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Locomotive(s) :- 37669 & 37668.
Working :- "The 565 Special" 1Z56 05:35 Carnforth to Carmarthen.
Location :- Wigan North Western Railway Station.
Date :- 2nd September 2017.
Time :- 06:39:57.
© Andy Parkinson 2017 - No Unauthorised Use Please.
33012 leading 1Z86 09.05hrs Crewe to West Kirby 'Ruby Vampire 2' railtour with 33029 at the rear, approaching the road to enter Birkenhead North depot. Taken from the A554 road bridge, Bidston. In the background you make out the top of the Royal Liver Building and also St Johns Tower in Liverpool City Centre, also funnel of one of the Royal Naval Auxiliary 'Fort' ships in Birkenhead Docks. 24th March 2019.
Copyright: 8A Rail
Available now, book entitled 'Merseyside Traction', See:- www.amberley-books.com/merseyside-traction.html
37518 is seen leading 37706 and 37669 all working in multi powering north through Wigan Boars Head G.F. working the Branch Line Society "The Tri County Triple Tractor" 1Z78 12:13 Crewe to Lancaster on the 11th August 2019.
© Andy Parkinson 2019 - No Unauthorised Use Please.
The 26th March 1994 was spent following the Branch Line Society rail tour, the "Trent Power". Starting from Derby, top n tailed by 47524 and 47814, it visited Staythorpe power station, Stanton Works siding, Castle Donington power station, Willington power station, Sinfin, Nadins opencast DP, Drakelow power station, and Anglesea sidings at Brownhills.
The first shot of the day of the 'Trent Power' just had to be at Trent. 47524 accelerates from Trent Jn. under the Toton high level line.
37401 "Mary Queen of Scots" and 37425 "Concrete Bob / Sir Robert McAlpine" are seen setting back into Ribblehead (Virtual Quarry) along with 67005 "Queen's Messenger" upfront working the Branch Line Society "The Garsdale Growler" 1Z62 08:49 Derby to Ribblehead (Virtual Quarry) on the 27th August 2023.
Stock :- 3333, 3340, 3325, 1212, 6042, 5929, 6024.
© Andy Parkinson 2023 - No Unauthorised Use Please.
A trio of what though? Loco's or rail staff or both? Just arrived at Tuebrook Sidings, WCR Class 37, No 37676 on the Branch Line Society 'Garston Growler' railtour with No 37516 at rear, lines up with GBRf No 66769 'LMA' and No 60087 while three rail staff take the opportunity of recording the line up. The wreath on the Class 37 was in respect of Paul Taylor, GBRf employee who passed away from Prostate Cancer and No 66769 carries the Prostate Cancer livery as well as a plate inscription to Paul Taylor too. The wealth was left at Tuebrook Sidings as acknowledge being a nice touch indeed. 3rd September 2022.
Copyright: 8A Rail. www.8arail.uk
Doing what the BLS (Branch Line Society) did best crunching the rust on sections of the network rarely reached by other railtour operators.
Here class 117 DMU sets L722 (51345+51387) & L703 (51359+51401) coupled behind disgorge their passengers into the remnants of Leicester Braunstone Gate Sidings for a photo stop on the "Radlett Rambler" railtour. This line being the former Great Central Railway route into the city from the south but truncated as a branch after the Beeching closures, its final days being to serve Vic Berry's scrapyard using a curve added by BR in 1965 off the Coalville freight line linking the former Midland and GC lines together. The whole area has since been redeveloped with no trace of the railway remaining.
Usually at this time of year the annual 'Three Peaks by Rail' excursion runs, promoted by The Railway Children charity, it takes a route encompassing the tallest mountains in each of England, Wales and Scotland.
This year, due to the Coronavirus pandemic the usual event has been postponed leaving a gap in the diary. This has been filled by the Branch Line Society in connection with Locomotive Services Limited who have teamed up to run an enthusiast train on roughly the normal route- the one big exception being that no walking is involved!
It was a long wait for this shot at Penmaenmawr as the train, running as 1Z15 from Holyhead to Llandudno departed over 40 minutes late for reasons unknown. Despite the weather being warm there was a lot more cloud around than I had anticipated, and a strong gale off the Irish Sea made it almost chilly! As I headed along the North Wales Coast it looked as though I was heading into thicker and thicker cloud- but miraculously the delay to the train gave the thick stuff time to clear. By the time that the train eventually arrived more clouds were rapidly blowing in, one had passed just ahead of the train and the next can be seen just the other side of the short tunnel.
After all that waiting and cloud watching I was happily rewarded. D6851 (37667) and D6817 (37521) catch that sunshine working the delayed 1Z15 10:06 Holyhead - Llandudno (which terminated at Llandudno Junction - the train was supposedly too long for the branch) pulling the immaculately turned out LSL Intercity Mk3 rake along the North Wales Coast at Penmaenmawr.
