UK takes a leaf out of our book

David Bromage (dbromage@metz.une.edu.au)
25 Jul 1997 07:38:42 GMT

Most of you will be familiar with the school holiday workings of steam on
regular trains in Victoria. It has been done once in the UK when a
Merchant Navy worked regular commuter trains in the Southern Region in the
final days before BR started being sold.

Now at least one of the new TOCs has caught on to the idea of preserved
locomotives on regular trains to attract extra passengers. On 23/7,
preserved Deltic D9000 (50022) worked the 9.06 London Paddington -
Manchester Piccadilly as far as Birmingham New Street. This train is
operated by Virgin Cross Country. Incidentally, the Virgin Rail is one of
the bidders shortlisted for AN.

At this stage it is only a trial, but may be repeated in the near future
using preserved D444 (50044) and/or 50031, and possibly D147 (46 class).
No word on steam yet. Other services which may also see such workings
include Poole - Birmingham and Crewe - Holyhead.

Although currently officially limited to 90mph, D9000 has reached over
100mph on recent special trains in Devon and on the WCML.

Cheers
David