97. The start of a London Nortwestern cull-26.10.24

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2024 > 97. The start of a London Nortwestern cull-26.10.24

The cull has begun! London Northwestern announced some time ago that the 350/2 sub-class would be going off-lease as the new Class 730 Aventra entered service. Of course, this has taken much longer than anticipated but the process has, at last, begun. Last week three units went to Wolverton Works and today, one of those was sent north having had its identity removed.
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221101 & 221103, VT 09.02 London Euston-Holyhead (1D83, 1E), A508 bridge I was not expecting a pair of Voyagers to pass whilst I was standing on Roade's former A508 road bridge. The 1D83 09.02 Euston to Holyhead Avanti service should have been a Class 805, indeed RTT was showing this to be the case, but obviously, something was amiss hence it being worked by 221101 and 221103 now devoid of any Avanti graphics. After a few days of lovely autumn sunshine, today is particularly dull and grey and all this marking the end of British Summer Time with the clocks going back this evening; bring on 30.03.25! Keywords: 221101 221103 09.02 London Euston-Holyhead 1D83 A508 bridge AWC Avanti West Coast Voyager
350244, 10.05 Wolverton Centre Sidings-Ardwick TMD (5Z77, 1E), site of Roade station At first glance, this would appear to be a routine photograph of a London Northwestern Desiro passing Roade. However, close examination reveals that 350244 is devoid of any graphics. This is one of the first four members of the 350/2 subset that have come off-lease to head off to other areas. Initially, on Thursday 244 would join 350236 that was already at Wolverton with, 350251 and 350255 joining later. The units are debranded and then being sent north for possible use with Northern. Having just left Wolverton, the unit worked as 5Z77 arriving at Ardwick (Manchester) at 12.43. Incidentally, maybe taking all four off-lease at one go was a trifle premature as on Friday 350236 was back in service with London Northwestern! Keywords: 350244 10.05 Wolverton Centre Sidings-Ardwick TMD 5Z77 site of Roade station London Northwestern Desiro
67544 (350244), 10.05 Wolverton Centre Sidings-Ardwick TMD (5Z77, 1E), site of Roade station I don't normally take badly cropped pictures of coaches passing at speed! However, this photograph shows coach 67544 of set 350244 revealing the darker black patch on its flanks where the London Northwestern logo and graphics have been removed. This is the first Desiro heading off to pastures new as the 5Z77 10.05 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Ardwick TMD where it will enter service with Northern. Over the next few weeks and months, all the Class 350/2s will come off-lease and head off up north! Keywords: 67544 350244 10.05 Wolverton Centre Sidings-Ardwick TMD 5Z77 site of Roade station London Northwestern Desiro

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