Class 222015 DMU In Black & White
 |
Photo: Charles Moorhen |
In
the summer of 2014 I visited Wellingborough railway station on the
Midland Mainline to photograph the Grade II listed former Midland
Railway goods shed situated at the 'London' end of platform one;
something I had been meaning to do for a number of years.
Although
the weather was slightly overcast I did manage to record enough
images of the old building to make the trip worthwhile. (The results
can be seen in a 'Along These Tracks' blog post by clicking here).
In
addition to photographing this surprisingly well-preserved example of
railway architecture, I also fired off a few frames of DMU's,
locomotives and Intercity 125 Class 43's that came and went
throughout my time at the station.
Noting
that the available light was deteriorating as the day wore on, I
reluctantly made the decision to pack up and go home.
However,
as quickly as I had made that decision...I reversed it.
I
was at the furthest point I could be at the southern end of platform
one when the sound of a diesel engine attracted my attention. The
noise came from an approaching East Midlands Trains Class 222 DMU.
It
was obvious from its speed that it was a stopping service, but, even
so, the distance between train and station was shortening rapidly.
Would
it be worthwhile going for the shot I thought as I instinctively
grabbed the camera from its bag? Class 222015 - one of a fleet of 27 trains sets - was by now making an
impressive attempt at completely filling the frame by this time.
Acutely
aware that the dmu was bearing down on me, I hastily checked the
exposure, framed the shot, hit the shutter button – all in one
panicky movement - and prayed as I was aware a second later of the
air turbulence as 222015 swept by me.
Had
I been too late? Would this shot become yet another victim of my
camera delete button?
Fortunately,
this time, there was no need for the dreaded delete button. As I
examined the picture on the rear screen I saw that I had captured
the only decent image of a train that day!
Class 222015 DMU was built between 2003 and 2005 and allocated to Derby Etches Park.
Class 222015 DMU unit coach numbers are as follows: 60255 60925 60635 60535 60175.
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.
Other Class 222 DMU blog posts:
East Midlands Trains Class 222 002 Train at Wellingborough Station
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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".
