The Rail Enthusiast thread

[Mad Doug Biker]

I have driven 50021 before and I had many a train hauled by it when it was at Bo'ness.

Also had 50027 on the Mid Hants, not to mention others probably over the years.

 

[mcshroom]

Getting away from Diesels for a moment. While I was waiting for my Class 37 hauled train round the Coast on Saturday, I saw a bit of shunting by this:-

 

[subaqua]

so whats peoples opinion on First dropping the first from the F GW brand. https://www.gwr.com/about-us/media-...-western-railway-as-part-of-historic-re-brand

apparently trains will be repainted the correct colour !

 

[classic33]

so whats peoples opinion on First dropping the first from the F GW brand. https://www.gwr.com/about-us/media-...-western-railway-as-part-of-historic-re-brand

apparently trains will be repainted the correct colour !

Possibly trying to live off a former glory

 

[vernon]

so whats peoples opinion on First dropping the first from the F GW brand. https://www.gwr.com/about-us/media-...-western-railway-as-part-of-historic-re-brand

apparently trains will be repainted the correct colour !

As you'd have to be 67 to have been alive when the GWR was nationalised I reckon that the majority of current passengers won't have a clue about the 'heritage'. It's a rebrand nothing more. It also distances the franchise from the holding company and its poor image.

What gets me is that First Group have, in some quarters anyway, a truly appalling reputation. And if I was anyone at First Group I'd be asking the serious question of "just why do people seem to truly hate us?"

For example, can there be any rail operator that stirs up such negative reaction as First Great Western or Scotrail? Now few rail companies are truly perfect - even Virgin Trains has its flaws - but First just seems to really wind people up.

A big problem is the way that they seem to treat passengers as some sort of complete annoyance - like they'd rather us not be there at all. It's like they'd be much happier if everyone just stayed at home and let them run empty trains.

However they also have a substantial failing with their brand. FIRST. It's surely supposed to be some symbolic "We are the best! We get there FIRST!" And maybe if they were, it would be all fine. However given the company's customer service record is far from good, it just makes things worse. The brand looks arrogant and complacent. And then there's the fact that their branding leaves them more open than most companies to manipulation.

For some reason no one in FirstGroup seems to have clicked that their passengers have special names. It's not First Great Western. It's Worst Great Western. It's not First Capital Connect. No. It's Worst Capital Connect (or indeed, Worst Crapital Connect.)

Maybe if the company had a little more humility both in the way its treats customers and in its branding, it might well get a better public perception. Sadly there seems to be little hope that that will ever happen. The fact that nothing ever seems to change or improve at First suggests that the company have the same arrogance in management as they do in their brand. They really do believe themselves to be FIRST. And that means there's simply no hope for us all.

 

[vernon]

[QUOTE 3918571, member: 45"]They should be stoned. There was only one GWR, and that's the way it should stay.[/QUOTE]

I bet that the discomfort, grime and speed of the original GWR aren't things that the passengers would like to see resurected along with the name.

At the end of the day it's a name and not a historic company image viewed through rose tinted spectacles by those too young to have experienced the original company.

I'm happy to see the livery resurrected - it's a lot more sober than the First Group's garish colours.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

[QUOTE 3918571, member: 45"]They should be stoned. There was only one GWR, and that's the way it should stay.[/QUOTE]

You will have me if they introduce a new built of Hymeks, Warships and Westerns (after GWR days, I know), but, until that day.......

As you'd have to be 67 to have been alive when the GWR was nationalised I reckon that the majority of current passengers won't have a clue about the 'heritage'. It's a rebrand nothing more. It also distances the franchise from the holding company and its poor image.

And the 'Southern' name has been used for years on the Southern Region South Central services, so you are a bit late in complaining about old names being used Mr S. Aqua (@subaqua)! Heck, even GNER tried to cash in on a perceived notion of heritage!

I'm happy to see the livery resurrected - it's a lot more sober than the First Group's garish colours.

I remember when the Loadhaul livery was considered outrageous (a livery that I now actually quite like) so nothing surprises me now. Garish?? No, just..... Erm, 'Challenging'.

