1G21 remembered – June – Dec 2006

Thanks to “Red Cow” for this inagural up crew familiarisation run of 87006 at Old Linslade on May 17th 2006

The familiarisation runs May 17th – June 9th 2006

5Z87 0906 WM – Bir Int’l,  5Z88 1121 Bir In’l – Euston, 5Z89 1400 Euston – Bir Int’l, 5Z90 1540 Bir Int’l – Euston.

The passenger turns June 12th – Dec 22nd 2006

5R90 – 0342 Wembley – Rugby,  1R90 0620 Rugby – Euston, 1G21 1652 Euston – Birmingham, 1B05 1900 Birmingham – Euston, 5B05 Euston – Wembley

Early 2006 saw a great deal of uncertainty over what/if power and stock would be used during the Pendolino modification programme. The rumours were effectively ended when 87006 worked the first of a series of crew familiarisation runs from Euston to Bir Int’l on 17th May. 12th June saw 87006 work 1G21 1652 Euston-Birmingham with large numbers of photters and bashers out to record the first 87 hauled Virgin service since 87013 on une 25th 2005. After the first week various problems/farces affected the reliability of the service and a good few of us got withered. When 87002 was terminated at Bletchley on 17th July on G21, many of us thought we had witnessed Virgin’s last ever “real train”.

            Porterbrook thought otherwise and with the top men at Wembley assisting 87006 made a triumphant return on G21 on the 4th September. With 87006 finally running out of luck on October 5th, she succumbed to a minor transformer fault and scrap wheelsets,  it was 87002 which took over the hauled diagram on October 10th.

87002 Returns!, October 10th 2006

            After 2 days vile Pendo operation of G21/B05, a surprise to many saw 87002 piloting a dead 87006 both on test and on G21/B05 on Tu 101006. The next day saw 87002 work G21/B05 alone with some lively running continuing for the rest of the week. 

            87002 put in her characteristic noisy and solidly reliable service as that warm Autumn turned into dark Winter nights. For a solid few G21 became part of everyday routine, I admire their dedication. And so on 22nd December, after various wires down farces put the last run in some doubt, 87002 left Euston. A good few festered in the freezing fog at Rugby to join here for the last time. New St saw seminars, much photting and chatting amongst bashers perhaps for the last time.

            The final B05 followed with just bashers in the rear coach and at a foggy Euston with much hooting, applause and cries of “my lords” 87002 dissapeared into the fog atmospherically swirling around Camden Bank. The End….

“Real trains” return, Monday June 12th 2006

Prologue

The will it/won’t it happen speculation that saw conflicting info from several leading national websites saw many of doubting whether 87013’s claim to working the last Virgin “real train” in July 2005? would ever be challenged. So after a few week of driver training runs in May/June where 87006 and 026 were given some blasts of fast running the first Monday of the new timetable dawned.

Internet gen was not good but like a few others I made the effort to cover the expected inagural trip 1R90 0620 Rugby-Northampton – Euston commuter. So at a deserted Old Linslade I was rewarded with the depressing site of some Pendo working the train, 90018 on the following Sleepers was scant consolation.

So with a days holiday prebooked and gen that 87002/6/26 were on the system as under maintenance I joined a 321 on a Northampton turn. Several more texts advised that the 87 scenario was not looking good although G21 (the evening booked 87 hauled turn) was not yet allocated a Pendo. A day spent nedding around Birmingham saw 90 haulage in a Mk II, some mega thunderstorms and photting 56301 coasting through BS. About to board some 323 at BS saw the text message “006 being quoted” and the mood of the day changed completely. By Witton a message from another good source advised “but its not allocated yet”…………….

As I planned to cover G21 at it’s Rugby call I opted to continue the move towards Rugby. Near Berkswell we passed through a violent thunderstorm with monsoon rain and monster hail stones. That morning had seen Crewe-Weaver Jn blitzed in a similar storm so would this add to the chaos. A weather related delay to the 350 added to the tension at Cov even though I was on a plus 90 at Rugby!

A further gen call was much more promising, then a text “a real train has just pulled into the big town station (Euston)” saw a cheer go up in Rugby buffet! A few more bashers, (as opposed to the crowds of permanent fotting froth) gathered as the train’s arrival time neared. Then came a call that the train was checked by a red, at of all places, Leighton Buzzard! Kids on the line causing a problem in the Bletchley area apparently. After 10 minutes 87006 was on the move from Leighton only for texts to advise that the train was now being delayed due to the failure of a proceeding Pendo. Texts were advising the train would set back to Hanslope and route via Northampton rather than the booked “Weedon” route. 57301 started up in the South bay awaiting instructions but never moved off.

