A couple of passengers make their way over the wonderful North Eastern Railway footbridge at Garforth, whilst a couple of Northern Class 158’s prepare to depart.158794 2T94 18:08 York to Leeds158817 2T27 18:18 Leeds to York.12th October 2020
This diverted LNER Azuma looks good sweeping along the coastal line, giving the passengers some dramatic sights on its longer diverted route and I don’t think LNER charged any more for these additional sights.Bi-mode 800210 & electric only 801107 1E09 09:30 Edinburgh to Kings Cross, I did notice a number of the diverted Azuma sets were made up of a 5 car Bi-mode and a 5 car electric only set.
60076 catching autumn light just as it enters Winterbutlee Tunnel, Walsden. What I thought was going to be a loaded Biomass to Drax turns out to be this light engine. 60076 OE09 07:57 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Sudforth Lane Signal Box
A couple of Hitachi products head into the last sunset of 2020, passing over each other at Copley Hill, Leeds. Although the two trains are due to depart Leeds at the same time, they arrived here about 30 seconds apart using the power of Photoshop I’ve brought the two together.LNER Azuma working 801204 1A37 15:15 Leeds to Kings CrossTranspennine 9M28 13:43 Newcastle- Liverpool - departing Leeds at 15:1531st December 2020
Out of curiosity I had to look up the Latin translation for Luna Nova and it actually translates to "New Moon", not quite right for the Full Moon but anyway the spectacular December full moon rises over Leeds as a Transpennine Nova 1 gets away from the city.In reality the moon was behind the tall building when the train arrived and this photograph is an exposure blend constructed from 3 separate images: The Transpennine Nova, The cityscape with the moon and a third image to bring in the city lights a short time later.9M30 14:47 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street30th December 2020
For a few moments this truly spectacular winter sunrise gave what I’d imagine a martian dawn to look like.No little green men, just Northern 150275 approaching with 2F44 07:48 Knottingley to Leeds. 30th December 2020
The guard of the 08:07 to Knottingley spends a moment taking in the glorious winter dawn. Here 20 minutes before sunrise Northern 158901 waits time with the 2F05 07:58 Leeds to Knottingley.30th December 2020
The line between York and Scarborough is relatively flat and straight except for the circuitous section around Kirkham Abbey, where the railway follows the River Derwent to negotiate the Howardian Hills, after passing Kirkham Abbey and running along the banks of the flooded river Derwent 68021 ’Tireless’ leads the 11:00 1T29 York - Scarborough.7th December 2020
At the start of a misty day spent around Kirkham Abbey between York and Scarborough, my first shot of an eastbound working.Taken from the crossing at Kirkham Abbey 68021 ’Tireless’ approaching the wonderful NER 15 Miles to York milepost.Working 1E25 06:54 Liverpool Lime Street- Scarborough.7th December 2020
68024 prowling through the night. Caught in rapidly fading light passing Kirkham Abbey crossing between Scarborough and York with the 1F72 15:57 Scarborough - Liverpool Lime Street.It was really dark by the time the train arrived and I didn’t think I’d come away with an image, fortunately a couple of cars arrived at the crossing at the last moment to offer that extra bit of illumination.7th December 2020
The Sunday only, Freightliner Hunslet to Crewe Basford Hall brings rare freight traffic to the Leeds - Huddersfield line, making a fine sight in Copley Hill this triple header gets underway from Leeds heading towards Dewsbury on the Huddersfield line.70017, 70016 & 66415 6M25 13:49 Hunslet Yard to Crewe Basford Hall6th December 2020
An hour the other Sunday morning spent wandering around Leeds looking for reflections, I found one eventually close to the station with Transpennine 802203 departing Leeds with the 9M20 09:39 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street.6th December 2020
A welcome but brief return for class 20’s on the Yorkshire RHTT circuit, after an unscheduled layover in Barlby Loops Selby the pair of 20’s whistle away into the night all under the watchful eye of the Barlby bobby.20132 & 20118 3Z14 12:13 Grimsby Town to Bridlington25th November 2020
Stop Look and Listen Class 20s approach. A remarkable scene in 2020 even if the weather is a bit grim, 20132 leads 20118 at speed towards Godnow Bridge Crossing, Crowle, with a 50 minute late 3S13 08:52 Wrenthorpe Sidings to Grimsby Town.25th November 2020
Passing the site of the Armley Canal Road Station on the old Midland Line north of Leeds, GBRf 66703 is slowing for Armley Junction with 6D28 08:30 Rylstone to Hull Diarycoates.10th November 2020
A still autumnal morning is momently disturbed by Northern CAF Electric 331101 gliding north from the Leeds suburbs, here crossing the Leeds - Liverpool Canal before heading up the Aire Valley.2H30 10:26 Leeds to Skipton10th November 2020
Crossing the misty Leeds - Liverpool canal at Armley, Leeds an unidentified LNER Azuma glides through the mist with an Empty Stock move to Harrogate. 3A22 07:49 Neville Hill Traction & Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to Harrogate Down Sidings.10th November 2020
A dusk view over Wakefield as GBRf Class 60 60021 climbs towards Oakenshaw Lane with a loaded Biomass for Drax.This is an exposure blend of a couple of images, the train taken 45 minutes before the city lights with the two shots blended in Photoshop.I would have liked the city lights over Wakefield to be a bit stronger and offer more background illumination but having said that I was pleased with the end result.60021 Penyghent working 6E10 11:15 Liverpool - Drax Biomass. 22nd October 2020
66952 speeds through Methley and nears it’s Leeds destination with a freight liner from London.This was photography in the very last moments of light, I’ve attempted a pan to keep the shutter speed fairly low.66952 4E24 10:57 London Gateway to Leeds Freightliner Terminal.20th October 2020
