Picture of the Day 1 April 2009

On 1 April 2009, the first through train from the UK National Network to the Swanage Railway operated. Powered by DBS red-liveried No. 66152 the train formed 1Z98, 08.45 London Victoria to Swanage, and is seen storming past Totton in the New Forest.
Gordon White

Picture of the Day 2 April 2009

After several years in the doldrums the Derby station refurbishment program is now back on track with the North section of the station complete and the South section soon to follow. The adjacent site of the famous locomotive works is also being redeveloped. On the afternoon of 30 March 2009, East Midlands Trains Class 156 unit No. 156404 pauses at the ‘new look’ station with the 1438 Matlock to Nottingham service. On the right Network Rail Class 97/3 locomotive No. 97304 John Tiley rests between duties.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 7 April 2009

The Great Britain II charter operated in the West of England on 7 April, working west from Bristol to Penzance behind 'Western' No. D1015 Western Champion and returning to Bristol powered by 'Bulleid' No. 34067 Tangmere and BR Standard Class 7 No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell. The westbound train ran well to time, but the return steam leg was very late away from Penzance with the train not passing along the Dawlish Sea Wall until 19.08, some 90 minutes behind schedule. Even in the dull evening conditions it was still an impressive view. The train is seen passing Rockstone bridge, mid-way between Dawlish and Dawlish Warren.
Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 8 April 2009

Over the weekend of 4/5 April an impressive LNER Gala was held at Barrow Hill Roundhouse. the highlight of the event was the lining up of the new A1 pacific No. 60163 Tornado with A2 No. 60532 Blue Peter, and A4s Nos. 60009 Union of South Africa and 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley. A true tribute to the engineer Sir Nigel Gresley.
Owen Evans

Picture of the Day 9 April 2009

Diesel Traction Group owned 'Western' Class 52 No. D1015 'Western Champion' passes East Grimstead (near Dean) powering train 8Z52, the 09.00 Bristol Marsh Junction to Southampton Eastern Docks on 8 April 2009, conveying a ballast cleaning machine bound for export to France.
Mark V. Pike

Picture of the Day 10 April 2009

Due to the current downturn in freight traffic brought on by the economic recession, Washwood Heath yard in Birmingham closed in March 2009. The remaining freight services that used the yard are now transferred elsewhere or run directly to and from their loading terminals. In heavy rain on the afternoon of Friday 10 April 2009, Fastline Class 66/3 No. 66303 passes the abandoned yard with the 09.58 (4G61) Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station to Daw Mill Colliery empty coal hoppers. The locomotive had just run round its train at Saltley.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 12 April 2009

BR blue rules at Swanage! Class 33/1 No. 33111 arrives past the engine shed with a spare coach it had brought down from Harmans Cross on 11 april 2009, while 'on shed' is new arrival (for most of the year until 33012 arrives back from overhaul at Eastleigh) No. 33103 which has been repainted BR blue from its Fragonset livery but has retained its Swordfish nameplates.
Mark V. Pike

Picture of the Day 13 April 2009

BR Standard No. 76079 is seen powering the last service of the day towards Rawtenstall and passes Little Burrs Crossing on the East Lancs Railway on 11 April 2009.
Tom McAtee

Picture of the Day 14 April 2009

Nottinghamshire has just two remaining coal mines, Welbeck and Thoresby. Thoresby has about 9-10 years of production left, but Welbeck is on its last year, although it may get a short term reprieve of about 3-4 months as coal left in previous workings, which was deemed uneconomical may now be mined. On Tuesday 14 April 2009 Freightliner Class 66/5 No. 66512 leaves Thoresby colliery junction with train 6G10 Thoresby colliery to Cottam power station, while GBRf Class 66/7, No. 66720 Metronet Pathfinder waits to take a rake of empty coal hoppers to Welbeck colliery.
Derek Wilson http://derek-wilson.fotopic.net

Picture of the Day 15 April 2009

First ScotRail Class 158 No. 158719 leads a passenger service from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and seen passing through the Scottish highlands near Achnasheen on 11 April 2009.
Jack Boskett www.jackboskett.fotopic.net

Picture of the Day 16 April 2009

No this is not the latest standby traction for FGW, but it might be a good idea! To help mark the 150th Anniversary of the Corris Railway, horse worked freight trains were demonstrated at Maespoeth over the weekend of 11/12 April 2009. On Saturday 11 April, horse Truman is employed, encouraged by his owner Ian Cryer, author and illustrator of the 'Rachael, the railway horse' series of children's books.
John Stretton

Picture of the Day 17 April 2009

One of the most unusual trains to operate for a long time worked on 17 April 2009 as part of the turn out of all remaining locos and vehicles at DBS Old Oak Common, with this transit move to Eastleigh depot. The train consisted of preserved main line certified Class 47 No. 47580 hauling 50026, 37308 and 50036 plus a van. The train is seen in far from good photographic light passing Worting Junction, running as the 6O88, 12.13 Old Oak Common to Eastleigh.
Mark V. Pike

Picture of the Day 18 April 2009

The A1, No. 60163 Tornado operated a charter from Kings Cross to York on 18 April 2009, named 'Yorkshire Pullman'. the train was formed of the VSOE luxury Pullman rake. The northbound run is seen storming through Doncaster running some 22 minutes early.
Derek Porter

