Class 387115, 387123, 387124 Thameslink Trains Bedford 2015

 

Class 387115 Thameslink Trains EMU Bedford 2015       
Photo: Charles Moorhen

 

 

Class 387123 Thameslink Trains EMU & Class 222023 DMU

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Class 387124 Thameslink Trains EMU Bedford 2015       
Photo: Charles Moorhen

The Thameslink Trains Class 387 electric multiple unit, such as in the photos above, which forms part of the Electrostar family, was built by Bombardier and entered service between Bedford and Brighton in December 2014, with all units in place by July 2015.

 

Since the introduction of Thameslink's Class 700 EMU on the Bedford/Brighton service, the Class 387s have been transferred to Great Northern operating out of Kings Cross.

Other operators of the Class 387 EMU are; Gatwick Express, Great Western Railway, c2c and Heathrow Express. 

Photo Class 390154 Virgin Trains Pendolino Through Lichfield Station 2014

Virgin Pendolino Tilts At Lichfield

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Virgin Trains Class 390154 EMU Pendolino tilting train which will, a few days after this photo was taken, carry the name, 'Matthew Flinders', is seen flashing at speed through Lichfield Trent Valley station on the 7th July 2014.

 

Pendolino Class 390154 electric multiple unit UK passenger train was named 'Matthew Flinders' at a ceremony on the 18th July 2014 at London's Euston station.  The Duke of Cambridge performed the naming.

Please note: Second Virgin Penolino photo at bottom of page

 

Mystery of the Missing Body

There is an interesting mystery surrounding Captain Matthew Flinders.  Even more so due to the fact that it has a UK railway connection.

Matthew Flinders was born on the 16th March 1774 in Donington, Lincolnshire, England, the son of a surgeon, and became a navigator and map maker, circumnavigating Australia in 1795.  He said his love of the sea came from reading the novel, Robinson Crusoe.

However, Flinders' career as a Royal Navy officer was short.  He died at the age of 40, on the 19th July 1814 from kidney disease at his London home, 14 London Street - later renamed Maple Street - now the site of the BT Tower.

It is at this point that the mystery begins.

Matthew Flinders was buried in St. James's Church burial ground, opened in 1788 in Piccadilly, London.  When Flinders' sister-in-law, Isabella Tyler, went to visit his grave a mere 28 years after his death, the location of his burial plot was already lost.  Nothing remained to suggest that he had ever been laid to rest there.

In 1878 the cemetery became St. James's Gardens when built over to allow for the expansion of Euston Station.    

Rumours abounded as to what had happened to the burials disturbed during the Euston expansion.  What happened to the coffin and body of Captain Matthew Flinders?  Some people believed that he was in fact lying beneath platform 4.  Others say it could well have been platform 12, while others 'knew for a fact' that it was platform 15.

Now fast-forward 205 years to January 2019, and the excavation site for the proposed HS2 line to be built between London and Birmingham.  

Archaeologists respectfully unearthing graves from the lost site of St. James's cemetery, of which there are estimated to be around 40,000, they came across a grave with a coffin nameplate laying on the skeleton.  
Other nameplates had also been uncovered in the area, but they were made of tin and totally rusted and illegible.  This particular nameplate however had been made from lead and still in excellent condition.

The name on the coffin nameplate was none other than the explorer, cartographer and navigator - Captain Matthew Flinders.  

The life of Captain Matthew Flinders was highlighted recently on the BBC TV programme, 'Britain's Biggest Dig'.

 

**************************************

On the same day that I photographed Class 390154 Pendolino EMU flashing through Lichfield, I managed to capture this shot of Class 390010 just as I was about to leave for home.

                                              

Class 390010 Virgin Pendolino at Lichfield      Photo: Charles Moorhen

 

 

 

                                              **************************************

Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

'Along These Tracks' - 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".



Quick link to the 'Along These Tracks'  Train Photos blog.

Photo British Rail Class 304032 EMU Train Bescot Station 1990

Class 304032 BR Electric Multiple Unit, Bescot 

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Leaving a nearly deserted Bescot station, British Rail Class 304032 electric multiple unit, (EMU) commences its journey towards Birmingham New Street on the 6th March 1990.

 

No safety barriers in these days; obvious by my photographing position off the end of the platform.

Built at British Rail's Wolverton Works, Buckinghamshire, within a stone's throw from Wolverton station, the Class 304 electric multiple units originally classified as AM4 units - 45 constructed in all - were built in 1960 for use on suburban services on the first phases of the West Coast Main Line electrification between Crewe and Manchester/Liverpool/Rugby.

Introduced into service in 1960 and refurbished in 1980, the Class 304 units were to be found operating on the West Coast Main Line, Crewe to Manchester Line, Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway, Chase Line.

The Class 304 electric multiple units came to the end of their working lives in 1996 and every example of the class were scrapped.

Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

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".

