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GB Railfreight Class 60, 60087 "Bountiful" thunders through Lostock Gralam with 6M51 12:03 Doncaster Down Decoy to Liverpool Biomass Terminal.
Usually the freights I see through Lostock Gralam are slowing up to stop in Northwich to wait time (or to reverse into the works) - however the Super Sixty wasn't hanging around and flew the station - most probably at its maximum speed of 60 mph.
The working was running 78 minutes late at this point as had been late away from Doncaster waiting for 60087 to arrive from Tyne Dock.
Sister loco 096 was some way back on the rear of the consist - bringing the total number of Class 60s based at Liverpool for the coming week up to five. That represents half the GBRf fleet and I believe the most there's ever been at once on Merseyside since GB started using them on the biomass trains in January 2019.
GB Railfreight Class 66/6, 66795 "Bescot LDC" makes its debut on the Liverpool-Drax biomass circuit working 6M51 12:03 Doncaster Down Decoy to Liverpool Biomass Terminal through Lostock Gralam. Class 60, 60047 "Faithful" was DIT.
Although 66795 was a standard spec Class 66 when it was imported from Europe in early 2021, it has recently been re-geared during a wheelset change to the High Tractive Effort 66/6 spec. It therefore joins 793, 794 and 796 in the GBHH ("Heavy Haul") pool.
66750 approaches Heck Ings Foot Crossing with 4N30 15:29 Drax PS to Tyne Dock biomass empties. 2/4/2015. 'Course, what goes in, must come out, so I got my second shot of the blue loco imported from Europe on the same afternoon!
Despite it being 22:10 there was still a tinge of blue light in the sky as GB Railfreight Class 60, 60002 "Graham Farish 50th Anniversary 1970-2020" sailed through Platform 1 at Acton Bridge with 6E27 19:43 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station.
66711 "Sence" heads away from Smithy Bridge with 4M37 09:54 Drax to Liverpool biomass empties. 18/7/2017.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60021 "Penyghent" crawls to a stand between Lostock Gralam and Plumley West with 6E10 11:07 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station.
The crawl was not because the Brush brute was struggling with its load of 25 biomass wagons - but due to some very ropey signalling.
Firstly Warrington Box held 6E10 for an additional 10 minutes to wait for a delayed Pendolino (even though 60021 could've got to Acton Bridge and onto the Up Slow in that time).
Then at Hartford Junction it was Greenbank's turn to have an apparent "moment". Rather than letting the non-stop freight out in front of the late running Chester-Manchester Northern service (which it could've done without further delaying the unit) the Tug was held to allow the unit to go in front of it - and then promptly stop at every station, causing further delay to 6E10.
The one up-side was a great opportunity to photograph 60021 slowly approaching and coming to a stand next to me waiting for the Plumley West signal to clear. And then once it did, the awesome sight, sound and sensation of the mighty Brush brute getting 2400 tonnes back underway again (see video: youtu.be/ECLX2EvYiVQ).
The photograph was taken from what was the rail spur to the now-demolished Associated Octel Holford Moss works which were situated by the line here and manufactured the lead additive for petrol. The works closed in 1985 and taken down soon after, yet a lot of the trackwork still remains.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60087 attacks the climb through Lostock Graham with consummate ease as it works another load of biomass bound for Yorkshire on 6E24 16:56 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station.
Returning to GB Railfreight duties after 13 months out of action, Class 60, 60026 "Helvellyn" accelerates through a very wet Acton Bridge with 6M51 12:03 Doncaster Down Decoy GB Railfreight to Liverpool Biomass Terminal.
60026 had caught fire working 6E24 on the night of 23/09/2020 (photo of it that night here: flic.kr/p/2jLHjv9). Thanks to the swift actions of Liverpool Depot Driver Mark Jones, the fire was extinguished and the Brush Traction locomotive was saved, however it still suffered some significant damage.
During its spell in Toton the opportunity was also taken to undertake a couple of other mods that are being done to the Class 60 fleet to improve their performance and reliability.
GB Railfreight Class 66, 66778 "Cambois Depot 25 Years" gets another week of the Liverpool to Drax biomass circuit underway bringing over the empty rake of wagons from Doncaster as 6M51 12:03 Doncaster Down Decoy to Liverpool Biomass Terminal.
