I didn’t know they had that!! Rolling stock you didn’t know that company operated.

[xotGD]

While 37s on the Rhymney turns were a regular occurrence, 33208 also had spell working these services in 1998, and Class 50s also appeared.

 

[RUK]

I read that there is or was a Class 08 shunter at Norwich Crown Point depot, which is presumably operated by Greater Anglia (or one of its predecessor TOCs).

 

[generalnerd]

I read that there is or was a Class 08 shunter at Norwich Crown Point depot, which is presumably operated by Greater Anglia (or one of its predecessor TOCs).

These diesel shunters in proper liveries (intercity, privatisation etc) are really interesting. Didn’t virgin trains have one?

 

[jus363]

Indeed - post #8 covers it, with linked info.

sorry missed that one

 

[50002Superb]

I read that there is or was a Class 08 shunter at Norwich Crown Point depot, which is presumably operated by Greater Anglia (or one of its predecessor TOCs).

There were two when I was there last year.

There are still plenty of 08s scattered around the network in use.

 

[Deepgreen]

Yes, D9000 Royal Scots Grey made for an incongruous sight: green loco, Virgin red/black Mk2s; especially on the third rail leg, down the Kent Coast.
I took photos of it: at St Mary Cray, at Kenny O & at Hanwell.

Yes, and the Porterbrook purple 'Deltic', also used on a regular freight working (Yorkshire, I think?).

Those were driven by EWS drivers…

As here, at Clapham Junction:

 

[trainswitheddy]

I read that there is or was a Class 08 shunter at Norwich Crown Point depot, which is presumably operated by Greater Anglia (or one of its predecessor TOCs).

Worth mentioning the two Class 08s EMT owned at (I believe?) Neville Hill.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Yes, and the Porterbrook purple 'Deltic', also used on a regular freight working (Yorkshire, I think?).

The purple Porterbrook Deltic was D9016, which was certainly used on Virgin Cross Country passenger services at one time (although I think when it was still green). Did it operate any freight services?

D9000 was used on tankers from Blyth (the town in Northumberland, not the one near Doncaster) on what is now the Northumberland Line

 

[trainswitheddy]

The purple Porterbrook Deltic was D9016, which was certainly used on Virgin Cross Country passenger services at one time (although I think when it was still green).

Are you sure? I remember reading Royal Scots Grey was the only one that operated, and while D9016 was planned to begin operations it or D9000 had some kind of failure that ended the entire program.

 

[cj_1985]

Has anyone mentioned the GBRf Class 87?

Numerous... starting with 013 and 014.
Iirc 014 was the first class 87/0 used on freight since privatisation. (Not talking about hauling 325s)

After, 013 and 014 were replaced with 012 and 019... then 022 and 028 which were in debranded DRS livery. Wembley depot smartened the pair up with both receiving GB orange in place of yellow around the cab windows. 028 would also famously receive orange cab sides.

With 002, 006, 010 and 026 also having been taken on lease for various periods during the time that the 325s had their motor carriages removed and NEEDED to be dragged as 3 car units/12 car sets...

 

[12LDA28C]

The purple Porterbrook Deltic was D9016, which was certainly used on Virgin Cross Country passenger services at one time (although I think when it was still green). Did it operate any freight services?

D9000 was used on tankers from Blyth (the town in Northumberland, not the one near Doncaster) on what is now the Northumberland Line

D9016 was not used on VXC services, it was D9000. It visited Paddington, Birmingham, Ramsgate, Glasgow and York whilst on hire to Virgin.

 

[lumitumey12345]

According to wikipedia, 321408 and 321428 were loaned to c2c during 2007 however I cannot find any photos or evidence of this, can anyone confirm?

 

[hexagon789]

According to wikipedia, 321408 and 321428 were loaned to c2c during 2007 however I cannot find any photos or evidence of this, can anyone confirm?

There are a couple of photos on Flickr, such as this one:

Fenchurch St 321429 and 321432 Apr 2007

"Noddy Rail" aka "Silverlink" regulary loaned out their 321 units. So they were regular enough working out of Leeds, Liverpool St and for a short period Fenchurch Street as cover for unavailable C2C units

flic.kr

Fenchurch St 321429 and 321432 Apr 2007​

"Noddy Rail" aka "Silverlink" regulary loaned out their 321 units. So they were regular enough working out of Leeds, Liverpool St and for a short period Fenchurch Street as cover for unavailable C2C units​

​

 

[dk1]

Virgin XC operated a deltic for a brief while...

So did Anglia Railways.

I read that there is or was a Class 08 shunter at Norwich Crown Point depot, which is presumably operated by Greater Anglia (or one of its predecessor TOCs).

The two based there are in daily use.

 

[Galvanize]

c2c 357s hired to “one” in 2005 to work services between London Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria, in turn releasing 321/3s to hire to Silverlink.

 

[Kite159]

At one time London Overground were using former London Midland 321s on the Romford - Upminster line

 

[Tractor37]

Worth mentioning the two Class 08s EMT owned at (I believe?) Neville Hill.

Just to let you know there are 4 EMT liveried 08’s at Neville Hill - 525, 690, 908 and 950 which are used to shunt the Mik IV stock and 91’s around. Along with EWS liveried 08405 on hire from RSS which Northern use

 

[stadler]

Gatwick Express had two 458s (001 and 002) for a few months in 2005. I believe this was related to reliability issues with the 460s and a lot were out of service meaning more trains were temporarily needed. They even had GX logos applied and some seats removed to make them more suitable for airport services.

