshopped in 'Loadhaul' livery, the decals have yet to be applied) departs with a southbound haul of HAA hoppers. Now all is safely fenced off and enthusiasts have to brave the wind and rain on the public side of the fence. No taking cars inside the boundary! Is it really progress? The glory that used to be! You can't even see a rail at this location today, with mature woodland and a nature reserve obstructing the view. Class 20s Nos 20134 and 20195 prepare to leave the exchange sidings at Avenue, Chesterfield, with two brake vans having brought in full coal hoppers from Toton Yard.

Published in Michael's Train Pix

]]> Sat May 26 2007 Monochrome Images (Anglia) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1287401.html I cut my photographic teeth in East Anglia during the late 1970s early 1980s. I had to use monochrome at first- I couldn't afford two cameras and black and white photography was cheaper - especially if you did your own processing. Saturday 26 May 2007: I cut my photographic teeth in East Anglia during the late 1970s early 1980s. I had to use monochrome at first- I couldn't afford two cameras and black and white photography was cheaper - especially if you did your own processing.

31417 Whitlingham Junction 31109 passes Shenfield on 1 March 1978 with a LVST-Harwich PQ boat train. The trainspotter in the foreground is my son, now grown up. 31199 backing some scrap 306 units into Stanway Sidings. 25123 Audley End 31239 Stansted 31322 Stowmarket Yard 40038 passing Ipswich with the Parkeston-Whitemoor ABS freight during summer 1978. 40152 Belstead Bank 47072 Merrymaker to Spalding, for the Tulip Parade. Stansted. A Class 302 and a Class 312 pass on Brentwood Bank during 1980. 37037 Witham Planet Loco 'Rom River', Witham, 1978. The loco is taking a load of steel which had arrived from Mistley Quay behind a Class 31?0 and is proceeding down what remained of the Maldon Branch. All has now disappeared and a Pizza manufacrurer stands on this site. Cravens dmu, Mistley Class 37 No.37086 passes Elsenham with a down Cambridge in 1979. The loop had recently been taken out. 40124 on the Mossend-Parkeston Quay ABS at Bentley 47004 Mistley 08750 on Mistley Quay Class 31/0 No. 31004 reverses a load of steel rod onto the remains of the former Maldon branch at Witham, Essex in 1977. A firm at Witham used to get deliveries of steel rod delivered from Mistley Quay by rail. This was often a job for a 'Toffeeapple' Class 31. Here No.31004 reverses its load onto what remained of the former Maldon Branch at Witham in 1977. Always carry a camera! I was returning home from work in Chelmsford and as I drove onto the A12 I saw that these Class 31s had become derailed at New Hall Loop while working the daily Marks Tey-Mile End sand train. Strangely, the rear loco which had toppled over remained in this position for some weeks - in full view of all traffic passing on the adjacent A12 dual carriageway. Class 25 No.25126 leaves Whitemoor with a trip freight for the grain silo at Chettisham during May 1980. ADB 968015 (formerly Class 31/0 No.31015) poses outside the former steam shed at Norwich on 6 February 1982. This site is now occupied by a Morrisons superstore. How times change! I wonder if they sell Toffee Apples?! Former Class 31/0 'Toffee Apple' No.31013 newly converted to a mobile carriage heating unit No ADB 968013 outside Stratford Depot during May 1979 Class 25s Nos 25125+25132 round the Ely avoiding loop with the 08.35 Saturdays Only, Summer Dated Derby-Yarmouth train on 12 July 1980. Class 25s Nos 25272+25291 haul the 08.00 Saturdays Only, Summer Dated service from Walsall to Great Yarmouth through the forest at Santon Downham on 2 August 1980. During the summer the 'Breckland Line' hosted a procession of locomotive hauled trains. People ask me why I don't bother going there now! Class 37 No. 37092 hauls the 4-coach 16.45 Norwich-Peterborough service past Stonea Station and signalbox during May 1977. Little remains at this once interesting location. Diverted via Cambridge Class 56 No.56035 pilots Class 90 No. 90145 past Barham Sidings, Suffolk, with the overnight Freightliner service from Coatbridge on 14 October 1995. Class 37 No.37021 passes Hoo Hall Xing, Rivenhall with a return 'Merrymaker' excusion to Abercynon from Clacton during late 1977. Seen from Inside Horsemoor Signal Box, just east of March.Two 2-car Class 101 dmus form the 14.50 Peterborough-Cambridge on 7 January 1989. A study in sunlight and shadow. Class 47s Nos 47003, 47585 and 47571 were inside the old steam shed at Norwich Thorpe on 2 August 1981. Class 37 No.37014 passes Shenfield on 1 March 1978 while in charge of a 'Footex' conveying Manchester supporters to a game in Ipswich. No doubt the train will have been electric hauled to Willesden and the Class 37 was attached at that point. The lad in the check jacket is my son, now nearly 40!