The GB Shed is seen passing Plumley foot crossing on a warm and sunny mid-September Sunday afternoon.
With floods and Single Line Working around Drax Power Station severely disrupting supplies from Liverpool, a much need trainload of wood chippings makes it way from Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax as 6E09.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60096 "Impetus" - still carrying its former owner's paint scheme - makes light work of the heavy load as it thumps its way through Acton Bridge.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60076 "Dunbar" attacks the climb from Lostock Gralam to Plumley West with around 2400 tonnes on the drawhook as it leads 6E10 09:55 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station.
This particular working across the Pennines and back is nicknamed the "Dinnertime Destroyer" by the driver due to the havoc it causes with normal eating arrangements.
66774 passes Ravensthorpe with 4M36 09:40 Drax to Liverpool biomass empties. 6/2/2020. I was starting to think I should set up a bed at this spot, as I seemed to spend all my time there at the time! There's a distinct lack of westbound shots in the Mirfield/Dewsbury/Horbury area though.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60047 "Faithful" passes Plumley West Section Signal with the loaded 6E09 07:30 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station working.
After a period of (enforced?) absence for the Class 60s on the cross-Pennine runs from Liverpool to Drax, they Brush brutes have returned in the last week or so. 60047 had been confined to the docks as the drawback engine, but was now able to stretch its legs properly over the hills to Yorkshire.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60056 (formerly named "William Beveridge") powers through Acton Bridge with 6E09 07:57 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station.
The train consisted of 21 loaded IIA-D biomass wagons (no empties) resulting in a trailing weight of 1,980 tonnes.
Getting put through their paces as part of the transfer from Direct Rail Services to GB Railfreight, debranded Beacon Rail Leasing-owned Class 66s 66304 + 66305 (in multi) get 6E17 12:58 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station underway from the peg at Plumley West.
GBRf's Class 60, 60056 (DIT) - also Beacon-owned and wearing its previous operator's colours - keeps a close eye on proceedings.
66746 heads down the Calder Valley at Eastwood with 6E09 07:35 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax. 26/1/2018. This wasn't really the location where I wanted to do this, but everywhere else in the vicinity was heavily shadowed. Still at least it's a record.
GB Railfreight Class 60,. 60085 "Adept" heads towards Acton Bridge in the fading light with its load of 25 biomass hoppers on 6M51 12:03 Doncaster Down Decoy to Liverpool Biomass Terminal.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60096 "Impetus" hangs on to the rear of 6M51 12:03 Doncaster Down Decoy to Liverpool Biomass Terminal as it thunders through Lostock Gralam.
Usually the freights I see through Lostock Gralam are slowing up to stop in Northwich to wait time (or to reverse into the works) - however sister loco 087 on the front wasn't hanging around and flew the station - most probably at its maximum speed of 60 mph.
The working was running 78 minutes late at this point as had been late away from Doncaster waiting for 087 to arrive from Tyne Dock.
The move would bring the total number of Class 60s based at Liverpool for the coming week up to five. That represents half the GBRf fleet and I believe the most there's ever been at once on Merseyside since GB started using them on the biomass trains in January 2019.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60096 "Impetus" runs through Acton Bridge station with 6E34 22:08 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station as it takes the Up Slow towards Hartford Junction and the Mid-Cheshire Line.
The traffic to Drax from Liverpool has increased in the last week or so, with only two of the four trains per day not running in the previous week.
GB Railfreight Class 66, 66761 "Wensleydale Railway Association 25 Years 1990-2015" powers 6M53 13:30 Drax Power Station to Liverpool Biomass Terminal through Acton Bridge.
There's usually only one Sunday afternoon biomass empties working from over the Pennines to Liverpool (6M51 - flic.kr/p/2mhikTV) however on this afternoon there was this additional STP working from Drax Power Station.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60085 "Adept" leads the 6E17 loaded biomass working from Liverpool to Drax through a gloomy Lostock Gralam, with poorly Class 66, 66718 "Sir Peter Hendy CBE" tucked in behind.
Having only come onto the biomass workings the previous week to add some much needed 'special livery' interest to proceedings, 66718 developed technical issues and needed a tow back to Doncaster (via Drax) for attention. Saturday's 6E17 is regularly used to trip locos back to Doncaster (via Drax) without the need for any additional paths or drivers.
