Some trains went via Bolton and Manchester and had a loco change at Preston as you say. Others straight down the WCML with the 86 through to New St. There was the odd Birmingham International terminator which the 86 worked throughout and the odd loco change at Coventry in the mix as well.47's tended to come off at Preston and the 86 would take the train north. No doubt this wasn't always the case.
I know 47s worked throughout when a 86/2 wasn’t available at PrestonI can't pinpoint the date, but in the 90s there were some throughout 47-hauled XC services from south of Birmingham to Scotland, running via Manchester.
This was in a pretty grim period which included 170s on Stansted-Birmingham-Liverpool.
Sometimes you wondered what the wires had been put up for.
Dont recall seeing class 47 XC set at Glasgow but sure i seen a picture ofEdinburgh to Brighton 47 hauled. Recall class 86 at Glasgow on Poole runs.
There was an occasion to get a 37/4 back to Scotland to work from Preston to Glasgow Central vice the booked Class 86/286s and sometimes 87s worked the Edinburgh-Brighton through to Edinburgh after it was wired, but 47s did continue to haul the trains north of Preston when there was no electric avaliable.
47s also worked the XC trains to Glasgow on occaision as well, sometimes diverted via the GSW.
There was an occasion to get a 37/4 back to Scotland to work from Preston to Glasgow Central vice the booked Class 86/2
IndeedThat would've been quite some run, going over Shap with only a 37 hauling would be quite the slog.
86s and sometimes 87s worked the Edinburgh-Brighton through to Edinburgh after it was wired, but 47s did continue to haul the trains north of Preston when there was no electric avaliable.
47s also worked the XC trains to Glasgow on occaision as well, sometimes diverted via the GSW.
I see , only vaguely remember the old XC services at central.
Yes, did they work as separate services or split/combine en-route?Don't forget that during this period there were also a handful of Intercity/Virgin Cross Country services between Liverpool or Manchester to Edinburgh worked by 158s.
Yes, did they work as separate services or split/combine en-route?
Yes, did they work as separate services or split/combine en-route?
When did the 158s take over these workings btw? I have a few 1990s timetables, one might cover those workings
I remember catching a 158 at Edinburgh Waverley to Preston on a Manchester service and presumably was a two car set
No it was a late Saturday eveningThey must of been busy !
They must of been busy !
I remember catching a 158 at Edinburgh Waverley to Preston on a Manchester service and presumably was a two car set
Not sure but definitely working in 1995. There was a late afternoon service from Manchester Airport which was booked to be a 158.
CheersI have the May 1995 ScotRail timetable, which lists the WCML workings into Scotland as I recall. I'll dig out out later and see what the service pattern looks like.
Two-car and they fitted them with first class of a better quality than the Scottish 158s had, 2+1 seating and only nine seats across 2.5 window bays iirc.
Never traveled on one of those, but saw an interior photo of one in one of the railway mags of the time - they had Mark 3 style first class seats in them. Shame I never got to experience that, I reckon they must have been rather nice to travel in.