This article was first published in Traction Magazine, when, under the editorship of David Brown was a decent read!
90039 looking good at Leighton with 1W99 Evening Cobbler on March 7th 2005
Introduction.
The return of locomotive hauled commuter trains between Euston and Northampton was a short term Strategic Rail Authority initiative. Virgin’s September 2004 accelerated timetable saw most peak hour stops at Milton Keynes withdrawn. Additional new class 350 EMU’s for then “TOC” Silverlink were still a year away. The solution was 2 hauled “Cobbler” sets to bridge the peak hour capacity problem. These trains served Northampton, Wolverton, M.Keynes, Leighton Buzzard and Euston and soon became very popular with commuters and enthusiasts alike.
The trains
The trains operated from September 2004 to July 2005 as follows:
- The services were booked for EWS class 90 locos
- Used 2 dedicated rakes of high capacity debranded Virgin liveried Mk III stock
- Staffed by Virgin driver and guard with a Silverlink conductor
Inaugural trains
On Monday September 27th the first “true” hauled Cobbler service since 1994 arrived at the likes of Leighton Buzzard with the booked EWS loco 90017 working the 1W94 0719 Northampton-Euston with the DVT leading. The first of many variations from the norm saw the following 1W96 0733 Northampton-Euston saw 87015 “Howard of Effingham” hauling the train with 90020 dead on the back. The evening workings on the inaugural day saw 90017 on 1W95 1721 Euston-Northampton and 90020 on 1W99 1821 Euston – Northampton getting much photographic and haulage attention which was to last 10 months.
The 2004/5 “Cobblers” produced much variation from the booked EWS 90 power, On the first day of the new Cobblers 87015 is a welcome sight on the 0733 Northampton – Euston seen here arriving at Euston on September 27th 2004, a “Red Cow” phot
The Stock
The 2004/5 “Cobblers” saw stock of a quality very different to the much loved NSE liveried Mk I’s of the 80’s “Cobblers” with regular usage of Mk III rakes. The dedicated Mk III “Cobbler” rakes were a unique, high density consist of a DVT, FO and 8 TSO’s; a massive improvement on a class 321 unit normally used by “Silverlink”. The rakes although Virgin liveried were unbranded. The only stock variations were when a standard Virgin hauled rake was used with their lower “standard” seat capacity causing overcrowding. In May 2005 Wembley depot opted to customise the DVT’s with loco style repaints complete with gold buffers. At the same time air leaks, DVT faults and failed air conditioning perhaps indicated the stock wasn’t getting the attention it deserved in it’s final months of service.
87004 rests at Northampton after working an Evening Cobbler on December 6th 2004
In June 2005 the recorded stock was:
VW 97 12164 12087 12150 12078 12149 12156 12050 12104 11060 82126
VW 98 12102 12101 12011 12122 12145 12131 12165 12121 11086 82127
The Locos
Although booked for EWS Class 90’s at least the following locos worked “Cobblers” in 2004 and 2005.
47810,840,851
57304,312
87001,002,004,010,012,015,019,026,030,033,035
90017,020,021,022,023,024,026,027,028,029,030,031,033,034,035,039
The most “Cobbler” turns were worked by 90039 (at least 74 turns) with 87015, 87030 and 87033 doing just a single turn.
Cobbler regular, 90035 at Leighton with 1W94 up Cobbler on February 7th 2005
At least the following failed whilst on Cobbler duties…the “rogues” being:
47841,87001,90023,90027,90028,90030,90039
“Cobbler ” links with the 80’s
Milton Keynes in 2004/5 still had regular Virgin loco hauled services but the other intermediate stops of Leighton Buzzard and Wolverton saw their first regular loco hauled services for some years.
The nostalgia on dark winter evenings shivering on Leighton’s Buzzard’s platforms, you would cheer on seeing the triple class 87 headlight approaching with your Cobbler. 20 years earlier a cheer would go up with 2 bright, narrow headlights meant the approach of an 81-85 “roarer” rather than the dim, wide lights of a class 86 “can” on such Euston – Northampton “Cobblers”.
