Weekly Review ~ 3rd July 2016

The Week Review Is Back, By Popular Demand! And We're Giving This Series A Whole New Lease Of Life With A New Style! So Here We Go....


Today, we tie up loose ends of news we haven't yet reported on this blog.

General Railway News:

387222 has been on loan to Thameslink recently from sister Govia company GE. 90024 is in a new colourful livery to promote Malcom Logistics, and doesn't it look vivid! From Malcom, we turn our attention to Caroline - I'm on about this, not some elderly couple from Shropshire!

As reported, TPE arranged a Class 170 farewell tour in connection to the Branch Line Society. Photos of the tour are here, and proceeds went to charity.

A new TV series, TrainSpotting Live, is broadcast on BBC4: 11/12/13th July from 20:00-21:00. #TrainSpottingLive.

A London Midland Class 350 was named 'Lichfield Festival' at Euston on 14th June to commemorate the.... well.... Lichfield Festival - who would have guessed it? The Festival is celebrating its 35th Anniversary, and took place this July (sponsored by LM for the 3rd consecutive year).

Interesting Photos + Rare Allocations:

George captured 86259 in its striking blue livery at Willesdon TMD, as he went on a depot tour there at the end of June. He also captured a Caledonian Sleeper liveried 87 and 92, with a Freightliner 90 sandwiched in the middle, plus a few days prior to this he saw the recently overhauled NMT.

 MK2s leave storage, and other MK2s departing Long Marston.... and further to our report, 377501 has had its C6 overhaul, so the FCC livery is removed. The TL logo is the old one, but these will be replaced in time.

Another key movement includes the West Coast Railways Heritage Movement using 57313 and 57316. And as reported, there's a second Short Set for East Anglia (post here, and photo by Jonathan Maxim to the right).

Right: One of thirteen (321401-410/418/419/420) 321s at Great Northern. These units are mostly seen on the Kings Cross to Peterborough, Cambridge and Kings Lynn line, along with 317s and 365s even though the 365s are more common. The 365s will go to GWR once the new fleet arrives. (C) J Maxim.

Conclusion:
Well that concludes our first Weekly Review back. I'll be doing these regularly on a Monday as of the end of the month, with the other authors standing in too whenever required. And sorry for the lack of photos in the post this week, there'll be more content once the series returns permanently from the end of July).

Also, let me me know opinions on the layout and style of this post, including the fact that I've tried to add slightly more personality! That's all today - no post tomorrow, I'll be back Tuesday and Liam's here Wednesday. Harry. 
Regards:

Our Popular Posts....

07/02/17: Recent Goings On

Image
Harry Here, Summarising Some Of The Interesting Fleet News Between Oct 2016 and Spring 2017...... 10/2016: 142073 heads to  Doncaster for overhaul , as all ArrivaTrainsWales are going into the new livery gradually. 27/01/2017: 37423 and an extra DRS MK2 arrive at Norwich from  Derby, for Short Set usage.  Meanwhile, 68021 and 68016 arrive to take over duty's on the 68 Hauled Anglia Short Set, because 68025 and 68005 both need exams.  01/17: Virgin East coast finish the overhaul of all 45 trains! 
Read More....

Abellio Greater Anglia to Abellio East Anglia

Image
As Many Of You Are Aware, The AGA Franchise Renews This October For Services In East Anglia, Including To Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. Abellio Continue The Franchise, But Renamed East Anglia Ltd.  Greater Anglia, as it was at first, began in February 2012 - operating the short term tender which was due to expire in July 2014. However, the Government later extended this franchise, and it then became the rebranded Abellio Greater Anglia.
Read More....

Reminder: Stock + Service Changes, Abellio East Anglia.

IN SUMMARY: - Free Wi-Fi on Many Trains and also an  improved WiFi service at stations .  - Additional seats on trains across the network, by increasing train lengths and capacity.  - CET toilets, so waste isn't flushed onto tracks. This is already on MK3s.  - Increasing train punctuality and performance. - Entire fleet replacement (stated below), so other units are displaced or withdrawn. - Norwich to Cambridge trains extended to Stansted, and Sudbury branch lines running to Colchester. - Lowestoft connections to London Liverpool Street reinstated, using the electro-diesel units, four times per day. - Trains half hourly to Great Yarmouth, plus later connections to Sheringham and Lowestoft.
Read More....

Exclusive ~ VirginTrains ~ Penguilino & Claus 91

Image
To get into the Xmas spirit, Virgin Trains have unveiled East Coast  82209 & 91128  and Virgin West Coast revealed Pendolino 390013 in their Winter-style livery, as designed by Madeleine Deakin (aged 11) and Amber Maxfield (age 9) whom won a competition earlier this season.  The units were unveiled at London Kings Cross this morning and will remain in the livery until January. Claus 91, as it's been named, operates on the East Coast mainline between Kings Cross and Scotland via Penguinborough, whilst the Penguilino can be found on Virgin Trains West Coast services between London Euston and The North (North Pole) via Ho Ho Crewe.
Read More....

SOUTH - Last Day of Class 458/0 Operations

Image
©Liam Jenkins Good Evening, Liam here, offering you a post regarding the last day of South West Trains Class 458/0 service. Enjoy! On Sunday 8th November 2015, South West Trains operated the last day of Class 458/0s on the units' final day of operations. These units are to be sent to Doncaster Works, where they will be refurbished with the Gatwick Express Class 460s into a new Class 458/5 class.
Read More....

Special - Rebuilding the 1960's Class 73's.

Image
It's Friday, and today's post is a special! Not as I'm here (Andy)... Class 73's were built in the 1960's and generally used in the Southern region. In 2013, it was announced that GB Railfreight would initially be re-building 5 Class 73's to make them Class 73/9's. The complete re stripping and rebuilding has taken place at Brush Traction in Loughborough.  The Class 73/9's first started testing in late 2014 (73 961 - 965) as there had been some issues, however they were all resolved pretty soon. The 73/9's are intended to work infrastructure trains (test trains under Network Rail) and also to be used on Rail Head Treatment Trains. As a result of the rebuild, it has given the Class 73/9's up to 25 years more in service, and more 73/9's are to be released over the coming months which should see them introduced on to the Serco Sleeper eventually!
Read More....

Peter Skuce Reports (6A)

Image
Chiltern 168. (C) P Skuce. Peter. Part A is for the Chiltern Line Modernisation. Part B will lead from this. During the 1960s British Railways built forty one, 4 carriage Class 115 DMU trains for the London Marylebone – Aylesbury Chiltern Line. One trailer carriage had entirely Standard Class accommodation with 106 seats, whilst the other trailer carriage was a composite, featuring First Class cabins with seating to the 2+2 layout and Standard Class with two toilets. They were powered by Leyland Albion engines, with mechanical transmission and their maximum speed was 70 mph. A new maintenance depot was built at Aylesbury to accommodate the trains.
Read More....