The wrong sort of voltage…

March 18th 2016 saw Virgin Trains East Coast unveil the first of their new Class 800 bi-mode IEP (Intercity Express Programme) units at London King's Cross Station. In the main the Class 800s will be powered by 25kV overhead electrification but they are also fitted with seven 940hp diesel engines to enable them to operate on non-electrified routes and to provide so called 'last mile' and 'get you home' power.

Whilst in France recently I photographed a couple of SNCF Class B 81500 AGC (Autorail à Grande Capacité) at Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire in Burgundy, like the Class 800s these units are bi-mode, each set being fitted with two 887hp diesel engines in addition to overhead current collection equipment. One of the units was in use on local services to Nevers and as it departed I noticed that it was obviously running on diesel power even though the line is electrified…

SNCF Class B 81500 AGC unit departs Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire with a service for Nevers, 23/3/16

The train was indeed running on diesel power, its ability to pick up power from the overhead electrification rendered useless because the line here is electrified at 25kV AC and the Class B 81500 is designed to pick up power from 1500V DC systems as used elsewhere in France…

I did think that the anti-railway elements of the British press would have a field day using 'The wrong sort of voltage' in a headline!

Spotted today - on Cromer Beach

Unlike a lot of British seaside towns whose B&Bs depended on the railways to deliver hordes of summer holidaymakers, Cromer still has a station connected to the national rail network.

Known as Cromer Beach until 1969 when the nearby Cromer High closed, the station is located on 'The Bittern Line' that runs between Norwich and Sheringham.

Steam trains returned to Cromer beach recently in the form of this…

Steam train in stones on Cromer beach, 5/6/15

Created in beach stones by year 5 pupils at the Highfields Primary School in Lawford in Essex the train was attracting quite a bit of attention.

'Mistley' as seen of the locomotive's 'nameplate' also still has a station, this time on 'The Mayflower Line' between Manningtree and Harwich Town in Essex, very close to the school.

Spotted today - Loo-less for over an hour!

Today I travelled to Portsmouth Harbour (from Angmering in West Sussex) to have a look at the Spinnaker Tower and was dismayed to find that in amongst all the shiny, new(ish) Class 377 'Electrostars' that Southern uses all over it's network there are also a number of these in use…

313201 stands at Portsmouth Harbour station, 21/5/15

A class 313/2, one of 19 three-car electric multiple units dating from the mid-1970s. Day in, day out, they ply their trade up and down the 'West Coastway' from Brighton to Hove, West Worthing and Portsmouth Harbour… The latter being a 45 mile journey that takes around 80 minutes.

313201 stands at Brighton station with another Portsmouth Harbour service.

Whilst I acknowledge that anyone taking a four minute trip from Brighton to Hove may not have need of a loo en route, a 45 mile, 80 minute journey on a train without a toilet is a very different prospect and the Class 313s are sadly lacking in that department! During my journey one young mum was forced to leave the train with her pre-school son for him to use a station toilet and of course would have to continue their journey on a later train. Perhaps the Class 313s should carry adverts for TENA® and Huggies® products?

Volk's Electric Railway - A taster!

Having a couple of hours to kill in Brighton this week I went looking for a historic little railway that runs along the seafront.

Volk's Electric Railway car No.9

The Volk's Electric Railway was the brainchild of one Magnus Volk, the son of a German clockmaker born in Brighton. An inventor and engineer, he was the first person in Brighton to equip his house with electric light and he went on to win the contract to provide the Royal Pavilion with the same.

In August 1883 he opened an electric railway running from the Aquarium to the Chain Pier. The line was later extended considerably and even though it was shortened in 1990 it still runs for over a mile!

I'm certainly planning to revisit this, the world's oldest operating electric railway, in the near future…

Spotted today - London Underground trains… In Nottinghamshire!

Eleven years ago (almost to the day) I had the best carvery lunch of my life at the Pullman Inn in Widmerpool, Nottinghamshire. Lunch was interrupted by a Virgin Trains Class 390 'Pendolino' flashing past the window as the Pullman Inn was located at Widmerpool station on the former Midland Railway line between Nottingham and Melton Mowbray that went on to form the Old Dalby Test Track (used to stage a crash between a Class 46 locomotive and four BR Mk.1 coaches into a nuclear flask on 17 July 1984).

Driving past the now closed Pullman Inn today I spotted this…

London Underground S7 stock at Widmerpool, 2/5/15

Just one of many London Underground S stock units that are undergoing testing on the line at the moment.

S Stock as far as the eye can see!

More S Stock stabled at the south end of the station, 2/5/15

The new Hitachi IEP units (the first of which recently arrived in the UK from Japan) will also be tested at Old Dalby.

Spotted today - Van bodies in Ashbourne

Two entries in two days? Blimey!

One of my many interests is what are known as 'Ghost' signs (see my gallery of them on flickr) and while photographing one in Ashbourne today I also spotted this…

Improvised storage shed, Ashbourne, 25/4/15

Railway van bodies as used as storage aren't unusual, even in areas far from the nearest railway line and Ashbourne was served by both the North Staffordshire Railway and the London & North Western Railway but this particular pair are the products of the Caledonian Railway's workshops at St. Rollox in Glasgow!

How long before these are snapped up by preservationists?

Spotted today - 'Proper' locomotives at Derby

For a long time dad has been running a 'scene today' series of entries on his blog (Rails, Roads & Runways) and I thought it was time I did something similar…

On my way to Sheffield today (coincidentally dad's home town) I was pleased to spot a couple of 'proper' locomotives at Derby amongst the 'Turbostars', 'Meridians' and 'Voyagers' that populate the modern railway scene.

31601 & 31190 stand at Derby station, 24/4/15

Two class 31s (or Brush type 2 if you prefer) were sitting in the sunshine in the north dock siding and I quickly took a couple of snaps before boarding an East Midlands Trains class 222 'Meridian' unit northwards.

31601 (the former 31186, originally D5609) carries a plain green livery with DCR (Devon & Cornwall Railways) branding whilst 31190 (the former D5613) not only carries British Railways green livery (complete with white stripes and small yellow warning panel) but its original number too!

31190 stands at Derby station, 24/4/15

Both locos are owned by British American Rail Services and are often to be seen moving other locos and rolling stock around the country and don't look half bad considering they entered service 55 years ago!