Class 91/Mk4/225 preservation?

Just seen that the newly formed LNER have repainted a 91 back in Swallow livery. Apparently the 91+mk4s are to be withdrawn in the next few years. Anyone know what is planned for them, straight in the swarf bin or going into service elsewhere?

 

Some 91s and mk4s are going to GNWR for London-Blackpool North services and TfW are supposedly getting some of the mk4s

 

91119 (91019) 'Bounds Green InterCity Depot 1977-2017' on her first run since overhaul and reversion to InterCity Swallow livery at KX this afternoon, working the 16:33 KX-Leeds City. Rumour is she'll be the last withdrawal from ECML service. I do believe that 91110 (91010) 'Battle of Britain Memorial Flight' is a possible candidate for preservation, due to her holding the British speed record for electric traction.

 

I still don't see any 91's being withdrawn just yet. We haven't seen the last of them for a while yet! As ever though that's a cracker of a photo.

 

Considering that Footex etc tend to run top and tailed because there aren’t facilities at main stations for running round, would DVT sets not have some appeal - only one loco required rather than two etc etc, I guess seating could be re-arranged as well.

I had to travel London to Scotland a couple of times a couple of years back and if given the choice a MK4 beats a Pendolino

 

Quite comfortable as well, went to York on one last year by the time it got to Finsbury Park I was out for the count, woke up as the train approached York station.

 

Can not see the DfT letting too many remain as they are comfortable and they only seem to like to inflict us with uncomfortable new trains.

 

I am not so sure. The GNWR open access service to Blackpool, if it happens, may save some, but we are looking at 30 year old racehorses that have been thrashed mercilessly for that time.

I believe some MkIVs may end up in Wales, but again think that this bespoke fleet are in the main heading for withdrawal.

 

Have they been thrashed though? Worked hard, yes, but they were designed for 140mph running. The failure to make the infrastructure suitable put paid to that.

Anyway, to more important matters - livery . In my opinion, that Swallow livery is stunning - closely followed by GNER's 'stealth bomber' colours

 

I remember them being introduced on the ECML - they transformed my commute. It wasn't that much earlier in time that the Saturday stopper to the Cross was a 47 and a rake of Mk. 1s!! I would still have preferred the choice of loco to have been the 89 though.

 

Agreed - and yet bits of the ECML do have the 'flashing green' aspect. They seem to have been a good choice after their initial teething troubles. The major problem seemed to be the Mk. 4 stock behind them with their dodgy air conditioning. (I commuted regularly on these sets from their introduction to 2012)

 

I stand by thrashed. Not the high speeds, but the start stop semi fast duties.


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Definitely thrashed. They're very labour intensive maintenance wise, and have been maintained by a dedicated depot since introduction. GNWR will struggle to keep up the reliability of them. The repainted one is only back in traffic after 9 months out of action - melting snow and electrical bits aren't a good combination!

 

Makes you wonder with threads like this. Will people in say 50 years time feel nostalgia for todays times and transport in the same way that people today feel it for say the 1940s, 60s, 80s etc and therefore to try and recreate it in some way. I doubt it but you never know. What things from todays world will become future classics ?

 

But surely these duties were anticipated when the specifications were drawn up? They've been on the same duties since they were built. I stand by my thoughts though - intensively used, which is subtly different to being thrashed

 

I don’t believe the intensity of use was envisaged.


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Errrr.... jump back forty years and you could just have easily crossed out '91' and written 'Deltic' instead.

 

Already am. The Swallow to privatisation era was when an HST 125 or 225 set meant family holidays. I reckon in the new year I'll even go as far as travelling to the ECML to go ride the 225s a few last times

 

In which case the word “temperamental” also comes to mind, as do the longer service life of the 91s than the Deltics, and the problems of finding a new home for them once their time on the ECML is over.


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New build 91 in 2050?

tbh - in the 1980s I would have found it hard to want to save a 101 or a VEP.

I will say this - electric stock generally has a very unhappy preservation experience.