The 50 club, class 90 scratching 1988-2001 and beyond…
I recently was congratulated for being a member of the “50 club”. This apparently is the club for all bashers that have had all 50 class 90’s. I wasn’t that impressed as personally any WCML basher over age 35 should be in said club..
Anyway thinking back to when they were first introduced in 1988 like anything new on our railway, we didnt like 90’s. Especially as a fleet of shiny new 90’s would see off our much loved “roarers” which by 1991 they did!
My first 90 raked in was 90003 back on July 12th 1988 when i was on an “All line” chasing roarers. Big Dave had the gen that the 90 with 86413 tucked inside dead as insurance should work the 1340 Blackpool – Euston forward from Preston. I at first said I ‘d flag it but “its a bit of railway history” my colleagues argued. So i joined them on the 90 at Crewe for a dull run South via BS, being at the very rear of the train we couldnt hear anything and 87101’s derailment meant the Trent Valley was closed.
On arrival at Euston there were howls from the 6 or so bashers aboard as they just missed a 85 leaving on a Wolves!, a Cobbler “roarer” saw our day ending on a high. The 90’s or “Skodas” as nicknamed were delivered onto a sectorised railway with Inter City, Mainline, Res and Railfreight liveried examples delivered between 1988-1990. All were initially used on Inter City services for mileage accumalation. Took me until 2003 to get them all in (90027 my last) but what were to become the rare ones 90047 and 90050 were raked in almost new…
Part One – getting them in!
90001 1A49 1432 Shrewsbury – Euston NS-INT 270791
90002 0835 Euston-Inverness EU-MK 281288
90003 1A62 1340 Blackpool-Euston (inaugural class service train run, with 86413(d)) (via BS) CR-EU 120788
Railway history at Euston. Train crew phots with 90003 and (86413 dit) at the blocks after the first service train working for the class, 1A62 1340 Blackpool – Euston from Preston on July 12th 1988
90004 1A74 1854 Wolverhampton-Euston WO-MK 041188
90005 0735 Euston-Inverness MK-NS 210889
90006 1010 Inverness – Euston CO-MK 260790
90007 1630 Blackpool-Euston RU-MK 081289
90008 1830 Manchester – Euston MP-MK 011094
90009 1S87 1315 Brighton-Glas/Edin CA-CA 180189
90010 0850 Euston – Liverpool MK-CR 160293
90011 1M42 1140 Aberdeen-Euston CO-MK 030189
90012 1G37 1610 Euston-Birmingham RU-INT 020189
90013 1940 Euston-Shrewsbury EU-MK 090989
90014 0920 Padd – Manchester NS-CO 260790
90015 1F47 1820 Euston-Liverpool EU-MK 240389
90016 1S47 0720 Euston-Glasgow EU-MK 311288
90017 1445 Blackpool-Euston NS-MK 300989
90017 at Glasgow Central prior to working 1M11 2340 sleeper to Euston on October 10th 2001. The RES 90’s were first outshopped in Inter City livery not getting their superb red liveries until a few years later
90018 1436 Carlisle-Euston CR-WJ 240889
90019 0735 Euston-Inverness MK-CO 230989
90020 0720 Euston-Manchester EU-STK 250889
90021 1218 Manchester-Bir Int’l WO-NS 131089
90022 1755 Wolverhampton-Euston NS-CO 021289
90023 1130 Euston-Blackpool EU-MK 181189
90024 1400 Manchester-Euston WJ-EU 091189
90025 1616 Holyhead – Euston CR-WJ 250690
90026 1413 Carlisle – Euston WBQ-CR 280190
90027 1322 Liverpool – Euston INT-CO 010203
90028 0655 Euston – Manchester CR-MP 230190
90029 0920 Padd – Manchester NS-ST 180890
90030 0720 Euston – Glasgow MK-CR 240190
90031 1436 Carlisle – Euston CR-ST 160490
90032 0847 Plymouth-Liverpool NS-CR 281289
90033 1135 Glasgow – Euston Relief MK-EU 120490
90034 1444 Bir Int’l – Liverpool NS-ST 220190
90035 0802 Blackpool – Euston MK-EU 010190
90036 0725 Manchester – Eastbourne NS-INT 180890
90037 2340 Euston – Glas/Edin EU-MO 091001
90038 0915 Padd – Manchester CO-NS 260490
90038 in her first month of service at Manchester Piccadilly with the 1620 Manchester – Birmingham NS on April 26th 1990
90039 1718 Manchester – Birmingham MP-CR 250690
90040 1230 Euston – Wolves CO-WO 210401
A work stained 90040 at Wolverhampton with the 1230 Euston – Wolves on April 21st 2001. Around 25 of us had bailed off 86243 at Cov, fortunately crossing the island platform to just make 90040. The driver looking back was roaring with laughter!!
90041 1753 Manchester – Euston MP-MK 300990
90042 0757 Liverpool – Poole NS-CO 210790
90043 2203(24/8) Euston – Aberdeen CR-PR 250890
90044 0725 Manchester – Eastbourne NS-INT 010990
90045 1535 Holyhead – Euston CR-WJ (via Nor) 290790
90046 1010 Inverness – Euston CR-MK 230890
90047 1405 Carlisle – Euston CR-INT 110890
90048 0716 Penzance – Glasgow NS-CR 270790
90049 1050 Oxford Rd – Altricham Addit (with 85109) OR-AL 201090
90050 2050 Liverpool – Euston CR-RU 291290
Part two to follow…..
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