Picture of the Day 1 June 2011

Under threatening skies, Colas-liveried Class 66/8 No. 66842 waits to leave Ascott under Wychwood on Tuesday, 31 May 2011, as train 6W73 Hinksey Sidings (Sunday 29 May) to Bescot (arriving on Tuesday 31 May) engineering train. This is the first time a Colas loco has worked a train to a an engineering worksite.
John Stretton

Picture of the Day 2 June 2011

After a delay reaching the North Yorkshire Moors Railway due to cable theft A1No. 60163 Tornado is now running and undertaking several tests in preparation for its welcome return to the main line later this month. The immaculate engine is captured powering through Thomason Foss on the climb to Goathland with the 12.30 Grosmont to Pickering service on the 31 May 2011. It is visiting the railway for a week and due to operate services again this Saturday and Sunday.
Peter Marsh

Picture of the Day 3 June 2011

The Royal Train visited the West of England on 3 June 2011. The train, (from the west end) was formed of 67006, 2921, 2903, 2904, 2923, 2917, 2915, 2920 with 67005 on the rear, operated from Euston to Penzance overnight on 2/3 June, arriving in Penzance at 10.00. After Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip got off, the train returned empty to Wolverton, operating via Exeter, Newbury, Reading, Acton and the West Coast Main Line. The returning empty stock move is seen approaching Shaldon Bridge, Teignmouth at 13.20 on 3 June 2011.
Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 4 June 2011

Blue-liveried 'King' No. 6023 King Edward II passes Rash’s Green in Dereham, Norfolk while working on the Mid Norfolk Railway on 4 June 2011; the inaugural day of public running for the 'King' on the MNR.
David Richardson

Picture of the Day 5 June 2011

Riviera Trains Class 47 No. 47815 Great Western sits at Kingswear on the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway with the first of the seasons 'Torbay Express' steam-powered services on 5 May 2011. The train was operated by BR Standard Class 8 No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester, while this image was recorded the steam loco had gone to Churston for turning. No. 47815 was hauled in the trains formation following fire problems the previous day during a steam charter to the west.
Nathan Williamson

Picture of the Day 6 June 2011

History in the making! For this first time in 40 years, a train pulls into a second platform at Charlbury station on the Cotswold Line. At 0714 on the opening day of new line, 6 June 2011, FGW Class 166 No. 166207 slows as the 05.48 Paddington to Great Malvern service, to pick up passengers and is greeted by a party of invited guests.
John Stretton

Picture of the Day 7 June 2011

Since its reopening in February 2008, the Ebbw Vale branch has attracted over two million passengers. There is now a call to extend the service beyond Cardiff to include Newport because of the economic benefits it will bring. On Wednesday 1 June 2011, Arriva Trains Wales Class 150/2 units Nos. 150240 and 150255 stand at Ebbw Vale Parkway (Barcffordd Glyn Ebwy) with the 14.40 service to Cardiff Central. Although this station is currently the terminus, the service may one day be extended into Ebbw Vale town centre along the track in the foreground.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 9 June 2011

Southampton is a good location to observe freight activity, with a large number of Freightliner, and DBS trains booked to pass the station each day. At times, such as this recorded on 8 June 2011, one might be lucky and get more than one freight at the same time passing through the station. Here we see Class 66s Nos. 66590 and 66543 double heading train 4O18 the 03.19 Birmingham Lawley Street to Southampton Millbrook, passing DBS-operated 4M66 the 09.32 Southampton Western Docks to Birch Coppice which was powered by No. 66077.
Colin Marsden

Picture of the Day 10 June 2011

Today, 10 June 2011 was a notable day in the history of Foster Yeoman, when the 25th anniversary of Class 59 operation was marked. A special event was held at the West Somerset Railway, where as part of the line's Mixed Traffic Event over the weekend of 10-12 June 2011, four Class 59s will operate. The special celebration was held on 10 June, when the 11.00 departure from Bishops Lydeard was powered by DBS red-liveried No. 59206 John F. Yeoman Rail Pioneer with around 60 specially invited guests. At Minehead, No. 59002 was placed on the turntable, while 'Western' No. D1010 was renumbered as D1035 Western Yeoman and posed in the platform. The key players in the Class 59 story were all present including Mrs Angela Yeoman, John Yeoman's widow, Mendip Rail Managing Director Alan Taylor and David Russell, who as BR Railfreight Engineer 25 years ago was one of the main supporters of operating private traction in the UK. After speeches from all key players, a buffet lunch was served locally before the party returned to Bishops Lydeard on the 15.00 departure aptly powered by 'Western' No. D1035 Western Yeoman. Over the last 25 years the Class 59 fleet has clocked up over 12 million miles of operation and have been one of the most reliable classes of diesel in the world, having over 95% availability and traveling between failures an average of 59,000 miles. A true credit to Foster Yeoman, Mendip Rail and builders General Motors/Electro Motive. Our main picture shows No. 59002 on the Minehead turntable, while the inset image is of Mrs Angels Yeoman, Alan Taylor, David Russell and the WSRs Paul Conibeare standing by No. D1035.
Colin Marsden

