The sun is getting lower and the shadows longer. Won't be too long before this train, 6K73 Sellafield to Crewe Coal sidings, is coming through in darkness But it does make the landscape look dramatic though 68 034 'Railriders' and 88 005 'Minerva' are easing off as the approach Dunnerholme crossing . The tallest peak in the background is the 'Old Man of Coniston' Kev
During the week we had a couple of days where a lone Class 37 was trundling around the area on Driver training/ Route learning 37 667 aka D6851 'Flopsie' is first seen drifting downhill towards Furness Abbey Tunnel Both ends have a lot of dents in the nose Heading back to Carnforth through Roose Class 37s are very rare on the Cumbrian Coast and Furness lines since DRS disposed of all theirs. This used to belong to DRS back in the day Later that day it slowly approached Askam in Furness . The Signaller has just pulled the Home signal 'off' but left the next one 'On' as the plan was to reverse the train back over the crossover to take the Dalton Loop The crossover has been set and the crew are changing ends Kev
The last few days damp, grey clouds, drizzle and darkness has blighted Cumbria but despite that I headed out to Ruskinville Bridge at the West end of Dalton Tunnel to get this mornings Crewe Coal sidings to Sellafield Nuclear Flask train 68 005 'Defiant and 68 017 'Hornet' Slowing , waiting for the 'Feathers' on the signal that allows them to crossover at Dalton Junction onto the Dalton Loop The portal to Dalton Tunnel in the background Had to push the ISO up to 800 as it was so dark and the grey sky bleaches out the cab windshield. Hey-Ho Its Cumbria in November ! Kev
Octobers Video Lots of Nukes, LMS Black 5 4-6-0 45212, HSTs both Midland Pullman and Test Train, 37 667 trundling around and a Tamper November has started with terrible weather. Low thick cloud interupted by Drizzle for the last seven days and the shorter daylight hours has limited how many times I've been out this week Fingers crossed it brightens up soon Kev
So.. In the daylight hours we are limited on what trains we can get Ten minutes before 6C53 turned up with 68 034 'Railriders' and 68 007 'Valiant' on point with the Crewe Coal sidings to Sellafield Nuke. I could barely see the curve of the rails as they approached Kirkby in Furness. Photoshop makes the picture look a lot less murkier than it was in real life Super power ( Not Really!) as 68 017 'Hornet' leads 88 009 'Diana', 88 001 'Revolution and 68 034 'Railriders on the same train a few days later . 13/11/2024. The reason for the stacked power is to have enough locos on Sellafield site for next weeks diagrams. Kirkby Pool and the Duddon Estuary look silver under the leaden sky So I looked out of the window this morning, Thick Fog and the car covered in dew but the sun soon broke through and it looked hopeful to get the lunchtime Sellafield to Heysham Nuke Low winter sun in the right place for once but, Oh Dear!, the two Class 68s had been out on the RHTT train a couple of days ago and were still filthy For those who don't know, the RHTT is a leaf busting train that cleans the railheads with high pressure Water jets during the Autumn Leaf fall season. Much of the crud ends up on the top and tailed locos! Under the muck is 68 003 Astute and special liveried 68 006 'Pride of the North' My ex colleague Brian Green spots me at the last moment Kev
The sun has yet to rise high enough to melt the frost as 68 033 'The Poppy' and 68 034 'Railriders' slowly approach Dalton junction on a bitter cold morning The train ( 6C53 Crewe Coal sidings to Sellafield) has just exited Dalton Tunnel and will come to a halt waiting for the junction signal " The feathers" to turn green and path the train through the Dalton Loop Askam in Furness station , which as many of you know is my local stop has had some exciting news . Network Rail have applied for permission to do some major renovations of the Grade 2 listed building. Long overdue, the list of the works includes the roof, Chimney stacks, Supporting timberworks and I believe some work to the platform shelter over on the Up Platform as well. Designed by the renowned architectural firm of Paley and Austin of Lancaster in 1877 in 'Swiss Chalet style', the wil be a public consultation but I can't see anybody objecting. Freightliner ( Part of Genesee and Wyoming now) 66 565 came through earlier today with 1,800 tonne of ballast for the track renewal beyond Whitehaven Needless to say, I will be down there a lot with my camera when they get started! Kev
