I have just spent a very pleasant couple of hours alongside the West Coast Main Line at Warrington (Cheshire). In an earlier thread Ben gave us some examples of what can be seen at the London end of this line so I thought I would post some photos to illustrate how the type of trains change as you head north.I apologise for the quality of some of the shots but at least I now know the limitations of my aged digital camera (Olympus C900 zoom). It's built in settings are unable to cope with fast moving trains, without panning, even in bright sunlight. I also apologise for the lack of detail in my descriptions......I hate to admit that I have neglected the railways of my home country in recent years and some of the new trains are a complete mystery to me. Today's visit was the longest I have spent watching British trains for 10 years or so and I was pleasantly surprised at the variety and sheer number of trains that I saw. One things for sure.....My trusty 35mm camera will accompany me on my next visit An EWS Class 60 on a timber train from Scotland to a paper mill in North Wales. An EWS Class 60 on a merry-go-round coal train bound for Fidlers Ferry power station EWS Class 66 hauling a short train of flats A Virgin Cross-Country HST A Royal Mail Electric MU heading south A new North Western Class ??? DMU One of the new Virgin Voyager DMU's on a test working. Best wishes, John.
Excellent pictures John; there doesn't appear to be much wrong with the camera or the photography to me! Its great to see the increasing amount of photography appearing on Trainboard. More English and other European examples please! Ben
Ben, Peirce, Thanks for the kind comments about the photography. I don't suppose that these are too bad but you should have seen the ones I took of trains that were really motoring When I realised the cameras limitations I just took shots of the trains that were either slowing for or pulling away from the nearby junction. Ben, Have you noticed how much easier it is here to avoid the wires ? Warrington, as you probably know, is on the Weaver Junction - Glasgow section of the WCML and was electrified many years after Kenton. By then they had abandoned the heavy duty lattice masts and changed to the lightweight catenary visible in the photos. Take care, John.
John, those photos are great, and very interesting. I, like you have sorely neglected Britain's railways for the past several years, in favour of several different European countries, and the trains are all new to me too! Looks like you have an interesting variety up there. Please show us some more. I think I will have to get on our local train to Peterborough on the east coast main line, and take some digital photos to see what I can capture. Although I don't think my 'basic' camera will be any use at anything moving at much speed. Ben, you have kick-started us into action I would love to see some photos from our other members in Europe, remember, what is commonplace to you, is new to us
Here's a few more including some that prove that 25Kv electric locos do actually use the wires. It's amazing how few electric hauled trains there are on this line. An EWS Class 66 on coal train to Fidlers Ferry power station A Virgin Class 87 25Kv electric on a London-Glasgow service A Freightliner Class 90 25Kv electric on a northbound container train A freightliner Class 66/5 light engine Best wishes, John.
Good to see those electrics John. Electric locomotives have always fascinated me, which is probably why I fell in love with Swiss railways Something about a pantograph sliding along a wire, I suppose! I even scratchbuilt all the catenary on a large club layout, and then on my own Belgian layout That Freightliner 66 looks good. Reminds me, I really must finish a Gauge 1 version of one of those for a customer. Just the detailing to do, but there is a lot of it along the solebars!
Excellent shots, John. I am going to Cornwall for a week on Saturday and will see if I can snap any interesting railway photos while I am there. I may be able to access Trainboard while I am away if I can find any internet shops but of course I will not be able to post photos until I get back to London. Ben
Look forward to that Ben. Cornwall is an area that we used to visit regularly and I would love to see what's happening on it's rail lines nowadays. Have a great holiday Take care, John.
