87s in Bulgaria 10-17 May

[87015]

Taken a while to find to process these, but 20 photos of a selection of old friends from Bulgaria...

More detailed info is on the caption of each photo, happy to answer any further queries.

http://87015aewn.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/bulgarian-sevens-may-2014/


--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And if 87s are not your thing, as questionable as that is here is the BDZ and other private goodies from the trip...

http://87015aewn.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/bulgaria-bdz-may-2014

 

[gazthomas]

Cracking!

 

[Dave1954]

Good to see the 87s in action again I noticed they don't seem to send them through the wash as much as we used to do !!
Dave1954..

 

[Minilad]

Oh the memories


Back when the WCML was worth travelling on

 

[mpb56125]

Some pictures off 87's working in Bulgaria last week and today at http://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains2014/Bulgaria-September-2014/

Mark
http://mark5812.smugmug.com

 

[Ash Bridge]

Some great shots there, Sofia is my wife's home city and we got married there a decade ago. I explained to her that before the Pendolino's these same locomotives could be seen at Stockport (our local station)hauling the Intercity services to/from London Euston. On the subject of 87s in Bulgaria, one (not sure which)suffered a serious fire last winter, was it repaired and put back in traffic any body know?

 

[87015]

Yes 022 was back in traffic in the Spring.

Only 008 and 014 are out of service - long term in both cases and probably unlikely to run again.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Many thanks for that info, plan to visit Sofia next April so hopefully will get a chance to get to Sofia Central station to see if there are any 87s/92s in the vicinity, cheers again.

 

[fowler9]

Lovely photos. Any reason why they took the old sealed beam headlights off?

 

[mpb56125]

Many thanks for that info, plan to visit Sofia next April so hopefully will get a chance to get to Sofia Central station to see if there are any 87s/92s in the vicinity, cheers again.

Most off these freights where diverted via Sofia due to engineering works on the direct line east off Pirdop.

Mark

 

[Ash Bridge]

Most off these freights where diverted via Sofia due to engineering works on the direct line east off Pirdop.

Mark

Thanks for that advice.

 

[33056]

Lovely photos. Any reason why they took the old sealed beam headlights off?

Stand to be corrected but presume it is something to do with the requirement to have a high(er) level headlight in mainland Europe so the front lights form a triangle.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Stand to be corrected but presume it is something to do with the requirement to have a high(er) level headlight in mainland Europe so the front lights form a triangle.

That seems to be the case on many EU countries railways. For the past 20ish years new build locomotives & Units here have been thus fitted e.g. Class 66, 92, 170 etc, Think that sealed beam headlamp on the 87s dates back to when originally built back in 1972-74.

 

[Dave1954]

Good to see them having a second life I suppose but can someone tell on here what happened to all the 87s nameplates , was they stored or disposed off .
regards dave1954.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Good to see them having a second life I suppose but can someone tell on here what happened to all the 87s nameplates , was they stored or disposed off .
regards dave1954.

I think 87004 Brittania is service in Bulgaria still carring it's nameplates and in BR rail blue livery.

 

[87015]

I think 87004 Brittania is service in Bulgaria still carring it's nameplates and in BR rail blue livery.

The original (or VT) plates carried at withdrawal were sold off by VT/Porterbrook. 004 carries replica plates as do the Bulmarket's 017 and 023.

Here is 004 in all its glory, it now looks even more rateable as the bucket and mop to wash it at every stop has been binned so its finally a bit weathered!



More here: http://87015aewn.wordpress.com/class-87s-in-bulgaria

 

[Ash Bridge]

The original (or VT) plates carried at withdrawal were sold off by VT/Porterbrook. 004 carries replica plates as do the Bulmarket's 017 and 023.

Here is 004 in all its glory, it now looks even more rateable as the bucket and mop to wash it at every stop has been binned so its finally a bit weathered!



More here: http://87015aewn.wordpress.com/class-87s-in-bulgaria

Thankyou for correcting me and providing the additional information/excellent shot of 004. I realise BDZ operate the passenger services but when you see those ancient looking Skoda Bo-Bo electrics on expresses you can't help but think one of the old 87s would surely outperform them on these workings?