Picture of the Day 1 December 2010

After all the cold weather in the UK at present, we go back to the summer of 2002 for todays Picture of the Day, and see EWS Class 66/0 No. 66207 passing Newton-on-Ayr with an MGR coal train heading towards Ayr on 29 August 2002.
Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 2 December 2010

Taken at approximately 14.00 on 2 December 2010, this view shows the snow covered Reading to Redhill/Gatwick line, with a Class 165 cutting its way through deep snow in an attempt reach Gatwick Airport. The image was recorded at Wray Common, a point midway between Reigate and Redhill stations on the North Downs line. The photographer estimated that the train was travelling at around 30mph. Southern services on this route were suspended all day.
Mike Wagstaff

Picture of the Day 3 December 2010

On the rare occasion a test train visits the terminus of Redditch, our photographer usually pops out to record the activity. On 2 December 2010 the line saw the first visit of a pair of Network Rail Class 97/3s Nos. 97302 and 97304 operating 'top and tail' with derby-based test car Mentor. The train was running from Crewe to Derby. Mentor or Mobile Electronic Network Testing and Observation Recorder has its own none power collecting pantograph which inspects the condition of the 25kV overhead power lines.
Matt Wilson - www.trainpics.net

Picture of the Day 4 December 2010

It was a true 'Tug Fest' at Westerleigh on 4 December 2010. EWS red-liveried No. No. 60096 is seen in the siding after arriving with train 6B13 from Robeston to Westerleigh with loaded Murco bogie tanks. Awaiting to depart on the right are Nos. 60073 and 60015 with train 6E41 from Westerleigh to Lindsey, this was running several hours late following the failure of No. 60015 on the southbound 6V98 working.
Jamie Squibbs

Picture of the Day 5 December 2010

On 5 December 2010, green-liveried Class 31/1 No. 31190 stands at Bow with the Dartmoor Railways 10.00 Okehampton to Bow 'Santa Special' formed with a DMU trailer, Courier Mk1 and an LMS brakevan as its consist.
Tony Christie

Picture of the Day 6 December 2010

While some photographers were tucked up in bed to keep warm, this keen photographer ventured out to Carlisle station late on the evening of 1 December 2010, to record test train 1Z80, the 20.50 Glasgow Polmadie to Carlisle Class 380 testing special. The train is seen at Carlisle while the driver changes ends to return north as the 1Z81, 22.57 Carlisle to Carstairs. The train is formed of three-car set No. 380004 and four-car set No. 380107.
Nathan Williamson

Picture of the Day 7 December 2010

The first of four new Virgin Trains 11-car Class 390 'Pendolino' sets arrived in the UK on 5 December 2010 from its building plant in Germany. The set No. 390054 was hauled from Dollands Moor to Liverpool Edge Hill depot for storage and commissioning. Colas Rail Class 66 No. 66845 provided the power for the move, and the train is seen entering Northampton on a cold and frosty 6 December 2010. There are three more complete 11-car sets to follow in 2011.
Keith Sykes

Picture of the Day 8 December 2010

The new order of the day on the London Overground Gospel Oak-Barking line is a fleet of Bombardier-built Class 172s. Eight sets are allocated to Willesden to work this duty. After riding on the route on 8 December 2010, the trains are best described as 'rough'. In all the years I have studied and travelled on new trains, I have never experienced such a rough and uncomfortable ride. This was not only due to the poor track, but the trains power units and transmission. Every time the driver shut off power the entire coach shuddered with a load bang and clatter emitting from the underside. If the engine had fallen off of the transmission seized, I would not have been surprised. However, we have what we have, set No. 172006 is seen arriving at Gospel Oak with a service from Barking before forming the 10.35 service back to Barking
Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 9 December 2010

