Hardley Distant
HERITAGE: On Saturday 27th April 2024 I visited the Midland Railway Centre where I parked at Butterley Station and took a trip on Pacer 142011 to Riddings where there is no Station but where the train pauses and heads back in the direction from which it came. I then alighted at Swanwick Junction where I spent nearly two hours looking round the various sheds of which there are many. Once back on board 142011 I went back up to Riddings and then stayed on the train as it passed non-stop through Butterley to the Station at Hammersmith before returning to Butterley where my day ended but not before a look around the Llangollen Railway's Class 100 'Gloucester' two car DMU which is being restored on site at Butterley due to there being more space there than at Llangollen. Many thanks to the Pacer driver that day whose name I didn't catch who as a former Llangollen Railway volunteer himself and DMU driver there, was more than happy to open up the Class 100 Doors for me to climb up and see the restoration in progress. This is the second of three posts from the visit which covers trains outside in the open at Swanwick Junction..... Photo 1 - HST Power Car 43089 is seen stabled at Swanwick Junction Station. This Class 43 was one of three at the Railway when I visited (the others being 43048 'T.C.B Miller MBE' and 43159 'Rio Warrior') and since my visit 43025 'Exeter' has also arrived making two pairs available. Photo 2 - Pacer 142011 awaits departure from Swanwick Junction Station with the 11:35 departure back to Butterley. Photos 3, 4 & 5 - 47761 stands in a very deteriorated condition in the Yard at Swanwick Junction, Photo 6 - 08590 stands in the Yard behind the main Shed at Swanwick Junction. Photo 7 - Class 14 D9555 stands in the upper Siding at Swanwick Junction. Photo 8 - Steam Loco NW454 'Brown Bayley No.4' now stands on an unconnected piece of track as a static exhibit at the entrance to the Swanwick Junction complex. Photo 9 - An unidentified Industrial Steam Locomotive stands in the upper Siding at Swanwick Junction. #trainspotting #lineside #Class08 #Class14 #Class43 #Class47 #Class142 #Diesel #Steam #Heritage