97 & MK3's on Cambrian

[Gareth Marston]

Saw a NR 97 and around 6/7 Mk3's in Virgin livery departing Newtown this evening @ 1934 heading for Shrewsbury.

Anyone have any idea what they were doing? No lights on inside carriages.

 

[Rich McLean]

Could this possibly be something do to with the new Mk3's for the WAG Express? Possible stored at Machynlleth?

I thought only ERTMS enabled stock could go on that line though?

 

[Chester025]

Sure it wasn't MK2s? 97302 went down to Pwllheli on Sunday with a rake from Crewe.

 

[Hydro]

I thought only ERTMS enabled stock could go on that line though?

97302/3/4 are ERTMS fitted engines...

 

[Rich McLean]

Ahhh, I was unsure of that

 

[Big Chris]

I wasn't aware there were any MkIII's still in Virgin livery that were in anywhere near useable condition. There were a few knocking around Long Marston but I'm not sure if any are still there.

 

[Jedipickles]

There is a nice shot of this working at the bottom of Page 22 of Issue 301 of the Railway Herald.

It hauling a ERTMS level 2 timing test train using Class 97/3 No. 97302 and 6 VT Mk2's
It was gathering data prior to a proposed charter working later in the year

 

[junglejames]

I wasn't aware there were any MkIII's still in Virgin livery that were in anywhere near useable condition. There were a few knocking around Long Marston but I'm not sure if any are still there.

Yep. Chiltern use some. Usually in the Banbury LHCS set

 

[DarloRich]

Could this possibly be something do to with the new Mk3's for the WAG Express? Possible stored at Machynlleth?

I thought only ERTMS enabled stock could go on that line though?

The 97's are ERTMS fitted.

EDIT - Hydro got there first

 

[Gareth Marston]

We've been use to the 97's for some time now so nothing new there (engineering trains, towing ballast tampers, charters, NR test trains etc) however the rake of LHCS is unusual I did only see them in dark from my car so could have been MK2's.