HOME | DD
robertbeardwell — Log And Clag
Published: 2009-07-02 13:49:48 +0000 UTC; Views: 646; Favourites: 22; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
Everyday, nearly without fail the 16.45 (at Euxton) Carlisle-Chirk log trains come down the WCML. This particular train is run by Colas Rail which they have a contract with Virgin to operate the run with Thunderbird Class 57s.This contract was the first major contract of Colas Rail is is to this day its major run, and if you didn't know it uses Colas rail drivers.
Here are the exact times for you as well.
Times
Departs Carlisle (Full) - 1251
Arrives Chirk (Full) - 1907
Departs Chirk (Empty) - 2307
Arrives Carlisle (Empty) - When it gets there
Traction
Drawn from a pool of 16 Class 57/3 "Thunderbirds", 12 Virgin Trains Livery and 4 Arriva Trains Wales Livery.
Stock
Each Train comprises of 13 KFA wagons, each with a gross laden weight of 71 tonnes, giving a maximum train weight of 1030 tonnes including the locomotive. This Creates a train of 281 meters long. Weight is limited doe to the incline at Shap.
After talking to ~CJSutcliffe about the train, he mentioned that the contract is due to run out, and we don't know if Virgin are going to renew it or not. If not this means that double headed Colas rail Class 47s will be used. So i thought i would make a effort and take a trip down to the Mainline one afternoon and get a good picture of the train, in case it does stop using Thunderbirds.
So the picture above was quite a lucky shot as you can see its got lots of Clag, the locomotive we see here is a Virgin Trains Class 57/3 "57304 Gordon Tracy" as it passes Euxton.
Taken with my 70-300mm lens.
Related content
Comments: 25
I call this smoke!!! WOW, looks pretty awesome. Well done with the zoom.
In Germany it's actually not uncommon for train drivers to be railwayfans. In German train forums one often sees similar photos.
Quote: "I wish I could catch such a sight once or twice, before the 218s are gone..."
Same is true for me!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Wow thanks 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
You're welcome!
Hm, good question. Actually I've never thought about that. Maybe it's to avoid disappointment when someone wants their picture to be faved and I decide not to do it and fav someone else's instead.
Also I realized that I can't be objective in the quation whether I like a photo or not - it's just a subjective intuitional feeling of like or dislike.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Ok cool, well thanks for making the effort to comment on my picture though
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah! Commenting, exchanging ideas and opinions is worth it, I find!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hehe, epic smoke, I wish I could catch such a sight once or twice, before the 218s are gone...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I am guessing the 218s are diesel, but still pretty cool
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Jup, that they are!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
What?
Instant
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah they do match well and the clag was awesome!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Nice clag indeed
Was it at full power or was there some showing off by the driver ?
F.Y.I. Theirs no e in Tracy
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
well i think he saw me running and did some showing off, but who knows lol, and thanks for the spelling error.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
The drivers that do that are usually spotters themselves.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yes i really think he was doing it for me
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
It looks like "clag" means something different on that side of the country. To us, something that's claggy, is sticky, giving rise to mud (which sticks). So I was looking for lots of mud on either the loco, or the wagons, but can't see any.
Still a canny photograph though.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Lol, well i can;t see any mud lol, and thanks
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I Know it is, but is it not worthy of a fav? (Sorry for the emotional blackmail lol)
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
woops, i thought i did
👍: 0 ⏩: 1