Wednesday, 26 August 2015

Nuclear Flask Train and Tyneside Walkabout

After weeks of trying to catch the elusive Hartlepool to Sellafield nuclear flask train, our paths finally crossed yesterday.

Surprisingly, there is not much mystique surrounding the passage of these trains. Details of their route and timings appear on the public working timetable, but their days of operation do not. However, I was given a tip-off that the trains usually run every third or fourth Tuesday.

This particular train carries spent nuclear fuel from Hartlepool Power Station, on the east coast, to the THORP facility at Sellafield, on the west coast. To that end it travels up to Gateshead on the Durham Coast Line, across to Carlisle on the Tyne Valley Line and finally down the Cumbrian Coast Line to Sellafield. The journey is reversed whenever fresh nuclear fuel is transported from Sellafield to Hartlepool.

For a bit of variety I'm also including some photos taken during a Tyneside walkabout earlier in the year.

Sad news that there was a railway fatality yesterday - almost certainly a suicide - on the East Coast Main Line at Shortridge Hall, between Alnmouth and Warkworth. Terrible for the family of the victim and very distressing for the driver of the train involved.

Angel of the North, 25 Aug 2015 (1)

Angel of the North, 25 Aug 2015 (1)

Angel of the North, 25 Aug 2015 (1)

BBC Broadcasting Centre, Barrack Road, Newcastle, 17 Feb 2015

DBS 67024 Rescue Loco at Newcastle, 25 Aug 2015

Direct Rail Services 57011 & 57010 (632G) Nuclear Flask Train at Gateshead Park Lane, 25 Aug 2015

Grand Central Railway 43484 HST ECS (5A69) at Fellgate, 25 Aug 2015

Jackie Milburn Statue, St James Park, Newcastle, 17 Feb 2015

Leazes Park Ducks, Newcastle, 17 Feb 2015

Leazes Terrace, Newcastle, 17 Feb 2015

Newcastle Gateshead Millennium Bridge, 17 Feb 2015 (1)

Newcastle Gateshead Millennium Bridge, 17 Feb 2015 (2)

Newcastle Gateshead Swing Bridge, 17 Feb 2015

Northern Rail 142018 (2N35) at Gateshead Park Lane, 25 Aug 2015

The Sage Gateshead from Newcastle Quayside, 17 Feb 2015

Tyne and Wear Metro Train Approaches Fellgate, 25 Aug 2015

Virgin Trains East Coast 91120 (1S09) at Alnmouth, 25 Aug 2015

Virgin Trains East Coast HST 43316 (1E11) at Alnmouth, 25 Aug 2015

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For more images visit Tom's Photo Log on Flickr.

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