LE movements, ECS and test runs 2025

I would guess a Footex linked to the Carabao Cup final at Wembley (Liverpool v Newcastle).

 

Apparently, from elsewhere, 86259+86401 top-n-tail.
Also LSL trip from Liverpool for VIP's and WCRC trip from Newcastle.

https://www.worldchoicesports.co.uk/package/newcastle-fc-carabao-cup/

Proves steam tours are quite competitive price wise.

 

Well noted and Leyland/Hellifield would have been easily manageable with just over 2 hours available 08.17/10.25 for the drive. Less appealing would be the 07.15 start from home to get to Leyland and being the only “human” up and about at that time who else would Maisie have to join in an early morning game of chase the ball. My arthritic back would have missed all that bending down.

I don’t know if today’s times would have allowed it but a couple of regular videographers often post videos with footage taken at Clapham and east of Hellifield - this is a rush but they are younger and much fitter than me!

 

60007 at Forton on its way to NYMR

 

On Monday 17th 44871 is on the move from ELR to KWVR running via Copy Pit-Blackburn (reverses)-Hellifield (reverses) and to Keighley. Times are on RTT.

 

Also, as per Rail Advent, 45212 is running York to Carnforth, through Hellifield 1230 ish

 

Im confused as to why this move is being made? Seems odd to go from York to Carnforth when it’ll likely be on the Whitby flyer from York on the 19th.

Unless you are referring to the move on the 20th?

 

Sirry i meant the move on the 20th

 

Thompson B1 Class 4-6-0 No. 61306 Mayflower approaches Winwick Junction while on a positioning movement from Crewe to the East Lancs Railway on Friday 14th March 2025.



Cheers,

 

Black Five 45212 - Sunday

Rugby - York NRM

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K28216/2025-03-16/detailed

Puts it in position for the Whitby tour next Wednesday one would suspect

 

Will it survive the Rugby "Bermuda Triangle" this week, home to so many hot boxes over the years.

 

Hard to find any location around Burton upon Trent that looks anything like it did in the 1960s, but under the 1874 cast iron structure supporting Station Street over the remains of a once great station is as close as one can get.


45212 and its support coach races through with 5Z75 Rugby C.S. to York NRM on Sunday 16th March 2025.

 

One for @The Green Howards...

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...EKXgP1kHHRav98knlw_aem_lxDhxXBaP6qgLPk7yHTOhg

60103 heading back to the NRM tomorrow. Tender first from Wansford to Lincoln.

 

44871 ELR - KWVR near Clegg Hall this morning.

 

D'you know, I dearly would have loved to get out with the cameras and photograph it running up the Loop as the only other time I saw a loco running tender-first on the line was (IIRC) 6233... and Snappy Snaps ruined my film and lost the pictures However... work called and so I found myself eighty miles away

I might however be able to get a snap of 70000 as it heads back to Southall on Wednesday before I go to work.

 

The weather forecast was for cloud with sunny intervals. Approaching 11.00 we hadn't seen even a suggestion of sun, but had seen plenty of cloud, gloomy grey cloud that covered the sky from horizon to horizon but never threatening even a hint of rain. We should be thankful for something. RTT showed that 44871 had left the East Lancs and had passed thro' Rochdale - it was time for Oswald to be on his way.

The pathing made good sense but was unusual; smokebox first from the ELR and over Copy Pit to Blackburn, then a reversal and tender first from Blackburn to Hellifield and finally another reversal and smokebox first on to Keighley. After some deliberation I had decided to go to Rishton, then take advantage of the short stop in Blackburn and "nip over the hill" to R&W (where else?).

Shortly after leaving home and heading north on the A666 the clouds parted and that famous Darwen landmark, India Mill chimney was bathed in sunlight for all of 5 seconds whereupon the clouds closed the gap; it was very much a "let's see what you could have won" moment. An easy journey to Rishton and no further glimpse of the sun. I arrived around 20-25 mins before 44871 was due and made my way onto the platform. There were already a handful of watchers in situ. As I was setting up a photographer I had not seen for a few years walked down the platform and we had a brief chat.

By now the train, if a loco and coach can warrant the term "train", was approaching Accrington and shortly afterwards would pass, ever so briefly, thro' the Holy Land aka Oswaldtwistle. Less than 5 minutes later the exhaust beat of one of "Stanier's Finest" could be heard above the roar of the traffic on the nearby M65. There was a spluttering whistle as the loco approached the station, she leaned to the curve and hurried under the footbridge thro' the platforms and away towards Blackburn. 5c but feeling cooler in the biting easterly wind & 4E.

There was plenty of time to head over to R&W, a 10 minute drive and 30+ minutes in which to do it, what could possibly go wrong? Nothing! Perhaps worth a mention, when leaving Rishton the road crosses over the track bed of the old North Lancashire Loop Line that ran between Blackburn and Rose Grove, looking very overgrown.

I parked up just before noon with 44871 due at 12.17. I made my way down to Clitheroe end of the Blackburn platform. A few others drifted down onto the platform and a few stayed up on the bridge, perhaps a dozen in total and two or three less than had been at Rishton. The sky was brightening, not by much and never sunny. 44871 left Blackburn (1E) and was 1E at Daisyfield Jn - not long to wait. Even though she was travelling tender first there was plenty of white exhaust visible as she rounded the curve and headed towards the summit of the climb from Blackburn, sadly the sound was blown away by the wind. Over the top and a whistle as she approached the station, the tender paintwork gleaming, she hurried off down the hill and was gone. 6C & 1L Always a pleasure to see a loco on home ground.

[Maisie Mileposts - After completely ignoring her cat bed for 6 weeks, around a week ago, she decided to try it and . . . she loves it! A few days later Mrs W mentioned that she might be able to have her dining room chair back (aka Maisie's first bed) within 15 minutes Maisie was back on the chair. How do they know? After a few days of trialing sitting/sleeping alongside me in my armchair, on Saturday and completely unsolicited she jumped up onto my lap and had a sleep, a feat she repeated on Sunday. Yesterday she went outside for the first time (supervised) and this morning had a "jolly girls outing" with Mrs W. Progress is being made.]

 

If you think you'll ever make "progress" with our feline chums ... think again...cats rule..hummins obey...

 

Returning to Crewe after its weekend away at the East Lancs Railway, Thompson B1 class 4-6-0 No 61306 Mayflower runs through Hartford station on Monday 17th March.



Cheers,

 

In on Friday afternoon, out again on Monday morning. A flying visit by any standards