Image Archive 1
Network Rail Line Possession on the SYJR at Dinnington - 7583+89+97+7599/7603+OS53
Without resorting to a short video once again for this kind of piece, where much happens over a short (ish) or usually longer period, this seems to be the best way to do it, in this instance 4 mosaic pieces with 4 pictures in each. As it turned out after picture selection, from the 54 taken and after some whittling down, by luck more than design the 16 selected separated naturally into 4 sections of the work; I will have to start producing pictures with just one subject per picture again... These pieces relate to the weekend line possession on the SYJR, South Yorkshire Joint Railway with line possession commencing at Worksop's WP607 section signal with the work, some serious bank re-ballasting and renewal, being undertaken in the three miles or so from here to the north all of the lineside tree growth is going as well, though it doesn't look particularly obtrusive. With a great reduction in coal train movements along this line after April 5th, due to the higher carbon tax levy at the Power Stations from that date, it appeared at the outset that there wouldn't be much happening here apart from the train concerned with the possession, but in the event 3 coal moves occured, the last before the Line Possession came into effect at 15:32 hours. At centre, for reference, a 1953 OS map showing what used to be around in this area, as usual almost all of the detail in this map, relating to the railway has been swept away, some of it very early on, in the 1920s, like the trackbed of the line which connected Laughton West Junction, shown here as a double-dashed feature heading south, to a junction at Anston. Dinnington Main Colliery, with its branch of the section of line seen here, looking north, closed in 1992 and it wasn't long after that before the rejuvenation started and there is now nothing left except the landscaped spoil-heap, now a nature reserve... of course. The Laughton East Junction, still showing 2 lines here, also ultimately succumbed when Thurcroft Colliery, along the western section of the junction, closed around the same time as Dinnington and the line was subsequently lifted; it is now part of the very pleasant 'Laughton Mineral Line' trail from north of Thurcroft to Todwick Road and the land now occupied to the east of it (marked by 'Brick Works') by new industrial development. So for the 1st in the series of traction pictures on what turned out to be the last day of warm weather for a while, is bright, GBRf liveried class 66, 66717 hauling its rake of MJA, Mineral and Aggregates Box, Wagons south along the SYJR and coming through new development right at the side of the track; new housing as it turns out and nothing to do with Network Rail... Doh! At top right, a bit of a surprise as the rear of the 2200 tonne (each wagon can hold 101tonnes) consist is another brightly turned out GBRf, 66739, 'The Bluebell Railway'; almost missed getting a shot of this after the wagons rattled past, thinking that was that. This is the 1st of the final 3 moves of the day along here, heading south 17 minutes late is the 6F29, Hexthorpe Yard to West Burton Power Station; odd type of move to be going to a Power Station. At lower left, having arrived a bit early, 9 minutes, and being signal checked at Worksop's WP607 section signal, awaiting passage onto the single line section ahead. Unfortunately for the driver, but not so for the 2 photographers present, there was a south-bound working heading our way, coming off the single line section, 10 minutes early and so the Freightliner had to wait; the driver in the lower left picture had just been on the signal-post phone to Worksop and is here seen climbing back into the cab, ready to go as the other working was now only a mile, 2 minutes, or so away. This is Freightliner Heavy Haul class 66, 66529 on the Cottam Power Station to Hunslet Yard(Leeds), 4D28, 600tonne empties working. Quickly swinging the camera round and on the north facing side of the road, EWS, but DBS operated, class 66, 66230, comes slowly over the single to double line junction, heading south on the 6Z29 Rossington Colliery to Worksop Up Receptions working, with a full load, 2400 tonnes, of coal; presumably from Rossington? The area to the right of the EWS has already had a delivery of a road/rail vehicle to deal with ballast this at the rear, facing the camera, and at the front a heavy duty cutter and mulcher for the vegetation. Two walkers coming back to their car look on, only briefly though as of course, for them, nothing is happening here!
