73202+73136 Northbrook
This shot epitomises both the highs and lows of being a rail enthusiast perfectly, but quite the capture for 2023. There is quite the story behind this one too! The subject is a pair of ED's - recently acquired from Govia Thameslink Southern 73202 and 73136 "Mhairi" on the 6Y42 14.05 Hoo Junction-Eastleigh East Yard departmental consisting of a healthy load of 23 JNA and MLA ballast wagons, seen at the small hamlet of Northbrook during twilight hour shortly after 20.30, nearly 3 hours later than its booked time.
I had originally arrived at this location some four and a half hours earlier in anticipation of catching this working in the fine afternoon sunlight; by this stage everything seemed to be running to time and as expected. Our woes began when the ED's stopped at Feltham Junction for 50 minutes - at this stage several passenger workings in that area were also on stop therefore, despite the obvious delay, nothing seemed out of the ordinary providing the ED's kept pushing on, which they subsequently did albeit with an unexplained 15 minute stop just outside Staines.
Things became more concerning when 6Y42 came to an abrupt halt outside Woking station. A phone call to 'control' (thanks to our on-location informant) ascertained a braking issue with the ED's and it also transpired this was the reason for the stoppage at Feltham too - our dire situation was confirmed when there had been no movement for over half an hour; with this news to hand, the gallery called the shots and left feeling bitterly disappointed, making the long walk of shame back to civilisation (anyone who's visited this spot will know its not the quickest or easiest spot to reach).
It was only once we had reached our vehicles that 'control' provided some unexpected news to my informant - 6Y42 was back on the move and it was hurtling down the main! We were back on - it was a no-brainer, the last men standing (whittled down to 3 from 6) were going back. Things appeared to be going well until another issue and a prolonged stoppage became apparent outside Basingstoke - gutter!
My informant left at this stage, but I was determined to persevere a little longer more in hope than in anticipation, after all it had already been resurrected three times earlier and I was clutching on to the belief it could go again, however the late-evening sun was now against me, dropping like a stone towards the horizon line.
I was about to call it quits one final time (I had already begun packing up) when Y42 started moving again. I wasn't going to leave without a shot now regardless of the conditions. However, haste was needed with it still some 30 minutes away and having to allow two passenger workings to pass. The informant returned having made it back to his car before getting the nod (again).
Finally, at the ungodly hour (photographically) of 20:35 and with the light just about holding out, the 73 duo finally passed us exactly 175 minutes late. I could finally make the walk of triumph back in the knowledge that my mission had been accomplished, arguably with a better result than expected with hindsight. At 5 hours spent at this location, this has to be a personal record for the longest I've had to wait (or waste - depending if you are a glass half full or empty kind of person) for a single working. Special mention goes to fellow-Flickrite Wetbag for the gen and for keeping my sanity in check, and to MJ for the initial headsup which faciliated the move.
Admittedly I was disappointed of the late-running and the low-light, but thankfully Lightroom has polished the image up immaculately to the extent that I'm absolutely chuffed with the end-product! It will be very difficult to better a shot of this working. The reward is even more satisfying now as the unreliability of the 73’s on this working meant they were dropped a few weeks later, meaning this was the only occasion I will likely capture them on a class 6 freight.
Also, taken with the assistance of a pole.
73202+73136 Northbrook
This shot epitomises both the highs and lows of being a rail enthusiast perfectly, but quite the capture for 2023. There is quite the story behind this one too! The subject is a pair of ED's - recently acquired from Govia Thameslink Southern 73202 and 73136 "Mhairi" on the 6Y42 14.05 Hoo Junction-Eastleigh East Yard departmental consisting of a healthy load of 23 JNA and MLA ballast wagons, seen at the small hamlet of Northbrook during twilight hour shortly after 20.30, nearly 3 hours later than its booked time.
I had originally arrived at this location some four and a half hours earlier in anticipation of catching this working in the fine afternoon sunlight; by this stage everything seemed to be running to time and as expected. Our woes began when the ED's stopped at Feltham Junction for 50 minutes - at this stage several passenger workings in that area were also on stop therefore, despite the obvious delay, nothing seemed out of the ordinary providing the ED's kept pushing on, which they subsequently did albeit with an unexplained 15 minute stop just outside Staines.
Things became more concerning when 6Y42 came to an abrupt halt outside Woking station. A phone call to 'control' (thanks to our on-location informant) ascertained a braking issue with the ED's and it also transpired this was the reason for the stoppage at Feltham too - our dire situation was confirmed when there had been no movement for over half an hour; with this news to hand, the gallery called the shots and left feeling bitterly disappointed, making the long walk of shame back to civilisation (anyone who's visited this spot will know its not the quickest or easiest spot to reach).
It was only once we had reached our vehicles that 'control' provided some unexpected news to my informant - 6Y42 was back on the move and it was hurtling down the main! We were back on - it was a no-brainer, the last men standing (whittled down to 3 from 6) were going back. Things appeared to be going well until another issue and a prolonged stoppage became apparent outside Basingstoke - gutter!
My informant left at this stage, but I was determined to persevere a little longer more in hope than in anticipation, after all it had already been resurrected three times earlier and I was clutching on to the belief it could go again, however the late-evening sun was now against me, dropping like a stone towards the horizon line.
I was about to call it quits one final time (I had already begun packing up) when Y42 started moving again. I wasn't going to leave without a shot now regardless of the conditions. However, haste was needed with it still some 30 minutes away and having to allow two passenger workings to pass. The informant returned having made it back to his car before getting the nod (again).
Finally, at the ungodly hour (photographically) of 20:35 and with the light just about holding out, the 73 duo finally passed us exactly 175 minutes late. I could finally make the walk of triumph back in the knowledge that my mission had been accomplished, arguably with a better result than expected with hindsight. At 5 hours spent at this location, this has to be a personal record for the longest I've had to wait (or waste - depending if you are a glass half full or empty kind of person) for a single working. Special mention goes to fellow-Flickrite Wetbag for the gen and for keeping my sanity in check, and to MJ for the initial headsup which faciliated the move.
Admittedly I was disappointed of the late-running and the low-light, but thankfully Lightroom has polished the image up immaculately to the extent that I'm absolutely chuffed with the end-product! It will be very difficult to better a shot of this working. The reward is even more satisfying now as the unreliability of the 73’s on this working meant they were dropped a few weeks later, meaning this was the only occasion I will likely capture them on a class 6 freight.
Also, taken with the assistance of a pole.