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Northumberland Snapper
United Kingdom
Приєднався 2 тра 2020
A keen amateur photographer and videographer based in Northumberland, with an interest in the railways and nature - particularly red squirrels!
Short Sighted - The Sad Demise of Royal Mail Trains
Royal Mail has recently announced its decision to withdraw its fleet of mail trains by October 2024. The decision will bring to an end 194 years of specially designated Royal Mail Trains running on the UK national rail network.
The current fleet of class 325 electric multiple units work the west coast main line between the Princess Royal Distribution Centre is Willesden, North West London and the Shieldmuir Mail Terminal on the outskirts of Glasgow. Until recently there were also less frequent services operating on the east coast main line between Willesden and Low Fell in Gateshead.
There are 15 class 325 units in the fleet. Each unit consists of 4 cars. The trains are usually operated as two unit sets, which therefore have 8 cars. Another unit, TOPS number 325010, was cannibalised for spares and scrapped in 2012.
The 15 units, which run at a maximum speed of 100 mph, are owned by Royal Mail and operated under contract by DB Cargo UK. They are energised by the 25 kV AC overhead line equipment, but are also fitted with contact shoes to draw traction current from the 750 V DC third rail system.
Royal Mail has said its decision to withdraw the trains is an economic one. It cites the increase costs of electricity and maintenance of the vehicles, which are now around 30 years old.
In a letter to DB Cargo UK staff, company chief executive Andrea Rossi said: “Royal Mail has made it clear that its decision is purely down to the increasing costs of electric current for traction (EC4T) and the high investment needs of its ageing 325 fleet.
“This is not a decision against DB Cargo UK but one against the economics of rail freight as a mode of transport."
Mr Rossi continued: “As a result, we will now be seeking urgent talks with the new Labour Government, policymakers and other key industry stakeholders, to see what more can be done to level the playing field between rail freight and the heavily subsidised road haulage sector.
“For some time now we have been lobbying Government to address the issue of high EC4T charges which are beyond the price many of our customers can afford to pay - indeed this is why we ourselves had to take the difficult decision to withdraw our Class 90s.”
Royal Mail is under considerable financial pressure, with its parent company, International Distribution Services, making a loss in excess of £1 billion in the financial year ending April 2023. Having implemented a raft of cost saving measures, IDS was able to limit losses to a modest £75 million in the financial year ending April 2024.
As has been widely reported by the media, Royal Mail is wanting to trim costs even further by delivering only three days of the week. It also plans to overhaul its domestic delivery network, which will have less reliance on both air and rail transport.
Speaking of the company’s decision, a Royal Mail spokesman said: “Royal Mail will continue to use rail services to transport mail across the country, however our own freight trains are at the end of their operational lives. The trains are almost 30 years old and it is increasingly difficult to secure parts for maintenance and the routes we need to meet our service requirements.
“To improve reliability, increase cost effectiveness and remain consistent with our environmental goals, over the coming months we will cease operating our own trains whilst continuing to use a mix of rail, road and air to transport mail to all corners of the UK.”
After 30 years of loyal service these class 325 units will soon be gathering dust or heading for the breakers yard. I think that’s a terrible shame, because every train can carry the cargo of dozens of heavy goods vehicles. I hear what Royal Mail are saying about investing in greener technology for its road transport fleet, but that will do nothing to alleviate congestion on the nation’s roads.
I will be sad to see the 325s go, but hopefully they won’t be forgotten.
Video created by Northumberland Snapper:
northumberlandsnapper.blogspot.com
Footage was captured using a Panasonic HC-VX1; amzn.to/3vJnqNJ; fitted with a Rode VideoMic Go; amzn.to/3rpMeIA
The current fleet of class 325 electric multiple units work the west coast main line between the Princess Royal Distribution Centre is Willesden, North West London and the Shieldmuir Mail Terminal on the outskirts of Glasgow. Until recently there were also less frequent services operating on the east coast main line between Willesden and Low Fell in Gateshead.
There are 15 class 325 units in the fleet. Each unit consists of 4 cars. The trains are usually operated as two unit sets, which therefore have 8 cars. Another unit, TOPS number 325010, was cannibalised for spares and scrapped in 2012.
