Saturday - peering over the parapet
11th July 2009

Saturday offered the opportunity of taking a few pictures in the morning around London before heading off to Wiltshire for a family event. As the weather wasn't too promising I thought I would try a few locations on the North London Line which would be difficult on a sunny day, it was reasonably bright at times and, on occasions, the sun did actually break through. There were also occasional flurries of rain so we had a bit of everything.

And, as it happened, there was more action than I expected. All the pictures were taken from bridges and all but the pictures at Canonbury and Lower Addison Gardens require steps for a reasonable view over the parapet.

Thanks go to fellow FMi members Grid Nutter and Cogload for gen about some of the workings which is much appreciated.  shades 

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07:59, Roman Way. What turned out to be the 6075 Stud Farm to Hither Green, diverted from the MML via Peterborough, Cambridge & Tottenham Hale, approaching Caledonian Road and Barnsbury. I was expecting the 4M12
07:59, Roman Way. What turned out to be the 6075 Stud Farm to Hither Green, diverted from the MML via Peterborough, Cambridge & Tottenham Hale, approaching Caledonian Road and Barnsbury. I was expecting the 4M12
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 08:16 Mildmay Park. I was waiting for the 4L02 when I heard an approaching EMD from the east, which was the 4M12. For a moment I cursed being on the wrong side of the road until a headlight heralded the 4L02. Bingo, two for the price of one.
08:16 Mildmay Park. I was waiting for the 4L02 when I heard an approaching EMD from the east, which was the 4M12. For a moment I cursed being on the wrong side of the road until a headlight heralded the 4L02. Bingo, two for the price of one.
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 From Mildmay Park I walked one block west to Newington Green Road (the bridge in the background of the previous shot). You'll notice that the catenary is still strung although the lines are currently closed. I was waiting for the 4L89 from Coatbridge, but all I saw was a succession of London Overground 313s. This one at 08:40. At 09:30 I gave up and went home, planning to return for the 4L87 from Trafford Park shortly after 11:00.
From Mildmay Park I walked one block west to Newington Green Road (the bridge in the background of the previous shot). You'll notice that the catenary is still strung although the lines are currently closed. I was waiting for the 4L89 from Coatbridge, but all I saw was a succession of London Overground 313s. This one at 08:40. At 09:30 I gave up and went home, planning to return for the 4L87 from Trafford Park shortly after 11:00.
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 11:16 Canonbury Station. I later learnt that the 4L89 was running three hours late and must have passed Canonbury about 10 minutes before I arrived at 11:10. But at least the 4L87 was on time. The clearance work prior to reinstatement of double track between Canonbury and Caledonian Road and Barnsbury is evident. The catenary ends just out of picture on my right.
11:16 Canonbury Station. I later learnt that the 4L89 was running three hours late and must have passed Canonbury about 10 minutes before I arrived at 11:10. But at least the 4L87 was on time. The clearance work prior to reinstatement of double track between Canonbury and Caledonian Road and Barnsbury is evident. The catenary ends just out of picture on my right.
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11:42 Mildmay Park (looking east) with a rather sparsely filled 4M87. As you can see the LH tracks (1 and 2) are currently closed, only engineering trains are using them. The new line from Shoreditch, on the old North London Railway formation will join the NLL where the greenery is behind the second container. That's the old Dalston Western Junction. Dalston Kingsland station is behind the bridge in the background (King Henry's Walk).
11:42 Mildmay Park (looking east) with a rather sparsely filled 4M87. As you can see the LH tracks (1 and 2) are currently closed, only engineering trains are using them. The new line from Shoreditch, on the old North London Railway formation will join the NLL where the greenery is behind the second container. That's the old Dalston Western Junction. Dalston Kingsland station is behind the bridge in the background (King Henry's Walk).
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 One last bridge. As I was heading west along the M4 later in the day, I took my final shot from Lower Addison Gardens, with the new Westfield Shopping Centre at Shepherds Bush in the background. It's 14:26 and I was about to give up when the beam of the headlight and the distinctive sound of a loaded 92 heralded a late running 6B49 from Wembley to Dollands Moor. And instead of a single 92, we got two; 92036 and 92009. The consist was 4 IWA and 2 IWB Cargowaggons and 4 FIA and 3 IKA container flats.
One last bridge. As I was heading west along the M4 later in the day, I took my final shot from Lower Addison Gardens, with the new Westfield Shopping Centre at Shepherds Bush in the background. It's 14:26 and I was about to give up when the beam of the headlight and the distinctive sound of a loaded 92 heralded a late running 6B49 from Wembley to Dollands Moor. And instead of a single 92, we got two; 92036 and 92009. The consist was 4 IWA and 2 IWB Cargowaggons and 4 FIA and 3 IKA container flats.
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© 1998-2009 Nick Slocombe - All copyrights rest with the Author
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