Hi, Welcome to my blog. It will contain my latest sightings, links to my latest photos and info pages and any relevant news updates. It will be updated when possible.
Overhauls for Balloons 704 and 706 at Blackpool
Two excellent pieces of news have came from the Blackpool Tramway this week:
The first is that the major overhaul of the popular open top Balloon car 706 'Princess Alice' will begin later this year, the preliminary work has already begun with the fabrication of a new underframe for the tram now underway. 706 has been stored since the end of the 2015 season in need of an overhaul and the replacement of the underframe.
The Fylde Tramway Society have been fundraising with the target being the estimated £50,000 cost of the work to 706 and have so far raised £10,000, enough to make a start on the underframe. They are still looking for donations, which can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/039princess-alice039-706-appeal?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_u_g&fbclid=IwAR1ELEFxv1OLYkvJ6-gZxKlH4xgBcOlxefhe7YVgHapJ2R3chmlvfFNHFHg
It is hoped that 706 should return to heritage service in 2021, the Fylde Tramway Society's 50th Anniversary.
The main photograph shows Balloon 706 departing Rigby Road depot on 23rd May 2015 (it's last year in service) to work on the Heritage service.
The other big piece of news is that as well as having the components to create the underframe for Balloon 706, there is a second underframe being created to allow a second Balloon to be restored, with work being undertaken simultaneously with 706.
Balloon 704, which was withdrawn at the end of the 2003 season in need of a major overhaul, will be restored to late 50's / early 60's condition and will be renumbered back to 241. Having 704 back in the heritage fleet should complement Balloon 717 as well as allowing a series 1 balloon to be returned to near original condition. It is expected that 704 will regain it's curved roof windows on the top deck and possibly even the thinly upholstered upper deck seating, which one graced the former open topped series 1 Balloons! An estimate or timescale on when 704/241 will return to service has not been announced as yet.
With both 704 and 706's returns being in the future, 2019 also holds plenty of interest for fans of the Blackpool Tramway.
It is expected that Millennium Balloon 707 will return to use during the year, having been stored since 2013. The flat fronted Balloon is being brought back into use as an additional high capacity tramcar for the illuminations, following Millennium Balloon 718 proving to already be popular in this role due to the large end windows on the top deck giving an excellent forward / rear view. 707 is to receive the Millennium Green / Cream / Grey and Black livery already carried by 718 and originally carried by 707 when it emerged from overhaul in this style in 1998.
August 28th will hopefully see Standard car 143 make it's long awaited return to service following a major rebuild. 143, was withdrawn from passenger service in 1957 before becoming Engineering car 3 / 753. It continued to find use in this role until 1990 when it's diesel engine caught fire, causing extensive damage to the tram. 143 was mostly overhauled by the LTT between 2008 and 2010, however Blackpool Transport and completing the overhaul, which will see 143 in a form, not currently represented by a Blackpool Standard in preservation: open end driving platforms and open balcony ends.
It is also expected that ex towing railcoach 679 will return to service in it's original form as Series 2 Railcoach 279 complete with pointed ends some time this year. The FTT group are currently hard at work on the tram.
47501 and 47593 at Carstairs 25.3.19
British Railways two toned green D1944 (47501) 'Craftsman' top and tailed with BR Large Logo liveried 47593 'Galloway Princess' head south through Carstairs with 1Z64 Fort William - Milton Keynes 'The Statesman' Railtour 25.3.19
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90048+90047 at Carluke 24.3.19
In a scene that could easily be from the 1990's, Freightliner Grey liveried 90048 and 90047 head south through Carluke in a brief moment of sunshine with 4Z49 Coatbridge Freightliner Terminal - Crewe Basford Hall intermodal on 24th March 2019.
Hartwood station transformation
With electrification coming to the Shotts Line, a number of changes have been made to Hartwood station in the past year.
Having visited in the past couple of days for the first time this year, the change in the station even since my last visit in October have been drastic.
Changes made have included:
- Eastbound 2 aspect signal, which was at the end of the platform has been relocated through to the other side of the road bridge
- Both platforms have been shortened
- Both platforms have new shelters with the old ones having been removed
- the old foot bridge, which was half way along the platform has gone
- a new stair case on the westbound platform to the bridge giving access to the old Hartwood Hospital has been built and is now the route between the 2 platforms, the eastbound ramp from before the upgrade remains
- tactile dots indicating the platform edge for partially sighted passengers installed on the Westbound platform
Scotrail Class 365's withdrawn
Week beginning 11th March saw the class 365 'Happy Trains' run their final services for Scotrail.