66108 leads on this first leg of the evening West Yorkshire RHTT circuit, about to cross the River Calder between Whitwood and Methley Junctions. Not the shot I set out for but just a lucky grab between the trees.66108 & 66122 3S21 York to Selby20/10/2020
TransPennine 68029 'Courageous' departs noisily under the fabulous North Eastern Railway footbridge and equally impressive but I guess mostly overlooked Leeds & Selby Railway skew bridge, this road bridge was hailed as a wonder of the new railway age when opened in September 1834 and incidentally this was the first main line to be built in Yorkshire.68029 'Courageous' 1E43 16:31 Manchester Victoria to Scarborough.This shot is made up of three images a couple to make up the train and station and another shot once the station lights had illuminated, blended in Photoshop.12th October 2020
Water jetting at sunset, 66122 leads 66108 through Hunslet just after Sunset on the 8th October.This is the first leg of the evening West Yorkshire RHTT circuit. This leg being the 3S21 York to Selby which after a tour of West and North Yorkshire finishes back in York just before 8 in the morning. 8th October 2020
A focus-stacked image made up from a number of frames focusing on the nearest leaves and then a series of shots down the platform, all joined later in photoshop.66108 leads 66122 through Woodlesford station with still plenty of leaves to fall over the coming autumn, this is the first leg of the evening West Yorkshire RHTT circuit. This leg being the 3S21 York to Selby which after a tour of West and North Yorkshire finishes back in York just before 8 in the morning.8th October 2020
A TransPennine Nova 1 Class 802 climbs away from Leeds towards Morley on a fine early autumn evening, this is a combination of a couple of images one of the train and scene then a second image once night has fallen and the city became illuminated.The working 9M34 16:43 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street High Level, passing Morley at 18:21.
Passing Blea Moor Home Signal twixt the Signal Box and Tunnel, Northern 158759 with a lunchtime trip to Carlisle gets away from the Ribblehead station stop.The bulk of Park Fell and Simon Fell leading to the 2,372 ft flat topped hill, Ingleborough form the classic Yorkshire Dales back drop.Northern 158759 2H86 10:49 Leeds to Carlisle 12th September 2020
Crossing the Leeds - Liverpool Canal at Gargrave Class 40 40145 brings up the rear of the day's last northbound Staycation Express. The class 40 brought out the crowds that day, even a canal-side family group getting in on the action.40145 1Z45 16:12 Skipton to Appleby.12th September 2020
Approaching Settle, 40145 brings the afternoon Staycation Express southbound through Langcliffe, moments earlier and in typical Settle -Carlisle fashion Stainforth Scar in the distance was basked in September sunshine.40145 1Z44 14:38 Appleby to Skipton. 12th September 2020
47712 ‘Lady Diana Spencer’ bursts out in to the fresh dales air from the northern portal of the 2,629 yd Blea Moor tunnel, running the lunchtime northbound train on the last day of the 2020 summer Staycation Express service.47712 1Z43 12:18 Skipton to Appleby. 12th September 2020
Having just enjoyed the delight of Class 40 40145 upfront with the days first southbound Staycation Express. I took the opportunity of a going-away shot and captured 47712 on the rear passing Blea Moor Home Signal, with a clear run 1Z42 continues on the 1 in 100 falling gradients towards Ribblehead Viaduct giving any passenger interested in the scenery the spectacular view over Ribblesdale and the Three Peaks, I suspect on this last day working quite a few on board were more interested in what was up front rather than the view of the 2,372 ft flat topped hill, Ingleborough.What may look like a trespass shot, isn’t, I was safely behind the network rail fence at Force Gill culvert bridge.40145 & 47712 1Z42 10:35 Appleby to Skipton12th September 2020
The rumoured surprise for the last day working of the Staycation Express confirmed as Class 40 40145, certainly brought out the enthusiasts to the Settle Carlisle line today, I managed to bag this spot all to myself, although it is a bit of a trek and did get joined up with the Three Peakers getting here.The class 40 looked and sounded magnificent here caught bursting out of the southern portal of Blea Moor Tunnel and about to pass under Force Gill Aqueduct, with a small group of Three Peak Challengers taking a rest before tackling Whernside. 12th September 2020
Transpennine Nova IEP 802217 emerges into the light of Yorkshire from the 3 mile Standedge Tunnel. A fascinating spot, with the canal, railway and two further disused railway tunnels all running parallel through the Pennines and of course the River Colne carried over the railway on an aqueduct. 802217 1P31 15:13 Manchester International Airport to Newcastle23rd February 2020
From the grit of a Pennine backstreet to the brave new world of Japanese Railway technology, a new Hitachi 802 rolls down from the Pennine Summit across Slaithwaite Viaduct with the 9S12 12:24 Liverpool Lime Street to Edinburgh Waverley.23rd February 2020
Transpennine Class 68 glides at speed through Slaithwaite with its 16-cylinder 3,800 hp Caterpillar engine making easy work of the run down towards Huddersfield. I wish I’d paid attention to the locomotive as I’ve no idea which 68 this is.I do know it was the 1E37 12:52 Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough23rd February 2020
Transpennine Class 68 glides at speed through Slaithwaite with its 16-cylinder 3,800 hp Caterpillar engine making easy work of the run down towards Huddersfield. I wish I’d paid attention to the locomotive as I’ve no idea which 68 this is.I do know it was the 1E37 12:52 Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough23rd February 2020
