As was my wont for a good 20 years, I would kick off the New Year by heading to Winchester for the Friends of King Alfred Buses annual 1 January running day. I had just alighted from the train when I encountered MetroScania PGC204L, new to London Transport as MS4, one of a batch of six experimental vehicles. Its time in London was brief, but it moved to Newport Transport to join similar vehicles bought new by the Welsh operator whose colours PGC204L wears. King Alfred Buses bought a similar pair of MetroScanias in 1971, shortly before selling out to the National Bus Company. This pair did not survive to be preserved, and I understand that PGC204L is likewise no longer extant. DVLA records indicate that it ceased to be taxed after 6/09.

January 1994
Rollei 35 camera
Kodak Ektachrome 100 film.

Tags:   new year’s day friends of king Alfred buses fokab pgc204l ms4 London transport Newport transport mcw metro scania winchester

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Preserved BR Standard Class 4MT 2-6-4T 80079 had travelled from the Midlands on a steam excursion and was being turned around for its return journey. Having regrettably missed out on the final days of British Railways steam, I made a special effort to capture the atmosphere and character of an old steam railway shed.

May 1994
Rollei 35 camera
Fujichrome 100 film.

Tags:   Didcot railway centre tank engine 2-6-4t standard class 4mt British railways preserved steam 80079 steam shed gws didcot didcot

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The Merchant Navy class of 4-6-2 Pacifics were the most powerful locomotives to be built for the Southern Railway, and in rebuilt form worked to the end of British Railways Southern Region steam in 1967. Preserved 35005 ‘Canadian Pacific’ shows of its powerful looks at Didcot Halt at the Didcot Railway Centre.

May 1994
Rollei 35 camera
Fujichrome 100 film.

Tags:   southern steam Bulleid merchant navy preserved steam Canadian pacific British railways Pacific 4-6-2 35005 merchant navy class Didcot Railway centre didcot Didcot halt

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For a brief period, BR Standard Class Class 7 pioneer 70000 masqueraded as sister locomotive 70014 ‘Iron Duke’. When new in the Festival Britain year of 1951, 70014 received special treatment as one of pair allocated to the Southern Region to work the Golden Arrow Pullman train. ‘Iron Duke’ ended its career in 1967 on the Midland Region, no longer so beautifully presented, but the clock was turned back with the imminent opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994. Complete with its old Golden Arrow accoutrements, the locomotive worked a series of special excursions on ‘Iron Duke’s’ old stamping ground. I encountered it gleaming in the spring sunshine at the Didcot Railway Centre.

May 1994
Rollei 35 camera
Fujichrome 100 film.

Tags:   preserved steam golden arrow 70014 iron duke br standard class 7 4-6-2 Britannia class Didcot railway centre Didcot

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The original Britannia-class Pacific 70014 ‘Iron Duke’ was the pride of Stewart’s Lane shed on the Southern Region and for a few years in the early 1950s kept in immaculate condition to operate the Golden Arrow Pullman express from London Victoria to Dover. The locomotive had a working life of just 16 years and was scrapped at the end of 1967.

Those earlier glory days were revived in 1994 when preserved class pioneer 70000 ‘Britannia’ assumed the identity of its old sister and operated a number of Pullman specials, including to its old Kent haunts. Fully kitted out with its old Golden Arrow adornments, the loco is seen stabled at the Didcot Railway Centre between duties.

May 1994
Rollei 35 camera
Fujichrome 100 film.

Tags:   br standard class 7 British railways 70000 Britannia Britannia class locomotive preserved steam golden arrow 70014 iron duke Didcot railway centre didcot

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