On Saturday 9th April 2022, West Coast Railway Company's 37516 'Loch Laidon' rattles through the northern suburbs of Redcar at West Dyke heading the Branch Line Society's 'The Merchant of Teesside' charter, the 1Z72 17:39 Saltburn to York and Doncaster. The veteran Class 37 was no stranger to the North East and Yorkshire during its early BR days, delivered new to Gateshead depot as D6786 in December 1962, and subsequently reallocated to York in July 1966.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
Over 2 hours late, finally the BLS railtour, 'The Europort Explorer' pulls into Wakefield Europort with 66044 on the front, and 66053 on the rear. GBRf 66762 is on a set of containers.
BR green class 40 D213 (40013) 'Andania' crosses the River Dee at Hawarden Bridge on the Wrexham - Bidston leg of The Branch Line Society' Wirral Squirrel' railtour on 3 October 2021. BR blue 47614 was on the rear.
66190 Martin House Children's Hospice passes Pelaw, working the Tyne Yard to Tyne Dock leg of the Branch Line Society's "Tabs on the Tyne" rare track railtour, the first of two days named "The Tyne Tees Maid".
Today's tour ran as:
1Z27 07.26 Doncaster - ECML - Tyne Yard - Tyne Dock;
1Z28 12.15 Tyne Dock - Newcastle - Newsham - Bedlington - North Blyth Battleship Wharf (reverse) - Lynemouth (reverse) - Bedlington - Newsham - Newcastle;
1Z29 18.20 Newcastle - King Edward Bridge - East Boldon Up Loop - Hartlepool (Cliff House Up Loop) - Darlington (reverse at platform 3) - Doncaster.
Although 1Z27 had arrived at Tyne Yard on time, swapping the locos around took longer than the booked hour, and it set off 18 late; it arrived with 66190, 66004 and 66179 at the head, but departed with just 66190 in charge. GBRf's 60047 was added to the other end at Tyne Dock for 1Z28, while 1Z29 left Newcastle with 66179 at the head and 66190 on the tail, reversed of course from Darlington.
66190 had been named the previous day, after a charity which has been supported by Branch Line Society railtours.
Visit Brian Carter's Non-Transport Pics to see my photos of landscapes, buildings, bridges, sunsets, rainbows and more.
Hanson Hall 50008 'Thunderer' is seen shortly after arrival at Brighton having worked 1Z44 10:20 from Littlehampton as part of the 'Ore no More' railtour, this was originally going to be called the 'The Ore & More' railtour however since they didn't get the clearance in time to run down to Ore they renamed it the 'Ore no More' railtour. 50007 was at the other end. 23/04/22
Locomotive(s) :- 68026.
Working :- 1Z49 12:35 Ormskirk to Liverpool Lime Street.
Location :- Wigan North Western Railway Station.
Date :- 15th June 2017.
Time :- 15:09:09.
© Andy Parkinson 2017 - No Unauthorised Use Please.
50008 'Thunderer' easing away from Broadholme Loop on 25/6/23 with Branch Line Society "The Eyre Valley Explorer" 1Z54 - 07.33 - Derby to Keighley Worth Valley Railway.
37418 brings up the rear of a scene already confined to history following Hanson & Hall decision to withdraw from the Railtour market.
Taken using pole.
Class 50 50008 Thunderer sits on the Blocks at Brighton after arrival Littlehampton on the Branch line society Ore no More railtour from Eastleigh to London cannon Street and return
Ready for departure from Scarborough on 5th June 2024 is class 40 no. D213 'Andania' at the head of 1Z88, a Branch Line Society charity special operated by LSL, returning to Crewe.
Scottish Railway Preservation Society Class 37 37402 'Isle of Mull' in BR large logo livery at Darlington, 9 April 2022.
Needless to say the ‘Railtour of the Year’ coincided with some typical Scottish weather….
37403 ‘Isle of Mull’ crossing Loch Awe viaduct on 9/3/24 with Branch Line Society Railtour “BWC Two” 1Z38 - 06.35 - Fort William to Oban & return.
Taken using pole.
LSL Charter Oban - Crewe D6817 & D6851 with load 9 Mk 3 coaches 1 Mk1 coach and 1 Generator coach pictured at Wandel Saturday 12th June @ 18:36
50008 Thunderer at York working 1Z50 05:35 Derby to Whitby Branch Line Society Charter on the 18/3/23
The leg of the "Saltburn Alternative" charter from Saltburn to Shildon was hauled by 37418. Cargo Fleet, Middlesbrough, 22 October 2022.
The Branch Line Society’s "The Marching Crompton II" charter departs Hereford at 07:57 on 23rd March 2019 en route from Crewe to Weymouth. Leading the seven-coach set is West Coast Railway Company’s Class 33/0 No. 33029 with Class 47/4 No. 47851 bringing up the rear.
47772 passes Heamies Farm hauling 1Z46 Lancaster to Bristol Temple Meads with 47826 on the rear on 02/02/2019.
