Picture of the Day 8 February 2011

During the site owners recent visit to Canada a visit was made to the Electro Motive Division plant in London, Ontario. During the course of the visit two of the final five Class 66s to be built at the plant were on final test track trials. These locos are from the 2007 order No. 8968 and were originally intended for CrossRail Benelux (originally known as DLC Cargo). After construction in September 2008 the locos were stored at Stratford in Canada before returning to the London plant in April 2009 for an extensive rebuild. in February 2011 locos Nos. 001, 003, 004, 006 and 007 of the order were still at the EMD plant. In this view of the test track, No. 2007-8968-004 is nearest the camera.
Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 9 February 2011

Over the last week, following commissioning of the most recent delivered Class 70s, Southampton now sees members of the class powering intermodal traffic. No. 70003 is seen exiting Southampton tunnel and approaching Southampton Central station with the maiden run for the class to the City on 4 February 2011 powering train 4O51, the 10.00 Wentloog (Cardiff) to Southampton Maritime.
Mark V. Pike

Picture of the Day 10 February 2011

On 8 February 2011, DRS Class 37/6 No. 37601 is seen clagging past Uttoxeter No. 38 semaphore signal, dragging Class 20 No. 20309 as the 0Z37 Barrow Hill to Crewe Gresty Bridge. This particular example of Class 37 has just passed it's 50th Birthday, released from Vulcan Foundry on 12 January 1961 as D6705, becoming 37005, and later 37501 during it's time allocated to Thornaby. It is now a part of DRS's fleet with many years no doubt left to operate
Richard Holmes

Picture of the Day 11 February 2011

Taken just south of Leicester Station on 10 February 2011 are the four GBRf operated Class 20s working 'top and tail' of new London Underground 'S" stock. On the adjacent track is Freightliner Class 66/9 No. 66957 overtaking the train light loco. The train was understood to be working from Bombardier Derby to London on delivery of the new train.
Andrew Ward

Picture of the Day 12 February 2011

On a beautiful sunny 12 February 2011, preserved ex GW 'Hall' No. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall is seen powering through Clay Mills, Burton, with train 1Z44 from Leicester to Tyseley 'The St Valentines Express'.
Richard Holmes www.photos-by-richard.fotopic.net

Picture of the Day 13 February 2011

A rare image which shows First Hull Trains 'Adelante' No. 180111 paired with Grand Central 'Adelante' No. 180105 passing Marholm north of Peterborough at speed working a combined Hull Trains/Grand Central (paired from Doncaster) to King's Cross service on Saturday 12 February 2011. The two companies were co-operating together by merging their services due a reduced number of paths being available on the southern end of ECML as a result of engineering works around Hitchin/Stevenage and Finsbury Park.
Darren Wetherall

Picture of the Day 14 February 2011

This past weekend (12/13 February 2011) saw the Keighley & Worth Valley Gala weekend, recent weather had not been kind, being dull & wet. But on Saturday 12 February saw sunshine and in the picture above we see visiting locomotives No. 44767 'George Stephenson' and No. 44871 double heading the 13.10 from Keighley, seen storming through the woods on the approach to Oxenhope Station.
Robin Patrick

Picture of the Day 15 February 2011

The first of the new London Midland Bombardier-built Class 172/3 units No. 172331 arrived at Tyseley TMD for staff training and testing on the Birmingham Snow Hill lines on the afternoon of Tuesday 15 February 2011. The unit is photographed at 16.55 in very poor light passing Small Heath running as the 14.56 (5Z72) move from Derby Litchurch Lane. Until sufficient London Midland staff are trained, the unit will be manned by GBRf crews. On the left, Class 150/1 unit No. 150108 approaches with the 15.29 Great Malvern to Whitlocks End service.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 16 February 2011

Network Rail Class 73 No. 73138 (with No. 73107 at the other end) pauses at Kilburn High Road during a Friday night track monitoring run on the Watford dc lines, out from and back to Selhurst depot on 11 February 2011. This view shows the thermal imaging camera fitted in the space once occupied by a two-character headcode box (above the marker light).
Andrew Royle

Picture of the Day 17 February 2011

We have a look at railways in the real snow today. This view was recorded on 27 January 2011 and shows Canadian Pacific AC4400CW No. 9554 (which has been repaired from serious accident damage) and SD40-2 No 6030. The two locos are powering a return westbound 'trip' freight approaching the 41st Line in Zorra Township (MP93.13), just west of Woodstock.
Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 18 February 2011