Picture of the Day 19 April 2009

Frinton-on-Sea in Essex had the distinction of being the last location on Network Rail metals where semaphore signals and 25kV overhead electric catenary coexisted. Sadly the semaphores were removed over the evening of 17 – 18 April 2009, as part of the ongoing Great Eastern route modernisation scheme. The signal box was also closed and the level crossing gates replaced by automatic barriers (due to be commissioned on 3 May.) On Saturday 21 February 2009, Class 321/3 unit No. 321318 approaches the doomed down home starter No. F4 with the 15.45 Walton-on-the-Naze to Thorpe-le-Soken service.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 20 April 2009

Direct Rail Services Class 47 No. 47832 was used on 20 April 2009 to power train 6Z47, the 10.35 Ashford track machine depot to Newton Abbot Hackney Yard, formed of Railtrack-branded 'Stoneblower' YZA No. DR80211. The train is seen departing from the loop at Dawlish Warren, after allowing a CrossCountry 'Voyager' service to pass. The Class 47 was booked to spend the night at Newton Abbot before returning to Stowmarket.
Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 21 April 2009

DBS carried out a test working on 21 April 2009 by using a Class 59/2 on the daily 6A11 Robeston to Theale oil service, as a replacement power is required for this heavy train is Class 60s are phased out of service. However, the loco rostered No. 59202 was not in good health and failed en route. The train was assisted by Class 60 No. 60065 and is seen passing Brimslade on the Berks and Hants main line some 300 minutes late!
Gordon White

Picture of the Day 22 April 2009

The 'Pathfinder' is what DBS is calling Class 58 No. 58009, the first of the next batch of up to 24 Class 58s to be overhauled and returned to operational condition at Eastleigh for export to Spain. Painted in full TSO livery, No. 58009 was hauled by Class 66 No. 66194 Eastleigh to Wembley via freight 6M44 on 22 April 2009. The loco is scheduled to depart from the UK via the Channel Tunnel on 23 April.
Gordon White http://gorgeousgordonspics.fotopic.net

Picture of the Day 23 April 2009

Freightliner Class 66 No. 66535 pilots Class 90 No. 90046 through Gospel Oak on 21 April 2009, powering the Felixstowe to Manchester Trafford Park liner service.
Charlie Robbins

Picture of the Day 24 April 2009

Perhaps not a train picture in the true meaning, but this was the scene near Midgham on the Berks & Hants line on the morning of 24 April 2009, when a tree fell across the line blocking the route for some hours. West of England passenger, Westbury stone trains and the VSOE heading for Cornwall were all delayed or diverted. Network Rail engineers are seen reviewing the situation prior to the tree cutting crew arriving.
Ken Brunt

Picture of the Day 25 April 2009

With matching loco livery and countryside, Freightliner Class 66/6 No. 66617 passes Bourton near Swindon on 21 April 2009 powering train 6U72 from Westbury to Stud Farm, formed of empty ballast box wagons.
Steve King

Picture of the Day 26 April 2009

Despite being out of favour with many operators and recent decisions at Cotswold Rail, 47818 'Emily' still manages to find interest and work. On Saturday morning 25 April 2009, it hurries past Northway, in Gloucestershire, with a barrier coach in tow, as the 5Z45 08.06 Bristol Temple Meads to Brush Traction, Loughborough (Brush) to collect a refurbished power car.
John Stretton

Picture of the Day 27 April 2009

Still carrying Mainline Freight livery, DBS Class 60 No.60011 is seen passing near Luton Hoo on 25 April 2009 powering train 6E38 from Colnbrook to Lindsey, formed of empty bogie oil tanks.
Tim Easter

Picture of the Day 28 April 2009

The full East Midlands Trains Corby to London service was inaugurated on Monday 27 April 2009, when the Rt. Hon. Geoff Hoon MP, Secretary of State for Transport officially opened the new station. In heavy rain shortly before the start of the opening ceremony, Class 222 ‘Meridian’ unit No. 222013 waits at the station, with the 09.15 service to London St. Pancras International.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 29 April 2009

In March 2009, Colas Rail started operating a once a week imported steel train from Dollands Moor to Burton on Trent on a trial basis. Currently, the service operates as: 23.45 (Tuesday) (6Z56) Dollands Moor to Small Heath Yard, 02.45 (Tuesday) (6Z56) Small Heath Yard to Burton and 13.05 (Thursday) (6Z48) Burton to Dollands Moor. This is the first freight service to be booked for Class 47 haulage for some time. On St. George’s Day - 23 April 2009, Class 47/7 locomotives Nos. 47749 Demelza and 47739 Robin of Templecombe make a colourful combination as they power the 13.05 (6Z48) Burton to Dollands Moor empties through Upper Wolvercote just North of Oxford.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 30 April 2009

With the St Georges flag flying from the magnificent Bath Abbey Class 47 No. 47851 and 47826 top and tail the 5Z43 12.52 Bath to Westbury empty stock train on 23 April 2009 after arriving just 1 minute late with the 1Z43 05.58 Leeds To Bath service Green Express "St Georges Day Charter".
Mark V. Pike