BLS "Crompton Weekend", 7th to 9th March 2020

Three days of trips behind various Class 33 "Cromptons" and a Class 47, two enhanced positioning moves either side of the main "Devonian Crompton" tour on Sunday 8th March 2020. Run in conjunction with West Coast Railways, Network Rail and 71A Locomotive Group, the tours were raising funds for the Help for Heroes Charity and also for Tommy's. All three days were excellent though I wasn't able to do the full trip on any of them due to logistics - it also turned out to be my last efforts for a while due to the Covid-19 outbreak curtailing activities. Please note - all photos taken from ground positions are with permission and under supervision. As usual, a few photos to start, more to be added as time permits!

BLS "Park Royal Parkinson", PoV 47746, Greenford East Junction, 9th March 2020

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BLS "Park Royal Parkinson", PoV 47746, Greenford East Junction, 9th March 2020

View from the leading cab of 47746 as the BLS "Park Royal Parkinson" comes off the curve from Greenford South Junction to Greenford East Junction and crosses to the former up line, heading for Park Royal. The now rather ramshackle remains of the former GWR main line from Paddington to Birmingham (aka New North Main Line) now only reach as far as Park Royal, the line then severed for HS2 preparatory works at Old Oak Common West Junction. Parts of the Greenford Junctions are still controlled by GWR lower quadrant semaphore signals operated from Greenford East Signal Box, the last such signals in the London area. 13:23½, Monday 9th March 2020. Digital Image No. IGMP56787.

IGMP56787 BLS RoyalPark PoV47746 GreenfordEastJcn 090320 geoff plumb