Sheffield Branch : Observation at Chesterfield Station

RCTS Sheffield branch members at the Chesterfield meet on 12 August.

The 12th August saw a number of branch members enjoy our now traditional summer observation session at Chesterfield station from around 11.30, with a number of interesting freight workings and passenger trains noted. The weather was mainly dry but cloudy, with hotter and sunnier conditions later on. There were a couple of changes to passenger services – EMR was only running its Norwich-Liverpool service as far as Sheffield for most of August because of a blockade at Stockport and this meant that all trains were 158s rather than the 170s that are usually seen on some of these trains. A fatality on the Midland Main Line disrupted EMR’s Sheffield-St Pancras service during the mid-afternoon, with some trains cancelled and others turning at Leicester. This resulted in fewer 222s seen than usual. More Voyagers were seen this time than last year, with more double sets noted. An interesting empty stock was 170456 – passing south at 13.32 on its way from Hull to Central Rivers for maintenance. This Northern unit can often be found on Sheffield-Scarborough services.

 

11 freight or light engine movements were noted yielding 14 locos. Those of us there early enough were lucky to see DB’s new “Pride” 66, 66068, hauling 60163 “Tornado” from Derby to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway following “The Greatest Gathering”. Your fixtures secretary saw the train but was not in a position to get a photo! It was good to see a couple of new faces and the observation session was once again enjoyed by those who participated and the breaks between trains gave more opportunity for much informal conversation. While mornings are quieter, Chesterfield has much to keep you entertained during the afternoon, and often with the unexpected as well. A list of movements and motive power viewed by us between 11.30 and 15.30 is given below:

 

Freightliner's 66415 "You Are Never Alone" passes south with 4O99 11.14 Leeds-Southampton intermodal. Picture Credit Robert Pritchard

 

Freight/light engines seen (with passing time and operator):

11.32 66763+66722 (GBRf) 0Z01 10.18 Scunthorpe Trent-Eastleigh East Yard light engine south

11.54 66068+Steam 60163 “Tornado” (DB) 0Z63 11.10 Derby Litchurch Lane-Grosmont north

12.44 66415 (FL) 4O99 11.14 Leeds-Southampton intermodal south

13.03 66309 (GBRf) 4E34 00.36 Southampton W Docks-Doncaster iport intermodal north

13.08 66769 (GBRf) 0E20 13.00 Toton North Yard-Doncaster Up Decoy light engine north

14.02 66781 (GBRf) 6H10 10.25 Bletchley-Peak Forest empty stone north

14.19 66776 (GBRf) 6G59 13.25 Doncaster Belmont-Congleton engineers south

14.34 70011 (FL) 4M88 12.08 Walsall-Dowlow empty stone north

15.14 66623 (FL) 6E68 12.45 March Down-Tunstead empty stone north

15.30 66428 (DRS) 4E49 11.37 Daventry-Doncaster iport intermodal north

15.30 66701+66729 (top-and-tail - GBRf) 14.13 Doncaster Belmont-Congleton engineers south

 

As EMR 222102 leaves heading north to Sheffield with the 10.32 from St Pancras, 158868 heads south with the 11.09 Leeds-Nottingham. Picture Credit Robert Pritchard

 

Passengers

Seen on CrossCountry services: 220003/012/013/018/022/027/034, 221118/121/125/126/133/136/144.

Seen on East Midlands Railway London services: 222003/010/013/021/023/102.

Seen on East Midlands Railway Norwich-Sheffield services: 158770+858, 158773+810, 158780+864, 158783(+810 again), 158785+862, 158857+863.

Seen on Northern Leeds-Sheffield-Nottingham services: 158868, 195002/015/018/021/025.

ECS: 170456