2. Victoria charters-15.12.23

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2023 > 89. Trip to London-14-16.12.23 > 2. Victoria charters-15.12.23

Two charters at Victoria station got me out of our hotel whilst my wife was preparing for the day. If I had better knowledge of the routes south from Victoria and of the stations that the trains would pass I may well have gone elsewhere; more research is needed!
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Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

67021, outward leg of the Belmond British Pullman, 11.03 London Victoria-Gillingham (1Y40, 1E), London Victoria station The Belmond Pullman is a regular fixture of London Victoria station and always occupies Platform two as seen here. As the crew prepares for the passengers to board the train dedicated Belmond 67021 idles on the rear of the charter. The train was an out-and-back charter running, rather unusually as 1Y40, which does not differentiate it as a special working. Leaving at 11.03 the appropriately dressed passengers would enjoy a slap-up lunch and later afternoon tea taking a return trip to Gillingham. Keywords: 67021 Belmond British Pullman 11.03 London Victoria-Gillingham 1Y40 London Victoria station
67024, outward leg of the Belmond British Pullman, 11.03 London Victoria-Gillingham (1Y40, 1E), London Victoria station Due to access restrictions at Victoria, this is as close as I could get to the leading locomotive of the 11.03 Belmond Pullman charter to Gillingham. 67024 would lead the 1Y40 with passengers enjoying a sumptuous trip aboard the vintage stock one carriage of which is seen here. Number 254, named 'Zena' was built for the GWR by Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Company in 1928. Luxurious as they are I am not too sure how well they ride at speed on their ageing bogies so the average speeds of these Belmond charters are always kept deliberately slow so as to not spill after-dinner port! Keywords: 67024 Belmond British Pullman 11.03 London Victoria-Gillingham 1Y40 London Victoria station
45231, returning Santa Steam Express, 09.26 London Victoria-London Victoria (1Z31, 7L), London Victoria station The Christmas season is a busy and lucrative time for charter operators with this day at London's Victoria station no exception. Having photographed the Belmond Pullman service one of a series of Santa Steam Express charters arrives two minutes later. Suitably decked out in tinsel and with Santas disguising the running lights 45231 (formally LMS 5231) 'The Sherwood Forester' eases extremely slowly into Victoria station's platform seven leading the circular service that seemed full of groups of children. I was surprised that there was just one other enthusiast present to witness the arrival of the train with him suitable attired wearing an official Victoria pass on a lanyard with me having to resort to tapping in to gain access to the platform and even then feeling that I was going to be asked to leave at any moment; what has our hobby come to? Keywords: 45231 Santa Steam Express 09.26 London Victoria-London Victoria 1Z31 London Victoria station The Sherwood Forester
D1924, returning Santa Steam Express, 09.26 London Victoria-London Victoria (1Z31, 7L), London Victoria station Sitting at the rear, but soon to lead out of Victoria, D1924 'Crewe Diesel Depot' (formally 47247, 47655 and 47810) is seen at the rear of the 1Z31 09.26 return Santa Steam Express charter. This is probably my most photographed member of this elite group of Class 47s that just seem to keep on going doing their work for charter companies with no fuss. Not bad considering that they are as old as me and I have many ailments and faults! Keywords: 45231 Santa Steam Express 09.26 London Victoria-London Victoria 1Z31 London Victoria station Brush Type 4 Crewe Diesel Depot
465916, SE 11.27 London Victoria-Orpington (2M50, RT), London Victoria station There are one hundred and forty-seven Networkers in operation, a Class dating from 1992 making them over thirty years old. However, through a number of overhauls and upgrades during this time they still remain in frontline operation and seem relatively modern. Interestingly, they only have a maximum speed of seventy-five mph but I suppose that is not an issue given where they operate with constant slowing and starting from many stations. Their BR Mk. III heritage is clear to see in this view looking down the leading carriage of 465916 that will soon work the 2M50 11.27 to Orpington from Victoria. Keywords: 465916 11.27 London Victoria-Orpington 2M50 London Victoria station SouthEastern Networker
Nameplate, 45231, returning Santa Steam Express, 09.26 London Victoria-London Victoria (1Z31, 7L), London Victoria station Interstingly, 1936 built Class 5 45231 (LMS number 5231) never carried a name until well into its preservation era in 1976 becoming '3rd (Volunteer) Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment' and then ten years later becoming simply 'The Sherwood Forester', the name it still wears today. It is seen at Victoria having just arrived with the circular Santa Steam Express charter, one of a number it would lead in the run-up to Christmas 2023. An interesting fact about 45231 was that it has the distinction of working the last ever steam-hauled ballast train for British Railways that ran along the Furness Line in Cumbria just before the end of steam in August 1968. Keywords: Nameplate 45231 Santa Steam Express 09.26 London Victoria-London Victoria 1Z31 London Victoria station

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.