80. Two oddments on a day off-06.09.24

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2024 > 80. Two oddments on a day off-06.09.24

At either end of the day, two interesting workings passed close to home which happened to coincide with me being out. Unfortunately, it was a very dark and grey late summer day (or is it actually autumn now?)

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Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

221102 & 221109, VT 08.16 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (9G08, 9L), Victoria bridge
Could this one be my LAST picture of a Voyager? Probably not as the rollout of the Class 805s has proved, rather inevitably, slower than anticipated. I am now reading that squadron service for the Everos could be the start of 2025 as they are experiencing some issues pertaining to the doors - where have we heard that before? In the meantime, 221102 and 221109 pass Victoria bridge near Roade working the 08.16 Euston to Birmingham New Street service.
Keywords: 221102 221109 08.16 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 9G08 Victoria bridgeVirgin Voyager

D6851 (37667) & 57311, 06.45 Crewe HS-Southall LSL (5Z94, 24E), Victoria bridge
An interesting and rarely seen (by me at least) pair of LSL's finest seen out on the mainline. Formally 37667 and now running as D6851 'Flosie' is seen leading a Mk.1 coach with 57311 at the rear going along for the ride. Running as 5Z94 the 06.46 Crewe HS to Southall LSL is seen passing Victoria bridge just south of Roade on a very dull and grey early September day. The unusual name afforded to the Class 37 is after LSL's owner, whose mother has been known as Flossie throughout her life.
Keywords: D6851 37667 57311, 06.45 Crewe HS-Southall LSL 5Z94 Victoria bridge LS Locomotive Services LTD Flopsie

66722, 13.57 Birch Coppice-London Gateway (4L68, RT), Victoria bridge
66722 'Sir Edward Watkin' leads the daily 4L68 Birch Coppice to London Gateway GBRf 'liner service pst Victoria bridge between Roade and Ashton. It was named way back in December 2006 in a ceremony held at Euston station where 66718 'Gwyneth Dunwoody', 66719 'Metroland', 66720 'Metronet Pathfinder' and 66721 'Harry Beck' were also named. They all wore Metronet liveries, which 66722 did until the summer of 2014.
Keywords: 66722 13.57 Birch Coppice-London Gateway 4L68 Victoria bridge GBRf Sir Edward Watkin

805011, 16.36 London Euston-Crewe (3K97, 5E), Victoria bridge
With daily test runs still taking place, it looks as though the release of all of the Class 805s into traffic is not going to take place just yet and let's not mention the 807s just yet! 805011 passes Victoria bridge working the 3K97 16.36 Euston to Crewe run that would return later in the day passing this spot at 21.15. There have been some problems with the role out of the 805s relating to, surprise, surprise, their software!
Keywords: 805011 16.36 London Euston-Crewe 3K97 Victoria bridge AWC Everio

175114 & 175111, 10.02 Landore TMD-Ely Papworth Sidings (5Q36, 34L) & Class 350s, LN 16.06 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1Y54, RT), Victoria bridge
As a pair of London Northwestern Class 350s head south working the 16.06 Birmingham to Euston train pass a pair of perfectly good, if a little older than the Class 350s, Cordia Class 175s are sent to Ely for further storage and an uncertain future. 175114 and 175111, formally named 'Manchester 2002 - Commonwealth Cruiser' and 'Brief Encounter' respectively are forming the 5Q36 10.02 Landore (Swansea) to Ely Papworth Sidings empty stock move. After leaving South Wales late and losing even more time heading to London it has picked up here and is passing to the minute it was planned to do so!
Keywords: 175114 175111 10.02 Landore TMD-Ely Papworth Sidings 5Q36 Class 350 16.06 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1Y54 Victoria bridge TfW

175111 & 175114, 10.02 Landore TMD-Ely Papworth Sidings (5Q36, 34L), Victoria bridge
With the Class 197s now in squadron service for TfW the Class 175s have been stood down. A number have already been moved away from their Welsh haunts to Ely for storage. Another pair of the units, 175111 and 175114, pass Victoria bridge near Roade making the journey as the 10.02 Landore to Papworth Sidings. Introduced in 2000, they may well be twenty-four years old now but eminently up for the job (despite their propensity to catch fire that is!) with scrapping surely not an option?

PS I have just read in Rail that GWR are looking to take some of the Class 175s on to replace their final 'short' HST Castle sets that operate in Cornwall.
Keywords: 175111 175114 10.02 Landore TMD-Ely Papworth Sidings 5Q36 Victoria bridge TfW

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.