Class 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' 4-6-2 Steam Loco Didcot 1988 Photo

'Duke of Gloucester' Steam Loco, Didcot Railway Centre

Photo: Charles Moorhen

                     

The same photo, but in my opinion looking better presented in black and white...more 'Age of Steam' 

An excellent example of British Railways Steam traction, Standard Class 8P 71000 'Duke of Gloucester', is seen here on display at Didcot Railway Centre back in June 1988, did not make much of an impression on me when I saw it, apart from appreciating the beautiful condition that it was in, due entirely to the fact that I knew nothing at all about it.  However, since doing some research on it, I realise now what an iconic steam locomotive it is.

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From my research here is a basic history of the locomotive:

In a perverse kind of way, it could be said that if it had not been for the horrific 3-train rail crash at Harrow and Wealdstone on the 8th October 1952, which killed 112 and injured 340, Standard Class 8 8P 4-6-2 No 71000 'Duke of Gloucester', would never have been built.

As a result of the Harrow and Wealdstone crash, Stanier 4-6-2 Turbomotive No 46202 'Princess Anne', was damaged beyond repair and a gap had appeared in the Pacific roster for the West Coast Main Line.  British Railways, who earlier had turned down a suggestion from British locomotive engineer, Robert Riddles, that an express passenger locomotive in the power class of 71000 'Duke of Gloucester', gave the go-ahead for just such a prototype steam locomotive to be produced.

Weighing in at a colossal 101 tons 5 cwt (without tender) , Crewe-built 71000 'Duke of Glousester', was put into traffic from Crewe North TMD in June 1954.

Beset with problems from the outset, the most significant being poor draughting and excessive water and coal consumption, the locomotive gained a reputation for being erratic and unpredictable and only remained in service for a mere eight years before being withdrawn in December 1962.

Following withdrawal, the cylinder assembly and valve gear were removed and retained by National Collection with the remainder sent for scrap to Woodham's on Barry Island, Wales.

Fortunately, in 1974, the Duke of Gloucester Locomotive Trust acquired the rusting locomotive.  Over a number of years restoration work was carried out until reaching completion in the autumn of 1986.  Further work was undertaken to bring the locomotive up to the standard requirements for main-line running, and in April 1990 it made its main-line debut.

'The Duke', as it is affectionately known by the railway preservation fraternity, has a website dedicated to it; offering membership to the society, history, merchandise and more.  To visit the site click here.


Standard Class Locomotive Technical Specifications: (British Railways Classification).
Designed: Derby Works.
Origin: West Coast Main Line of the London Midland Region.
Introduced: 1954.
Purpose: Express Passenger.
Wheel Arrangement: 4-6-2.
Number Series: 71000 (Duke of Gloucester) One only.
Driving Wheel: 6ft. 2in.
Bogie Wheel: 3ft.
Length: 70ft.
Weight: Engine 101 tons. Tender 55 tons 10 cwt.
Water Capacity: 4,725 gallons.
Cylinders: (3) 18 in. x 28in.
Boiler Pressure: 250 lb sq. in.
Tractive Effort: 39.080 lbs.
Coal Capacity: 10 tons.
Power Classification: 8-P.

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Class 323214 London Midlands Trains 3-Car EMU Barnt Green 2016 Photo

Class 323214 EMU, Barnt Green Station

 

Photo: Charles Moorhen

LondonMidlands Trains Class 323 214, allocated to SO - Soho TMD (Birmingham), seen here at Barnt Green station on the evening of the 18 August 2016, was photographed more on impulse than on a definite plan to get a picture of one of these electric multiple units.

Class 323214 unit coach numbers are as follows: 64014  72214  65014.

The 323 class of electric multiple units were built between 1992 and 1993.

I had been wandering around the small station, located not far from the summit of the infamous Lickey Incline, when Class 323214 arrived almost silently at platform 3.

As I not seen of these EMU's in the flesh, so to speak, I decided to photograph my first example. I managed to take a couple of decent exposures before the train set off into the night on its journey to Lichfield Trent Valley station. And although I was quite pleased with the result, I decided that it would look better and have more atmosphere in black and white.

I'll leave it up to your judgement as to whether it was the correct decision to make.

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Four GBRf Class 66 Diesel Locos Through Wellingborough 2014 Photos

"Four Class 66 locomotives came along as I was about to go home"

I was at the 'London' end of platform two Wellingborough station on the 27th June 2014.  Leaning on a section of white wooden platform fencing I gazed across the nearby countryside, trying to decide whether or not to make tracks (no pun intended) for home. Then, a flicker of movement off to my left caught my attention.  

 

Looking up I saw a Class 66 diesel locomotive creeping along the freight-only line towards me.  "This will do" I thought.  "I'll grab a photo of this and then head home. 

 

GBRf Class 66717 Wellingborough           
Photo: Charles Moorhen

However, loco, GBRf  Class 66717 'Good Ol' Boy'' came closer, I realised that it was not on its own.  It was, or so I believed, double-heading with GBRf Class 66729 'Derby County'.

Great! I thought.  A good photo to end the day with.  

 

But there was more to come.

 

        GBRf  Class 66729  Wellingborough            
Photo: Charles Moorhen

In the middle of what I soon discovered was a fairly long train, GBRf Class 66738 'HUDDERSFIELD TOWN' was now passing in front of me.  "This has to be a it" I said aloud to myself.  

 

As there is a bend in the track at that location I did not have a clear view.

 

   GBRf Class 66738 Wellingborough       
Photo: Charles Moorhen

Lo and behold there was still one more Class 66 to come.  The tail-end-Charlie turned out to be, Class 66731 'Interhub GB'.

GBRf Class 66731 Wellingborough     
Photo: Charles Moorhen

In my excitement to capture all four locos, I was sure that I'd hurried the whole thing and the images would not be as good as I hoped.  

However, seeing them on the PC monitor later, I was glad that 

I'd decided to hang on at Wellingborough station for those extra few minutes.


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Class 350120 London Midlands Trains EMU Lichfield Trent Valley Station 2014 Photo

Class 350120 'Desiro' EMU, Lichfield Station

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Desiro Class 350120, built between 2004 and 2005 and allocated to NN - Northampton King's Heath EMUD, in London Midlands Trains livery, pulls into Lichfield Trent Valley station, Staffordshire, heading for Crewe on the 7th July 2014.

Class 350120 unit coach numbers are as follows: 63780  66830  66880  63730.

The Class 350 electric multiple units operated by London Midlands Trains would have their livery changed on the 10th December 2017 when the London Northwestern Railway took over the franchise.

As Class 350 120 eases alongside the platform, a Virgin Trains Class 390 Pendolino EMU tilting train flashes past on the adjacent track heading south.

 

 

 

Video Clip - Two Class 350 EMUs Passing at Bletchley Station

 

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Class 66765 GBRF Diesel Locomotive Wellingborough 2015 Photo

Class 66765 GBRF Diesel Loco

GBRf  Class 66765 Loco
Photo: Charles Moorhen   

Class 66765 diesel locomotive in two-tone GBRf livery, and allocated to GBRf Peterborough, enters Wellingborough station on the freight-only line on the 28th July 2015, heading towards Bedford.

At the same time, East Midlands Trains Class 222 018 dmu, built between 2003 and 2005 and allocated to DY Derby Etches Park T&RSMD, enters the station alongside platform 1 heading north.

222 018 Wellingborough

Photo: Charles Moorhen

East Midlands Trains Class 222 018 DMU (above) on a previous occasion enters Wellingborough station from Kettering heading towards Bedford.

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