May 2012

My first day out on Sunday 6th May 2012 after my bout of appendicitis with follow-up problems and a couple of weeks in Stoke Mandeville hospital (thanks to all the staff for looking after me so well!). VWC diverts to start with, including set WB64 "Pretendolino" topped and tailed by Class 57/3s. Plenty of action on Chiltern Railways with the testing of the new power doors set over a couple of weeks and a run out on the final test train from Birmingham Moor Street. Throw in the odd special and it's been quite a busy month!

Interior shot of TSOL 12605, formerly West Coast FO 11040, having been refurbished in similar style to the former WSMR coaches, though with updated lighting and a lavatory at one end only. This is Coach B in the first set of power-door fitted Mk.3 coaches for Chiltern Mainline, at Birmingham Moor Street prior to the final departure of test train 5H02, 14:24 to Wembley LMD. The set enters normal service from May 28th 2012. 13:53, Friday 25th May 2012. Digital Image No. GMPI12038.

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Interior shot of TSOL 12605, formerly West Coast FO 11040, having been refurbished in similar style to the former WSMR coaches, though with updated lighting and a lavatory at one end only. This is Coach B in the first set of power-door fitted Mk.3 coaches for Chiltern Mainline, at Birmingham Moor Street prior to the final departure of test train 5H02, 14:24 to Wembley LMD. The set enters normal service from May 28th 2012. 13:53, Friday 25th May 2012. Digital Image No. GMPI12038.

GMPI12038 Interior 12605 BMO 5H02 250512 LHCS

Peter Skuce
on May 26, 2012
I was on the Chiltern Railways website and it had an artist illustration detailing the proposed interior of a refurbished Mark 3 carriage. It showed the interiors to feature the same interiors as the Class 168 Clubman Turbo DMU trains, right down to the same carpet and same seat design. This would have meant that there would have been no InterCity 70 seats with the horrible fixed armrests. Is there going to be a refurbished set with the same interiors as the Class 168 Clubman Turbo DMU or will all refurbished sets have the former Wrexham & Shropshire interior?

May 2012

Peter Skuce