It’s that time of the month again when Clare asks us to Share our Desktop. This month I am using a shot that I took back on 24th June this year…
…Taken with the Fujifilm X-Pro2 and the 55-200mm zoom lens, it shows Class 66 locomotive 66596 hauling an intermodal service through Ealing Broadway on an overcast, typically English, summer day. The train is travelling from Wentloog near Cardiff to Felixstowe North freightliner terminal where the containers will mainly be loaded onto ships for international destinations. To get from West London to the east coast, the train will route over the North London Line and has slowed to around 30mph in preparation for diversion into Acton yard where it will await its slot between passenger services on that busy route. You may notice that the containers are sitting on wagons that sit very low to the track. This is because larger containers were introduced some years ago and wagon designers had to come up with a solution to allow them to be transported within the restricted British Railways loading gauge. Some routes are being re-engineered to overcome this issue but on others it is not viable to carry out such work in the short term.
Hi Martin. Another great image this month, but to be honest, I had to look really close because I can hardly tell your photos of real-life from the ones you share from the virtual world. (The people on the platform gave it away, and I did look before reading.) Silly me, anyway, thank you so much for sharing and joining in on this little bit of monthly fun.
That’s a very good point – although with us so close to Southampton guess there will always be some trucks on the roads
There will need to be for local distribution from rail terminals and there will always be places that aren’t served by rail anyway. Hydrogen fuelled and electric trucks are already on the way, so the manufacturers are working to improve their environmental footprint 🙂
Images from Finchley 
Hi Martin. Another great image this month, but to be honest, I had to look really close because I can hardly tell your photos of real-life from the ones you share from the virtual world. (The people on the platform gave it away, and I did look before reading.) Silly me, anyway, thank you so much for sharing and joining in on this little bit of monthly fun.
Glad you liked it Clare and thank you for the monthly event 🙂
Thank you, Martin, and you are most welcome 🤗
You have such a keen collection of railcars, railway yards, and “all things train!” I am a great admirer!
It’s been a lifetime hobby Debra – one that I still get much pleasure from 🙂
Yup all re-engineered around us – one road was out of action for ages whilst they sorted the bridge
Hopefully the pain will be worth it in reduced long distance truck traffic 🙂
That’s a very good point – although with us so close to Southampton guess there will always be some trucks on the roads
There will need to be for local distribution from rail terminals and there will always be places that aren’t served by rail anyway. Hydrogen fuelled and electric trucks are already on the way, so the manufacturers are working to improve their environmental footprint 🙂