BR in the 1980s Farnborough Main Station 28th June 1987

[@OlafProt]

That's some curve at the station! Love seeing sparks from the 73's pick ups, those push/pulls were interesting. The 33's were always my favourite. That idling sound 2:30 is so familiar. I used to get woken by it on the line that ran behind my house at night, when there were engineering works. They were so heavily used and versatile. Nice to not see too much NSE livery yet! I always wondered what the rationale was for the windows without ventilation at the top, on the front 4 of that 8-car 6:15 My grandparents lived in Surbiton so that was an ace spotting station. I grew up in Dorking, and I called the CIG/VEP etc 'the big trains' as back in the 70s we used to get the Bogner trains coming through from Victoria.

[@spompey]

Many thanks for watching and for the comment...my best regards...Mark

[@Captainpubwatch]

This is an amazing video with so much going on, but from 4:51 to 7:31 is something else. Wall to wall action, from the CIG/VEP stopper, to the Hoover, to the 73/REP/TC, then 8VEP to the up stopper taking off again……a great bit of timing. Excellent stuff indeed and thanks for posting

[@spompey]

Many thanks for watching and your comment, sorry for the late response was away for 2 weeks...best wishes...Mark

[@Captainpubwatch]

@@spompey Thanks for the reply and hope you enjoyed the time away, keep em’ coming! All the best 👍🏼

[@karimkekhia4369]

awwwww here we go again….awesome awesome…omgdddd another gorgeous film from the good days…i remember it well..REPs started to reduce, two 73s with the REPs old counterparts..the TC units..would thunder past as the expresses. Those lovely bomo REP and TC days slowly finishing, but still to see the old slam doors in full service and many years still ahead More of these pleeeeeeease hehe. i remember these days so well. 😍😍😍😍😍

[@AndreiTupolev]

An Exeter or Salisbury train stopping at Farnborough? I never heard of such a thing

[@spompey]

Yes they often did in the rush hour services in both up and down trains. sometimes a 33 + 4 VEP.....Best wishes Andrei....Mark

[@BikeAdelaide]

This is great. You've caught a real moment in time when the 4REPs were being withdrawn and the class 73s were used (in sometimes inventive ways) in their place. Thanks

[@spompey]

Many thanks for watching and your comment, sorry for the late response was away for 2 weeks...best wishes...Mark

[@edwinfitchett6033]

Lovely bit of English Electric(+sulzer) nostalgia you've earned a tick and a subscription from me

[@spompey]

Many thanks Edwin....You are most welcome....Mark

[@jeremypreece870]

I used this station during most of my London Commuting. 1996, 2002-2007 and 2013-2015. I spent more time on the platforms than I ever wanted to. BR had long gone and all of the trains were the electric units (as at 6:10) and soon were in South West Trains livery. I can't ever remember seeing a passenger train being pulled by a locomotive, only the odd freight train. I also saw end of slam doors. I was puzzled by the fact that some of the trains appear to be the electric multiple units but are being pulled or pushed by diesel locomotives. Please someone tell me why this was.

[@spompey]

The stock you refer to was probably Loco + 4 TC stock..The TC stock was Trailer Composite without any kind of power, so basically is the equivalent to MK I stock.....my best wishes to you....mark

[@mdhazeldine]

Nice. Don't think I've ever seen a 45 down south. I'm not one of these "it was better in the old days" people, but when it comes to watching trains....I think it really was more interesting back then.

[@spompey]

Very much so....Many thanks for watching and best regards....Mark

[@ClydebridgeStation]

That period at 6:00 was a busy spell indeed, all those trains in just 30 seconds! Right place right time! 45128 is notable, in that when 45106, the last 45 in BR service, caught fire in February 1989, 45128, which was withdrawn, was reinstated by Intercity, as a possible replacement, indeed a railtour to Glasgow required a 45. Sadly, the main generator on 45128 failed, and on 22nd April 1989, BR operation of class 45s ceased, as 45128 was withdrawn. That railtour to Glasgow Central got replacement, and rare traction, 31430 and 31431 were used instead!

[@spompey]

Many thanks for watching and your comment, sorry for the late response was away for 2 weeks...best wishes...Mark

[@davidstockwell7874]

Brilliant Video.

[@spompey]

Many thanks for watching and your comment, sorry for the late response was away for 2 weeks...best wishes...Mark

[@lechiffre1914]

These were the days when as a teenager I remember the fast trains stopping at Surbiton!

[@spompey]

A lot of the trains were Woking, Surbiton then Waterloo. Introducing all the intermediate stops put a lot of time on the journeys, so Knocking out Surbiton on the fasts helped a little.........best wishes....Mark

[@Sarahbryson321]

Good video

[@howardalexander0621]

What passenger services were the 73s used for? I only ever remember seeing them on the Gatwick Express. Loved the busy moment, but difficult to get all the numbers noted and carry on filming! Great history recorded.

[@spompey]

Unfortunately I never recorded the loco numbers at the time of filming, so a lot of numbers were missed....however the 73's worked the Waterloo to Weymouth line as no Electrification beyond Bomo at that time (could be wrong) ........best wishes....Mark

[@robertclare6137]

You couldn't run a REP Unit and a 73 together unless you cut out two of the motors in the REP, The lights in Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset use to go out if you didn't, Soooo Much Power

[@Mr45115apollo]

On it.45128 was hellfire that day

[@RobinPrice]

Awesome vid. Can I ask what the 45 was working.

[@spompey]

ClydebridgeStation below gives a wonderful in depth account of this railtour....many thanks and best regards to you....Mark

[@timstrainvideos142]

what service was the class 45 on? excellent video!

[@alfwedarf7764]

I think it was working a railtour

[@timstrainvideos142]

@@alfwedarf7764 ok thanks that would make sense!

[@ClydebridgeStation]

This was the bakers dozen railtour, from Birmingham New Street to London waterloo. The train loco for the tour, starting at London euston, was 45062. It failed en route to BNS, and 31306 assisted. At Birmingham, 45062 was detached along with 31306, and once at Saltley depot, the 45 was withdrawn from BR service. 45128 was added, and the tour left BNS well over an hour late. According to the timings on six bells junction, it was only 30 minutes late passing Farnborough, and was only 21 minutes late at Waterloo!

[@spompey]

See ClydebridgeStation's brilliant reply below....Excellent....Many thanks to all....Mark