Class 57s top-and-tail a Birmingham - Wolverhampton service at High Wycombe, 31 August 2008

Work on the West Coast main line has brought some interesting visitors to the Joint Line in the summer of 2008, in the form of both passenger and freight workings. From the motive power point of view one of the most interesting workings was the 11.00 Euston - Wolverhampton service on Sunday 31 August. This was formed of a Virgin loco-hauled set with 57313 on the front and 57309 on the back, seen here in the wet at High Wycombe. The same consist formed the 18.48 return working from Wolverhampton.

Photo by Mike Walker

Diverted Trafford Park - Wembley intermodal passing High Wycombe, 23 August 2008

Some more interesting visitors were seen on freight workings. One such was 4A03 from Trafford Park to Wembley, seen here at 10.00 at High Wycombe station behind 66115.

Photo by Tim Edmonds

Virgin Voyager Birmingham - Euston service passing High Wycombe, 28 June 2008

First diversions had been Voyager passenger trains, with the provision of a non-stop Euston - Birmingham service over the route. On the first day of the service, Super Voyager set 221143 leads Voyager set 221103 through Wycombe, where the train arrived early and was held as the 16.04 High Wycombe - Marylebone made its sedate progress towards the capital.

Photo by Mike Walker

47094 passing High Wycombe with LT stock, 30 April 1988

Two London Transport battery-electric locomotives, L45 and L44, at High Wycombe station behind 47094. These locos are from a batch built by BREL at Doncaster in 1973/4 and normally used for engineering work when the power is off on a section of track. Presumably they were on the way to an overhaul.

Photo by Mike Walker

The inaugural down train at High Wycombe, 28 April 2008

Bang on time, the 06.45 Wrexham & Shropshire service from Marylebone to Wrexham approaches High Wycombe station with 67014 on the front and 67012 bringing up the rear.

Photo by Tim Edmonds

The inaugural down train at High Wycombe, 28 April 2008

The same train heads down the line, this time showing 67012 at the rear in a patch of morning sunlight.

Photo by Tim Edmonds

The inaugural up train at Gerrards Cross, 28 April 2008

Alas the sun did not shine metaphorically on the 05.42 from Wrexham to Marylebone, which was beset with problems. Leading loco 67025 suffered from brake problems and was declared a failure at Wellington, where 67026 was moved from the back to lead the ensemble. Due to arrive in London at 09.54, the inaugural up service is seen approaching Gerrards Cross at 10.03 with 67026 double-heading 67025. Further delays occorred at Marylebone where a fresh engine was awaited.

Photo by Tim Edmonds

Fourth down train at High Wycombe, 28 April 2008

Things had improved somewhat by the afternoon, when 67014 and 67012 were back with their second and WSM's fourth down train of the day - seen here passing High Wycombe station.

Photo by Mike Walker

Loco-hauled at Marylebone, 10 April 2008

Here are 67014 (front) and 67013 (back) arriving at Marylebone sporting their new livery, but still with an interesting selection of stock.

Photo by Dave Theobald

67014 shows the WSM colours, 8 April 2008

The early test runs had been with locos in EWS livery, but this picture shows 67014 in what was believed to be the first outing of class 67s in the new WSM livery.

Photo by Mike Walker

67013 also shows the WSM livery, 8 April 2008

At the other end of this test train was 67013, also turned out smartly in the new WSM livery.

Photo by Mike Walker

The inaugural training run to London, 22 February 2008

The first crew training run over the line from Banbury into Marylebone took place on the afternoon of 22 February. The return working made a training call at High Wycombe in the gathering gloom, but as far as the man on the platform was concerned two class 67s was no more worthy of his attention than the usual fare of class 165 and class 168 units. 67017 was at the front and 67016 bringing up the rear.

Photo by Tim Edmonds

From Oxford to Banbury, 21 February 2008

The start of running test trains between Banbury and Marylebone was held up for a couple of days. In the interim some trains did run between Banbury and Oxford - 67017 is seen here at Banbury station after returning from Oxford.

Photo by Dave Theobald

40015 crossing Sir Philip Rose's Viaduct, 8 September 2007

Diesel specials have been comparatively rare in recent years, so the visit of a class 40 was something of an event. Here a rather lurid 40015 crosses the unique red-brick viaduct near Loudwater on a misty morning.

Photo by Tim Edmonds

6024 leaving High Wycombe, 9 June 2007

6024 'King Edward I' climbs away from High Wycombe leading the new water-carrying wagon on its first public outing.

Photo by Tim Edmonds

Olympics site spoil train approaching High Wycombe, 14 May 2008

The landfill site at Calvert brings occasional short-term 'as required, workings. One such is the movement of spoil from the Olympics site in East London, which produced a daytime train 6Z47 from Willesden. Here the train approaches High Wycombe station behind 59204 'Vale of Glamorgan'.

Photo by Tim Edmonds

Olympics site spoil train passing High Wycombe, 13 May 2008

On the previous day the same train was captured the other side of High Wycombe station in the hands of 66044.

Photo by Mike Walker

Calvert 'binliner' approaching High Wycombe station, 29 March 2007

One of the regular rubbish trains to Calvert that can be seen during the daylight hours is 6M22 from Cricklewood. Regular motive power is a Freightliner class 66, here exemplified by 66514 with a matching rake of wagons.

Photo by Tim Edmonds

Bubblecar at Saunderton, 8 August 2008

Departmental bubblecar 960014 (formerly 55022) is seen here at Saunderton station late on a Friday morning. This was most likely a route-learning working for Virgin West Coast crews involved in diversionary workings over the joint line (see Unusual workings).

Photo by Brian Hopkinson

Network Rail 950001 passing High Wycombe, 16 April 2008

The Network Rail Measurement Train, a converted two-car class 150 DMU, made a rapid visit to the joint line in April. It is seen here in the cutting west of High Wycombe station.

Photo by Tim Edmonds