The land that time forgot - The Coast to Coast Flyer
Whilst I was out for the route learner I thought I'd throw this in.
153304 is today's unit on the Barton branch and is seen arriving at Thornton Abbey station with the late running 2F92 1552 Barton Upon Humber - Cleethorpes sevice.
The time is 1641 (33 late) on Wednesday 22nd April 2014.
Note the crossing with it's protecting signal in the background. This is Barton Lane Crossing and is due to be replaced with an OD crossing as part of the N.E. Lincs resignalling scheme. The crossing keeper can be seen walking out to open the gates after the passage of the train.
Here we see the unit arriving at Thornton Abbey
The line from Ulceby to Barton upon Humber is a real throw back, predominantly wooden sleepers, 60' bull head rail, mechanical signalling and a two hourly service for the bulk of the day.
It is normally the exclusive preserve of a Northern 153 unit ambling backwards and forwards, all stations, from Cleethorpes to Barton upon Humber.
An extra unit does pop up in the morning to provide one extra shuttle for the masses of commuters to Grimsby and Cleethorpes.
It was with some excitement then that I learnt of a Freightliner route learner scheduled to run Monday to Friday this week. Could there be a return for freight from New Holland, something not seen for many years ? No, no such luck. It transpires that the drivers are familiarising themselves with the line in readiness for future engineering works.
Even so, the sight of anything other than a 153 or the very occasional enthusiasts special on this line is of interest so when I saw the light engine from Leeds, Midland Road amble past me during a morning shift at Elsham I decided to spend the afternoon chasing it around the land that time forgot, these are the results.
The land that time forgot - The Coast to Coast Flyer
Whilst I was out for the route learner I thought I'd throw this in.
153304 is today's unit on the Barton branch and is seen arriving at Thornton Abbey station with the late running 2F92 1552 Barton Upon Humber - Cleethorpes sevice.
The time is 1641 (33 late) on Wednesday 22nd April 2014.
Note the crossing with it's protecting signal in the background. This is Barton Lane Crossing and is due to be replaced with an OD crossing as part of the N.E. Lincs resignalling scheme. The crossing keeper can be seen walking out to open the gates after the passage of the train.
Here we see the unit arriving at Thornton Abbey
The line from Ulceby to Barton upon Humber is a real throw back, predominantly wooden sleepers, 60' bull head rail, mechanical signalling and a two hourly service for the bulk of the day.
It is normally the exclusive preserve of a Northern 153 unit ambling backwards and forwards, all stations, from Cleethorpes to Barton upon Humber.
An extra unit does pop up in the morning to provide one extra shuttle for the masses of commuters to Grimsby and Cleethorpes.
It was with some excitement then that I learnt of a Freightliner route learner scheduled to run Monday to Friday this week. Could there be a return for freight from New Holland, something not seen for many years ? No, no such luck. It transpires that the drivers are familiarising themselves with the line in readiness for future engineering works.
Even so, the sight of anything other than a 153 or the very occasional enthusiasts special on this line is of interest so when I saw the light engine from Leeds, Midland Road amble past me during a morning shift at Elsham I decided to spend the afternoon chasing it around the land that time forgot, these are the results.