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| Old Pictures of the Day - March 2011 |
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Picture of the Day 1 March 2011 The message is photograph the HSTs while you can,as today 1 March 2011, the UK Government officially announced the InterCity Express Project or IEP the HST replacement project was to go ahead, with around 500 vehicles built for use on the East Coast and Great Western routes. The trains to be built by Agility Trains, with construction undertaken by Hitachi at new facilities to be built at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham. The factory will commence building trains in 2013 for fleet introduction in 2016. In addition to the IEP announcement today, the Government has also announced the electrification forward from Didcot to Bristol and Cardiff. So, the existing HST fleet will start to be phased out from 2016. Currently, for a few weeks in 2011 FGW HST's are being diverted via Castle Cary and Yeovil Junction to Exeter at weekends due to engineering works. This view shows No. 43031 leading train 1C77, the 09.42 London Paddington to Penzance speeding through Crewkerne on the former LSWR route to the west on 26 February 2011.
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Picture of the Day 2 March 2011 Double Headed Freightliner Class 66/5s Nos. 66517 and 66582 almost reach their final destination with the daily 4E01 intermodal service from Southampton to Leeds Freightliner working passing Goose Hill Junction, Normanton on 2 March 2011. |
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Picture of the Day 3 March 2011 Following protests, the decision to close Woodlands Road tram stop on the Manchester Metrolink Bury line on Sunday 27 February 2011, has been postponed. The consultation period has now been extended to 23 March, before Government ministers and the Office of Rail Regulation make the final decision. A new stop located a quarter of a mile away at the Abraham Moss Centre in Crumpsall near to City College and local facilities like the library and leisure centre is planned to replace the stop. With the closure notice clearly visible on the left, Bombardier M5000 Flexity Swift tram No. 3004 arrives at the threatened stop on Wednesday 2 March 2011, with an afternoon Bury to Manchester Piccadilly service. |
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Picture of the Day 4 March 2011 For several days during the first week of March 2011, East Coast power car No. 43300 Craigentinny was on hire to Cross Country Trains, operating various services together with No. 43301. On 4 March 2011, the East Coast PC led the 06.05 Edinburgh to Plymouth, returning north with the 15.23 Pymouth to Leeds. The westbound train is seen passing Dawlish Warren. |
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Picture of the Day 5 March 2011 The final two booked weekday departures from Birmingham Snow Hill station during the Winter 2010-11 timetable are photographed together on Friday 4 March 2011, as Chiltern Railways Class 168/1 unit No. 168106 forms the 23.30 service to Banbury and London Midland Class 150/1 unit No. 150101 pauses at Platform 3 with the 22.17 Worcester Foregate Street to Whitlocks End train. The aluminium statue ‘The Commuter’ by John McKenna which has been greeting passengers at the station since 1996 can be seen on the left. |
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Picture of the Day 6 March 2011 A very impressive picture of Class 55 'Deltic' No. 55022 (renumbered D9000) Royal Scots Grey storming North through Rugeley Trent Valley on the 13.06 (1Z28) London Euston to Preston return leg 'The Royal Scots Grey' tour on 6 March 2011. The owners have done a stirling job of repainting the grills, buffer beam and air pipes in Finsbury park 1981 livery, for the Preston - Euston, Kings Cross - Edinburgh & return and Euston - Preston trips over the weekend of 4-6 March 2011, celebrating 55022's 50th Birthday. |
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Picture of the Day 8 March 2011 Described by the photographer as tree-mendous photograph! This very futuristic view shows pioneer EWS (DBS) Class 66/0 locomotive No. 66001 passing Craven Arms on Monday 7 March 2011, powering the 13.15 (6M86) Llanwern to Dee Marsh loaded steel (coil) service. |
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Picture of the Day 9 March 2011 The ex-DRS Class 66/4s seem to be quite elusive to East Anglia photographers, but this image in glorious sunshine was obtained on the Felixstowe Branch on 8 March 2011. The picture shows No. 66402 currently on hire to Freightliner, working an Ipswich to Felixstowe North terminal trip passing Gaymers Lane crossing at Trimley. |
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Picture of the Day 10 March 2011 Freightliner Heavy Haul Class 66/6 No. 66607 passes Knottingley Blackburn Lane with train 6M96, the 13.18 Drax to Tunstead Limestone empties on 8 March 2011.The Kellingley Colliery complex is seen in the background. |
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Picture of the Day 11 March 2011 A very rare sight! On Friday, 11 March 2011,DBS Class 59/2 No. 59201 was a most unusual choice of motive power for the 6B36, 07.32 Didcot Yard to Ashchurch MoD stores train The train is seen backing into the MoD camp at Ashchurch., formed of just one wagon. |