Published in Michael's Train Pix

]]> Sat May 26 2007 UK Modern Traction (Anglia Excepted) Digital Images http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1286295.html My conventional photography covers the whole country but my recent entry into digital photography does not stretch quite so far. Here is a few images from outside East Anglia which I have taken in the past couple of years. I will add to the collection as I take more. Thursday 24 May 2007: My conventional photography covers the whole country but my recent entry into digital photography does not stretch quite so far. Here is a few images from outside East Anglia which I have taken in the past couple of years. I will add to the collection as I take more.

66507 at Ais Gill summit. The S&C was closed for the weekend and this engineering train was at the summit in glorious sunshine for most of the day on 18 February 2007. 67015 plus 67022 t&t on a Victoria- Folkestone VSOE special on 17 May 2007 at Wandsworth Road 90034 takes the 16.50 Euston-Birmingham through Carpenders Park on 17 May 2007. The track workers seem totally unconcerned as HST power car No 43300 speeds past them The location is Offord Cluny on 8 May 2008, and the train is believed to be an Aberdeen-Kings Cross working. In low winter sunshine, a Class 185 'Desiro' dmu crosses Morecambe Bay and the Leven Estuary with a Sunday Barrow-Manchester service photographed at Arnside on 17 February 2008. I could have done without those seagulls wheeling about and crapping everywhere! The 13.07 Nottingham-St.Pancras International service speeds across the Northamptonshire countryside on 25 November 2008 formed by EMT 'Meridian' No.222006. With the cottages in Finedon Station Road in the background, EMT Class 222 No.222014 passes Harrowden with the 09.07 Nottingham-St.Pancras International on 25 November 2008. The ballast in the foreground marks the path of the one-time up and down slow lines. Rumours abound that at least one of these tracks is to be reinstated. I find the wind turbines in the background quite photogenic - unlike many who find them a curse. Class 222019 leaves Wellingborough forming the 10.00 St. Pancras International - Derby service on 25 November 2008. The low winter sunshine illminates 'Meridian' Class 222 No. 222019 as it leaves Wellingborough station on 25 November 2008 while forming the 10.00 St. Pancras International-Derby service. EMT HST power car No.43083 is at the head of the 11.25 St.Pancras-Sheffield at Harrowden Junction on 25 November 2008. Bringing up the rear of the disparate liveried caching stock is power car no.43075. Making a smoky departure from Harrowden bi-directonal loop is EWS Clas 66 No.66088 in charge of 6D32 Elstow-Mountsorrel empty stone hoppers on 25 November 2008. I love the contrasty light provided by the low winter sunshine at this time of year. EWS Class 66 No.66140 heads 6D42 Forders Sidings-Toton at Harrowden Junction on 25 November 2008. EWS Class 66 No.66140 rejoins the down Midland Main Line after pausing at Harrowden Loop on 25 November 2008. The train was 6D42 Forders Sidings-Toton. FLHH Class 66 No.66548 exits Harrowden Loop, with 6Z39 Luton-Coalville empty stone boxes on 25 November 2008. In glorious winter sunshine, FLHH Class 66 No 66604 approaches Harrowden Junction with 6M72 Croft-Neasden stone train on 25 November 2008. EWS Class 67s Nos 67001 plus 67008 were in charge of the 6J93 Cricklewood-Toton RHTT on 25 November 2008. They were recorded passing Harrowden Junction. What a waste of two 125mph plus locomotives! 150239 15.19 from Paignton, nearing Exmouth. 18 June 2007 221133 14.25 Plymouth-Edinburgh. Starcross 18 June 2007 43027+43163 13.05 Padd-Penzance. Starcross 18 June 2007 66013 6B99 St. Blazey Cardiff Enterprise. Cockwood. 18 June 2007 150249 17.50 Exmouth-Paignton. Exminster 18 June 2007 D7535 Paignton Shed, Torbay and Dartmouth Rly. 19 June 2007 221102 14.03 to Newcastle. Paignton 19 June 2007 The Class 158 DMUs, regarded by many as 'boring' do sport many different liveries. A Nortrhern Trains example, No.158851 passes semaphore signals at Gilberdyke Jct with a Sheffield-Hull working on 20 August 2007. Passing Great Rocks Junction, Derbyshire, is 67012 in charge of 6H67 09.50 Dowlow-Warrington 'Enterprise' on 21 August 2007. The driver of Class 60 No.60013 prepares to receive the 'tablet' from the Great Rocks Junction signaller that will allow him to proceed down the single-line branch to Briggs' Sidings. Photo taken 21 August 2007. If anyone knows either of these two gentlemen please inform them that they appear on this site and that they are welcome to a copy of the picture if they care to make contact with me. Diminutive 08642 is dwarfed by the wagons it has to shunt while stabled at Peak Forest on 21 August 2007. Freightliner Heavy Haul Class 66 No.66512 approaches Great Rocks Jct on 21 August 2007 with 6H80 empty limestone hoppers from Ratcliffe Power Station to Dowlow. During August 2007 Immingham-Kingsbury oil trains were diverted via Doncaster and Derby because of an engineering blockade of Lincoln. Here 60068 approaches Clay Cross Jct with 6M75 07.15 Lindsey-Kingsbury on 22 August 2007. 