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And it's good to see the move in the first place. I only got the platforms while it was passing through the tunnel because it made up 15 minutes lateness from being put on the fasts.

​@@PointARailI think they are coming back to service in December this year

@@Electrostarboi207 Well with the rate that they are bringing them back, I wouldn't be too surprised. I assume they will start on the semi-fast Letchworth and Cambridge diagrams first considering they did the same thing when the acquired the C2C 387s.

Either a Class 47 or 44871 which becomes 1Z71 0651 London Euston to Chester

@ thanks

Thank you very much!

@@PointARail You're welcome! I saw her at York.

@@HenrysAdventures Nice one, am I right in saying 60007 was also at York?

@@PointARail Yes, but I only saw 44871.

Yes unfortunately it was around 8am this morning. Don't be disheartened though because last year, almost exactly to the day, I filmed this tour with a similar consist and it then came back around in February earlier this year. So I assume that there's a good chance that pattern might repeat itself and it'll come back around February next year.

@PointARail 8am... I live in south London so that's not good. But sometimes to be a train spotter you have to be an idiot (at least that's what I think when I wake up at stupid o'clock)

@@NinjaSurferTrainspotting Oh I know the feeling 😅

Ah ha! Well you see, it's a

@PointARail yes, the is quite brilliant

@@NinjaSurferTrainspotting You know I always used to think somewhat negatively about the , but upon seeing for real, the has grown on me slightly. Sadly I didn't get the chance to ride the , but I fear the two hamsters named Jeff would have felt pressured to overperform and break the for good. 😮‍💨

Thank you, I appreciate the kindness 🙂

I've heard they likely have until mid-December, the only reason they're seeing more use recently is because of cascading faults on the 777 fleet. I'd suggest just going as soon as you can, whether that be a weekday or weekend. From what I've seen and read, they tend to run the Northern Line from Liverpool Central - Southport or less frequently on the Wirral lines to New Brighton. The 507/508 thread (linked at the bottom) is very active and the best place to get information on the topic, such as what units are out on the day and where. They were very helpful when I went for example, because Merseyrail don't publicise what units are on which services. www.railforums.co.uk/threads/merseyrail-legacy-fleet-updates-class-507-508.232404/page-122

Nice, it a funny coincidence that I've seen both of them recently too.

I'm glad you like it! As far as I know it's always been an 86, considering that it's numbered as an 86 and has two distinct design features of an 86. Firstly, it has three front cab end windows whilst the 87s have only two front end windows, and, it features an old headcode box long since covered over and fitted with more lights instead. For reference, the 87s never accommodated a headcode box and the lights were arranged one on top of the other. So unless the loco was rebuilt at some point in preservation, it's always been an 86.

@@PointARail Doing some digging, it's always been an 86! Also, was in electric blue originally. Wonder where I got misinformed?!

@@ANobodyatall Well I know that the side profiles are identical maybe that could have been an influence? Because 87002 is the only Class 87 in operation but it still isn't used very often.

Yep it was filmed between 6:30-7:30 yesterday. I had to leave the house at 5am to get there so I didn't actually sleep that night.

Funny enough, from what I remember this was only my first time ever hearing a 455 horn, the second time was at Clapham Junction an our later. I got two horns in one day and then never again...😔😮‍💨

They do have junctions at Finsbury Park to facilitate this, hence why Thameslink services from Peterborough and Cambridge are able to go to/from the fasts stopping at Finsbury Park. The problem is that Sevenoaks - Welwyn Garden City services also call at New Southgate, Oakleigh Park, New Barnet, Potters Bar and Hatfield which either have no access at all or access in only one direction on to the fast lines. If they were to run on the fasts without altering the stopping pattern or current infrastructure, they'd only be able to run on the fast lines in both directions between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace, a journey time of 3 minutes at the absolute most. Basically, it's not worth it for time purposes, it adds unnecessary operational complications, and in delays (which Thameslink are prone to experiencing, often from no fault of their own), the signallers wouldn't risk delaying other higher priority trains by pathing them onto the fast line, thereby instead keeping them on the slows.

@@PointARail oh that makes sense

Thank you 😀

Thank you

Yes absolutely, they weren't dead then. Of SWR's long term fleet, is it only the some of the sprinters and coradias left to be rebranded?

@PointARail I believe so.

Absolutely!

I agree!

Thanks, it's very picturesque