The 365's were on loan for a year due to the initial delays to the class 385's entering service and a shortage of stock as some of the DMU fleet going off lease.
10 of the 365's saw use for Scotrail, initially on the E&G line and laterally on the Edinburgh - Dunblane line, however there are now enough 385's available for service to allow the 365's to be stood down.
The 10 class 365's: 365509, 513, 517, 519, 521, 523, 525, 529, 533 and 537 are currently stored at Yoker, Shields and Eastfield until they are moved back south and returned to their leasing company.
The photo shows 365523 pausing at Linlithgow on its first driver training working for Scotrail with 2Z52 Glasgow Queen Street - Linlithgow UPL on 10th May 2018.
70812+56087 on Dalston Tanks 19.3.19
Running double headed, Colas liveried 70812 and 56087 pass through Holytown with 6S36 Dalston - Grangemouth Oil takers 19.3.19
Possible further use for 314204?
When 314204 was hauled to Glasgow Works on 13th March by 37884, it was expected that the set would be stripped for spares, then transported by low loader to Kingsbury for scrapping, however in a twist to this story, the unit was loaded onto 3 separate low loaders on 14th March and transported south with it's ultimate destination expected to be Eastleigh.
There are rumours that 314204 may see further use with London Overground until their new fleet of units are ready for use.
314206 was hauled by 37884 from Shields to Newport Docks on 14th March for scrapping. 314201 was also expected to be taken for scrapping at the same time, however it had developed air leaks and was unable to be moved so is still stored at Shields depot.
37884 hauls 314204 to Glasgow Works 13.3.19
On 13th March, 314204 became the third class 314 to be taken to Glasgow Works to be stripped for spares before scrapping. It was hauled by 37884 on 5Q06 from Yoker to Glasgow Works via Glasgow Central Low Level, Bargeddie and Gartcosh.
This was 314204's first and last journey via Gartcosh and its final ever journey by rail. The class 314 disposals are set to continue this week with 37884 hauling 314201 and 314206 from Shields - Newport docks for scrapping on Thursday 14th March. Unfortunately the move is at night, leaving Shields at 22.14 so it won't be possible to photo it.
The photo shows Europhoenix liveried 37884 hauling Scotrail Saltire liveried 314204 on its final journey by rail as it passes through Gartcosh on 5Q06 Yoker - Glasgow Works.
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Hartlepool - Inverness pipe train at Holytown 12.3.19
On 12th March, 66099 was seen passing through Holytown with 6X88, Hartlepool - Inverness pipe train.
The pipes carried are for the Subsea 7 fabrication plant near Wick. After Holytown, the train would head into Mossend Yard, where it would be stabled until later in the day, when it would make the journey north up the Highland Main Line to Inverness. From Inverness, the train would then move to Georgemas Junction, where it would be unloaded.
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| A rear view of 6X88 showing the size of the pipes being carried |
6 Nations Rugby Charter at Carstairs Part 2 11.3.19
The return working of the Pathfinder Welsh 6 Nations Rugby fans Charter heading to Carmarthen from Motherwell ran on 11th March. 68016 was again used to haul the set, which was made up mainly of Blue / Grey Mark2's. Starting from Motherwell, where supporters staying in Glasgow were picked up, the charter worked south to Carstairs before diverting east over the Cobbinshaw line to Edinburgh Waverley.
At Edinburgh, it picked up its remaining passengers before returning along the Cobbinshaw line to Carstairs East Junction. As the charter was running early by this point, it was held here awaiting its correct time and for a southbound Pendilino from Glasgow to pass.
The charter then joined the West Coast Main Line and headed south. At Carlisle, 68016 was replaced by First Transpennine Express liveried 68019 for the remainder of the journey to Carmarthen.
For completeness, the table from the part 1 post, now containing the return working's loco allocation.
| Carmarthen - Carlisle | Carlisle - Motherwell | Motherwell - Carlisle | Carlisle - Carmerthen | |
| 2015 | 68005 | 68002 | 68002 | 68005 |
| 2017 | 68024 | 68004 | 68004 | 68024 |
| 2019 | 68001 | 68016 | 68016 | 68019 |
The Main photo shows 68016 waiting at Carstairs East Junction until its right time while working 1Z27, the return Pathfinder Welsh 6 Nations Rugby fans charter from Motherwell - Carmarthen. The smaller images below show the charter at Carstairs East Junction and on the approach to Float Bridge south of Carstairs. Click on the image to see a larger version.
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