46. 'The Thanet Thunderer'-31.07.21

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2021 > 46. 'The Thanet Thunderer'-31.07.21

Timings for 'The Thanet Thunderer' charter had proved tricky to get so I was unsure until the morning of the event as to where to go and at what time. Realising that it was traversing the Marston Vale line from the Midland to the LNWR routes I considered going there but then settled on the popular spot at Old Linslade just north of Leighton Buzzard; so did a number of other enthusiasts!

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Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

377215, SN 06.10 East Croydon-Milton Keynes Central (2M09, 1E), Old Linslade
On a grey and dull morning with spits and spots of rain (in Met. Office parlance), 377215 passes Old Linslade working the 06.10 East Croydon to Milton Keynes Southern service. Behind the rear set of this eight-car train the bridge that carries the former A4146 over the WCML can be seen and then beyond that the twin bores of Linslade tunnels.
Keywords: 377215 06.10 East Croydon-Milton Keynes Central 2M09 Old Linslade Southern

350253, LN 07.30 Northampton-London Euston (2N06, RT), Old Linslade
350253 leads another Desiro past Old Linslade working the 07.30 Northampton to Euston service. On such a dull morning with an equally dull liveried train, the common tansy (tanacetum vulgare) that adorns the embankment in the foreground brightens things up nicely!
Keywords: 350253 07.30 Northampton-London Euston 2N06 Old Linslade London Northwestern Desiro

50007 & 50049, outward leg of 'The Thanet Thunderer', 06.05 East Midlands Parkway-Margate (1Z32, 2L), Old Linslade
Spot the error......with a Class 50 hauled charter including the word 'Thunderer' one would expect to see 50008 hauling the train and this was the plan! However, a short while after leaving its Severn Valley base the previous day to reach Burton-on-Trent 50008 failed its 'fitness to run' exam at Bescot so was hastily returned whence it came from and 50049 was substituted. The Branch Line Society charter, with an ambitious route, was able to run and did so to time throughout the day with the locomotives appearing to behave themselves faultlessly. Making a fine site 50007 'Hercules' leads 50049 'Defiance' on the outward leg of the charter past Old Linslade that had left East Midlands Parkway at 06.05 heading for Margate. It was good that the signallers had the confidence that the combined five thousand four hundred horsepower could keep the train going at a sustained one hundred miles per hour as they put it out on the fast after it left Bletchley despite being sandwiched between a Pendolino and a Voyager!
Keywords: 50007 50049 'The Thanet Thunderer' 06.05 East Midlands Parkway-Margate 1Z32 Old Linslade Hercules Defiance Hoover GBRf GB Railfreight

390043, VT 07.08 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (9G63, 36L), Old Linslade
The leading car of 390043 appears to be at full tilt as it takes a sharp curve at Old Linslade working the 07.08 Euston to Birmingham New Street Avanti service. Notice the broom producing its characteristic black seed pods, a sure sign that summer is now over halfway through!
Keywords: 390043 07.08 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 9G63 Old Linslade Avanti West Coast Pendolino

221110 & 221112, VT 06.45 Wolverhampton-London Euston (1B04, RT), Old Linslade
Running on yellow caution signals the driver of the 06.45 Wolverhampton to Euston would no doubt be cursing signallers allowing 'The Thanet Thunderer' charter out in front of his train at Bletchley. However, the Class 50s hauling the charter did their stuff and remained on the fast all the way to Wembley with the trailing Voyager service worked by 221110 and 221112 arriving on time at Euston.
Keywords: 221110 221112 06.45 Wolverhampton-London Euston 1B04 Old Linslade Avanti West Coast Voyager

66525, 03.25 Garston-London Gateway (4L52, 6L), Old Linslade
The 4L52 03.25 Garston to London Gateway Freightliner could have caused some sighting problems at Old Linslade as it was due to pass within two minutes of the Class 50 hauled 'The Thanet Thunderer' charter that I and a number of other enthusiasts had turned out to see. Luckily, things worked out with the Freightliner service being checked at Milton Keynes with the charter having already passed on the fast line in full view some five minutes previously.
Keywords: 66525 03.25 Garston-London Gateway 4L52 Old Linslade Freightliner

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.