The Flickr 2N29 Image Generatr

New Brighton
2N29 13:23 New Brighton to New Brighton

New Brighton
2N29 13:23 New Brighton to New Brighton

Northern Class 153 Super Sprinter 153351 and Class 150/2 Sprinter DMU 150211

2N29 19.15 Sheffield to Leeds via Moorthorpe

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

New Brighton
2N29 13:23 New Brighton to New Brighton

At Crewe on 2N29 Crewe to Newark Castle

2N29 Crewe to Newark. Class 156 Super Sprinter in old Stagecoach livery with EMR regional branding heads north towards Derby. Seen here on the approach to Stenson Jn after having just come off the branch from Uttoxeter.

Arriving at Nottingham on 2N29 Crewe to Newark Castle

507020 | Seacombe Junction
2N29 13:23 New Brighton to New Brighton

Another run from the south to collect a 'vehicle', class 37, 37884 from the Loco depot at Leeds Balm Road and take it back to the Loco Inspection Point at Leicester. The 37 was brought up last Tuesday, a week ago later on in the afternoon, setting off over an hour late and not knowing exactly what was on it, I failed to grab some shots of the two moves, one up with the 37 and one back south a few hours later with just the two classic traction units on it, 73951 and 31233. Today I was unfortunately distracted elsewhere for the trio's return and so only got the pair of units coming up from the south, the class 73 diesel-electric loco seen here leading, as it was last week I understand, and behind that the class 31, 31233. The 37, 37884 had been brought up to Balm Road for 'wheel turning' by all accounts form the local 'expertise', and having accomplished that work, this is the 'pick-up duo' coming to get the 37; the 73 being accompanied by the 31 due to some misgivings about the reliability of the 73. With bright overhead sun now veering round to the south directly behind the pair, this shot was taken facing as much north as practicable and the set were around 20 minutes late and appeared now not to be wasting any time. The north-end signal, S0425, at Masbrough was showing green, meaning the pair wouldn't slow for a stop and with a busy road right behind it meant the shot on the right was the best that could be done with the pair rattling off at what must have been 50mph or so! 73951 is a named diesel-electric, 'Malcolm Brinded' and if my information is correct, this is him, details c/o of Wikipedia-
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Brinded
he doesn't appear to have any connection with the railways though, but could be mistaken. Some, fairly scant, information about the 73-

Number: 73951
Class: 73/9
Depot: BH - Barrow Hill Roundhouse Museum
Pool: RVLO - Railway Vehicle Engineering - Operational
Livery: NZ - Network Rail Locomotives/Departmentals - Yellow with Grey/Black roof and NR Logos
Builder: English Electric Vulcan Foundry
Built: 21/10/1965
Works Number: E3572/E342
73951 Renumbered
From 73104 on 31/07/2014
73104 Renumbered
From E6010 on 31/12/1973

So, this is the return 'pick-up' goods, 0E37, coming up from Derby to Leeds Balm Road, arriving at 13:46, the trip taking two hours after which the trio set off back just 45 minutes late, the return, working 0M37, taking two and a half hours. In the left picture, on the far right, the 'Black Bull' public house still has the shutters down, but not quite sure whether this means it has closed for good or is just daytime security, for when the place isn't open. Note the central triangular area between the Midland Main lines over on the right and the 'Old Road' on the left is now filling up nicely with tree-growth once more, after such a short interval after removal of it all!

