52. The CME & a trip out on the Marston Vale line-06.08.22

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2022 > 52. The CME & a trip out on the Marston Vale line-06.08.22

With yet another fine day forecast I collected Andy and we headed to one of our favourite spots just north Leighton Buzzard to capture another Cumbrian Mountain Express. After a breakfast stop we decided to take a run out and back on the Marston Vale line between Bletchley and Bedford on one of the London Midland operated Class 230s.

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Images 1-18 of 18 displayed.

66515, 03.25 Garston-London Gateway (4L52, 8E), Old Linslade
We had been monitoring the progress of 4L52 as was heading southwards towards us on the up fast line half expecting it to go onto the slow at Hanslope Junction or perhaps at Drayton Road (Bletchley) but it remained on the fast past us here at Old Linslade to finally be moved over at Ledburn Junction with a number of faster services not up its backside! 66515 makes a fine sight leading the 03.25 Marston to London Gateway past Old Linslade on a stunning morning.
Keywords: 66515 03.25 Garston-London Gateway 4L52 Old Linslade Freightliner

86259, outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express, 07.08 London Euston-Carlise (1C96, 10E), Old Linslade
I never tire of seeing classically restored 86259 'Les Ross/Peter Pan' in action on its natural home, the WCML. Luckily for me it sees regular use throughout the year so I always make the effort together out and see it! Here it passes Old Linslade leading the outward leg of the Cumbrian Mountain Express that left Euston at 07.08 heading for Carlisle. I love the early morning lighting in this photograph but notice the tinder dry embankments and fields caused by a prolonged period of drought. Also notice that for some odd reason the train has been given the strange reporting number of 1C96 rather than its more usual 1Z86; any information as to why?
Keywords: 86259 The Cumbrian Mountain Express 07.08 London Euston-Carlise 1C96 Old Linslade Les Ross Peter Pan

EWR station extension, Bletchley station
Tangible progress is being made on East West Rail's project to connect Oxford to Bedford via Bicester (completed) and Bletchley. The new station extension is seen elevated on the rebuilt eastern side of the famous concrete flyover. The rectangular section directly in the centre of the photograph will be where the existing footbridge on which I am standing will be extended and enter the new part of the station. One wonders what the station extension will be called, will it still just be Bletchley or perhaps Bletchley EWR?
Keywords: EWR station extension Bletchley station

230004, LN 09.17 Bletchley-Bedford (2S09, 1E), Bletchley station
Despite living so close to the Marston Vale line I have yet to take a journey on a Vivarail Class 230 or even take any photgraphs desite them being in service on this route since 2019! This siuation was about to change on this lovely summer's day with Andy and I about to board 230004 at Bletchley and travel to Bedford on it as the 2S09 09.17 departure.
Keywords: 230004 09.17 Bletchley-Bedford 2S09 Bletchley station

Vinyls, 230004, LN 09.17 Bletchley-Bedford (2S09, 1E), Bletchley station
London Northwestern has three Vivarail Class 230s for its operations on the Marston Vale line with any two in service on every one day. As can be seen in this photgraph, the units are branded as they are dedicated for use on the route between Bletchley and Bedford. This is the side of 230004 as it waits to leave Bletchley with the 09.17 to Bedford that Andy and travelled on throughout.
Keywords: Vinyls 230004, LN 09.17 Bletchley-Bedford 2S09 Bletchley station

Interior, 230004, LN 09.17 Bletchley-Bedford (2S09, 1E), between Bow Brickhill & Woburn Sands
The interior of 230004 as we travel along the Marston Vale route on the approach to Woburn Sands (of safari park fame). The former London Underground D78 stock has been converted (or repurposed as Vivarail prefer to put it in a modern vernacular!) with the interiors looking very modern and functional. Whilst the side facing seating is essentially the same as to its as built configuration the two-plus-two seating further down is different with the toilet pod definitely never a feature from 1980 when the D78s were built Metro-Cammell in Birmingham! in 1980! In a nod to the past industrial heritage of the line's route note the brick work chimney vinyls applied to the toilet pod, something that the area was once famous for all of which have now been demolished with the wholesale closure of the once thriving industry.
Keywords: Interior 230004, LN 09.17 Bletchley-Bedford 2S09 Bow Brickhill & Woburn Sands

700146, TL 10.05 Bedford-Gatwick Airport (9R17, 4L), Bedford station
Thameslink's 700146 prepares to leave Bedford with the 10.05 service to Gatwick Airport. With sunblind pulled down quite so far I am amazed that the driver has any forward vision from his seat in the leading cab!
Keywords: 700146 10.05 Bedford-Gatwick Airport 9R17 Bedford station Thameslink

360112, EM 09.40 Corby-London St. Pancras (1Y18, 8L), Bedford station
With the sun having just dived behind a thin troublesome cloud the intensity of the light on this summer's day has been a little tempered as 360112 waits to depart from Bedford station with the 1Y18 09.40 Corby to St. Pancras service. With energising of the wires north from Bedford in 2021 the former Greater Anglia Class 360s have now taken over all operations on this route allowing the Meridians to be concentrated on the the MML further north. This, off course, enabled the remaining HSTs to be removed from the route and be taken off-lease.
Keywords: 360112 09.40 Corby-London St. Pancras 1Y18 Bedford station EMR East Midlands Railway Connect