Commuters board the rear door of 90029 on an up Cobbler on January 12th 2005
Leaping over the footbridge at Milton Keynes or Northampton usually against the commuter flow to make your unit for the next “Cobbler” next move was an exact repeat of desperate “roarer” leaps at the same venues years earlier.
Particularly in the dark winter evenings when you are perhaps questioning your own sanity as your Cobbler got later and later then reward in a rare working like 47851 or 87001 on your train.
Train performance
Despite being timed for 110mph running, crossing over from the DF-DS at Ledburn added a few minutes to the Euston-L.Buzzard running time. 90026’s 27 minute Euston-L.Buzzard run (40 miles) was helped by the train staying on the fast lines all the way. North of Leighton Buzzard booked slow line running made it “a bit of a stagger”.
| 90022 1W95 310505 | 90039 1W95 020605 | 90017 1W95 240605 | 90023 1W99 110705 | 90026 1W95 171004 | |
| Euston | 1723.46- —– | 1722.33 | 1723.30 | 1822.55 | 1721 |
| WN Power Bx | 1730.33-60.69 | 1729.20 | 1829.47 | ||
| Wembley C | 1731.55-98.34 | 1730.43 | 1732.54 | 1831.11 | 1724 |
| Harrow | 1733.48-105.76 | 1732.34 | 1734.50 | 1833.04 | 1731 |
| Watford Jn | 1737.08-109.26 | 1735.53 | 1738.11 | 1836.26 | 1734 |
| K.Langley | 1739.03-108.93 | 1737.48 | |||
| Hemel Hemp | 1741.00-109.84 | 1739.47 | 1742.00 | 1840.21 | |
| Berko | 1742.57-106.15 | 1741.41 | 1743.56 | 1842.19 | |
| Tring | 1745.06-103.81 | 1743.44 | 1746.00 | 1844.28 | 1742 |
| Chedd | 1747.39-98.06 | 1746.16 | 1748.35 | 1847.06 | |
| Ledburn Jn (fl-sl) | 1748.4-64.91 | 1747.15 | 1745 fl thout | ||
| Leighton B | 1752.00-53.46 | 1750.33 | 1752.51 | 1852.10 | 1748 |
“Cobbler” Events summary – a Small selection.
270904 90017 works inaugural morning Cobbler, 87015 works second.
251004 87026 is the first 87 to work an evening Cobbler.
261004 87035 and 87026 on each evening Cobbler.
070105 57304 and 47851 drag 90’s on each evening Cobbler due windy weather
110105 47840 and 47810 drag 90’s on each morning Cobbler due ole problems
230105 90027 and 90039 work rare “Sunday” Cobblers due to a Silverlink staff dispute
260105 90027 fails at Ledburn Jn and staggers into Leighton Buzzard 90 down and cancelled there.
310105 A “Pendolino” does W95 after 90030 fails
210205 87001 sees a return of blue livery on the Cobblers
180305 90027 fails on Camden Bank with W95,black liveried 87019 to rescue
060405 90039 fails at Euston with W99, 87019 assists.
070405 90039 fails at Bletchley with 5W96. 390017 does 1W96, 57313 rescues 90039
080405 390017 works 1W96.
150405 57312 works 1W94
290405 90028 on 1W95 is caped at Leighton due brake problem
060505 90028 on 1W95 is caped at Watford Jn due brake problem
100605 87012 on 1W96 is the last 87 on a Cobbler
The last 87 to ever call at Leighton on a service train, NSE liveried 87012 with 1W99 Up Cobbler on June 10th 2005, a “Red Cow” phot
150705 90023 works the last hauled W96 and W94
200705 90034 works the last hauled W94 and W99, the last ever hauled Cobbler…
Selected “Cobbler” events in detail…
Good running, then not so good, October 12th 2004
90026 very unusually was routed into Leighton Buzzard on the down fast rather than crossing to the down slow at Ledburn Jn. 90026 put in a seriously good run from Euston arriving at Leighton in a 27 minute journey start to stop. (An average of 87.89 mph).