GB Railfreight Class 66, 66797 - wearing the colours of the leasing company who own the recent GBRf Euro imports - Beacon Rail, powers up the hill through Lostock Gralam with 6E27 18:54 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station.
With the majority of the biomass empties returning to Liverpool via Manchester/Chat Moss, it's unusual to have two of the trains pass on the Mid-Cheshire within a few minutes of each other. That happened on this occasion, though, with 66797 passing through Lostock Gralam eastbound with the loaded 6E27 a few minutes after 60 047 had gone through the other way with the 6M90 empties (see flic.kr/p/2n2bNyR).
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60096 "Impetus" leads sister engine 60076 "Dunbar" off the Northwich viaduct as they head east with 6E17 12:30 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station.
Having had a 20 mph TSR ("Temporary" Speed Restriction) imposed over it for a long while, the viaduct now has a permanent 20 mph restriction due to its condition.
66112 climbs out of Barnetby with 4R50 10:10 Milford West Sidings to Immingham empty biomass. 25/11/2015.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60021 "Penyghent" crawls up the incline from Lostock Gralam towards Plumley West with 6E10 11:07 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station.
The crawl was not because the Brush brute was struggling with its load of 25 biomass wagons - but due to some very ropey signalling.
Firstly Warrington Box held 6E10 for an additional 10 minutes to wait for a delayed Pendolino (even though 60021 could've got to Acton Bridge and onto the Up Slow in that time).
Then at Hartford Junction it was Greenbank's turn to have an apparent "moment". Rather than letting the non-stop freight out in front of the late running Chester-Manchester Northern service (which it could've done without further delaying the unit) the Tug was held to allow the unit to go in front of it - and then promptly stop at every station, causing further delay to 6E10.
The one up-side was a great opportunity to photograph 60021 slowly approaching and coming to a stand next to me waiting for the Plumley West signal to clear. And then once it did, the awesome sight, sound and sensation of the mighty Brush brute getting 2400 tonnes back underway again (see video: youtu.be/ECLX2EvYiVQ).
The photograph was taken from what was the rail spur to the now-demolished Associated Octel Holford Moss works which were situated by the line here and manufactured the lead additive for petrol. The works closed in 1985 and taken down soon after, yet a lot of the trackwork still remains.
66767 has just passed Dewsbury East Junction with 6M36 09:54 Drax to Liverpool empty biomass. 8/1/2019. 66711 was supposed to be at the head of this train, but 66767 turned up instead, sadly. This location is really too shadowy this time of year, but you can just about get away with it, as hopefully this photo proves.
GB Railfreight Class 66, 66742 "ABP Port of Immingham Centenary 1912-2012" approaches Acton Bridge on Christmas Eve with a fully loaded biomass train running as 6E10 11:15 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station.
This was the last train to run from Liverpool over to Drax prior to the Christmas weekend.
60026 "Jupiter" races through Horbury with 6M60 10:00 Drax to Tuebrook Sidings empty biomass. 4/3/2019. As far as I know this location has now gone, due to the uncontrolled vegetation.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60087 powers through Plumley with 6M51 1203 Doncaster Down Decoy to Liverpool Biomass Terminal.
A lone JNA wagon - used on the Shap/Ashton stone flows - had made its way into the rake in order to move it over from Doncaster to Tuebrook.
In the distance Northern Class 150, 150105 (with 127 in tow behind) can be seen departing Plumley station with 2H36 1504 Chester to Manchester Piccadilly.
GB Railfreight's Biffa-liveried Class 66, 66783 "The Flying Dustman" climbs away from Lostock Gralam with 6E17 12:30 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station.
66783 was on the "end of week" biomass move to Drax then Doncaster Down Decoy (via 6D99 the following morning) so it could be in position to work the inaugural Biffa flow from Doncaster to Renwick Road (Ripple Lane) during the following week - quite unusual for the Biffa 66 to be actually on a Biffa flow!
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60085 "Adept" eases to a stand in Northwich station to wait time with 6M51 12:03 Doncaster Down Decoy to Liverpool Biomass Terminal.
The 60 would wait for over 20 minutes in the station before making its onward journey with the empty hoppers to Merseyside.
