Picture of the Day 1 November 2006

When is a locomotive not a locomotive? When it is one of these, a Remote Control Platform (RCP). A small fleet of around 15 of these platforms have been rebuilt from GP7s, GP9s and 'Switchers' for use by BNSF in the USA. These are radio control units, which when coupled to a normal switcher or road loco allow that units equipment to be radio controlled for yard work. Although numbered in the loco fleet, these RCPs are totally unpowered. With cabside windows plated over, No. 1672 a GP9 is seen at Bakersfield on 22 October 2006.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 2 November 2006

This view of preserved Class 47 No. D1524 hauling five maroon Mk1 coaches could have been taken in the mid 1960s, in fact it was taken on Sunday 29 October at Haws Park while forming an early afternoon train from Bolton Abbey to Embsay. This loco, more recently numbered 47004 was returned to BR 1960s green livery at Old Oak Common in the 1990s, and has now thankfully been saved for long term preservation.

Nigel Cockburn

Picture of the Day 3 November 2006

The twin-vehicle Network Rail 'Euroscout' track inspection trains are now frequently seen around the network, especially in the South Thames area. On 2 November 2006, with the autumn colours starting to show in the trees, a set passing Charing in Kent. The test train passes a Class 465 'Networker' on the 'up' line.

Brian Stephenson

Picture of the Day 4 November 2006

French-owned Eurostar set No. 373217 travels alongside the M20 motorway at Harrietsham in Kent while traversing CTRL1 at 300km/h with train 9024, the 12.09 Waterloo International to Paris Nord on Friday 3 November 2006.

Brian Stephenson

Picture of the Day 5 November 2006

A major event, unique in modern times, happened on 1 November 2006 at Porthmadog, in North Wales. During a week long possession of the ex-Cambrian line, a flat crossing was installed that will allow the 2ft gauge Welsh Highland Railway to cross Network Rail's route on the level. When opened in 2009, passenger trains will then cross this point for the first time in over 70 years!

John Stretton

Picture of the Day 6 November 2006

The main traction class now in use on South West Trains are the Desiro Class 450s of which 127 will be in traffic by the year end. On 6 November 2006, set No. 450013 departs from Clapham Junction Yard for the carriage wash plant, while No. 450106 takes the down Windsor line with a service to Reading.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 7 November 2006

On 6 November 2006 one of the most popular steam locomotives returned to the main line after major attention at Stewarts Lane. Merchant Navy 'Pacific' No. 35028 Clan Line/ The loco is seen passing Winchester powering a Stewarts Lane to Eastleigh loaded test run formed of the VSOE Pullman stock.

Mark V. Pike

Picture of the Day 8 November 2006

With November here in the UK comes fog and other poor weather conditions. Emerging from thick fog at Colnbrook on 6 November 2006, Loadhaul-liveried Class 60 No. 60059 Swinden Dalesman powers 6E38, the 13.38 Colnbrook to Lindsey empty high-capacity tanks. Thankfully this loco has so far not been branded with EWS yellow stickers.

Chris Holt

Picture of the Day 9 November 2006

EWS Class 67 No. 67002 approaching Folkestone Harbour with the VSOE train from London Victoria on Thursday 9 November 2006. EWS VIP Silver-liveried No. 67029 was on the rear. This is reported to be the final working of the VSOE to Folkestone Harbour until 22 March 2007.

Brian Stephenson

Picture of the Day 10 November 2006

We go back for a 'Blast from the Past" with todays POD. One of the 1914 built EMUs originally used on the Willesden Junction-Earles Court electrification, and later rebuilt as an AC unit for use on the Morecambe-Heysham line from the early 1950s until closure in 1966

Picture of the Day 11 November 2006

On 10 November 2006, The Bluebell Railway in Sussex held a 'Terrier Gala', enabling a number of excellent night photographs to be taken without interruption of 'normal' passengers. No. 32678 is illustrated at Sheffield Park.

Simon Jeffs

Picture of the Day 12 November 2006

Not a train picture today. For those who visit the Dawlish area in South Devon to watch or photograph trains you will now find this rather nasty steel fence, some 6ft high has been erected between the line and Marine Parade, effectively blocking the view of trains from the land side. It has been erected on the "grounds of safety".

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 13 November 2006

'Freightliner' branded Class 47 No. 47816 powers 'Wessex' Class 442 No. 442402 through the outskirts of Egham forming the 5X54 09.41 Bournemouth depot to Bombardier Ilford transfer move on 13 November 2006. Although scheduled to come off-lease with SWT in Spring 2007, the set is to be refurbished.

