Picture of the Day 1 September 2006

The first visit on a GBRf/Metronet Class 66/7 to Devon was on 31/August 2006, when No. 66718 was coupled on the rear of the overnight Paddington-Penzance sleeper service as far as Plymouth, working the '66' to Laira for a stock move. The loco is seen at Plymouth North Road on the rear of the sleeper service.

Nathan Williamson

Picture of the Day 2 September 2006

Chiltern Railways in association with the John Betjeman Centenary Group operated a special Class 165 formed train from Marylebone to Quainton Road on Saturday 2 September 2006. The special train was one of a number of events this year to mark what would have been Sir John Betjeman's 100th birthday. Prior to the special departing from Marylebone a plaque was unveiled at the station by Sir John's daughter Candida. On route to Quainton the Class 165 made several stops for some of Betjeman's poems to be read. The train is seen arriving at Quainton Road.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 4 September 2006

Black 5 43157 arrives at Glasgow Central.

Bill Wilson

Picture of the Day 5 September 2006

47810 passes Dawlish on 5 September powering a rake of former MML HST stock from Long Marston to Laira.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 6 September 2006

Freightliner No. 66507 departs from Harworth Colliery on what was said to be the final working,.

Chris Booth

Picture of the Day 7 September 2006

Refurbished MTU fitted powercar No. 43097 stands at Bristol Temple Meads on 7 September during its naming ceremony 'Environment Agency'. Inset - Plate detail.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 8 September 2006

The unique Class 86/5 No. 86501 passes Colchester on 9 September powering the 11.41 Felixstowe to Trafford Park 'liner' service.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 9 September 2006

The first of the EWS/Kingfisher charters to use a Class 37 as power, operated on 9 September 2006 when No. 37405 led the 1Z82 Bournemouth-Penzance. It is seen passing Dawlish in VERY rough sea conditions.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 10 September 2006

Preserved Class 37/3 No. 37324 Clydebridge passes Dixton Bridge working a Toddington - Cheltenham service during the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway Diesel Gala on 9 September 2006. Other locos working over the gala weekend were: Llangollen-based Class 20 No. D8142, G-WR Class 20 No. D8137, G-WR Class 73 No. 73129, making its first solo runs, G-WR Class 47 No. 47376 Freightliner 1995 and G-WR Class 47 No. 47105.

Brian Garrett

Picture of the Day 11 September 2006

Each year Mainline Steam operates a 'Daffodil Express' from Wellington to Carterton particularly for passengers to visit the spectacular daffodil fields just outside of the town in New Zealand. J1211 is seen thundering north through Petone on 10 September 2006.

Alan Wickens

Picture of the Day 12 September 2006

A view of York which is only possible from the 'York Wheel' located adjacent to the main National Railway Museum building. Here a three-car Class 158 First TransPennine train is seen departing from York bound for Scarborough. The main station is in the centre and right.

Derek Porter

Picture of the Day 13 September 2006

The world's first Garratt is at last officially back at work, for the first time since withdrawal in 1929 in Tasmania. It blows off at Caernarfon station, Welsh Highland Railway, on 8 September 2006, before hauling the 15.20 to Rhyd Ddu special train for sponsors.

John Stretton

Picture of the Day 14 September 2006

Some 35 of the Siemens 'Desiro' Class 185 units for First TransPennine use have now been delivered and are either in passenger service or deployed on training. Set No. 185131 is seen at Sheffield in the small hours of 13 September, while taking a rest between training runs. It is planned that by the year end the full fleet of Class 185s will be in service.

Mark Allatt

Picture of the Day 15 September 2006

c2c arranged a special tour of its London Tilbury & Southend lines on 14 September 2006, showing to media and stakeholders the different aspects of work on the route between London Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness that has transformed the old 'Misery Line' into the successful and popular operation that it is today. Observation Saloon No 975025 Caroline was the vehicle used, powered as usual by Fragonset's Class 33/1 No 33103 Swordfish. Here, the tour stops in the bay platform at Grays while Class 357 Electrostar No 357037 arrives as a service from Southend Central to Fenchurch Street.

Brian Morrison

Picture of the Day 16 September 2006

The first visit of a Class 57/3 on a passenger train to the West Country was on Saturday 16 September 2006, when Pathfinder Railtours operated a 06.18 Worcester-Penzance charter powered by No. 57303. The train is seen passing Dawlish in rather nice late summer weather conditions.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 17 September 2006

In the next few months we will start to see a lot more Freightliner Heavy Haul Class 66 activity in the Taunton area, with the deployment of the High Output Ballast Train, and track relaying trains to Taunton Fairwater Yard. However, on Sunday 17 September the area was blessed with the first triple-headed FHH working when Nos. 66614, 66553 and 66561 powered the 15.15 Taunton Fairwater-Westbury track train shown approaching Cogload Junction.

