4O90 was a Fastline freight container service that linked Doncaster/Birch Coppice with Grain. Booked through Leighton around 1730 this often heavily loaded train with a screaming class 56 up front, often with a “soche” driver, quickly became a popular local working. The flow initially from Doncaster began in May 2006, a Trafford Park service came a year or so later. Motive power was virtually solid class 56 with Fastline’s 56301 (ex 56045), 56302 (ex 56124) and 56303 (ex 56125) the main players. 56311 (ex 56057) and 56312 (ex 56003) made occasional appearances too.
At a country location like Old Linslade, with a gentle North wind the hard working “grid” could be heard several minutes before rounding the corner, often hooting on passing us! At a time when dull “sheds” monopolised all diesel hauled liner/modal services, to have a service with a real freight engine was hugely popular with enthusiasts. Whilst waiting at the likes of Hemel or Watford the “whoosh” and pulsating “thump” of the passing 56 would see commuters quickly stepping back from their customary platform positions!
4O90 returned North around 0200 probably waking a few lineside neighbours, the Trafford Park flow passed around 0700 Northbound returning at around 1930 allowing 2 grids a day to be regularly viewed and photographed.
Sadly the recession spelt doom for 4O90 and associated workings with the last workings in March 2009. A local connection remained with the locos eventually being stored at Hitchin depot ( a depot that closed to locos in 1978!) in 2010 before departing to new owners in April 2011.
The WCML lost a large chunk of its magic locally when these top workings ceased, 4O90 and friends, gone but not forgotten.
Phot-Spot
56303 and 56302 in multi on 4O90 at Leighton, 020606. FM rebuild 56303 was running in on this turn, 301/302 were Brush rebuilds
The fester at Rugby for G21 coincided nicely with a pathing stop for 4O90, 56302 the 87002 of the Fastline fleet in terms of reliability awaits the road on 101106
56303 in the Ledburn landscape with 4O90 on 070807
Happy days at Old Linslade, 56302 on 4O90, 030907
56303 at the North end of Leighton station with, yes 4O90 on 040907, a Red Cow phot
4O90 also had a pathing stop at Birmingham Int’l, 56301 obliges, 040308
56301 at Cheddington with 4M60 Trafford Park bound on 200508
56311 was hired in on 4M60 as seen here at Leighton South, 100608
At this time 4O90 was getting sheds big time, an almighty racket on the breeze 5 minutes before 56303 rounded Old Linslade’s curves meant proper engines had returned to 021008
4O90 long gone but not forgotten!
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