Chris Nevard

Picture of the Day 14 November 2006

GNER Class 43 powercar No. 43099 has been 'branded' with a 'WiFi is here' logo to mark the completion of the fitting of WiFi equipment to GNERs fleet of HST passenger vehicles. No. 43099 is seen at King's Cross on 14 November 2006.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 15 November 2006

It is just one year before this building site at London St Pancras International will be the London home for Eurostar services linking the UK with Mainland Europe via HS1. The new six platform station is now taking shape, but a lot of work remains to be done.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 16 November 2006

Now branded in First Great Western 'Dynamic Lines' livery, Class 166 No. 166211 is seen at Paddington on 16 November forming a Bedwyn service. The application of the new FGW branding to the 'Turbo' fleet is being undertaken at Reading depot.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 17 November 2006

As the overnight sleeper service from Penzance to Paddington on 16/17 November 2006 was formed of an HST, no set was available to form the 10.05 Penzance-Paddington service. Therefore the sleeper set, (3 sleepers and 3 day saloons) powered by 57602 formed the 10.05 Penzance-Paddington train on 17 November as far as Exeter. Here the train passes Dawlish.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 18 November 2006

The use of the handful of EWS Class 37s remains the source of constant interest from enthusiasts, with all '37' powered services reported. On 16 November, No. 37406 was rostered to power the 6F61 13.54 Folly Lane - Warrington Arpley 'Enterprise' freight. The train is seen passing Acton Bridge.

Tom Mcate

Picture of the Day 19 November 2006

'Bulleid' No. 34067 Tangmere has just passed under Luddenham Lane bridge as it approaches Faversham in Kent with a London Victoria-Whitstable-Dover-Tonbridge-London Victoria lunch train on Saturday 18 November 2006. Class 67 No. 67002 Special Delivery was coupled on the rear of the train..

Brian Stephenson

Picture of the Day 20 November 2006

It is exactly 10 years ago that Adtranz rolled out their stunning 'Blue Tiger' diesel of the future at the Kassel factory in Germany. The amazing silver and blue 'beast' in seen inside the main erecting shop at Kassel on 17 November 1996.

Colin J Marsden

Picture of the Day 21 November 2006

Painted in all over BR rail-blue livery, Class 86/2 No. 86243 'The Boy's Brigade' stands at Ipswich on 31 May 1985 powering the 10.20 Norwich-Liverpool Street service. Operations on the GE main line have considerably changed over the last 21 years.

Colin J Marsden

Picture of the Day 22 November 2006

Azfet Container Transport System (ACTS) operated Class 58 No. 5811, the original BR No. 58039, passes Gilza Rijen, west of Tilburg in Holland on 21 November 2006 powering a Venlo-Rotterdam container train. Note the concrete overhead power support lines, a feature of the line in this area.

Colin J Marsden

Picture of the Day 23 November 2006

On 22 November 2006, SWT 'Thunderbird' No. 73109 was needed in London and was coupled to the front of the 12.00 Weymouth-Waterloo service forward from Bournemouth. The amazing combination of a '73' hauling 5WES No. 2422 is seen at Brockenhurst. It is very rare to find 'Thunderbird' drags on 'up' services.

Mark Pike

Picture of the Day 24 November 2006

West Coast Railway Co Class 33/0 No. 33029 was used on 23 November 2006 to haul recently restored steam loco No. E850 Lord Nelson from the West Somerset Railway to the East Lancs Railway. The transfer trip is seen passing Severn Tunnel Junction. No. E850 has been on the West Somerset Railway for running in following restoration at Eastleigh.

Nathan Williamson

Picture of the Day 25 November 2006

National Railway Museum owned ex LNER V2 No. 4771 Green Arrow, powered a charter from London Kings Cross to York on Saturday 25 November, On the run the loco and train visited the closed Royal Mail terminal at Doncaster to take water, where this illustration in rather poor weather conditions was taken.

Derek Porter

Picture of the Day 26 November 2006

Virgin Trains 'Thunderbird' No. 57313 was heavily used when it was stationed in the South West on 24 November 2006, making several trips between Exeter and Newton Abbot. Here the 12.05 Edinburgh to Plymouth attached to the 14.10 Glasgow to Plymouth (221103 & 221126) stand at Newton Abbot after being assisted from Exeter as a precaution against poor weather and sea ingress in the Dawlish area.

Nathan Williamson

Picture of the Day 27 November 2006

A week later than originally planned, the first complete Class 159/1 No. 159102, the former Class 158 No. 158803 operated under its own power on Monday 27 November from Wabtec Doncaster to Salisbury Depot. The set is seen in the illustration left passing Doncaster station before joining the East Coast Main Line for a run to London.
Now at Salisbury, the set will be commissioned and tested with a conventional Class 159/0 before entering normal service.

Derek Porter

Picture of the Day 28 November 2006

The first visit of the Network Rail High Output Ballast Cleaning (HOBC) Train to the West Somerset Railway in conjunction with the new triangle, took place on 28 November 2006, when Class 66s Nos. 66603 and 66611 'top and tailed' five MFS spoil wagons onto the line for a trial ballast drop. The train operated as the 6A74, 11.00 Fairwater-West Somerset Railway.

Kevin Wills

Picture of the Day 29 November 2006

Over the past weekend, the lease on Australia's most famous steam loco, 4-6-2 No 3801, ran out and is not to be renewed with the current operators, 3801 Limited. The loco is seen here in 2003 while working a charter from virtually sea level at Sydney to over 2,400 feet at Robertson. More details can be found at http://www.nswrtm.org/3801
/releases06-11-22.htm

Brian Stephenson

Picture of the Day 30 November 2006

Freightliner Class 47/3 No. 47370 has been dumped out of use and withdrawn at Ipswich since 14 January 2003 and still remains today stabled adjacent to Ipswich station for all to see - and is not a good advert for Freightliner. The loco was previously named Andrew A. Hodgkinson in 1996 and has operated little since that time.

Colin J. Marsden