Farewell Silverlink, MML, GNER and VXC

[W14Fishbourne]

We're about to lose four of our longest-lasting TOCs.

To mark the occasion I think I'll have a little jaunt round tomorrow, using some of the services operated by these companies. Here's my thoughts - anyone got a better suggestion?

Clapham Junction
Willesden Junction (SL)
Watford Junc (SL)
St Albans Abbey (SL)
St Albans (Walk)
Luton (FCC)
Nottingham (MML)
Grantham (Central)
Durham (GNER)
then VXC back to Reading
or, if I can't stand that many hours on a Voyager, get off at Derby and use a combination of central and MML back to London.

A possibility, to increase my Central mileage, is to continue from Grantham to Lincoln and then up to Doncaster to pick up GNER. That means I probably won't get any further north than York.


http://ronstruttsrailwaypics.fotopic.net/
Latest addition: 35028 at Shalford on the VSOE

 

[RJ]

Its as good a reason as any to take a trip around the country

 

[5872]

We're about to lose four of our longest-lasting TOCs.

To mark the occasion I think I'll have a little jaunt round tomorrow, using some of the services operated by these companies. Here's my thoughts - anyone got a better suggestion?

Clapham Junction
Willesden Junction (SL)
Watford Junc (SL)
St Albans Abbey (SL)
St Albans (Walk)
Luton (FCC)
Nottingham (MML)
Grantham (Central)
Durham (GNER)
then VXC back to Reading
or, if I can't stand that many hours on a Voyager, get off at Derby and use a combination of central and MML back to London.

A possibility, to increase my Central mileage, is to continue from Grantham to Lincoln and then up to Doncaster to pick up GNER. That means I probably won't get any further north than York.


http://ronstruttsrailwaypics.fotopic.net/
Latest addition: 35028 at Shalford on the VSOE

Mate you'll see 37s aswell!.

 

[richa2002]

Only if he's at the right places at exactly the right time :roll:.

 

[1D53]

I've got my GNER one long planned! 6th December Leeds - Aberdeen - Kings Cross to Leeds. Final day is the morning Harrogate - London (should be the last GNER to do Hambleton!), a quick trip to Paris in time for the last ever GNER which is the 2030 London Kings X to Newcastle! Then on Sunday doing the first National Express to Glasgow and the First TPE Glasgow - Manc.

Saying goodbye to MML in style on Tuesday , tons of cheap singles works to my advantage with the 11.27 Sheffield - Kings Cross (£8.) and back up with GNER (£5 tickets).

So many miles for so cheap!

 

[Mintona]

I would love to do the 0830 ex Penzance all the way some day next week..alas, I can't.

 

[175001]

Don't forget Central!

I did a little farewell tour to Derby last week. I was able on the Derbyshire Wayfarer to ride all three dissapearing TOC's that operate thru Derby.

I'll miss MML the most tho!

 

[First ScotRail]

I think VXC will be the biggest lose considering how much VT have improved the service! MML will also be a great loss. Now we just have to prepare for the great re-livery of 2008!

 

[W14Fishbourne]

Not long back. Central may have been forgotten from the thread title but not from the day's itinerary. And yes, I saw 4 x Class 37, just!

A slightly late arrival in Nottingham meant that I missed my 4-minute connection into a train to Lincoln, so it worked out as:

0805 Clapham Junction to Willesden Junction (Silverlink Metro 313122)
...2xClass 37 at North Pole
0831 Willesden Junction to Watford Junction (Silverlink Metro 508301)
...2xClass 37 arrived at Watford moments before the departure of...
0939 Watford Junction to St Alban's Abbey (Silverlink County 321402)
...extremely brisk walk to St Alban's City for...
1024 St Alban's City to Luton (FCC 319455)
1053 Luton to Nottingham (MML 222015)
1250 Nottingham to Grantham (Central Trains 150+153334)
1336 Grantham to York (GNER 91114)
1544 York to Birmingham New Street (VXC 221136+221142)
...diverted via Toton and delayed due to cable theft
1924 Birmingham New Street to Peterborough (Central 170505)
2118 Peterborough to KGX (GNER 43111)

And all at absolutely no cost! Eat your hearts out!

Photos to follow.






http://ronstruttsrailwaypics.fotopic.net/
Latest additions: 35028 on the VSOE at Shalford

 

[j_pilborough]

Don't forget on the 13th it's also farewell to non high-speed eurostar workings, and farewell to UK's most powerful ever 3rd rail locomotive(3rd rail capability will be removed after the HS1 switchover).

