Class 319 Farewell Sunday 4th June

[urpert]

Sounds like a lot will be stood down at the end of May (i.e. this month) but there will be some working Sevenoaks diagrams for some time yet

There are currently no 700s on the evening and weekend diagrams from Sevenoaks which terminate in the bays at Blackfriars. I can't see that changing dramatically in the next month.

 

[Crossover]

There are currently no 700s on the evening and weekend diagrams from Sevenoaks which terminate in the bays at Blackfriars. I can't see that changing dramatically in the next month.

Any particular reason for this?

 

[MatthewRead]

Any particular reason for this?

Driver training

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Where will 319 maintenance be after this then, hornsey/Selhurst?

Allerton ?

 

[Please Explain]

It's a pity we have none left in FCC purple untouched for the last day complete with the dividing door and screen between the FC end and the vestibule.

One wonders why the money was wasted in touching up a few units with the big disabled toilet in the trailer, fitting the folding tables, repainting into white/silver and stripping out the dividing screens if these units have no certain new home.
I was under the impression Northern have taken as all of their units??

 

[urpert]

It's a pity we have none left in FCC purple untouched for the last day complete with the dividing door and screen between the FC end and the vestibule.

One wonders why the money was wasted in touching up a few units with the big disabled toilet in the trailer, fitting the folding tables, repainting into white/silver and stripping out the dividing screens if these units have no certain new home.
I was under the impression Northern have taken as all of their units??

I suppose if there's any chance of them being used at all after 2020 then they needed to do them anyway. See also the 'absolute bare minimum' PRM stuff being done to the 465s.

 

[Techniquest]

It's a pity we have none left in FCC purple untouched for the last day complete with the dividing door and screen between the FC end and the vestibule.

True, but if the 319s that produce are in a moderately grotty state like the 319s I had a few weeks ago then it'll be a fitting send-off for what a fair number of us will remember the 319s as on Thameslink

Also, unrelated note, I love your avatar

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I personally will miss them as I have been photographing them since introduction in 1987. Network SouthEast livery suited them very well

 

[Please Explain]

True, but if the 319s that produce are in a moderately grotty state like the 319s I had a few weeks ago then it'll be a fitting send-off for what a fair number of us will remember the 319s as on Thameslink

Also, unrelated note, I love your avatar

Yeah, NMBS/SNCB HLE13 at journeys end at Brussel Zuid, having just arrived with one of the last EC 96 Iris from Bâle (SNCF) in late March last year, just a few days before the Brussel-Basel EuroCity's were sadly axed..
Thought id change it to mark a year since their passing and because I was sick and tired of being reminded of our bitter gripe with GTR and the tories by my previous avatar!

What you driving in yours?!

 

[Mutant Lemming]

they're still fekkin' well with us (though at least I got to sit in 1st today on one)

 

[Techniquest]

Yeah, NMBS/SNCB HLE13 at journeys end at Brussel Zuid, having just arrived with one of the last EC 96 Iris from Bâle (SNCF) in late March last year, just a few days before the Brussel-Basel EuroCity's were sadly axed..
Thought id change it to mark a year since their passing and because I was sick and tired of being reminded of our bitter gripe with GTR and the tories by my previous avatar!

What you driving in yours?!

I wish I'd done that Brussels to Basel run, that would have been utterly hellfire!

In my avatar, I'm in D1013. Way back when I did a driver experience course on the SVR. Hard to believe that was 11 years ago, and I swore I'd do another such course one day. I still haven't done so but really must make the effort!

 

[Please Explain]

Nice.

Oh, they were indeed good fun! I've enjoyed a few nice long runs all the way down through the Ardennes, Luxembourg, Lorraine and Alsace to Basel in lovely old school I6 Eurofima compos! I'm going to write a piece about these trains on my blog soon when I have time.
I linked in some youtube videos of the last day on the SNCF Loco Hauled thread in the international section.

I seen from your trip report in '13 you did the Liège-Luxembourg IC's with the I10 stock, that's also a nice run and very scenic but I prefer the route via Namur and Arlon.

Anyway.. We are waaaaaaaaaay off topic here! Back to 319's!

 

[Techniquest]

Please do post that tale on the trip reports section! I preferred the run to Liege it must be said, I was bored on the other route.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Plenty of them running around Liverpool and Manchester foe those who cant make the tour....

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Plenty of them running around Liverpool and Manchester foe those who cant make the tour....

Still enough of them on the Luton/St.Albans - Sutton loop services as well

 

[Techniquest]

Still enough of them on the Luton/St.Albans - Sutton loop services as well

It was the case on Monday that's for sure. I had been led to believe it's all 700s on the loop now, but definitely not. Not complaining mind, it was nice to have a farewell to the 319s. Yes OK so they're looking likely to have a stay of execution now, but I'll just have another farewell, hopefully on AC power this time!

 

[trainmania100]

For future reference, BLS accept direct bank transfer if you don't have cards that pay online.
Tomorrow's tour will be 319425.

 

[westcoaster]

For future reference, BLS accept direct bank transfer if you don't have cards that pay online.
Tomorrow's tour will be 319425.

425 was the first unit to carry a full Fcc livery, if you look close enough you can still see the first emblum on the coupler cover.

 

[Kite159]

If I could get to Luton for the start time I probably would have done this tour, bit of a shame the 09:00 EMT calls at Luton Airport (all be it on a pick-up only call) rather than Luton, as due to the nature of the early morning Thameslink services being all station callers means I would have something silly like 10 minutes to get from Waterloo to Blackfriars

Hopefully it will be a good trip, to sort of saying farewell to 319s on Thameslink services

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Guessing the London bridge leg of this tour being called off?

 

[Class455]

Spotted it at Purley. Video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qAejjA8sM0

Meanwhile, I've heard from a friend that a TL driver told him while he was going on the 319's that another tour will be held over the summer, running from Bedford to Brighton. I hope this is true, even though one has been held today.

 

[Fred43123]

Guessing the London bridge leg of this tour being called off?

Yes, the tour went directly from East Croydon via Norwood Jn, Herne Hill, Blackfriars where it changed to 1O83 and is currently passing St Pancras as I post this. Thanks to Open Train Times Maps.

 

[MrCub]

Would have liked to have come along on this trip but it wasn't to be. Like the BLS very much so maybe I'll do a trip with them soon.

Hope the trip was fun

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Well they're still with us and they're still running 4 car formations in the rush hours.

 

[urpert]

Well they're still with us and they're still running 4 car formations in the rush hours.

Yep. They seem to be very much the majority on the Kent trains at the moment (more than was the case a few weeks ago, in fact).