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Picture of the Day 12 March 2011 A slightly different POD today. This is the brand new driving simulator located at Stratford in East London for the training of around 300 drivers on the new National Express Class 379 EMUs now being commissioned for use on the Liverpool Street to Cambridge and Stansted Airport routes. The Bombardier-built four-car sets are now being delivered and will go into passenger traffic shortly after an official launch on 17 March 2011. The new simulator at the Stratford training school, which also houses simulators for Class 315 and 170 stock is one of the most advanced of its type, with a fully functional cab with high quality route graphics. |
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Picture of the Day 13 March 2011 DRS Class 37/0 No. 37087 hauling two vehicles from the New Measurement Train and two Mk2f barrier vehicles form train 1Q69 from Derby RTC to Derby RTC via a circular route through Shrewsbury, Hereford, Chepstow & Cheltenham.The formation was seen passing Severn Tunnel Junction on 11 March 2011, in the last light of the day. |
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Picture of the Day 14 March 2011 Today 14 March 2011, we take another look at the Network Rail test trains. This view shows DRS Class 37s Nos. 37059 leading 37069 'top-and-tail' on train 1Q12 from Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Temple Meads via Newport, Gloucester, Bristol Parkway, return to Newport via Gloucester and then back through the Severn Tunnel to Bristol Temple Meads The train is seen rounding the curve at Warren Slade, Redding Woods, Thornwell near Chepstow, while heading to Newport. |
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Picture of the Day 15 March 2011 The new Bombardier-built Class 379 units for the Stansted Express and Liverpool Street to Cambridge services are under going mileage accumulation tests on the West Coast Main Line. The diagram is four trips from Crewe to Rugby one of which is extended to Northampton. The WCML allows high speeds to be maintained. On 14 March 2011 Nos. 379009 and 379008 are seen leaving Northampton, both these units are now carrying the full Stansted Express branding. This was the first appearance of No. 379009 which was delivered to Crewe from Bombardier Derby on 10 March 2011. |
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Picture of the Day 16 March 2011 With an increasing number of 'Stobart Spotters' around the UK, mainly looking for the large fleet of Eddie Stobart road vehicles, many forget to keep an eye out for the Stobard Rail-liveried Class 92 No. 92017 Bart The Engine. On 15 March 2011, the colourful loco was used to power train 4E32 from Dollands Moor to Scunthorpe, formed of empty international steel flats. The train is seen storming through Kensington Olympia with a spotless loco and filthy wagons. |
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Picture of the Day 17 March 2011 National Express East Anglia officially launched their new Class 379 'Electrostar' trains in a high-profile ceremony on 17 March 2011. The Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt. Hon Philip Hammond MP, visited London Liverpool Street Station and at the invitation of National Express East Anglia Managing Director Andrew Chivers named set No. 379005 Stansted Express, before sets Nos. 379005 and 379006 formed a special service to Stansted Airport. Later the train operated to Cambridge, before returning to London Liverpool Street in a record non stop time of 57 mins. The view above shows the train in one of the south facing bays at Cambridge. 30 Bombardier-built Class 379s will be in traffic by mid-summer allocated to Ilford working a revised Stansted Airport service as well as Cambridge-London services. |
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Picture of the Day 18 March 2011 The Weardale Railway in Co Durham is the home for two former West Yorkshire Class Class 141 units. Taken on 12 March 2011, set No. 141113 is seen stopped at Stanhope station during a BRSA visit to the line. |
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Picture of the Day 19 March 2011 The new gangway-fitted Class 172 sets for London Midland are now starting to operate on staff training runs from Tyseley. This view was recorded on 17 March 2011 and shows three-car set No. 172332 forming train 5T13, the 12.40 Tyseley to Stratford-upon-Avon passing Danzey Green. The set, although painted in the base London Midland colours, has yet to receive any branding. The 172s (without gangways) are already in operation on London Overground, and the Chiltern sets are all complete at Bombardier Derby and await delivery to Aylesbury. |
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Picture of the Day 20 March 2011 Freightliner Intermodal Class 70 No. 70003 applies full power as it passes the remains of the former GWR Swindon Works on 17 March 2011 while in charge of train 4O51, the 09.58 Wentloog (Cardiff) to Southampton Maritime service. For those interested damaged No. 70012 is still awaiting collection from Newport Docks on its return to the GE plant in Erie. The delay has partly been caused by the icing of the ports at which the loco needs to be off-loaded.. |