 

[91101]

I'm hoping on Friday to do SHF-STP-NOT-STP-SHF as a farewell to MML, in addition to a bash to London with them on Tuesday

 

[devon_metro]

I would love to do the 0830 ex Penzance all the way some day next week..alas, I can't.

*shudders*

 

[Mintona]

*shudders*

Says the boy with the Voyager in his signature!

 

[me123]

I think VXC will be the biggest lose considering how much VT have improved the service! MML will also be a great loss. Now we just have to prepare for the great re-livery of 2008!

I have to agree. I know Voyagers aren't the most popular trains around, but I quite like them (my only complant being the length or lack of it), but as a frequent user of the 0914 Motherwell-Edinburgh train (which continues to Penzance), I will miss Virgin's high standards. I can only hope the AXC will do better.

 

[devon_metro]

Says the boy with the Voyager in his signature!

Doesn't mean I like them

 

[JonG]

Doesn't mean I like them

 

[First ScotRail]

I have to agree. I know Voyagers aren't the most popular trains around, but I quite like them (my only complant being the length or lack of it), but as a frequent user of the 0914 Motherwell-Edinburgh train (which continues to Penzance), I will miss Virgin's high standards. I can only hope the AXC will do better.

I like that service as well as the seats are better than the 170 and although its longer it is not as busy as the shuttle from Q St. It will continue to go to Penzance from December I think then from Decmber 08 it will go at 10:05 from GLC

 

[me123]

It's actually quicker and cheaper from me, as I come from Coatbridge. I always take the Carstairs train for that reason. And it's a better journey. I do wish, though, that GNER (or NXEC) would introuce an hourly Glasgow Service for that reason. Can't see it happening, but you never know!

 

[djw1981]

TS want AXC to operate on the alternate hour to GNER thus giving an hourly service via Carstairs loop. This was one of the options in the E&G rail study and one of the easiest to implement, There were issues with layover length in Glasgow though.

 

[class 313]

ooo. you done my local branch, how hellfire. Could of seen you as I was at Watford for the 37s.

 

[me123]

That would be a good idea. But I can see the problem with turnaround times etc. It takes about an hour to do the journey, and that's with only stopping at Motherwell. I think that's the key flaw in the route, TBH.

 

[First ScotRail]

From 2009 AXC will operate two service from GLC:
0600 GLC - PLYMOUTH
10:05 GLC - PENZANCE

and there will be two services north to Glasgow
09:25 PLYMOUTH - GLC SX
10:25 PENZANCE - GLC SO

11:25 PLYMOUTH - GLC

With services calling
Motherwell>Haymarket>Edinburgh

 

[djw1981]

Yes, But Transport Scotland want them to extend alternate hourly services to Glasgow to increase capacity. This request is going in now while the XC Dec 2008 timetable is still a draft one.

 

[First ScotRail]

I know I read your post and I am aware that Transport Scotland want AXC to fill the gap each hour. Personally I cant see it happen however I can see some more Northbound extensions and Southbound extensions are well especially in the afternoon.

 

[W14Fishbourne]

The first batch of photographs from my trip yesterday are now in my Franchise Farewell collection at:
http://ronstruttsrailwaypics.fotopic.net/c1401814.html

There are also one or two others not related to the vanishing franchises in my New Additions collection at:
http://ronstruttsrailwaypics.fotopic.net/c1272124.html

 

[me123]

Well, I know it's unlikely, but I hope AXC seriously consider the TS suggestions. Having snubbed Glasgow almost totally, the least they can do is consider how to bring us back in the frame!

Like the photos W14, especially:

http://ronstruttsrailwaypics.fotopic.net/p46411468.html
http://ronstruttsrailwaypics.fotopic.net/p46411468.html

 

[class 313]

http://ronstruttsrailwaypics.fotopic.net/p46406827.html
My Lordz, local lineage

 

[Ascot]

Well Farewell Central trains, on the Saturday my farewell will be a trip to Kidderminster for good old labour on the Severn Valley. Then the week after exactly the same apart from LM instead of CT until 2009 before we get commuter versions of 170s.

 

[Jord]

The first batch of photographs from my trip yesterday are now in my Franchise Farewell collection at:
http://ronstruttsrailwaypics.fotopic.net/c1401814.html

There are also one or two others not related to the vanishing franchises in my New Additions collection at:
http://ronstruttsrailwaypics.fotopic.net/c1272124.html

Wow, alot of liveries, as you would expect and was the point

 

[1D53]

Said Goodbye to MML and Silverlink today:

http://jst.fotopic.net/c1403508.html

Central and VXC on Friday.