Picture of the Day 12 June 2011

The scene at Victoria 50 years ago yesterday, on 11 June 1961, as Rebuilt 'Bulleid' West Country 4-6-2 No. 34100 Appledore waits to depart with the last down steam hauled 'Golden Arrow' service. The enthusiasts look a little more refined than the ones we see today!
Brian Stephenson

Picture of the Day 13 June 2011

EWS-liveried Class 90/0 No. 90028 is seen between Roade and Ashton in Northamptonshire with train 1M16 the 20.46 Inverness to London Euston sleeper. The train was running 15 minutes early when recorded at 06.42 on Saturday 11 June 2011.
Robin Patrick

Picture of the Day 14 June 2011

Direct Rail Services Class 37 No. 37423 Spirit of the Lakes departs from York at 08.10 on 14 June 2011 and crosses Scarborough Bridge over the River Ouse with train 2Z01 formed of inspection saloon No. 975025 Caroline en-route to Scarborough to start and then on to Hull, Selby and Doncaster before returning to York.
Robin Patrick

Picture of the Day 15 June 2011

Looking very tatty and in need of a repaint, EWS-branded Class 92 No. 92016 passes Kensington Olympia on 15 June 2011 hauling just four vans as train 6B20, the 07.45 Dollands Moor to Wembley.
Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 16 June 2011

The shape of things to come. Today (16 June 2011) the DfT announced that Siemens were the preferred bidder for the new rolling stock to operate on the modernised Thameslink route. The order for 1,200 vehicles will be the new state of the art Desiro City EMU and will all be built at the Siemens plant in Germany and tested on the Wildenrath test track before delivery to the UK from 2015. In addition to the rolling stock order, confirmation was given that two major new maintenance depots will be built at Hornsey and Three Bridges to look after the train sets. Bombardier Transportation also bid for this contract and at this stage are the reserve bidder.
Siemens Transportation

Picture of the Day 17 June 2011

This is the first time we have has a prison train as a Picture of the Day!. Every Monday to Friday, Securitas in co-operation with Swiss Railways SBB run a train from Bassersdorf (Zurich) to Bern and return for prisoner transfer (the photographer does not think railcards are valid for the unusual haulage). The stock is owned by SBB and it is understood that two carriages have been converted.  They are said to be capable of working with Re4/4 and Class 540 stock, but no reports of them being loco hauled exist. Train 9051 is seen passing Olten on 9 June 2011 working from Bern to Bassersdorf with No. 540.062 providing power.
Paul Davis

Picture of the Day 18 June 2011

The North Yorkshire resort of Scarborough still boasts three funicular cliff railways out of the five that were originally built in the town. Main picture: The South Cliff Lift adjacent to the Scarborough Spa complex was opened in 1875 and is the oldest cliff railway in Great Britain. It is 284ft. long and has a maximum gradient of 1:1.75. The two cars are seen passing on the standard gauge track. Inset (top left): Sadly, the St. Nicholas Cliff Lift near the Grand Hotel closed in 2007 as Scarborough Borough Council could not afford the £475,000 cost of improved safety measures that were needed. The railway opened in 1929, and has the distinction of having the widest gauge of any cliff railway in the country; an impressive 7ft. 6in. The railway is one of the shortest being just 103ft. long at a gradient of 1:1.33. The broad gauge track is apparent in this view as the two cars look forlorn in the lower (unstaffed) station. Inset (top right): The third cliff railway in Scarborough is the Central Tramway located just a few yards from the St. Nicholas Lift. The railway opened in 1881 and is 254ft. long at a gradient of 1:2.82 using standard gauge track. The upper station is photographed with both buildings and car in an attractive green livery. The wrought iron railings are worth a second look. All three cliff railways are now powered by electric motors.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 19 June 2011

With the initial acceptance issues apparently almost fixed and ongoing deliveries, the Class 380s commenced operations to North Berwick and Dunbar on 12 June 2011. This will see the Class 322s transferred to Yorkshire and a step change in traction for the branch – it is not very often that it sees brand new trains allocated! On Monday 14 June 2011 No. 380104 is seen passing St Germains level crossing between Prestonpans and Longniddry with the 10.43 Edinburgh Waverley to North Berwick service.
James Young