The 15 units, which run at a maximum speed of 100 mph, are owned by Royal Mail and operated under contract by DB Cargo UK. They are energised by the 25 kV AC overhead line equipment, but are also fitted with contact shoes to draw traction current from the 750 V DC third rail system.
Royal Mail has said its decision to withdraw the trains is an economic one. It cites the increase costs of electricity and maintenance of the vehicles, which are now around 30 years old.
In a letter to DB Cargo UK staff, company chief executive Andrea Rossi said: “Royal Mail has made it clear that its decision is purely down to the increasing costs of electric current for traction (EC4T) and the high investment needs of its ageing 325 fleet.
“This is not a decision against DB Cargo UK but one against the economics of rail freight as a mode of transport."
Mr Rossi continued: “As a result, we will now be seeking urgent talks with the new Labour Government, policymakers and other key industry stakeholders, to see what more can be done to level the playing field between rail freight and the heavily subsidised road haulage sector.
“For some time now we have been lobbying Government to address the issue of high EC4T charges which are beyond the price many of our customers can afford to pay - indeed this is why we ourselves had to take the difficult decision to withdraw our Class 90s.”
Royal Mail is under considerable financial pressure, with its parent company, International Distribution Services, making a loss in excess of £1 billion in the financial year ending April 2023. Having implemented a raft of cost saving measures, IDS was able to limit losses to a modest £75 million in the financial year ending April 2024.
As has been widely reported by the media, Royal Mail is wanting to trim costs even further by delivering only three days of the week. It also plans to overhaul its domestic delivery network, which will have less reliance on both air and rail transport.
Speaking of the company’s decision, a Royal Mail spokesman said: “Royal Mail will continue to use rail services to transport mail across the country, however our own freight trains are at the end of their operational lives. The trains are almost 30 years old and it is increasingly difficult to secure parts for maintenance and the routes we need to meet our service requirements.
“To improve reliability, increase cost effectiveness and remain consistent with our environmental goals, over the coming months we will cease operating our own trains whilst continuing to use a mix of rail, road and air to transport mail to all corners of the UK.”
After 30 years of loyal service these class 325 units will soon be gathering dust or heading for the breakers yard. I think that’s a terrible shame, because every train can carry the cargo of dozens of heavy goods vehicles. I hear what Royal Mail are saying about investing in greener technology for its road transport fleet, but that will do nothing to alleviate congestion on the nation’s roads.
I will be sad to see the 325s go, but hopefully they won’t be forgotten.
Video created by Northumberland Snapper:
northumberlandsnapper.blogspot.com
Footage was captured using a Panasonic HC-VX1; amzn.to/3vJnqNJ; fitted with a Rode VideoMic Go; amzn.to/3rpMeIA
Переглядів: 472
Відео
North East Freight and Departmental Trains
Переглядів 5664 місяці тому
A compilation of freight and departmental (civil engineers) trains working in the north east of England. The video includes GB Railfreight's 66740 "Sarah" hauling the Alcan alumina tanks on their journey from North Blyth to Fort William. It also includes various GBRf class 60 and 66 hauled biomass trains travelling between Tyne Coal Terminal and Lynemouth Power Station. Much of the footage was ...
Steam Locomotive Renishaw Ironworks No. 6 on the Aln Valley Railway
Переглядів 4395 місяців тому
Hello and welcome to another day on the Aln Valley Railway. It’s a glorious day in God’s allotment, with the thermometer reading in the mid-twenties and blue sky as far as the eye can see. In today’s video I am going to be charting the progress of Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST works number 1366. This steam locomotive carries the name “Renishaw Ironworks No. 6”, but for convenience throughout the vide...
Exploring Edlingham Castle Ruins on Foot and by Drone
Переглядів 1015 місяців тому
A narrated stroll and drone fly around of Edlingham Castle in Northumberland. In around 1300 a stone hall house was built by Sir William Felton. At around the same time the Anglo-Scottish wars were raging and many of the landed gentry fortified their homes. Felton was no exception, adding extensive fortification to the house and making it a formidable defensive stronghold. In around 1340 the ma...