Attempting once more to gain more out of the scene in front of the camera, this time, the sites of the continued growth in industrial businesses here, making the Holmes Level crossing a place where the Automatic barriers are wafting up and down almost every 5 minutes and causing long tail-backs of mucky traffic, in the instance where the DRS was getting ready to pass, this traffic was lined up all the way along Psalters Lane to the main, Meadowbank, Road. Another angle also for a view of the new Biomass facility on Sheffield Road, built on the site of the demolished part of the Firth-Rixon site, both next to the River Don and right next to both the GCRs Woodburn Junction to Mexborough line and the 'Old Road', crossing the former in the corner of the Biomass site.Much of the business in the Holmes area appears to be related to stone crushing and recycling ventures of one sort or another; the former presumably in healthy state due to the the vast amounts of material being recovered and reprocessed as part of the Sheffield Road Refurbishment program. Immediately next to the passing DRS class 66, is a stone yard, which sells the material after being 'refurbished' along with new and old railway sleepers etc; this site was once home to Habershons, information-
'...In 1782 Matthew Habershon was employed by the Walkers of Holmes. In 1829 he bought the Holmes Tin Plate works and shortly afterwards, with his sons Henry and John Jonas, he converted them into steel rolling mills. In 1920 the company of J.J. Habershon and Sons Ltd was formed. It made steel strips, sheets and sections for pen nibs, cycle wheel rims and the motorcycle and car industries. The firm rolled the material for the stainless steel girdle strengthening the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, and during the Second World War it made an extensive contribution to the aircraft industry. W.T. Beesley & Co Ltd was set up in 1888 to purchase the Universal Steel Works, Rolling and Wire Mills in Attercliffe Road and Effingham Street, Sheffield from William Thomas Beesley. It was taken over in 1954 by J.J. Habershon and Sons Ltd, which was closed down in 1981..'
DRS, class 66, 66301, is on the 0Z01, York Parcels Sidings via Sheffield & Worksop to Barnetby, driver route learning working but within about a half an hour this will be curtailed at Sheffield.

Moving swiftly on, as they say, though not really in this case. Was kind of hoping the working would not idle in the Moorthorpe Goods Loop, further north, for an hour, but in the event it did; don't know whether this had anything to do with the later event, where it failed en-route into Sheffield but it ran 'right-time', past the camera here at Holmes Junction, albeit coming quite slowly through from Rotherham Central. This 1st shot shows the light engine DRS class 66 having literally ambled along the Holmes Chord, paused briefly at the up line signal, to the right of the one that can be seen with a a single yellow aspect for down-line moves, but looking at the time-table this slowness appeared to be due to traffic density to and from Sheffield at this time; 14:00. Here it is seen passing the junction of the old Westgate Branch, now a stub of a line just into the Booths Scrapyard area, but did one continue, 1st passing under the Midland's 'Old Road line, around the corner in the trees, the formation now invisible due to tree growth in the foreground. It was then carried on a high bank across the ground here crossing the River Don on a wooden bridge and finally terminating in Rotherham's most central station at Westgate on Main St.; now, the the only bit which is left is just a scrap line, and it doesn't look as if that has been used for a while, it almost seeming to have been cut off just in front of the warning board on the left. The background is cluttered with the jibs of cranes in the scrapyard, the lamp standards at the old RUFC football ground at Millmoor on the left and the corresponding 'new-build' at the New York Stadium on the right. The driver route knowledge working is the 0Z01, York Parcels Sidings via Sheffield & Worksop to Barnetby, and the loco DRS Direct Rail Services class 66, 66301; in very fine condition as well.

And finally, as road 'traction' backs up along Psalters Lane, having had to wait the passage of 4 DMUs, one Cross Country Service and now the driver route learner, the latter ambles by onto the main line into Sheffield and although there was traffic immediately in front in the next section but one, it appeared to be going more slowly than required.. Some of the traffic to the south of the crossing can be seen poking into the picture to the left of the loco in the right picture, but on the other side, upto the main road, a whole line of HGVs, vans and cars must have been wondering what the hell was going on; the barriers not rising after the DRS loco went through as yet another local DMU was sat along the line to the right waiting its crossover operation onto the up line the 66 is on, to take the Holmes Chord into Rotherham Central. The HGV traffic is very dusty and very heavy and it looks to be wreaking havoc with the road and the state of the crossing; maybe its time to press the old bridge into action, just visible in the background of the right picture, and make it one way, over to Holmes, the bridge deck nor being wide enough for 2 vehicles; then using the crossing as a one way route back this way... It would help as the queues tend to be worse on the inbound route, on the right, to the industrial sites over the crossing. DRS class 66, 66301 didn't get any further than Sheffield on its 4 hour jaunt from here, via Sheffield for reversal and then along the Lincoln line to Worksop, Gainsborough and then onto Barnetby; arriving at Sheffield at 14:21, just eight minuter slate, it was declared a failure at 14:29, this message appearing in the time-table-
12/09/2016 14:46
Cancelled at SHEFFIELD (14:29) due to DIESL TRAC
(Diesel loco failure/defect/attention: traction)
Network Rail then inserted a VSTP, Very Short-Term Path, 0Z02, schedule into the time-table and the DRS loco went back along the main line once more, ending up at Doncaster, Roberts Road Shed, at 15:25, apparently, 60 minutes early... not sure earlier than what though.. and coming back through here, about an hour after it went towards Sheffield! DRS, class 66, 66301 is working the 0Z01,York Parcels Sidings via Sheffield & Worksop to Barnetby but cancelled at Sheffield when it was routed on the 0Z02, Sheffield to Doncaster Roberts Road Shed, for remedial action presumably; the working which was supposed to run the day after, today, Tuesday the 13th, hasn't run.

