More Photos from James Windows
Spike has been out and about with his camera again and has sent in some excellent shots of more modern power in the local area around Stafford.
Colas class 70/8 No.70813 sits in the up and down goods loop at Stafford with 6C37, 10.30 Chirk to Carlisle empty log train on 13th January 2019. The train runs to supply wood to the chipboard factory at Chirk.
Trans Pennine service from the North West to the East Coast are about to receive new trains in the form of loco hauled MK5 stock worked by DRS owned class 68 Locos. DRS/Trans Pennine class 68 No.68032 propelling Trans Pennine mk5 set 9 with No.12809 leading pause at Stafford with a rare test run south of Crewe with 3B21, the 08.12 Carlisle to Bletchley leg of a Manchester – Carlisle – Bletchley – Manchester Test run on Monday 14th January 2019.
DBC Class 66/0 No. 66174 rounds Queensville Curve, Stafford on 31st January 2019 on the 09:12 Trafford Park to Southampton intermodal working.
An unusual sight of a Cross Country Voyager running on the Trent Valley line of the West Coast main line as opposed to the usual route south of Stafford towards Wolverhampton as class 221 Voyager No.221131 rounds Queensville curve with an empty stock move from Manchester to the Central River depot at Barton under Needwood on a cold and frosty morning of the 31st January 2018.
DRS/Trans Pennine class 68 No.68032 propels Trans Pennine mk5 set 9 with No.12809 leading round Queensville curve, Stafford with 3B21, the 08.12 Carlisle to Bletchley leg of a Manchester – Carlisle – Bletchley – Manchester Test run on a frosty 31st January 2019.
GBRF Class 66/7 No. 66749 heads south at Sytch Lane, Mill Meece with the 09:48 Clitheroe to Avonmouth loaded cement tanks on the 6th February 2019.
Freightliner Class 66/5 No. 66551 passes Sytch Lane, Mill Meece on 6th February 2019 hauling the Felixstowe to Crewe Basford Hall Freightliner service. This type of freight trains are the most prolific to be seen through Stafford running from one of the deep sea ports to many freightliner hubs around the country.
GBRf Class 66/7 No. 66716 working the Dollands Moor to Irvine Caledonian Paper Mill working of loaded china clay hoppers passed Sytch Lane, Mill Meece on 6th February 2019.
West Coast Railways class 33/2 No.33207 passing Stafford centre road with one heavily vandalised Mk1 BSK in tow believed to be No.35447 on transfer 5M43, 10.19 from Southall to Carnforth on the 8th February 2019.
DRS/Scotrail class 68 No.68007 accelerates away from its stop in Clay Mills loop with 1Z21, 05.45 Newport (South Wales) to Chaddesden Sdgs leg of Pathfinders The Blue Boys Loco Fest Charter on 9th February 2019. The charter continued on from the east midlands to the north west of the country and used a variety of DRS traction throughout the day.
DRS class 37 duo Nos.37218 and 37409 take the Stoke line at North Staffs jnc with the 1Z22, 10.40 Chaddesden Sdgs to Blackburn leg of Pathfinders the Blue Boys Loco Fest Charter on 9th February 2019.
DBC class 60 No.60054 passes North Staffs jnc with the 07.17 Lindsey Oil Refinery to Kingsbury Oil Sdgs loaded oil tanks on 9th February 2019.
Rail Operation Group class 37/6 No.37601 Perseus with Crossrail class 345 unit No.354054 working south at Stafford with a Crewe to Old Oak Common stock move on the 12th February 2019. The new unit had been at Crewe for testing on the west coast mainline and was being moved to London for further storage until the class enter full service on the delayed Crossrail line under London.
GB Railfreight Class 66/7 No. 66744 approaches Rugeley Trent Valley working the 4L18, 14.12 Trafford Park to Felixstowe intermodal on 18th March 2019. Another of the regular intermodal services but this one run by a different operator.
DRS/TPE class 68 No.68026 races north past Rugeley while working the last leg of a Manchester Longsight, Carlisle, Bletchley commissioning/test run returning to Manchester on the 18th March 2019.
Another operator receiving new trains are Northern Rail, here new class 195 unit No.195111 sits in Crewe after arriving with 5Z10, 08.49 Allerton Depot to Crewe test run before running to Liverpool South Parkway as 5Z11, 09.49 on the 4th May 2019.
Cross Country operate a small fleet of High Speed Trains to supplement their large Voyager Fleet but unfortunately don’t operate any trains through Stafford. Here HST power car No. 43366 with No. 43304 at the rear crawl past Elford loop, on the Derby to Birmingham line, working 1V56, 09:08 Edinburgh to Plymouth service on 4th May 2019. At this point the service was running approx. 95 minutes late due to severe trespass in the area due to Flying Scotsman passing through on a charter train.