October Quiz - Day 18

Kew Railway Bridge

It is the five cars being transferred 'back' to LU in 1990. Goodness knows where it is though!

I officially withdraw my answer

pgb flew out of the blocks via PM and was correct with:

The run of the five-car set of Standard Stock on its delivery run from the Isle of Wight to LT in 1990, photographed at Portcreek near portsmouth [glyn]


*Click image for a larger version*

But nobody worked out why this was chosen for yesterday......

Of all the trains I have ever chased for photography this has been the most bizarre! I was a Guard at Eastleigh at the time and we had a turn that used to have us sat at Fratton for two and a half hours in mid-morning. The previous day I had been on this turn and had taken a wander around the yard as it was full of 'Standard' stock having been transferred from the Island for scrap. It was a sunny morning and the camera was very busy! I noticed the repainted vehicles as they were in a five-car set parked next to the old NCL depot. The strange thing was that the set was coupled up, safety chains and all, the air pipes (sorry tubeprune, hoses ) were also connected. The shoegear was also intact and this confirmed to me that the set was possibly going to go somewhere.

On my return to Eastleigh at about 1.45pm I asked the timekeeper if I could have a look at the 'T' clipboard that hung behind his chair. This contained all late-notice special traffic arrangements and stuff. Sure enough, and on the first two or three pages, was a note reading for the following day along the lines of '5Z55 10.12 Fratton T&RSMD to Wimbledon Park CSD formed class 485 VEC/TIS units operating under own power, max speed 55mph'....

I got straight on the phone to rosters... 'Hello Smiffy, Annual leave day, tomorrow.... That wasn't a request!' I then rang my good friend Andrew Kennedy who, at that time, was a video cameraman for 'Railscene' video. 'Andrew, it's Glyn. What are you doing tomorrow? No you're not, we're filming!'

The Portcreek shot was the first of four we managed that day. We missed a fifth as the train beat us to Witley! I won't elaborate on where the other three shots were as they may yet surface as quiz questions in the future The Driver was a Fratton man and one of the number that they had that signed Isle of Wight traction for covering leave etc. Two of the video shots have been used in 'Railscene' videos but two remain unseen.

We also filmed most of the 38 stock in use on the mainland before transfer to the Island. I have slides of 001-008 working this side of the water and video of 009! Happy days. I cannot imagine whatever will replace the 38 stock being used in this manner and I am sure that the 38 stock won't get a last hurrah on the main line either!

Yes it was - L56 and L58.

I vote this one of the best threads since I joined! Excellent. *****