RAILS and WINGS and OTHER THINGS: July 2022

2nd March 2020 - TRAIN JOURNEY FROM ROMSEY VIA SOUTHAMPTON TO KINGS CROSS RAIL STATIONS.

What a splendid-looking station! Southampton's "Art-Deco" style railway station.

I travelled down to Hampshire to attend the ordination of my sister-in-law. This necessitated a train journey from "up north" and the most convenient method of travel for me was a train journey, which saves me money (ex-BR retired) and I get to see train stations and trains!

Southampton Central Railway station platforms.

Class 158 886 ready to depart for Romsey at Southampton Central Railway Station.

Class 450 058 departs Southampton Rail Station.

Class 221 Cross-Country service pulls alongside the platform.

Seacity Museum Clock Tower Southampton, quite a distance away from station.

Waterloo Railway Station concourse.

Kings Cross Square outside the Railway Station.

Kings Cross Station Clock Tower.

Looking to my left is St. Pancras Railway Station with its magnificent Gothic-style frontage.

Platform clock indicating that my train is about to depart!

My train home.

Grand Central Class 180 114 & LNER Azuma Class 801 (my train home) at buffers Kings Cross Railway Station.

And so that was my grand journey 'Down South'. I do enjoy travelling on trains.

RJC

END.

23rd JULY 2022 - MAGMA AVIATION, BOEING 747-412 LANDING AND TUIfly BOEING 737-8K5 TAKE-OFF AT DONCASTER-SHEFFIELD AIRPORT.

This morning, I drove over to the airport to view the landing of one of the giants of the sky, the Boeing 747 "Jumbo-Jet". The aircraft departed Cairo Airport at approximately 4am and was due to arrive at Doncaster-Sheffield Airport at around 8:30am. Getting at the south-end of the runway 20 minutes earlier, I was surprised to find that the earlier 6:30am departure to Alicante was taxiing out to the runway!

TUIfly taxies from the terminal building out to the runway. Boeing 747, G-UNET still parked-up.

G-FDZD ready to roll!

G-FDZD is rolling down the runway towards me.

TUIfly Boeing 737-8K5 G-FDZD lifts-off!

TUIfly Boeing 737-8K5 Reg: G-FDZD is up and away to Alicante!

So that was an added bonus that I didn't expect. Now for the main event.

Of course, it would be cloudy so no chance of an early sighting/warning of the 747s appearance. But when it came, I was caught unawares!! I was expecting the landing from the north, but the fencing and cloud caught me out!

Boeing 747-412F from Cairo, touchdown!

Look at that BEAST! TF-AMC moves gently towards me!

The noise was terrific!

Shame about the fencing. But great aircraft!

A snip of video showing the taxi.

TF-AMC turns and starts its crawl to the terminal.

Moving to the terminal building.

Boeing 747-412F TF-AMC, parked alongside Boeing 747-433(BDSF) G-UNET (red tail).

Magma Aviation Boeing 747-412F is finally parked, ready for unloading of cargo.

Up until now, this arrival of this giant and being so close, ranks as one of the best aircraft experiences I've had. Next time I shall view the approach to the airport from 3 miles to the north.

RJC

END.

20th JULY 2022 - WIZZ AIR, AIRBUS A321-231 TAKE-OFF TO WARSAW FROM DONCASTER-SHEFFIELD AIRPORT.

Wizz Air Airbus at terminal and passengers boarding.

After the visit to the railway station, I drove the short distance of 7 miles to the airport to see the 8:50am Wizz Air departure to Warsaw. I parked as usual at the southern-end of the runway where one can get a so-so decent view of the action, but this airport is not particularly "spotter-friendly" as most tend to be these days. So one has be content with poking the camera lens through the fence wire!

But enough of that. I was here the see an aircraft perform. But as is common these days at Doncaster-Sheffield, most if not all departures tend to depart 10,15 or more minutes later than advertised! This flight was to be no exception. But besides that, I am pleased with the close-up shots of the aircraft as it taxied towards my position!

Wizz Air Airbus A321-231 Reg: HA-LXD taxies to runway for south to north take-off.

Here she comes!

WOW!!

Wizz Air flight W61316 to Warsaw, in position and ready to go.

I didn't take any footage of the actual take-off due to technical difficulties. The plane sped along the runway northbound but I was pleased with the photos of the aircraft at close-quarters as this was unexpected. Happy with what I got. Now home and breakfast!

RJC

END

20th JULY 2022 - 1Z69 THE TORBAY RIVIERA PULLMAN (DONCASTER TO PAIGNTON) AT DONCASTER RAILWAY STATION.

5th August 2022 Finningley Signal Box (disused).

Passing through the village of Finningley, I took some photos of the disused Finningley Signal Box. Its always intrigued me and deserves a spot here.

20th JULY 2022 - 1Z69 THE TORBAY RIVIERA PULLMAN (DONCASTER TO PAIGNTON) AT DONCASTER RAILWAY STATION.

For this, I got out of my "pit" at the "un-godly" time of 5:30am to see this early-starter depart the station at the beginning of its long journey down to Paignton! When I got to the station, the Blue Pullman set was parked on the Goods-Up line adjacent to platform 8. Immediately I noticed that HST trailing-loco, 43049 was not liveried in the Blue Pullman colour as are the coaches and leading-loco. This could be as this loco is not one of the advertised locos that would form the train. Maybe there was a technical problem with 43055, and this was a last-minute replacement? If I was paying to journey on this train, I would not be happy!

That said, the train looks resplendent and a fine example of diesel traction. On a warm summers morning at 6:45am, the platform was awash with expectant passengers waiting to board and the train began to move north, to reverse and switch lines to roll alongside platform 8 and oblige the waiting customers.

Part of the Blue Pullman train.

43046 Geoff Drury 1930-1999 heads the Blue Pullman.

1Z69 The Torbay Blue Pullman (Doncaster-Paignton) lead by HST unit 43046 head along track to switch line for platform 8 at Doncaster Rail Station to collect passengers with HST unit 43049 trailing.

1Z69 The Torbay Blue Pullman (Doncaster-Paignton) lead by HST unit 43049 pulls alongside platform 8 at Doncaster Rail Station to collect passengers with HST unit 43046 trailing. 43049 replaced advertised HST unit 43055.

The Blue Pullman slides alongside platform 8.

The cab of 43046 Geoff Drury 1930-1999.

Passengers aboard, the Blue Pullman departs Doncaster for Paignton, calling at various stations along the journey. First stop being Sheffield to collect more passengers. Again, I would be miffed by the fact that 43046 is not leading the Blue Pullman. But it was good to see it on such a lovely warm morning.

Other than the above train, there was a disrupted timetable and no trains running into London from anywhere! But there were a few items of interest still here at Donny!