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Stafford - 10th November 2009

90047 on a Basford Hall - Felixstowe Freightliner train meets 350236 at the south end of Stafford station
90047 on a Basford Hall - Felixstowe Freightliner train meets 350236 at the south end of Stafford station. Geoff Morris

We had not had an outdoor observation at Stafford for a few years but this was remedied on Tuesday November 10th and a total of 14 members participated, including ones from Stockport & Ludlow. The main group’s arrival coincided with a problem occurring on the fast lines through the station (believed to be a track circuit failure) resulting in the platforms 1 & 3 and the through lines between them being out of use. A Pendolino to Manchester (via Crewe) was stranded just south of the station for about 30 minutes before being allowed north on the down fast line. During this period all trains were routed through platforms 4 & 5 on the slow lines and this situation continued for about another hour. This made it much easier for the photographers in the group as they had only 2 lines to focus upon ! Despite this, most passenger services ran close to their scheduled times.

Stafford No. 5 signalbox which controls the north end of the station
  
Stafford No. 5 signalbox which controls the north end of the station. Richard Neale  
  
The Branch fixtures Secretary (in the green jacket ) seems oblivious to the impending appearance of 66954 !
  The Branch fixtures Secretary (in the green jacket ) seems oblivious to the impending appearance of 66954 !. Richard Neale

The signalling at Stafford is still controlled from signalboxes at the north and south ends of the station. As a result, signal aspects were not set automatically and so the appearance of a yellow or green aspect meant that something was due through - this was very particularly helpful for photography as it gave the photographers an opportunity to get ready in time - although this was not always the case when conversation took over from observation ! One of the adverts above the station staircase features both a Pendolino and GWR Pannier - the Branch treasurer was particularly pleased with the latter.

Advert containing images of a Pendolino and GWR Pannier Tank at Stafford station
Advert containing images of a Pendolino and GWR Pannier Tank at Stafford station. Geoff Morris

There is plenty of rail traffic at Stafford with at least 20 movements noted every hour. Passenger services of course predominate with the expected mix of class 350 Desiros (both class 350/1 & 350/2) on services between Euston, New Street & Liverpool, Voyagers on both Virgin and Cross Country services and Pendolinos between Euston, Liverpool, Manchester (via Crewe) and Scotland. The units noted are listed below. A few Pendolinos (as noted below) were running without the "cover" that protects the emergency coupler (Photo 1021 near here). It is not known why this was happening but cannot be good for the equipment in the long-term.

Comparison of the front ends of 350115 & 350244 at Stafford
  
Comparison of the front ends of 350115 & 350244 at Stafford. John Cowlishaw  
  
390021 on a Euston - Liverpool service is routed through platform 5 at Stafford. Note the absence of the cover for the emergency coupler
  390021 on a Euston - Liverpool service is routed through platform 5 at Stafford. Note the absence of the cover for the emergency coupler. John Cowlishaw

66552 (Maltby Raider) speeds through Stafford on Rugeley - Hunterston empty coal hoppers
  
66552 (Maltby Raider) speeds through Stafford on Rugeley - Hunterston empty coal hoppers. John Cowlishaw  
Freight services in general ran close to the times expected from the Freightmaster book: class 66 from Freightliner predominated with 3 DRS and just one DBS example noted. Electric-hauled services were also seen with class 86, 90 & 92 examples in use. Notable workings included a class 60 towing a Scotrail-liveried class 90 & 2 class 92s from Warrington to Bescot (the electrics then headed to Crewe Electric depot with the class 90 towing the class 92s) and the unique blue-liveried 66623. Full details of the freight workings are detailed below.

66422 heads the Daventry - Coatbridge Intermodal through Stafford
  
66422 heads the Daventry - Coatbridge Intermodal through Stafford. John Cowlishaw  
  
92013 heads north on a Wembley - Trafford Park Intermodal
  92013 heads north on a Wembley - Trafford Park Intermodal. Geoff Morris

The unique Bardon -liveried 66623 (Bill Bolsover) at Stafford on a Basford Hall VQ - Stud Farm empty ballast box wagons
  
The unique Bardon -liveried 66623 (Bill Bolsover) at Stafford on a Basford Hall VQ - Stud Farm empty ballast box wagons. John Cowlishaw  
  
60045 tows 92005/12 & 90024 from Warrington Arpley to Bescot
  60045 tows 92005/12 & 90024 from Warrington Arpley to Bescot. John Cowlishaw

