13th JULY 2024: 1Z32 LONDON KINGS CROSS TO YORK with A2 PEPPERCORN CLASS 60532 BLUE PETER, PASSES THROUGH DONCASTER.

 

 

Went over to Donny Station to see the A2 Peppercorn Steam Loco 60532 'Blue Peter' casually steam past the station on the 'DF-Line' on it's way to York.  Passing the Doncaster Works, where it was built in 1948 and named after a famous racehose from 1938. Respledant it looks in its 'roal-blue' livery. Shame it wasn't scheduled to stop. Could have gone to York but due to a  service cancellation, it would have meant that I would be hanging-around the station for 90 minutes! So Donny it was and I'd get to see some freight trains also. To get a close-up view, will have to wait for another time.

Well it was scheduled to depart Kings Cross at 14:06 and pass Donny at 18:37hrs. When I checked on 'RTT' at 17:25hrs it had gained time and was 18 minutes up on scheduled time! I had to move and quickly! My mug of tea would have to wait and go cold!

A pleasant warm early evening at the station and I took up my position on platform 4 on get a good view of 60532 on the ''Down-Fast'. I'd previously checked that there wouldn't be a service blocking my view. True to form, 60532 'Blue Peter' passed down through the station at 18:52hrs, only 8 minutes down on it's scheduled time and not too fast either, so a good longish view.

A2 Peppercorn Class 60532 'Blue Peter' with Diesel Loco 57311 at the rea, pass through Doncaster.

In the West Sidings, was parked the diesel 56302 of Colas Rail Freight livery.

Also at the sidings, parked-up is 70009 showing Freightliner livery.

150270 Adwick-Sheffield Service 1D81.

Northern Trains 150210 Sheffield-Adwick service at P3b.

66174 heads freightservice 4E39 along G2-Line at Doncaster.

170456 Sheffield-Hull at plaform 8.

170473 Scarbro-Sheffield at p3b.

180102 Service 1D81 Kings Cross to Bradford approaches platform 4.

170473 Scarbro-Sheffield at platform 3b.

185124 Cleethorpes-Liverpool Lime St 180102 Service 1D81

Hull Trains service to Kings Cross, 802302 'Jean Bishop The Bee Lady'.

Colas Rail 56090 on Down-Fast through Doncaster.

END

27th JUNE 2024: 1Z68 STEAM LOCOMOTIVE 34067 TANGMERE HAS A WATER-STOP AT CHURCH FENTON RAILWAY STATION.

 Today was my first outing to see a steam locomotive since last February, and it felt good to be in the presence of such a fine loco! This is 34067 Tangmere, a 4-6-2 wheel configuration, Light Pacific, Battle of Britain class of steam loco. This would be the first occasion for me to view and photograph this splendid loco.

Oddly, the loco took-on water via a road-tanker parked on a bridge over the platform. A red heavy-duty hose was lowered to the loco's tender and for approximately 15 minures, water was pumped to the loco. When full, the hose was reeled back up to the tanker. Tangmere then slowly moved to the far end of the platform,stopped for a passing train and was then given the 'green' light to proceed to York.

And what a lovely day it was. The sun was already high in the blue sky and a slight breeze cooled the heat. A day for shorts and shirt, very rare these days!

34067 Tangmere taking on water at Church Fenton Rail Station 27June2024

The day started with me getting the 10am train to York. But before boarding, I hastily grabbed a few images of locos in the West Sidings, a Colas Rail Class 56 and 37.

37421 Colas Rail at sidings Doncaster Rail Station.

56090 Colas RF at West Sidings Doncaster Rail Station.

70009 Freightliner at West Sidings Doncaster Rail Station.

150271 at P8 Doncaster Rail Station.

At the instant of getting off the train at platform 10 and having snapped an image of 220023, a class 33307 'double-shunts' the steam loco 1008 with 33029 up playform 9 towards Holgate sidings.

CrossCountry 220023 lands me at P10 York Rail Station.

33207 Jim Martin pulls 2-4-2 steam loco L&YR 1008 with 33029 at P9 York Rail Station.

The L&YR Lanky Tank 1008, was in the process of being moved to The East Lanashire Railway where it will be on a long-term stay at the Bury Transport Museum. But no time to dawddle-about. My ride to Church Fenton was soon to leave.

