17. A morning on the Midland Mainline-16.03.18

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2018 > 17. A morning on the Midland Mainline-16.03.18

A few hours out on the Midland Mainline with my spotting friend Andy. This trip allowed us to take our first pictures of the new class 700s in service. The trip was curtailed a little early as my glasses broke; again, and, believe me, I can't see very much without them!

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Images 1-16 of 16 displayed.

700042, TL 09.24 Bedford-Three Bridges (2W25, RT), Millbrook TL020397
700042 forms the 09.04 from Bedford to Three Bridges. It is just a few miles into this journey as it approaches Millbrook. I have yet to travel on one of these 700 units so cannot comment on the issues relating to their hard seating, but they do have quite an act to follow as the 319s that they replaced were (and still are in their new role at Northern Trains) comfortable and competent units.
Keywords: 700042 2W25 Millbrook TL020397

700031, TL 09.34 Bedford-Luton ECS (5H29), Millbrook TL020397
With the flat land know as Marston Vale in the background, 700031 approaches Millbrook with the 5H29 09.34 Bedford to Luton ECS working. A few years ago, this view would have been dominated by the many chimneys of the former brickworks that were situated here exploiting the clay close to the surface. Just to the right in the middle distance the four remaining chimneys can be made out. These are no longer in use and are preserved as a reminder of the area's industrial heritage.
Keywords: 700031 5H29 Millbrook TL020397

43058 & 43052, EM 07.46 Sheffield-London St. Pancras (1C22, 10L), Millbrook TL020397
43058 leads with 43052 bringing up the rear forming East Midlands Trains 07.46 Sheffield to London St. Pancras. 43058 was originally an Eastern Region power car as part of set 254002. Whereas, 43052 was an early Western Region unit as part of 253026. The train is sweeping past Millbrook in Bedfordshire.
Keywords: 43058 43052 1C22 Millbrook TL02039707.46 Sheffield st. Pancras

43083 & 43044, EM 09.15 London St. Pancras-Nottingham (1D17, RT), Millbrook TL020397
I don't normally 'do' going-away shots but when it's an HST in this livery and with this superb spring light I can make an exception! 43044 leads 43083 working the 09.15 London St. Pancras to Nottingham. It's seen heading north past Millbrook just south of Bedford with Marston Vale in the background that was once home to an extensive network of brickworks.
Keywords: 43083 & 43044 1D17 Millbrook TL020397

43076 & 43066, EM 06.34 Leeds-London St. Pancras (1B23, 11L), Millbrook TL020397
The 06.34 Leeds to London St. Pancras passes Millbrook in superb early spring sunshine. This livery has to be one of the most successful of the privatisation era that really makes these iconic trains stand out from the scenery as well as keeping these 50 year old veterans of the network looking fresh. The two power cars here, 43076 and 43066 were both Eastern Region units that were part of sets 254011 and 254006 respectively.
Keywords: 43076 & 43066 1B23 Millbrook TL020397

222009, EM 09.16 Corby-London St. Pancras (1P24, 1L) & 222016, EM 09.26 London St. Pancras-Sheffield (1F17, RT), Millbrook TL020397
Two Meridians pass at Millbrook just south of Bedford. In the foreground, 222009 just goes out of shot working the 1P24 09.16 Corby to London St. Pancras whilst 222016 heads north with the 1F17 09.26 St. Pancras to Sheffield. Whilst these Meridians have been good performers on the Midland Mainline, they are noisy and do not ride particularly well on the section of line between Kettering and Leicester. When I travel on this route, I always try to select an HST service as the Mk.3 experience is infinitely better than the class 222!
Keywords: 222009 1P24 222016 1F17 Millbrook TL020397

700003, TL 09.54 Bedford-Three Bridges (2W27, 2L), Millbrook TL020397
700003 heads south past Millbrook with the 09.54 Bedford to Three Bridges. Thameslink service. The 700s are the third generation of electrics to ply their trade on this route since it was electrified. Initially the 313s were intriduced, then the class 319s. One wonders how long the 700s will operate before being moved or cascaded as it is colloquially referred to?
Keywords: 700003 2W27 Millbrook TL020397