87012 coasted through on the platform road with S96 vans. This turn allowed fairly solid 87 activity throughout early 2006 but not for much longer being the general opinion. Another call as lateness neared 40 mins advised that G21 was on the way, the troublesome Pendo having been battered and soon afterwards the pleasing site of 87006 and Stock approached on the platform road. The St George style white/red buffers attracting much attention. A scramble aboard, a good few familiar smiling faces not seen in a year or so and then we were on the move.

To those of us based away from the Southern end of the WCML the prospect of a single Monday to Friday loco hauled diagram for 6 months was “hardly worth getting excited about”. But to those of us living more locally the return of the G21/B05 hauled turn was to prove a godsend.

Inagural evening turns over 87006 rests at Euston after working 1B05 1900 Birmingham NS – Euston on June 12th 2006,

After the final 87 hauled Virgin services in June 05 we had seen just a single Railtour plus a few ECML Blue Pullman runs offering class 87 haulage, so the prospect of them returning to “real train” action locally saw much anticipation. Early 2006 saw a great deal of uncertainty and rumour over whether the Pendolino modification substitute trains would be loco hauled at all, yet alone if 87’s would feature.

The uncertainty was effectively silenced with 87006 working the first crew familiarisation ECS run storming through our local area on May 17th 2006. It was brilliant to see the class back in action on what they should be on, ie 110mph express passenger stock.

June 12th 2006 then saw 87006 work the inaugural hauled train in G21 1652 Euston-Birmingham with large numbers of photters and bashers out to record the first Virgin class 87 hauled turn for almost a year. After the first week various problems/farces affected service reliability and a good few of us got withered more than once! When 87002 on G21 was terminated at Bletchley on the 17th July, many of us feared we had witnessed Virgin WC’s last ever-real train.

               Porterbrook thought otherwise and with the top men at Wembley assisting after a few test runs 87006 made a triumphant return to G21 on the 4th September. Once again whether photting or bashing, or in many cases both, it allowed us to “get out” and enjoy that air of anticipation and on the train producing that satisfaction of sitting back and enjoying a real train locally. Add howling motors, awesome acceleration and basher camaraderie across several generations and you had a classic mix to enjoy.

               The popular 87006 finally ran out of luck on the 5th October succumbing to minor transformer fault and wheelset problems. 87002 then took over the hauled diagram on October 10th.

               87002 then put in her characteristic noisy and solidly reliable service as that warm Autumn turned into dark, cool Winter nights. For a solid few, bashing G21 became part of an everyday routine, I admire their dedication.

               After scares of the turn finishing with the 10 December timetable change proved unfounded we approached in freezing weather the last few days. And so, on 22nd December after various wires down farces even put the last run in some doubt 87002 left Euston. A good few of us festered at Rugby for G21 that freezing evening as we had done since warmer June days and it was good to see those distinctive triple lights round the corner before we all piled aboard. New St saw seminars, much photting and chatting amongst us bashers perhaps as a group for the last time.

               The final B05 to Euston followed with just “soche” bashers in the rear coach with ritualistic flails, the odd bellow plus a storming run made it memorable. Then it was Euston that was to witness much hooting, applause and cries of “my lords” as 87002 departed with the ECS and disappeared into the fog atmospherically swirling around Camden Bank….The END…………………..

A huge thanks to all the staff and others that made G21/B05 happen, gone but never forgotten….

Date1R901G211B05summary notes
1206 Mo——8700687006F1
1306 Tu870268700687006 
1406 We870068700687006 
1506 Th870068700687006 
1606 Fr870068700687006 
1906 Mo——————F2
2006 Tu870068700687006F3
2106 We87006————F4
2206 Th——————F5
2306 Fr—————— 
2606 Mo870068700687006 
2706 Tu870068700687006 
2806 We870068702687026F6
2906 Th870268702687026 
3006 Fr870268702687026F7
0307 Mo870268702687026 
0407 Tu87026————F8
0507 We——-5730357303F9
0607 Th87002———— 
0707 Fr——-87002——F10
1007 Mo870028700287002 
1107 Tu870028700287002 
1207 We870028700287002 
1307 Th870028700287002 
1407 Fr870028700287002 
1707 Mo——87002 F11
1807 Tu————-——-F12
1907 We————-——-F13
2007 Th————-——- 
2107 Fr————-——- 
     
