Cathedrals Express - Slough - Chester 4/12/12 - 6201

6201 passing Sandy Lane level crossing near Kidlington this morning. Before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, yes I was the right side of the fence and barriers!

 

Some great phots by everyone in the Winter Sunshine today.

I suspect the reason it got around 45 down on the WCML was the 10 down or so at Leamington snowballing, there to Coventry is single track so possibly lost it's path, Coventry would be busy crossing the WCML out of sequence, and with already running late, the Coventry - Nuneaton branch train may of been sitting in Nuneaton plat 1 blocking the watering for a time, seemed a strange routing anyway IMO, via Stechford, Aston & Bushbury Jcn seems more logical.

 

Can someone please explain how the return leg managed to 'turn right' onto the Coventry branch at Nuneaton, as I thought all the crossovers were taken out during the WCML upgrade? In a similar vein, is the new 'north chord ' passed for passenger operation?

 

I think the crossovers that were taken out during the WCML upgrade were those to the south of the station which allowed a train from Civentry to reverse in the platform and then continue to Leicester (or vice versa). Those to the north of the station which allow a train from the north to access the Coventry line are still there (as shown in the above document).

 

So to access the Leicester line from the Coventry branch now, I assume you have to proceed through platform 1, take the line to Water Orton/Birmingham round to the old Abbey St station site, reverse and head over the flyover back through plat 7 and off to Leicester ?.

 

This makes me want to come back to make just one post.

In amongst all the camera waving, badly set up tripods and kneck breakingly dreadful pans that seen to be the norm these days, this turns up.

Sets the scene nicely. And that done over the approaching loco sound track, even if that has been carefully looped to extend it “backwards”, (not sure of it has been, I used to do that a fair amount for my Productions).

Gentle and careful pull back but no panning as the train approaches.

Leaves it all alone at the end and gets rewarded not just by the late Autumn sun but also by a bod cart glinting past.

One of the best I’ve seen this year. All it needed was an Owl or two flying through the shot near the start!

Bryan - Almost makes me want to get my old linear video gear out again – B

 

Agreed Kent Yeti; not seen you on here in a while! I know you're a Southern man through and through, I see long distance tour for Tangmere on Saturday 8 Dec. All systems go hopefully, will she have diesel just in case. Don't want to start a witch hunt, but reckon they need to get it right for her. I've started a seperate thread for Bath Christmas Market. Pete

 

Thank you very much Hearing positive comments like that make all the effort worth it.

 

Yes. He's certainly very good. <BJ>

 

:madgrin: Bryan, matey, lovely to hear from you, your contributions on this place are sadly missed. :tea:

 

David, That is correct. The reversal point would now be Abbey Jnc. In the original scheme (When Central were running a Coventry to Nottingham/Lincoln service), there was going to be a Dive under from Platforms 1 & 2 under the WCML, to join the Leicester line at the old Midland Junction (Where the Nuneaton Avoider turned off). Costs and civil engineering issues got this part of the plan quietly dropped. There was originally a similar line that allowed Locos from Nuneaton shed to go up to Midland Junction, so they could access the Up side of the WCML without crossing all 4 lines. AT

 

Sheff, the North Chord at Nuneaton is signalled to full passenger status, although it has no booked services (Yet?). I have mentioned to the PRCLT that a Derby to Crewe (for Holyhead/Carlisle etc) is now on the cards. No gauging restrictions on the WCML, and scope for water stops. AT

 

Thanks. I assume you're thinking Midland to Leicester, then west to Nuneaton? Wouldn't it be simpler just to go via Uttoxeter though?

 

Interesting - is that part of the plan now officially dead and buried? I had a colleague whose house backed onto the line thereabouts and the bottom of his garden was under threat for the dive-under works. (He's since moved). I recall there being some issue with clearance under the WCML - not sure if they were thinking of electrifying - maybe as I think Nunny-Cov is included in future plans.

 

A belated thanks Al. Just catching up with stuff on here. I wonder why they took out the south crossovers but left the north ones in - I thought the idea was to get rid of as many facing points a possible? Is the much call for movements from the up slow/fast to the Coventry branch I wonder?