Blog- The Fatadder's Modern Workbench - Virgin XC Formation - 1998

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<p><a href='http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/car/Mk2/MK2-RFB/1211-10.jpg'class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/car/Mk2/MK2-RFB/1211-10.jpghttp://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/car/Mk2/MK2-RFB/1211-10.jpg</a>As an interlude to the work on my mk2F RFB, a little background on the formation in which it will sit.</p><p> </p><p>The standard Virgin XC formation in the late 90s consisted of a BSO, 5 TSO and an RFB, however it was also very common to run a 6 coach set consisting of a BSO, 4 TSO and an RFB and it is one of these that I will be modelling. </p><p> </p><p>To save money I will be using the Hornby mk2E as a basis, with a mixed rake of Virgin and Intercity coaches so common in the early days of Virgin XC. The coaches are all modified to correct the underframes, detail the interiors and fit Kaydees in the bufferbeams / screw couplings on the ends. This does impose one limitation in that I can only run the BSO / RFB the correct way round (while in practice they often ran the wrong way round.) Eventually (if I see one at a good price) I will add another Virgin mk2 to up it to the full 7 coaches.</p><p> </p><p>For the time being it will remain in OO given it doesn't fit on Wheal Imogen (and will allow me to play 1998 on Brent from time to time...)</p><p> </p><p><strong class='bbc'>On to the formation </strong></p><p> </p><p><span style='color: rgb(34,34,34)'><span style='font-size: 14px'><p class='bbc_left'><span style='background-color: transparent'>While it is rather atypical being formed purely from Mk2E coaches (other than the Mk2F RFB of course), I have found some evidence of pure MK2E coaches.) All be it not exactly matching the livery mix I have gone with. </span></p></span></span><br /><span style='color: rgb(34,34,34)'><span style='font-size: 14px'><p class='bbc_left'><span style='background-color: transparent'>My understanding is that the Mk2E TSO are in the number range 5744>5804 and 5809>5907</span></p></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style='color: rgb(34,34,34)'><span style='font-size: 14px'><p class='bbc_left'><span style='background-color: transparent'>Loco (47817 in Virgin or 47706 in Fraggonset, although there are 3 others that are on my planned list including D9000, a redstripe 56 and a RF grey 47)</span></p></span></span><br /><span style='color: rgb(34,34,34)'><span style='font-size: 14px'><p class='bbc_left'><span style='background-color: transparent'>BSO - MK2E - 9506 Intercity </span></p></span></span><br /><span style='color: rgb(34,34,34)'><span style='font-size: 14px'><p class='bbc_left'><span style='background-color: transparent'>TSO - Mk2E - Virgin</span></p></span></span><br /><span style='color: rgb(34,34,34)'><span style='font-size: 14px'><p class='bbc_left'><span style='background-color: transparent'><span style='color: rgb(34,34,34)'><span style='font-family: Helvetica Neue'><span style='font-size: 14px'><p class='bbc_left'><span style='background-color: transparent'>TSO - Mk2E - Virgin</span></p></span></span></span></span></p></span></span><br /><span style='color: rgb(34,34,34)'><span style='font-size: 14px'><p class='bbc_left'><span style='background-color: transparent'><span style='color: rgb(34,34,34)'><span style='font-family: Helvetica Neue'><span style='font-size: 14px'><p class='bbc_left'><span style='background-color: transparent'><span style='color: rgb(34,34,34)'><span style='font-family: Helvetica Neue'><span style='font-size: 14px'><p class='bbc_left'><span style='background-color: transparent'>TSO - Mk2E - 5773 Intercity</span></p></span></span></span></span></p></span></span></span></span></p></span></span><br /><span style='color: rgb(34,34,34)'><span style='font-size: 14px'><p class='bbc_left'><span style='background-color: transparent'><span style='color: rgb(34,34,34)'><span style='font-family: Helvetica Neue'><span style='font-size: 14px'><p class='bbc_left'><span style='background-color: transparent'><span style='color: rgb(34,34,34)'><span style='font-family: Helvetica Neue'><span style='font-size: 14px'><p class='bbc_left'><span style='background-color: transparent'><span style='color: rgb(34,34,34)'><span style='font-family: Helvetica Neue'><span style='font-size: 14px'><p class='bbc_left'><span style='background-color: transparent'>TSO - Mk2E - Virgin</span></p></span></span></span></span></p></span></span></span></span></p></span></span></span></span></p></span></span><br />RFB - Mk2F - 1211 Intercity <a href='http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/car/Mk2/MK2-RFB/1211-10.jpg' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/car/Mk2/MK2-RFB/1211-10.jpg</a></p><p> </p><p>I need to dig out my 1998 Platform 9 and confirm suitable numbers for the 3 Virgin coaches. The Intercity coaches are matched from this list <a href='http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/44060-virgin-cross-country-mk2-formations/&do=findComment&comment=478649' class='bbc_url' title=''>http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/44060-virgin-cross-country-mk2-formations/&do=findComment&comment=478649</a> which lists some example formations (and more importantly confirms coaches still in Intercity in 2000)</p>

 

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