Railways. British Railways Stafford Station 2003 A Year of Transition

Yes ...another video of this UK Railway Hotspot, but this year 2003 31st July was a visit when Loco hauled Virgin passeneger services were coming to an end, indeed I only observed one class 86 on passenger duty .
Mail by rail was finishing...but plenty to see this day.
47 hauled passenger services limited to the Holyhead route.
Class 57 Thunderbirds were appearing on the electric rescues, and class 56s were bowing out and resigned to infrastructure duties.

[@Oli.existing]

I travel into Stafford train station every day to get to college and I must say its interesting to see the difference between then and now

[@williamradford8817]

2003, a new railway era began. phasing out of the good old MK1 intercity coaches, intro on the new pendelino trains, Virgin's new 222 voyager diesels, 3 coach diesel turbos

[@10reubenl]

When the Pendolino’s and Voyager’s were brand new:)

[@williamradford8817]

New design of Intercity coaches in the early virgin livery, good old electric 86's on goods duty

[@coastlinersmithy]

47:00

[@johnson_street_IEMD]

Nearly twenty years later ... the EWS now DB 92s only pass through here with an escort, the 86s and 87s are gone (with the exception of LSL, WCRC and LR), the 86s only recently gone, the 90s still soldiering on in DB, Freightliner and LSL, but there are new kids on the block too, the 88s, and soon to be 93s as well :-)

[@robmasterman]

A superb production Brian, and this was the end of being able to see such a variety of loco classes on a wide range of duties. Great camera work throughout, and a very enjoyable watch....Bob

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

2005 was the end of the year running for the ac locos on virgin trains before more pendolinos were called to replacing the aging ac locos

[@SouthCoastTrainspotter]

Another Brilliant Film :)

[@tomlee9534]

Awesome film. Takes me back t my days going to and from Liverpool. This is the railway I see when I dream!

[@AndreiTupolev]

Apparently Central Trains ran from Liverpool to Stansted via Birmingham then then, I only just found out the other day. Virgin did seem to quite often hire class 90s from EWS to keep things going. What was that 47 with First Great Western stock on?

[@jimusgrimus]

An awful time to be employed on the railways.