 

[Hover Fly]

Getting away from Diesels for a moment. While I was waiting for my Class 37 hauled train round the Coast on Saturday, I saw a bit of shunting by this:-

Was supposed to work back to Brum via the coast line, but had a hot driving axlebox so was taken off at Carlisle.
Strangely, back in the 70s when Pendennis Castle was at Carnforth, it couldn't work round the coast because supposedly its cylinders would have hit various platforms, I can't see how that's changed.

 

[classic33]

You will have me if they introduce a new built of Hymeks, Warships and Westerns (after GWR days, I know), but, until that day.......



And the 'Southern' name has been used for years on the Southern Region South Central services, so you are a bit late in complaining about old names being used! Heck, even GNER tried to cash in on a perceived notion of heritage!



I remember when the Loadhaul livery was considered outrageous (a livery that I now actually quite like) so nothing surprises me now. Garish?? No, just..... Erm, 'Challenging'.

And if they start naming their locomotives after past ones?

 

[Hover Fly]

t

I saw all but three of the class 50s when they were allocated to the West Coast Mainline and were numbered D400 - D449. It was a bit of a trek to go to see them from my home town of Darlington and it always involved travelling to Carlisle as it was the nearest place with regular appearances of the 50s, most of them as 'double headers'.

Back in the early 70s it was possible, if none were in works, to see all the 50s in one week. I knew one or two inhabitants of Preston and Lancaster who managed to be hauled by them all in one Easter week holiday using a No. 2 Runabout ticket, Three return trips over Shap in a day for a 6 day week and a Sunday diversion over the S&C . The last time I know of anyone doing the seeing them all in a week was when 50050 worked a car train north to Scotland after it had been transferred to the WR.

 

[vernon]

t
Back in the early 70s it was possible, if none were in works, to see all the 50s in one week. I knew one or two inhabitants of Preston and Lancaster who managed to be hauled by them all in one Easter week holiday using a No. 2 Runabout ticket, Three return trips over Shap in a day for a 6 day week and a Sunday diversion over the S&C . The last time I know of anyone doing the seeing them all in a week was when 50050 worked a car train north to Scotland after it had been transferred to the WR.

Those Railrover/Runabout tickets were brilliant. I spent a fortnight commuting to Scotland after my paper round during the summer holidays back in the early seventies. The version available from Darlington was called a 3D ticket meaning 3 days i.e. it came in three sections and each section was perforated and was torn off and used, one section per day. They coast a quid and I used to buy them, sell two of the portions for fifty pence each and avoid the ticket collectors/inspectors thus giving me free travel for the week.

I'd have the odd mishap like waking up in York having slept through Darlington on my journey south. The ticket covered from Scarborough/York/Whitby up to Edinburgh, Carlisle/Stirling. Edinburgh/Carlisle/Stirling appealed because they had locomotives that were hardly ever seen in Darlington, Class 26s, 27s, 06s, 50s, Claytons (at Millerhill awaiting the cutting torch),

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

And if they start naming their locomotives after past ones?

Of course, although some of the 'Western' names might cause distress to some who don't know what they actually mean!




Number Name Builder Status Disposal
D1000 Western Enterprise BR Swindon 20.12.61 Scrapped 31.07.74 BREL Swindon
D1001 Western Pathfinder BR Swindon 12.02.62 Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1002 Western Explorer BR Swindon 19.03.62 Scrapped 12.06.74 BREL Swindon
D1003 Western Pioneer BR Swindon 14.04.62 Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1004 Western Crusader BR Swindon 12.05.62 Scrapped 19.09.74 BREL Swindon
D1005 Western Venturer BR Swindon 18.06.62 Scrapped 17.06.77 BREL Swindon
D1006 Western Stalwart BR Swindon 06.07.62 Scrapped 24.03.77 BREL Swindon
D1007 Western Talisman BR Swindon 01.08.62 Scrapped 24.02.75 BREL Swindon
D1008 Western Harrier BR Swindon 04.09.62 Scrapped 10.10.75 BREL Swindon
D1009 Western Invader BR Swindon 24.09.62 Scrapped 11.78 BREL Swindon
D1010 Western Campaigner BR Swindon 15.10.62 Preserved Withdrawn 28.02.77. Owned by the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group, West Somerset Railway