195101 is my ride from York Rail Station.

DB Schenker class 66 144 slows to stop signal at Church Fenton Rail Station 27Jun2024.

DB Schenker class 66 144 slows to stop signal at Church Fenton Rail Station.

DB Schenker class 66 144 heads off from Church Fenton Rail Station.

Right on time, 34067 Tangmere pulls up to the rear of platform 2.

Right on time, 34067 Tangmere pulls up to the rear of platform 2.

And here it is, ready to take-on water. The orange hose is visable hamging over the bridge from the tanker.

Close-up of water hose from road tanker hanging over the bridge to the loco tender.

Tangmere makes steam and slowly moves forward to the other end of platform 2.

Tangmere moves along the platform.

Waits for a through expess to York to pass.

And waits for a passing class 66 Freight service.

Northern Trains 195111 arrives at platform 3 bound for Blackpool.

My ride back to York, 155346.

Back to my home station and DVT 82214 calls at platform1 bound for London Kings Cross.

Network Rail maintenance vehicle 9714 parked at West Sidings.

08669 Bob Machin West Sidings.

A very pleasant day out to see a 'Battle of Britain' class of steam locomotive. Sunny and warm, just how it should be to view rail traction.

RJC

END

27th JULY 2024: 1Z45 THE DIAMOND JUBILEE EXPRESS - PEAK LOCO 45118 'ARTILLARYMAN' at SWINTON (SY) RAIL STATION.

A Class 45, also known as 'Peak' locos, was out on the mainline today. Due to depart Brisol Temple Meads at 07:03hrs and arrive at York Rail Station at 13:05hrs. The nearest venue it could be seen, nearest to my location was Swinton, South Yorkshire. With that in mind, I drove over to the station to grab some images.

Luckily I'd checked on 'RealTimeTrains' only to discover that the service was now early. I got to Swinton and took up position on the platform, then 5 minutes later, the loco could be seen in the distance, down the long stretch of trackleading to the station.

45118 with 7 coaches and class 47, D1924 'Crewe Traction Depot' at the rear, thundered past platform 1. In a blink-of-an-eye, it was gone, down the line non-stop to York.

After that had gone, I waited around to get a few more images for my journey out here. At 12:25hrs a Trans-Pennie 185, 2x3 car set rolled into platform 1 bound for Cleethorpes. The sets totalling 6-cars were 185112 and 185129.

185112 with 185129 6-car unit departs P1 to Cleethorpes.

150206 2-car unit departs P1.

150206, Sheffield to Adwick departs Swinton as seen from the walkway below line level.

150201 & 158194 form 4-car unit from Sheffield to Leeds departs P1 with service 2N15.

Four Cl66 with Cl70 Service 0303 Hope(Earles Sidings) to Leeds Bal Rd Loco pass P1.

RJC

END

11th July 2024: ROBIN CHICK STEPS OUT OF NEST

 

Early in the season, we had two Robins courting one another. Usually, when Robins are adults, they prefer to live life singulary. My better half decided to place an old blue teapot at the apex of three conifer braches, in the hope that the Robins would nest in the teapot.

Well, those Robins got together and built a nest within the teapot. They produced 4 eggs and those eggs hatched 4 chicks! I set up a CCTV camera, once they had set up the nest, under the eye of the adult Robin.

Adult feeds chicks & below, removes poo!

We watched them grow on the monitor screen, from the comfort of our living room. The adults, constantly coming and going, but only between the nest and our back door, where we fed all the birds which partook in mealworms.

Eventally, 11th July, one of the chicks must've decide that it was time to stretch its legs. So unsteadily, it stepped out of the nest, took a final snack from its parent and was gone. Slowly staggering its way around to the back of the conifer trunk. The other three weren't witnessed leaving the nest, but the nest is now empty. Three Juvenile Robins were seen in the garden and two eventualy started to develop rest breasts.

Fast-forward to the present day (early October), there are now two Robins, who appear to be frequenting opposite sides of the garden and eating mealworms and arguing/fighting one another. Are these two of the four fcormer chicks......who knows?

RJC

END