Best eras for each lines - and times you don't miss

[Sad Sprinter]

My list for which era was the best for each route:

• West Coast Mainline - mid 90s Intercity
• Midland Mainline - err Midland Mainline teal era or uniform Midland Mainline blue/grey c.2007
• East Coast - 1970s BR blue
• West Anglia - I actually have to say mid 2010s with class 379s and peak Kings Lynn services
• Great Eastern - 1989 NSE
• LTS - either 1989 NSE or pre-COVID 2019 era
• South Eastern (main line) - I have to say 1998 Connex/NSE era. I'd say pre-HS1 2009 but don't want to give up the Eurostars
• Chatham Main - same as above
• Brighton Mainline - probably 2010-2015. Proper Brighton Express services, Electrostars and Wessex Electrics
• South Western - circa 2001 early SWT era
• Great Western - 2015 HSTs/Class 180 era
• Chiltern - pre Covid 2019

Some eras I don't miss:

• Virgin Trains era - that livery always looked dull on the Pendos. The Avanti brand is so much better.
• Pre-rebuild Blackfriars station - I remember the first time I went to that station when I was about 10 years old, I think. I have a feeling it was on a Saturday morning, so naturally the station was deserted, but I remember it being pretty creepy. There was a ghostly atmosphere; the cranking of the escalators, the faded Victorian optimism of the architecture, the lack of people. And to top it off, I remember distinctly finding Virgin Cross Country timetables from the leaflet racks on the platform - which was pretty uncanny. The new station, whilst wonderfully soulless, is at least not creepy.

Anyway, that's 10 mins of my time soaked up!

 

[Bletchleyite]

My favourite era of anything in the entirety of railway history as I've experienced it has to be Class 101s on the Conwy Valley, without any shadow of a doubt.

1990s on the WCML was depressing - watch that Victoria Wood Great Railway Journey. The whole thing felt like the railway was going to close next week.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

My favourite era of anything in the entirety of railway history as I've experienced it has to be Class 101s on the Conwy Valley, without any shadow of a doubt.

1990s on the WCML was depressing - watch that Victoria Wood Great Railway Journey. The whole thing felt like the railway was going to close next week.

Yeah I wasn't really sure about the WCML. I only said the 90s because I used to love the Royal Scot Drivers Eye View by Video 125 which was filmed in 1995. In retrospect I think steam might have been my favourite WCML era!

 

[Sun Chariot]

I loved watching the unfolding route and vista, through DMU / EMU windows between passengers' saloon and driving cab.
South WCML (310), Calder Valley (110), Devon and Cornwall (101, 108) and more.

I liked being mesmerised by the rise-fall of telegraph wires, interrupted by the flash of each passing pole.
Fond memories of the Midland Main Line behind Peaks.

I enjoyed seeing emergence of liveries at BR sectorisation.
The depot specials, as well as corporate schemes.

So - to experience all three - it's the mid 1980s for me.

What don't I miss? 18 years' commuting by rail - 1994-early 2000 on the WAGN as was; and 2000-2012 across London. My 2005-2012 commutes endured abhorrent Jubilee Line reliability.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

I really do not miss Thames Trains in the slightest. Overcrowded, cramped Turbos all the way to Hereford; surly customer service at Oxford station; virtually no service enhancements over the entire franchise.

I have fond memories of the creaking state of CrossCountry in the last days of BR and before the Voyagers - hour-long delays were common, carriage lighting would flicker on and off at random intervals, and you never quite knew whether you'd reach your destination. It had character... but I'm not sure I'd want to repeat the experience today!

 

[D6130]

Best of the eras that I experienced:

(1) West Coast Main Line 1960-67. As a small child I remember being enthralled by the countless steam-hauled trains roaring past my grandparents' farm between Gretna and Lockerbie. Princesses, Duchesses, Royal Scots, Jubilees, Britannias, Clans, Black Fives, Standard Fives, etc. My granddad gave me my first Ian Allan ABC combined volume for my fourth birthday in October 1961 and the die was cast....much to the chagrin of my parents. As the 'sixties wore on, diesels started to infiltrate the principal expresses - firstly class 40s and then 47s - but steam held on to most parcels and freight services - plus a lot of the Summer holiday dated services, reliefs and excursions - until the closure of Carlisle Kingmoor depot on 31st December 1967; albeit with an ever-decreasing number of ever more dirty and run-down locos.