D1011 Western Thunderer BR Swindon 27.10.62 Scrapped 12.78 BREL Swindon
D1012 Western Firebrand BR Swindon 17.11.62 Scrapped 04.79 BREL Swindon
D1013 Western Ranger BR Swindon 13.12.62 Preserved Withdrawn 28.02.77. Owned by Western Locomotive Association, Severn Valley Railway

D1014 Western Leviathan BR Swindon 24.12.62 Scrapped 13.02.75 BREL Swindon
D1015 Western Champion BR Swindon 21.01.63 Preserved Withdrawn 13.12.76. Owned by Diesel Traction Group, Severn Valley Railway. It is also the only Western that is certified for mainline use.

D1016 Western Gladiator BR Swindon 16.02.63 Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1017 Western Warrior BR Swindon 15.03.63 Scrapped 12.03.75 BREL Swindon
D1018 Western Buccaneer BR Swindon 02.04.63 Scrapped 20.03.74 BREL Swindon, the first "Western" to be scrapped.

D1019 Western Challenger BR Swindon 02.05.63 Scrapped 03.10.74 BREL Swindon
D1020 Western Hero BR Swindon 21.05.63 Scrapped 17.04.74 BREL Swindon
D1021 Western Cavalier BR Swindon 17.06.63 Scrapped 02.79 BREL Swindon
D1022 Western Sentinel BR Swindon 16.07.63 Scrapped 12.78 BREL Swindon
D1023 Western Fusilier BR Swindon 23.09.63 Preserved Withdrawn 28.02.77. Part of the national collection, NRM Was the last Western to receive a general overhaul at Swindon works, in February 1973

D1024 Western Huntsman BR Swindon 01.10.63 Scrapped 14.08.74 BREL Swindon
D1025 Western Guardsman BR Swindon 01.11.63 Scrapped 01.79 BREL Swindon
D1026 Western Centurion BR Swindon 24.12.63 Scrapped 06.08.76 BREL Swindon
D1027 Western Lancer BR Swindon 28.01.64 Scrapped 10.06.76 BREL Swindon
D1028 Western Hussar BR Swindon 25.02.64 Scrapped 06.79 BREL Swindon, the penultimate "Western" to be scrapped.

D1029 Western Legionnaire BR Swindon 20.04.64 Scrapped 29.05.75 BREL Swindon
D1030 Western Musketeer BR Crewe 05.12.63 Scrapped 22.09.76 BREL Swindon
D1031 Western Rifleman BR Crewe 20.12.63 Scrapped 06.10.76 BREL Swindon
D1032 Western Marksman BR Crewe 31.12.63 Scrapped 05.12.74 BREL Swindon
D1033 Western Trooper BR Crewe 17.01.64 Scrapped 04.79 BREL Swindon
D1034 Western Dragoon BR Crewe 15.04.64 Scrapped 20.05.77 BREL Swindon
D1035 Western Yeoman BR Crewe 17.07.62 Scrapped 30.09.76 BREL Swindon
D1036 Western Emperor BR Crewe 29.08.62 Scrapped 24.02.77 BREL Swindon
D1037 Western Empress BR Crewe 31.08.62 Scrapped 16.02.77 BREL Swindon
D1038 Western Sovereign BR Crewe 07.09.62 Scrapped 20.11.74 BREL Swindon
D1039 Western King BR Crewe 07.09.62 Scrapped 05.09.74 BREL Swindon
D1040 Western Queen BR Crewe 20.09.62 Scrapped 11.08.76 BREL Swindon (see also #Incidents)
D1041 Western Prince BR Crewe 10.10.62 Preserved Withdrawn 23.02.77. Owned by Diesel Group of the East Lancashire Railway