Photo Class 444030 Desiro EMU in South West Trains Livery at Brookwood 2014

Class 444030 Desiro EMU Brookwood Train Station

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

South West Trains, Desiro Class 444030 electric multiple unit, (EMU), photographed speeding through Brookwood station, Surrey, England, operating a 'fast' service to London Waterloo on the 29th June 2014.

The station building behind the train on platform 2 is an historical structure.  It was built for the Necropolis Railway which operated in Victorian times from 1854 until 1941- first from Westminster Bridge Road, London, (1854 - 1902) and subsequently from Waterloo Station (1902 - 1941).

The station was built specifically to handle transportation of coffins and mourners to Brookwood Cemetery.

The cemetery boundary was close to the station building and could be accessed by an underpass.  

The original station underpass is still open as is the cemetery.

Further details about the Necropolis Railway can found in a blogpost on 'Along These Tracks' entitled, Victorian Funeral Railway History. 

Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

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".

Night Photo Class 390122 Virgin Pendolino EMU Train Rugby 2016

Class 390122 EMU, 'Penny the Pendolino' Rugby Train Station

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

A sleek-looking Virgin Trains Pendolino, Class 390122 (formerly 390022) electric 11-car multiple unit (EMU), seen at night carrying the name 'Virgin Star', pauses at Rugby station before speeding along the West Coast Main Line towards its destination - London Euston in August 2016.

 

Around 2018 the train was renamed 'Penny the Pendolino', by Virgin staff, and its nameplate fitted without ceremony at Wembley depot.  

 
To date 'Penny' is the leading Pendolino with the highest mileage attained.

With a design speed of 140 mph (225 km/h), though actually restricted to 125 mph (200 km/h) while in service, the Class 390 Pendolino tilting trains were introduced July 2002.

Built at Washwood Heath, England and Savigliano, Italy, these electric multiple units replaced three class of locomotive classes previously providing the motive power for the services that the Class 390s now operate; Class 86, Class 87 and the Class 90.

In all 57 train-sets were manufactured, though Class 390033 'City of Glasgow' was scrapped after serious damage caused as a result of its derailment at Grayrigg, Cumbria, on the 23rd February 2007.

Faulty points were blamed for the derailment which resulted in the death on one passenger and injury to 88 others.

 

Pendolino News Update:
The final Virgin Pendolino will leave Manchester Piccadilly on a scheduled service to London Euston at 8.35pm on the 7th December 2019.  And at 11.39pm, the last Virgin arrival from Euston should arrive at Piccadilly.

After that, Virgin Trains will no longer run on the West Coast Mainline (WCM), 22 years after Sir Richard Branson launched the rail franchise.

First Group and Trenitalia, operating as Avanti West Coast, will run scheduled services on the WCM until 2031.


Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

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".

Photo Class 365517 First Capital Connect Networker Express EMU Train Ely 2014

Class 365517 EMU, Ely Station

Class 365517 'Smiley Face' EMU at Ely Station
Photo:  Charles Moorhen

The Happy Train

First Capital Connect liveried Networker Express electric multiple unit (EMU), Class 365517, stands in Ely station Cambridgeshire in June 2014.

This class of electric multiple unit commuter train was nicknamed by the railway enthusiast fraternity as 'The Happy Train'.

 

 

 

Class 365 Thameslink EMU News Update:

Due to much lower numbers of people travelling on Great Northern services out of King's Cross, due to the COVID crisis, Govia Thameslink Railway is scaling back its services.

As a result, Thameslink's fleet of 21 Class 365 EMUs are to be withdrawn in May 2021.

Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

Blog update:

Previous photo 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".

Photo Class 411/5 1541 4-CEP British Rail EMU Train Kearsney Kent 1980s

Class 411/5 1541 4-CEP EMU Train 

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Class 411/5 4-CEP, 1541 electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter passenger train, in 'Jaffa Cake' livery, leaves Kearsney station near Dover, Kent, heading for London Victoria in the late 1980s.

 

My apologies for the quality of this photo.  It was taken in really contrasty light in late afternoon on a pre-digital  35mm camera.

Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

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".

Photo BR Class 319372 EMU Thameslink Train Bedford UK 2017

Class 319372 EMU, Bedford Station

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Early night photo of electric multiple unit Class 319 372, commuter train, built at BREL York between 1987-88, in Thameslink Trains livery, photographed at Bedford station in 2017 waiting to proceed south.

By 2019 Class 319372 was running in the north of England, operated by Northern Rail.

 

 

First Hydrogen-Powered Train:

A Class 319-bodied train made history on the 30th September 2020, when it became the first hydrogen-powered train to run on the British railway network.

The train, carrying the number 799001, reached speeds up to 50 mph while completing a 25-mile trip in Warwickshire.

 

Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' railway blog to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

Blog update:

Previous photo 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".

