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Due to problems with the overhead power line north of Carlisle on the afternoon of July 14, many West Coast Main Line (WCML) services were cancelled. One Avanti service which did operate was 1S72/14.30 worked by Class 390 No. 390123 to Preston where passengers transferred to a replacement northbound service with Class 221s Nos. 221101+221103 which left Preston 51 minutes behind schedule at 17.33.
Following a problem with the overhead power supply north of Carnforth on the morning of July 20, the first Avanti WCML northbound service from Lancaster was at 11.50, this being the 9S44/06.51 from London Euston worked by Class 390 No. 390117. Southbound from Lancaster that day’s first Avanti service was the 9M52/08.53 from Edinburgh operated by Class 221s Nos. 221106+221117 which departed Lancaster at 11.51 for Euston.
Although the Avanti West Coast service 1S05 to Glasgow Central worked by Class 390 No. 390156 left London Euston three minutes late at 19.33 on August 16, this delay had expanded to 108 minutes on arrival at Oxenholme at 23.44. Unfortunately, those who wished to leave the station found that the exit gates were locked. According to local press the police were called. They located a maintenance worker who had a key to unlock the gates but by then some passengers had already scaled the high fence in order to get out!
Stadler-built EMU No. 777018 departs Ainsdale on August 10 while running as the 5T18 test service from Southport to Kirkdale depot.
BRAD JOYCE
Golden evening light on a golden field of barley near Grampound Road, Cornwall, on August 7 as the 2C81/14.50 Cardiff to Penzance passes with power cars Nos. 43010/43029.
CRAIG MUNDAY
Collapse of the overhead wires between Peterborough and Grantham, on the morning of August 3, brought LNER services to a standstill. Class 800 No. 800110 was ready to leave Leeds on the 10.45 service to King’s Cross. It finally left after 13.15 and ran from Doncaster to Peterborough via the Lincoln area.
Meanwhile, Class 91 No. 91109 had left King’s Cross on the 10.03 to Leeds, and eventually got to Leeds via the normal route over three hours late. About 15 minutes later, No. 91130 followed it in on the 10.33. Passengers for London were encouraged to go to Euston via Manchester, or to St Pancras via Sheffield, and this advice was upgraded to ‘do not travel’ by lunchtime.
Class 769 No. 769959 was noted, from a passing train, on Sunday, July 10 in the carriage sidings at Oxford, having suffered a graffiti attack to one vehicle.
Observed on July 12 and again on July 15 on Reading Traincare Depot was Class 800 No. 800008 Alan Turing, which appeared to have one bogie raised on to a wheel skate.
GWR celebrated the success of the football Lionesses by vinyling Class 800 No. 800316 in honour of their achievement.
On Thursday, August 4, train services between Exeter and Barnstaple/Okehampton had to be halted and cancelled due to a large cornfield fire which spread across the railway line at Newton St Cyres, between Exeter and Crediton, on the single line. The fire was so severe that smoke was actually drifting over Exeter St Davids station, and the incident was attended by fire appliances from across Devon.
A correspondent was due to catch the 16.37 service from Exeter to Okehampton, but this was cancelled. Passengers for Okehampton were sent on a service bus from outside St Davids station, while those waiting for a Barnstaple service were sent by taxi. Full marks to GWR for getting things in place fairly quickly, but unfortunately the service bus only ran through Okehampton town centre and did not go up to the station which is situated up a hill out of town, and it was a long way to go to retrieve the correspondent’s car from the station car park. It is not reported when the line was reopened, but when the correspondent finally arrived at Okehampton station just after 18.00, a service to Exeter was still being held.
GWR on board and platform announcements (both recorded and visual) on the Reading to Basingstoke service have started to include Reading Green Park in the list of stops despite the new station having not yet opened – in fact, it’s not even finished.
On Saturday, July 16 the 1P64/20.30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich was formed of Class 755 Nos. 755405+755421, a class which normally graces the local lines around Norwich.
Activity on Class 379s in Harwich Parkeston Quay yard occurred on July 21 when ROG’s Class 37 No. 37611 Pegasus, sent down from Derby to Norwich the previous day, arrived early and left taking Nos. 379005+379030 back to Ilford EMUD some 30 minutes late. The following day, two unidentified Class 379s under their own power, arrived mid-afternoon from Ilford EMUD.
Former Northern Rail units Nos. 321901+322481 were taken from Ilford to Sims, Newport on August 4 by Class 37 No. 37884. A further pairing of Nos. 321902+ 322482 followed on August 19 hauled by Class 37 No. 37800.
An incident occurred on July 15, when two men fishing on a boat in the Clyde were washed overboard when their boat was struck by an object in the river. The men swam ashore where they were spotted in distress on the riverbank by the driver of the 2H09/13.40 Edinburgh Waverley to Helensburgh Central, reportedly formed of Class 334 Nos. 334016 and 334007, who stopped to rescue the men. The line was blocked from approximately 15.30 to 17.00 to enable a rescue to take place.
Long-time resident Class 08 No. 08596 in Wabtec black livery at Edinburgh Craigentinny was replaced by No. 08401 in BR green livery on July 21, the exchange involving a road movement.
Due to an incident involving the derailment of a Class 158 unit on August 1 between Forsinard and Altnabreac, the far north line suffered delays and cancellations. The 12.34 Wick to Inverness terminated at Thurso, while the 10.41 Inverness to Wick terminated at Helmsdale.