1408 Mo   87006-Light engine Test runs begin
2308 We   87006 – ECS Test runs begin again
     
0409 Mo——-8700687006 
0509 Tu——-8700687006 
0609 We——-8700687006 
0709 Th——-8700687006 
0809 Fr——-8700687006 
1109 Mo——-8700687006 
1209 Tu——-8700687006 
1309 We——-8700687006 
1409 Th——-8700687006 
1509 Fr——-8700687006 
1809 Mo——-8700687006 
1909 Tu——-8700687006 
2009 We——-8700687006 
2109 Th——-8700687006 
2209 Fr——-8700687006 
2509 Mo——-8700687006 
2609 Tu——-8700687006 
2709 We——-8700687006 
2809 Th——-8700687006 
2909 Fr——-8700687006 
0210 Mo——-8700687006 
0310 Tu——-8700687006 
0410 We——-8700687006 
0510 Th——-8700687006 
0610 Fr——-——-——-F1
0910 Mo——-——-——- 
1010 Tu——-87002} 87006(d)87002} 87006(d) 
1110 We——-8700287002 
1210 Th——-8700287002 
1310 Fr——-8700287002 
1610 Mo——-8700287002 
1710 Tu——-87002——-F2
1810 We——-——-——-F3
1910 Th——-——-——- 
2010 Fr——-8700287002 
2310 Mo——-8700287002 
2410 Tu——-8700287002F4
2510 We——-8700287002 
2610 Th——-8700287002 
2710 Fr——-8700287002 
3010 Mo——-8700287002 
3110 Tu——-8700287002 
0111 We——-8700287002 
0211 Th——-8700287002 
0311 Fr——-8700287002 
0611 Mo——-8700287002 
0711 Tu——-8700287002 
0811 We——-8700287002 
0911 Th——-8700287002 
1011 Fr——-8700287002 
1311 Mo——-8700287002 
1411 Tu——-8700287002 
1511 We——-8700287002 
1611 Th——-8700287002 
1711 Fr——-8700287002 
2011 Mo——-——-——-F5
2111 Tu——-——-——- 
2211 We——-8700287002 
2311 Th——-8700287002 
2411 Fr——-8700287002F6
2711 Mo——-8700287002 
2811 Tu——-8700287002 
2911 We——-8700287002 
3011 Th——-8700287002 
0112 Fr——-8700287002 
0412 Mo——-8700287002F7
0512 Tu——-8700287002 
0612 We——-8700287002 
0712 Th——-——-——-F8
0812 Fr——-——-——- 
1112 Mo——-——-——- 
1212 Tu——-8700287002 
1312 We870028700287002F9
1412 Th870028700287002 
1512 Fr870028700287002 
1812 Mo870028700287002 
1912 Tu870028700287002 
2012 We870028700287002 
2112 Th870028700287002F10
2212 Fr870028700287002F11
     

F1-120606 – 390020 on 16.40 Euston – Wolverhampton

failed near Weedon. After a reset, the train continued

to Wolverhampton, return working cancelled. 87006

delayed behind, arriving Birmingham about 40 late. It

returned to Euston as 1B10 19.05 Wolverhampton –

Euston, starting from Birmingham, with an additional

Milton Keynes stop!

 F2-190606 – 87026 on 5R90 in trouble near

Castlethorpe, only getting 70 mph max. 87026 forward

to Rugby, for 57305 to drag to Oxley as 5Z62 06.45

Rugby – Oxley. 390027 came ECS from Oxley to work

1R90. Later 87026 worked a 5G21 13.00 Oxley – Euston

ECS, the 87 hauling the train, rather than pushing it.

At Euston, 87006 came light from Wembley for 1G21, but

the train was cancelled after fitters attention to an

electrical fault in the buffet car, which couldn’t be

fixed.

 F3-200606 – 87006 on 1B05 “de-configured” (DVT stopped

“talking” to 87), at Proof House Jn. Train returned to

Birmingham New St., then ran via Soho, turning the

set, joining the  main line at Stechford. Arrival in

Euston, about 40 late.

 F4-210606 – 87006 in reverse formation arrived in

Euston with ECS for 1G21. Due to a brake fault with

the DVT, a pendo was substituted, ther loco hauled set

going ECS back to Wembley.

F5- 220606 – Unable to take power from the DVT, again a

pendo swopped on to the diagram rather than cancel the

train. With pendo’s working both trains the next day

this turned out to be a truly miserable week!

 F6 -280606 – 87006 “out of hours” on arrival at Euston,

ECS to Wembley then withdrawn. 87026 was used as a

5Z05 10.50 Wembley – Euston, via Stechford, Soho,

Birmingham New Street, to turn the set so that it was

the correct way round. 87026 then worked the afternoon

trip.