This working had 3 schedules for this day with the indication was that it was a DBS locomotive with aggregates running up and down from Leeds Holbeck, through Rotherham Central and along the Lower Don Valley to Woodburn Junction for reversal. The 1st schedule didn't take place and when the 2nd was activated, seemingly running in the schedule for the 1st, 242 minutes late, at 3pm, the working details had changed from a DBS aggregates train to a VolkerRail with 715 tonnes timing load and, as can be seen from this 1st picture, the weight was a bit OTT for a single Track Machine scooting up and down from Leeds to Woodburn. Not sure whether this was a driver familiarisation run, it ran the following day as well, getting prepared for the track work which will be required as the Tram/Train system nears completion. The timetable for the cancelled early service showed the 242 minutes late at Hunslet Station then nothing else whereas the changed 2nd service was full of 'No Reports' for the whole of the time-table until reaching Aldwarke where it arrived 40 early and this was on the the 2nd pass north on its way back to Holbeck; it having done local reversals at at Aldwarke and Woodburn Junction; so, not complicated at all...These shots capture it on its 1st round trip, the panorama seen here, at Templeborough, with Firth-Rixon standing prominently on the right, was at 15:10 and the Track Machine DR75302 is seen heading south along the newly re-ballasted tracks where the Tram/Train is to run through, the TM heading for its 1st reversal at Woodburn Junction. This is the 6J37 Leeds Holbeck Loco Sidings via Rotherham Central to Holbeck Loco Sidings, with 2 reversals at Woodburn Junction and Aldwarke. In the background, land sold off by Firth-Rixon after the demolition of that part of the works in June 2011. The new Templeborough Biomass works is starting to look impressive and they recently replaced the old blue single track road/foot bridge, which was used by my father during his almost 40 years working at Steel Peach & Tozer. that bridge has now been replaced by a much more substantial silver part looking as if if means business. The overhead gantries are up in preparation for stringing the 600VDC cables to operate the Tram/Train when it comes along the old GC line here heading to and from Meadowhall and Parkgate. DR75302, VolkerRail Matisa is a named unit, 'Gary Wright', named after the singer possibly, though no idea why? and the unit is passing the Bessemer Way Industrial area on the left with Toyoda-Gosei (Rubber, plastic, and urethane products for transportation equipment such as automobiles and carrier vehicles), now occupying old Steel-works related land on the left, can be seen poking out of the top of the trees, and beyond that on the left, 'Newburgh Precision Ltd', a precision engineering concern which reflects more of what used to go on in the area around the Iron & Steel works at Templeborough, the building looking very 'hi-tech' and modern; the firm appears to have a very mature attitude to both its workforce and waste management.