222004, EM 08.29 Sheffield-London St. Pancras (1C25, 7L), Millbrook TL020397
Seven-car Meridian 222004 passes Millbrook just south of Bedford working the 08.29 Sheffield to London St. Pancras 1C25 service. There is no doubt that these DMUs have been a great success on the Midland Mainline but I have to question their suitability for long journeys. Depending on where you sit there you may experience a nagging level of vibration due to the under-body Cummins QSK19 engines intruding. Also, their ride quality is not great on some sections of the Midland.
Keywords: 222004 1C25 Millbrook TL020397

222015, EM 09.05 Nottingham-London St. Pancras (1B26, 2L), Park Road Bridge, Millbrook TL020390
222015 '175 Years of Derby's Railways 1839 - 2014' approaches Ampthill Tunnel about to pass under Park Road Bridge working the 09.05 Nottingham to London St. Pancras. This shot may be a bit 'head on' but at least there is no intrusion from the overhead wires, this is difficult to manage in so many locations!
Keywords: 22201 1B26 Park Road Bridge Millbrook TL020390

222006, EM 09.58 London St. Pancras-Sheffiled (1F21, RT), Park Road Bridge, Millbrook TL020390
Having just emerged from Ampthill Tunnel (just visible in the background) , 222006 'The Carbon Cutter' works the 09.58 London St. Pancras to Sheffield. 222006 was named by the then Minister for Transport, later to become Chancellor, Philip Hammond in 2011.
Keywords: 222006 1F21 Park Road Bridge Millbrook TL020390

222101, EM 08.49 Sheffield-London St. Pancras (1C27, 4L), Park Road Bridge, Millbrook TL020390
With the sun just hiding behind a spring cloud, four-car 222101 heads south past Park Road Bridge between Bedford and Flitwick forming the 08.49 Sheffield to London St. Pancras. I really like the East Midlands Trains livery on both these Meridians and their HST brothers. It really makes then stand out in the landscape whatever the season and weather conditions.
Keywords: 222101 1C27 Park Road Bridge Millbrook TL020390

700056, TL 10.20 Bedford-Elephant & Castle (1J99, 1L), Park Road Bridge, Millbrook TL020390
This shot makes you realise just how long these class 700s are when compared with the 319s that they replaced. This is one of the shorter 8-coach units, the 700/1s are composed of 12 cars! I am sure that the commuters, who will be the main users of these units, will be pleased by the increase in capacity offered but the changes to service patterns and their uncomfortable seats may well have taken the gloss off their introduction? 700056 heads past Park Road Bridge, just north of Ampthill Tunnel, forming the 10.20 Bedford to Elephant and Castle.
Keywords: 700056 1J99 Park Road Bridge Millbrook TL020390

222010, EM 10.16 Corby-London St. Pancras (1P29, 2l), Flitwick station
East Midlands Trans 222010 passes Flitwick station at speed working the 10.16 Corby to London St. Pancras. Note, the non-standard number, slightly off-centre and in a larger font than the rest of the fleet.
Keywords: 222010 1P29 Flitwick station 10.16 Corby to London St. Pancras. Note, the non-standard number, slightly off centre and in a larger font than the rest of the fleet.

222003, EM 09.29 Sheffield-London St. Pancras (1C30, RT), Flitwick station
In its consist 222003 has car number 60163. This number is also shared with the erstwhile A1 Pacific that was new built by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. As such, this Meridian has been named 'Tornado', a name that it has carried since 2009. The Meridian is seen passing through Flitwick working the 09.29 Sheffield to St. Pancras 1C30 working.
Keywords: 222003, EM 09.29 Sheffield-London St. Pancras (1C30, RT), Flitwick station

222102, EM 10.25 Nottingham-London St. Pancras (1D24, 6L), Flitwick Station
Breaking the rules by looking into the light, four-car 222102 passes Flitwick station with the 1D24 10.25 London St. Pancras to Nottingham. Whilst these types of shots are frowned at by the traditionalist photographer, with judicious use of post-processing (Photoshop) a reasonable and 'different' shot can be presented as here.....comments please!
Keywords: 222102 1D24 Flitwick Station

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