F7- 300606 – 87026 on 1G21, suffered a shattered

windscreen whilst passing a pendo near Apsley. Train

terminated at Bletchley, then 5G21 18.23 ECS back to

Euston for 5B05 21.00 Euston – Wembley.

 F8-040706 – After working 1R90, 87026 is used for 1G04

08.40 Euston – Wolverhampton. Allocated to return with

1B42 11.05 Wolverhampton – Euston, but was failed at

Oxley. 87026 ran round and worked the ECS as a 5X14

Oxley – Euston as far as Birmingham New Street, where

it was topped by 57312 to Euston. 57312 had come from

Rugeley as 1Z99 for this. The plan being that 87012

would come off Wembley to work 1G21, however 87012 is

failed with a speedo fault and 1G21 is cancelled.

57306 with the stock is used to form 1G25 18.11 Euston

– Wolverhampton and 1B17 21.16 Wolverhampton – Euston.

87026 then returns the set to Wembley, what a day!

 F9-050706 – Due to a lack of serviceable 87’s, the

morning run is a pendo, and the afternoon run is

57303. 57306 works the empties to/from wembley for

1G21/1B05.

F10- 070706 – 87002 works 5R90. At around 06.00 a major

power failure in the Bletchley area throws the

timetable into chaos. Many trains cancelled, including

1R90. 87002 works ECS to Oxley, 1G21 is cancelled,

87002 works south with 1B05.

F11-170706 – Two failures in one day! 87002 on 5R90

03.42 Wembley – Rugby ECS, was cancelled at Bletchley.

The loco was not get above 65 mph, and was losing

time even on its ECS schedule! 390010 on a Oxley –

Northampton (5R02) was utilised for 1R90. 87002

returned ECS to Wembley. In the afternoon 1G21 only

makes Bletchley before being terminated due to

dragging brakes on a coach and some seriously hot

wheels! 57305 is scrambled from Rugby to drag the

train ECS back to Wembley.

F12- 180706 – After yesterday, its not really a surprise

when a pendo works 1R90. 390009 then sits spare at

Euston until being used for a late afternoon Liverpool

working. It was only used on this, because of a lorry

striking a bridge at Kings Langley, delaying all

trains, including the set for this Liverpool working.

390027 in the afternoon, had been spare all day at

Wembley, and went ECS back to Wembley after 1B05!

F13- 190706 – 1G21/1B05 planned cancellation, due to

weather conditions. Extreme heat, resulting in many

emergency speed restrictions. Euston – Manchester and

Euston – West Midlands services reduced to hourly.

R1- 061006 – 1G21/1B05 a Pendo due transformer

fault on 87006

R2- 071006 – 1G21 ran OK. “1B05 cancelled as 87002 needed exam”

R3- 081006 –  1G21/1B05 a Pendo, due no loco available.

R4-271006 – Due to the Pendo on the 1635 Euston-Manchester

developing a fault and 57304 unable to drag said Pendo Rugby’s

Down platform was blocked for an hour plus. 87002 on G21

passed on the through road unable to call at Rugby to the

irritation of the bashers waiting to join there.

Fortunately a 321 eventually got the bashers to Coventry

where there was just time to rake in the returning B05!

R5– 201106 – 87002traction motor and spare Pendo problem

R6- 241106-Delayed 60 mins South of Tring due failed Pendo

at Berko. Driver apparently advised to “walk through train” and

reverse back to Tring crossovers. On being advised this was a

“real train”, it was not possible to close adjoining lines so an hour’s

delay ensued until Pendo battered.

R7– 041206 – due cancellation of preceding service, B05 makes

an additional stop at M.Keynes

R8- 071206 – A compressor fault on 87002 then a serious wires

down incident in the Castlethorpe area sees train caped/pendoed

R9 – 131206 – 87002 also works 1310 Euston-Birmingham and

1500 Birmingham-Euston (1G13/1B65)

R10 – 211206 – 87002 also works 1310 Euston-Birmingham and

1500 Birmingham-Euston (1G13/1B65)

R11 – 221206 am- 5R90 extended to New St due pendo farce,

works 1T90 0545 Birmingham-Rugby addit then 1R90 forward

as booked.

R12 – 221206 pm Last G21/B05 sees “Electric Scot” headboard,

seminars, applause and the farewell cry of “my lords!” from

bashers and staff as 87002 departed a foggy Euston with 5B05 empties…………………THE END