DC Rail Freight (neé DC Rail and DCR) have won a contract from Network Rail moving spent ballast from Carlisle and Eastleigh to Boston Docks. When in full swing, it will operate from Carlisle for a number of weeks before switching to Eastleigh - and then reverting to Carlisle when the stockpile of spent ballast has been depleted.
Only the second such working since contract award took place today, with 56091 and 56103 taking the empty train of wagons North to Carlisle for loading as the 1236 Derby Chaddesden Yard to Carlisle Yard. Seen here passing Lees Wood foot crossing on the outskirts of Crewe running approximately 55 minutes late.
Tags: 56091 56103 DC Rail Freight DCR Class 56 Carlisle Boston
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6Z55 1237 Chaddesen Yard - Carlisle Yard
With 56091 in London, it was left to 56103 to work from Chaddesden Yard to Carlisle solo with the empty JRA wagons and then back to Boston with the loaded train - certainly making it sing a bit!
Seen here passing Crewe Lees Wood foot crossing, running around 10 minutes late. Can't imagine the driver will have been too impressed with Stoke SCC after arriving at Stoke Junction 13 early only to be held for a late running CrossCountry voyager, leaving 10 minutes late when he train could easily have got to Kidsgrove before the voyager had even reached Stoke. The joys of the modern railway!
Tags: DCR Cappagh 6Z55 Chaddesden Carlisle Crewe 56103
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With its early Romanian-style cab leading, 56049 'Robin of Templecombe' makes a fine sight as it leads classmate 56087 through Lostock Hall with an early running 6E32 1007 Preston Docks to Lindsey Oil Refinery.
The difference between a pristine 56049 and rather faded 56087 is noticeable; the latter has been running for Colas since 2013 whilst the former only made its return to traffic in late 2018.
Tags: Colas 6E32 Preston Docks Lindsey Oil Refinery Lostock Hall Railfreight Rail 56049 56087 Grid
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56091 makes its presence known hammering through frosty Daresbury with 4Z19 0800 Ravenhead Sidings to Chaddesden Yard empty box wagons. Could have done with it running half an hour later but beggars can't be choosers...!
This is the first time a DCR Class 56 has worked on this circuit and appeared because there was no Class 60 available; previously a DB Class 60 was hired in as and when required. The maintenance of the Class 60's has recently been transferred from Toton to Leicester (perhaps at the end of the warranty period) so this could explain the substitution.
Originally the path to return the empty wagons to Chaddesden Sidings was in the system for Tuesday but happily the 56 was required elsewhere so the train ran on Monday to coincide (for once) with a nice forecast.
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Third time lucky this year! My two previous attempts at the Monday return of the Middleton Towers to Ravenhead sand train have ended in failure or partial failure so it was nice to finally manage a successful shot - with the 56 and a small sandstorm to boot!
The last one on the mainline in pretty much original condition - the Colas 56s all have the new ultra bright high intensity headlight - 56091 is seen passing Daresbury at the head of 4Z85 0935 Ravenhead Sidings to Chaddesden Sidings.
The picture doesn't do the whole scene justice; the loco was working flat out and sounded very good. It hasn't sounded very well the last few times I've seen it so good to see it back healthy again.
*lineside phone removed using photoshop
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