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West Coast heat wave

An Adidas trainer clad spotter lurks in the shadows as class 86 no. 86017 sweeps effortlessly through Nuneaton with a Euston express during the heatwave and drought stricken summer of 1976. (Oh for one of those again.....)

 

There was never a shortage of spotters here - as well as WCML traffic, the flyover in the background usually threw up a few freight on the Leicester - Water Orton route, including pairs of class 20s and the occasional class 44. The then open Daw Mill Colliery, the largest coal mine in the West Midlands, was located just a few miles along the line in the Water Orton direction.

 

86017 was originally numbered E3146 when introduced in 1965, before subsequent renumbering as 86317 and 86417 in 1980 and 1985 respectively. Sadly it was one of those that didn't last the course and met its maker in 2004 at CF Booth, Rotherham.

 

Would quite like the elegant platform bench in my back garden.

 

26th June 1976

 

Ilford FP4 developed in Acutol.

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Uploaded on February 1, 2016
Taken on June 26, 1976