Wrexham and Shropshire refurbished stock

[Daimler]

I really and VERY impressed with the refurbishment!

The standard class looks amazing! So smart, almost as good at 1st class on other trains...

It is hugely impressive (if very monochrome, but I guess that's the style!). If anything, I think it highlights just how much mileage there still is in the original IC70 seat design/Mk3 coach in general.

 

[martyn29]

anyone know if the new set is out? I am planning on going on Wrexham and Shropshire tomorrow.

 

[matt]

It was out today on the 07:23 Wrexham to Marylebone
​

 

[CCF23]

I like the new set but in the travel section in last Sunday Independent (I think) there was a good 2 page article on WSMR and it said many a couple of times that one of the charms was the inter-citied liveried blue/grey coaches that reminded people of train travel of old, to me this doesn't make much of a difference as it won't to many other enthusiasts who now how good the service is, but could be a bad thing generally.

 

[martyn29]

Do you think there will be enough time to take breakfast on the 0941 from Tame Bridge to Wrexham?

 

[CCF23]

Do you think there will be enough time to take breakfast on the 0941 from Tame Bridge to Wrexham?

Yeah definitely

 

[martyn29]

not bad for £24.10

 

[furryfeet]

Do you think there will be enough time to take breakfast on the 0941 from Tame Bridge to Wrexham?

for even better value, try tame bridge to gobowen - 1st class day return is
20.80

0941 from tame bridge, arr 1101
dep gobowen 1144, arr 1301

so you should breakfast AND lunch !

Anyone know of any good walks around Tame Bridge, so that one may walk off the excess afterwards ?

P.S. one could do the Tame Bridge to Wrexham return, but this is 48.20 1st class return, with only an 8 minute turn around at wrexham.

 

[poshbakerloo]

It is hugely impressive (if very monochrome, but I guess that's the style!). If anything, I think it highlights just how much mileage there still is in the original IC70 seat design/Mk3 coach in general.

Yeah I agree. The MK3s still look very good with some work done. And to say they are about 35years old...

 

[Dampflok]

82301 + 67012 propelling (no coaching stock) worked 5Z12 today, 11:31 from Wembley LMD to Banbury. I only got very short notice of this and no time to post prior to it running.

I understand this is now recessed in the up sidings at Banbury (near the north signalbox) until a driver/pilot conductor is available for it to continue to Stoke Marcroft to collect the second set of refurbished Mk.3s and then conduct proving runs next week, presumably on the same route/timings as the first set undertook.

Cheers, Geoff

 

[furryfeet]

addendum - did the said journey, was very impressed by the positive attitude of the staff, including the MD !

I will be back for more, hopefully with a refurbished set.

To anyone on the forum who has not tried WSMR then give them a go - they deserve to succeed.

 

[Mojo]

Refurbished set out and about again today, currently passing through New Street as we speak!

 

[fgwrich]

Yeah I agree. The MK3s still look very good with some work done. And to say they are about 35years old...

Sadly not the same opinon as Irish Rail sadly have...who unless someone comes for any of them there getting the chop very soon:cry:

Got to say i need a excuse to get up the wrexham line soon...have wanted to try w&s for ages but a...dont have yet a reason to head up that way and b...need to get a job asap since the wonderfull people in the EMA department restart payments...

God that must be a sight seeing the refurb wrexham rake go through new street..right past all those shiny pendilinos

 

[poshbakerloo]

I do think it looks a big odd tho just having 3 MK3s and a huge locamotive. Are there any plans to make em longer or are they not in enough demand?

 

[merlodlliw]

Sadly not the same opinon as Irish Rail sadly have...who unless someone comes for any of them there getting the chop very soon:cry:

These carriages use plug doors I think, or some did, I always thought with them running on wide gauge in Ireland, they gave a better ride, in my experience.

 

[craig87034]

for the record the refurbished set + 67014 'Tottering Thomas' on Monday 19th did 1J82 1217 Marylebone - Shrewsbury

 

[Dampflok]

67012 and 82301 are at Aylesbury depot today, with the loco on the north end of the train. This is the second set of newly refurbished coaches (I don't know the numbers of the stock) and is apparently there for fitting of Wi-Fi equipment and a first visit to the wheel lathe!

I understand that it is hoped that this set will be in service during the next week or so.

Also, the new (secondhand!) Ruston 0-6-0DM shunter was officially named "Lesley" today in a ceremony at Aylesbury depot, the loco being named after Adrian Shooter's Personal Assistant.

Cheers, Geoff
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
67012 + 82301 + second new set was no longer at Aylesbury depot today and I understand the intention was that this combination should work 1J84, the 18:33 Marylebone to Wrexham working this evening. It seems it was still not quite ready, so apparently did not work this train, but presumably will be in service in the very near future.

I'm also led to believe that the third set of newly refurbished stock should be collected from Stoke Marcroft some time next week, but have no further details as yet.

Double-headed 67015 + 67014 worked this afternoon's 1P33, 16:07 from Shrewsbury to Marylebone, together with the first new set of coaches with 82305 on the rear, couple of photos on my site:

http://www.geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/p61934588.html

Cheers, Geoff

 

[merlodlliw]

67012 and 82301 are at Aylesbury depot today, with the loco on the north end of the train. This is the second set of newly refurbished coaches (I don't know the numbers of the stock) and is apparently there for fitting of Wi-Fi equipment and a first visit to the wheel lathe!

I understand that it is hoped that this set will be in service during the next week or so.

Also, the new (secondhand!) Ruston 0-6-0DM shunter was officially named "Lesley" today in a ceremony at Aylesbury depot, the loco being named after Adrian Shooter's Personal Assistant.

