Modern Traction

Said to be the final week of Class 37's on the WCML Preston - Barrow trains. 37401 hurries through Hest Bank on the 10.04 Preston - Barrow service on 23rd January 2018.

37401

Virgin Voyager 221 103 rumbles into Warrington Bank Quay whilst forming the 10.00 Glasgow Central - London Euston (via Birmingham) on 7th April 2017.

350 405 calls at Lancaster with the 10.00 Manchester Airport to Edinburgh 'Trans Pennine Express' service on 7th April 2017. An unusual shot in that platform 4 is the main southbound platform and not normally used by express trains heading north!

37 405 is seen again, working the 10.04 Preston to Barrow service, approaching Carnforth on 7th April 2017. This locomotive was built by English Electric as D6982 at their Newton-Le-Willows factory in May 1965!

68024 leads classmate 68020 as they swing through the reverse curves on the 'down fast' at Lancaster with the 06:16 Daventry-Mossend 'Tesco Express' on 7th April 2017.

37 405 propels the 05.15 Carlisle to Preston service (via the Cumbrian coast route) into Lancaster on 7th April 2017. These loco- hauled services make a pleasant change from what is now essentially a DMU/EMU railway!

I was keen to see how the new Canon would handle very gloomy conditions and shot this at ISO 2000. 90046 and 90044 glide through Lancaster on the 'up fast' in charge of 4M27 the 05:25 Coatbridge-Daventry intermodal service. Both locomotives were built in 1990 by British Rail Engineering Ltd (BREL) at Crewe and each packs an impressive 5000bhp.

One of the much maligned 'Pacers' 142 036 pauses in Preston station whilst working the 07.19 Blackpool South - Colne on 7th April 2017. The 'Pacer' trains are all due for scrapping by 2020. This insignificant piece of junk holds the honour of being the first railway photograph taken with my brand-new Canon EOS 5D Mk iv !

DRS 37218 leads 57305 'Northern Princess' on the 'down fast' at Lancaster on 11th March 2017. The train is 6C53, the 06:30 Crewe-Sellafield 'flask.'

The 10.04 Preston to Barrow hurries north along the WCML at Woodacre (Garstang) behind DRS Class 37, 37409 on 24th February 2017.

350 407 forms the 09.00 Manchester airport to Glasgow Central at Woodacre on 24th February 2017.

37409 awaits departure in sunlight and shade at Preston with the 10.04 service to Barrow-in Furness on New Years Eve 2015. I find it incredible that these vintage machines are being used for front-line passenger trains more than 50 years after they were built. I need to get out and record more of these movements, so long may they continue!