Photo Class 31 BR Blue Diesel Locos Double-Heading at Bletchley 1980s

Class 31 Diesel Locos Double-Heading Through Bletchley Station

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Trainspotting a pair of unidentified Class 31 diesel locomotives, in BR blue livery, double-heading a train through Bletchley station in the late 1980's heading in the direction of Northampton.

Please note that the platform canopy supports at the right-hand side of the picture still bear the colours of the former London Midland & Scottish Railway.

 

 

Class 31 Diesel Locomotive Historical Note:

Whilst hauling a train in which Queen Elizabeth II was travelling on 4th January 1961, D5667 (31240), broke down south of Cambridge.  

 

Two onboard Brush fitters, on hand to deal with any mechanical problems that may occur, were unable to fix the problem and a steam loco had to be sent for in order to rescue the stricken diesel adding over an hour to the completed journey.

                                              

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 British Rail Class 317327 Network Southeast EMU Train Northampton 1980's

Class 317327 Network South East EMU, Northampton Train Station

Photo: Charles Moorhen

4-Car unit Class 317 327327 EMU in Network South East livery, allocated to Bletchley, stands at Northampton's Platform 2 in the 1980's on its way first to Rugby and then on to Birmingham New Street station, where seventeen of the class operated between 1987 and 1989.

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

Class 317327 unit coach numbers are as follows: 77026  62687  71603  77074

This class of electric multiple unit replaced EMU Class 310.  The Class 317 was later to be superseded by EMU Class 321 operated by Silverlink Trains, and then by EMU Class 350 run by London Midland Trains. 

In all, 72 all-steel 4-car Class 317 commuter train units were produced in two batches between 1981 and 1987 able to reach a maximum speed of 100 mph.

 


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".

Sunset Photo Class 45 'Peak' Type 4 Diesel Locos Whitemoor Yard 1980's

Class 45 'Peak' Locos In The Sunset

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Three unidentified 'Peak' diesel locomotives withdrawn from service, in the twilight of their lives, stabled on sidings at Whitemoor Yard Depot, March, Cambridgeshire, in the late 1980's.

 

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".

Night Photo BRCW Sulzer Class 33 Diesel Loco Cab Front at Night 1980s

Class 33 Cab In the Dark, Basingstoke

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Cab front of an unidentified Class 33 diesel locomotive stabled for the night on a siding at Basingstoke station in the late 1980's.

The Class 33 stands close to where one of Basingstoke's lever-operated signal boxes once stood, opposite the current signal box (see photo below) where the track diverges to Reading station.

As a young boy in the early 1960's, I was lucky enough, with a friend of mine, to be able to visit the older wooden signal box in question and watch for a while as a variety of Southern Region steam-hauled trains passed by in both directions. 

A treat I will never forget.

Basingstoke Signal Box     Photo: Charles Moorhen

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".