"Duchess of Sutherland"

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Dave has sent through 2 excellent photos taken yesterday..........

Today No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland was in action working from Crewe to Blackpool and return with the Fylde Coast Express.

Expecting to meet a couple of fellow photographers I ventured to a location 1 mile north of Crewe on the West Coast mainline - a location that was actually electrified way back in 1960 when steam (and Duchess pacifics) still ruled the rails (IMG_9517) - but in the event I had the shot to myself! After a few very hot, sunny days today was just hot but fortunately the mist burnt off sufficiently just in time for this shot of No. 6233 leaving its birthplace. I then returned home for some bonus points!

In the evening I decided that it was still sufficiently sunny to travel by train to Preston to see the return working to Crewe. However venturing 'across the border' into Lancashire it was hardly suprising that the sun had all but disappeared. To make matters worse the train was diverted to run from the booked Platform 5 (where the sun would have been OK) to Platform 2 which is against the light. So in the event with little sun or brightness and resorting to 400ASA I was reasonably pleased with the result as the pacific rumbled non-stop through the station at 30mph. There used to be a 10mph speed restriction in steam days but following track rationalisation this limit has now been raised IMG_9522).

I have to say that I am not a big fan of this locos new post-war LMS black livery.

Dave