The Festive York & Durham Explorer - 30th November 2019

The Festive York and Durham Explorer charter was operated by Pathfinder Tours on the 30th November 2019 departing Bristol Temple Meads at 05:40 in the morning. The tour was hauled throughout by the two mainline registered Class 50s from The Fifty Fund fleet, Nos 50049 'Defiance' 50007 'Hurcules' . The pair are painted in GBRf colours following a contract agreement between the Fifty Fund and GBRf to use them on GBRf mainline traffic as and when additional motive power is required.
The charter operated mainly in darkness, with the main dropping off points at York, Durham and finally Newcastle. Newcastle is an incredibly tight station for photography which did not lend itself to obtaining images of the traction upon arrival at Newcastle. There was however ample time to walk out to the King Edward Bridge to capture some of the changing scenes in the low Winter light before sunset.

Bristol Temple Meads

First Great Western blue liveried Class 166/2 No.166211 stands in Platform 10 on Saturday 30th November 2019, ready to form the 2C61 06:18 Bristol Temple Meads - Taunton stopping service.

GWR Hitachi IET Class 800/3 No.800310 stands at Bristol Temple Meads on Saturday 30th November 2019, ready to depart with the 5A06 05:34 Bristol Temple Meads - Weston-super-Mare empty coaching stock diagram.

GRBf liveried Class 50s No.50049 and No.50007 stand at Bristol Temple Meads on Saturday 30th November 2019 ready to deaprt with Pathfinder Tours 'Festive York and Druham Explorer' charter. The pair had just arrived light engine from Kidderminster ready to form the 1Z30 05:55 Bristol Temple Meads - Newcastle.

GBRf Class 50s No.50049 and No.50007 depart empty stock from Newcastle to Heaton Depot on the 30th November 2019, having arrived with Pathfinder Tours 1Z32 05:55 charter from Bristol 'The York and Durham Explorer'.

Newcastle

LNER Mk4 DVT No.82224 leads No.91125 out of Newcastle Station in the low winter light on the 30th November 2019, while working the 1E14 12:00 Edinburgh - Doncaster. Class 91s were operating to Doncaster only due to engineering works while the recently introduced Class 800 Azumas were dealing with the diversions via Lincoln and Newark to Kings Cross.

LNER Class 91 No.91125 departs from Newcastle on the 30th November 2019 propelling 1E14 12:00 Edinburgh - Doncaster service. Class 91s were operating to Doncaster only due to engineering works while the recently introduced Class 800 Azumas were dealing with the diversions via Lincoln and Newark to Kings Cross.

Cross Country Class 220 Voyager No.220003 moves out of Newcastle empty stock on the 30th November 2019 operating 5V91 13:58 Newcastle - Newcastle movement.

LNER Class 800 No.800112 sits on the King Edward Bridge on the 30th November 2019, in the low winter sunlight while working 1S12 10:30 King's Cross - Edinburgh via Newark.

LNER Class 800 No.800112 sits on the King Edward Bridge on the 30th November 2019 in the low winter sunlight while working 1S12 10:30 Kings Cross - Edinburgh, via Newark.

LNER Class 800 No.800112 sits on the King Edward Bridge on the 30th November 2019, in the low Winter sunlight while working 1S12 10:30 Kings Cross - Edinburgh, via Newark. In the background a Northern Class 156 passes the High Level Bridge also heading into Newcastle.

LNER 'Azuma' No.800108 exits from Newcastle station in the low winter sunlight on the 30th November 2019, operating 1E15 09:52 Aberdeen - Kings Cross (via Lincoln) service.

A pair of LNER 'Azumas' meet on the King George V bridge outside Newcastle Station on the 30th November 2019. No.800108 (heads left to right) as the 1E15 09:52 Aberdeen - Kings Cross, meeting No.800112 (heading right to left) working 1S12 10:30 Kings Cross - Edinburgh, via Newark.

LNER Hitatchi 'Azuma' Class 800 No.800112 heads into Newcastle Station on the 30th November 2019 operating the 1S12 10:30 Kings Cross - Edinburgh, via Newark service.

Transpennine Express Class 185 No.185141 departs Newcastle on the 30th November 2019 forming 1P30 14:15 Newcastle - Manchester Airport service.

DB Cargo Class 66/0 No.66009 passes through Newcastle station and onto the King Edward bridge, on the 30th November 2019, hauling the 4E98 08:24 Mossend - Tees Dock intermodal service.

LNER Mk4 DVT No.82204 leads No.91132 out of Newcastle on the 30th November 2019 working the 1E16 13:00 Edinburgh - Doncaster service in the low Winter sunlight.

LNER Class 91 No.91132 pushes south across the King Edward Bridge at Newcastle on the 30th November 2019 working the 1E16 13:00 Edinburgh - Doncaster service.

Transpennine Express Class 185 No.185108 arrives over the King Edward Bridge into Newcastle station on the 30th November 2019 working the 9E11 11:25 Liverpool Lime Street - Newcastle service.

DRS Class 66/4 No.66305 passes over the King Edward Bridge at Newcastle on the 30th November 2019 working the 0Z15 13:06 Carlisle Kingmoor - Millerhill Yard light engine move in preparation for weekend engineering works.

In the low Winter sunlight Northern Class 142 No.142024 departs Newcastle Station on the 30th November 2019 working the 2N30 13:26 Hexham - Nunthorpe service.

LNER Class 91 No.91116 arrives into Newcastle on Saturday 30th November 2019 working the 1S15 13:10 Doncaster - Edinburgh service.

New meets old on the King Edward Bridge in Newcastle on the 30th November 2019. No.91116 awaits a platform while operating the 1S15 13:10 Doncaster - Edinburgh service, while LNERs new 'Azuma' No.800106 heads with with the 1E17 13:30 Edinburgh - Kings Cross (via Lincoln).

LNER Class 91 No.91116 arrives into Newcastle on Saturday 30th November 2019 working the 1S15 13:10 Doncaster - Edinburgh service.

Making one of its final diagrams before being taken out of traffic, No.43299 and No.43306 cross the River Tyne on the King Edward Bridge on Saturday 30th November 2019. The LNER HST set was working the 1W96 11:06 Kings Cross - Inverness. In the weeks after this shot was taken this service will transfer to an Azuma Class 800 set.

Making one of its final diagrams before being taken out of traffic, No.43306 crosses the River Tyne on the King Edward Bridge on Saturday 30th November 2019. The LNER HST set was working the 1W96 11:06 Kings Cross - Inverness. In the weeks after this shot was taken this service will transfer to an Azuma Class 800 set.

Making one of its final journeys before being taken out of traffic, No.43306 trails No.43299 heeding into Newcastle Station on the Saturday 30th November 2019. The LNER HST set was working the 1W96 11:06 Kings Cross - Inverness. In the coming weeks after this shot was taken this service will transfer to an Azuma Class 800 set.

LNER Class 91 No.91101 'Flying Scotsman' departs Newcastle on the rear of a Doncaster bound service from Edinburgh on the 30th November 2019 as the sun sets over Tyneside.

Freightliner Class 66/5 No.66516 leads classmates (out of sight) Nos. 66512 66419 66572 & 66525 through Newcastle Station on Saturday 30th November 2019, working 0S68 11:18 Leeds Midlands Road to Millerhill Yard in preparation for weekend engineering work.

A convoy of Freightliner locomotives passes through Newcastle Station on the 30th November 2019. No.66525 No.66572 No.66419 No.66512 and No.66516 head away from the camera working the 0S68 11:18 Leeds Midland Road - Millerhill Yard.