  
A very busy scene at the south end of Wolverhampton station as 158834 arrives at the head of Birmingham International - Holyhead service
  A very busy scene at the south end of Wolverhampton station as 158834 arrives at the head of Birmingham International - Holyhead service. Geoff Morris
The vagaries of the ticketing system meant that the Chester party had booked off-peak returns to Wolverhampton as these gave a cheaper fare at their departure time. Some of us therefore took the opportunity for a trip to Wolverhampton. Among them was the Branch treasurer who managed to present his return ticket for the outward journey and it was duly “punched” by the train conductor (who then spotted the error and endorsed the return portion appropriately). When the treasurer travelled back to Stafford his train was manned by the same conductor, who recognised him when he saw the endorsed ticket! This wasn’t his day as he had forgotten to switch on his mobile phone – he eventually received a message to that effect from his wife via mobile phone calls to other party members. She was not best pleased as she had important messages for him to act on !!
The branch treasurer (a.k.a The Vicar) on the left gives thanks for what we have received today !
  
The branch treasurer (a.k.a The Vicar) on the left gives thanks for what we have received today !. Geoff Morris  
Although the weather was dull throughout with occasional spells of rain, and hot water for tea was unavailable in the station buffet, everyone enjoyed themselves with the brief intervals between trains allowing plenty of the usual banter about football and other topics. We had not had an outdoor observation at Stafford for a few years but we will not wait for so long before we return: it will almost certainly feature in next year’s fixtures.

The following list is provided in good faith based on input from John Cowlishaw, Geoff Morris, Richard Neale, Alan Rhind & Alan Turton

Stafford list of observations 10th November 2009

On passenger services:

220004/08/12/13/14/17/19/20/29/33
221101/02/03/04/05/06/08/10/11/12/13/14/15/17/21/25/26/28/29/34/38/39/43/44
350102/03/09/10/13/15/18/26/27
350234/36/39/44/46/47/57/59/67
390001/05/07/08/09/11/14/16/18/20/21/22/23/24/25/28/31/36/39/40/42/45/46/47/50/53

Non-passenger traffic:
09.386657103.23 4M45 Felixtowe-Ditton freightliner
09.4066552 Maltby Raider 08.53 4S41 Rugeley-Hunterston empty FHH coal hoppers
09.5966574 09.23 4O35 Crewe Basford Hall-Southampton freightliner
10.576643004.36 4M34 Coatbridge-Daventry intermodal
11.109004710.35 4L75 Crewe Basford Hall-Felixstowe freightliner
11.2266560??.?? 4K42 Rugeley - Basford Hall
11.296653505.40 4O27 Garston-Southampton freightliner
11.40DR73243 ??.?? 6J49 Crewe IEMD - Nottingham
13.2860045Heading 92005+92012+90024 [all d.i.t] 0Z60 Warrington Arpley-Bescot
13.346642212.17 4S44 Daventry-Coatbridge intermodal
14.256695405.59 4L90 Ditton-Felixstowe freightliner
14.3466623 Bill Bolsover14.02 6F13 Crewe VQ-Stud Farm empty ballast boxes
14.3692042 12.18 4O10 Trafford Park-Southampton intermodal
14.4092013 12.19 4H24 Wembley-Trafford Park intermodal
15.1566611Light engine 0U85 Bescot - Basford Hall
15.189004410.31 4M54 Tilbury-Crewe Basford Hall freightliner
15.2290024Heading 92012+92005 [both d.i.t] 0Z90 Bescot - Crewe IEMD
15.5486622+86621 14.03 4L92 Ditton-Felixtowe freightliner
16.2066187 12.59 6H50 Willesden-Tunstead empty cement tanks
16.216642308.39 4M44 Mossend-Daventry intermodal
Of other interest
10.2039002109.07 Euston-Liverpool with no front covers
10.3239004708.40 Euston-Manchester Piccadilly held south of station from 10.01 due to track circuiting problems. therefore all trains using up and down slow lines from 10.01-11.18 (further track problems around 12.30)
10.3839004009.48 Liverpool-Euston with two bodyswiped carriages
10.5839000809.40 Euston-Manchester Piccadilly with damaged front
14.5739001811.40 Glasgow Central-London Euston with damaged front

09.40 350236 Most of group arrived on 08.34 Liverpool-Birmingham with Chester group having travelled with 158819 on 08.55 Chester-Crewe
16.12 350118 Part of group departed as far as Crewe on 15.36 Birmingham-Liverpool then travelled on with 221102 from Crewe on 15.40 Euston-Chester
16.33 350267 Part of group departed on 16.01 Birmingham-Liverpool

GM

24/11/09