December 2024 Summary
Firstly, a happy new year to you all. Let’s hope 2025 is a good year for everybody.
Not a lot to report for December. Given the festive season and its challenges, there was very little activity at SRC.
However, Spike, as usual, has come up with some photos for us all to enjoy.
Photo 1. With the railhead treatment train circuit drawing to a close GBRF class 66 No.66752 is looking very dirty now having been on the circuit for a while,as it reverses at Stafford while working 3J01, 11.52 Kings Norton to Bletchley RailHead Treatment Train circuit. 4/12/2024.
Photo 2. Having spent some time on a RailHead treatment train somewhere in the country by the looks of its dirty livery, DRS class 68 No.68004 was back on revenue earning trains and is seen passing Stafford with 4S44, 12.16 Daventry to Coatbridge intermodal. 11/12/2024
Photo 3. Brand new Avanti class 807 No.807008 pauses at Stafford on its delivery run 5Q16, 06.30 Darlington to Wembley Inter City Depot which was routed the long way round via Newcastle, Edinburgh, Carlisle and then south via the West Coast mainline to Wembley. 4/12/2024.
Photo 4. On its first mainline test run since rebuilding from a class 56, GBRF class 69 No.69014 accompanied by class 66 No.66307 approach Stafford working 0Z43, 09.00 Longport F.D. to Bescot Up Engineers Sdgs light loco move. 13/11/2024.
Photo 5. LSL Midland Pullman class 43 power car No.43059 with No.43055 on the rear pass Stafford at speed with 1Z31, 06.18 Watford Junction to Edinburgh, Edinburgh Christmas Pullman charter. Amongst the passengers waiting on platform 3 was club member Terry on his way to Manchester Exhibition. 14/12/2024.
Photo 6. In difficult lighting conditions, LSL class 40 No.D213 (40013) arrives at Stafford with 1Z27, 09.07 Wolverhampton to Blaenau Ffestiniog Loco Services InterCity branded Y Cracyr Nadolig/The Christmas Cracker Railtour. 14/12/2024.
Photo 7. LSL class 45 No.45118 has just drawn to a halt at Stafford while working 1Z29, 15.54 Llandudno to Crewe the return leg of the InterCity Y Cracyr Nadolig/The Christmas Cracker Railtour. 14/12/2024.
Photo 8. The last northbound Holyhead service with an Avanti class 221 Voyager, No.221106 and 221105 arrives at Stafford with 1D83, 09.02 London Euston to Holyhead service on the last day of use by Avanti before handing back and the full use of the new class 805/807 Evero units. 14/12/2024.
Photo 9. ROG class 37 No.37510 rounds Queensville Curve, Stafford as it passes working 5L46, 10.17 Crewe South Yard to Yarmouth C.H.S. with the Eastern Rail Services stock that was used on the test runs of the new Class 93 during the previous week between Crewe and Carlisle. 14/12/2024.
Photo 10.Freightliner class 70 No.70020, at this time the only one repainted in their newer orange livery, approaches Stafford with 4O49, 09.31 Crewe Basford Hall Yard to Southampton M.C.T. 20/12/2024.
That’s it for this month except to say – DON’T FORGET TO MARK THE DATE OF THE SHOW IN YOUR DIARY!