If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Class 91/Mk4/225 preservation?

Discussion in 'Diesel & Electric Traction' started by Phill S, Oct 2, 2016.

  1. Phill S

    Phill S New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2015
    Messages:
    136
    Likes Received:
    109
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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 Apparently the 91+mk4s are to be withdrawn in the next few years.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?
     
  2. Steamie Boxes

    Steamie Boxes Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2017
    Messages:
    696
    Likes Received:
    614
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Apprentice Enginner at NYMR
    Location:
    Cumbria
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Some 91s and mk4s are going to GNWR for London-Blackpool North services and TfW are supposedly getting some of the mk4s
     
  3. Landshrew

    Landshrew New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2018
    Messages:
    166
    Likes Received:
    977
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Guard with SWR
    Location:
    London
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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. 91119.JPG
     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2018
  4. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,324
    Likes Received:
    11,659
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I still don't see any 91's being withdrawn just yet.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.
     
    Landshrew likes this.
  5. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2018
    Messages:
    3,498
    Likes Received:
    6,845
    Location:
    Here, there, everywhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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
     
    nine elms fan and Landshrew like this.
  6. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2012
    Messages:
    2,439
    Likes Received:
    855
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Wessex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
  7. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    6,074
    Likes Received:
    4,889
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
  8. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    25,483
    Likes Received:
    23,713
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
  9. MarkinDurham

    MarkinDurham Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2007
    Messages:
    2,198
    Likes Received:
    973
    Location:
    Durham
    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 :)
     
  10. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    Messages:
    14,114
    Likes Received:
    7,639
    Occupation:
    Layabout
    Location:
    Naughty step
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
    Landshrew likes this.
  11. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    Messages:
    14,114
    Likes Received:
    7,639
    Occupation:
    Layabout
    Location:
    Naughty step
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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)
     
  12. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    25,483
    Likes Received:
    23,713
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I stand by thrashed. Not the high speeds, but the start stop semi fast duties.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  13. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2006
    Messages:
    8,029
    Likes Received:
    7,605
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Train Maintainer for GTR at Hornsey
    Location:
    Letchworth
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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!
     
  14. toplight

    toplight Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2009
    Messages:
    1,351
    Likes Received:
    1,288
    Location:
    Swindon, England
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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 ?
     
  15. MarkinDurham

    MarkinDurham Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2007
    Messages:
    2,198
    Likes Received:
    973
    Location:
    Durham
    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 :)
     
    The Green Howards likes this.
  16. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    25,483
    Likes Received:
    23,713
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I don’t believe the intensity of use was envisaged.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  17. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    Messages:
    14,114
    Likes Received:
    7,639
    Occupation:
    Layabout
    Location:
    Naughty step
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Errrr.... jump back forty years and you could just have easily crossed out '91' and written 'Deltic' instead.
     
    SilentHunter86 likes this.
  18. Phill S

    Phill S New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2015
    Messages:
    136
    Likes Received:
    109
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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
     
  19. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    25,483
    Likes Received:
    23,713
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  20. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2018
    Messages:
    3,498
    Likes Received:
    6,845
    Location:
    Here, there, everywhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     

Share This Page