Bletchley stone Part 2 1990 onwards
With the Peak Forest – Bletchley stone now using RMC JGA bogie hoppers, the flow went from 2 x 37 power to under “Railfreight Construction”, then class 60’s under Transrail, to eventual EWS operation from 1995. The traffic has survived to date and is now under the GBRf umbrella
Long may it continue!
60’s remained the staple power until 2007/8 when class 66’s began to work some Bletchley turns. The train has gone from a late afternoon arrival from the North to an early morning arrival at Bletchley. Likewise early evening departures are now mid morning. Now long established is that the up loaded train from Peak Forest is routed via Chinley, Guide Bridge, Denton, Stockport, Crewe, Nuneaton, Rugby and Northampton. The return empties usually go via Millbrook, Bedford, Market Harbrough, Leicester, Toton, Dore, Edale, Chinley to Peak Forest.
The Trains – 1996
6B10 – TWThO+ – 0957 Peak Forest – Bletchley via Chinley, Guide Br, Denton, Stockport, Crewe, Stafford, Nuneaton, Northampton
6B10 – SO 0212 Peak Forest – Bletchley via Chinley, Guide Br, Denton, Stockport, Crewe, Stafford, Nuneaton, Northampton
6H55 – TWThO+ – 1846 Bletchley – Peak Forest via Fenny Stratford, Bedford, Market Harborough, Toton, Edale, Chinley
6H55 – SO 1039 – Bletchley – Peak Forest via Fenny Stratford, Bedford, Market Harborough, Toton, Edale, Chinley
+ Operated subject to demand, rarely all 3 days.
2006 Saturday stone variety
There was much interest locally in the Bletchley stone locally around this time as it was a regular runner, used the Bletchley – Bedford branch and produced class 60’s which were otherwise fairly uncommon on the branch and WCML. The Saturday stone in 2006 produced at least the following…
60002, 60010, 60015, 60019, 60022, 60024, 60026, 60035, 60039, 60041, 60046, 60051, 60059, 60060, 60061, 60063, 60069, 60072, 60078, 60082, 60093, 60094, 60097 and 60500. “TC” comments that it must be possible that all the 60 fleet has featured on the “Bletchley stone”. More to follow on this, contributions welcome! …
The Trains – 2016
6B10 – WThSO+- 2343 (TWFO) Peak Forest – Bletchley via Chinley, Guide Br, Denton, Stockport, Crewe, Stafford, Nuneaton, Northampton or Weedon
6H11 – WThSO+ – 0957 Bletchley – Peak Forest via Fenny Stratford, Bedford, Market Harborough, Toton, Edale, Chinley
+ Operated subject to demand, rarely all days
Bletchley stone phot spot
“Railfreight Construction’s 37676 and 37687 look good approaching Nuneaton with the down 6H55 Bletchley – Peak Forest stone which was routed via the WCML on May 12th 1990.
Looking and sounding good, the late Tony Ewer catches 37685 and 37687 with the afternoon Peak Forest – Bletchley stone at Castlethorpe on Nov 1st 1990
Thanks to “TC” for this view of 60010 in the then Bletchley Field Sidings with the Peak Forest – Bletchley stone in June 94
60007 in Loadhaul livery takes the up 6B10 Bletchley stone through the “old” (pre remodelled) Milton Keynes early on March 13th 2004. Water tanks front the bogie hopper consist and “Ronnie” 57304 is thunderbird in the former “bay” platform too.
Thanks to “TC” for this Oakley view North of Bedford) with 6B10 0900 Humberstone Road – Bletchley on May 30th 2006. This the trains third appearance at Oakley in 3 days as on May 28th the loaded Bletchley stone had got to Bedford but due no driver available to take it down the branch, 60059 returned North to Leicester with the loaded train before returning as seen here on May 30th.
Thanks to Andrew Chambers for this Husborne Crawley view of 60040 returning 6H10 empties to Peak Forest down the Bedford – Bletchley branch n a warm April 7th 2011.. 60’s were uncommon on the Bletchley branch by 2011
By 2012 DB “sheds” were regular power. 66097 at Bletchley with the up stone on August 31st 2013.
From May 2018 GBRf took over the Bletchley stone bringing more livery variation. 66785 squeels round the curve at Bedford St Johns with the Bletchley – Peak Forest stone empties on September 11th 2018
BR large logo on the Bletchley stone! GBRf’s retro liveried 66789 passes Aspley Guise with the Bletchley – Peak Forest empties on September 26th 2018
Part One of the Bletchey stone from 1972 – 1989 with 47/50/52 action linked below
Thanks to “AC” and “TC” with their help with this article.
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