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 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.