Trains at Speed Hammering Through Acklington Station
Переглядів 1835 місяців тому
Welcome to Acklington Station on the East Coast Main Line in mid-Northumberland. Acklington is currently the least used station in Northumberland. It has a very limited and infrequent Northern Trains stopping service, but there are plenty of express passenger trains hammering through. In today's video you'll see a good selection of LNER class 800/801 Azumas, TransPennine Express class 802 Nova ...
Saturday Express Passenger Trains at Alnmouth Station
Переглядів 3025 місяців тому
Bank Holiday Saturday express passenger train action at Alnmouth Railway Station in Northumberland. The station is served by London North Eastern Railway (LNER), CrossCountry Trains and TransPennine Express. In addition to calling services, we see plenty of their trains hammering through the station at line speed of close to 100 mph. Lumo services between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh pass t...
Bank Holiday Blues - Bang Road Working at Alnmouth Station
Переглядів 4326 місяців тому
Hello and welcome to a beautiful Bank Holiday Saturday at Alnmouth Railway Station. The birds are singing, the sun is shining, the passengers are merry, so what could possibly go wrong? Well today the bobby working Alnmouth Signal Box, which controls the line between Acklington in the south and Lucker in the north, is really going to earn their money. Let’s see how the day unfolds. Filmed on 25...
DJI Mini 4 Pro Prep and First Flight Over the Northumbrian Countryside
Переглядів 686 місяців тому
Hello and welcome to a short video describing the preparation and first flight of my new DJI Mini 4 Pro. Flying a drone is not quite as simple as turning it on and pressing start. There are a few important steps to take beforehand. Preparation is key. It’s important when flying the drone that you have the correct knowledge, equipment and permissions to fly it in a safe and responsible manner. T...
A Walking Photo Tour of Warkworth
Переглядів 1486 місяців тому
Hello and welcome to a walking photo tour of the fortified medieval village of Warkworth in Northumberland. Our walk is accompanied by a running commentary on some of Warkworth’s unique features. Today we shall be completing a circuit of the village, which is a popular tourist destination with a population of around 1500. As you can see from the map, the village sits on a peninsular bounded on ...
A Walking Photo Tour of Alnmouth
Переглядів 2807 місяців тому
Hello and welcome to a walking photo tour of the pretty little coastal village of Alnmouth in Northumberland. Today we shall be completing a circuit of the village, which is a popular tourist destination with a population of around 600. I will be providing commentary around the route to highlight some of the key features of the village. We begin at the village war memorial, which is located on ...
East Coast Main Line Passenger Trains at Manors Station
Переглядів 1867 місяців тому
This is the second (of two) videos from my recent revisit to Manors Station, which sits about half a mile to the east (e.g. "down" direction) of Newcastle Central Station. My previous video, which can be viewed at the following link, showed the passage of two GB Railfreight freight trains: ua-cam.com/video/iHK9jiHLZP4/v-deo.html What Manors lacks in station facilities, it makes up for in freque...
GB Railfreight Biomass and Container Freight at Manors Station
Переглядів 1567 місяців тому
It has been a while since I last ventured out to Manors Station, which is located only around half a mile to the east of Newcastle Central Station. Back in the day Manors was a grand and sizeable interchange, where the East Coast Main Line connected with the former Tyneside Electrics suburban line out to the coast via Wallsend and North Shields. That route is now severed from the national rail ...
St George's Day Trains at Alnmouth Station
Переглядів 1217 місяців тому
A couple of hours on St George's Day evening at Alnmouth station. It was a bit of a breezy one, which is great for anyone patriotically flying the Cross of St George, but not so good when gusting wind hits the microphone. I really wanted to see the 6S26 Seaham Harbour to Oxwellmains cement empties, which I did - in a manner of speaking! Colas Rail's 70804 took charge of a rake of 14 JPA bogie c...
Midweek Pacer Day on the Aln Valley Railway
Переглядів 7027 місяців тому
Hello folks and apologies it has been so long. I've not been able to get out as often as I'd like owing to family matters. I do hope to get out a bit more over the summer, when I plan on doing a few more village/town narrated walkabouts and some drone videos. Of course I'm sure I'll get a few more railway videos in too. Today I visited the Aln Valley Railway for one of its midweek Pacer days. T...
