Gone are the lazy, hazy days of Summer together with the shorts, deck chairs and sunshades. For those who have not gone spotting at our station during our “glorious” summers (this year it was the 5th of September between 9.30am to 3.55pm) the end of Water Orton station bears more resemblance to Brighton beach than a railway line in the Midlands. It is one of those times when fact is stranger than fiction!

 

With the advent of winter, traffic seems to be getting busier and busier, infrastructure trains are increasing, presumably because much renewal work is taking place after the cost of HS2 shamed the government into spending some money where it will do the most good. The cross country services (generally Class 170xxx) are now normally 3-car rather than 2, while the Derby runs are frequently 2 x 2-car units making a 4-car service, while the remaining 2 Car units appear at periods of low passenger need. The express services are as previously described with the a mix of 5-car and 4-car Voyagers with some services being formed of 2 x 4-car units, while the refurbished 125s are now regular performers and form a much greater proportion of services than previously. I must admit that the new MTU engines seem to be much quieter and produce far less exhaust smoke than the original Valletta units, but seem to have plenty of GO.

 

The biggest increase seems to be in freight. I read that someone said that freight services were growing less, I don’t know where his idea came from but certainly isn’t from around here! Coal still can be seen in considerable amounts, oil trains are impressive to say the least, I have not yet counted one but I was passed by one which stretched the entire length of the cutting at the western end of the station, which made me shudder to think of the cost of producing it in N gauge! At the head of these very heavy services can usually be found a Class 60, surprise, surprise, which again confirms that the GE 66xxx may struggle, when asked to perform at this level, while it may also indicate that EWS estimate that they may be approaching a “life expired” state may have something in it. From memory I think the loco in question was 60058, but don’t quote me on it. Also she does not yet seem to have received the visit to Brush for overhaul and up-dating, judging from the EWS colours and somewhat mucky exterior.

 

What else may be seen; scrap metal seems increasingly popular, aggregate trains are regular performers, which is

where the frightliners usually appear, while I am pleased to report that steel coil and such products are beginning to make a return, something which almost virtually disappeared for a while. I think it is no exaggeration to say that where once coal was king the container train now holds sway. They are most numerous and give employment to EWS and Freightliner locos normally, but others can be seen DRS, GRBf for example hauling containers or almost anything from sundry freight wagons to dead locos, while services seemingly are beginning to take a definite shape, certain hours of the day seem to be

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

allotted to passenger services, while other periods are nearly all freight. There always used to be an element of this format but it is now becoming more extreme and obvious. Fast and slow traffic is definitely being separated rather than attempting a mix of services. It is also noticeable that there is an increasing mix of container flats, growing numbers of which are most definite continental imports, presumably, the Channel Tunnel and Schenker are carrying out their threat to make the railway the preferred method of long distance transport across Europe. Given that High Speed 1 is now becoming a freight service line rather than a high speed railway I suppose the new “sightings” should not be unexpected. I note a large new flow of traffic is to begin from Poland! I would love to see the operators books showing the present financial state of the HS1 services and income. For those who do not understand I will do a “miscellaneous” page explanation.

 

Signalling, well we now have two sets of everything, I do not propose to model this, ever.

The liquorice previously seen being manipulated by the stone- turns into the new nest boxes, can be seen from horizon to horizon lying in its little concrete storage troughs, while of the  nest boxes now seem to be in situ ready for the arrivals expected in next years breeding season.

 

This does not however mean that they have yet migrated southward, many can still be seen in the area undertaking general maintenance or completing those “finishing touches” which new homes always require.

 

An anecdote. I recently was passing the bridge by the station in the early evening when I saw a very strange pair of headlights approaching slowly from Birmingham, seemingly a freight train with some very unusual haulage.

It was cold, damn cold, (hands up anyone who recognises that quote) and dark to be loitering up there in the wind and spotting rain, while this train crept slowly toward me. It took considerable dedication to hold one’s post while slowly this mysterious engine crept toward me on the Derby line.

Eventually it got sufficiently close to begin to be recognised, when it suddenly turned left and disappeared into trees!!!

Your hero had been watching a Network Rail van trundle along beside the track! Exit hero feeling a cold, damp twit.

Water Orton - In Glorious 12” to 1Ft Scale