2012

SK5416 : The south end of Quorn & Woodhouse Station

taken 12 years ago, near to Quorn (quorndon), Leicestershire, England

The south end of Quorn & Woodhouse Station
The south end of Quorn & Woodhouse Station
This is the preserved Great Central Railway and the white gates are the crossing into the good yard from the island platform. They would be padlocked closed at this moment to allow the non-stop TPO (travelling post office) through. This was being hauled most adroitly by 70013 - Oliver Cromwell. The official speed for operating the equipment satisfactorily is 35 mph, which is a special derogation of the line's usual 25 mph limit.

This run was repeated in the dark and I was stood a little back from the platform's edge and it was awesome as this whistled past in the gloom with sparks being thrown from the chimney as 70013 accelerated through the station.
Britannia Pacific 70013 ‘Oliver Cromwell’

'Oliver Cromwell' is one of 55 Britannia-class locomotives that were built at Crewe Works. The locomotive was initially allocated to Norwich depot on the Eastern Region of British Railways and from there hauled London to Norwich expresses. When diesel-electric locomotives began to replace steam locomotives, 70013 remained at Norwich until 1961, then transferred to March Motive Power Depot. Later the locomotive became part of the National Railway Museum, retiring into the Bressingham Steam museum in the 1980s. In 2004 the restoration commenced in preparation for the 40th anniversary of the end of steam.

'Oliver Cromwell' hauled British Rail's very last steam train on August 11, 1968. After 46 years it was the first steam locomotive to run from London to the North Norfolk market town of Holt, taking part in the opening celebration of the new crossing in Sheringham, which links British Rail with the North Norfolk Railway. Thousands of spectators were out in the streets in Sheringham to witness the historic event which connects Sheringham's heritage Poppy Line (from Sheringham to Holt) with the National Rail's Bittern line (from Sheringham to Norwich). The newly restored tramway-style crossing aims to bring 12 chartered steam trains from across the country to Sheringham each year.

All along the way railway enthusiasts could be seen at their favourite vantage points, waiting patiently for the passing of the train on foot > Link and roadbridges by the roadside, beside the railway line, in fields and, of course, in all the stations the train passed. Somewhat of a crowd of perhaps 30 people was gathered at the small station at Worstead > Link. Sheringham and Weybourne were absolutely packed and Holt station was closed to the public for the day. Cars were parked by the roadside and in the adjoining field by the bridge over the A149 Coast Road, a favourite spot for train watchers, and when the train approached all cars stopped on the road to view the spectacle.


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Chris Allen and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Railways other tags: Great Central Railway Preserved Railway Locomotive Quorn & Woodhouse Station Travellng Post Office Oliver Cromwell Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
+
+
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
TIP: Click the map for more Large scale mapping
Grid Square
SK5416, 218 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Chris Allen   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Saturday, 28 January, 2012   (more nearby)
Submitted
Sunday, 29 January, 2012
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SK 5496 1603 [10m precision]
WGS84: 52:44.3469N 1:11.2443W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SK 5494 1605
View Direction
Southeast (about 135 degrees)
Clickable map
+
NW N NE
W Go E
SW S SE
Image classification(about): Geograph
This page has been viewed about 246 times
You are not logged in login | register