| Saturday 17th of October saw us out chasing charters again, this time on the eastern side of the Pennines in North Yorkshire. The target this time was the 'Jorvik Growler', a diesel hauled charter run by Spitfire Railtours, and working from Taunton in Somerset to the city of York.
Locos for this trip were to be a pair of WCRC Class 37s, 37516 and 37676, with Class 47 No. 47787 (Traction Magazine) on the rear. Our plan was to catch this as it passed through Church fenton at around 1120am, but shortly before that a very helpful guard from one of the regular service trains saw us waiting and very kindly informed us that due to a problem at Bristol the train was running about 90 minutes late. Further checks revealed that because of the delay the planned mini-tour that had been planned (and which again would have passed through Church Fenton for a second time - the reason for our choice of that location), had now been cancelled. With time to kill we decided to take a look at a few other locations on the route, and after checking out Ulleskelf, we were advised that the best spot to catch it was at Colton Junction near York, and we duly headed off there instead. The charter had made up a little time, so we didn't have too long to wait once we'd arrived there, and the train appeared 'triple headed' with all three locos at the front, the two 37s at the front, and the 47 behind them, and looked an impressive sight as is passed below us. For the return journey we decided to catch it at Burton Salmon, and were surprised (and a little worried in case we'd chosen the wrong location, or the route had been changed) to find that we were the only ones there and had the place to ourselves (ConwyCastle and me that is, not the 'royal we'!) 
The light wasn't too great by that time, but again it was a nice sight, though by now it had lost one of the growlers, and there was just 47787 at the front and 37676 at the rear on this one, the troublesome 37516 having been left behind in York I assume. In this collection are a number of shots of the railtour, plus various other Freds, Sheds and passenger services seen along the way. |
'Fred' approaching Church Fenton 1024x731 IMGP5107.jpg |
1024x716 IMGP5109.jpg |
Frieghtliner 'Fred' with coal train 1024x758 IMGP5108.jpg |
125 approaches Church Fenton 1024x746 IMGP5110.jpg |
158 arrives at Church Fenton from Leeds 1024x717 IMGP5111.jpg |
Sheffield train departs from Church Fenton 1024x739 IMGP5113.jpg |
Voyager passes through Church Fenton 1024x724 IMGP5114.jpg |
158 arrives at Church fenton 1024x753 IMGP5115.jpg |
EWS 'Shed' coal train passes through Colton Junction 1024x714 IMGP5117.jpg |
EWS Shed 1024x747 IMGP5118.jpg |
1024x764 IMGP5119.jpg |
1024x695 IMGP5120.jpg |
Class 186 approaches Colton Junction 1024x705 IMGP5121.jpg |
'Jorvik Growler' approaches Colton Junction 1024x784 IMGP5122.jpg |
1024x780 IMGP5123.jpg |
1024x709 IMGP5124.jpg |
1024x709 IMGP5126.jpg |
1024x725 IMGP5127.jpg |
This old carriage sits in a field near the railway bridge at Burton Salmon, I'm surprised none of the heritage railways have been after it, it looks old, and in reasonable condition! 1012x701 IMGP5165.jpg |
Jorvik Growler passes Burton Salmon on its return jorney 1024x787 IMGP5168.jpg |
1024x760 IMGP5170.jpg |
