Are the Virgin loco-hauled services still running, please?

[snuk]

Hi all,

I'm hoping to be in the Birmingham area during the day today.

I live in Nuneaton and need to go visit Warwick first, via New Street but when I come back to New Street, I was wondering what my chances of are of seeing one of the loco-hauled trains, perhaps even taking a short trip, maybe to Wolves, Crewe, Coventry or Rugby?

I intend to buy a West Mids Day Ranger and was thinking about buying a short distance Virgin First Anytime ticket as a treat for BHM to WVH.

Just wondering if I've got any options with regards to any local-hauled trains locally - either using the WMDR or by purchasing a separate ticket.

Many thanks,

Steve.

 

[matt]

The class 90 only runs on fridays to preston via the trent valley so you won't see it in birmingham

 

[LondonLarry]

1846 Euston to Preston. The stops in the Midlands are:

1846 Euston
1943 Rugby
2004 Tamworth
2012 Lichfield TV
2036 Stafford...

 

[dk1]

Apart from enthusiasts do many passengers use this service? I know some stops are set-down only so it can run early but the schedule is so slow & overtaken by later Pendo's en-route.

 

[GNERman]

only on a friday or in the week?

 

[mr_moo]

Only on Friday. The 'Pretendolino' as it's now nicknamed following its paint job to make it look like a pendolino, is essentially a spare set ready for use if needed. It's also being made available to charter operators. It's only sheduled run, presumably to keep it operational, is the aforementioned Fridays only service.

 

[Geezertronic]

Only on Friday. The 'Pretendolino' as it's now nicknamed following its paint job to make it look like a pendolino, is essentially a spare set ready for use if needed. It's also being made available to charter operators. It's only sheduled run, presumably to keep it operational, is the aforementioned Fridays only service.

Errr? I have never heard anyone call it the "Pretendolino" and I don't see how the TOC's paint job and colour scheme makes it look like a Pendolino? If that is the case, why not call Virgin's Super Voyager's Pretendolino's as well since they are in the same colours?

 

[AlexS]

Because they've even gone to the effort of putting a black strip on the DVT to make it appear similar to the leading vehicles of a 390?

I think Pretendolino is quite an apt nickname myself!

 

[323235]

WB64 is supposed to be back on Birmingham New Street - Euston corridor for 3 weeks from the 5th October to cover whilst the pendolino that hit a Container Door a while ago is repaired

WB65 is expected to be operating the Preston Relief during this brief period

 

[hairyhandedfool]

It's only sheduled run, presumably to keep it operational, is the aforementioned Fridays only service.

Virgin kept hold of a set after the Grayrigg accident wrote off 390033. Had the unit survived there would be no MK3 set running around. Therefore we can safely say it is not run on a Friday to keep it operational. Infact, at one point Virgin considered changing to a pair of 180s.

 

[43021HST]

I thought Virgin had extinguished the last of there loco hauled services years ago.

 

[Bigjop]

Errr? I have never heard anyone call it the "Pretendolino" and I don't see how the TOC's paint job and colour scheme makes it look like a Pendolino? If that is the case, why not call Virgin's Super Voyager's Pretendolino's as well since they are in the same colours?

Come on Geezertronic.It's a belting name and it has now stuck (in my mind at least).
It's a Pretendalino because it's covering Pendalino service.
Super Voyager is a different kettle of fish.

Peace.

 

[mr_moo]

I've found a nice set of piccies someone has put up on flickr of the new paint job. Have a look and you should see why it's a pretendolino!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14589121@N00/sets/72157620719322333/

HTH!

 

[Ilove165's]

I thought Virgin had extinguished the last of there loco hauled services years ago.

That was the 87s, there is a diagram for WB65 (hauled by a DBS 90) to run FO to Preston