Cheers, Geoff
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
67012 + 82301 + second new set was no longer at Aylesbury depot today and I understand the intention was that this combination should work 1J84, the 18:33 Marylebone to Wrexham working this evening. It seems it was still not quite ready, so apparently did not work this train, but presumably will be in service in the very near future.

I'm also led to believe that the third set of newly refurbished stock should be collected from Stoke Marcroft some time next week, but have no further details as yet.

Double-headed 67015 + 67014 worked this afternoon's 1P33, 16:07 from Shrewsbury to Marylebone, together with the first new set of coaches with 82305 on the rear, couple of photos on my site:

http://www.geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/p61934588.html

Cheers, Geoff

excellent pics, tell me about the crew change,who/what/when etc

 

[Dampflok]

excellent pics, tell me about the crew change,who/what/when etc

Thanks for the comments! Not sure if the crew change (just the driver as far as I'm aware) is a regular thing on this working, but as you can see by the flurry of activity around the cab of the leading loco in the first picture at Banbury the other evening it certainly seemed to take place on that occasion. I gather a Wrexham crew (driver) works the train from Shrewsbury to Banbury and then a Chiltern driver (Banbury based) takes over for the run to Marylebone. A Chiltern driver works 1J84, 18:33 from Marylebone to Banbury, where the Wrexham driver takes over again to return to Wrexham. Presumably the train manager and catering crew stay with the train and lodge overnight.

I could easily be completely wrong on this, so if anyone knows the normal procedure, I stand to be corrected!

Cheers, Geoff

 

[merlodlliw]

Thanks for the comments! Not sure if the crew change (just the driver as far as I'm aware) is a regular thing on this working, but as you can see by the flurry of activity around the cab of the leading loco in the first picture at Banbury the other evening it certainly seemed to take place on that occasion. I gather a Wrexham crew (driver) works the train from Shrewsbury to Banbury and then a Chiltern driver (Banbury based) takes over for the run to Marylebone. A Chiltern driver works 1J84, 18:33 from Marylebone to Banbury, where the Wrexham driver takes over again to return to Wrexham. Presumably the train manager and catering crew stay with the train and lodge overnight.

I could easily be completely wrong on this, so if anyone knows the normal procedure, I stand to be corrected!

Cheers, Geoff

Thanks Dampflok, lets ask TDK, I am sure he drives them, again thanks for the
pics.

 

[craig87034]

Today i saw 67013 on the Wrexham end and 67012 on the London end of 1J82 1217 Marylebone-Shrewsbury on a Cargo D rake. 67015 worked 1P03 0723 Wrexham-Marylebone with a refurbished set

Phot of 67012 tailing J82 http://www.craig87034.fotopic.net/p62038589.html
Phot of 67013 on J82 http://www.craig87034.fotopic.net/p62038590.html
Phot of 67015 on the ECS http://www.craig87034.fotopic.net/p62038591.html

 

[Dampflok]

67013 + 67012 worked 1J84, the 18:33 Marylebone to Wrexham on Monday 9th November 2009, apparently due to problems with the Chiltern DVT. The same combination worked 1P01, 05:12 from Wrexham to Marylebone on Tuesday 10th November 2009, photo here at Princes Risborough in foul weather!:

http://www.geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/p62034989.html

so interesting that this combination carried on later on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, 82304 + 67014 worked 1J80, 07:23 from Marylebone and another set of Wrexham stock was at Aylesbury depot with 82303, though no class 67 present. This stock was shunted around by "Lesley", the newly acquired Ruston shunter, for the changing of an air-con unit on one coach and attention on the wheel lathe for another. A few shots on my site starting at:

http://www.geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/p62038985.html

The second set of newly refurbished stock may work 1J80, 07:23 Marylebone to Wrexham, as its first working, tomorrow Wednesday 11th November 2009.

Cheers, Geoff

 

[shaun]

I'm considering using the 1217 Marylebone - Shrewsbury on Thursday, so if the refurb turns up on that i'll be delighted. Have used WSMR four times in the last month, but haven't been lucky enough to catch the refurb set.

 

[Dampflok]

I'm considering using the 1223 Marylebone - Shrewsbury on Thursday, so if the refurb turns up on that i'll be delighted. Have used WSMR four times in the last month, but haven't been lucky enough to catch the refurb set.

Hope you are lucky with the refurb set shaun, but make sure you turn up on time, the train is due to leave at 12:17, not 12:23!

Cheers, Geoff

 

[shaun]

Hope you are lucky with the refurb set shaun, but make sure you turn up on time, the train is due to leave at 12:17, not 12:23!

Cheers, Geoff

lol cheers, i knew i wasn't far off but wasn't sure of the exact time!

 

[Dampflok]

1J80 was worked by the top and tail pair of 67s this morning, together with an old set of coaches, so presumably the second refurbished set is still not ready for use and possibly still at Wembley depot - no idea when it might enter service...

Cheers, Geoff

 

[Mojo]

Thanks for sharing those pictures - reminds me of my work experience all those years ago in Aylesbury depot!

 

[TDK]

Thanks Dampflok, lets ask TDK, I am sure he drives them, again thanks for the
pics.

The 16.07 arrives at Marylebone after the 18.33 down service so the crew (Driver & TM) on the 16.07 have a break at Banbury and bring back the 18.33 vice Marylebone to Wrexham.

 

[merlodlliw]

The 16.07 arrives at Marylebone after the 18.33 down service so the crew (Driver & TM) on the 16.07 have a break at Banbury and bring back the 18.33 vice Marylebone to Wrexham.

Thanks for the info TDK

 

[craig87034]

Today 67015 and a refurb set 12145,12127 and 10208 did 1P03 0723 Wrexham-Marylebone 67010 and a refurb set 10236,12072,12131 did 1P01 0512 Wrexham-Marylebone and the Shrewsbury diagram.