47737 "Resurgent"
had, earlier, passed through Alsager heading towards Stoke. When
I arrived at Kidsgrove the 47 was waiting to gain access to the
Crewe line with a train in tow. It appears that 87010 "King
Arthur" had failed at Etruria and "Resurgent"
was acting as Thunderbird for the rescue..
The trains were queing
up to gain access to the single track section en route for Crewe
and 87033 "Thane of Fyfe" slowly rounded
the curve after being held on the main line.
The traffic never stopped, one after another, freight
and passenger in both directions. 60016 "Rail Magazine",
which had also apparently failed near Stoke, rounded the curve
with a ballast train.
87014 "Knight
of The Thistle".
The Purple Porterbrook machine, 87002, unfortunately bleached out by the Autumnal
Sun.
87021 "Robert
The Bruce" entering the Manchester-Stoke line pushing
South.
Released from the
LNWR workshops only days before, 90041 in its new coat of green
on a Southbound freight.
The 13.00 20 Holyhead-London
with 43021 trailing behind 43084 "County of Derbyshire"
as it "ducks" and weaves its way towards Stoke. (Locals
will appreciate that one!).
87006 "George
Reynolds".
A Manchester service
with 87035 "Robert Burns" charging through........
....with sister
locomotive 87034 "William Shakespeare"
grimly hanging on, dead, at the rear.
The Trent and Mersey
Canal passes under the railway just before it enters the Harecastle
Tunnel. 90001 "BBC Midlands Today" crosses
the canal en route for Crewe.
Another 87 held
at the signal before entering the diversionary route was 87024
"Lord of The Isles". What a good job
that this route was electrified but what a shame it wasn't doubled
along its whole length.
A final freight
as 90030 leaves Kidsgrove and heads South.