I guess the operator of this charter, WCRC, the West Coast Railway Company, planned this outing from the East coast to Stratford using as much in the way of local lineside interest as possible. This this working came off the Midland Main Line at Aldwarke Junction and took the GC's line coming past here and on through Rotherham Central only to rejoin the main line at Holmes Junction; just a small detour to see the once glorious industrialised area just north of Rotherham! The five, now redundant, chimney stacks standing tall in the background are located on the site of the TATA, formerly Corus, owned Aldwarke Steelworks, where there was a serious fire in early June. TATA have been trying to sell the plant for a few months, from Wikipedia-
'...In early July 2016 Tata paused the sale procedure in part to assess the effect of the vote to leave the EU (Brexit) in the UK EU membership referendum of 2016; on 8 July it announced it was in discussion with other steelmakers, specifically ThyssenKrupp on the formation of a joint venture between their respective European steel businesses.[61] JSW Steel and Hebei Iron & Steel were also reported as potential joint venture partners. In addition to the talks on a joint venture the company was also stated to be in talks to sell the pipe (Hartlepool) and EAF/specialty steel (South Yorkshire) businesses separately...'
It still remains to be seen how this turns out... Coming along the curve from Aldwarke Junction to the closes the line comes to the canal cut, is a WCRC private charter service being hauled by class 57, 57313 with six, smart looking Pullman Coached in tow and at the rear, fellow class 57, 57316.
The leading loco is passing the site of what is to become the new Tram/Train terminating station on a siding off the down line, some of the sleepers and a few rails having already been laid. The station site isn't near the only access way into the Retail area, the only one currently available being some 500m ahead of the approaching train; so shoppers will have a bit of a walk either to that access or heading off left behind the train to approach the shops along the road.. wonder if anybody has thought of this...WCRC's class 57313 is hauling the 1Z13, Scarborough to Stratford-on-Avon charter and is here running right-time and is here 3 hours away from its destination.

Final part of the 'Track Machine Chase' as the camera moves west to a view of over the Network Rail site between Tinsley East and South junctions close to the Tinsley Viaduct. Network Rail are laying a new connection in from the site of the old Tinsley East Junction which is visible just on the bend behind the VolkerRail unit where the green-roofed building is located. This junction took trains to and from the Blackburn Vally line into Rotherham but was one of the many casualties in the late 70s/early 80s rationalisation and re-signalling work. This saw much of the old rail infrastructure removed in these parts as a result of the policies of the 1980s Tory and, to some extent Labour, governments with respect to heavy industry and the railways. Tinsley East box was here at the junction and there were two more, one at the south junction, under the Viaduct in front of the Track Machine and at the other at the west junction just underneath the viaduct at the end of the east to north connecting chord, the track-bed of which is still visible in this picture. Network Rail have decided not to use this chord but to build a tighter curve closer to the Viaduct and the Track Machine, Volker Rail, DR75302, 'Gary Wright', can be seen passing the new trackbed on the left within the confines of the palisade fence which has been erected around the work. A section of new rail has already been laid to the East Junction at the back and this can be seen coming towards the camera to meat the, as yet, un-railed trackbed coming in from the Supertram line through from the South Junction to Meadowhall; its track-bed was built on the south to west, north-bound junction line up the Blackburn Valley, but of course this turns off west and terminates at Meadowhall INterchange Station. The rest of the GC's old track-bed up the Blackburn Valley is walkable from a point north of the northern access of Junction 34 on the M1/A631 at Wincobank. ON the left, surrounded by its own type of 'fodder', the Tinsley Biomass PLant, built on the site of the old Blackburn Meadows Power station with its twin cooling towers at the side of the M1, the towers being demolished at 3am one Sunday morning in August 2008. Volker Rail/Volker Wessels, Track Machine, DR75302 is on the 6J37, Holbeck Loco Sidings via Rotherham Central to Holbeck Loco Sidings with reversal at Woodburn Junction in the south and at Aldwarke Junction north of Rotherham in this 2nd of 2 passes up and down the GC's Woodburn to Mexborough line which sees only a handful of freights per day, at best. Just in front of the green-roofed building in the background, a small section of the new Tinsley Relief Road can be seen, with railings at the side of the deck, rising from its River Don crossing close to where the Tinsley West Junction and signalbox used to be, see-
www.flickr.com/photos/tractionart/7522097172
the road rising sharply up-grade to cross the River Don once more over to the right and joining Sheffield Road at a new roundabout allowing traffic to take this option when travelling to and from the Meadowhall area and the Rotherham direction.

