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A rare Grid outing! 20220416--021 by Brian Carter

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56098 approaches Wards User Worked Crossing east of Ketton, working 5Z13 08.15 Old Dalby - Hornsey EMU Depot. It was returning ETCS test unit 313121 to Hornsey after testing at RIDC Melton. 313121 is sandwiched between translator vehicles 64707 and 64664, former class 508 EMU driving motor cars. [Pole, nearly 5/6 sections (~6.5m)]

This was a very rare mainline outing for 56098, which became the shunter at RIDC Melton (Old Dalby) during 2021 (as the long-term replacement for Anglia Railways-liveried 47714). It carries early 1980s BR Railfreight livery (a grey version of the popular "large logo" scheme), albeit without the "Railfreight" logos on the cab sides. It was earmarked for the Class 69 Programme, but later withdrawn from it (but not until after it gained large logo livery for its last few months before conversion - which it then retained, and saw many outings on the main line wearing it!).

Finding somewhere to photograph this working with a decent sun angle was not easy, unless you went south of Peterborough and under the wires - it was just too early for the sun to be far enough round at all the popular locations. A chance meeting with other photographers (all pole users) at Biggleswade Common for the second Caledonian Sleeper of the morning suggested this location; none of the photographers had actually visited, but, in theory, it looked promising. Thanks to them for the suggestion!

Of course, we all wanted to be in position in plenty of time for the class 40 tour to Great Yarmouth, so didn't want to go too far south... And I was pleased I didn't go to the Huntingdon or Offord area, as 56098's engine shut down (it was quickly restarted) and the train was put into Conington Loop for a while - meaning I would probably have missed the 40 in my first choice of location.

To see my non-transport pictures, visit www.flickr.com/photos/137275498@N03/.

User UH by chainsawkillers

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