Shot mostly at Stafford, this video focuses on Virgin Cross Country services in the hands of class 47 and 86. Keep an eye out for the specially repainted locos to commemorate the end of loco hauled services
Hi , my name is Phil I did 50yrs on the footplate I started at edgeley shed on the 4th of April 1961in 1962 I was made a fireman I finished my time out at 9A as a driver and I drove a number of 47s in my time Regards Phil.
Plenty of clagging Class 47s to enjoy there! A great look back at the final spell for loco-hauled Cross Country services. Although i was videoing in the 80s & 90s i missed out on the 2000s(females were much more appealing then!)so haven't got any footage of his era sadly.
1:17 'What ... Is THAT?!' Would somebody tell Billy Bob to move his tram please ... I'm trying to watch real trains here!!! Liveries were: 47851 BR Green. 47853 Brush Type 4 Blue. 47839 Police (1987 advert inspired) Livery! 47847 BR Large Logo (but completely pantsed up by two different names being added on black backed nameplates IMHO!) One of the Class 86s was painted into Electric Blue but ruined again by those 'Les Ross' nameplates - may have been 86259. 86245 after receiving 86224's 'Caledonian' nameplates famously painted into a tartan-based Virgin colour scheme which I really liked (still have the Hornby model in fact.) Any I have missed out (not including Virgin West Coast Class 87s in BR Blue / NSE / (LMS inspired) Maroon and Unlined (LMS) Black) please add :o)
Such a shame they got rid of long, comfortable loco hauled trains for 4 car voyagers. Who signed that one off? Ridiculous. Loco hauled trains offer comfort and flexibility, it is why every European countries has tons of them apart from Britain who were stupid enough to get rid of them all. Currently they are scraping perfectly good mk4 coaches. Its a criminal!