D1042 Western Princess BR Crewe 19.10.62 Scrapped 18.05.74 BREL Swindon
D1043 Western Duke BR Crewe 26.10.62 Scrapped 10.02.77 BREL Swindon
D1044 Western Duchess BR Crewe 12.11.62 Scrapped 10.09.75 BREL Swindon
D1045 Western Viscount BR Crewe 16.11.62 Scrapped 21.08.75 BREL Swindon
D1046 Western Marquis BR Crewe 24.12.62 Scrapped 10.11.76 BREL Swindon
D1047 Western Lord BR Crewe 04.02.63 Scrapped 09.09.76 BREL Swindon
D1048 Western Lady BR Crewe 15.12.62 Preserved Withdrawn 28.02.77. Owned privately, operated by the Midland Diesel Group, Midland Railway – Butterley

D1049 Western Monarch BR Crewe 14.12.62 Scrapped 03.02.77 BREL Swindon
D1050 Western Ruler BR Crewe 01.01.63 Scrapped 08.04.76 BREL Swindon
D1051 Western Ambassador BR Crewe 21.01.63 Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1052 Western Viceroy BR Crewe 04.02.63 Scrapped 22.04.76 BREL Swindon
D1053 Western Patriarch BR Crewe 11.02.63 Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1054 Western Governor BR Crewe 02.03.63 Scrapped 05.77 BREL Swindon
D1055 Western Advocate BR Crewe 02.03.63 Scrapped 16.06.76 BREL Swindon
D1056 Western Sultan BR Crewe 08.03.63 Scrapped 05.79 BREL Swindon
D1057 Western Chieftain BR Crewe 06.04.63 Scrapped 06.77 BREL Swindon
D1058 Western Nobleman BR Crewe 25.03.63 Scrapped 06.79 BREL Swindon, the last "Western" to be scrapped.

D1059 Western Empire BR Crewe 06.04.63 Scrapped 21.07.76 BREL Swindon
D1060 Western Dominion BR Crewe 11.04.63 Scrapped 03.07.74 BREL Swindon
D1061 Western Envoy BR Crewe 19.04.63 Scrapped 07.08.75 BREL Swindon
D1062 Western Courier BR Crewe 06.05.63 Preserved Withdrawn 22.08.74. Owned by Western Locomotive Association, Severn Valley Railway

D1063 Western Monitor BR Crewe 17.05.63 Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1064 Western Regent BR Crewe 24.05.63 Scrapped 06.77 BREL Swindon
D1065 Western Consort BR Crewe 18.06.63 Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1066 Western Prefect BR Crewe 14.06.63 Scrapped 21.05.75 BREL Swindon
D1067 Western Druid BR Crewe 18.07.63 Scrapped 16.09.76 BREL Swindon
D1068 Western Reliance BR Crewe 12.07.63 Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1069 Western Vanguard BR Crewe 21.10.63 Scrapped 03.02.77 BREL Swindon
D1070 Western Gauntlet BR Crewe 28.10.63 Scrapped 05.79 BREL Swindon
D1071 Western Renown BR Crewe 07.11.63 Scrapped 11.78 BREL Swindon
D1072 Western Glory BR Crewe 07.11.63 Scrapped 04.04.77 BREL Swindon
D1073 Western Bulwark BR Crewe 03.12.63 Scrapped 01.08.75 BREL Swindon

D1029 was originally named Western Legionaire [sic], but renamed Western Legionnaire in 1969, the nameplate being cut to allow the additional letter to be inserted.[6]

 

[vernon]

Pictures from Goathland this week.

 

[Mr Celine]

I stopped for a wee breather during today's 50 miler to look for some trains (still a novelty in this part of the sticks) when 60009 arrived slowly at the end of the passing loop to wait for the normal train coming off the single track.

 

[Mr Celine]

[QUOTE 3926434, member: 45"]Only spoilt by the horrible diesel on the back.[/QUOTE]

There's no run round loop or turntable at Tweedbank so the diesel is needed to haul the train back to Edinburgh. It would be better if they used a classic diesel like a Deltic, a Brush type 4 or a Peak, especially the latter as they were normal traction for passenger trains on the Waverley Line.