Manchester Freight 15th June 2012

Today's Traction Action focuses on some freight movments that run across Manchester City Centre, all footage was taken at Deansgate Station which is located at the western end of the railway cross city viaduct.

I was very lucky with the weather today as at several points the rain was so heavy it was not possible to see past the end of the platform! As expected we had a no-show too but more importantly we capture not just one but TWO class 92 movments today!

Due to a number of engineering works taking place this weekend GBRF needs as many Class 66s as possible, the one that works the 4M29-4L18 would stay stabled at Trafford Park over the weekend so it was decided to take the 66 off at Crewe and affix a Class 92 instead. That gave us the perfect opportunity to capture possibly the first ever non-EWS & first GBRF class 92 visit to Manchester. This was made even better as the loco in question was in pristine condition and looked exactly like it did when made for Eurostar's "Night-Star" train in the 1990s - Top Stuff. Natuarlly it ran late and I managed to almost miss it as I was filming the other movment when something inside said "pan around NOW".

The following movements were captured,

66250 4O30 Trafford Park - Southampton
86501 0L96 Crewe Basford Hall - Trafford Park L/E
66414 4O29 Trafford Park - Southampton
92044 4M29 Felixstowe - Barton Dock Road
86501 4L96 Trafford Park - Felixstowe
92042 4O85 Trafford Park - Dollands Moor

We have just one named locomotive today;

92044 - Couperin

As always best enjoyed in 1080 with the sound up!