Network Rail Line Possession on the SYJR at Dinnington - 7583+89+97+7599/7603+OS53
Without resorting to a short video once again for this kind of piece, where much happens over a short (ish) or usually longer period, this seems to be the best way to do it, in this instance 4 mosaic pieces with 4 pictures in each. As it turned out after picture selection, from the 54 taken and after some whittling down, by luck more than design the 16 selected separated naturally into 4 sections of the work; I will have to start producing pictures with just one subject per picture again... These pieces relate to the weekend line possession on the SYJR, South Yorkshire Joint Railway with line possession commencing at Worksop's WP607 section signal with the work, some serious bank re-ballasting and renewal, being undertaken in the three miles or so from here to the north all of the lineside tree growth is going as well, though it doesn't look particularly obtrusive. With a great reduction in coal train movements along this line after April 5th, due to the higher carbon tax levy at the Power Stations from that date, it appeared at the outset that there wouldn't be much happening here apart from the train concerned with the possession, but in the event 3 coal moves occured, the last before the Line Possession came into effect at 15:32 hours. At centre, for reference, a 1953 OS map showing what used to be around in this area, as usual almost all of the detail in this map, relating to the railway has been swept away, some of it very early on, in the 1920s, like the trackbed of the line which connected Laughton West Junction, shown here as a double-dashed feature heading south, to a junction at Anston. Dinnington Main Colliery, with its branch of the section of line seen here, looking north, closed in 1992 and it wasn't long after that before the rejuvenation started and there is now nothing left except the landscaped spoil-heap, now a nature reserve... of course. The Laughton East Junction, still showing 2 lines here, also ultimately succumbed when Thurcroft Colliery, along the western section of the junction, closed around the same time as Dinnington and the line was subsequently lifted; it is now part of the very pleasant 'Laughton Mineral Line' trail from north of Thurcroft to Todwick Road and the land now occupied to the east of it (marked by 'Brick Works') by new industrial development. So for the 1st in the series of traction pictures on what turned out to be the last day of warm weather for a while, is bright, GBRf liveried class 66, 66717 hauling its rake of MJA, Mineral and Aggregates Box, Wagons south along the SYJR and coming through new development right at the side of the track; new housing as it turns out and nothing to do with Network Rail... Doh! At top right, a bit of a surprise as the rear of the 2200 tonne (each wagon can hold 101tonnes) consist is another brightly turned out GBRf, 66739, 'The Bluebell Railway'; almost missed getting a shot of this after the wagons rattled past, thinking that was that. This is the 1st of the final 3 moves of the day along here, heading south 17 minutes late is the 6F29, Hexthorpe Yard to West Burton Power Station; odd type of move to be going to a Power Station. At lower left, having arrived a bit early, 9 minutes, and being signal checked at Worksop's WP607 section signal, awaiting passage onto the single line section ahead. Unfortunately for the driver, but not so for the 2 photographers present, there was a south-bound working heading our way, coming off the single line section, 10 minutes early and so the Freightliner had to wait; the driver in the lower left picture had just been on the signal-post phone to Worksop and is here seen climbing back into the cab, ready to go as the other working was now only a mile, 2 minutes, or so away. This is Freightliner Heavy Haul class 66, 66529 on the Cottam Power Station to Hunslet Yard(Leeds), 4D28, 600tonne empties working. Quickly swinging the camera round and on the north facing side of the road, EWS, but DBS operated, class 66, 66230, comes slowly over the single to double line junction, heading south on the 6Z29 Rossington Colliery to Worksop Up Receptions working, with a full load, 2400 tonnes, of coal; presumably from Rossington? The area to the right of the EWS has already had a delivery of a road/rail vehicle to deal with ballast this at the rear, facing the camera, and at the front a heavy duty cutter and mulcher for the vegetation. Two walkers coming back to their car look on, only briefly though as of course, for them, nothing is happening here!