6M49 08.40 Hull-Rugeley coal train pauses at signals at Tupton on 22 August 2007 with 66515 in charge. The diverted 6E54 Kingsbury-Humber oil tan train formed of 100 tonne VTG wagons approaches Tupton on 22 August 2007. The train was routed this way because of an engineering blockade at Lincoln. 'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.' The first RHTT train of the new season stands at dawn in Penistone station on Monday 1 October 2007. Class 20 No.20305 and Class 37 No.37038 had powered the train from York running via Ilkley, Leeds, Wakefield and Barnsley. GBrF Class 66 No.66712 passes Doncaster Station on the up through line with the Selby-Felixstowe Intermodal train on 1 October 2007. Meanwhile 'Trans-Pennine' Class 185 No.185132 waits to proceed westwards with a Cleethorpes-Manchester Airport service. Help it's the yellow peril! The Network Rail high speed track recording and measurement unit stands at the buffer stops at Kings Cross in company with a GNER set and a Hull Trains 'pioneer' unit on 1 October 2007. Then almost brand new, DRS Class 66 No.66421 stands at Nuneaton Station on 5 October 2007 with the evening RHTT working from Wembley. I have been to this location east of Thorne (Yorkshire?) twice now and each time it has chucked it down with rain. Freightliner Heavy Haul Class 66 No. 66530 passes on 4 January 2008 with a Ferrybridge PS-Immingham train of coal empties. GBrF Class 66/7 No. 66702 runs down the East Coast Main Line at liitle Paxton on 12 January 2008 with an engineer's train to Whitemoor. Passing Offord on 12 January 2008, Class 67 No. 67002 hauls a dead Class 91 No. 91129 forming a crew training run from Bounds Green via the Hertford Loop to Peterborough 0n 12 January 2008. I used a shutter speed of 1/1600 second to secure this image. On a crew training run returning from Peterborough to Bounds Green via the GN main line and King's Cross, 'Skip' Class 67 No. 67002 hauls DVT No.82210 plus its National Express East Coast set between Offord and Paxton. On the back was Class 91 No.91129. 12 January 2008. Class 86/1 No.86101 propels the inaugural 'Hull Trains' 1G03 09.34 Kings Cross-Doncaster service past flooded fields at Offord on 12 January 2008. The ECML is now becoming interesting again with new services, livery changes and the like making more photographic opportunities. The new 'Grand Central Trains' service from Sunderland. HST power cars Nos. 43067 (leading) plus 43080 form the 06.53 Sunderland-Kings Cross past flooded fields at Offord on 12 January 2008. Freight trains are not prolific on the southern end of the ECML. The 'Plasmor' block trains from Heck to Biggleswade are good runners, however, and I was delighted to secure this image of 66129 heading 4D56 Biggleswade-Heck empties past Offord on 12 January 2008. The Hull Trains 'Pioneer' units are a nightmare because the unit numbers are virtually invisible when the train is travelling at any speed faster than a slow trundle. Here an unidentified one passes Offord at 100 mph plus on 12 January 2008 with a morning Hull-Kings Cross service. Disparate liveried Class 158s Nos 158816 and 158797 form the morning Leeds-Carlisle service passing over Ais Gill Summit on 5 January 2008. 'Virgin Vomiter' No.222106 begins the ascent of Shap at Greenholme with a Bristol-Glasgow service on 15 February 2008. DRS Class 66 No.66410 digs in for the climb of Shap as it passes Greenholme on 14 February 2008 while hauling the daily Daventry-Grangemouth Intermodal. Green Class 66 No.66529 begins the ascent of Shap at Greenholm with northbound FLR heavy haul hoppers on 15 February 2008. 'Trans Pennine' unit No. 185145 passes Greenholme on 15 February 2008 while forming a Manchester Airport-Glasgow Central service on 15 February 2008. Shap bank used to be a considerable operating obstacle in days gone by. Steam hauled trains often had to stop at Tebay to attach extra locomotives. No such problems today; trains hardly slow down. Virgin 'Pendolino' No 360039 sweeps past Greenholme on 15 February 2008 with a Euston-Glasgow express. Modern traction on 'The Ratty'. Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway' diesel 'Douglass Ferreira' approaches Irton Road with the 14.00 service from Dalegarth to Ravenglass on Saturday 16 February 2008.

