European Railroad Discussion > Autumnal colours

Most definitely the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, albeit tempered by a series of local Covid lockdowns across Wales which has limited my picture taking.

1: On October 7th 6M86, the daily train of steel coil from the Port Talbot and Llanwern steelworks in South Wales to the Shotton works in North Wales passing Abergavenny just after lunch.
2: Later the same day the first outing of Transport for Wales / Trafnidiaeth Cymru (TfW) new loco hauled sets (ex-East Coast Mk 4s) on the Welsh Marches Line. These were supposed to have been introduced in December 2019 but Network Rail were late delivering some infrastructure upgrades and then Covid struck. Still no date when they will enter service. DBC class 67s provide power.
3: Up in Snowdonia on Friday 9th for the Ffestiniog Railway's Bygones Weekend, a cut down Victorian Weekend without the dressing up. This is Hunslet Quarry type Lilla on a short passenger working.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/20 20:36 by 86235.

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4: Another Hunslet product, former Penrhyn Quarry 2-4-0STT Linda on the Flying Flea set, reproducing an early 1960s relief working.
5: Sadly the weather in North West Wales in early October was pretty changeable. On Saturday 10th newly rebuilt Welsh Pony was formally named, operating two round trips from Porthmadog to the upper terminus at Blaenau Ffestiniog. Here she is in the wet on the second of the Blaenau bound workings nearing power station summit at Tanygrisiau. You can see the original RoW and the northern portal of Moelwyn tunnel on the left.
6: The autumn means the appearance every year of Railhead Treatment Trains (RHTT) keeping rails free of leaf litter. This is the 3S59 which visits the southern section of the Welsh Marches Line every morning, here approaching Abergavenny.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/20 20:37 by 86235.

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7: On October 13th 60074 Luke on the daily loaded oil from Robeston in West Wales to Westerleigh, near Bristol. Taken from the M48 bridge looking west towards the second Severn Bridge which carries the M4 across the Severn Estuary.
8: Another RHTT, this is the Gloucester based set, 3S33 with 56087 and 56105 in charge.
9: The following day, October 14th and a Colas operated Network Rail test train with 67023 and 67027.

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Last three, all of the 6M86 loaded steel on the Marches Line between Abergavenny and Hereford.
10: Passing Llanvihangel with Ysgyrd Fawr - the Holy Mountain - in the background.
11: From Asylum Road bridge in Abergavenny on Monday 19th.
12: Just over the border in England
6M86 is passing the site of St Devereux station, between Pontrilas and Tram Inn.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/20 20:39 by 86235.

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Nice shots Nick! 

A fine selection of shots, Nick. Plus, a good variety of motive power and liveries.chris uk

Beautiful as usual Nick.Always look forward to your posts.
Regards,dK

Very nice collection, Nick -- Thanks

Gordon

All nicely done, Nick. You certainly captured the feeling of autumn very well, both in the color of the leaves and the quality of the light. The light gets so interesting this time of the year. Thank you.

Fine photos.
Interesting about the locomotive hauled passenger sets. I guess business must be growing.

Thanks for the beautiful scenery, Nick.  Gerry

Thank you sir.:) That was interesting as usual :)
I'm going stir crazy across the pond not being able to go on any trains anywhere :( 
Maybe by next April ??? 
Thank you for sharing these pictures and stay safe ...:):):)

Thanks everyone, glad you liked them.

Wale's a beautiful country with beautiful people and great trains. One of my favorite places I have ever visited. Your photos have really captured the countryside.

Robert Morris
Dunsmuir, CA
Robert Morris Photography

photobob Wrote:
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> Wale's a beautiful country with beautiful people
> and great trains. One of my favorite places I have
> ever visited. Your photos have really captured the
> countryside.

Thanks Robert, that's very kind of you.

Curious about the RHTT trains; are they a big vacuum cleaner, leaf blower, burn chamber?  Why all the worry about leaves?

Kimball Wrote:
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> Curious about the RHTT trains; are they a big
> vacuum cleaner, leaf blower, burn chamber?  Why
> all the worry about leaves?

Water jet aimed at the railhead. Leaf litter causes potentially very severe adhesion issues. Either trains can't stop due to skidding or can't climb a gradient due to wheelslip.

Leaf litter causes modern, light MU trains to lose their footing, even on relatively moderate grades. The Railhead Treatment Trains spray water at high pressure on the rail head to clear it. On some stretches they put down a goo called sandite which aids adhesion. You can see here the spray attached to the rear bogie of the intermodal flat carrying the water tanks.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/20 15:08 by 86235.

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Great stuff!

Posted from iPhone

Very nice..!!