29th August – Class 442 Charter: Waterloo to Poole

The 442s may be electric trains but you most definitely will not see them at Waterloo and in all likelihood nowhere else either. Like so many aspects of the railways, you can take them for granted whilst they are a daily sight but eventually they will disappear and a brief opportunity to see them again should not be missed. It doesn't matter whether it's a steam locomotive, or diesel, particular rolling stock, signal boxes, semaphore signals, un-electrified track, major station rebuilds or whatever.

Some time around early 2000s I made several visits to Jingpeng Pass, northern China, to see some of the world's last main line steam operations, where freight trains, mostly headed by a pair of QJ class locomotives were common place. On one of my last trips, having breakfast in the hotel at Reshui and hearing a steam hauled train slogging up the gradient on the adjacent hillside I, and others in my group, just kept on eating our bacon and eggs safe in the knowledge that another one would be along shortly. Now, barely 12 years later, steam has gone completely from the line, many of the locomotives cut up and I rather wish I'd spent even more time watching QJs in the mountains.

And in UK, go and look at the former underground stock on the IoW railway, HSTs and 165/166s on the GW main line - their days, along with others, are numbered.

 

It's a tough one, isn't it? These things are part of railway history and should be preserved, but will be of very little interest to (and consequently will bring in very little money from) all but the most dedicated enthusiast until they're far removed enough from the present to look interesting. I see the value in preserving them but I can't honestly say it would be a fun day out, what with it being far too similar to the commuter trains I spend half the week on.

That said I do think we need to preserve a Pacer so I can show my grandchildren the privations and horrors my generation went through.

 

They haven't made regular appearances at Waterloo for around 10 years now.

 

There's 2 in store at Potter Group in Ely at the mo, rather strange to see so far away from their old haunts.

 

I agree with your sentiments here (except I was usually out on the hillside a bit before breakfast - I often mussed the ones at dinner time!!) BUT the story you relate is maybe all the more interesting because you WERE sitting in the hotel getting on with life & breakfast and not wasting time getting cold & bored on a hillside!!! In a weird sense was the ability to do just that why we went? one could just wait for the next one!!!

 

Led to believe 442024 is booked to move to Ely tomorrow.

 

Forgive my ignorance but are these slam doors. Now that was fun!! Things were never quite the same when they went. Lots of yelling from station staff with people jumping off before the train had stopped. Happy days. "Stop it, now Nick. Don't get emotional about electric trains. Your are a steam man through and through". Ha ha!

 

Absolutely right. When I am lineside I photograph everything and have done for the last 55 years

 

As my Dad always says 'You should always record what you see today, because tomorrow it's history' first time he said that to me was one January in 1999, he then asked me if I fancied going to Saltley to have a a look at some Rfd 47/3's. 'Dont like 47's Dad' was the reply, wished I had when I saw the photos. 37350 in its nice new green livery, took me another 10 years to see it like that! Another 13 to ride behind it, and now sadly Saltley (and it's Seagulls) TMD, plus it's RfD 47's are now just a memory...

 

Running as as 5E42 Eastleigh Works to Ely Papworth Sdgs.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K91075/2016/08/31/advanced

442420 hauled by a class 47 of Rail Operations Group. Headcode obliterated as ROG are licenced as a freight operating company.
(Incidentally the pool code for the Loco was GROG)

Cheers, Neil

 

While I share your opinion on loco's, I can't say I miss clapped out 150's off Tyseley TMD though!.

That said, I've done a few tours on freight branches that have since closed even in recent years, and doing another "last chancer" into Rugeley PS in October.

 

One has to accept that different generations have affection for different transport types. As a kid, I loved the sound and overall image of a steam locomotive. I was hooked at 12 years old. I hated diesels taking over steam duties. I travelled all over the country up to 1966 capturing those last outposts of steam. My brother and I even spent a Summer Saturday at Wigan in 1966 on the day England won the World Cup! No there's dedication for you. I used to hate the photographs of steam engines under the cutters torch and worse still, the lines of once great steam locomotives at Barry awaiting their fate (at that time we didn't know most would be saved). Because of this I have never warmed to diesels or electrics and when I became a signalman, wallowed in the diesels unreliability and almost cheers when a Western or Warship failed and needed to be replaced. Class 47's and Peaks put a stop to all that with much improved reliability. That said, the first day of my signalling career at Stonehouse Bristol Road in 1967 on the Bristol Birmingham mainline, a class 47 failed in section and I had to request an engine on a following freight to push the train through to Gloucester. Happy days.