Night Photo Class 222011 Meridian DMU Train 'Honouring Our Veterans WW1 Centenary' 2016

Class 222011 Diesel Multiple Unit, Loughborough

Photo: Charles Moorhen 

East Midlands Trains Class 222011 is spotted at Loughborough station on the 30th August 2016 bearing the poppy decals, "Hounouring Our Veterans WW1 Centenary".

The Meridian diesel multiple unit carries the name, "Sheffield City Battalion 1914-1918".

Capable of a top speed of 125mph., the 5-car units were built between 2003 and 2005 by Bombardier in Derby and carry the coach numbers: 60251  60921  60631  60531  60171.

27 Class 222 dmu trainsets in total were manufactured made up of a mix of five and seven-car sets.  All 27 trains are operated by East Midland Trains and allocated to Derby.

 

 

News Update:

Seeing East Midlands Trains colourful livery of red, white, orange and red flashing along the railway tracks, will soon become a thing of the past.

Abellio will take over the East Midlands Trains franchise on Saturday 18th August 2019. 

The Class 43 HST Intercity 125 and Class 222 diesel multiple unit will gradually be phased out by brand new Hitachi trains that will be a variant of the bullet-nosed Class 800 bio-mode DMU.

The new trains will have a lavender livery and be branded with 'EMR' on both sides.


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Night Photo Class 222014 4-Car East Midlands Trains Meridian DMU Bedford 2018

Class 222014 Diesel Multiple Unit at Bedford Station

Photo: Charles Moorhen 

Night photo of East Midlands Trains, Class 222 222014 diesel multiple unit built between 2013 and 2014, standing at platform 3 Bedford station with the 22:50 passenger service to London St. Pancras on the 19th April 2018.

The unit coach numbers for this Meridian dmu are as follows: 60254  60924  60634  60534  60174.

News Update:

Seeing East Midlands Trains colourful livery of red, white, orange and red flashing along the railway tracks, will soon become a thing of the past.

Abellio will take over the East Midlands Trains franchise on Saturday 18th August 2019. 

The Class 43 HST Intercity 125 and Class 222 diesel multiple unit will gradually be phased out by brand new Hitachi trains that will be a variant of the bullet-nosed Class 800 bio-mode DMU.

The new trains will have a lavender livery and be branded with 'EMR' on both sides.

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Night Photo Class 700130 12-car Desiro City Thameslink Trains EMU Bedford 2018

Class 700103 'Desiro City' EMU, Bedford Station

Photo: Charles Moorhen 

Siemens-built Govia Thameslink Desiro City Class 700 700103 electric multiple unit, introduced onto the railway network between 2016 and 2018. 

In this night photo Class 700103 Thameslink EMU unit stands at Bedford station prior to departing with a 12-car 22:40 scheduled service to Three Bridges, Crawley, West Sussex, on the 19th April 2018.

The unit coach numbers are as follows: 401103  402103  403103  404103  405103 406103  407103  408103  409103  410103  411103  412103.

The completion of the 115th and final Class 700 EMU for Govia Thameslink Trains has (at time of publication) recently been announced by Siemens.

Over the past five years a total of 1,140 coaches, made up of 60 8-car and 55 12-car commuter train units have been manufactured.

The final unit produced, completing a total of 115, was Class 700060.


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Night Photo Chiltern Railways Class 172103 and Class 172101 DMU Train Banbury 2018

Class 172103 and 172101 DMU, Banbury

 

Photo: Charles Moorhen 

Chiltern Railways Turbostar DMU 2-car units, Class 172/1 172103 and Class 172/1 172101, allocated to AL - Aylesbury TMD, standing coupled together at platform 3 Banbury station forming the 22:55 commuter service to Reading via Oxford on the evening of the 13th April 2018.

                       

Class 172/1 172101 at Banbury Station April 2018     
Photo: Charles Moorhen

The unit coach numbers for Class 172103 are as follows: 59113  59213.
The unit coach numbers for Class 172101 are as follows: 59111  59211.

Both trains were built between 2009 and 2010.

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DB Cargo Class 66130 Diesel Loco Waits For Green Light Banbury 2018

Class 66130 DB Cargo Diesel Loco, Banbury Train Station

Photo: Charles Moorhen 

 

DB Cargo diesel locomotive Class 66/0 66130, built in July 1999 and allocated to Toton TMD (Notts), waits at a red light, while heading towards Oxford at around 22:40 hrs., for a number of timetabled Chiltern Railways DMU's to clear the line at Banbury station on 13th April 2018.

