Ribble Steam Railway 10th April 2013

Getting up at (by my standards) stupid o'clock in order to catch the 0649 train from Carlisle to Preston gave me a chance to photograph the two electric locos stabled at Carlisle for some time before their imminent departure. This is 86101

The other electric loco at Carlisle was 87002.

Another view of 86101 in Carlisle on 10th April 2013.

The locomotive waiting to move the two electrics was West Coast Rail 47245.

There is a regular freight flow of bitumen to the Total plant in Preston, which involves the use of exchange sidings near Strand Road. On 10th April 2013 the empty bitumen tanks were being returned to Lindsey Oil Refinery as the 6E32 behind 66186, seen here waiting for departure time (0905 according to the WTT)

66186 emerging onto Strand Road in Preston with it's train of 14 bitumen tanks, 10th April 2013.

66186 crossing Strand Road with the 6E32 on Wednesday 10th April 2013. A nice way to stop the traffic at about 9.15am.

66186 blocking the whole of Strand Road in Preston with 14 empty bitumen tanks on 10th April 2013.

From the exchange sidings the bitumen tanks are taken to the Total site by RIbble Rail. On 10th April this was done by "Enterprise", a 1968 Rolls Royce diesel hydraulic, works number 10282. "Enterprise" is seen here bringing 7 full bitumen tanks across the bridge on Navigation Way, a photo taken for the record due to the badly positioned sun.

A slightly better shot of "Enterprise", (RR10282/1968) on Navigation Way with the bitumen tanks.

The purpose of the visit to the RIbble Steam Railway was the chance to ride E79960, a Waggon & Maschinenbau railbus built in 1958. Here it is at Preston Riverside, with the loaded bitumen tanks behind.

A view of the swing bridge on Navigation Way taken from E79960.

As E79960 is a bus, it might as well run along the road! Here it is, crossing the swing bridge on 10th April 2013.

A closer view of E79960 on Navigation Way.

And a view of the railbus about to leave Navigation Way on the return journey from Strand Road.

A lunchtime break in the passenger service was necessary to facilitate shunting of the bitumen tanks. Fourteen tanks are delivered to the exchange sidings but the Total discharging point can only accommodate 7 tanks, necessitating some shunting. "Enterprise" is seen here moving 7 full tanks from the sidings at Preston Riverside.

Another shot of "Enterprise" with the full tanks, 10th April 2013.

Another shot of E79960 at Preston Riverside, having a rest whilst the bitumen tank shunting was taking place.

Having positioned the full tanks in the centre road at Preston Riverside, "Enterprise" collected the seven empties from the Total discharge point.

A side view of "Enterprise" at Preston Riverside.

"Enterprise" approaching the full bitumen tanks, having left the empties in the far siding.

"Enterprise" propelling the 7 full bitumen tanks from Preston Riverside to the Total discharge point.

A boiler on test at the Ribble Steam Railway, 10th April 2013.

A final shot of E79960 departing from Preston Riverside on 10th April 2013.