More problems

IC225 and Class 91 commissioning - Part 7 of 9

More problems and more testing

The locos weren't without problems - the Time Division Multiplex (TDM) system had a nasty habit of tripping out when passing through neutral sections. If the train was being propelled by the loco this meant a long walk for the driver to reset it - but the MCB did not always trip - the system just 'crashed'. We eventually resorted to having a rider on the locos all the time until a solution to the problem was found.

More testing was carried out prior to full introduction and a set also worked out of Glasgow Polmadie on driver training runs to Carlisle for a time either light engine or with a full rake.

	Unidentified class 91and IC225 set is shown here being hauled though Carstairs by 47517 on its way to Polmadie in early 1991 J Howie (see his excellent site here)		91022 is pictured coupled to Test Car No:2 at Bounds Green on a test train having run blunt end first on the main line D Bower
	It wasn't all hard work! Here is 91003 on the occasion of a 'Jim'll Fix It' special when the BBC filmed a lucky lad who had cab ride to Grantham and back. The BBC film crew are boarding the loco in this shot. I accompanied the train riding shotgun but didn't get the free lunch which he had!		Towards the end of June 1993 BR ran a series of IC 225 'Awareness Specials' from London to Manchester, Liverpool, Carlisle and Glasgow. The picture shows 91001 returning north passing Winwick on a London - Carlisle service for invited guests; these 'specials' were NOT for ordinary travellers." Alan Sherrat

WCML testing

47972 is seen here at Preston coupled to a rake of Mk4 coaches on 4th April 1990

Tinsley Tmdfourtyonea

The MkIVs went through a series of optimisation tests between Nov 1989 and May 1990, including running between Crewe and Carlisle 2-6 April and 9, 10, 23, 24, 26 April 1990, returning to Derby each night. The test on the 4 April was diesel hauled throughout but other days had a Class 87 or Class 90 in charge. The formation on 4 April

included 12478, 12400, 12300, 10305 and 82220. The cable "lash-up" was for the intercom system and calibrated speedometer connections between the loco cab and the test team riding in 12300.

Into passenger service

Towards the end of 1990, the work moved to Edinburgh where I used to stay in the Grosvenor Hotel in Haymarket, which was in an area where we could park on the street. I used to eat in the hotel or at the Omar Khayyam Indian restaurant at the end of the road, which served massive meals with naan breads the size of tablecloths. There was also a little Chinese down the road past the station and across the road there was live jazz on a Sunday night in the Haymarket bar.

I used to drive to Waverley and park in the staff car park then catch the 07.15 service to KX which had come from Glasgow and ride shotgun all the way to London. Scottish crew on board when rolled into Waverley, driver and secondman talking 25 to the dozen – difficult to understand. Change of crew at Newcastle then got a Geordie crew who were even worse!

After this a trip to Leeds and back during the day then I would be ready for the return working – all the way from KX through to Glasgow and back to Edinburgh Waverley arriving about 10pm to drive back to the hotel in time for a curry and a pint - a long day but a profitable one!

We did this five days a week and shared the work between two or three of us – I used to travelled up by car on Sunday afternoon/evening and then travel back on the following Saturday morning.

	The now familiar formation of the IC225 sets Author's collection		........at the south end was the Mk4 DVT - this one's at Leeds Author's collection
	In the middle were various Mk4 coaches - this is 12201 a TSOE pictured within a test train. D Bower		91001 brings up the rear at Leeds on a wet day Author's collection

The IC225 sets since privatisation

The consist of an IC225 set is as below: normally TSOE + 3 x SO + TSOD + RSM + 3 x FO + DVT but the liveries over the last twenty years have varied considerably

	Class 91 locomotive usually at the Country end - 91117 pictured at Newcastle with a service for KX on 28th March 2012		Tourist Standard Open End coach (TSOE) at KX on 13th December 2007
	TSOE showing buffing gear at KX on 13th December 2007		Three Tourist Standard Open coaches (TSO) - Leeds 11th September 2006
	Tourist Standard Open Disabled (TSOD) 12230 at York on 7th April 2012		Originally known as the Service vehilce (SV) later Restaurant Buffet First (RBF) but now designated Restaurant Standard Modular (RSM) otherwise known as a Cafe Bar - at Leeds on 11th September 2006
	A First Open coach (FO) at Leeds on 11th September 2006		Mk4 Driving Van Trailer (DVT) usually marshalled at the London end - 82212 arriving at Doncaster on 7th April 2012
	Marvellous nostalgia and a good selling point but now alas just a memory

Running numbers are as follows

	Class 91 - 91101 - 91122 and 91124 - 91132. There is no 91123 since this was involved in the accidents at Great Heck and Hatfield. It has been re-numbered 91132
	TSOE - 12200-12232
	TSO - 12400-12538
	RSM - 13000 - 13033
	TSOD - 12300-12331
	FO - 11200-11276
	DVT - 82220 - 82231

Today (2021) the few remaining wear the hideous red and white LNER livery formerly Virgin East Coast. However although VEC threw in the towel it seems that the new operator (LNER) wishes to keep virtually the same livery (cheaper) - but they have re-painted one into InterCity livery which I thought suited them fine and East Coast Trains was attractive too

A few in-service pictures of recent times

	An unidentified GNER Class 91 pictured north of Offord in the summer of 2001		Another unidentified member of the class approaching Tempsford crossing, north of Sandy, on a Down service on 14th October 2004
	Propelling down Stoke Bank at Little Bytham on 4th February 2005		91104 at Grantham on 29th June 2006
	In its then new NXEC livery 91111 heads north through Huntingdon on 30th July 2008		91105 in East Coast livery at Doncaster on 27th June 2011
	In yet another variation 91101 at Doncaster in 'Flying Scotsman' garb on 27th June 2011		91114 fitted with a two arm (duplex) pantograph passes Frinkley Lane Crossing north of Grantham on 9th August 2014
	91107 in Virgin East Coast livery at Grantham on 31st July 2018		.....and 91120 in LNER livery arrives at Doncaster on the same day - spot the difference!

The trains ceased service running on 1th January 2021

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