The big freeze in the UK continues in certain areas of the country and after nearly 10 days, services are returning to the normal timetable by 9 December 2010. In this view, Grand Central Class 180 No. 180101 is seen passing Oakenshaw shortly after departure from Wakefield Kirkgate with the Grand Central 10.22 Bradford Interchange to London King's Cross.
Peter Marsh

Picture of the Day 10 December 2010

On a bitterly cold 8 December 2010 afternoon as the sun sets, GBRf Class 66 No. 66720 heads past Brumber Hill heading towards Bolton Percy on the 'up' Normanton line south of York with a Tyne Dock to Drax Biomass working.
Robin Patrick

Picture of the Day 11 December 2010

Colas Rail Class 47 No. 47749 Demelza is seen hauling train 6Z76 from Tavistock Junction to West Ealing on 8 December 2010. In heavy frost, the train, formed of ballast machine No. DR76601 Olwen and associated vehicles passes Crofton Pumping Station, on the Berks & Hants line.
Steve King steve-king.fotopic.net

Picture of the Day 12 December 2010

On 11 December 2010, A1 60163 Tornado heads over the embankment at Colwich Junction, on the approach to Stafford with train 1Z61, the Euston to Chester 'The Cathedrals Express' charter. This will be one of the last chances to see the locomotive in her inaugural British Rail Green livery, before the loco is repainted during winter maintenance period into Brunswick Green.
Richard Holmes www.photos-by-richard.fotopic.net

Picture of the Day 13 December 2010

Almost the end of an era, as the first of the Gatwick Express/Southern Class 460 sets goes off lease and into warm store at Chart Leacon on 13 December 2010. The first of the eight sets to be taken out of traffic, No. 460004 forms train 5Y60, the 10.00 Stewarts Lane depot to Chart Leacon depot and is seen passing Pluckley in mornings fog. Another sets is due to move on Tuesday 14 December.
Brian Stephenson

Picture of the Day 14 December 2010

Some credit must be given to DBS for at least trying to clean this Class 66, after spending the lead fall season powering one of the RHTT sets. No. 66174 is seen passing Totnes on train 6W61 from Westbury to Penwithers Junction (Truro) to drop ballast on 8 December 2010.
Nathan Williamson

Picture of the Day 15 December 2010

From the start of the Winter 2010-11 timetable the Merseyrail Chester line enjoyed an increased frequency of services with four trains per hour running between Liverpool and Chester and six trains per hour running between Liverpool and Hooton on Monday to Saturday until 18.30. On the first day of operation (Monday 13 December), Class 508/1 unit No. 508136 arrives at Hooton with the 14.42 Ellesmere Port to Liverpool Central service. The unit is passing underneath the new footbridge which, when opened in May 2011, will replace the original wooden footbridge (behind the photographer) and give the station ‘step free’ access for the first time.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 16 December 2010

Providing a welcome change of colour, Tata-liveried Class 60 No. 60099 heads the lengthy 6E41 11.41 Westerleigh to Lindsey empty bogie tank train through Ashchurch, some 45 minutes late, on Friday, 10 December 2010.
John Stretton

Picture of the Day 17 December 2010

A new locomotive hauled 05.46 Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone service using Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway Class 67 plus Mk. 3 DVT stock was introduced by Chiltern Railways from the start of the winter 2010-11 timetable on 12 December. With the iconic Selfridges building and The Pavilions shopping centre in the background, DVT No. 82305 stands at the reinstated bay Platform 3 at Birmingham Moor Street on Friday 17 December 2010 with the service. Class 67 No. 67015 David J. Lloyd was the train locomotive. This service is the first regular locomotive hauled passenger train from the former GWR station for many years.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 18 December 2010

After waiting more than 25 years to get even snow laying on the Dawlish Sea Wall with the sun shining and a train running, today was the day when everything fell into place. After a fall of around 2in of snow in the night, a bright morning followed. So, after a careful walk to the Sea Wall, a short wait produced a westbound Voyager forming the 06.42 Birmingham New Street to Paignton, captured approaching Kennaway Tunnel, with Dawlish station in the background. After about an hour the sun started to melt the snow, I wonder how long it will be before we get a blanket of snow on the Sea Wall again?
Colin J Marsden