A special stop was made at Bletchley (to pick up passengers left behind on the wrong platform at Leighton) With the loco and several coaches off the platform at Bletchley the coaches doors could not be opened and we proceeded to Milton Keynes. A prolonged stop here then an announcement that “passengers for the Wolverton should change here” as “we were not making the booked stop there tonight”. (apparently no safety case for the trains to call at Wolverton’s Fast line platform). Almost inevitably there were a few irate passengers at Northampton who had wanted to get off at Wolverton and “it shot straight through!”
87’s on both evening services, October 26th 2004
That evening’s “Cobbler ” engine 90023 was “borrowed” for Virgin’s 1655 Euston – Holyhead and 47841 allocated to 1W95 1721 Euston-Northampton. Shortly after 90023 had stormed North on the Holyhead, came news that 47841 had been failed at Euston and passengers being detrained. However 1W95 was eventually reinstated with 87035 as power some 50 late with 87026 on 1W99 10 minutes later, an impressive “Cobbler” procession.
A Rogue Loco, 90027
Loco performance on the “Cobblers” was on the whole excellent with good runs behind EWS 90’s and Virgin 87’s the norm with some fast very running between Euston and Leighton with much early rather than late running. Station overtime or “dwell time” did cause some morning peak delays. However we all love a rogue and the honour of causing the most Cobbler chaos must go to 90027 with at least 3 farces that are partially detailed in full later in this section.
To summarise…….
Sat 231004 -90027 expires at Bletchley with a Wolves-Euston formed of a “cobbler rake”. 47816 assists forward.
We 260105 – 90027 comes to a halt at Ledburn Jn with brake problems. Takes an hour to limp the 2 miles to Leighton Buzzard where with, “hot wheels” the train was cancelled. The Down fast is blocked for a further 4 hours before the troublesome 90027 is towed away.
Fr 180305 – 90027 fails on Camden Bank on W95 causing a virtual total down blockage in the middle of the evening peak. Rescue comes from recently repainted black 87019 some 80 mins late. Serious rush hour chaos follows! This was the last time 90027 worked a Cobbler!
A difficult week April 4th-8th 2005
Mo, Tu 0404-050405 – 90028 and 90039 do morning and evening Cobblers problem free
We 060405 – 90028 and 90039 am Cobblers. 90028 1722 Euston-Northampton. 90039 1822 Euston-Northampton, failed prior to departure, 87019 assists throughout but this loco then develops problems in the MK area with return empty stock.
Th 070405 -90039 fails Bletchley with N’bound am Cobbler W94 ECS. 57313 assists with return ECS to Wembley with 90039 dead on the rear. Pendolino 390017 borrowed off a caped R03 commuter to work W94. 90028 1722 Euston-Northampton. 87010 1822 Euston-Northampton (normal Virgin Rake).
Fr 080405 90028 and a Pendo am Cobblers. 90017 and 90028 pm Cobblers…
NSE livery returns! June 2005
With Virgin ending use of their class 87 on passenger duties on June 10th there was a massive increased interest in any class 87 operation. So it was a bonus when NSE liveried 87012 was “arranged” for the Cobblers for what was to be the last expected week of regular class 87 operation on both the “Cobblers” and “Virgin”. 87012 worked the Mon-Thurs “Cobblers” that week and on the class 87 “Farewell Friday” 87012 worked into Euston on W96. Unfortunately that evening 87012 was swapped for 90039……
The Final workings, July 2005
As class 350 “UnDesiro” units operations increased big time in June 2005 this released class 321’s in enough numbers for their replacement on some West Midlands and Northampton-Birmingham turns. The 350 cascade saw the 15th July 2005 as the official end date of hauled “Cobbler” operation. There was some confusion due conflicting end dates especially when the stock lease was extended to the 22nd July. However the 15th July did prove to be the end of two train hauled Cobblers with 90021 and 90023 performing. 90034 then worked W96/W99 from Monday 18th July-Wednesday 20th July as standby cover to facilitate more “desiro” modifications but on Thursday 21st July 12 car 321’s took over the “Cobblers” making Wednesday 20th July a very low key final day to end another small chapter of WCML railway history.
90023 at Northampton with the last loco hauled 1724 Euston – Northampton on July 15th 2005. All hauled services ceased the following week
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