Photo Virgin Trains Super Voyager Class 221142 DMU Train Rugby 2012

221142 'Super Voyager' DEMU, Rugby Station

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Class 221142 Virgin Voyager diesel electric multiple unit, photographed on a wet, stormy evening, as can be seen by the threatening clouds above the train, stands in Rugby railway station on the 2nd September 2012 whilst en route with a scheduled service to Wolverhampton.

This tilting 5-car diesel electric multiple unit UK passenger train, known as a Super Voyager, was built between 2001 and 2002 by Bombardier Transportation.

Since Virgin Trains lost it franchise in December 2019, this and other West Coast Main Line Class 221 Voyager units are operated by Avanti West Coast.

As I typed the words, Rugby station, I was reminded of its connection with the world-famous author, Charles Dickens and of his fictional, Mugby Junction, (the name inspired by Rugby station).

Finding himself at the Warwickshire station during a reading tour in 1866, Charles Dickens and a companion entered its refreshment room.  While Dickens' companion searched in his pockets for the correct change with which to pay for the coffee the pair had ordered, the novelist reached out to take hold of the milk and sugar.  

However, before he could lay his hands on the items, they were whisked out of reach by the counter assistant who said, "You sha'nt have any milk and sugar, 'till you two fellows have paid for your coffee".

No celebrity worship there then!

Apparently the counter assistant had not recognised the esteemed writer.

The incident made it into one of the 'Mugby Junction' stories.

Class 221 Voyager DMU on YouTube:

Virgin Voyager Class 221 at Milton Keynes.

Class 221101 Voyager DMU 'Ghost of Virgin Past'.

Double Virgin Trains Class 221 Super Voyager at Crewe.

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Night Photo Class 165035 Chiltern Railways Network Turbo DMU Train Banbury 2017

Class 165035 Diesel Multiple Unit, Banbury Station at Night

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Black and white night photo of Chiltern Railways diesel multiple unit Class 165035 passenger train at Banbury railway station UK.

This Class 165 three-car dmu unit, one of a class originally known as Network Turbos, was photographed late at night with a long exposure time in 2017, had recently completed a scheduled commuter train service from London Marylebone and would probably have been stabled at the station for the night.

Class 165 DMUs on YouTube:

Chiltern Railways Class 165 DMU departs Aylesbury.

Chiltern Railways Class 165s at speed compilation.

Chiltern Railways Class 165 DMU 'Ghost Train'.

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Photo Class 92038 Eurotunnel UK Diesel Loco 'Voltaire' at Rugby 2012

Class 92038 Eurotunnel Diesel Locomotive 'Voltaire'

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Class 92038 UK diesel locomotive named after 'Voltaire', the French writer, historian and philosopher, poses for a photo in European Passenger Services two-tone grey livery, parked up in a bay platform at Rugby station in April 2012.

The class 92 diesel locomotives were built between 1993 and 1995 by Brush Traction at Loughborough.  92038 was completed in October 1995.

It is fitted with TVM430 signalling equipment enabling it to operate on High Speed 1.

The Class 92 locos were designed specifically to operate services through the Channel Tunnel between France and Britain, and have dual-voltage in order to run from overhead power cables (25 kV AC) or the third rail (750 V DC).

The fleet numbers of 92s ran from 92001 to 92046 with the majority being named after famous writers or composers/musicians, such as 92022 Charles Dickens, 92002 H.G. Wells and 92043 Debussy. 
At the time of this update, (2020), 13 of the class have been exported for use abroad - and 92038 'Voltaire' has lost its name.

Class 92 Locomotives on YouTube:

Class 92 Locomotive Compilation (Stills & Action).

 

The Best of Class 92.

Class 92 on the Mainline.

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Photo BR Class 37057 D6757 UK Diesel Loco Whitemoor Yard 1989

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

This photo of a careworn British Rail Class 37 37057 UK diesel loco was taken in 1989 amongst the weed-strewn sidings of March TMD, Cambridgeshire.

 

During a trainspotting trip to March station, where I photographed a number of diesel locos and dmus, I found out about nearby Whitemoor Yard and decided to take a quick look.

After a short walk I was inside the yard.  There didn't seem to be any staff about, well none that I could see, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to grab a couple of shots while I had the chance.