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Picture of the Day 21 March 2011 The major modernisation of First Great Western's Exeter depot is progressing well, with new fueling and stabling roads now being built in the area between the main depot building and the station. When complete fueling will be possible on three-car sets. The work at Exeter has caused some disruption, but full credit must be given to the depot staff for maintaining a quality service and providing all required trains at all times. This is the view from Exeter St Davids platform 6 looking at the depot on 10 March 2011, showing the doors of the two-track shed closed, with a Class 143 and 153 set outside and work in progress to cement the new fuel road in the foreground. |
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Picture of the Day 22 March 2011 EWS-liveried Class 67 No. 67003 is seen passing Headstone Lane on the West Coast Main Line on 19 March 2011 powering stock transfer train 6Z05 from Wolverton Works to Wembley, en route Slade Green. The train is formed of refurbished and repainted South East Trains Class 465/0 No. 465039, formed between make up and barrier vehicles. |
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Picture of the Day 23 March 2011 The DBS Class 60s still generate a huge amount of interest, and following refurbishment of a small number at Toton we should see more members return to front line service. No. 60049 is seen powering the 14.48, 6E63 Mountsorrel Peterborough ballast hopper train on 23 March 2011. The train was recorded passing Ashwell, just north of Oakham. |
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Picture of the Day 24 March 2011 One of the wonders of modern railway preservation is the newly introduced GWR Steam Railmotor. The vehicle was photographed on the 3P20 Parcels Group photographers' charter at the Llangollen Railway on 22 March 2011. A public launch of the Steam Railmotor is planned for Saturday 28 May 2011 at the Didcot Railway Centre. GWR Steam Railmotor No. 93 was built in 1908 and converted to an Auto Trailer No. 212 in 1935. In the early 1970's, the Great Western Society acquired the Auto Trailer and in 1998 it officially launched a project to convert it back to a steam railmotor. This required the construction of a new power bogie and a new upright boiler. The body and underframe have also received extensive restoration work. The project has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The GWS also owns Auto Trailer No. 92 which it is intended will be restored to run with the Railmotor. |
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Picture of the Day 25 March 2011 More four-wheel PGA type stone wagons have gone for long term store. On 24 March 2011, Colas Rail Class 47/7 No. 47749 powers train 6Z47 the 09.51 Stoke Marcroft to Long Marston shortly after departing from Worcester. |
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Picture of the Day 26 March 2011 The only inland funicular cliff railway in the United Kingdom at Bridgnorth in Shropshire is currently up for sale. The Bridgnorth Castle Hill Railway Company is on the market for £700K-£800K, and includes Stoneway House a converted Guest House and the Upper Station which following refurbishment now has offices, tea rooms and a self contained flat. The railway which opened in 1892 was designed by engineer George Croydon Marks and takes passengers up 111ft. from Low Town to Upper Town. The railway was originally operated by water being pumped back up the hill to counterbalance the carriages, but an electrically driven winding mechanism was introduced in 1944. The Upper Station is photographed on Saturday 26 March 2011. |
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Picture of the Day 27 March 2011 East Midlands Trains HST, led by power car No. 43047 departs from Nottingham with the 14.28 service to London St Pancras on 25 March 2011. |
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Picture of the Day 28 March 2011 It is not often that two Freightliner Heavy Haul trains pass each other on the Dawlish Sea Wall, however on 28 March 2011 that is just was happened. First on the scene was FHH No. 66620 on the returning empty cement tanks from Moorswater to Westbury, this train was routed into Dawlish Warren up loop to allow a CrossCountry service to pass. While at the signal, sister loco No. 66614 went past on 6V87, the 12.30 Thorney Mill to Newton Abbot Hackney Yard empty sand hoppers bound for Burngullow, Cornwall. No. 66614 is seen approaching Langstone Rock, Dawlish Warren. |
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Picture of the Day 29 March 2011 Spring looks to be with us at last, as seen in this very pleasing image of an unidentified Class 185 'Desiro' exiting Standedge Tunnel near Marsden on 27 March 2011. The three car set is forming the 12.10 Manchester Piccadilly to York service. The Standedge Tunnel visitor centre for the Huddersfield Narrow canal can be seen in the background. |
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Picture of the Day 30 March 2011 The magnificent sight of newly restored ex-BR Class 7P No. 70000 Britannia in unlined black livery is seen here rounding the curve at Castle Hill, soon after departure from Williton with the 15.00 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard service during the West Somerset Railway's Spring Steam Gala on 27 March 2011. |
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Picture of the Day 31 March 2011 DRS Class 37s Nos. 37069 and 37059 'top and tail' test coach Mentor in its short formation (no extra brake force coaches required for high speed running). The train is seen entering platform 9 at Glasgow Central on 29 March 2011. |
Last updated 31 March 2011 |
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