This image, and the one below, was one of the hardest that I have ever tried to capture.  The available light was minimal to say the least.  To the naked eye it seemed as though it was not much better than candlelight.  I'd left my tripod in the car and knew that if I went back to collect it, Class 66130 would be gone by the time I returned to the platform.

With no other options left open to me I decided to try for a hand-held shot.  At the far end of the platform there was nothing to support the camera on, so it was a matter of hold and pray.

I set my Nikon D3200 to 6400 ISO, a shutter speed of 1/30th of a second and an f-stop of 5.6.  Not an ideal combination, but better than nothing...if it worked.

I manually focussed, as naturally the auto focus would not operate in this amount of light, tucked my elbows into my sides, held my breath and pressed the shutter button.  

Looking at the screen after taking the photo I wondered if, with a bit of editing, I might, with a lot of luck, be able to produce some sort of passable image.

As it turned out things were not too bad in the end.  

After an hour of messing about with the editing, (not my favourite pastime) I ended up with a picture that, apart from the amount of film grain and noise, I was reasonably happy to have - given the circumstances.

Next time I'll try to remember to take my tripod with me!

DB Cargo Class 66130 at Banbury 2018   Photo: Charles Moorhen

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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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Night Photo Class 67013 Chiltern Railways Alstom GM Diesel Loco Banbury 2014

Class 67013 Diesel Locomotive, Banbury Station

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Chiltern Railways Class 67 013 locomotive, one of a class of 30 produced, is seen here at Banbury station on the evening of the 13th January 2014, hauling a rake of silver liveried Mark 3 coaching stock.  

Class 67013 was built in March 2000 and is allocated to CE - Crewe International Electric T&RSMD.
Between July 2008 and December 2013 the locomotive carried the name 'Dyfrbont Ponycysylite' .

An example of an hourly-run service operated by Chiltern Railways between Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street station.

Built between 1999 and 2000 the Class 67 locomotives operating these Chiltern Railways services would eventually be replaced by Class 68 locos built between 2012 and 2016.

Class 68013 Locomotive           Photo: Train of the Week blog

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Night Photo Class 390128 'City of Preston' Virgin Trains Pendolino EMU Rugby 2016

Class 390128 'City of Preston' Pendolino EMU, Rugby Station

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Virgin Trains Pendolino Class 390 128 'City of Preston' EMU, built by Alstom, stands in Rugby station on the evening of the 25th August 2016; the same rainy night that I had photographed locomotives EWS Class 66013 and Freightliner Class 66502.  Class 390128 unit coach numbers are as follows: 69128  69428  69528  69628  65328  68928  68828  69728  69828  69928  69228.

And got fairly wet in the process!

Once again, dashing between sudden downpours, I managed to scamper with camera and tripod from one platform to another in order to get this shot.  Thinking all the time...I'm going to trip over, I'm going to trip over!

How hectic it all seems at the time when one is trying to set up a tripod and adjust the camera to the correct settings for a night photo, while all the time being aware that the time for the train to depart and the camera to record the scene is quickly running out.

But, all said and done, I believe that is was worth it in the end!

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

Looking at the amount of artificial light in the photo above, it started me thinking.

When one considers how brightly lit railway stations are nowadays, it is difficult to imagine how stark the comparison would be with the standard of lighting back in the days of the Victorian railways, and how hazardous it must have been travelling at night back then.

During the Victorian era, station name-boards, although larger than they are today, were difficult to see at the best of times.  Especially from a moving train at night, maybe in fog, or worst of all - both.  

The style that the Victorians favoured was dark lettering on a lighter background - not the ideal choice for sign which would instantly catch the eye.  And at night the sign would be illuminated by the feeble glow from a gas lamp.

The unfortunate result of this combination led to a large number of instances whereupon rail passengers alighted from a railway carriage only to find that they had done so at the wrong station.  

However, far more serious were the occasions which led to a number of serious injuries and fatalities resulting from an unsuspecting passenger stepping from a railway carriage, only to find that there was nothing beneath their feet fresh air; the train having merely stopped temporarily at a signal.

Without doubt today's railways have a lot to answer for, one way and another, but it has to be said that at least we are safer and more fortunate than many of our Victorian predecessors were.

Just a passing thought.


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Night Photo Class 20314, 20107, 20311 Diesel Locos Banbury 2017

Class 20314, 20107, 20311 HNRail Locos

HN Rail Class 20314 Diesel Locomotive
Photo: Charles Moorhen

Class 20107 and Class 20096 heading London Underground rolling stock
Photo: Charles Moorhen

Late evening, on the 11th April 2017, a Derby to London train of new London Underground S1 rolling stock paused for around forty-five minutes at Banbury railway station.