(2) The West Highland lines 1967-1973. The enigmatic class 29s - some in two-tone green livery as per my avatar and others in the less-attractive BR corporate blue - hauling mixed rakes of maroon and blue/grey mark 1 stock....with the ex-LNER observation car on the rear of the Summer dated Glasgow-Fort William and return services....and the Summer dated 3 car Swindon Cross-Country DMU - borrowed from the Aberdeen-Inverness line - which did a daily round-trip from Glasgow to Oban, giving superb panoramic views through the driver's cab of the mountains, glens and lochs en route. As the 1970s dawned and the class 27s - with their multifarious livery variations - took over once again, now hauling all-blue/grey stock, but you could still enjoy a cooked breakfast in the restaurant car crossing Rannoch Moor on the overnight sleeper from Kings Cross....or high tea on the return working in the evening.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Best of the eras that I experienced:

(1) West Coast Main Line 1960-67. As a small child I remember being enthralled by the countless steam-hauled trains roaring past my grandparents' farm between Gretna and Lockerbie. Princesses, Duchesses, Royal Scots, Jubilees, Britannias, Clans, Black Fives, Standard Fives, etc. My granddad gave me my first Ian Allan ABC combined volume for my fourth birthday in October 1961 and the die was cast....much to the chagrin of my parents. As the 'sixties wore on, diesels started to infiltrate the principal expresses - firstly class 40s and then 47s - but steam held on to most parcels and freight services - plus a lot of the Summer holiday dated services, reliefs and excursions - until the closure of Carlisle Kingmoor depot on 31st December 1967; albeit with an ever-decreasing number of ever more dirty and run-down locos.

(2) The West Highland lines 1967-1973. The enigmatic class 29s - some in two-tone green livery as per my avatar and others in the less-attractive BR corporate blue - hauling mixed rakes of maroon and blue/grey mark 1 stock....with the ex-LNER observation car on the rear of the Summer dated Glasgow-Fort William and return services....and the Summer dated 3 car Swindon Cross-Country DMU - borrowed from the Aberdeen-Inverness line - which did a daily round-trip from Glasgow to Oban, giving superb panoramic views through the driver's cab of the mountains, glens and lochs en route. As the 1970s dawned and the class 27s - with their multifarious livery variations - took over once again, now hauling all-blue/grey stock, but you could still enjoy a cooked breakfast in the restaurant car crossing Rannoch Moor on the overnight sleeper from Kings Cross....or high tea on the return working in the evening.

Yes, I remember being enchanted by my Duchess of Buccleuch and various LMS coaching stock I unwrapped on Christmas 2003. Still the best Christmas ever. Started my affection for the LMS steam era. Although Im still and will always be a Southern Region man.

 

[Taunton]

Early 1960s summer Saturdays at Taunton. Absolutely fascinating.

 

[yorksrob]

1990s on the WCML was depressing - watch that Victoria Wood Great Railway Journey. The whole thing felt like the railway was going to close next week.

I don't have to - I was there using it quite regularly.

Mk3's were nice but very very busy. I'm not sure I'm qualified to select a best era for it though.

For me - Kent Coast and Kent Link lines - NSE slam door era (Obviously).

Marshlink and Sussex coast - I particularly loved this area in the very early NSE era of the late 80's, early 90's. The livery was coming in, but the train interiors hadn't been completely overwhelmed by NSE blue. There was quite a nice variety of thumpers turn up on the Marshlink at the time.

MML the last ten years before the IC125 was withdrawn. Excellent value and comfort.