Another session back at rear of 'Parkgate Retail World' where things have been and are happening. The first is a sad report of the death of a youngster, apparently engaged in 'Tombstoning', I had never heard of this till informed by two local cyclists crossing over the old GC footbridge over the railway. It appears the 'pastime' revolves around jumping off a bridge into a river or canal without knowing anything about 'what lies beneath', in this case, it turned out to be not all that much water, as the 11 year old jumped off the newly installed pedestrian footbridge over the local cut of the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation, into the canal below; this happened about 3 weeks ago, on July 22nd. As far as I can make out there hasn't been any report of the outcome of the inquiry into what happened, i.e. the exact cause of death, the local and national press all had a piece in their papers about the incident; What a tragic waste of a young life in this stupid way... The pictures here reflect the scene on the 16th August whilst waiting for the passage of a rail charter, unusually coming this way through the area. At top left, under the shadow the metal bridge with a Swan investigating the scene as it quietly glides by, a floral tribute to the boy at the side of the water where he plunged to his death. Top right, looking towards Rother along the canal to the old Waddingtons canal-side depot in the centre background, a local passes by with head bowed possibly upset by the site of something which happened only 3 weeks earlier at 7pm on a very warm Summer's evening; maybe the enticement for the 11 year old to jump in the water was just too great. At lower left, a view of the bridge from further along the canal towards the Eastwood lock showing the height of the bridge deck above the water; can't help but think this may well have contributed to the result as the height of this and the depth of water here, possibly only 4-6 feet, would have been insufficient to guarantee a safe landing; that and the potential presence of anything, not visible, submerged in the water. The GC's lattice footbridge over the railway can just be seen to the right in this picture. And on that bridge, at lower right, a local passenger DMU, consisting of just one coach, ageing Northern Rail class 153, 153324 comes by, tooting to the 3 lineside NR workers, busy with the foundations of the new tram-stop work; the DMU on the 2P61, Scunthorpe to Sheffield service.
R.I.P.

Looking the other way towards the centre of Rotherham and the New York Stadium, the light is 'easier' as the driver gives me a warning toot to let me know of his presence as the Tamper Machine heads towards Rotherham Central Station about a half mile away. The local DMU service is coming along what used to be the old canal bed which was re-routed by the MSLR to enable it to access the centre of town, the canal being diverted to the right to join the River Don at DOn Island, with traffic on the river re-joining the cut just north of Rotherham Central Station; all explained in the link in the last picture. The difference in level between the two lines, the Holmes Chord on the left and the MSLR/GC's main on the right is clearly evident here and the DMU is coming down grade to join the Midland Main Line at Holmes Junction. Northern class 142, 142050, is on the Leeds to Sheffield service and is passing the noisy environs of the large scrapyard of C.F. Booths on the left. I think this is probably one of the better pictures I have taken here as NR have undertaken a lot of line clearance, the view is currently just about un-impeded and today, there is a very decent mixture of colour from all the components in the image which show how things have and are changing around here. The Track unit, DR75302, 'Gary Wright', has Volker Rail Matisa on the side and also, amusingly, I feel, 'Volker Wessels', the second part of this name reminds me of the dialogue of the unfortunate Mr. Chirpov, as he was called by Captain Pike, played by Bruce Greenwood, in the 2009 film, 'Star Trek', the first 'reboot' of the film series. Mr. Chekov, played by Anton Yelchin, who sadly died in a tragic accident in June this year, was absolutely perfect for the part, as were all the others, used to find it hard to pronounce 'V's, so said 'W' as in 'Wessels' for Vessels... digression eh.. wonderful and from this it can probably be guessed I am a great Star Trek fan...
Another death mentioned in this series of pictures... the details of this one-
'...Early in the morning of June 19, 2016, Yelchin was found by friends pinned between his Jeep Grand Cherokee and a brick pillar outside his home in Studio City, California, in what was described as a 'freak accident'. Yelchin exited his car while in his driveway, which is on a steep incline, when it rolled back and trapped him against the pillar and a security fence. He was pronounced dead later that day at the age of 27...'