Picture of the Day 19 December 2010

As a snow storm envelops the Thames Valley, a pair of FGW Class 166 Network Express Turbo units on Paddington-Reading (left) and Oxford-London (right) services cross at Burnham station on 18 December 2010.
Kim Fullbrook

Picture of the Day 20 December 2010

Lets get away from the bad weather tonight and look at a little sun. Recorded on 1 December 2010, the VSOE Pullman set is seen arriving at it's unmistakable destination of Bath. The train is powered by Class 67 No. 67022 with train 1V80, the 09.44 London Victoria to Bath Spa.
Mark V. Pike

Picture of the Day 21 December 2010

Back to the snow today, and we see Class 60 No. 60054 hauling train 6B33 from Theale to Margam,formed of empty Murco bogie tank wagons. The train is seen passing Shrivenham, east of Swindon on 18 December 2010.
Steve King steve-king.fotopic.net

Picture of the Day 22 December 2010

Heavy snow on Saturday 18 December 2010 followed by sub-zero temperatures brought chaos to the West Midlands rail system. The situation was compounded by a further snowfall on the afternoon of Monday 20 December. The London Midland operated Birmingham Cross-City line was particularly badly affected with many services suffering either severe delay or cancellation. One train that did run on time, however, was the 10.22 Longbridge to Four Oaks service on Tuesday the 21st, and is photographed passing Northfield under a leaden sky formed of the inevitable Class 323 unit, in this instance, No. 323222.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 23 December 2010

At lunchtime on 21 December 21 2010, all three platforms at Stratford-upon-Avon station were occupied by class 150 DMUs: No. 950001 had arrived from Hatton with a track recording special, while No. 150108 was a failure from the previous day, while No. 150132 was about to depart as the 13.27 to Stourbridge Junction.
Andrew Royle

Picture of the Day 24 December 2010

The pioneer Class 142 No. 142001 passes Dawlish, the home of The Railway Centre and Modern Locomotives Illustrated, on 18 December 2010 forming the late running 08.23 Exmouth to Paignton service after an overnight fall of snow. The Class 142s, currently allocated to Exeter are to be replaced by Class 150/1s in early 2011.
Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 29 December 2010

Between Christmas and New Year 2011, the lines through Reading were blocked my major engineering work, with massive diversions of core FGW services. Trains from Swansea and Cardiff to London were diverted via Didcot, Banbury and the Chiltern lines to Paddington, while services from the West of England operated via Westbury, Salisbury, Basingstoke, Woking, Staines, the Hounslow Loop and Clapham Junction to reach London Waterloo. On 28 December 2010, train 1O38, the 07.00 Plymouth to Waterloo is seen passing Vauxhall, while a SWT Class 455/8 departs on the down main track.
Nathan Williamson

Picture of the Day 30 December 2010

The first of the Class 150/1 units for First Great Western has now returned from mini overhaul at Pullman Rail Cardiff, set No. 150127 is seen at Totnes on 30 December 2010 forming an up service to Exeter. The sets are being repainted in First Group blue livery, with pink passenger doors and First Great Western branding complete with website address. However, the FGW Local Lines 'place name' branding has not been applied. The interior retains 3+2 high-density seating.
Nathan Williamson

Picture of the Day 31 December 2010

For the last picture of 2010, we turn the clock back some 54 years to June 1957, when BR green-liveried 'large standard' diesel-electric shunting loco No. 13075 is seen shunting oil tanks in the Birmingham area. This loco was later renumbered to D3075 and in the early 1970s was renumbered again to 08061. Note the 'target' number 18 on the end, the oil lamp on the near lamp iron and no wasp warning ends.
Colin J Marsden Collection