Brian Garrett

Picture of the Day 18 September 2006

Arriva Trains Wales is now using refurbished Class 121 'Bubble' No. 55032 on the Cardiff Queen Street - Cardiff Bay 'Shuttle' service. It is seen here on 16 September working the 10.57 Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay service.

Phil Trotter

Picture of the Day 19 September 2006

What a difference a colour change can make to a loco, this is the first complete view of the Stobart Rail Class 66/4 No. 66411 at the Daventry International Railfreight Terminal (DIRFT) on 19 September at the official launch of the new joint Eddie Stobart/DRS/Tesco freight service between Daventry and Scotland. Full story and more pictures will be uploaded later.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 20 September 2006

National Railway Museum-owned Southern Railway Class LN No. E850 Lord Nelson is presently working on the West Somerset Railway as part of its runnin-in for main line use. The loco is seen here 'on shed at Minehead on 18 September 2006.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 21 September 2006

Freightliner Heavy Haul operated an additional train of 32 empty PGA 4-wheel hoppers from Angerstein Wharf to Newton Abbot Hackney yard on 21 September 2006, running as train 6V60. After arrival at Hackney Yard, which was delayed by rough seas at Dawlish, the loco and stock went forward to Burngullow near St Austell, Cornwall the following day for loading with sand, which was then returned to Hackney yard in two half train length portions due to weight and forward to Angerstein Wharf as one train. The down empty train is seen near Castle Cary.

Bob Tucker

Picture of the Day 22 September 2006

This is the reason that only a restricted train service has been operated between Exeter and Newton Abbot over the Dawlish Sea Wall section on 22 September. This was the view at 18.45 on the evening of 21 September when a south west wind, the tail end of hurricane Gordon, caused huge waves to batter the line for several hours. At the time this picture was taken the down line was still open to traffic, but within minutes it was closed. Overnight a major washout of ballast was found close to Dawlish Station. Single line working with a 20mph restriction operated all day on 22 September and normal working resumed on 23 September.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 24 September 2006

GBRf provided motive power on Saturday 23 September to haul the Blue Pullman stock as the 08.18 Kings Cross to Darlington to take part in the Community Rail Festival. The blue-liveried pair are seet at speed passing a rather dull Heck, between Doncaster and York on the trains otward leg

Mark Allett

Picture of the Day 25 September 2006

West Coast Railway Class 33/0 No. 33025 was used as the 'pull-back' loco on the steam powered 'Sussex Belle' charter from London Victoria to Bognor Regis and the south coast on 23 September 2006. Bulleid No. 34067 Tangmere provided power the the majority of the tour, except the leg between Bognor Regis and Littlehampton which was 'Crompton' powered. No. 33025 is seen approaching Ford is this illustration.

Mark V. Pike

Picture of the Day 26 September 2006

For todays 'Pictur of the Day' we go to India and see the Kamayani Express, powered by a member of the WCAM3 family of electric locos, crossing a hand chiseled viaduct, using traditional engineering skills rather than modern materials The picture is taken at Thull Ghat on the Mumbai (Bombay) to Bhusawal route of the Central Railway.

Sachin Buddhisagar

Picture of the Day 27 September 2006

Although presently not certified for main line operation due to high tension cable faults, Class 306 set No. 306017 is kept in the warm and dry of the 'one' depot at Ilford, Essex. The set is well loved by depot staff, local drivers and enthusiasts and it is hoped that this important part of UK rail heritage will soon be able to operate charter services over the main line network. The set was originally built in 1949 as a dc units for the original Liverpool Street route electrification and converted for ac use in 1960, being withdrawn in 1981.

Colin J. Marsden

Picture of the Day 28 September 2006

A timeless image, which could have been taken in the mid-1960s, but was in fact taken on 23 September 2006. It shows West Somerset Railway/DEPG Class 14 No. D9526 passing Blue Anchor on the Taunton-Minehead Line while taking a brake van and a 'Vanwide' from Williton to Minehead. The Class 14 later returned to Williton DEPG depot with Class 33 No. 33057 which is to be repainted and returned to traffic.

Jon Tooke

Picture of the Day 29 September 2006

EM80 is New Zealands unique track evaluation car. It spends its days touring the entire network checking for track faults. It has recently acquired 'Ontrack' branding (the Government infrastructure Company. On a superb spring morning, EM80 heads through Takapu Road station on its way to Palmerston North. It is seen passing a Wellington-bound Gantz-Mavag unit which has called for a handful of passengers on 29 September 2006.

Alan Wickens