After many months of being overhauled and repainted at Knights Rail Services, Eastleigh, 71A Locomotive Group 'Crompton' No. D6515 (33012) is seen in the works yard at Eastleigh on 16 February 2011 outside the Arlington Paint Finishing Specialists paint shop. The loco has been returned to BR 1960s loco green, with small yellow warning panel, white cab window surrounds and a grey roof. Hopefully it will not be too long before we see this loco back on the main line.
Tony Christie

Picture of the Day 19 February 2011

Spitfire Railtours ran their "Cumbrian Crusader IV" tour from the Midlands to Carlisle, then Newcastle and the East Coast Mail Line on Saturday 19 February 2011. Traction was provided by Direct Rail Services on the head of the train with Class 20 No. 20309 and Class 37/4 No. 37409, and WCRC No. 57601 DRS No. 57004 on the rear. During a heavy snow storm, the train is seen passing Hirst Wood, near Bingley, West Yorkshire.
Ben Bucki

Picture of the Day 20 February 2011

In parts of Mainland Europe this weekend has been 'Crocus Holiday' weekend, with a number of people travelling to the French Alps, Austria and Switzerland. On 19 February 2011, a special train organised by Treinreiswinkel operated. It worked over the Rhinedale route of the original TEE-Rheingold service. In Germany the train was hauled by DB Class 103 electric No. 103 186 and is seen near Empel Rees in Germany, 20 miles from the Dutch border.
Rob Van Der Woude

Picture of the Day 21 February 2011

Our dear friend Bernard Mills turns back the clock 34 years for today's Picture of the Day - recorded on 20 February 1977. The picture records Class 37 No. 37179 at Treherbert, powering the RPPR 'Western Requiem' railtour from Paddington to the Welsh Valleys. The train departed powered by 'Western' No. D1010,but this failed with engine trouble on route and was replaced by the Class 37 at Cardiff which worked the train to Treherbert and Aberdare. Western Region control then sent 'Western' No. D1023 light from Old Oak Common to Pontypridd to take over the return charter.
Bernard Mills

Picture of the Day 22 February 2011

On the dull and murky afternoon of Friday 18 February 2011, Freightliner Class 66/6 No. 66607 runs alongside Wellingborough station with the 11.24 (6M91) Theale to Earles (Hope) empty cement tanks. This classic vista from Mill Road Bridge will soon change forever over the next few months when a new footbridge and two lifts are installed on the station. When they are in use, the barrow crossing connecting Platforms 1 and 2 (visible in the right-hand foreground) will close allowing the line speed through the station in increase from 65mph to 80mph. The scaffolding for the new structures can be seen on the platforms.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 23 February 2011

For the first time in its 170 year history, Woodlesford station in West Yorkshire has a footbridge. The new structure was put in place in the early hours of Sunday 21 November 2010, and replaces a foot crossing between the two platforms which had been in use since the station was opened by the North Midland Railway in 1840. On Tuesday 22 February 2011, Northern Class 153 unit No. 153332 and Class 150/2 unit No. 150223 (left) pause underneath the structure  with the 14.00 Leeds to Knottingley service as Class 150/2 unit No. 150207 speeds by in the opposite direction with the 13.18 Sheffield to Leeds train.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 24 February 2011

Recent changes to the track layout at Birmingham Moor Street means that bay platforms 3 and 4 have been reconnected to the network and are used by Chiltern Railways for their terminating services from London Maylebone thus relieving congestion at Snow Hill.  A consequence of this is that the cosmetically restored Ex-GWR 2800 class 2-8-0 No. 2885 now has Platform 5 exclusively, although not connected to the network.  This loco helps to convey the traditional environment of Moor Street compared with most inner city stations on the network, and it is seen on 23 February 2011 along with Chiltern Railways' Nos. 165039 and 168001 occupying platforms 3 and 4.
Keith Sykes

Picture of the Day 26 February 2011

34 years ago today was a very sad day for many UK rail enthusiasts, being the last day 'Western' Class 52 locos were in BR service. Many including the owner of this site were on board the final BR sponsored train, which ran as the 1Z52 09.10 Paddington to Swansea powered by Nos. D1023 and D1013. The train later operated to Plymouth before returning to Paddington. In this view the train is seen crossing Llandore Viaduct, Swansea. Thankfully this was not to be the last operation of a 'Western' on the main line and a huge 'thank you' should be given to all those involved in preservation of the few remaining 'Western' Class 52s to ensure younger enthusiasts can experience these wonderful machines.
Bernard Mills

Picture of the Day 27 February 2011

A 1960s diesel depot scene recreated during an East Midlands Railway Photographic Society photography evening at the Midland Railway Centre on 26 February 2011. In this view we see green-liveried Class 40 No. D212 and 'Peak' No. D182.
Andrew Royle