Middleton Towers Sand Wagons....sorely missed.
The images do already appear on the East Anglia collections , but for a while , at least , I thought they deserved a showing on their own.
Following GBRf's announcement on 31st August 2016 that new super-duper wagons were on order to replace these old-stagers , I was determined to make an effort for one picture of them at least.
66764 Turves 29.11.2016 11.51Hrs. 6E84 08.29 Middleton Towers-Monk Bretton Redfearns.
Mission accomplished.
Unfortunately, coinciding with the news release, I was off the road for a couple of months following a serious accident , and that, coupled with having injections into my eye ,meant I was doubly pleased that I was sufficiently fit eventually, sort of, to manage the 2 hour each way drive from home to get the shot.
I had more time than I thought so on the next good forecast day some 3 1/2 months later 66708 is captured at Beggars Bridge 9.3.2017 11.48hrs.
Train details as previously.
Just 4 days later and with another good forecast I went off to Whittlesea this time for the early morning empties heading east.
66732 13.3.2017 08.04hrs.. 6L97 07.45 Peterborough Virtual GBRf-Middleton Towers.
Pathetic really but this was my final picture of the wagons.
In the end though I'm just pleased I got what I did.
66708 " Jayne " again. Whittlesea 13.3.2017 11.59hrs. 6E83 08.20 Middleton Towers GBRf-Barnby Dunn Rec. GBRf.
The new wagons did arrive eventually in November / December 2017. I suppose they will do the job more quickly , more efficiently ,etc and I suppose I'll take a picture of them if/when I'm up that way , but they won't be quite the same.
Having seen a picture of the new wagons now I have to say I won't be rushing !
Might these have been some of the same wagons over 30 years ago ?
56064 Kennett 14.11.87. Mountsorrel-Kennett Redland Sdg.