Essex and East Anglia 2020.
Read More
Today's forecast had suggested possible sunshine but the reality was mostly dull. We got just one hour of sunlight but at the right time so I forgave them.
I went over for a look anyway and this train arrived at the same moment I did ,so I just managed a quick snatch shot and kept it as it was the only clean GA 90 I saw out of 5.
Witham 4.1.2020 11.30hrs.9P90 11.00 Liverpool St.-Norwich.90013.
66752 Witham 4.1.2020 11.48hrs. 4M23 10.34 Felixstowe N GBRf-Hams Hall GBRf.
" The Hoosier State "...Nothing to do with me !
Main Line runner Saturdays Only. M-F it gets looped here so no pictures . That's why there are so many Terling Rd. shots of this train, not through choice.
321352 Witham 4.1.2020 11.56hrs. 2F53 11.35 Colchester Town-Liverpool St.
66546 Witham 4.1.2020 12.21hrs. 4M09 10.14 Felixstowe N.FLT-Wembley Rec 1-7.
70005 Terling Rd. 9.1.2020 11.37hrs ( 15 late ) 4M63 09.12 Felixstowe N FLT-Trafford Park FLT.
(Booked for 2 x electric locos from Ipswich SS.)
66716 Terling Rd. 9.1.2020 13.30hrs ( 67 late ) 4M23 10.36 Felixstowe N GBRf-Hams Hall GBRf.
Despite there being no boxes on the front of the train I made an exception and still took 86612+86638 Terling Rd. 10.1.2020 13.50hrs ( 29 late )4M87 11.13 Felixstowe N.FLT-Trafford Park FLT.
It may not be long now before the 86's bow out to be replaced by Cl 90's. The 86's have been part of GEML scenery for more years than I can count. I shall miss them.
Update...there's a pair still running today , 21.01.2021. !!
Happy Memories.
Although snapping 86's since 1985, here is a favourite shot taken at Witham in 1993. Location no longer available.
86246 Witham 19.10.1993. 10.15hrs. 09.05 Norwich-Liverpool St.
Keep those clean ones coming.
90009 Terling Rd. 15.1.2020 13.18hrs. 1P35 12 Noon Norwich-Liverpool St.
66785 Terling Rd. 16.1.2020 13.07hrs. 4M23 10.36 Felixstowe N GBRf-Hams Hall GBRf.
Sun appeared at home 12.55hrs. Check RTT to see 4M23 running 48 late , due 13.11.
Left home 13.02 arrived Terling Rd 13.06 1/2.Got set up, train arrived 13.07 in sun.
By 13.11 full cloud. One up to me. Unbelievable !
86637+86609 Terling Rd. 16.1.2020 13.24hrs 4L97 06.17.Trafford Park FLT-Felixstowe N FLT.
Aggregate Industries joint effort , or would have been a while back.
59005 now Freightliner owned of course.
Chelmsford Rec. 17.1.2020 09.41hrs. 6V12 10.54 to Acton TC.
59005 Central Park. 17.1.2020 11.01hrs. 6V12 10.54 Chelmsford Rec-Acton TC.
Full clear blue sky until 10 minutes before , but very lucky to get a glimmer for the train.
66702 Terling Rd. 18.1.2020 10.55hrs. 6G31 06.49 Whitemoor LDC GBRf-Highbury Vale.Jc.
Shadow still over the main line at Witham for a few weeks more at this time of day.
321433 Terling Rd. 20.1.2020 13.18hrs. 1F43 13.00 Braintree-Liverpool St.
With sun appearing just 10 minutes before this was due it seemed churlish not to go over and take the opportunity when it presented itself. It may be the last sun for some weeks.
86608+86612 Terling Rd. 20.1.2020 13.23hrs. 4M87 11.13 Felixstowe N FLT-Trafford Park FLT.
Today's forecast...Full Cloud ! I give up ,but more importantly I think they should.
66726 " Sheffield Wednesday ", Terling Rd. 21.1.2020,12,25hrs.4M23 10.36 Felixstowe N GBRf-Hams Hall GBRf.
After a few days off for poor weather , plus time for fitting Super Plus Hi-Speed Broadband , and Windows 10, I'm sort of back to normal hopefully , starting with a few pics from last Wednesday 29th January.
66725 Central Park 29.1.2020 4L02 04.28 Hams Hall GBRf-Felixstowe S GBRf
70015 Central Park 29.1.2020 09.52hrs. 4M94 07.50 Felixstowe N FLT- Lawley St.FLT.
86604+86609 Central Park 29.1.2020 10.16hrs 4L91 02.10 Trafford Park FLT-Felixstowe N FLT.
66559 Central Park 29.1.2020 11.04hrs. 6V12 10.54 Chelmsford Rec-Acton TC.
90006 heads East. Witham. 05.02.2020. 12.49hrs. 1P26 12.00 Liverpool St-Norwich.
Full sun hidden under mountains of aircraft muck. Witham. 05.02.2020. 12.59hrs.
37219 on rear. 1Q97 11.17 Ferme Park Rec-Cambridge Rec 1+2, 37254 on the front.
Booked for a long stay in Witham Down Loop.
37254+37219 . 05.02.2020. 1Q97. 13.10hrs.
37254.Portrait.
Waiting the signal.
86605+86608 East of Witham 05.02.2020 13.20hrs.4M87 11.13 Felixstowe N.FLT-Trafford Park FLT.
37254 waits time in Witham Down Loop with 1Q97.
Dirty Mac (ems)...not the picture I went for today. 06.02.2020.
That was Blue DB 66090 on the sand ex Marks Tey which I missed due to human error , mist , and dead camera batteries. That will just have to stay in my head and remain the image that might have been. Big shame.
