From the water meadows at King's Sutton

27th December 2008

After two days of feasting and merry making with the family I felt the need for some solitude. King's Sutton promised a reasonable variety on the first day back after the Christmas closure what with Wrexham & Shropshire, Chiltern, XC and Virgin West Coast's blockade busters plus any freights which might be operating. As it happened I saw two Freightliners, running in the approximate paths of the 4O54 and 4O02 respectively, both were very sparsely loaded and neither warranted a picture. Wrexham & Shropshire recommenced services with the 09:26 from Wrexham and the 11:24 from Marylebone. The former (67015) was on time but the latter (67029) passed King's Sutton 20 minutes late, both were reversed with the DVT at the London end of the formation.

Chiltern were running six and seven car lash ups, on account of the engineering works at Milton Keynes which closed the WCML. And at least two of the Virgin Blockade Buster trains consisted of three 221s (15 cars).

A keen easterly wind gave the day a very wintery feel.

Wrexham & Shropshire's 09:26 from Wrexham, the first train after Christmas, with its DVT at the 'wrong' end!... 3916x2552 20081227_01.jpg	...67015 was the train engine. 3752x2448 20081227_02.jpg	A 168 and 165 form a Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill train passing King's Sutton. The spire of the church of St Peter and St Paul has dominated the village for almost 600 years. 4048x2440 20081227_03.jpg	Three weeks ago the Cherwell had flooded, today it was much more benign. A XC Voyager heading north. 3964x2568 20081227_04.jpg
A brief shaft of sun illuminates a 165 slowing for the King's Sutton stop. 3644x2536 20081227_05.jpg	67029 at the head of WS&M late running 11:24 from Marylebone. It too was lit up by a brief shaft of sunlight. 4036x2636 20081227_06.jpg	67029 in full flight; the punters in the first car are busily watching what I'm doing. 3508x2436 20081227_07.jpg	The following Voyager was brought almost to a stand by the tardy Wrexham. 3768x2400 20081227_08.jpg
A Virgin Blockade-buster service to London Euston formed of three 221s. 2868x2328 20081227_09.jpg