Finally, a panoramic view over the site with the Network Rail compound in the foreground and the VolkerRail unit just about to come under Tinsley Viaduct, its shadow, partially gradient filtered out, being cast across the western part of the site. The new track bed curves to meet the Supertram route just the other side of the viaduct and the connection will be made further south than the old West to East rail connection, the west end of which can be seen just above centre below the green-roofed Biomass building. As mentioned earlier, much is changing in this area and this work on the Tram/Train system, along with the new relief road, sweeping left to right in the background beyond the stand of trees, are a couple of the big changes. As I understand it, NR are about a year behind with the work, it was due to be finished now, there is already o Tram/Train unit at the Nunnery Tram depot, but the work to complete the rail infrastructure which this will travel on is now set for completion in August 2017. After completion, it will be possible for those interested to get on the Tram system at the northern and western extremities of the system, the later being close to 'Crystal Peaks' Shopping Centre, and travel on the system to both Meadowhall and then on to Parkgate Retail World; Utter Bliss!! Though for us traction enthusiasts, the new Tram/Train section in the east, and the new elevated relief road, will offer photo opportunities which will make it all worthwhile! Volker Rail/Volker Wessels, Track Machine, DR75302 is on the 6J37, Holbeck Loco Sidings via Rotherham Central to Holbeck Loco Siding with reversal at Woodburn Junction in the south and at Aldwarke Junction north of Rotherham in this 2-pass move up and down the GC's Woodburn to Mexborough line. It is now only 10 minutes or so from its second reversal at Woodburn Junction after which it will head back north to Aldwarke Junction and then on back to Leeds Holbeck Loco. Although some of the bases for the electrification posts are in-situ, there aren't any posts here yet at this end of the track; maybe the posts and overhead cantilevers are being held back until the new track formation is in place up to join the Supertram route under the Viaduct.

The corner of the pedestrian footbridge, from which the 11-year old jumped into the canal to his death, is visible in the lower left corner, the proximity of the canal, and its old towpath, to the railway line is also clear and there is a small difference in level between the two formations; the unnavigable River Don, for which this cut was made, isn't that far away over to the left of the picture. With six smart Pullman Coaches in the set, 'Derwent Water', 'Windermere', 'Sapphire' and 'Emerald', with two unidentifiable coaches, particularly the one next to 57316, on the jaunt down to Stratford on the 1Z13 outing from Scarborough. The return service set off back at 16:09, just 3 hours after arrival on the 1Z14 service back to Scarborough and arrived at destination, right-time, at 22:23, so 10 hours on the train for 3 hours sight-seeing in Stratford. A lot of folk appeared to be tucking into '2nd breakfast' or 'elevenses' as the Pullman 1st class set passed by, illuminated on this side by bright over-head sun. Local businesses are spreading around, here 'TkMaXX' and ... Macdonalds but behind this is the now the large vacant building, with coloured strip livery, of B&Q hardware/DIT retail... odd they should move from here as they only arrived at this new location, 2 or 3 years ago from a site closer to the centre Rotherham.

This next pair of pictures was prompted by an image I have seen in the late Peter Bartle's beautiful fine art book on all things related to the local landscape, much to do with his days working for the railways, on the footplate as a fireman and latterly as a signalman. He moved to Filey from Rotherham in the 1970s and began painting the scenes he remembered during his working life from the 1950s and before Sadly he died in 2006 and subsequent to this, his brother discovered a large collection of material he had painted during his life, the painting forming the contents of a beautiful book 'Discovering the Art of Peter Bartle', published by ASAP Digital; his work was also available on-line at-
www.peterbartle.co.uk/
but the site has now seemingly expired.
On the left, another local passenger DMU comes under the old lattice footbridge and crossing are the pair of cyclists with whom I had a good long natter and from which I learned about some of the details about the 11-year old's tragic death. A Northern Rail class 142, 142060 passes northwards heading to York from Sheffield on the 2Y80 service; I wonder if the bridge will survive the new work being undertaken here by Network Rail, to install a siding into what will be the Tram/Train terminus just a few hundred meters along the line, see next picture.
The picture on the right is taken from Peter Bartle's book but the elevation of the image suggests some artistic licence as at this time the canal cut was crossed by a swing bridge at its narrowest section, not the high foot-bridge seen in the earlier picture, where the 11-year old plunged to his death. The picture does however show an accurate scene in what looks to be around the 1950s and to the left and behind the approaching L.N.E.R class 04, the scene is remarkably different to the present time where shops now rule the roost. In the 1950s, this area was awash with the works of Parkgate Gate Iron & Steel Co. Ltd. with their rail sidings and slag heaps as can be seen here; though in this picture, the view has a sylvan quality about it!
As was mentioned in one of the handful of pictures I have taken here over recent years, the East Europeans were photographed 1st, up on their way to the the 'car-washing facility' over the bridge, now gone. Maybe the loco which is approaching the lattice footbridge in Peter Bartle's picture is the type of working which passed underneath as I walked over it, so many years ago.. though I have it in my mind's eye that it was travelling north with a full load of coal; this one appears to be partially empty.