Friday, 07.02.2020, Shopping Day. Got home to find a message from David. 90046+90049 paying a mega-surprise visit to Ipswich on the early Garston.
Not knowing on which one they would return I missed the first Trafford Park job so guessed it would be that. It wasn't. It wasn't the Ditton either with nice 66420 on it.
Last chance of finding them today with the final daylight electrically hauled westbound freight due 13.23, 4M87 11.13 Felixstowe N FLT-Trafford Park FLT. 07.02.2020.
Still not knowing what was on it I waited , and waited...5 late ,then 10,
then 15, and finally 22 late at 13.45hrs it arrived.90046+90049
ONE Minute later the sun disappeared for good . Very lucky boy.
We may get them again, soon-ish ? but for now a real rarity.
Thanks a lot, David.
Come rain ,come shine , or neither.
Red / pink sheds are so rare on liner trains over here these days I had to go over to Terling Rd. 08.02.2020 10.01hrs.regardless.
66066 on diverted 08.20 Felixstowe S DBC-East Midlands Gateway TML DBC.
Last minute effort too. Looked at RTT and saw train was at Witham Platform so had barely 6 mins to get to the location.
Scattering Saturday cyclists galore I just made it , arriving at the same time as the train.
66541 Terling Rd. 12.02.2020 11.55hrs. 4M88 09.32 Felixstowe N FLT-Ditton ( OConnor ) FLiner.
Balanced on top of my ladder , looking straight into the gale, 86612+86613 pass me at Terling Rd. 12.02.2020 11.59hrs. 4L41 06.04 Crewe BH SSM- Felixstowe N FLT.
6 x 86's working on GEML this morning,
Today's Lucky Number Clickety-Click ,Sixty Six.
66766 here plus 66066 this morning, Terling Rd.08.02.2020 13.53hrs. 4M26 12.21 Felixstowe S GBRf-Hams Hall GBRf.
59103 , Chelmsford Rec. 14.02.2020, 09.28hrs, 6V12 10.54 Chelmsford Rec-Acton T.C.
It clouded up by Central Park picture time but nice to see one in town again nonetheless.
Problems in the West Country quarries / lines. Workings infrequent for the first weeks of February although when the Chelmsford job did run there's been some quite nice traction allocated. 59103 here and 59101 for example on 20.02.2020, and 59201 on 21.02.2020.
90006 again Terling Rd. 19.02.2020 09.42hrs. 1P21 08.30 Norwich-Liverpool St.
40 mins of sun and 3 pictures. Well done.
66167 Terling Rd. 19.02.2020 10.04hrs. W.O.6O79 09.38 Marks Tey Tarmac-Crawley New Yard R.M.C.
Watched from on high as it passes Terling Rd. 10.21hrs.19.02.2020 37402 on OZ37 08.44 Norwich T.C.--Dagenham Dock Rec.
......and still they come. Keeping up the livery variety, here's 59201 . Friday 21.02.2020 .09.25hrs 6V12 10.54 Chelmsford Rec-Acton T.C.
Aggregates 59 17th January, Hanson 59 14th February, DB red 59 21st February.
Orange one next ,maybe ?
Actually 59206 17th October. Dreary Saturday. No warning of it working. Next chance 2021 ,maybe ?
Awaiting access to the Main Line. Chelmsford. 59201. 21.02.2020. 10.18hrs. 6V12 10.54 Chelmsford Rec-Acton TC.
66511 Chelmsford Rec. 25.02.2020. 09.27hrs. at the head of new TOUAX wagons on 6V12 10.54 to Acton TC.
Same loco, 66167, and same wagons as 2 weeks ago.
6O79 09.39 Marks Tey Tarmac-Crawley New Yard RMC.
Terling Rd. 04.03.2020. 10.06hrs.
Bad month for snapping so far ,weather-wise, but as I was in town for Fish I called round at the REC. 06.03.2020.
66598 10.09hrs. 6V12 10.54 back to Acton TC.
Slightly better picture of the new wagons than my first effort.
Few bits of sun so decided to go for 4M94 Felix-Lawley St. on my way to the Co-op for some panic buying of a pint of milk.
321302 Terling Rd. 09.03.2020 09.19hrs. 1F21 09.00 Braintree-Liverpool St.
4M94 was 47 late and I got done by 4 seconds on that one when it did finally come.
Later on I didn't even try despite " Good Old Boy " being on 4M23. That one was full cloud and 64 late. Very bad freight day.
66721 Terling Rd. 11.03.2020 12.36hrs 4M23 10.36 Felixstowe N.GBRf-Hams Hall GBRf.
Very lucky with the sun, just seconds in it, although I should have preferred " Good Old Boy " which had been working the train on the two previous days rather than a loco I already have 5 times on this train at this spot.
Last one before Boris locks me up ??
59204 Chelmsford Rec.16.03.2020 09.36hrs. 6L30 03.36 MO Acton TC-Chelmsford Rec.
59204 On duty again 20.05.2020.
With the Corona Virus about to break I had to cancel my March S&C week holiday once again. Weather up there was excellent too , but rail traffic was at its lowest level for years. So, GEML it was.
Shape of things to come.
Just a couple of minutes before 90004 works West, 745002 takes the 1P28 12.50 Ingatestone-Norwich flyer East . Witham. 21.03.2020 13.08hrs.
GA pleased to be getting rid of them by the look of it.
No nice " Thank You " just a pile of dirt , 90004 Witham 21.03.2020 13.11hrs. 1P35 12.00 Norwich-Ingatestone.
Last official day for the GA 90's and stock today ,but with a slight chance of 90008 to close the shop for ever in 2 days time , 23.03.2020.
Roll on the Freightliner 90's.