Some serious power on the front of the Branch Line Society's "The Summer Syphons" charter as it powers through Goostrey station with special guest Freightliner Class 70 pair, 70011 and 70019 in multi on the front.
Tucked in behind the GE powerhouses was Direct Rail Services Class 37/4, 37422 "Victorious" (also carrying 37266) with sister Syphon 37423 "Spirit of the Lakes" on the rear.
The four day charter was raising funds for Martin House Hospice, with this leg of the tour on Day 3 "The Primary Colours" running as 1Z42 12:40 Rose Hill Marple to Crewe Electric Traction Depot.
The second day of the Branch Line Society's "The Sahara Explorer" railtour, which ran from from Oujda to Bouárfa in Morocco, stands at Tendrara in the Sahara Desert. At the head of the train are ONCF (Moroccan National Railways) locos DH411 and DH367.
The front two coaches were for the use of ONCF staff, while the third coach is a generator van which also contains an area which was used for food preparation as well as selling cold drinks (and giving away bottles of water). Fourth is a couchette coach, available to the 32 tour participants on the return journey (which took place overnight - a departure just after 9pm resulted in an arrival back at Oujda just after 05.15 the following morning). At the back are two seating coaches, the first being air conditioned while the rearmost coach has opening windows and was originally built for SNCB (Belgium).
The tour was met by a party of local children, who welcomed the group. A group of folk singers had been expected, but they had had to cancel - and the children sang a song for the visiting BLS party.
Tendrara station featured in the 2015 James Bond film Spectre, being the location where Bond and Madeleine Swann alight from a train in search of Blofeld's base.
Visit Brian Carter's Non-Transport Pics to see my photos of landscapes, buildings, bridges, sunsets, rainbows and more.
Branch Line Society "Forth and Clyde Wanderer" rail tour 27 August 1977. Class 101 dmu cars 51464+59556+51525 formed the train seen here at Bathgate Upper, closed to passengers in 1956. The line itself closed in 1982 and was lifted, but has since been restored. Bathgate is served by a resited station.
3.7.2021.
DRS blue liveried Class 37 No 37422 'Victorious' brings up the rear of the 'Sinfin Syphon'.
37423 'Spirit of the Lakes' was leading.
Seen here making its way up Babworth loop, before re-joining the ECML and returning North.
1Z38, the 06.47 York - East Midland Gateway 'Branchline Society' railtour.
*See previous image for more info*
After visiting the Rugeley Power Station complex with the Branch Line Society's "Cliffe Vale Hopper" railtour, WCRC's 37 668 heads north passed Rugeley North Junction on the West Coast Main Line with the return leg 1Z40, the 1346 Rugeley Power Station - Crewe on Friday October 7th 2016.
The Branch Line Society "Lothian and Fife Wanderer" rail tour on 23 August 1980 is seen here at the erstwhile Cameron Bridge station on the Leven Railway. There is a possibily that a station may be reopened to serve the location during the 2020s, but not exactly on this site. The Metro-Cammell class 101 set comprised 51224+59067+50243 (new in 1957 and 1958). I believe 51224 to be nearest the camera.
On 27th August 2023, 37401 and 37425 depart from Chesterfield with the Branch Line Society's 'The Garsdale Growler' charter from Derby to Carlisle. Class 67 No. 67005 was on the rear.
As seen on the Ormskirk Branch of the Merseyrail Network. The Class 47 top and tailed rail tour had just left the new Maghull North Station and was heading towards Town Green, Aughton Park and Ormskirk.
Approaching from St Helens Central, the Branch Line Society's Garston Growler Railtour, routed via Tuebrook Sidings and Garston Freightliner Terminal, heads west toward Liverpool hauled by West Coast Railways loco 37676 'Loch Rannoch'
37423 passes Attenborough Nature Reserve with 1Z39 10:38 East Midlands Gateway to Stanton Gate. Saturday 3rd July 2021.
West Coast Railways Class 37s 37706 + 37518 leads the train while 37669 on the rear of 5z73 1200 Carnforth WCRC - Crewe Down Refuse Sidings,photographed at Woodacre near Garsatang on 09/08/2019
70015 is seen leading 70001 "Powerhaul" and 66124 as they pass through Woodlesford Railway Station working the Branch Line Society "The Humber Snipe" 1Z68 13:51 Gascoigne Wood Sidings to Dewsbury Blue Circle on the 26th August 2023.
66616 and 66615 where on the rear just out of sight.
Stock :- 17105, 3333, 3340, 3325, 1212, 6042, 5929, 6024.
www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/20s/230826bl.htm
© Andy Parkinson 2023 - No Unauthorised Use Please.
The Scottish Railway Preservation Society's BR large logo liveried Class 37 37403 "Isle of Mull", bringing up the rear of the Branch Line Society's "The Technical Cobra" railtour before departure from Derby.