Published in Michael's Train Pix

]]> Thu May 24 2007 European Railways (Digital Images) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1273846.html I get much of my railway entertainment these days in Europe where there is much of interest to photograph. Here is a collection of European images from my digital camera. Monday 7 May 2007: I get much of my railway entertainment these days in Europe where there is much of interest to photograph. Here is a collection of European images from my digital camera.

SNCF electric No.7299 powers a Dijon-Avignon extra past Donzere, Drome, during August 2006. 26179 with a Paris-Marseille Intermodal running alongside the River Rhone at Donzere during September 2006. The SNCG 'Sybic' locos can haul produgious loads. Here No. 26137 passes St. Juste d'Ardeche on 6 September 2006 with gas tanks from Berre to Lyon. 'Sybic' No 26189 passes St.Just d'Ardeche with a freight from Nimes to Lyon during September 2006. A SNCF automotrice No. 231524 forms a service from Avignon via Cavaillon as it approaches Mirimas station on 7 September 2007. PACA (Provence Alpes Cote D'Azure) TER automotrice No 231524 arrives at its destination of Miramas with a service from Avignon via Cavaillon on 7 September 2006. SNCF 1500 volt DC electric No.7206 with a freight train from Lyon to Nimes reorded passing St.Just d'Ardeche during September 2006. 67256 powers an inspection saloon past Donzere during Setember 2006. Sexau, Alsace, Germany Sexau, Alsace Innsbruck Passenger trains running over the Brenner Route between Austria and Italy usually change engines at the border station of Brennero. Here, German electric No. 101 122-0 is uncoupled from its Vienna-Verona express to make way for an Italian machine. Built for Polish Railways but bought by FS, E465-020 stands at Bolzano while heading train EC 81 07.30 Munchen-Verona on 30 April 2007. Trenitalia E464 026 with a local train from Brenner to Verona at Bolzano on 30 April 2007. E464 039 with train EC82 12.31 to Brenner at Bolzano on Monday 30 April 2007. Jenbach, Austria OBB electric No. 1144 244-1 passes Jenbach with a Brenner-Worgl lorry shuttle on 1 May 2007. 'Dispalok' locos Nos. ES641 F4018 and ES640 F4027 haul a Breener Route freight through Worgl Hbf, Austria on 1 May 2007. Near Jenbach, Austria Mattrei, Brenner Route Mattrei, Brenner Route Innsbruck Tramway Arlberg Route, Austria Arlberg Route, Austria Arlberg Route, Austria Arlberg Route, Austria OBB electric No. 1016 030-7 is dwarfed by the mountains as it takes train EC669 08.41 Lindau-Graz near Flaurting on the Arlberg Route on 3 May 2007. Pettneu is about 7 miles from the Alpine resort of St. Anton. OBB electric No.1116 243-5 passes with an express for Salzburg on 3 May 2007. Chur, Switzerland Metre gauge Rhb electric No.650 stands at Chur Station at the head of a train on 4 May 2007. Swiss metre gauge Rhb shunter No.120 has just brought an overhauled coach out of the works adjacent to Lanquart station on 4 May 2007. Rhb No. 643 on a service to Chur pauses at Lanquart Station on 4 May 2007. Landquart, Switzerland Rhine Valley, Kaub DB 110.437-1 on the 16.23 Frankfurt-Koblenz at Kaub in the Rhine Valley on 5 May 2007. Rail Technology and Logistics GmbH own three ex DB Class 202 locomotives which they have painted into black livery. Here two of them identities unknown, head north along the Rhine Valley right bank line near Kaub on 5 May 2007. Rhine Valley, Kaub A Connex owned Vossloh G120 locomotives (number unknown) heads north on the Right Bank of the River Rhine with an engineer's train on 5 May 2007. Rhine Valley, Kaub Saturday afternoon in Southern France and the freights still roll by! Two Sybics with a lengthy freight from Paris to Marseille are framed in trees as they proceed down the Rhone Valley at Donzere on 14 July 2008. Two lines connect Napoli with Salerno. This is Vietri Sul Mare station on the southernmost line with a two car DMU set, Nos FS 668.1844+1857 on train R3445 Napoli-Fornia on 17 September 2007. In the Naples area of Italy there is a superb metre gauge network called the 'Circumvusuviana' (sounds a bit rude!) which serves the conurbation around Vesuvius. ETR units Nos 113 and 101 wait at Sorrento Station to from a working to Naples Garibaldi on 18 September 2007. Trains to Naples at Sorrento. This photo allows a comparison of the two types of unit - the ETA and ETR variant. 18 September 2007. Slightly different units on the 'Circumvusuviana railway is the ETA variant. Here, one waits at Sorrento to work back to Naples on 18 September 2007. It is rare to find a unit which has not been graffitied on this line. FS electric loco No.E655.781 heads a southbound loaded steel train past the closed station at Albanella, south of Salerno, on 22 September 2007. I like to include people in my train pictures and I was delighted when the Italian lady with the pink sunshade walked into view as FS electric No. E656.464 called at Cappaccio Roccadaspide station on 22 September 2007. The train is a Napoli Centrale-Paestum-Sapri regional express. These big Italian Class 402 electrics look superb in my opinion. Here E402.125 passes the site of the closed station at Albanella on 22 September 2007 with a Reggio di Calabria-Roma express. FS E464.114 takes a Foggia-Bari regional express train over a level crossing hidden in the vineyards of Southern Italy north of Barletta on 24 September 2007. Judging by the number of railway personnel in the leading cab, this appeared to be a crew training run. Ferrovia Bari Nord emus Nos 11 and 01 pass vineyards north of Barletta on the FS main line on 24 September 2007. A number of private operator vehicles have running powers on FS routes under 'open access' rules. An FS ETR500 unit, forming a Bari-Rome express passes through the Italian countryside near Barletta on 24 September 2007. The leading power car was numbered 26B. Is this its FS stock number?

