Photo Class 45118 'The Royal Artilleryman' British Rail Peak Diesel Loco 1990s

'Peak' Diesel Loco Ravaged Before Restoration

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Photographed in the early days of restoration and repair on the Northampton & Lamport Railway in the 1990s, 'Peak' UK diesel locomotive Class 45118 'The Royal Artilleryman' - original number D67 - was one of a fleet of 127 built at both BR Derby Works and Crewe Works between 1960 and 1962.

Used regularly on scheduled services between London St. Pancras and Manchester, the Midland Mainline was their main theatre of operations as was the case for their predecessor the Class 44.

The Class 45/1s were to be found across the British railway network following their gradual displacement with the introduction of the Class 43 Intercity 125 High Speed Trains.  

The writing was on the wall for the Sulzer 12LDA28-B power units as their withdrawal from main line service began in 1977, with the final locomotives being taken out of service in 1988.

UK diesel loco, Class 45118 'The Royal Artilleryman', built in May 1962 at Crewe Works (LNWR/LMS/British Railway) was originally purchased for restoration and preservation on the Northampton & Lamport Railway, Northamptonshire, following withdrawal from British Rail.

After an attack by cable thieves, which left the diesel locomotive inoperable and extremely expensive to repair, it was moved to Railway Vehicle Engineering Limited  (RVEL) - now Loram - at Derby in 2009 for repairs.

It moved from Derby after purchase by Locomotive Services Limited, (LSL), Crewe Diesel Depot.  In 2019, Class 45118 was on the move again, this time for repairs at Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Museum and Engine Shed near Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Whether it will ever return to main line or preserved/heritage railway operations is at the present moment uncertain.

In total, 12 of the 'Peak' Class 45 diesel locomotives have survived.

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Photo Class 350105 London Midlands Desiro EMU Train Enters Wolverton Station 2013

Class 350105 London Midland Trains EMU Heading For London

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

UK passenger train Class 350105 electric multiple unit (DMU), in London Midland Trains livery, photographed entering Wolverton station, Buckinghamshire, with a regular commuter service to London Euston.

London Midland Trains would, on the 10th December 2017, be taken over by West Midlands Trains whose franchise will run until March 2026.


Wolverton railway station historical note:
It was at Wolverton railway station in Buckinghamshire, on the 9th September 1845, that bare-knuckle fighter, Bendigo, stepped from a carriage of a London & Birmingham Railway train surrounded by a horde of his supporters.

His destination was the nearby town of Newport Pagnell where it was arranged that he would take part in an illegal fight with Ben Caunt.

At the last possible moment, for various reasons, the venue was switched to the village of Lillington Lovell, 4 miles north of Buckingham.


The match went ahead with Bendigo being heralded the winner after 96 gruelling rounds.

 

 

 

Two Class 350 EMUs Pass at Bletchley Station

 

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 Blog update:

Previous posts are now easier to find.  

All blog posts are now listed alphabetically on the right side of your screen; under the heading, 'Previous Photo Posts'.

"I hope this makes your search easier".