Normanton, Castleford, Wakefield - Probably now, now that we have an E/W York to Manc service. Will be even better when it runs all day.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I don't understand any harking back to 1990s Mk3 coaches (HST or hauled) myself. They were rubbish in my view. Awful seats, bad legroom, bad ambiance, odd ride, noisy due to the droplights, banging back and forth interior doors, the faff of slamdoors, often failed aircon, overbright lighting, almighty bang when another train went past. I remember going to Germany in the late 90s and seeing just how good a hauled coach could be in comparison.

 

[D6130]

Agreed. Give me an air cond Mk 2d or e anytime.

 

[The exile]

I don't understand any harking back to 1990s Mk3 coaches (HST or hauled) myself. They were rubbish in my view. Awful seats, bad legroom, bad ambiance, odd ride, noisy due to the droplights, banging back and forth interior doors, the faff of slamdoors, often failed aircon, overbright lighting, almighty bang when another train went past. I remember going to Germany in the late 90s and seeing just how good a hauled coach could be in comparison.

Presumably the IC offering rather than Silberlinge or the awful IR botch-up. Once open windows got vibrating on those they were almost intolerable.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Presumably the IC offering rather than Silberlinge or the awful IR botch-up. Once open windows got vibrating on those they were almost intolerable.

Silberlinge were local coaches, and a diesel and four of those (refurbished, I'd agree the originals were rather Spartan) was in every possible way superior to the UK analogy of a 2-car Class 150 or a Pacer. Or an electric and six instead of the awful Mk3-derived 20m EMUs.

I quite liked those IR coaches, but I'd agree the IC ones were of a higher overall quality and were air conditioned - as such more comparable to the Mk3.

 

[43096]

I don't understand any harking back to 1990s Mk3 coaches (HST or hauled) myself. They were rubbish in my view. Awful seats, bad legroom, bad ambiance, odd ride, noisy due to the droplights, banging back and forth interior doors, the faff of slamdoors, often failed aircon, overbright lighting, almighty bang when another train went past. I remember going to Germany in the late 90s and seeing just how good a hauled coach could be in comparison.

I don’t understand your view. The Mark 3 and IC70 seat was better than anything before or since.

See, that’s just as valid as your opinion that you trot out ad nauseam.

 

[Rescars]

As a passenger, the high spot was travelling on business by Wrexham and Shropshire from Marylebone to Telford. Really interesting route, through service, wonderfully comfortable stock, delightful staff and a free dinner as part of the bargain - the ticket price seriously undercut the fare from Euston. Even better was the need to make the return trip several times! A true beacon of excellence. So sad it hasn't survived.

 

[yorksrob]

I don't understand any harking back to 1990s Mk3 coaches (HST or hauled) myself. They were rubbish in my view. Awful seats, bad legroom, bad ambiance, odd ride, noisy due to the droplights, banging back and forth interior doors, the faff of slamdoors, often failed aircon, overbright lighting, almighty bang when another train went past. I remember going to Germany in the late 90s and seeing just how good a hauled coach could be in comparison.

1st in the EMT HST was perfection. Comfy seats, practical, well designed toilets, good window views.

I'm getting depressed remembering that they've gone.

Agreed. Give me an air cond Mk 2d or e anytime.

I generally don't mind mk2's, although I didn't like the ones with those bucket seats.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As a passenger, the high spot was travelling on business by Wrexham and Shropshire from Marylebone to Telford. Really interesting route, through service, wonderfully comfortable stock, delightful staff and a free dinner as part of the bargain - the ticket price seriously undercut the fare from Euston. Even better was the need to make the return trip several times! A true beacon of excellence. So sad it hasn't survived.

Though the stock is presently in use with Chiltern. While they still have the terrible original seats, the general "look and feel" of these Mk3s is considerably better than the norm was (much more like the original 1970s low density interior but with frilly touches like curtains etc) and a lot of wearers of rose-tinted spectacles seem to hark back to these as an era of Mk3 travel that didn't really exist.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

As a young teenager who suffered from travel sickness, the WCML Mk3 coaches of the mid-90s were definitely better than the air-con Mk2s, which were usually over-warm. However both fleets felt dog-eared and grotty until the Virgin refurbishment which made then infinitely better. I recall a short journey in one of the last Intercity-liveried Mk3 FOs from Crewe to Stafford probably around 1998 and the ride was so rough the restaurant staff were struggling to serve food to the diners.

