Not necessarily my 'best photos of 2005', but more a case of showing a story of some of my trips in 2005, most of which are no longer possible.
2005 - what a year!
End of the line: Sadly, some MML HST sets have been replaced by Meridian DMUs. On 29 December the 1655 St Pancras - Leeds terminates before heading off to Neville Hill.
Proper trains returned to Virgin CrossCountry for a week.
Virgin's 16:25 Plymouth-York, formed of a full-length MML HST set terminates at York on 21 December.
Bad news for Virgin's 'Thunderbird' 57s, as it is revealed that next year they may be stood down. However the good news for enthusiasts was that loco-hauled trains, hauled by Class 57 locomotives, have returned to the North Wales coast.
A familiar sight, is now no more. Class 37 haulage ceased with the start of the new timetable. Here, 37411 heads from the siding back into Rhymney station after giving way to a Pacer during the Rhymney Valley Diesel Extravaganza on 4 December.
The end: A sad day on 26 November as Southern operated it's last ever slam-door train. Unit 3535 stands at Brighton station having terminated for the last time from London Victoria.
Western Champion prepares for departure at York. The train eventually departed 3 hr 51 minutes late on a railtour to York on 26 November.
The 'Sussex slammer' railtour at London Bridge. The VEP is seen here at the country end before a CIG was attached. As you can see, photographers were out in force for the event.
Steam loco 34067 'Tangmere' operated several railtours during 2005. Seen here at London Victoria.
The last ever time a 'Slammer' would visit Newhaven Marine station. This station is virtually closed, recieving only one train a day which is not advertised in the timetable. The station is in a sorry state, long gone are the days when hundreds of passengers would transfer from the ferry to a slam-door train for their onward journey.
FGW Link used a top n tail Class 57 loco hauled train instead of a unit on 1851 Paddington-Twyford (This service normally continues to Henley-on-Thames) on 27 October.
Barnetby remains a popular location for freight enthusiasts. But these days the traction on offer is very limited. Here, 66952 is captured in full sun as it curves round the corner heading west.
Farewell DBSOs, which are due to be withdrawn in 2006. 1P50 17:30 London - Norwich picks up at Stratford on 8 October 2005.
The ECML was shut again in Autumn 2005, here a GNER HST thrashes eastbound through Hexham at approx 1330 on a service from Edinburgh to Newcastle via Carlisle on 2 October.
The ACoRP event was a fantastic success. 1G04 rounds the tight curve towards Reedham swing bridge glistening in the sun.
The Southern Belle railtour departs Waterloo on 17 September, CIG leading (looking towards the rear of the train), this was one of the last times - if not the last - a slam door train would depart from Waterloo.
On 27 August I had the pleasure of having the front left window the whole way on the 1644 Cardiff-Crewe, the evening sun illuminating the 37. This was a fantastic day of loco haulage in South Wales, with loco hauled specials from Leeds, Crewe and Manchester and 37s and 47s to Rhymney. The journey back was very special, the look on some passengers faces when they realised their train was a 37 (this was a stopper) could only be described as shocked, and some needed persuading that this was indeed their train!
You can still travel on a 1st generation 'proper' DMU and get this view, on National Rail. This is Chiltern's Class 121 bubble car which operates peak hour services between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough, operated by what must be the oldest passenger train on the network.
In the evening sun, a scene that is now history: A 4-VEP departs from Lewes on a Seaford service.
If EWS had their way, this would now be history. But in spite of EWS' attempts, 37s are still the only viable option for the West Highland Line. Myself and Joy54 enjoyed the view from the front right window on 15th August, for a very memorable trip. At the time I believed this would be my last trip, but it looks set to continue in 2006!
Another scene that is now history. 90035 stands at North Berwick on 26 July.
2005 - what a year!
End of the line: Sadly, some MML HST sets have been replaced by Meridian DMUs. On 29 December the 1655 St Pancras - Leeds terminates before heading off to Neville Hill.
Proper trains returned to Virgin CrossCountry for a week.
Virgin's 16:25 Plymouth-York, formed of a full-length MML HST set terminates at York on 21 December.
Bad news for Virgin's 'Thunderbird' 57s, as it is revealed that next year they may be stood down. However the good news for enthusiasts was that loco-hauled trains, hauled by Class 57 locomotives, have returned to the North Wales coast.
A familiar sight, is now no more. Class 37 haulage ceased with the start of the new timetable. Here, 37411 heads from the siding back into Rhymney station after giving way to a Pacer during the Rhymney Valley Diesel Extravaganza on 4 December.
The end: A sad day on 26 November as Southern operated it's last ever slam-door train. Unit 3535 stands at Brighton station having terminated for the last time from London Victoria.
Western Champion prepares for departure at York. The train eventually departed 3 hr 51 minutes late on a railtour to York on 26 November.
The 'Sussex slammer' railtour at London Bridge. The VEP is seen here at the country end before a CIG was attached. As you can see, photographers were out in force for the event.
Steam loco 34067 'Tangmere' operated several railtours during 2005. Seen here at London Victoria.
The last ever time a 'Slammer' would visit Newhaven Marine station. This station is virtually closed, recieving only one train a day which is not advertised in the timetable. The station is in a sorry state, long gone are the days when hundreds of passengers would transfer from the ferry to a slam-door train for their onward journey.
FGW Link used a top n tail Class 57 loco hauled train instead of a unit on 1851 Paddington-Twyford (This service normally continues to Henley-on-Thames) on 27 October.
Barnetby remains a popular location for freight enthusiasts. But these days the traction on offer is very limited. Here, 66952 is captured in full sun as it curves round the corner heading west.
Farewell DBSOs, which are due to be withdrawn in 2006. 1P50 17:30 London - Norwich picks up at Stratford on 8 October 2005.
The ECML was shut again in Autumn 2005, here a GNER HST thrashes eastbound through Hexham at approx 1330 on a service from Edinburgh to Newcastle via Carlisle on 2 October.
The ACoRP event was a fantastic success. 1G04 rounds the tight curve towards Reedham swing bridge glistening in the sun.
The Southern Belle railtour departs Waterloo on 17 September, CIG leading (looking towards the rear of the train), this was one of the last times - if not the last - a slam door train would depart from Waterloo.
On 27 August I had the pleasure of having the front left window the whole way on the 1644 Cardiff-Crewe, the evening sun illuminating the 37. This was a fantastic day of loco haulage in South Wales, with loco hauled specials from Leeds, Crewe and Manchester and 37s and 47s to Rhymney. The journey back was very special, the look on some passengers faces when they realised their train was a 37 (this was a stopper) could only be described as shocked, and some needed persuading that this was indeed their train!
You can still travel on a 1st generation 'proper' DMU and get this view, on National Rail. This is Chiltern's Class 121 bubble car which operates peak hour services between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough, operated by what must be the oldest passenger train on the network.
In the evening sun, a scene that is now history: A 4-VEP departs from Lewes on a Seaford service.
If EWS had their way, this would now be history. But in spite of EWS' attempts, 37s are still the only viable option for the West Highland Line. Myself and Joy54 enjoyed the view from the front right window on 15th August, for a very memorable trip. At the time I believed this would be my last trip, but it looks set to continue in 2006!
Another scene that is now history. 90035 stands at North Berwick on 26 July.
