Saphos 2025

From what I see, in many locations, it's the trees that have been allowed to grow too close to the track that are more of a problem with signal sighting issues, something that Network Rail are not very good at dealing with.

 

I believe there has been, for many years, a conspiracy between Network Rail, DfT & ORR to allow lineside vegetation to grow and not be controlled. It’s practically cartel behaviour.

For NR & DfT it’s clearly cost cutting, but the Safety Regulator ORR is complicit by not doing anything to force NR to keep the lineside clear.

It’s only a matter of time until a side window is smashed on a passenger train and a passenger is seriously injured.
From ORR’s record, they would probably prosecute the train operator for not managing the risk of passengers sitting next to the window.

 

Passing Brock

 

Predates that.

Many years ago I picked up a glossy brochure at KGX from Railtrack (remember them?) who said that they were creating a large, linear nature reserve by not going to BR levels of lineside management.

 

More like a large, linear handout to themselves and their shareholders wrapped in thin, green, packaging

 

61306 piloting 57 002 past Beckfoot on today's Lakelander.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54587451282/in/photostream/

 

We had some heavy overnight rain but that wasn't going to change the fire risk level, amber. LSL had chosen to amend their original plan and would add 61306 to the front of whatever diesel had headed the train from Leicester to Crewe. It remained to be seen how much work the B1 would do. It also remained to be seen which of LSL's varied diesel fleet would be the lead diesel, hopefully one with a more subdued livery.

The morning's forecast was not good, a high chance of heavy showers, possibly thundery - oh goody! The prospects further north appeared worse, but it's only a forecast I told myself. I decided to go with the odds and stay in the south. My usual choice would be Leyland but the train was heading north and was scheduled to cross with a southbound stopper, so a no. Next choice Euxton Balshaw Lane, it's a bit of a wander from the car park over to the opposite platform especially if we got a thundery downpour, and if the train was to be switched to the fast line then there is no shot, so no again. Stations eliminated, that left an over bridge. The one at Charnock Richard offers limited parking close by and if it were to be teaming with rain it would be easy to record some video using phones.

Maisie ate a hearty breakfast, as she does every morning and headed for the great outdoors as she does most days. Mrs W was up and about a few minutes before I left home and she was left as the one designated to pander to Maisie's needs.

It was an uneventful journey, the sky was grey and heavy with a yellow tinge that is often indicative of a thunderstorm. The rain spotted on the windscreen but never seemed to get worse, behind me the sky continued to darken but to the south and west it was brighter, fingers crossed. The windsocks near the viaducts on the M65 hung limply. I parked by the side of the track, a track littered with large puddles. RTT revealed that the train was now approaching Warrington BQ and 3/4E. As it wasn't raining (and didn't look likely to - careful Oswald), I headed down to the bridge to prepare. Not long after I got there another guy arrived, and that was it.

The Liverpool LS to Blackpool N headed north and onto the slow line at Balshaw Lane; it had a booked stop at Euxton Balshaw Lane and 61306 was due to follow. 61306 was thro' Wigan and running 6E. As 61306 appeared in the far distance the signal at Balshaw Lane was still red. The B1 trundled along waiting for the signal to clear, the signal flicked to amber as the train approached the bridge. Once under the bridge the driver cracked open the regulator and some "proper", if muted sounds, came from the B1 as it headed off. LSL had heard my plea as a black liveried 57002 was the lead diesel. As it approached the bridge it was quietly grumbling away to itself (possibly ETS). Another black 57, 57311 was on the back and was almost silent. The train headed north, white exhaust lifting nicely from the chimney, but difficult to make out in the grey murky light. As 61306 curved off to the left and onto the slow line a Euston train appeared on the up fast. I left the camera running and the last minute is for Pendolino fans (assuming that there are some). After the London train had disappeared some white exhaust could still be seen, I got the feeling that Oswald "had not chosen wisely."

18C, 4E & 26mph. So, because of the signal check, Oswald was left unclear about how hard the B1 might be worked but at least I got to see what is a rare loco in these parts (and I remained dry). Around 12.30 we had an horrendous downpour, it was as if someone was throwing buckets of water at the windows; it only lasted 10 or 15 minutes but I was thankful that it hadn't happened 3 hours earlier.



Edit: An update from Crewe, 47709 was removed from the front and 57002 was added along with 61306.

 

61306 + 57002 tnt 57311 seen from a dull and midge infested Shap Wells.

 

Great filming, thanks for posting. Relieved to see it was not a total shoveathon.

 

Thanks Alastair, It was certainly better than what we were expecting.

 

Good stuff Nige...worth the aggro from the midges. Wasn't expecting to see anything like this. Well done!

 

Under threatening skies, thunder rumbling around, LNER Thompson class B1 No. 61306 'Mayflower' heads 'The Lakelander' through Holme and onwards to Carlisle



Running slightly late LNER B1 class No. 61306 'Mayflower' approaches Furness Abbey tunnel with the return leg of 'The Lakelander' to Crewe and onwards to Leicester (Tried to hide the diesels)



Close up

 

Thanks David, indeed but will have to use some midge spray in future. Neither were we much to our surprise.