Christmas Greetings and a Happy New Year from Cooper Hire MRC

Near Tring, view SE towards London on WCML. No. 10001 is parted from its twin (No. 10000) in winter owing to their lack of train-heating equipment and here is probably working the 14.55 Camden - Crewe class C freight.
  © Copyright Ben Brooksbank

In the spotlight

Getting withdrawal symptoms. Its two weeks since the last Cooper Hire MRC layout photo session when the BBC filmed Dduallt for a spring TV programme on the history of railway preservation. However, the wait was over when Trevor and Mrs Jones from the HORNBY magazine arrived on Friday to photograph our New Mills layout for an issue in early 2013. This is ahead of next years Hornby Model Rail Show in July when we exhibit the layout in its current 1960s guise at the Hartlepool venue...taking a bit of the West Coast main line up the east coast !

The session included some video sequences that may appear on the HORNBY magazine website. The new Bachmann AL5 in its initial electric blue livery featured, a super model but it will never possess the character and personality of our fleet of reworked Trix / Lilliput versions of the early LMR electrics, created by Phill Hutchings and the Artistic Director and nearly as old as the real thing!

While we wait for the HORNBY magazine feature here is another super shot of New Mills by Chris 'Fisheye' Nevard..

Chiltern RHTT

Its not all Chiltern DMUs with the occasional bin liners on our local line. We do have our moments and last Wednesday was one of them.

A Network Rail RHTT arrived northbound at lunchtime and was held in the centre road, firstly within the station and then north of the Summerleys Road bridge, to permit the passage of up and down service trains

Topped and tailed by rather grubby Class 66s , it was delayed further to allow a Ruislip - Calvert rubbish to wend its way across to the Aylesbury branch, its signature aroma of West London effluent drifting over the platforms..

Finally, 30 minutes after its arrival, the RHTT train was released south, itself adding to the local pollution levels as its spray jets burst into action!

And then normal service was resumed!

Some people are on the track! They think it's all over!

It is now. Last day of iconic MET A stock in public service Wednesday 26th September. Last link with the MET main line has gone - now just a component of Boris World. RIP? Well no..they have gone to Booths scrapyard!

A Stock Update

The latest information from MET 'insiders' is that the recently introduced S stock, replacements for the iconic A stock, will where appropriate be returning to Derby for new gearboxes! But sadly no reprieve for the remaining A stock sets. Got my ticket for the A stock Farewell Tour on 29th so very happy. In the meantime Sarah Siddons and preserved 1938 unit out this Sunday in association with the Amersham Bus Day.

MET A stock

The word is that the fleet of new S stock trains delivered over the past year to replace the iconic MET 1960s A stock will all be required to return to Derby for 'attention'. Rumours included cracked bogies but it now seems that their 'wiring looms are not MET compatible', whatever that means! The wonders of modern technology! Sadly there is more than enough S stock to compensate for this recall so the few surviving A stock sets will not be required on active service and are now rarely escaping from Neasden. Yesterday the LT Museum announced the A Stock Farewell Tour, planned for Sunday 29th September. The end of an era.

I snapped this unit at Harrow on the Hill earlier this month, now a very rare sighting.
PS These are older than the Rolling Stones...just!

Routemaster Satisfaction

Hard to believe but the LT Routemaster bus is older than the Rolling Stones! Designed in the early 1950s and delivered from 1958 it predates the band by some 4 years. Although finally withdrawn from active LT service in 2005 a small heritage fleet still operate routes 9 and 15 during the day so maybe they can outlive the Stones...but probably not! Enjoyed a trip in this example from Tower Hill to Trafalgar Square last week.