Photo Virgin Trains Driving Van Trailer Class 82127 Train Wolverton 2005

Class 82127 Virgin Trains Driving Van Trailer, Wolverton Station

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

UK Virgin Trains Mk3 Driving Van Trailer Class 82127, in early Virgin striped livery, is photographed standing in Wolverton station in April 2005 while operating a passenger service heading north along the West Coast Main Line from London Euston to the north.

A Driving Van Trailer, such as the one above, was a class of purpose-built control car, allowing the driver to operate the locomotive from the opposite end of the train, using the DVT as the leading vehicle.

Built by British Rail Engineering Ltd., Metro-Cammell, Breda.  Mk3 Class 82127 was one of a fleet of 52 units bearing the numbers 82101 - 82152.

Virgin Trains operated the Mk3 DVT on push-pull services on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) between London Euston, Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow in conjunction with locomotive classes 86, 87 and 90.

This operating procedure came to an end with the introduction of the Class 390 Pendolino electric multiple unit tilting trains in 2002.




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Night Photo Class 220010 Cross Country Voyager DMU Leamington Spa 2016

Cross Country Trains Class 220010 Diesel Multiple Unit, Leamington Spa Station

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

A night photo of UK Cross Country Trains Class 220010  Voyager diesel multiple unit (DMU) passenger train, standing in the station while en route to Southampton Central station in August 2016, as the sky darkens over the town of Leamington Spa.

 

Leamington Spa station, which also sees passenger train services operated by Chiltern Railways, London Midland Trains (now West Midlands Trains) and a fair amount of through freight traffic, seems almost deserted on what was a lovely summer's evening for trainspotting and photographing trains.

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Photo Class 31124 and 31102 BR Diesel Locos Double Heading 1989

BR Class 31124 and 31102 Diesel Locomotives, Whitemoor Yard

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Back to the year 1989 for a nostalgic look at two UK British Rail Class 31 diesel locomotives double-heading.

 

Class 31124, in BR Blue livery, leads this duo with Class 31102, in BR Railfreight livery, following.  In a cloud of blue diesel exhaust smoke - it appears that 31124 is providing the sole power - the pair exit Whitemoor Yard near March station, Cambridgeshire, in May 1989.

This Class 31 photo was taken from the road bridge over the tracks not far from March station.

Red asterisk identifies location of Class 31's in above photo
Image: Google Maps

When I visited March railway station in 1989 for a spotting trip, I was totally unaware that Whitemoor Yard even existed.  I was not until I noticed the occasional diesel locomotive using a track in the distance.

After a short walk I found the yard, and was glad that I did.  

Staying well clear of the working tracks I was able to photograph some 'Peak' locomotives lined up for scrap as were a couple of Class 08 shunters.  I returned later in the evening before heading home an was able to photograph another 'Peak' as the sun was going down behind it.  

That particular photo is available elsewhere on this blog by clicking here.

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.

 

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Photo Silverlink EMU Train Class 321422 Wolverton 1990s

'Silverlink Trains' Class 321422 Electric Multiple Unit, Wolverton

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Photo of UK 'Silverlink Trains' electric multiple unit, (EMU), Class 321 321422 entering Wolverton station in Buckinghamshire whilst operating a service from London Euston to Northampton.

Owned by National Express, 'Silverlink Trains' passenger trains operated passenger services on various lines between March 1997 and November 2007, taking over from the 'boxy-shaped' Network South East Class 317s.

The Class 321 electric multiple units consisted of 117 4-car units drawing from power from overhead lines.  The trains were built between 1988 and 1991 at British Rail Engineering Limited's York Works in three batches.

The Silverlink Class 321 units on the Northampton Line were superseded the Class 350 emu's when London Midland Trains took over the franchise, and then again by West Midlands Trains. 


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.

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Photo Class 47822 UK Diesel Loco Intercity Swallow Livery at Basingstoke 1990s

Class 47822 Intercity Liveried Diesel Locomotive, Basingstoke

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Photo of UK diesel locomotive Class 47822 in Intercity 'Swallow' livery  standing at platform 2 of Basingstoke station in the 1990s.

Class 47822 was built in May 1964 at Brush Traction, Loughborough.

The locomotive was renumbered to 57305 on the 19 December 2002. 

Throughout its life it has carried four names, Alan Tracey - Thunderbirds,  John Tracey - Thunderbirds, Pride of Shrewsbury and Northern Princess.

Class 57305 (47822) is still in mainline service, owned by Direct Rail Services (DRS), operating such services as the DRS Northern Belle.

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 47701

Class 47790 'Galway Princess'

Class 57307 'Lady Penelope'

Basingstoke railway station historical note:
In the mid-1800s, a special train was permanently kept in a state of readiness by the London & South Western Railway for the sole use of the Duke of Wellington - hero of the Battle of Waterloo - at Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK, should he require it.


 The 'Iron Duke' was not a fan of the 'new fangled railways' and it is not known if he ever used his train.

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Photo Class 47701 Network South East UK Diesel Loco Basingstoke 1990s

  Class 47701 Diesel Locomotive, Basingstoke

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

 

In Network South East livery, UK Class 47701 'Old Oak Common Traction & Rolling Stock Depot', (formerly named 'Saint Andrew' then, in May 1997 renamed 'Waverley'), stands at platform 2 Basingstoke station with a rake of Network South East coaches before heading to Salisbury.

 

Class 47701 was built in February 1966 at Brush Traction in Loughborough.

The UK diesel locomotive was withdrawn from British Rail service in 1997.  It was then purchased by Tracy Lear and hired to Fragonset who sub-contracted it out to anyone who wanted it.

47701 is now based at Meldon Quarry on the Dartmoor Railway.


