Picture of the Day 1 October 2009

After delivery from Bombardier Derby to Chart Leacon in mid-September, the first of the four-car Class 378/1 sets for London Overground has began trials between Ashford and Redhill via Tonbridge. On 1 October 2009, set No. 378137 approaches Redhill, forming train 5Z79, the 11.16 Ashford to Ashford via Redhill.
Mark V. Pike

Picture of the Day 2 October 2009

Deep in the heart of the Quantock Valley Lines, GWR coal loco 0-6-2T No. 6695 descends the bank passing Leigh Wood powering the 12.30 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead on 1 September 2009. The scene would not have changed a lot since the 1950s.
Nathan Williamson

Picture of the Day 3 October 2009

One of the UKs most unreliable train services is First Great Western's sleeper service linking London Paddington and Penzance, countless failures, delays and problems frequently see this train delayed or powered by hired-in traction or formed of HST stock. On the night of 2/3 October 2009 the up service from Penzance was failed before starting time when defects were found on FGW No. 57604, the result was that passengers had to travel without sleeping facilities on an HST set. The down sleeper on the same day was powered by hired-in Virgin Class 57/3 No. 57308 which was also in problems and arrived at its destination over an hour late. During Saturday 3 October Virgin No. 57308 hauled FGW No. 57604 and a rake of sleeper stock as 5Z70, 12.35 Penzance Long Rock to Old Oak Common, this move while transferring the sleeper rake to London for Sunday nights down train, left Penzance without a loco to power the Sunday night up service. The daytime sleeper move is recorded passing Dawlish Warren, with a rare 57/3 + 57/6 combination.
Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 4 October 2009

After the end of services on Saturday 3 October 2009, the Oldham loop in Greater Manchester closed to the National Network for conversion to the Metrolink tram system. In poor weather on 1 October 2009, the 17.51 Shaw to Manchester Victoria formed of pacer/sprinter combination Nos. 142058 and 156472 passes the distant signal for Shaw signal box, the last location on the line with semaphore signals. To mark the closure of the line, Northern named Class 156 No. 156466 Gracie Fields.
Kim Fullbrook

Picture of the Day 5 October 2009

A bird’s eye view of the Northern approaches to Birmingham New Street station taken on Monday 5 October 2009, with London Midland Class 323 unit No. 323243 departing with the 12.09 local service to Wolverhampton. Despite Birmingham being the country’s second city, and with New Street station handling thousands of passengers daily, the place seems almost deserted!
John Binch

Picture of the Day 6 October 2009

The 14.13 Southern service from Milton Keynes to East Croydon arrives at newly-opened Imperial Wharf station on 28 September 2009, formed of London Midland Class 350/1 Desiro No 350120.
Brian Morrison

Picture of the Day 7 October 2009

For many years one of the staple freight flows along the Nottingham to Lincoln line has been oil traffic from the refineries at Immingham. Both DBS and Freightliner Heavy Haul currently operate the services which are in the hands of Class 66 locomotives (although the Westerleigh service is still officially Class 60 hauled.) On Friday 10 July 2009, Freightliner Class 66/6 No. 66625 passes Sneinton Crossing just East of Nottingham station with the 11.33 (6M00) Humber to Kingsbury loaded tanks. This Class 66 is presently at Leeds Midland Road receiving modifications for export to Freightliner Poland.
John Binch

Picture of the Day 9 October 2009

The long awaited extension to South West Trains Salisbury depot was officially marked with a ceremony on 9 October 2009, when a twin track three vehicle length fuel shed was opened and a plaque unveiled to mark modernisation of the main SWT diesel facility. When originally opened in the 1990s to house stock used on the Waterloo to Exeter route, just 22 three-car sets were based at the depot, today the fleet has grown to 30 three-car Class 159s and 11 two-car Class 158s, meaning that the original facility had major space problems in handling the various types of maintenance required. The new fuel shed will allow space in the main depot to be dedicated to its prime maintenance role. Set No. 159020 is seen inside the new fuel shed.
Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 10 October 2009

DBS-owned but EWS-branded Class 60 No. 60091 powers train 6M34 from Crawley to Peak Forest formed of empty Cemex wagons. The working on 10 October 2009 is seen passing Irthlingborough Road, Wellingborough, heading north on the bi-directional slow line. There are certainly a lot more Class 60s working since the introduction of the 2009 RHTT service, but this occasional Saturday working (along with a Wednesdays Cemex from Bletchley) are the only regular workings for the class on the southern part of the Midland Mainline.
Darren Wetherall

Picture of the Day 11 October 2009

On 16 May 2009 a southbound BNSF intermodal train pulls off the Tehachapi mountain route towards Mojave at Warren powered by BNSF6623, BNSF4675, BNSF685, and BNSF7568. Until 29 October 2009, the editor will be visiting California (again) to try and capture freight and passenger workings in the San Francisco, Tehachapi, Cajon and San Diego area. So - no Picture of the Day updates until the end on the month.
Colin J. Marsden