Published in Michael's Train Pix

]]> Mon May 7 2007 Essex and East Anglia(Digital Images) http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1264274.html I have been taking railway pictures in Essex and East Anglia for thirty years. In late 2005 I graduated to digital imagery but it took me a long time to convert from my old Olympus outfit which I used before. Here is a selection of images from my digital camera. Wednesday 25 April 2007: I have been taking railway pictures in Essex and East Anglia for thirty years. In late 2005 I graduated to digital imagery but it took me a long time to convert from my old Olympus outfit which I used before. Here is a selection of images from my digital camera.

170207 Manningtree 90011 Barham In special livery GBRf Class 66/7 No. 66709 heads the North Walsham-Parkeston Quay loaded North Sea condensate tanks past the stone unloading point at Barham, Suffolk, on 5 April 2006. 90016 Kelvedon 66711 Westerfield 153322 forming an Ipswich-Felixstowe service as a friendly local waves to the driver. Photo taken at Keepers Lane Crossing, Trimley on 21 September 2006. 66503 Westerfield UID Class 66 Manningtree 90048 Ipswich 04 Jan 2007 90036 Manningtree 66569 Barham 66709 Rivenhall 90036 Stowmarket 57012 Kelvedon 66216 Bield Drove 66714 Bield Drove 170399 Bield Drove 66517 Bield Drove, Ely 60090 heads a Marks Tey-Acton sand train between Kelvedon and Witham on 11 April 2007.Kelvedon 90046 with 90004 hitching a ride to Crewe on the rear powers a Felixstowe-Crewe Freightliner past Cranes Lane, Kelvedon, on 11 April 2007. 66035 Bentley 86637+610 powering the Coatbridge-Felixstowe Freightliner on Bentley Bank 12 April 2007. 66709 with the Felixstowe-Hams Hall GBrF intermodal at Belstead Summit on 12 April 2007. 153326 forms the 12.33 Marks Tey-Sudbury train as it crosses Chappel Viaduct on 14 April 2007. 66725, Thurston 60044 Cranes Lane, Kelvedon 153311, Bures Between Christmas and New Year 2007 all Freightliner services were routed via March because of engineering work at the London end of the GE main line. Here FLHH Class 66 No66546 heads the Freightliner service from Trafford Park as a DVT heads for Norwich with a curtailed service from Colchester. Photo taken near Haughley Junction on 29 December 2007. GBRf Class 66/7 No.66704 threads the Suffolk countryside on the GE main line south of Haughley Junction on 29 December 2007. The working was from Whitemoor and it was conveying material for engineering work taking place in the Shenfield area. The first Norwich set to be re-liveried into National Express corporate colours headed by Class 90 No. 90003. It is seen near Haughley Junction on 29 December 2007 and the service was the 12.30 from Norwich. On hire to 'National Express' EWS Class 90 No. 90020 approaches Lancaster's Crossing, near Haughley Junction with the 11.30 from Norwich on 29 December 2007. Norwich line services were in disarray at this time because of engineering work at the London end. Most services were being stopped short at Colchester for onward coach connections. Great! 