Steam on Shropshire’s main lines
Driver training
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© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2023
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
13,24 and 26 January 2023
I heard about these trips by accident! On 10-13 January B1 61306 Mayflower hauled a short rake of unlikely-looking rolling stock (with a class 37 diesel at the back, just in case) around the Crewe - Chester - Shrewsbury - Wolverhampton - Crewe circuit. The purpose, I understand, was driver training. The weather on Friday 13 January, near Allscott, was much better than the date suggests! A couple of weeks later, 70000 Britannia was on the same task (with an extra coach in the rake). The weather on Tuesday 24 January, near Preston Boats, wasn’t great, but it was fine on Thursday 26 January, again near Allscott (the flood in the field had gone - shame!)
Also seen are a couple of the new class 196 units, now in use on the Shrewsbury - Wolverhampton line, and a Transport for Wales class 158