Incredible Afternoon of Freight at Rugeley Trent Valley 29/5/2024 (ft. 45118's Mainline Return)

This trip to Rugeley Trent Valley back in May was one of the busiest afternoons of freight of 2024 so far - 20 freight trains and 13 different loco/EMU classes in one afternoon, as well as multiple Avanti Class 805s back when they were still on test prior to entering service. The main thing I went to see was the mainline return of the Class 45 Peak No. 45118, operating at the front of an impressive convoy also featuring 40013 "Andania Cunard Lines" and 37409 "Loch Awe". However, many other incredible catches appeared, including 66601 "The Hope Valley" and 66613 operating a very impressive Freightliner "Jumbo Train", two aggregate trains coupled together, with 66613 sandwiched in the middle, to form one absolutely huge train bound for Tunstead. Another very interesting catch on this day was the last Merseyrail class 777 drag, hauled by Railadventure HST powercars 43467 and 43423, which had only recently re-entered service and were still in a very tatty state, hauling 777033 and 777047.


Classes featured:

Class 37
Class 40
Class 43
Class 45
Class 66
Class 68
Class 70
Class 90
Class 325
Class 350
Class 390
Class 777
Class 805



Rugeley Trent Valley 29/5/2024

6O26 Ditton Foundry Ln to Dollands Moor Sdgs (66154)
4L90 Trafford Park FLT to Felixstowe North FLT (66504)
4M63 Felixstowe North FLT to Trafford Park FLT (90049 + 90048)
4L56 Trafford Park Euro Term to London Gateway Db Cargo (66023)
6H50 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Tunstead Sdgs (66601 + 66613)
3N97 Preston to Northampton (805001)
1S05 Daventry Int Rft Recep Rfd to Shieldmuir Mail Terminal (325004 + 325005)
4L92 Ditton Fliner to Felixstowe North FLT (66571)
4L62 Ditton Gbrf to Felixstowe North Gbrf (66737)
6Q77 Wembley Receptions 1-7 to Walton Old Jn MSC Sdgs (43467 + 43423 + 777033 + 777047)
6K50 Toton North Yard to Crewe Bas Hall SSN (66555)
1A59 Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston (390119)
4M61 Southampton MCT to Trafford Park FLT (70004)
1F28 London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street (390107)
4M22 Felixstowe South Gbrf to Trafford Pk Euro Tml Gbrf (66744)
0Z44 Barrow Hill LIP to Crewe HS (45118 + 40013 + 37409)
4M87 Felixstowe North FLT to Ditton Fliner (66414)
3K96 London Euston to Crewe (805002)
3N77 Edge Hill Depot to Northampton (805008)
1U43 London Euston to Crewe (350263 + 350371)
1M96 Willesden Prdc to Warrington Royal Mail (325013 + 325002 + 325001)
6L48 Garston Car Terminal Gbrf to Dagenham Dock Recp Gbrf (66729)
4S59 Southampton MCT to Crewe Bas Hall SSN (70020)
1U42 Crewe to London Euston (350368 + 350375)
4M56 London Gateway Frghtliner to Garston FLT (66593)
1A72 Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston (390016)
4S45 Daventry Int Rft Recep Fl to Coatbridge (68002)
1H35 London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly (390008)
4L96 Trafford Park FLT to Felixstowe North FLT (66525)