The Network Rail New Measurement Train in the North West of England
Переглядів 356Рік тому
The Network Rail New Measurement Train was on a routine run up the West Coast Main Line. The train, nicknamed the Flying Banana due to its distinctive yellow livery, monitors the condition of the rail network, covering around 115,000 route miles every year. Colas Rail's 43277 "Safety First" leads the train, with 43290 bringing up the rear. 43277 had recently undergone refurbishment and was spor...
A Day of Two Chirk Log Trains on the East Lancashire Line
Переглядів 268Рік тому
A Day of Two Chirk Log Trains on the East Lancashire Line
The Liverpool-Drax Biomass Train - Across the Pennines
Переглядів 462Рік тому
The Liverpool-Drax Biomass Train - Across the Pennines
Trash Across the Pennines - Where There's Muck There's Brass
Переглядів 246Рік тому
Trash Across the Pennines - Where There's Muck There's Brass
Stafford on Saturday - An Eclectic Mix of Passenger and Freight Trains
Переглядів 480Рік тому
Stafford on Saturday - An Eclectic Mix of Passenger and Freight Trains
Tractors Roar on the 6K05 Engineers Train at Garsdale
Переглядів 1,1 тис.Рік тому
Tractors Roar on the 6K05 Engineers Train at Garsdale
34067 Tangmere Loaded Test Train at Hellifield
Переглядів 287Рік тому
34067 Tangmere Loaded Test Train at Hellifield
Rail Freight Variety on the Tees Valley Line
Переглядів 590Рік тому
Rail Freight Variety on the Tees Valley Line
The Flying Scotsman Centenary Weekender (York to Edinburgh)
Переглядів 1,7 тис.Рік тому
The Flying Scotsman Centenary Weekender (York to Edinburgh)
Odds and Sods at Alnmouth - River Aln Estuary and Trains
Переглядів 302Рік тому
Odds and Sods at Alnmouth - River Aln Estuary and Trains
A Sweltering Saturday at Carlisle Station
Переглядів 770Рік тому
A Sweltering Saturday at Carlisle Station
The Hartlepool Nuclear Flask Train Revisited
Переглядів 747Рік тому
The Hartlepool Nuclear Flask Train Revisited
Freight Action at Eaglescliffe - Three Trains in Ten Minutes
Переглядів 295Рік тому
Freight Action at Eaglescliffe - Three Trains in Ten Minutes
frigging hell that lines a bit misaligned at the start, whats the driver wearing a hard hat for?
Aye, it's in a heck of a state. Maybe the driver's worried about ride quality?
My older brother used to work that train when he worked with DRS WITH THE CLASS 37 locomotive at Carlisle sellafield
That would be a very impressive sight nowadays. I think DRS has pretty much ditched the Class 37 completely now, most of them being taken on by West Coast Railways. Should still be a few of them out on this years RHTT circuits.
Manors is certainly a great place to watch the trains .. especially on a nice, sunny spring day. Regards from Whitley Bay
They tend to be a bit slower too, so easier to film!
Did you see a 803 003 on 1E86?
I'm afraid I can't remember! Is it shown on the video? If not, then probably not.
@@NorthumberlandSnapper Yes
Born and bred a mile away from there,very smart comment about the The Schooner😏
You were obviously watching very closely!
@@NorthumberlandSnapper Always do! A blot on our wonderful landscape
Many happy memories of Alnmouth over the last 35 or so years. Thank you for posting. Northumberland is a wonderful place. Happy travels. All the best. Jan.
Glad to have rekindled those memories. It is a lovely little village.
Those loading shovels are big and impressive. There's one of those at the Cement works near us at Clitheroe. The Cement go's out by Rail there.
Yes, a lot of those trains head towards Carlisle on the S&C. Thanks for dropping by.
Hello there. There's just no other railway like the S&C 72 miles of splendor. We love it. Thank you for showing us this lovely railway.
Hello there. The landscape is so green and beautiful.❤
It sure is a pretty little branch line. Thanks for dropping by to comment.
I hope at least one is preserved.
I'd hope so too. Would be a completely different excursion offering if WCR or LSL took one on!
Just crazy and madness, if the electricity is to expensive something is wrong, surley the train take lorries OFF the road, no joined up thinking, cheers Steve .🤔🥵
Aye, it's funny how these things work out. A decade ago - even now with the ongoing electrification of the TransPennine route - electricity was seen as the solution for clean, green, efficient rail transport.