222102, EM 09.35 London St. Pancras-Nottingham (1D23, 5L), Bedford station
222102 (formally named Professor Stuart Palmer when in operation with Hull Trains) speeds northwards through Bedford station with the 09.35 EMR service to Nottingham. With the introduction of the Class 810 Aurora bi-mode units the Meridians are due to be returned to Eversholt Rail Group by the end of this year (2022). However, with the first of the new units just coming off the production line and taking power to test their operating systems as this is being written in mid-August the ambition to have them in squadron operation in just four months may be a little optimistic?
Keywords: 222102 09.35 London St. Pancras-Nottingham 1D23 Bedford station EMR East Midlands Railway

700115, TL 10.19 Bedford-Brighton (9T25, 14L) & 700046, TL 10.14 Bedford-Bedford CS (5R15, RT), Bedford station
Bedford has become the go-to location for enthusiasts to collect the numbers of the Class 700s. Not on;y are many seen operating services southwards to and through London but there is a large depot and many sidings where they are maintained and stabled. In this photograph 700046 is heading the short distance into the sidings as the 10.14 5R15 from the station where it has just arrived from London. To the left 700115 will soon work the 10.19 Thameslink service to Brighton.
Keywords: 700115 10.19 Bedford-Brighton 9T25 700046 10.14 Bedford-Bedford CS 5R15 Bedford station Thameslink

360115 & 360116, EM 09.45 London St. Pancras-Corby (1Y17, RT), Bedford station
A pair of EMR Desiros stand at Bedford station's platform four. Consecutively numbered 360115 and 360116 are working the 1Y17 09.45 St. Pancras to Corby service.
Keywords: 360115 360116 09.45 London St. Pancras-Corby 1Y17 Bedford station EMR East Midlands Railway Desiro

360101, EM 09.52 Kettering CS-Bedford Cauldwell Depot (5M05, 13E), Bedford station
Having taken his photograph, Andy watches 360101 slow for its passage through Bedford station as the 5M05 09.52 Kettering to Bedford depot empty stock working. Whilst the sidings at Kettering enable basic servicing to be undertaken they are really just carriage sidings with more substantial attention requiring the units to go to Cauldwell sidings as is the case here.
Keywords: 360101 09.52 Kettering CS-Bedford Cauldwell Depot 5M05 Bedford station EMR Desiro East Midlands Railway

222006, EM 09.12 Nottingham-London St. Pancras (1B28, 9L), Bedford station
The 222006 sweeps through Bedford station working the 09.12 Nottingham to St. Pancras EMR service. The up fast services at Bedford have built up a fair head of speed as they pass through the town having descended from Sharnbrook summit to then cross the flat floodplain of the River Great Ouse on what is a virtually straight alignment for several miles. In fact, the curve that the Meridian is taking in this photograph is the first for some distance.
Keywords: 222006 09.12 Nottingham-London St. Pancras 1B28 Bedford station EMR East Midlands Railway Meridian

700110, TL 10.35 Bedford-Gatwick Airport (9R19, 2L), Bedford station
I find the front end design of the Class 700 Desiro City units rather clumsy and if I'm honest ugly! I am sure that the drivers appreciate their huge screen affording excellent visibility but as for those mock buffers that protrude from each side I really don't get it! 700110 waits to leave Bedford with the 10.35 to Gatwick Airport.
Keywords: 700110 10.35 Bedford-Gatwick Airport 9R19 Bedford station

700138, TL 10.48 Bedford-Brighton (9T27, 4L), Bedford station
Thameslink's 700138 is seen about to leave Bedford station with the 9T27 10.48 service to Brighton. Even though it does not look it in this photograph, Bedford station was busy on this Saturday morning with trains south towards London full and standing. Many of the travellers were soccer fans heading to matches taking place on the first day of the 2022/23 football league season.
Keywords: 700138 10.48 Bedford-Brighton 9T27 Bedford station Thameslink

230004, LN 11.14 Bedford-Bletchley (2S12, 2L), Bedford station
Having travelled out an hour or so earlier in the morning on 230003 we are going to travel back from Bedford to Bletchley 230004. It is seen prior to its 11.14 departure at Bedford's platform 1A. Whilst I am suitably impressed with the quality of the converted London Underground D78 stock its lack of air conditioning was noticeable on what was turning into yet another pretty hot summer's day!
Keywords: 230004 11.14 Bedford-Bletchley 2S12 Bedford station London Northwestern

66092, 06.37 Dollands Moor-DIRFT (6M45, RT), Bletchley station
Despite looking directly into the midday sun and thus breaking all the rules in the photographic book a reasonable shot of 66092 has been secured at Bletchley station as it speeds northwards with the daily 6M45 06.37 Dollands Moor to Daventry bottled water train. Photoshop has once again earned its keep with a fair amount of layers and adjustments to get things dramatically better than its original RAW image. At least I managed an image that is more than Andy did standing next to me as he did not notice that his memory card was full until he went to compose the scene as 66092 approached and this was a Class 66 that he needed a photograph of! I did exactly the same last year, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30019701998/x37884-12-07-derby-rtc-wembley-hs
Keywords: 66092 06.37 Dollands Moor-DIRFT 6M45 Bletchley station water train EWS

Tickets, Bletchley-Bedford-Bletchley
My return tickets for the journey on the Marston Vale line from Bletchley to Bedford. Andy kept his so just mine are shown here. £4.20 each way seems pretty good value but the distance is relatively short and these were off-peak tickets so it is a pretty pricy trip when all things considered!
Keywords: Tickets Bletchley-Bedford-Bletchley

Images 1-18 of 18 displayed.