Great Britain V-Oliver Cromwell, Friday 27.4

[viscount]

This time last year, I asked for information regarding the best place near Warrington to photograph the passing of the round Britian rail tour 'Great Britain IV'. This year my sister has once again paid a near fortune and is booked to travel again. I want to set out with camera and catch the train passing through the North West region on Friday 27th April en route Preston to Bristol. For this stage, pulled by Britannia Pacific 70013 Oliver Cromwell

There is a problem. The original brochure stated Preston-Warrington-Chester-Welshpool. The company website www.railwaytouring.co.uk , gives more detail: departing Preston 1056-Warrington-Chester-single track line to Wrexham (with water stop at Chirk) Shrewsbury-Ludlow-Hereford-onwards. HOWEVER, the final route details supplied to passengers for this section are vague, giving Preston depart platform 4 at 1056, Crewe platform 12 waterstop 1156, then Hereford, Magor and Bristol Temple Meads.

Just had the rather obvious idea at looking back to the links provided to me on the thread last year: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=nonavia&action=display&thread=6043
There I found a link, which when amended for this year's date is: www.uksteam.info/tours/t12/t0427a.htm

They time the progress of the 'Great Britain V' as:
Preston 1056
Euxton Junct 1105
Wigan NW 1116
Warrington BQ 1130
Weaver Junct 1137
Winsford 1145
Crewe 1156-1231
Nantwich 1244
and onwards.

This seems to be the same route as last year. However I would like a fresh view point (last year was near Weaver Junction). Any ideas? As I'm South Liverpool based, anywhere between say Wigan and Crewe would be best, but I could go further afield for a good spot stood back a bit.

The help provided regarding a good place to view and photograph from last year was excellent. Hopefully I'll get some equally good advice this year.

Thank you. Brian.

Incidently, if anyone happens to to take photos as the tour progresses London-York-Edinburgh-Inverness-Kyle of Lochalsh-Fort William-Ashfield-Glasgow-Preston-Bristol-Penzance-Bristol-Gloucester-London, PM me, as I know she would be delighted to see what her passing train looks like from the outside!

[viscount]

Last year, I 'intercepted' "Great Britain IV" pulled by GWR 5029 "Nunney Castle" near Weaver Junction, from a footbridge off the A558 close to Keckwick. Don't think I've posted this single usable image before (others all had overhead stancions in the way), while focus is a tad 'soft', I'm pleased with the visual impact - and importantly, so was my sister.



On a PM I've been provided with a tip regarding a location just north of Winsford to 'capture' this years steam tour "Great Britain V", which on Friday 27th April will be pulled by Britannia 70013 "Oliver Cromwell".

[thetexpat]

viscount,

This is the itinerary for the The Great Britain V tour:

www.railwaytouring.net/train-tours/great-britain-v

Doesn't include en-route times though!

If you go to www.railwaytouring.net/ you'll be able to access the full international tours! Wish I was experiencing one of them!

Cheers,
thetexpat

[viscount]

Thanks 'Thetexpat' for your input and taking some trouble to find the links. However reading the introductory post of this thread would have shown that I was already aware and shared the source offered, and added a much more detailed alternative with sector timings.

Unlike last year when I did not have the ability to post images on the forum, this year I should be able to post my pictures of the passing steam hauled train tour shortly after the event. The family member who is travelling is getting quite excited at the prospect, with departure date approaching - even though "many of the passengers are even more 'wrapped-up' in trains than I am in aeroplanes!"

[wizzair]

I would think this would pass Acton Bridge station which is a mecca for train buffs - Search NWAN for Acton Bridge some of my photos from last year will give you a flavour.
If you search Acton Bridge on YouTube there are plenty of videos taken of non stop traffic through the station.
Hope this helps.

[viscount]

Confusion, confusion.......I e-mailed Railway Touring seeking clairification of the route through Cheshire on Friday 27th. They replied quite quickly to say that the uksteam site regularly get their routings wrong and that Railway Touring's published route was correct, but they would not provide en route times.

On Saturday afternoon (21st) Railway Touring provide the route as Depart Preston 1056, then via Warrington, Chester, single track line to Wrexham via a water stop at Chirk and onto Shrewsbury. UK steam still show the Preston 1056-Warrington-Weaver Juntion-Winsford-Crewe route and timings.

So I'm looking for advice that leads to a photographic location between Preston and west of Warrington/east of Weaver Junction that is common to both posted routings. That way I can't be on the wrong line!

[viscount]

In the event played safe location-wise and went to position south of Newton-le-Willows, next bridge north from the M62 and north of Warrington. About 25 or so waiting, and by no means not all local. 'Oliver Cromwell' shot past at some speed, indeed appeared to be moving faster than the Pendilinos of Virgin. Grabbed a few shots and cropped out the upright stancions to produce a few more worthwhile shots than I did last year!

The route followed after Warrington, was south from Weaver Junction to Crewe (as per last year), not via Chester and Welshpool as stated by The Railway Touring Company. My thanks for those that offered tips on PM as to places to watch from on both routes.

Seems that in current railway spotter slang I'm a "grapher".

[viscount]

In the half hour or so I was early, 'snapped' a few of the passing trains. The 'non locals' got quite excited by the Class 60 pulling coal wagons out of Fiddler's Ferry Power Station. Personally I was more absorbed in the Virgin A.330 climbing out of Manchester!










'Arriva' schemed trains takes the 'Railbus' concept to a whole new level!