Picture of the Day 20 June 2011

By June 2011, just three East Midland Trains Class 153 units, Nos. 153376, 153379, and 153384, retained the obsolete erstwhile Central Trains green livery. With the continuing program of  refurbishment of the fleet the attractive colour scheme is not expected to last much longer, and so photographs of the units are now worth having. On Tuesday 20 June 2011, No. 153376 approaches the site of the closed Cockshute M.P.D. in Stoke on Trent with the 13.07 Crewe to Derby service.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 21 June 2011

We remain in the Stoke area for a second day for out POD. Today we see Direct Rail Services Class 47/4s Nos. 47810 and 47501 pass Longport with extra train 1Z52 from Southampton Eastern Docks to Edinburgh Waverley, Ocean Liner Special on 19 June 2011.
Clifford Beeton

Picture of the Day 22 June 2011

10 June 2011 was the last day trains could cross the 'old' bridge over river IJssel, just south of the city Zwolle in Holland. A symbolic tour made the last crossing and was formed of steam locomotive VSM (Veluwse Stoomtrein Maatschappij) No. 23 076. The loco hauled five Wagon-Lits passengers carriages and a luggage vehicle. The new bridge is seen on the right and is named 'Hanzeboog"'. The name stands for the new rail connection under construction between Zwolle and Lelystad.
Rob van der Woude

Picture of the Day 23 June 2011

Bardon Aggregates liveried Freightliner Heavy Haul Class 66/6 No. 66623 takes the curve at Longforth Farm near Wellington in Somerset on 22 June 2011 while working train 6Y11 from Taunton Fairwater Yard to Tiverton Loop via Exeter Riverside.
John White

Picture of the Day 24 June 2011

Approaching the single platform at Little Kimble station, DBS Class 66/0 No. 66155 powers train 6A58 the 10.14 Calvert to Northolt empty refuse containers down the Aylesbury-Princes Risborough branch on 24 June 2011..
Andy Royle

Picture of the Day 25 June 2011

Direct Rail Servies Class 37s Nos. 37602 and 37608 pass the site of the old Copmanthorpe Level Crossing just to south of York on the 'up' Leeds line on 25 June 2011 with train 6Z50, the 09.35 Stockton on Tees to Sheerness scrap train.
Robin Patrick

Picture of the Day 26 June 2011

The resignalling of the Crewe to Shrewsbury line will lead to the closure of six manual signal boxes. The boxes affected are at Crewe Bank, Harlescourt, Wem, Prees, Wrenbury and Nantwich. The work is expected to be completed by the end of the year. On Saturday 25 June 2011, Arriva Trains Wales Class 175/1 unit No. 175106 approaches the slate roofed signal box at Nantwich with the 06.00 Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly service.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 27 June 2011

Making a delightful sight, ex-Works in BR blue livery preserved Class 50 No. 50044 Exeter speeds along the Bristol to Birmingham main line past Ashchurch at 10.54 on Monday, 27 June 2011, some 40 minutes early with the 0Z39 09.23 Cardiff Canton to Codnor Park Junction, via Kidderminster light engine move.
John Stretton

Picture of the Day 28 June 2011

DB-S owned Class 59/2s are now seen regularly on Mendip stone workings, with the entire fleet maintained at Merehead depot. On 27 June 2011, No. 59204 passes Berkeley Marsh, Frome powering train 7A09 from Merehead Quarry to Acton 'jumbo' stone service.
Ian Gould

Picture of the Day 29 June 2011

The Chiltern Railways Class 172/1 units finally entered passengers service on Wednesday 8 June 2011. They were due to start on Monday 23 May. It is not clear what the reason for this delay was, but it is thought that lack of sufficient trained drivers may have been a factor. The units are currently working as a triple set on the following diagram: 07.50 High Wycombe to London Marylebone, 18.09 London Marylebone to Bicester North, and the 19.25 return. On Tuesday 28 June 2011, Nos. 172104, 172102 and 172101 arrive at Bicester North with the 18.09 from Marylebone service.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 30 June 2011

The National Collection-owned Class 306 Great Eastern EMU unit No. 306017 which has been at Eastleigh Works recently for asbestos removal and other attention was moved on 28 June 2011 to the Chappel & Wakes Colne Railway, where it will be put on public display. The EMU which has a certificate for operation 'dead' over Network Rail tracks was hauled by GBRf Class 66/7 No. 66715 and is seen passing Virginia Water.
Paul Davis