For actual enthusiast interest, the late 80s / early 90s were far better though. Massive IC Motorail services, the southbound trains marshalling the vans behind the propelling loco once DVTs arrived. The Intercity Pullmans with about 6 First class vehicles and two catering cars. The Clansman. Mk1 rakes to Pwllheli.

 

[Adrian Barr]

(Choices based mainly on eras I wish I'd had a chance to see... focusing on loco-hauled routes out of London). Maybe not the "best" customer experiences... plenty of grime, plenty of atmosphere...

On the West Coast I have a fondness for the mid-80s. The first time I spotted any electric locos was on a visit to Euston in 1986. Intercity livery was gradually taking over but there was still plenty of blue & grey stock to be seen. DVTs hadn't been introduced and Euston had plenty of light engine moves and empty stock movements on the old track layout with its mysterious tunnels and backing out roads and the downside carriage shed. Some 85s and 81s were still in use, and you could even see the last survivors of class 82 and 83 on empty stock at Euston. Still plenty of mail and parcels, motorail, 86 on Mk1s on the Northampton Cobbler. The sleepers and TPOs seemed very glamourous. Time to board a Mk3 set hauled by an 87 for an overnight at Crewe...
83012 stabled in its usual spot at Euston in 1989, with its intercity paint faded from trips through the carriage washer: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dmc1947/5942045897/

On the Midland Main Line, I remember when 45106 was painted green in the late 1980s and could still be seen working into St Pancras, as seen here at the buffer stops:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/24041160@N02/15982136255/
However, I missed the era of blue peaks and mechanical signalling on that route, so that would my choice when setting a time machine...
Three peaks on the blocks at St Pancras in 1982: https://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_davis_photos/6964313491/

On the East Coast, the blue Deltic era would be an obvious choice, in the early 70s when class 31s worked on the 'widened lines' into Moorgate (search "Class 31 Moorgate" on flickr for some views that are hard to imagine today). TVP produced a good DVD called Kings Cross Suburban which covers this era.
This photo is what I'm talking about - a Deltic and a 31 on the suburban side of Kings Cross in 1976: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rgadsdon/51881018844/
Equally of interest would be the steam / diesel transition era when some interesting early diesel traction was in use alongside steam -
Baby Deltic on Kings Cross Suburban in 1961: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rgadsdon/51947510449/
BTH Type 1 on ECS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rgadsdon/52774466208/
And how could you resist a scene like this...
"BRCW Type 2 D and North British Type 2 D6109 flank Class N2 0-6-2T 69581 at Kings Cross." https://www.flickr.com/photos/55727763@N02/53756711957/

On West Anglia I would have liked to have seen the era before electrification beyond Cambridge, when Network SouthEast 47s worked to Kings Lynn, and the era of blue diesels before that. Before remodelling... when there was still a station pilot at Liverpool Street.
37110 leaves Liverpool Street for Kings Lynn in 1980, with an 08 and 47 in the background: https://www.flickr.com/photos/86020500@N06/7915674910/
On the Great Eastern, Ipswich must have been interesting in the period when 86s changed over to 47s on the Norwich services, as seen to good effect in this 1985 shot: https://www.flickr.com/photos/d1059/52259175722/
Not directly related, but this shot of a steam heat 31108 at Ipswich in December 1984 just oozes atmosphere: https://www.flickr.com/photos/d1059/52259175722/
And on to Norwich to spend a summer Saturday back when there were 03s on station pilot duty... plus 20s / 25 / 31 / 37 visible in this 1979 shot: https://www.flickr.com/photos/geoffsimages/9625114380/

