HST Farewell and ROG 37

[MattW]

HST Farewell Tour today to mark the end of their full-time use on the Western Region. There are some short sets still in use around the country for now though. Here's the tour with original-liveried powercar 'Sir Kenneth Grange' through Malvern this morning.



As I'm sure you know they've been replaced by these new Hitachi units.


Also out today moving empty stock was one of my favourite locos, 37608 'Andromeda'. Doesn't look half bad for the best part of 60 years old.

[TimBrown]

There was a 'signalling problem' at Norton Junction this morning which made the charter about 20 minutes late, so not a particularly good morning following non-appearance of Cotswold Explorer steam charter. There should have been another train of HST Mk111's from Laira to Long Marston via Malvern in the afternoon and that was cancelled as well. It is now booked to run through Shrub Hill on Monday lunchtime then via Walsall to face the right way before returning via Worcester to Long Marston!

[MattW]

Cheers Tim. Mad isn't it.
Mind you I'm not sure I'd want to do much running round at Shrub Hill, you're just as likely to disappear into the weeds. For a supposed major station its a disgrace, and I guess now the council have the new Parkway to crow about they're hardly likely to be pushing NR to do anything about it.

[TimBrown]

Cheers Tim. Mad isn't it.
Mind you I'm not sure I'd want to do much running round at Shrub Hill, you're just as likely to disappear into the weeds. For a supposed major station its a disgrace, and I guess now the council have the new Parkway to crow about they're hardly likely to be pushing NR to do anything about it.

It has been suggested that Shrub Hill be entered for the 'best station garden in the Midlands' competition - should win hands down with the delapidated overbridge and derelict lifts taken into consideration in the Victorian Ruins section!

As can be seen from the state of the overbridge there are still no disabled passenger lifts despite £1.5 million being made available from Government Access for Disabled Fund in April 2013 along with promised completion by August 2013 and an endorsement by our City MP Mr Robin Walker in a local newspaper article at the time! Station staff are still having to escort those unable to use the stairs to the north end of the station and trundle them across the barrow crossing at the point where southbound speed limit increases from 30 MPH to 70 MPH.

[chason]

Sad to see the state of the neglected Shrub Hill station. In a way I can understand the reluctance to spend £millions on infrastructure but no excuse for the failure to spend a few
quid on weedkiller. It just gives an air of dereliction and heaven knows what impression it gives to first time visitors to the city.

Sad also to say goodbye to the HSTs. They have given many years of good service and have a degree of passenger comfort which many modern trains lack (including apparently their replacements). You even get a decent view out of the windows!

[TimBrown]

Cheers Tim. Mad isn't it.
Mind you I'm not sure I'd want to do much running round at Shrub Hill, you're just as likely to disappear into the weeds. For a supposed major station its a disgrace, and I guess now the council have the new Parkway to crow about they're hardly likely to be pushing NR to do anything about it.

The Laira to Long Marston train ran as planned yesterday, it was routed all the way round Walsall because there was only one barrier coach in the consist attached at the front of rake of Mk III coaches, so the pair of Class 47 in charge were unable to run round at Worcester as their couplings not compatible with the HST power car on the rear!

[MattW]

Another great example of the smoothly joined-up rail industry eh?