Dave wrote:The only exception to the above is that some expresses are class 9 to deliberately differentiate them (such as the VWC trains that go via Birmingham)
Aren't some of the East London Line, London Overground services class 9 as well? Not quite sure they could be classed as Expresses
Anyway, back on topic, I ended up having a meeting on the Cumbrian Coast yesterday. Travelling on a Northern Only Day Ranger for £10!
1N56 0846 Manchester Piccadilly to Preston on 156488 and 156455. Unremarkable Journey via Bolton, first time using that line after quite a while however, due to all the building work that's been done, and the fact I normally travel to Preston with TPE (via Wigan North Western)
2C47 1004 Preston to Barrow-in-Furness, hauled by 37402 using set KM04. Nice blast up the WCML, and then along the coast, just a shame the windows on the Mk2s have been barred off (due to the tunnel between St. Bees and Whitehaven on the Cumbrian Coast).
2C49 1140 Barrow-in-Furness to Carlisle, hauled by 37403 using set KM03. Nice run along the coast on a nice sunny day, couple of 37s parked at Sellafield and an RHTT passed just North of Whitehaven (which then turned around and followed us to Carlisle).
2C34 1435 Carlisle to Barrow-in-Furness, hauled by 37409 using set KM03. A loco-change took place at Carlisle, apparently due to the Loco having a dodgy Speedo, and despite the efforts of the DRS staff to keep the train as on time as possible, we left 16 minutes late. In an attempt to make up time, we missed all stations between Carlisle and Workington, much to the annoyance of several passengers at Carlisle, and stations to Workington.
2C36 1803 Barrow-in-Furness to Preston on 153360 and 153330. Due to a delay leaving Lancaster on it's previous journey, the train had run non-stop to Barrow from Lancaster, and several passengers stayed on the train to Barrow and back to their respective Stations on the trains return run, meaning it was a little busier than normal.
1U79 2009 Preston to Manchester Piccadilly on 185114 and 185148, on hire to Northern. Following a rather rough coupling procedure (one unit had arrived from Manchester, and was heading back, the other had arrived from Blackpool), it was a normal journey via Bolton, though nice to have a decent train after those 153s!