On the South Western, the 1980s with large logo blue 50s out of Waterloo and class 33s... a familiar era to me. As a child it was mesmerising to wait for a train at a quiet little station like Gillingham (Dorset) and have a huge slab of noisy class 50 turn up to take you on a day trip... not to mention 33s and Mk1s on the Portsmouth - Cardiff run...
On the South Eastern, maybe in the 1970s when the class 71s were still about, such as this one arriving at Victoria with the night ferry: https://www.flickr.com/photos/freegard/53034145905/
Also the era of late-night newspaper/mail trains with 73s and 33s on the southern... how about 73002 on the 03:00 to Ramsgate in 1983 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/skiddaw_d3/8554688879/

Over at Paddington, out of curiosity I picked up a 1971 working timetable on Ebay and was looking for photos of the era. Warships, Hymeks, Westerns, but also the North British Type 1s (class 22), the class 41 Warships, Blue Pullman, Falcon... a very interesting period. Worth a post by itself, but this photo will suffice for now: Warship 857 seen at Paddington in 1971 in blue livery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/86020500@N06/7915674910/

 

[contrex]

Southern Region Central Division - suburban: 4-SUBs. mainline: PUL/PAN/COR/BEL/HALs - everything green. 1964 when I was 12.

 

[Bevan Price]

1. Everywhere when steam ruled supreme, and the chance of surprise when a loco from a "rare" depot might appear.

2. Anywhere served by Summer Saturday loco-hauled trains, especially if there was a chance of non-boilered locos working.

 

[andro]

Hitchin to Aberdeen, rocking and rolling in noisy Mk 1 compartment stock on jointed track for most of the way in the 60s could have been a court sentence for a serious offence.

Hitchin to Bedford in a Park Royal railbus that bounced like a fairground ride, but so much fun to be able to see where we were going

First trip in an HST from Edinburgh to York was pure bliss - comfortable, very fast, accompanied by roaring Paxmans - the engineering equivalent of classical music. Later HST trips to London were always good - happy memories!

 

[bramling]

My list for which era was the best for each route:

• West Coast Mainline - mid 90s Intercity
• Midland Mainline - err Midland Mainline teal era or uniform Midland Mainline blue/grey c.2007
• East Coast - 1970s BR blue
• West Anglia - I actually have to say mid 2010s with class 379s and peak Kings Lynn services
• Great Eastern - 1989 NSE
• LTS - either 1989 NSE or pre-COVID 2019 era
• South Eastern (main line) - I have to say 1998 Connex/NSE era. I'd say pre-HS1 2009 but don't want to give up the Eurostars
• Chatham Main - same as above
• Brighton Mainline - probably 2010-2015. Proper Brighton Express services, Electrostars and Wessex Electrics
• South Western - circa 2001 early SWT era
• Great Western - 2015 HSTs/Class 180 era
• Chiltern - pre Covid 2019

Some eras I don't miss:

• Virgin Trains era - that livery always looked dull on the Pendos. The Avanti brand is so much better.
• Pre-rebuild Blackfriars station - I remember the first time I went to that station when I was about 10 years old, I think. I have a feeling it was on a Saturday morning, so naturally the station was deserted, but I remember it being pretty creepy. There was a ghostly atmosphere; the cranking of the escalators, the faded Victorian optimism of the architecture, the lack of people. And to top it off, I remember distinctly finding Virgin Cross Country timetables from the leaflet racks on the platform - which was pretty uncanny. The new station, whilst wonderfully soulless, is at least not creepy.

Anyway, that's 10 mins of my time soaked up!

For GN it’s definitely the 365s under WAGN when under National Express (not so much Prism) and First Capital Connect. Wonderful trains, and the service was ultra-reliable. No need to check before turning up at the station, you just turned up and the train materialised. During this time there was also an increasing trend towards longer trains, especially off-peak.

Worst era has to be everything from 2018 onwards. First we had the 365 “dumbing down” refurbishment to set the scene for this, and now we have the mess of GTR and Thameslink, where you just can’t rely on the service. Thankfully many class 700 journeys are now worked by class 387s which of course is far from the original Thameslink Programme plan, though still not as nice as the 365s especially in their earlier forms.

It is difficult to see the service ever recovering to the 2005-2018 sweet spot.

