LE movements, ECS and test runs 2025

It certainly was, seen passing Stafford this morning, 37667+37521+5029+57311. 5Z29 0854 Crewe H.S. to St Philips Mrsh H S T D

 

I hope that stripe doesn't cause issues going south of Crewe!

 

16th April 2025 97676 Loch Rannoch 45699 Galatea Engine Move

45699 heads south to Kidderminster piloted by 37676 Loch Rannoch

 

Record shot of Galatea's move to Kidderminster:

 

37 676 + 45627 passing Acton Bridge

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54456163323/

 

Do you ever have one of those days when, albeit with hindsight, you decide that you should have stopped in bed; today was one of those days! I awoke to find that it was raining, the forecast was for it to continue throughout the day. However by mid morning it had stopped. (It had rained for most of Monday night and again quite heavily yesterday evening, continuing into the night.) Would this be enough for NR to relax its fire risk measures for a loco and coach move? I would find out shortly as I headed over to Leyland.

Less than half a mile from home the previously free running traffic suddenly stopped. Traffic from the opposite direction ran as normal. Three or four minutes passed and, in our direction, nothing moved - not even a yard! Time for a rethink, luckily I was opposite a junction on the right, waiting for a gap in the traffic I headed for the back streets and an alternative route to the M65. Once on the motorway I made good time and arrived at Leyland station to find several empty spaces on the car park (hurray for school holidays!) I went to pay my £1 only to find that the mechanism on the ticket machine appeared to be faulty/full and would not accept coins. (There was an App as an alternative method of payment but with my track record by the time I'd have sorted that out the train would have been in Crewe.) So it was down onto the platform with fingers crossed that I wouldn't return to find a ticket on my windscreen.

Wide side, or narrow side? Today I chose the wide side, so up and over to platform 3 and the very south end of the platform. There were already several school-age lads waiting with smart phones ready, perhaps the "hurray for school holidays!" was misjudged. As I prepared I was joined by a photographer who confirmed that Galatea was running with a 37 on the front - B*gger! I could go home, but as I was already there, there I would stop, what was the worst that could happen!? Well, certainly not the worst thing, but at that point rain began to fall driven on by a cold southerly breeze - oh joy!

A couple of other photographers joined us and a few more lads appeared and took up their various vantage points "close to the action". One lad in a white? coat knelt on the platform very much in the corner of my shot and as the train approached lent further across towards the platform edge. On another day I would probably have had a quiet word but by now I had lost heart. One of the photographers announced that "it was on the bend", not long now. The 37 appeared with Galatea tucked in behind, some white exhaust drifting from her chimney. There was some clanking as the train passed, at first I thought a wheel flat but perhaps more likely something on Galatea's motion as she was being towed. 8C but feeling cooler, light rain & 4E. To add insult to injury by the time I had packed up and got back to the car the rain had stopped. A bit of good news, no parking ticket.

Heading home and leaving the M65 junction the traffic towards Darwen was solid; an ambulance with blue lights flashing was picking its way past. I changed lanes and turned off towards Blackburn, then another (longer) detour and arrived home just as heavy rain began to fall. The rain has continued for much of the afternoon. Let's hope that sufficient falls for NR to scale back its fire risk measures in time for the weekend.



(Maisie notes: During the recent spell of warm weather we have left the front door ajar allowing Maisie to come and go as she pleases. This is not without its problems, one afternoon she returned with a butterfly that she had caught, carefully carried and still fluttering - but only just. It was beyond saving and expired shortly afterwards. A couple of days later as she appeared she looked to have grown a large beard. It was the remains of a bird's nest that she had found/retrieved/stolen and carried home in her mouth - she purred loudly as she presented us with her trophy. A large house spider was chased and prodded round the dining room carpet until it finally expired, minus three legs. No consolation for the butterfly or spider but at least it wasn't the half-eaten pigeon that Morty once brought home before throwing up in the lounge and the kitchen.)

 

Is the cab side yellow a new addition, I think they have also changed the cab side numbering as IIRC wasn't she still running with Alberta's numbers whilst carrying the SL plates previously.

Suppose they needed something to do whilst she has been out of use.

 

A couple of shots from Stourbridge Junction.

 

Maisie...still in training...bigger things to come....

 

Only the cabside stripe is new.

2024 - https://andrewstransport.smugmug.com/Northwesttrains/North-West-trains-2024/i-CTXZCJM

2025 - https://andrewstransport.smugmug.com/Northwesttrains/North-West-trains-2025/i-GxbsH8g

Andrew N

 

Any thoughts as to why it was sent the long way round from Crewe to Shrewsbury via Stafford?

 

I'd speculate gauging. From memory, and happy to be corrected if I've missed one, I don't recall a Castle over the Crewe - Shrewsbury line since coincidentally 5029 brought GB IV south on 22/4/11.

 

Ah but who's training who ?

 

The 5Z29 return to Crewe also avoids the Shrewsbury - Crewe section. It runs via Worcester, Kidderminster and Bescot. <BJ>

Realtime Trains | 5Z29 1027 Taunton to Crewe H.S. | 18/04/2025

 

I suspect/am certain that the will of the small, furry creature will prevail - no, not Mrs W!

 

Old saying... dogs have masters...cats have servants...

 

Anyone know what’s happened to Bahamas? Now showing 75 late at York

 

Galatea being assisted by 37676, staff having fun and a class 121 Bubble car diesel unit at Lancaster 16/04/25.

 

Nunney Castle approaching Cheltenham as 5Z29