Another very well produced video Tom. I concur with all your personal opinions. Those of us old enough will remember EWS ordering brand new Class 67 locos specifically for Royal Mail work only to be shafted by Royal Mail management cancelling the contract leaving virtually brand new locos with no work. The 67s must have been a financial disaster for EWS as they never got sufficient work afterwards to justify the cost. In their day, they were a state of art dual purpose loco suitable for both freight and passenger duties as they were equipped with electric train supply. I actually had a ride in one in Norwich yard many years ago in the era when we had both TPO's and parcels trains running out of Norwich to London. Prior to the introduction of the 67s they were powered by RES Class 47/7s. Happy days !.
I wasn't ignoring you Andy! I've tried replying to this three times now and it never publishes for some reason. I was saying that it would be nice if the 325s got a bit of a reprieve, even if it means they are dragged dead as some sort of compromise.
@@NorthumberlandSnapper No problem mate. Varamis Rail seem quite happy to use the converted Class 321s for freight use. 321342 was received by the company last week, that's the 9th unit they have accepted so far.
Cant help but feel sorry for the GBRf drivers having to walk the length of the biomass trains to get to the other end cab after reversing at Bedlington, there is a set of buffers at Bedside crossing which is where they current stop at
To me it would be a nice leg stretch, but I guess it very much depends on the weather!
Feel sorry for them? Have you seen what they get paid!?
R.I.P Actors & Actresses who were alive in the flesh back then during the time of filmings.
The Railway Children 1968 & 1970.
Still enjoy watching the 1970 version with Jenny Agutter and Bernard Cribbins.
Thanks.
Nice I was going to Berwick Upon Tweed right enough on this day. The wires were torn down just past Durham and I was held in a queue for about 1 & 1/2 hours before going into Durham platform to run wrong road between Durham and Ouston Crossovers (near Newcastle). We then ended up arriving into Newcastle when the train to Edinburgh from Kings Cross that left an hour before us had been terminated at Newcastle. Everyone was transferred onto our train which became so crowded that people had taken up all the space on the train and were being squished against the doors pretty much! It was hectic and we ended up arriving about 2 1/2 hours late! Sorry for the long story but thought it was worth sharing as I was affected!
Hope you were still able to make the best of the day.
Good commentry
Thanks for the feedback. The commentary is a bit of a new thing, but it might feature more often if people find it interesting or helpful.
A very interesting and well produced video. Thanks.
Glad you found it worthwhile viewing. Thanks for dropping by.
Am curious what the "curve radius" is.. In Japan all lines after the first tokyo-osaka everything > 3,600 metres curve radius = > 180mph as minimum speed
I''ve measured it for you. Curve is 620 metres radius at its most extreme. See image: ibb.co/42H2qcL
@@NorthumberlandSnapper Whaw!!.. Thanks.. (How did u do that?)
@@pedromorgan99 Magic!
@@NorthumberlandSnapper Are you Elon Musk ?
Bang Road! There's a proper old school term!
Finger on the pulse, me like!
4E04 is always 15 flats and apart for a short spell in 2023, is now rammed with boxes again something to do with steel going to Daventry for a while but has come back to Donny IP.
Thanks for that info. I didn't realise it was the same length each day.
Fantastic drone video please follow me 👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏
Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. I might just do that, as it seems we have a shared interest.
Thank you for another enjoyable walk. So pleased you’ve now sorted out the commentary volume. I hope there will be many more walking tours like this.
I don't think I've quite cracked it yet Katrina, but working on it!
Perfect video 👍
Glad you found it worthwhile viewing. Thanks for watching.
@@NorthumberlandSnapper I’ve never caught this end of the working. You absolutely nailed it, even the horn at the end 😃
@@Shelfandtabletoplayouts00gauge Very kind. Glad you found it worth watching all the way through.
Top video loved the66 great place to film👍
It's not bad, but not a lot of freight during the day. Not many station amenities either!
Great video 👍
Glad you found it worthwhile. Thanks for watching.
Interesting video as I have never seen a Pacer in the flesh. I gather that they were not a very comfortable vehicle to travel in. The gradient from the staring station looks quite steep but the curve may be making it look worse than it is. Thanks for posting.