Basingstoke railway station historical note:
In the mid-1800s, a special train was permanently kept in a state of readiness by the London & South Western Railway for the sole use of the Duke of Wellington - hero of the Battle of Waterloo - at Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK, should he require it.
Wellington was not a fan of the 'new-fangled railways' and it is not known if he ever used his train.

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 47790 'Galway Princess'

Class 57307 'Lady Penelope'

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Photo British Railways UK Steam Locomotive 73096 Mid Hants Railway

British Railways Standard Steam Loco 73096 at Alresford Station

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Seen blowing off steam at Alresford station, on the preserved Mid-Hants Railway, UK British Railway Standard steam locomotive, 4-6-0 73096, takes a well-earned rest between operating duties.

 

The first of this class of steam locomotive, having been designed and built under the direction of R. A. Riddles, was completed at the British Railways Derby Works in April 1955.

Although comparatively rare on the Eastern Region during its operating days, it was otherwise used on the main lines of all other regions.

The class embodied many features and details of the British Railways "Britannia" class and were used on mixed traffic duties.  

UK steam locomotive 73096 was withdrawn from main line service on the 30/11/67 and sold to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales.

In July 1985 the locomotive was rescued and returned to service in October 1993 , following a major boiler overhaul.  


Personal Comment:

Television viewers in the UK using 'Freeview', may be interested to know that the commercial for a collection of nostalgic CDs, featuring a couple and their dog and a shot of 34016 steam loco 'Bodmin', shows occasionally on the 'Talking Pictures TV channel'.  

It was filmed at Alresford station on the Mid-Hants Railway.

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Photo Class 170205 Abellio Greater Anglia Turbostar DMU Train Ely Station 2014

Class 170205 Greater Anglia Diesel Multiple Unit, Ely Station

Class 170205 at Ely         Photo: Charles Moorhen

UK Class 170205 diesel multiple unit, (DMU) UK passenger train, in Abellio Greater Anglia Trains blue and white livery disgorges its passengers at Ely station in June 2014.

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Photo Class 43075 East Midlands Trains HST Intercity 125 Cab Front

East Midlands Train Class 43075 Intercity 125, Wellingborough

Photo: Charles Moorhen

A colourful close-up photo of freshly repainted UK Class 43075 Intercity 125 High Speed passenger train cab front taken at Wellingborough station.

It was purely the collection of rich colours that prompted me to take this photo, plus the fact that it suits the pointed shape of the Class 43 so well.   A real improvement on the early Midland Mainline livery that was a common sight for a number of years on this line.

East Midlands Trains Class 43075 diesel power unit was built at Crewe Works in January 1976.

The locomotive's depot is Neville Hill T&RSMD (Leeds).

 

SCRAPPED:

The end of the line finally came for East Midlands Trains Intercity 125 power car 43075 when, on the 27th October 2021, along with power car 43061, it was towed by diesel locomotive Class 57312 from Long Marston to Newport to be disposed of at Sims Metals.  The two power cars were the first to be sent for scrapping that had not been involved in an accident.

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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Photo Class 31173 British Rail UK Diesel Locomotive Peterborough 1988

BR Class 31173 Diesel Loco, Peterborough

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

A close up view of UK British Rail Class 31173 diesel locomotive in BR Blue livery pulls into Peterborough station hauling a train of postal coaches, an operation long since confined to history and memory, in 1988.

Class 31173 was built at Brush Traction, Loughborough, in February 1960.  The locomotive was withdrawn from British Rail service on the 14th April 1989 and subsequently scrapped at MC Metals in Glasgow.

 

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.

 

 

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Night Photo Class 43157 Yorkshire Evening Post Intercity 125 Peterborough 1988

Class 43157 Intercity 125, 'Yorkshire Evening Post' Peterborough Station

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

UK Class 43157 'Yorkshire Evening Post' Intercity 125 High Speed Train is seen in this night photo at Peterborough station in December 1988.

 

According to the NREA 'The Spotter's Companion' for 2004, Intercity 125 43157 had by this time lost its name.

Note the Post Office trolleys on the platform to the right of the picture.  These, and the Post Office workers who made use of them, were once a very common sight on railway stations throughout Britain. 

Now, just a part of railway history.

Diesel power unit Class 43157 has now been re-numbered and is operating as one of the Cross Country Trains fleet as Class 43357.  Its name has been removed.

                                                Class 43357 in Cross Country Livery



The Peterborough train image (top) was the first long exposure night photo of a train that I had ever taken.  I used a Pentax 35mm camera.

Not possessed of a tripod at the time, I had to improvise with a platform trolley, similar to the example to the right of the picture, and balance the camera upon that to get the shot.   




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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Photo British Rail Blue Class 31168 UK Diesel Loco Bletchley 1988

Class 31168 Diesel Locomotive, on Bletchley Sidings Waiting To Be Scrapped

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Looking in a sad state of affairs, with its rusty bodywork and oil-soaked underframe, UK British Rail Class 31168 diesel loco in BR Blue livery stands on the sidings at Bletchley station.

Sandwiched between two other Class 31s, 31168 which was built at Brush Traction, Loughborough, in February 1960, was withdrawn from service on the 20th December 1991 and subsequently scrapped on the 31st May 2001.

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.

 

 

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Photo Class 31146 BR Diesel Loco Railfreight Livery March Station 1989

  Class 31146 Diesel Locomotive, March Station

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

British Rail Class 31146 UK diesel loco, in BR Railfreight livery, hauls an empty freight train between the deserted and weed-strewn platforms of the single-line March railway station, Cambridgeshire, in 1989.

 

Class 31146 in November 1959 at Brush Traction, Loughborough, and once carried the name Brush Veteran.

This diesel locomotive was withdrawn from service on the 24th March 2000 and scrapped on the 1st July 2004.

 

 

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.

 

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