Start up and Shut down

Type 3 diesel 37405 bursts into life at Bescot TMD, while GWR steam loco 6024 stands silent.
18/12/2007.

Remember Summer ?

Eye in the sky

Get off the bloody bridge !!! (secrets of the trade revealed...).

Dinner On The Orient Express

67012 (with 67006 on the rear) pass by The Railway Inn at Darlaston while working todays Northern Belle Noshex from Coventry to Coventry via Chester.

A 37 Heads For The Depot.

Here a light Class 37 is picking it's way through Bescot Downside as the loco heads for the diesel depot in the background. The engine is moving towards the camera and is on the Engine Release Line, just about to pass DT13 ground signal. The loco will stop clear of the points and after the driver has changed ends will move onto the depot from DT14 signal. A sister Class 37 can be seen on one of the depot maintenance roads. This view was taken in May 2002.

The Engine Release and the adjacent Arrival line have now been replaced by the new Through Sidings and all the ground signals have been removed.

Roy Castle OBE Powers Through Bescot.

47786 opens up through Bescot on a charter one summer Saturday in 2002. 47/7s always looked good on specials, now of course such workings are usually in the hands of Class 67s.

'Dutch' Transrail....

56049 runs along the Up & Down Goods line at Bescot on it's way to the Sidings in the foreground. 56s were still an everyday sight around Bescot around this time, the summer of 2002.

Close up

A telephoto view of 37610 heading the Serco test train down the Grand 10 days ago, with coach pantograph raised and 37038 on the rear.

31 Returning To Nature.....

The cab of one of the several dozen Class 31 locos in Bescot Storage Sidings gently rots away in January 2001. It took a few years to dispose of the withdrawn engines that were stored here.

Class 31 machines were never a favourite of mine but it is was still sad to see them like this.

The beast explodes

Wait for it... thar she blows !