'Scene' at Rugby

I have been to Rugby before but on this visit, I thought it was extremely quiet.

 

The ‘Star’ here was Direct Rail Services (DRS) Class 57309 named ‘Pride of Crewe’.

 

Rebuilt from Class 47’s by Brush Traction at Loughborough.  The 57’s incorporated General Motors engines which greatly improved the loco’s performance.

 

57309 was originally part of Virgin Trains‘ (VT) twelve strong ‘Thunderbird’ fleet and was named ‘Brains’ in that series. 

 

Along with 57302 and 57305. 57309 was leased from ‘Porterbrook’ by DRS for a period of 3 years from April 2012.

 

From December 2012 DRS contracted to provide haulage for VT and presumably, its presence at Rugby was to be of such service if required.

 

 

 

Parked in a siding adjacent to the station are a small collection of vehicles.

 

 

 

 

96605 

Is one of a small collection of vans that at one time were used by the ‘Motorail’ service. These ran in passenger train formations carrying the cars of the trains passengers.

 

The last time I was here which is over two years ago, they were parked in the same position. 

 

These former ‘Great Western’ liveried vehicles ran as part of the ‘Night Riviera’ service from London to Penzance.

Introduced in 1999. The trains ran until 2005 when after considerable financial losses, they were withdrawn.

 

6376 

Is one of two ‘Translator’ vehicles owned by ‘Porterbrook’. ‘Also known as ‘barrier’ vehicles. 

 

Their purpose is to bridge the gap between loco’s, coaches, wagons etc. that have otherwise incompatible couplings. 

Originally they were Mark 1 coaching stock.

Directly opposite the railway station is the local ‘Stagecoach’ Midlands garage. Like the railway station, it was very quiet.

 

The only bus outside in clear view was.

 

P905 RYO 

A Leyland Olympian with Northern Counties Palatine 1 bodywork. It has that forlorn look about it that old buses have just before they are sold on.

 

KX61 GEJ and KX61 GDU 

An image taken from Platform 1 on the railway station shows a couple of ‘megabus.com’ Volvo B9R’s with Plaxton Panther 2 bodies tucked away in the garage.

 

'Scene' in Carlisle part one, Trains

Carlisle Citadel Station

 

In its heyday Carlisle Citadel Station (known these days as simply Carlisle) welcomed trains from the following railways. The  Midland, the Caledonian, the North Eastern, the London & North Western, the Maryport & Carlisle and the Glasgow & Southwestern.

 

It must have been a colourful and noisy scene.

 

Today it is still busy and proudly displays its place as the Northern terminus of the Settle and Carlisle line. This being regarded as one of the most scenic railway lines in the country.

 

 

 

A pair of Virgin Voyagers (221109 & 221111) at the Northern end of the station heading in opposite directions.

 

 

 

It is not surprising that many of the loco’s seen in and around Carlisle are owned by  ‘Direct Rail Services’ (DRS) because although they have depots around the country the company is headquartered in Carlisle.

 

DRS is wholly owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency and was established in 1995.  

 

57308 

Named ‘County of Staffordshire’ of (DRS) waits its next duty.

 

At one time 57308 worked for Virgin Trains as one of its ‘Thunderbird’ locos and at that time carried the name ‘Tin Tin’.

 

They were used as rescue loco’s on the West Coast Main Line and also for hauling diesel units from Crewe to Holyhead and return.

 

66434

Another DRS loco carrying the livery of 'Malcolm Rail' passes through on a Southbound freight. Most class 66 with DRS have come direct from General Motors but this one of five purchased secondhand from the defunct operator ‘Fastline Freight’. 

 

31106

Known as Brush type 2’s when originally built in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Originally numbered as D5224, at various times it has carried the names ‘The Blackcountryman’ and ‘Spalding Town’.

Now simply 31106 it is seen propelling a Network Rail test train.

 

Most passenger trains these days are made up are made up of multiple unit stock and here are a few that were present.

 

158795

In the colours of ‘Northern Rail’ had just arrived from Leeds. It had worked over the Settle and Carlisle line in bright sunny conditions. I had been a passenger on this from Settle.

 

156433

One of ‘Scotrails’ fleet of 156’s. 

There have been a number of ‘Scotrail’ liveries over the years but I think that this is the best.

 

221111

The trailing car on this Virgin Voyager set heads North over the border.

I find it strange that these diesel sets operate considerable mileage ‘under the wires’.

Surely bi-modal stock has to be the answer.

 

 

142020

One of the much derided Class 142 fleet. I personally like them and I think a lot of their so called rough riding characteristics come from running on old fashioned short lengths of track held together with fishplates. On welded track, I think that they are acceptable. 

 

9703

Built as a Brake Standard Open (BSO) at Derby in 1974. It was one of 14 converted to Driving Break standard Open (DBSO) to enable it to work in push pull mode with a loco on the rear of the train. Part of ‘Network Rail’s fleet.

 

999606

A former British Railways built Mark 1 coach now used for ultrasonic testing purposes. Part of ‘Network Rail’s fleet.

 

Further photos can be seen on my Flickr