Photo Class 350104 London Midland Trains Desiro EMU Rugby 2012

Class 350104 'Desiro' EMU, Rugby Station

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Class 350/1 350104 electric multiple unit (EMU), in London Midland Trains livery, (now West Midlands Trains) spotted in Rugby station on the 2nd of February 2012 just ahead of the dark clouds of an approaching thunderstorm.

Personally, I like the reflection of the storm clouds in the front window.

 

Class 350/1 350104 is a 4-car unit and the coach numbers for the set are as follows: 63764  66814  66868  63715.

Built between 2004 and 2005, there are 87 Desiro UK commuter trainsets in the class with 77 trains operated by London Midland Trains (now West Midlands Trains) and 10 are operated by TransPennine Express.

 

 

 

 Video Clip - Two Class 350 EMUs Passing at Bletchley Station

 

Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

 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".

Night Photo Class 350372 London Midland Desiro EMU Train Bletchley 2018

Class 350372 Desiro EMU, Bletchley Train Station

Photo: Charles Moorhen 

Photographed at night Class 350 372 electric multiple unit (EMU), built in 2014 and allocated to NN - Northampton King's Heath EMUD, in London Midland Trains livery, spotted at platform 4 of Bletchley station around 20:15 on the 19th April 2018 about to depart for London Euston station.

Unit coach numbers for this commuter train set are as follows: 60145  60515  60655  60155.

 

 

 

Video Clip - Two Class 350 EMUs Passing at Bletchley Station

 

Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

 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".

Photo Class 323241 London Midland Trains 3-Car EMU Train Barnt Green 2016

Class 323241 London Midlands Trains EMU

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Trainspotting British Rail Class 323241, allocated to SO - Soho TMD (Birmingham), in London Midland Trains livery, now West Midlands Trains, seen at platform 3 Barnt Green station, Worcestershire, on the 18th August 2016  operating a suburban commuter train service.

The Class 323 EMU trains were built by Hunslet Transportation Projects between 1992 and 1995  to operate on inner-suburban commuter lines in and around Birmingham and Manchester.

The unit coach numbers for Class 323241 are as follows: 64041  72341  65041.

Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' railway blog to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

Blog update:

Previous photos 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".

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.

Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

Blog update:

Previous photo 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".

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

 

Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

 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".

Night Photo Desiro UK Class 350250 EMU UK Passenger Train Wolverton 2016

London Midland Trains Class 350250 EMU

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Strangely enough, this 2016 night photo of London Midland Trains Class 350 250, UK passenger commuter train, standing in Wolverton station on its way to Euston station, London, came about following the change of a set of spark plugs in my car earlier in the day...and an infuriating lapse of memory.

In my eagerness to ensure that I had set the plug gaps to the correct size I decided to drive the 16 miles to Wolverton railway station, a station I've visited a number of times in the past, to test how the car was performing and do a spot of night photography while I was there.

Arriving at Wolverton station I opened the boot only to find that I had left behind a vital piece of equipment - my tripod!  

Now I was left with two options.  Drive back home and collect the tripod, or take my chances hand-holding the camera and hoping for the best.  

Well, the first option was totally out of the question as it would have meant a total driving mileage for the evening of around 64 miles. And it was only meant to be a quick trip!

So, it was the latter option or a complete waste of time and petrol.

After a couple of blurred, out of focus failures I managed to produce a small number of half decent hand-held photos, this one of electric multiple unit, Class 350 250, probably being the best of the bunch.   

The moral of this little tale?  Even if the odds are pretty much stacked against you have a go anyway.  You may be pleasantly surprised!

And yes!   The spark plugs worked fine.

 

 

 

Video Clip - Two Class 350 EMUs Passing at Bletchley Station

Class 350250 electric multiple unit was built between 2008 and 2009 and is allocated to Northampton King's Heath Siemens Depot.

The unit coach numbers for this EMU are as follows: 61450  65250  67550  61550.

 

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 Court.

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.

___________________________

 

 

 

A few historical facts about Wolverton railway station:

• The first station was built on the canal embankment above Wolverton Park and opened on the 17th Sept. 1838

• In 1840 a newer, more permanent station was built close by.

• The waiting room of the newer structure, which surprisingly had a full-time staff of 29, was lavishly redecorated for the visit of Queen Victoria in 1824.

• In 1881 yet another station was constructed replacing all previous buildings.

• The wooden station buildings built on the road bridge over the tracks stood for 100 years until British Rail demolished them in 1991.

• A modern brick station building, close to the car park and platforms, was opened on the 21st June 2012.

• Wolverton station has four platforms although only two are used for 'stopping' trains; the other two being reserved for fast 'through' expresses.

• Between 1865 and 1964 there was a branch line from Wolverton to Newport Pagnell Railway Station, primarily for employees at the nearby Wolverton Railway Works.  It was closed to all railway traffic in 1967.     

Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' railway blog to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

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".