86628+622 Kelvedon One Chaffinch, Manea 66082 Manea 90015 10.30 Norwich-LVST. Kelvedon 05 June 2007 I have been visiting this spot at Littlebury for over 25 years and I regard this as one of my top images ever taken here. EWS Class 60 No.60024 passes with 6Z95 Stud Farm-Marks Tey sand empties on 6 July 2007. See my Anglian Scanned Slides collection for other photos taken at Littlebury. GBrF cLASS 66 No. 66707 takes 'One' DVT No.82102 to Doncaster Wabtec for attention. Recorded at Bield Drove Crossing, Little Downham on 6 July 2007 Preserved Class 47/3 No.47367 departing Weybourne (North Norfollk Railway) on 7 July 2007 with a Sheringham-Holt service. EWS Class 66 No.66180 passes Marks Tey Stn with 6L32 11.26 Acton Yard-Marks Tey Yard empties on 9 July 2007. GBrF 66704 reflected in the window at Chappel and Wakes Colne station while on engineering duties. 10 July 2007 66704 approaching Chappel and Wakes Colne with an engineering train. 11 July 2007 Engineering work on the Sudbury Branch enabled the opportunity to get a picture of a GBrF Class 66 on the viaduct at Chappel and Wakes Colne. 66707 crosses the viaduct with an autoballaster train on 12 July 2007. The solitary Class321 currently in 'One' livery can be remarkeably elusive. Here it heads a 12-car rake forming 1Y12 LVST-Ipswich on Bentley Bank on 19 July 2007 Grimston Lane Level Crossing, near Trimley, sees66567 passing with an Ipswich-Felixstowe trip Freightliner on 19 July 2007. Two green Class 86s Nos.86604+609 head 4L89 Coatbridge-Felixstowe past Long Green Footpatl Xing, Marks Tey on 24 July 2007 321306 forms a Harwich-LVST service as it passes Long Green Footpath Level Crossing, Marks Tey on 24 July 2007. Diverted via London because of a derailment and bridge collapse near Ely, 'Metronet' 66722 heads the 4E33 Felixstowe-Doncaster GBrF Intermodal past Long Green Footpath Level Crossing, Marks Tey, on 24 July 2007. An impression of speed. A shutter speed of 1/25 second has produced this image of 170502 passing Bields Drove on 27 July 2007 with a Birmingham New Street-Stansted service. Maybe this is the best way to see a Class 170 unit? A nightmare! Having stood for two and a half hours in glorious sunshine waiting for this train, the sun disappeared behind a cloud just as the train hove into view. This was the best image that I could produce in the circumstances, DRS Class 37s Nos 37259and 37218 in 'top and tail' mode approach Littlebury with 1Q14 Derby-Norwich test coach 'Mentor' on 31 July 2007. DRS Class 37s Nos 37259+37218 take 1Q14 Norwich-Ilford track recording train across the River Stour estuary on 1 August 2007. I could have done without the flock of sea birds which took flight just as the train passed!

