Waterman Railways

[Masbroughlad]

I heard Pete Waterman speaking on Radio 4 about his purchase of the BR Special Trains Unit as part of the privatisation of BR and the relationship with Railtrack. He was essentially saying they seemed to make up pricing as they went along!

What did PW actually own? How many locos and of what class? Also how many carriages and what types? Where did he stable them all?

When he pulled out of the industry, what happened to the stock? Who bought it?

I know he had plans to run lots of Merrymaker style excursions. Massive pity he won't come back to the industry now that things have settled down. He has flair, enthusiasm and a good business head. Waterman Railways 2 would be great!!

As a final question - has anybody got any merchandise or brochures about Waterman Railways and their program of trips.

Cheers in advance!

 

[pdeaves]

Waterman Railways 2 would be great!!

Hmmm. <dreams> Picking up the pieces left by WCRC...

 

[Masbroughlad]

Hmmm. <dreams> Picking up the pieces left by WCRC...

I have hoped the very same!

 

[dubscottie]

He got 6 x 47/7 and around 120 coaches. The coaches were the Intercity Mk1's (most of which are still in charter use today), Mk 3 sleepers and tons of Mk2 d's and a few e/f's.

A few rakes of Mk2's were in service but the majority were stored in MOD depots.

The majority of the Mk 2's then ended up in New Zealand.

I have a magazine from the time with the list of stock but will need to dig it out.

 

[6Gman]

When was this?

I was involved in the charter train business but don't recall Waterman being involved at that time.

 

[sprinterguy]

When was this?

Between 1994 and 1997.

The 47s were then purchased by Fragonset Railways, and a lot of the stock seems to have moved to a company going by the unimaginative name of Rail Charter Services Ltd.

 

[dubscottie]

When was this?

I was involved in the charter train business but don't recall Waterman being involved at that time.

The black 47/7's and a rake of Mk 1's in fully lined out LNWR plum and cream? You must have seen them.

Pete Waterman is a fan of all things LNWR and used the livery for his stock.

Some Mk2's leased to ScotRail had all over plum with a single cream stripe.

 

[driver9000]

The LNWR depot site at Crewe belonged to Waterman too until he sold it to Arriva.

 

[D6975]

Here you go - 47710 in Bristol

 

[fgwrich]

Here you go - 47710 in Bristol

Bath Road Depot in the background behind 710 there. Another one of Waterman's ex RES/NSE/Shove Duffs lives on as a 57 now with DRS - ex 705. Nice picture by the way.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I wish he'd spend more time playing trains and less time making rubbish music...

 

[CosherB]

I wish he'd spend more time playing trains and less time making rubbish music...

I think the rubbish music paid for the trains!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I think the rubbish music paid for the trains!

A good point, well made!

 

[Mikey C]

I wish he'd spend more time playing trains and less time making rubbish music...

I should be so lucky...

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I should be so lucky...

Well done! Have a cookie!

 

[Clip]

Well done! Have a cookie!

I'm sure he cracked that gag especially for you

 

[alexl92]

...Is LNWR Heritage not the current incarnation of Waterman Railways? I'm sure an article in Railways Illus a while back about the new Crewe Diesel Depot/LNWR depot said that it was started by Waterman and continued by Hosking...

 

[fgwrich]

...Is LNWR Heritage not the current incarnation of Waterman Railways? I'm sure an article in Railways Illus a while back about the new Crewe Diesel Depot/LNWR depot said that it was started by Waterman and continued by Hosking...

They were split, with Waterman selling off the main LNWR business a few years ago to Arriva. I think the Waterman to Hoskin heritage side sale came later.

 

[Blaahh]

I wish he'd spend more time playing trains and less time making rubbish music...

Its a very long time since he made music, when his son died, he stopped really.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

The waterman jokes on here are a tragedy. They were the last thing on my mind....

 

[randyrippley]

is it true that he considered naming two of the class 47's "Jason" and "Kylie"?

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Would they have worked in multiple?

"We are coupled together, together, I wanna show you, the the way to crewe diesel....."

 

[hairyhandedfool]

He got 6 x 47/7 and around 120 coaches.....

He actually owned a lot more, coaches numbering in the region of 200, he also had some 'heritage' stock.

He got 47701/3/5/9/10/12 from BR for the Intercity Charter Services deal, but also acquired 47488. He already owned D172 Ixion, D1048 Western Lady, a pair of class 20s and a pair class 25s.

The Waterman Railways livery got applied to 08375, 20188 (of "Goldeneye" fame), 20042, 47488, 47703, 47705, 47710 and 47712.

Between 1994 and 1997.

The 47s were then purchased by Fragonset Railways, and a lot of the stock seems to have moved to a company going by the unimaginative name of Rail Charter Services Ltd.

47705 went to Riveira trains.