Oakenshaw and Healey Mills

Just south of Oakenshaw Junction, Wakefield, is a footbridge over the line which provides a fine viewpoint for mainly rail freight between Wakefield and Doncaster and points beyond. There are also passenger workings, all class 2 locals.

155341 works 2F67 1038 Wakefield Kirkgate to Knottingley service.

Bubblecar sprinter 153378 forms a class 2 working 2F68 1056 Knottingley to Wakefield Kirkgate.

The morning sun lights the scene nicely as 153378 passes by.

The change in gradient is most noticeable as GBRf 66712 lifts 6L45 MWO 0847 Rylestone Quarry to Whitemoor loaded stone train past Oakenshaw Junction.

66712 is nicely framed by the tall road over bridge.

The newly quarried ballast is conveyed in 16 well loaded JNA bogie boxes and is almost pure white. The quarry at Rylestone is at the end of the Grassington branch.

This line is busiest for freight and proved to be a popular location. 66250 approaches with an oil train.

Four minutes after the GBRf working passed, 66250 appeared with 6D78 WO 1040 Belmont Yard to Neville Hill loaded fuel tanks.

Freightliner 66552 passes below the road overbridge at Oakenshaw heading south possibly from Leeds Midland Road depot. To the left is the rear of the previous oil train.

The board is against the loco so the driver will be moving slowly now to stop short of the signal O297.

The driver of 66552 brought his loco slowly up to signal O297 and came to a stand. After a wait of several minutes 60015 appeared coming over Croft West Junction with 6M05 0930 Roxby to Northenden empty GMC binliner. The road is now set for 66552 to continue on towards Doncaster.

As 60015 took the train past one thing became very noticeable.....the smell. These refuse trains absolutely honk.

Another light engine move sees 66565 approach north bound possibly heading for Leeds Midland Road depot...or possibly not!

The sun is best suited for trains heading south or light northbound locos.

More light engine moves as Freightliner Heavy Haul pairing of 66621 and 66614 head north.

Again it is a guess but my money is on these locos returning to Midland Road depot.

Two minutes after the previous pair of Freightliner locos passed by, yet another light engine movement is recorded at Oakenshaw. This lonely wanderer is 66566.

After so many light engines, here is a proper freight with EWS 66195 in charge of 6Z75 MX 0303 New Cumnock to Radcliffe power station loaded coal hoppers. This loco was seen the previous day at South Milford with a train to New Cumnock.

66195 has put in the mileage these last two days, running from West Yorkshire to Ayrshire and back.

Another south bound working passes below the road bridge as 66115 hauls its train of 12 empty TEA bogie tanks from Preston Docks to Lindsey refinery, 6E32 MWFO 0847 off.

Another loco seen the previous day at South Milford is 66161 which has travelled further than 66195 which passed before this.

Its diagram today is 6E77 0040 Hunterston to Drax power station loaded with imported coal.

Northern Rail class 142 Pacer unit 142096 bounces its way past and will arrive at Wakefield Kirkgate station in a few minutes time. It left Knottingley at 1156, 2F70.

A loaded "binliner" approaches behind Shed 66056 rather than the usual class 60. This is 6E06 1000 Bredbury to Roxby loaded GMC binliner. The smell from these trains is really strong.

The Bredbury waste transfer station is one of four within the Greater Manchester Corporation area.

EWS has made inroads into the container business and here is 66044 working one such train, 6D97 1244 Wakefield Europort to Doncaster Intermodal. The train is very lightly loaded.

66044 has the road to the right and onto Doncaster at Croft West Junction.

Class 155 Sprinter 155341 approaches with another class 2 local working, 2F72 1256 Knottingley to Wakefield Kirkgate.

66137 works an unidentified empty coal train north towards Calder Bridge Junction and Wakefield and where ever for reloading.

Away from Oakenshaw footbridge and a brief visit to Healey Mills depot.

Visible numbers in this shot are 37717, 37706, 37660, 37689, 37710, 56099, 56049, 56134, and 56033.

Here we can see 37057, 47760, 47749, 56056, and 56116.

Here are 37057, 37682, 47760, 47793, 47777, and 56041.

The various liveries visible are Load Haul, EWS, RES, Trans Rail and Train Load, coal sub-sector. Numbers visible are 37710, 37712, 47792, 56033 and 56079.

A wider more general view of the scrap lines at Healey Mills. Several of the locos here in 2006 have since been bought and returned to traffic.

There are at least 25 locos visible of class 08, 37, 47 and 56.

All these locos withdrawn and awaiting their fate.

Amongst all the withdrawn locos comes a live one as 66219 draws in with 6M83 0845 MX Redcar to Warrington Arpley loaded coal boxes. The train will recess here for a while, possibly while the driver has a break.

Another view of the scrap lines with 37695 and 37517 at the head of two of the lines of scrap locos.

66082 makes a recess in its journey with 6E33 1053 Knowlsey to Immingham enterprise.

37695 and 37517 are just two of the many class 37s, 47's and 56's lined up on the scrap lines.

The class 56's appear to be on a line of their own, Just one number is visible, 56099.

A head on view of the southern most two scrap lines.

56099 is the nearest of the Grids visible in this view of withdrawn locos.

Back at Oakenshaw footbridge and I am alone and 66250 is seen again heading north running light this time.

After its recess at Healey Mills 66082 continues its journey to Immingham.

I do not know if the vans are empty or loaded, the BDA and RRA flats at the rear are certainly empty.