MANCHESTER PICCADILLY: 86248
The 16:00 Euston catches the last, faint afternoon rays of the winter sun in 1985 or 86 in the hands of 86248 'Sir Clwyd - County of Clwyd'. The 16:00 departure was the last departure that could be reliably photographed on a bright winters day.
TODDINGTON: 26043
26043 is starting to look very shiny indeed. Still much to do, but it is coming along very nicely indeed.
POYNTON: 47543 & 87019
Well it is Sunday afternoon, so a look back 36 years to spring 1990 and 47543 on the Sunday drags. About the time with the DVTs in use the electric loco stayed on, whereas in the past the locos had swapped at Stafford. Happy memories of watching these!
MANCHESTER PICCADILLY: 31408
A lovely Autumn afternoon around 1984 sees 31408 departing Eastbound from Piccadilly. Highly likely the 13:45 Cleethorpes service.
NORWICH: 86226
Stockport Trains on Tour! A clean and tidy looking Norwich in spring 1988. Norwich felt like a very far flung destination, yet there was a world beyond over towards Yarmouth, with a direct service from Liverpool. With 31/4 haulage, the trip took around 3 weeks.
STOKE-ON-TRENT: 86/4
A very clean and tidy 86/4 pauses at Stoke with a northbound service. I seem to recall that this is 86403, and it is most likely 1988.
Thanks Carl - that's very much appreciated!
CREWE: 86427
'The Industrial Society' waits to take a service north. Looking at the light this would seem to the middle of the day in the summer. I'm going with 1986, but could be a year later.
STOCKPORT: 87004
'Britannia' manages to avoid the sun on a bright day in spring 1989 on an up Euston service. This one must be shot from an incoming train, which makes the lack of camera shake/motion blur quite remarkable (for me!).
MANCHESTER PICCADILLY: 08790
Hopefully getting back to regular postings now. Much parcels action on 10,11 & 12. One of the Longsight 08s is the centre of attention for a young fan on platform 10, as parcels are loaded on platform 11. I should say 1985 or 86.
CREWE: 47480
'Robin Hood' runs off Crewe diesel depot probably to take forward a Holyhead service at some point. This is spring 1983, and I'm being taught photography so not sure if this is me or Dad!
This by the way is how platform signs were done correctly; no hyphens/dashes (which were centred on x-height and looked terrible with numbers) or ampersands (which can easily be mistaken for a number)—better to use the words ‘to’ and ‘and’ (which is what the new Wayfinding guidance specifies)
Stumbled upon another unofficial Willesden duck (Brent goose?) on a blue locomotive, namely 86233 Laurence Olivier; worth bearing in mind this was one guy with scissors and vinyl and nothing to do with the depot itself :)
flic.kr/p/AM9MDR (Roger Varley)
It's funny my superheroes were photographers like Les Nixon - they seemed untouchable in terms of skill, knowledge and patience. I heard that Dr Nixon once returned eight times to take a photo in the High Peak before he was happy with it. I wish Les greens all the way from here.
I heard that Dr L A Nixon passed away earlier this week. He was one of the inspirations of my youth. His regular magazine columns outlining his photography and darkroom work were great and helped me hugely. This shot is from my Les Nixon phase. Clearly, much, much work needed!
BURY BOLTON STREET: 40145
Not that I am slavishly following the trends set by @miles-and-chains.bsky.social this week, but here's a side on shot of 40145, probably in 1989 at an East Lancs diesel day. Nothing beats rail blue on these in my view!
MANCHESTER VICTORIA: 37714
A railfreight metals branded heavy class 37 waits at the west end of Victoria most likely in spring 1989. Didn't see too many 37/7s, it was mainly the 37/5s on the limestone trains which we saw.
CREWE: 86417
Dramatic skies over Crewe in 1986 for 'The Kingsman' which has just arrived with a northbound service. I seem to remember that the driver wasn't thrilled with his steed on this occasion and said so!
BURY BOLTON STREET: D1041
A sunnier day than we've seen for a while for 'Western Prince' at Bury in late spring 1989. Always a very willing, claggy performer I remember many great runs behind this loco. Hopefully we will see it again before too long.
POYNTON: 47431
A marmite shot - and a huge rescue job. The light and vegetation proved troublesome at Woodford Rd in 1988. I *just* found a gap though, and I love the composition. Never seen until Sunday when I scanned the neg! The A555 now crosses about where the train is.
Good call - a fair chance of getting home in that!
More info: www.45133.co.uk/uploads/2/2/...
CREWE: 45123
'The Lancashire Fusilier' out on test following a nine month (!) long heavy overhaul. The loco was released in April 1983, assuming that is what we are seeing, I'm being taught photography by Dad, who, I expect, shot this with his Voigtländer. Check out the cars!
Been an interesting but fun day at the East Lancs Railway for their Winter Diesel Day which was the last running day of 33109 before it is stood down for overhaul and refurbishment. There were plenty of opportunities to photo the loco and get some mileage behind it during the day. 😁
STALYBRIDGE: 45060
Today is a cold grey sort of day, invoking memories of the windswept platforms at Stalybridge so let's take a look back at such a day in Spring 1985. Something a little less than usual in the shape of 'Sherwood Forrester' to warm up the day, if not the train.
A minor technical hiccup in this afternoon's scanning session. No interest in the monochrome Deltic shots earlier, but all over some early colour shots I've just found of 47480!
MANCHESTER PICCADILLY: 304 VARIATIONS
Contrasting window styles between the older 304/1 and later 304/2 and /3 EMUs. I took these with a view to scratch building a model of a 304 - can't ever fault my ambition, which then as now far exceeded ability!
MANCHESTER PICCADILLY: 86222
Continuing a theme. 'Fury', the future 86502 arrives into Piccadilly with an inter-regional working. This is probably how I remember 86/2s best - blue, short classic name, turning up everywhere. Loved them!
Oh that's very sad news. I'm so very sorry.
Thanks - I suspect some of those were a bit after my time!