Southern had three 375s (905 and 921 and 924) for a few months in 2009. I believe this was related to the 319/2s and 377/5s going to FCC and therefore SN having a shortage or stock until their 313s and 350s fully got in to service. These three 375s mostly worked a diagram that did mostly London to Brighton services and peak time London to Littlehampton and London to Bognor Regis services. They were unable to couple to the 377s so all three units normally remained as a twelve coach and had their own diagram.

Scotrail operated some 365s for a short period. I think this was only a couple years ago. I seem to remember it was related to delays in getting the 385s in service.

There are also many classes used that were so long ago that many people forget about them. London Overground and Silverlink both had three 508s. South West Trains had ten 170s. Southern had their 319s. There has been so many changes over the years.

 

[Deepgreen]

The purple Porterbrook Deltic was D9016, which was certainly used on Virgin Cross Country passenger services at one time (although I think when it was still green). Did it operate any freight services?

D9000 was used on tankers from Blyth (the town in Northumberland, not the one near Doncaster) on what is now the Northumberland Line

Many thanks - Blyth was where I meant (not Yorkshire).

 

[dk1]

The long term hire of the ‘Hastings’ DEMU to Anglia Railways is hard to believe now but worked well on its set diagram.

 

[Mikey C]

The Chiltern Bubble Cars that lasted until 2017 would have surprised a few people!

 

[sad1e]

The Chiltern Bubble Cars that lasted until 2017 would have surprised a few people!

personally I was very surprised Chiltern were allowed to operate a bubble car by the DFT due to them being slam door and not being up to scratch for modern accessibility standards
in what ways did Chiltern modify it if any to meet these. unless it was exempt from these regulations due to its age that is.

 

[Russel]

personally I was very surprised Chiltern were allowed to operate a bubble car by the DFT due to them being slam door and not being up to scratch for modern accessibility standards
in what ways did Chiltern modify it if any to meet these. unless it was exempt from these regulations due to its age that is.

Regarding being slam door, I believe it is fitted with central door locking.

I only ever had the chance to ride it once and that was on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway a week or two before the first Covid lockdown, it was strange to be on a 1st gen DMU with a current TOC interior.

 

[12LDA28C]

Regarding being slam door, I believe it is fitted with central door locking.

I only ever had the chance to ride it once and that was on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway a week or two before the first Covid lockdown, it was strange to be on a 1st gen DMU with a current TOC interior.

Both the Chiltern ‘bubble cars’ were indeed fitted with an electro-magnet CDL system. I would hardly class them as qualifying for this thread though as it was widely known that CR operated them and enthusiasts appeared regularly to ride on what were the last first-generation DMUs to run in regular passenger service on the national network.

 

[generalnerd]

Both the Chiltern ‘bubble cars’ were indeed fitted with an electro-magnet CDL system. I would hardly class them as qualifying for this thread though as it was widely known that CR operated them and enthusiasts appeared regularly to ride on what were the last first-generation DMUs to run in regular passenger service on the national network.

I would say it counts as it’s strange and unique, even if people know about it.

I only ever had the chance to ride it once and that was on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway a week or two before the first Covid lockdown, it was strange to be on a 1st gen DMU with a current TOC interior.

Is it preserved there permanently?

 

[plugwash]

I wonder, given Merseyrail's desire for more unelectrified expansions, if 3rd-rail/diesel bi-mode loco(s) would be of interest to them! Not sure how else they'd rescue a failed battery loco!

For simple issues like a low battery I suspect the most likely outcome of one of their battery bi-mode units breaking down is it being towed out by another unit of the same class. That seems to be the most expediant rescue operation on most of the railway nowadays.

If for some reason a loco is required (such as a situation like salisbury where a crashed train has to be pulled out of a cramped space by brute force) afaict the surface sections of merseyrail can all be reached without going through the central liverpool tunnels, though it's sometimes a long way round. The northern branches of the northern line can be reached via southport and sandhills. The southern end of the northern line can be reached via hunts cross. And the wirrel line can be reached via ellsmere port, chester or bidston.

Also IIRC while diesel passengers trains are forbidden in the central liverpool tunnels, I belive under at least some circumstances diesel engineering trains are permitted down there.

 

[generalnerd]

Also IIRC while diesel passengers trains are forbidden in the central liverpool tunnels, I belive under at least some circumstances diesel engineering trains are permitted down there.

the original (?) bi-mode (class 73) can and does use the merseyrail network with its third rail traction

 

[12LDA28C]

Is it preserved there permanently?

It’s not really ‘preserved’ at all as it’s owned by LSL at Crewe. It was loaned to the EVR for a while but was moved last year to the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway where it currently resides.

 

[Deepgreen]

Stretching the bounds of the thread to breaking point, but the incident comes to mind where a SWT working failed in Dorset (can't recall exactly where) and the passengers were collected by a following 'Steam Dreams' tour, headed by 'Standard Five' 73096 which must have made a few SWT passengers do a double-take! Possibly around 2003 I think, but unsure. I'm pretty sure the steam made a few extra stops for the displaced passengers.

 

[Mikey C]

Both the Chiltern ‘bubble cars’ were indeed fitted with an electro-magnet CDL system. I would hardly class them as qualifying for this thread though as it was widely known that CR operated them and enthusiasts appeared regularly to ride on what were the last first-generation DMUs to run in regular passenger service on the national network.

I doubt they were that well known to the general public though, operating on what is a quiet line.