90008 pushing a Norwich bound train at Haughley Junction at 07:30.Owing to engineering work the GEML was closed west of Manningtree, all the intercity trains running between Ipswich and Norwich only.

As soon as the Norwich train passed the points were realigned accompanied by the sound of a 66 getting underway. Within 30 seconds 66559 appeared on the 4L42 from Doncaster.

From Haughley I headed to Elmswell, missing the 4L95 from Garston by a whisker at Wetherden. At 07:54 66129 appeared on a late running 6M28, here approaching the level crossing at Elmswell station.

Unusually the Ipswich to Cambridge trains were in the hands of 170 units, I think this was as a consequence of engineering work on the Ely to Norwich line which curtailed the Norwich to Cambridge services to which they are usually allocated.

4L02 wasn't in the advanced timings which were published on Freightmaster during the week, I guess GBRf were late filing a path. But it ran nevertheless, here approaching Elmswell behind 66711.

At 08:22 the 4E22 to Leeds passed behind THREE 66s, obviously a ferrying move. I stayed hoping to see the 4L27 but all that passed was this Peterborough to Ipswich train, whilst a border collie and its owner played a game with a stick.

I was looking for an overbridge at Thurston when, at 09:50, the 4L27 from Trafford Park roared through. I gave chase along the A14. Crossing the line north of Stowmarket I could see 4L27 slowing for the station so I headed for the overbridge on the A14 link road just south of Stowmarket, where I met fellow FMi member Phil Wright. Bizarrely 4L02 was in the up platform, so 4L27 was put in the loop, where it waited for an Ipswich to Peterborough 170 to pass, after which it emerged...

...heading towards Ipswich and was duly followed some 8 minutes later...

...by 4L02. I can only assume some unloading issues at Felixstowe required the 4L27 to take precedence. Whatever else it was certainly fun.

Off to Bury for the next series of pictures. East Anglia is a predominantly agricultural region. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Bury with the British Sugar factory dominating the town. Trains climb out of Bury heading east, this is a Peterborough to Ipswich service with the beet silos in the background.

The region has three beet sugar plants, here at Bury, at Cantley east of Norwich and at Wissington south of King's Lynn. All used to be rail connected but today the rail connections have been removed and most raw materials and all finished products move in and out by road.

At 12:04 the 4L87 climbs away from Bury behind 66541...

...breasting the summit and heading east towards Thurston.

Another switchback is between Elmswell and Wetherden, just before this pair of units appeared the GBRf Felixstowe to Peterborough convoy had passed including a pair of Carless TEAs.

It was followed by a late running 4M87 behind 66531 and 66518

At Lancaster's crossing Stowmarket the 13:30 from Norwich behind 90008.

The catch of the day, 4L89 with 86501 in tow behind 66588. Unfortunately the sun did the same disappearing act as it had for the same train the previous Saturday at Manningtree

The usual paraphenalia at crossings frames the 14:00 from Norwich.

In no time at all the passenger was followed by the 4L90 from Lawley Street with 66542 in charge.