Steam Special - 1Z72 06:41 Leicester - Blackpool North Saturday 8th April 2006.
Page last updated : 08/04/06.
Photos are all © 'UD' with thanks to Ray, for reminding me it was running!
In the good old days, when freight was (almost) plentiful around here
and passenger trains were still formed of an engine plus carriages
rather than some variety of multiple unit, I could often be found near
the line, Camera in hand in my sometimes pathetic attempts at trying to
capture some of what I considered to be the highlights of the local
railway scene. These days I venture lineside very rarely, only for the occasional special such as this.
Apart from the fact I there is little in the day to day workings left
of interest (at least as far as I am aware) worthy of making the effort,
there is also that now ever present danger that you might get yourself arrested as a
terrorist suspect when hanging around near a railway line. Another
problem is that most of the old favourite local vantage points are no longer usable thanks either to the
shrubbery going crazy and totally obscuring the view of the railway or
if that hasn't happened, it's the appearance of the dreaded Palisade
Fencing everywhere else. One place that still exists, however, is
the footbridge over the Stoke
- Derby line, the one that replaced the old Carter's Crossing level
crossing which was taken out of service back in the 1960's
resignalling. BTW The gates remained in situ at least into the
late
1970's (as part of the fencing), as did the box albeit boarded up
(housing relays) and it was located right next to the
footbridge. All the following shots were taken there...
Good old "Digital Zoom"! There's no substitute for a decent lens
is there? 6233 comes to a stand at the last signal before Stoke
Junction with 1Z72. A little smoke and plenty of steam, all the
more noticeable due to the chilly Potteries air on this sunny Saturday
morning.
One of the drawbacks to digital photography is, that there is, in my
experience, always some shutter lag, or at least there is on any camera
that I can realistically afford! That buffer would never have
been cut off if I'd used my trusty old SLR Camera but then again, the
film would have stayed in it for so long there would be nowhere left
still doing the processing! If I'd taken my shot only split
seconds earlier 6322 would have been enveloped in steam!
Ah, that's better, and going away the sun is in
the right place too! See, to the right, how the road ends
suddenly? That's where the level crossing was, that is!
The signal box used to be on the other side of the bridge. Note
too, the Mk I coach in 'Old School' BR Maroon. Reminds me of the
time that I saw ex works BR Blue 47475 working a Uttoxeter - Blackpool
North ADEX, mid 70's, at this very spot, formed of Derby's famous (and
rather tatty looking) Maroon Mk I rake but I don't recall that set
featuring White Wall Tyres!
After being checked to allow a couple of
Pendo's to pass, here 6233 approached Stoke Junction, the Stafford line
coming in from the Left. The mothballed Leekbrook line approaches
from the right and is out of shot but that line was disconnected from
Stoke Junction mid 80's (I think)...
And then my card was full, so no photo of 47826, which was tagged onto the rear of this train.