Can still just about squeeze a shot in between the veg on the Hodge Lane overbridge - GB Railfreight Class 60, 60002 "Graham Farish 50th Anniversary 1970-2020" climbs the curve at Hartford Junction with 2,400 on the draw-hook in the shape of 6E09 07:38 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60087 leads Class 66, 66738 "Huddersfield Town" (DIT) through the rain at Acton Bridge with 6M51 12:03 Doncaster Down Decoy to Liverpool Biomass Terminal.
This is the usual Sunday afternoon biomass empties working from over the Pennines, however on this afternoon there was an additional working from Drax, 6M53 STP - see: flic.kr/p/2mhikCu.
60026 "Jupiter" crosses Todmorden Viaduct with 6M36 09:54 Drax to Liverpool biomass empties. 14/2/2019. If someone had told me in 2018 that the next time I photographed a biomass train in this location, it would be powered by a Tug, I wouldn't have believed them!
60096 "Impetus" is about to enter Horsfall Tunnel with 6E09 07:11 Liverpool BT to Drax loaded biomass. 14/2/2019. I had an impetus this particular morning to photograph this and the other trains - I'm very glad I did as I scooped in my first Tug-Hauled Calder Valley biomasses as a result!
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60021 "Pen-Y-Ghent" rounds the curve past Plumley West Signal Box as it roars west with the loaded 6E09 07:30 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60076 "Dunbar" leads one of GBRf's recent Euro imports, 66793 - freshly painted in retro Trainload Construction livery - through Lostock Gralam on 6M51 12:03 Doncaster Down Decoy to Liverpool Biomass Terminal.
66793 is one of the two recent imports that is a Class 66/6 High Tractive Effort variant (794 being the other). It was being taken to Liverpool to trial it on lifting the 2,400 tonne biomass trains from the docks at Bootle to Tuebrook Sidings solo. Currently the standard 66/7s require a second loco banking them up the steep climb from the docks.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60095 climbs towards Lostock Gralam station with another load of biomass on 6E10 11:25 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station.
66713 "Forest City" is about to enter Summit Tunnel with the very late-running 4M37 09:54 Drax to Tuebrook Sidings empty biomass. 14/5/2018.
GB Railfreight Class 60, 60096 "Impetus" pounds up the incline through Lostock Gralam just after midnight with 6E34 22:08 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax Power Station.
"Celebrity" GB Railfreight Class 66, 66783 "The Flying Dustman" in its unique Biffa customer livery leads Class 60, 60096 "Impetus" on 6M51 12:03 Doncaster Down Decoy to Liverpool Biomass Terminal through across the Dutton Viaduct.
60096 is also a GBRf locomotive, although still wears the colours of its previous owner, Colas Rail Freight.
The 6M51 move on a Sunday afternoon is often used to move locomotives into position for the following week's workings out of Tuebrook/Liverpool. Both locos went straight to work later in the evening with 60096 hauling 6E27 to Drax and 66783 working the stone train to Shap (6C66).
After its Brush(!) with disaster when it suffered a serious fire a few months previously, it was great to see GB Railfreight's Class 60, 60021 "Penyghent" back in action.
Working the 6E10 loaded biomass working from Liverpool to Drax through Acton Bridge, this was also the first time I'd seen 60021 in her smart GB livery complete with Peak-style red nameplate.
66717 "Good Old Boy" passes the site of Mirfield Shed with 4M51 10:19 Drax to Liverpool biomass empties. 29/12/2015.
Db cargo`s Drax liveried 60066 passes Raskelf with 6E97 the 10.44 New Biggin to Tees dock Bsc gypsum empties 16/10/2019.
60021 "Penyghent" approaches Horbury Junction with 6M60 09:54 Drax to Liverpool empty biomass. 3/2/2020. Thanks to Chris Davies for demonstrating that this was possible when he captured this working a few days earlier at this location. The sun was only weak and watery on this occasion, rather than full bling, but it could have been worse.
It wasn't exactly photography weather as it was, but at least it was dry and the light wasn't terrible. Then just as 6E17 could be heard in the distance the skies turned grey and it started shedding it down (pardon the pun).
GB Railfreight Class 66, 66709 "Sorrento" with poorly sister locomotive 66769 DIT head past Plumley West on their way from Liverpool to Drax.