Published in Michael's Train Pix

]]> Wed Apr 25 2007 Corsica http://michaeljcollins.fotopic.net/c1260480.html Corsica is a wonderful island for railfans. Metre gauge trains in superb mountain and coastal scenery. Tuesday 6 June 2006: Corsica is a wonderful island for railfans. Metre gauge trains in superb mountain and coastal scenery.

Corsican Railways are run by SNCF and they have a fleet of metre gauge dmus on the island to maintain services. Some of them are quite ancient as was this one, seen stabled a Calvi on the evening of 4 June 2006. A Corrsicamn Railways dmu forming a midday service to Calvi at Pont Leccia on 7 June 2006. Pont Leccia, engineers train Pont Leccia station with a dmu forming a midday service to Calvi. 7 June 2006 Pont Leccia, train to Calvi Corsican Railways diesel locomotive No. 60001 on an engineers train at Ponte-Nuevo on the Bastia line. 7 June 2006. The diminutive diesel locomotives used in Corsica can be eleusive because they are only used on engineering trains. Here 60009 and another rest at Francardu station on the line to Ajaccio on 6 June 2006. This Corsican dmu has just arrived at Ile De Rousse station with a terminating train from Calvi on 10 June 2006.The cacti growing in the station yard are lethal and I can bear painful testament to their long penetrating spines.

Published in Michael's Train Pix

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