 

[sh24]

WCML in the early 70's with pairs of 50's handing over to first generation electrics. (before my time, but would have been fun).

North West England in the late 70's/early 80's with 40's everywhere. (also before my time, sadly)

And one I do remember, summer Saturday Cornwall in the early/mid 80's. Growing up in Hampshire Peaks on Mk1 (Nose Duffs ) was rather exotic, along with lots of lovely 50's.

 

[Sun Chariot]

WCML in the early 70's with pairs of 50's handing over to first generation electrics. (before my time, but would have been fun).

I was fortunate to experience a pair of 50's attacking Shap northbound in 1988. 50024 + 50050 on "The Fellsman 2". I caught it at Birmingham New Street and we were treated to an audio spectacular along the WCML (and S&C southwards - including the inevitable "all climb out to take your trackside photos" stop at Ribblehead station).

The 40s I barely saw in service: just one trip in spring 1984 - WCML to Carlisle, then S&C south. 3 Whistlers idled outside Carlisle but the S&C run was behind a very unwell Ped Goyle (31/4) - which expired near Dent and needed rescuing by a wonderfully throaty 25/1.

Peaks got me interested in the BR scene: mid-1970s MML as they thundered by Leagrave where my mother took my young self. Also family trips to see my grandmother, meant Dawlish beach, more Peaks shaking the old underbridge deck. Memories of a still-blue 47484 "I.K.B." struggling up the final yards into Exeter Central banked by a volcanic 33, with stone ftom Meldon Quarry.

 

[mike57]

Living in London and having relatives in Brighton I got to experience the Brighton Belle a couple of times as a youngster, maybe age 8 or 9. Even at that age it made an impression, just wish I had been a bit older, or it had lasted long enough to take a bit more of it in.

By the early 80s I had moved to Yorkshire, and was working in Victoria, so would travel down each week and stay over, generally leaving London on Thursday evening and returning early Monday morning. In those days you had full restaurent car service and if you went for a meal you got to sit in first class legitatimatley with a 2nd class ticket, so every Thursday evening I had a proper meal and sat in First class, cost was similar to 1st class ticket without a meal from memory. Return on Monday morniing was more of a lottery, as the restaurent car was frequently full.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

One era from the not-too-distant past which I don't miss is when South West Trains operated unrefurbished ex-Southern Class 456s on the Guildford to Ascot route.

I would've liked to experience working them as a guard, but from a passenger perspective they were rancid - horrible ambience, absolutely filthy, practically falling apart with seat cushions falling off the bases...

I never felt particularly safe travelling on them, especially at night (a combination of the gloomy ambience and the line itself, which is a hot spot for anti-social behaviour), but even the Class 458s which they replaced felt a lot "safer".

 

[Kingston Dan]

1990s ECML when under BR then GNER you could buy a cheap second class ticket, take yourself off to the restaurant car shortly after departure at Kings X have a brilliant three course dinner and wine (and a cigar) for about £30 and get pretty much all the way to Scottish border before returning to your cheap seat.

 

[contrex]

1. Everywhere when steam ruled supreme, and the chance of surprise when a loco from a "rare" depot might appear.

2. Anywhere served by Summer Saturday loco-hauled trains, especially if there was a chance of non-boilered locos working.

I didn't have 1 but I did have 2 - the Herne Hill - Tulse Hill spur ran past the back of our house on an embankment, and when I was a boy there would be inter-regional trains heading for the South Coast. Blood and custard coaches and green locos sometimes. Extra fun when the loco slipped to a stand, usually level with our house. The incline is 1 in 64 there. There could be showers of sparks from the chimney, and more than once the dry vegetation on the embankment cought fire. Usually an emu would couple up behind, and there would be whistling back and forth before a push up the bank.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Don't miss:

The MTL era at Merseyrail - it just had a feeling of not giving a monkey's about quality. Tighter diagrams resulted in more delays and the whole thing got very scruffy.

The 3-car 185s for everything era at TPE.

GNER if travelling Standard - people look back at them with rose tinted spectacles but it was really only First Class that was good.