Motive power for the train were four classic Class 20 diesel locomotives.  Heading the train were Class 20107, built in December 1961, and Class 20096 built in October 1961, both in BR standard livery.

At the rear of the train, in Harry Needle Railroad Company livery, were Class 20314, built in February 1962, and Class 20311, built in December 1961.

Class 20311 standing next to Chiltern Railways DMU 165 015
     Photo: Charles Moorhen

The new London Underground stock, sandwiched between the four ageing diesel locomotives, built by Bombardier in Derby, have air-conditioning, more space, improved accessibility and better customer information systems.

The trains have an increased passenger capacity of up to 25%, compared with their predecessors, while providing enhanced comfort.

 

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Night Photo Class 57307 DRS Diesel Loco 'Lady Penelope' Rugby 2016

Railway Loco Homage To 'Thunderbirds' Television Show Character

 

Direct Rail Services Class 57 57307 'Lady Penelope' 
 Photo: Charles Moorhen

A night photo of Direct Rail Services Class 57307 diesel locomotive 'Lady Penelope', named after the popular UK Thunderbirds TV series, standing in a former bay platform looking bright and clean after a sudden downpour at Rugby railway station on the 25th August 2016.

'Lady Penelope' is one of 16 Class 57s that carried a 'Thunderbirds' name and the only locomotive that retains its name.

In January 2014, the locomotive nameplates donated by Virgin Trains, Tin Tin and Parker, fetched over £4,000 at a charity auction run in association with the Railway Magazine to raise funds for The Alzheimer's Society.

The locomotive was built on the 20 September 1965 by Brush Traction at Loughborough and is allocated to Carlisle Kingmoor Traction Maintenance Depot, operated by Direct Rail Services (DRS).  The current depot code is KM.

The original steam shed was called Carlisle (Kingmoor) and its shed code was 68A which was later changed to 12A.

This Class 57 locomotive originally carried the number D1901, later to be renumbered 47225.

Apart from its 'Lady Penelope' name, it has also carried the name, 'Cable Thieves: We're Watching You'.

 

Class 57307 'Lady Penelope' on YouYube:

Class 57307 drags Pendolino.

 

Class 57307 departs Carlisle.


512 Class 47s were built, of which 30 have passed into preservation and can be found (at time of blog-page publication) at the following locations, though this may be subject to change for various reasons.

D1524  47004 - Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway.

D1693  47105 - Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

D1705  47117 'Sparrowhawk' - Great Central Railway.

D1842  47192 - Crewe Heritage Centre.

D1855  47205/47395 - Northampton & Lamport Railway.

D1994  47292 - Great Central Railway Nottingham.

D1787  47306 'The Sapper' - Bodmin & Wenford Railway.

D1886  47367 - Mid Norfolk Railway.

D1895  47376 'Freightliner 1995' - Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

D1500  47401 'North Eastern' - Midland Railway Butterley.

D1501  47402 - East Lancashire Railway.

D1516  47417 - Midland Railway Butterley.

D1566  47449 - Llangollen Railway.

D1662  47484 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel' - (Private Location).

D1107  47524 - Dean Forest Railway.

D1778  47183/47579/47793 'James Nightall G.C. - Mid Hants Railway.

D1762  47167/47580/47732 'County of Essex - Carnforth.

D1933  47233/47596 'Aldeburgh Festival' - Mid Norfolk Railway.

D1606  47029/47635 'Jimmy Milne' - Epping Ongar Railway.

D1970  47269/47643 - Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway.

D1948  47505/47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' - Crewe Heritage Centre.

D1619  47038/47564/47761 - Midland Railway Butterley.

D1643  47765/47059/47631 - East Lancashire Railway.

D1946  47503/47771 - Eastleigh Works.

D1755  47541/47773 - (Location Not Known).

D1909  47232/47785/47820 - Wensleydale Railway.

D1656  47072/47609/47834/47798 'Prince William' - York Railway Museum.

D1654  47070/47620/47799/47835 'Prince Henry' - Eden Valley Railway.

D1966  47266/47629/47828 - Carnforth.

D1661  47077/47613/47840 'North Star' - West Somerset Railway.

More Class 47 and 57 images on 'Along These Tracks'.

Class 47100 'Merlin'

Class 57316 'Fab 1'

Class 57305 'John Tracy'

Class 57308 'Tin Tin'

Class 47822

Class 47701

Class 47790 'Galway Princess'

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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.     

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