Class 47 Cross Country trains at Stafford and Birmingham. 22nd May 2002

47776 arrives at Kirkcaldy with the 21.55 Aberdeen-London Euston which is then seen departing Crewe at 05.45 the following morning with 90239 on the now combined Inverness, Aberdeen and Fort William sleeper. I was heading to Stafford in order to capture some Class 47 hauled Cross Country trains which were in their last few months of service. We start there with 57009 passing with a Southbound Freightliner followed by 86401 at the rear of the 05.38 Lancaster-London Euston, 66507 heading for Crewe Basford Hall Yard with a rake of Autoballasters and 92041 which had been held at a signal check. The first '47' of the day was 47831 which is seen passing Stafford No5 signal box, 86622 and 86620 head another Freightliner, 66539 speeds through on the 4M95 Southampton-Trafford Park, 86256 arrives with the 07.46 Manchester Piccadilly-Birmingham International then 86615 and 86614 are seen on the 4L97 Trafford Park-Ipswich Yard Freightliner. 66068 heads the 6Z72 Ironbridge Power Station-Warrington Walton Yard, 66604 runs South light engine, 47805 departs with the 06.00 London Paddington-Manchester Piccadilly, 86240 departs with the 07.15 Bristol Temple Meads-Edinburgh and 66506 passes on a ballast train. 66513 is seen on another engineers train, 66027 heads the 6V70 Cliffe Vale-St Blazey empty china clay working, track machine DR 98001 and DR98006 trundle South, Voyager 221117 and 221119 are seen on the 05.50 Bournemouth-Glasgow Central and 66024 heads South with a MGR train. 66519 passes light engine, 86256 is seen again this time on the 10.13 Birmingham International-Manchester Piccadilly, 325012 and 325006 pass with the 5A98 Crewe-Willesden RMT empties, 86258 pilots a dead 87024 which is atop a kaput DVT whilst working the 10.45 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston and 47847 trundles past light engine. A short while later 47854 was seen on the 09.32 Reading-Manchester Piccadilly, 47741 was on the 11.15 Manchester Piccadilly-Bristol Temple Meads, DMU 'bubble car' 977968 was pottering through the station, loops and sidings as part of an exercise to video the rail network, 175010 is also seen, 66138 passes with an MGR train, 47812 departs with the 12.34 Birmingham New Street-Manchester Piccadilly and 47817 arrives with the 08.40 Glasgow Central-Penzance. 47817 is then seen departing Birmingham New Street, repainted 47826 departed with the 08.46 Penzance-Manchester Piccadilly, 47841 passes 86249 as it arrives on the 15.16 Birmingham International-Manchester Piccadilly and passes 43093 as it departs. Star of the day was 47840 which arrived with the 11.50 Plymouth-Liverpool Lime Street on its first day in traffic after being repainted into Rail Blue livery. The immaculate Class 47 came off the train anen stabled under the station roof annoyingly. This was followed by 90031 and 47746 passing through light engine and 47741 arriving with the 15.35 Bristol Temple Meads-Edinburgh which I got back to Stafford. After I filmed 47741 depart, 86623 and 86611 passed with the 4M87 Ipswich Yard-Trafford Park Freightliner, 47812 was seen on the 17.09 Manchester Piccadilly- London Paddington as 220012 and 220029 arrived with the 14.18 Bournemouth-Manchester Piccadilly. I headed to Crewe, getting there behind 90046 which was on long term hire to Virgin Trains at this time and was working the 17.00 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street. Before I left I took a quick shot of 47854 which would be heading to Holyhead later in the evening with the 17.25 from London Euston.