They have a bit of a cult following, despite the poor ride quality and inclement interior conditions. the final gradient to Lionheart is pretty steep - say 1 in 50.
I wouldn’t like to be driving the Flask Train, it’s a wonder those guys don’t glow in the dark .
I hear the flasks are pretty robust!
Would I be correct in thinking the loco windows are armoured glass in case of attack by climate or other loonies?
Loco windscreens are always reinforced. I don't think these are anything special, as these locos are often used for other duties too.
Utter nonsense
Are they open and running during the week, or only on weekends? I plan to visit in March but I’ll only be able to stop by on a Wednesday! I can’t find any information on their website.
They usually run their Pacer on a Wednesday, once the season starts.
@@NorthumberlandSnapper Thank you for the reply! That would be perfect. Do you know when their season starts?
For all the people wandering hope Works fitted a silencer because they get complains from locals
Some people...
All the above is true and easily seen, however...please someone put some oil or grease on those rods or you'll pay the cost of poor lube.
Thanks for your comment. I'm sure they'll have all the locos well maintained in time for the new season.
Great video just what I’m looking for subtitles and good filming 👍
Nice spot at Hellifield 👍
It sure is
A good selection of trains there. After over 20 years without being on a train journey, my wife and I have caught the travel bug and have had several 3-day mini breaks since last November (my wife's 60th birthday) As well as visiting London (twice) and a Mancheser / Liverpool trip last month, we have also been to Edinbugh and Glasgow. Living near Newcastle, we took LNER each time up the ECML so passed through Berwick, which looks a lovely place. Maybe we'll take a day trip there, when the warmer weather arrives. Regards from Whitley Bay
Thanks for taking the time to comment Brian. I think generally we're pretty lucky with LNER here in the north east. Berwick's a nice enough place, but apart from the historic town walls it doesn't have much that Whitley Bay doesn't.
Interesting to see that the old crossing lights are still there
Aye, it's well past its prime. I don't think they turned the lights on. Don't suppose they even work. given the age and condition of them. This part of the line is outside the Network Rail boundary.
Lovely footage and your so close to the action aswell, it's brilliant....Interesting that there still using the HYAs and not the cut down version to possibly stop over loading. 👍
Thanks for taking the time to comment. There's a public path near the quarry that gives a good vantage point.
@@NorthumberlandSnapper Your welcome thankyou for the great video. Not sure if you've ever paid Peak Forest a visit and viewed the stone trains from the 'famous' bridge or the path running along side the DB depot and down the tracks to Tunstead Quarry. One every 15 to 20 minutes or so. Very much well worth a visit..Keep up the great work. 👍
Yes, I've been to Peak Forest but didn't film anything as the traffic was flying by. I took a walk down to Great Rocks SB and got some footage there instead.
Very nice video - The light was great.
Glad you found if worthwhile viewing. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
The Flying Banana with mismatched ends. How frightfully uncivilised.
I agree. I quite like the livery on 43270. If they were both like that it would be a smart looking set.
Great video👍👍
Thanks for watching.
A great location, one i havn't been to, but its getting treed out from the east side, great video and a great catch of the double headed log train, steve .
Thanks for dropping by Steve. It was a bit of a trek to get to, but worth it as a one-off.
Loved this from Lancashire 🌹 , including flora & fauna and the new Bamber Bridge 😊
Thanks for watching and commenting David.
Interesting & Informative 👍 Great location photography from both sides of the Pennines 😊
Glad you enjoyed it
Great pictures but it's Pendle Hill in the background not the Forest of Bowland 😮
Oh no, you are joking me?! I hate making mistakes like that. Thanks for pointing that out, even though it's going to niggle with me for weeks now. Apologies to any locals.
Another Great Upload, keep it up
Many thanks.
Nice!
Thanks!
Manors is a good place to view the trains, although only a handful actually stop there. I've been there a few times and every time there has been somebody else spotting the trains, always with much more knowledge than me. Interesting folk to talk to though.
Thanks for your comment Brian. The only problem is that there's limited freight action at Manors. Much better south of Newcastle for that.
Great video 👍
Thanks for tuning in. Glad you found it worth the watch.
Lovely video! Very lucky in the last shot!!
Excellent video, likes from me .
Many thanks!