LE movements, ECS and test runs 2025

Peppercorn A2 4-6-2 No. 60532 Blue Peter charges through Hartford on its test run to Preston.


Difficult enough shooting straight into the sun, but it would have been much harder if that Pendolino in the background had passed by ten seconds later!

Cheers,

 

https://flic.kr/p/2qQhKNY

60532 on the crew training run today at Daresbury

 

In better light, but again with an EMU on the nearest line getting out of the way in time, here is 60532 Blue Peter once more, heading south through Hartford on the return to Crewe.



Cheers,

 

Just received an email from the A1SLT saying that 60163 Tornado will move from the Nene Valley Railway to Carnforth tomorrow, Friday 7th March. Nothing as yet in RTT regarding timing or route.

 

60532 Blue Peter at Lostock Hall junc with the Test run from Crewe to Preston on 6/3/2025

David Price
Cop Lane on Flickr

 

Today is World Book Day and living opposite a primary school it is a pleasure, and often a challenge, to try to guess what character the children are dressed as when making their way to school. Mrs W and I don't usually bother but Maisie, our newish cat, wanted to participate. We finally decided, I would go as Postman Pat, Mrs W would be Mrs Goggins and Maisie would be Jess. In reality none of us got dressed up but Maisie enjoyed being Jess for an hour or two.

Well it was a beautiful, sunny March morning with not a cloud in the sky, but there was a metaphorical one on the horizon. Thursday morning is our supermarket delivery day and our regular (08.30 to 09.30) was booked and the order placed before I knew that Blue Peter was running. Grocery shopping has always been my job, from order to putting away. The delivery is often early, 8 to 8.30, but not today, by 08.45 I had all but written off my chances of seeing the outbound leg. Mrs W volunteered "to carry in the shopping" - it eventually arrived at 09.30. Oswald needed no second bidding, a quick change (not into my Postman Pat outfit), coat on, gather up my camera and off I went (09.05). Leyland beckoned.

The traffic along the A666 to the M65 junction was ok but as soon as I joined the M65 it was down to walking pace. The motorway was busy, this is a 3 lane section that reduces to 2 after about a mile. The left hand 2 lanes were choc a bloc but crawling and still the idiots in the right hand lane hurtled past looking to force their way in further along the road. The motorway reduced to 2 lanes and still we crawled, then in the distance were flashing blue and orange lights. The traffic began to pick up speed but slowed again as the drivers rubbernecked a damaged car on the hard shoulder. From a brief glance I had it appeared to be a single car with minor front impact damage, the recovery truck was on site and it appeared to be all over bar the shouting. Traffic speeds returned to normal and I arrived on the station car park around 09.35 only to find that it was full. I found was a space a couple of hundred yards away in a side street. With Blue Peter due at 10.05 I collected my camera and tripod from the boot and headed onto platform 4 and set up at the Preston end. The sun was low in the southern sky, just to the left of the track and the train would be heading north, not the best - but sun is sun and always better than the wet stuff.

In the distance, a cloud of white exhaust drifted across. then more as the loco appeared from under the distant road bridge. Progress was slow as 60532 eased her way towards the station. There was the distinctive but muted sound from Kylchap exhaust, she trundled through the station without a whistle for the gathered throngs (in truth we were thin on the ground). As she drew closer the low, oblique sun caught her resplendent blue paintwork - she looked magnificent (but oh for a maroon loco!) She headed off to the north 10C, 4L & 25mph. Oswald headed back to the car for half an hour.

Then it was off to the south end of platform 3 for the return working. Less than an hour later and the sun had noticeably moved further round in the sky but sadly not quite far enough, my side of the train would be still be in shadow. Everything went as it should and before too long Blue Peter was sighted. As she came nearer she let out a feeble, strangled whistle. She was moving much quicker than earlier, the noise from the exhaust was that lovely swish-swish-swish we come to expect. She hurried thro' not as fast as some but certainly working up the gentle gradient. And then she was gone, the carriages looking somewhat incongruous behind a steam loco. 12C, 3L & 54mph. Nice to meet and chat with a couple of regulars.

The thing is with Blue Peter is that you don't see the loco for years and then it's twice in an hour! Can't wait until the next time.

[Platform end gossip: Tornado is to be diverted from its trip to the East Lancs Railway to go to 10A for assessment and a test run, prior to an agreement being reached regarding the loco's mainline operation. That was from a well-informed source. Perhaps less reliable, but who knows. Blue Peter will operate the first Lakelander of the year, but will return via the S&C (clearance issues on the coast line?)]

 

A second sunny day for main line steam in under a week called for a return to boyhood haunts for Blue Peter's run to Preston and back.
Oswald wasn't the only one with traffic difficulties as road works on the A56 between Daresbury and Moore were causing huge tailbacks, luckily I still had time to get into position.
How much longer the shot at Moore Lane will last is anyones guess, the lineside growth has recovered quickly since 2019.
On to Dutton Viaduct again for the return, with rising temperatures the exhaust was invisible.

 

Lovely photo and a well chosen spot using the low morning sun to your advantage

 

Couple of shots near Euxton Balshaw Lane:

 

60532 heads south from Preston with the return Driver traing run.

 

Thanks Oswald.As you said in your post it's not easy to get much sidelighting on that path,this the best option close to Preston

 

60163 to its ‘new’ home?

https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train.php/?c=U47367&d=2025-03-07

 

Yes, now on RTT as well
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U47367/2025-03-07/detailed

 

Late arrival suggests loaded test run is for another day.

 

20132, 118, 107 & 096 passing Brock in the rain working 0Z30 0600 Crewe H.S. to Carlisle Upperby Tmd Lsl 07/03/25.

 

And passing Arkholme:

https://andrewstransport.smugmug.com/Northwesttrains/North-West-trains-2025/i-cPzrLHm

Andrew N

 

In fading light A1 class No. 60163 'Tornado' works 5Z80 over Capernwray Viaduct heading to Carnforth during its light test run from Orton Mere with Mick Kelly driving and Martyn Soames on the shovel



Carnforth approach

 

60163 Tornado at Wennington.