The result is seen above.  Not the best photo in the world, it was taken on a 35mm film camera loaded, unfortunately, with out-of-date film - but at least it was a record of the day.

In the background can be seen a couple of Class 45 'Peak' locos, possibly waiting for their final trip along the tracks to the scrapyard, while to the right stands a Class 31 diesel loco in Railfreight livery.

UK diesel loco Class 37057 originally numbered D6757, known as an English Electric Type Three, was built in October 1962 and at one time carried the name, 'Viking' .  

The locomotive survived the fate of languishing in a scrapyard and is currently owned by Colas Rail.  

Class 37 Locomotives on YouTube:

Class 37057 and 37610 at Retford.

Class 37057 leads test train out of Ayr.

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Night Photo Railway Track Machines 73919 and DR73925 Tampers Ely 2014

Railway Track Machines at Ely Station

Early evening photo of Colas Rail UK railway Tamper Track machine 73919 and Plasser & Theurer Track machine, DR73925 'Europa' on a siding at Ely railway station, Cambridgeshire, on the 22nd of June 2014.

Track Machine 73919 on YouTube:

Colourful rail machine at Ely.

Colas Rail Track Machine 73919          Photo: Charles Moorhen

Track Machine DR73925 'Europa'           Photo: Charles Moorhen
 

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'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".

Night Photo Chiltern Railways Clubman Class 168215 DMU Train Banbury 2012

Class 168215 Diesel Multiple Unit, Banbury Station

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

Chiltern Railways Trains Clubman Class 168215 (effectively a Class 170) diesel multiple unit, built by Adtranz/Bombardier at Derby, waits at Banbury station - offering an ideal night photo opportunity - in August 2012.

Resembling the Class 165 dmu unit, the Class 168 UK passenger trains were manufactured in several batches from 1987 to a total build of 19 trainsets.  Further builds, were classed as 168/1 and 168/2.  
Due to the fact that the class was built at the same time as the Class 170 Turbostar they were regarded as part of the Turbostar family of trains.

Chiltern Railways ordered the first batch of Clubman carriages which were delivered in 3-car sets.  Later these sets were lengthened to 4-cars.

When Chiltern Railways obtained nine trainsets from First TransPennine Express, the trains were converted to operate with the Class 168 fleet and redesignated as Class 168/3.

Chiltern Railways Class 168215 DMU in action on YouTube:

Class 168215 departs Birmingham Moor St.

Class 168215 passing Gerrards Cross.

Class 168215 and 165017 departing Paddington.

Class 168215 departs Bicester North.

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Photo Railfreight Livery Class 37074 Class 37101 UK Diesel Locos Basingstoke 1992

Class 37 Diesel Locomotives at Basingstoke Station

Photo:  Charles Moorhen

A summer day train photo of Railfreight General Livery, Class 37074 (leading) and Class 37101 UK diesel locomotives in a sad and thoroughly neglected condition, double-heading a container freight train through Basingstoke station, Hampshire, heading south on a sunny July day in 1992.

 

Run down UK diesel locomotives such as these, along with electric and diesel multiple units, were a common sight on Britain's railway network prior to rail privatisation in 1994 and 1997.

Class 37074 was built by English Electric Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns and released for service on the 17th September 1962 in a livery of BR green with half yellow end warning panels and allocated to Thornaby.

The loco was the third to have the nose rebuilt to centralise the headcode and remove the corridor connection in 1970 after receiving severe damage.

After years of service Class 37074 was officially withdrawn on the 22nd September 2005.  It was cut up at Booth's, Rotherham, 2nd November 2005.

Class 37101 was built at the English Electric Vulcan Foundry and released into service as D6801 on the 28th December 1962 and allocated to Darnall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

It was renumbered 37345 on the 2nd September 1994.

Sadly, 37101 was cut up at Immingham MPD on the 20th August 2003.


Basingstoke 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.

Class 37 Locos at Basingstoke on YouTube:

DRS Tractor 37603 at Basingstoke with DRS convoy.
DRS Class 37s with nuclear waste through Basingstoke.

Class 37s clag out of Basingstoke.

DRS Class 37 Convoy passing Basingstoke.

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