Claude_Dreyfus

A few from York on 9th July.

68021 'Tireless' waits with the 1E31 12:17 York - Scarborough service. Fellow classmate 68020 'Reliance' rests beside.

A little later, it is the turn of 68019 'Brutus' to form the 1E35 14:17 Scarborough service. Interestingly the train was marshalled in the opposite direction, with eh loco at the Scarborough end.

Contrasts of front ends

A couple of weeks ago, Laira depot turned out Cross Country power car 43384 in Intercity Executive livery, renumbering back to 43184.

Here it is at York leading the 1S41 12:21 Sheffield - Edinburgh on 9th July

43303 brought up the rear.

A little more HST action at York

43378 on a southbound working...

...with 43321 trailing.

The following evening, 43303 and 43184 passed by again, this time at a hotel I was staying at just north of York.

I must admit, it does look good in that livery...

We have a 10 gallon tropical tank in the living room, containing six danios, both leopard and zebra, as well as a Siamese Flying Fox to keep the algae down. We have been keeping fish for a good many years and find them endlessly entertaining.

That's a real pity, sorry to hear that. He always had a decent selection of items on his stand.

A sunny summer's afternoon at Hardham, 2nd June 2022.

377454 forms the 1C40 London Victoria - Portsmouth Harbour

A few minutes later 377108 forms the 1B40 Arun valley stopper to Bognor Regis.

Stunning modelling, got to love a bit of ETH tractor action.

I have happy memories of both of these machines; chasing 37404 along the West Highland line towards Bridge of Orchy with a north-bound freight in 96, whilst 37408 was captured three years earlier from the vantage point of Conwy Castle on a Holyhead service. Scary to think it was that long ago.

If memory served me right 37404 was the second of the sub class to be withdrawn and scrapped; 37431 having the dubious honour of being the first to be culled.

37 minutes ago, 313201 said:

If I may ask please, what was the unit photographed at clapham converted into

Here is the same unit a couple of weeks ago.

What could be my final Southern class 455 photograph. 455801 and 455826 rest silently in the Horsham down carriage sidings awaiting their inevitable fate. The oil terminal is to the left, with its siding on the right hand side of the picture (holding the 377/6, which can just be made out). The oil unloading pumps and pipes can still be seen along the siding (and one can just about be be seen). I am not sure when the last oil train ran to Horsham, it will have been 20-30 years I am sure. A shame really, as the oil depot is still in use. 

My visit to Clapham Junction and South London was mainly to catch the end of the Southern 455s, but I was also aware of other endangered species, including the 458s. Unfortunately I was never in the right place to grab the perfect shot, and a few were obscured by things passing in front. I do have a couple here though...for posterity.

Of course, there are also the SWR 707s and their 455s with a limited time left (albeit the 707s making their way to South Eastern...I've seen a couple, but no photos as yet).

707015 and 455723

455720

I saw that service pass through Clapham a bit later. It was moving surprisingly quickly and I was not on a convenient platform, so only captured a rather indifferent photo.

9 hours ago, phil-b259 said:

A Similar combination of cuts and stock reshuffles will see the end of the 313s next month.

I thought the 313s had until December?

I doubt it. There is a driving trailer from a class 317 which has been saved, so an example of Mark 3 bodyshell EMU is likely to be kept for posterity. You may potentially get a surviving driving trailer from a 455, but a complete unit is unlikely (4-car EMUs take up a lot of space, the class 365 which has been saved for the East Kent line only consists of 3 carriages and I believe will be used for other - static - purposes).

Sadly we won't see complete sets of all class 455 variants saved and I don't think it is sticking my neck on the block to suggest that none of the Southern sets will be saved. 

66703 heads the 6O64 13:06 Ferme Park - Tonbridge West Yard away from Clapham Junction - 13 May 2022.

59102 'Village of Chantry' at Clapham Junction with the 13:06 Acton - Tolworth. 13 May 2022

Yes, apologies. I went to West Croydon by accident, catching a train I thought was for South Croydon. I seem to have got the two confused throughout yesterday, even when writing the captions for the pictures!

73961 spent today shuttling back and forth between Wimbledon and Kensington. Not sure the reasons, but here it is at Clapham Junction.

As today is the penultimate day of the Southern class 455 operation, I paid a visit to South London. 

First up Clapham Junction.

Next, to Wandsworth Common.

More in my following post. Run out of upload allowance...

A pair of 69s were out and about today on the 4Z69 09:30 Tonbridge West Yard - Acton Lane Sidings.

69005 leads 69001 through Wandsworth Common, with the northbound working, running about 90 minutes late at this stage.

They were back about an hour later, running light engine.

69001 takes the lead as the pair pass through Clapham Junction. At the risk of reopening the livery debate, that line looks straight, but the grill in the first photo certainly is crooked. Its like hanging wall paper with vertical stripes and realising your walls aren't straight! I do like the livery though.

More engineering trains down the Arun valley, this time the 14:55 Purley Oaks - Eastleigh. 66414 does the honours on 7 May.

Today I hear the first of the Southern 455s are off to Newport to meet their maker. 47727 is performing the last rites for 5838 and 5839. Here are the two units back in happier days; not amazing pictures, but the only ones I have of these two units.

455838 leaves a snowy East Croydon back in February 2013

455839 approaches Victoria in January 2015.

RIP 

66194 heads the heavily delayed 11:55 Gatwick - Eastleigh East Yard engineers service - a very similar length train to the one in 4630's picture yesterday - towards Pulborough on 1st May.

On 01/04/2022 at 11:13, Grizz said:

73202 light engine from St Leonard’s Engineering back to Stewarts Lane. Wednesday 0Z73 passing Hamsey crossing at 14:40 ish.

I have heard it said, and only a rumour mind, that Southern are dispensing with 73202 in September. It really hasn't had a lot of use, so I am not surprised. What would surprise me is if it isn't snapped up by another user, or preserved, fairly rapidly.