News 2022
Year by Year > 2022
The early part of 2022 continued to see trains of stored stock going to and from Long Marston. On 31st January 2022 Steve Widdowson was at the overbridge at Norton, near Worcester where he photographed class 37 diesel locomotive No.37800 with class 465 electric multiple units Nos.465015, 465020 and 465008. The train had come from Wimbledon Park.
We are very grateful to Steve Widdowson for answering one of the long-standing queries on this site. This being the date when the remains of Worcester's original passenger/running shed was demolished. After steam operation had ceased at Worcester this shed was converted to one through road and two dead end tracks. Later the shed roof was removed leaving just the walls. It can now be confirmed that these were demolished in December 1989. This information has been added to the 1985-1989 page and the photograph is also reproduced below. Thanks Steve
The May timetable changes brought a major and unwelcome gift to the county as from that day the regular two-hour interval trains from Great Malvern to the South-West were replaced. Only one service was retained (to Weymouth) whilst the other terminated at Westbury or Warminster. These trains being operated using three cars class 158s or class 165/166 diesel multiple units with some HST "Castles" to Worcester on Sundays. There is a four hour gap in the afternoon as the new Salisbury service terminates at Worcester Foregate Street, presumably because of the difficulty the former service had in achieving ontime running. The bus service from Ledbury to Gloucester also ceased.
The photograph, taken by Andrew Smith, shows class 158 diesel multiple unit No.158958 waiting at Malvern Wells before working the 10.41 service to Brighton (train code No.1O98).
The Blue Pullman HST passed through the county on 13th April 2022 with the long distance 05.15 Bangor - Kingswear special for insomniacs. An early start is inevitable when the distance is 335 miles each way, but that's the stuff of 1960s WLS coach tours. The train passed Spetchley 10min early at 10.03 with substitute power car 43049 on the front.
The return working's booked time at Eckington was 19.51, actual was 19.53, sunset was officially 20.02 . The exposure was 1/1000th sec. @ f2.2 using ISO 1600 and ⅓-stop deliberate underexposure, equivalent to 1/30th sec. @ f/2 with Agfa CT18 slide film. The class 43 locomotive is No.43046.
Both photographs were taken by Robert Pritchard.
Pete Stamper took this wonderful portrait of Class 37 diesel locomotive No.37510 "Orion" in ROG livery at Worcester Shrub Hill Station on 17th August 2022.
Steve Widdowson took this atmospheric photograph of class 33 diesel locomotives Nos.33029 & 33025 passing Worcester depot, nearly
60 years since the first class 33 (D6518) turned up at Worcester depot. They were working the 16.34 "Dorset Coast Express" from Weymouth to Burton on Trent 6th August 2022.
Steve Widdowson has supplied these two photograhs showing the work in progress on the restoration of the historic canopies are Great Malvern Station as at 20th November 2022.
The train is the 14.02 from Hereford to Birmingham New Street (train code: IM02) with class 172 unit No.172337.
Robert Pritchard saw the local Rail Head Treatment Train on Sunday 13th November 2022 at the site of Rushwick Halt on the Worcester to Malvern line. The train passed bang on its Sunday time of 13.53 with 56096 on the front and 56105 on the back.
On a quiet Sunday afternoon with little wind the fumes emitted from the pair of filthy Colas livery veterans Class 56 diesel locomotives hung long in the air after the pair has passed Great Malvern Station. No.56078 was heading the train with No.56096 at the rear. Photograph taken by Andrew Smith on 27th November 2022