| The MoD base at Long Marston near Stratford Upon Avon held a two day open weekend on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June 2009, with various railway vehicles on display. My dad and I made a visit on the Sunday, under good periods of sunshine.
Guest locos were Tyseley's 47580 County of Essex, Virgin Trains 57307 Lady Penelope, Class 50 diesels 50026 Indomitable and 50035 Ark Royal (appearing as 50135 in fictitious Load Haul livery), ex Virgin 86233, GBRf 66730 and many more visitors, rubbing shoulders with stored 86's, 87's, 20's, 37's a 56 and other rusting stock. Shuttles around the site were provided with WPR 0-6-0 Saddle Tank Earl David, and BR 03 Shunter 11230 top and tailing. A great day out, organised in support of the charity 'Help for Heroes' (http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk). Enjoy the pictures! |
At the entrance to the site at Long Marston, ex Virgin 86258 appeared with what seemed to be an orange undercoat of paint. However, all was not what it seemed... |
What looks like a shunting loco, but on road wheels rather than rail. This unusual contraption was found near the entrance of the site at Long Marston. |
At Long Marston, ex Virgin 87004 rubs shoulders with one of Electric Traction Service's recently acquired class 86 locomotives. |
Another look at one of Electric Traction Service's class 86 locos at Long Marston, fresh from a repaint. |
Left to rust in the open at Long Marson, ex BR 08736 stands robbed of parts. |
Vandalised, graffitied and robbed of parts, ex Load Haul 56021 contemplates its fate at Long Marston. |
From Tyseley, ex BR 47580 County of Essex, stands on display at Long Marston. |
Formerly owned by the AC Loco Group, ex BR Class 73 number 73138 stands at Long Marston, awaiting a buyer. |
A majority of the 86 electric locos on site at Long Marston, were a mix of Virgin and (the now defunct) Anglia. Here, Anglia 86217 stands with faded paintwork. |
Ex Virgin 86231 at Long Marston, quietly contemplating it's fate, with a rust mark where it's nameplate used to be. |
Intercity liveried ex Virgin 86228 Vulcan Heritage stands at Long Marston. Hopefully she may return to service in the near future... |
Looking reasonably presentable for the event, Virgin 57307 Lady Penelope stands on display at Long Marston. |
GBRf provided Long Marston with a 66 for the weekend. 66730 was the 'shed' on display. |
One of Long Marston's shunting locos, a small 0-4-0 diesel, stands silent. |
Former DRS 37029 stands among rusting stock at Long Marston. Compare this shot with one of my previous encounters of 37029 in 2006: http://www.davidhennesseystrainworld.fotopic.net/p32471603.html |
Ex Harry Needle 20905 stands with 20901 at Long Marston. This was the cab end view. |
The nose end of ex Harry Needle 20905 at Long Marston. |
The cab end of ex Harry Needle 20901 at Long Marston. |
Ex Virgin 87031 (and 87030) stand at Long Marston. Some of the ex Virgin 87 locos are now in service in Bulgaria, but what are the chances of 87031 ever turning a wheel again? |
Ex Anglia 86215 The Round Tabler at Long Marston. |
National Coal Board Hunslet 0-6-0 diesel shunter 503 on display at Long Marston. |
With shiny buffers and white wheel rims, Virgin 57307 Lady Penelope awaits more photographs at Long Marston. |
Former Virgin 86233 (painted in 1960's blue with white cab windows and half yellow warning pannel) was recently moved to Long Marston, and is awaiting some form of attention. |
BR Class 50 diesel 50026 Indomitable was one of the locos fresh from a visit to Eastleigh Open Weekend in May 2009. She is seen here on display at Long Marston. |
Formerly based at the now closed Old Oak Common depot, BR 50035 Ark Royal was recently tuned out in fictitious Load Haul livery, and renumbered 50135. Seen here at Long Marston. |
Long Marston based 0-4-0 diesel shunter 01512 Conductor stands on display. |
Ex DRS 20902 stands out in the open at Long Marston. |
Another ex DRS loco 20903 stands in the open at Long Marston. |
Tyseley based 47580 County of Essex awaits more photographers at Long Marston. |
Ex Virgin 87013 at Long Marston, hoping for a new life in Bulgaria. |
At the entrance to Long Marston, ex Virgin 86258 still retained her Virgin colours on one side, with the orange undercoat on the other. |
A BR Class 117 DMU stands at Long Marston, complete with window damage covered over with black sacks and tape. |
Ex BR 31423 quietly contemplating fate at Long Marston. |
Once hard at work in the 1990's, Ex BR (and Trans Rail) 37412 stands at Long Marson, with a few windows missing (or broken), and cables hanging out one of it's front headlights. |
Former BR/Trans Rail 37672 is another loco quietly rusting away at Long Marston. |
Former Virgin and Freightliner 47829 (the Police liveried class 47 diesel) stands lined up with other redundant locos at Long Marston. |
37696 rusting away at Long Marston. |
Former BR 20057 looks sorry for itself at Long Marston. |
Ex BR 08813 stands lifeless at Long Marston. |
Ex BR 31439 and 31301 rusting away at Long Marston, unlikey to ever work again. |
Ex BR/Trans Rail 37898 contemplates fate at Long Marston. |
The AC Locomotive Group's 86401 Northampton Town stands on display at Long Marston. She is hoping to follow 86101, in returning to mainline use. |
One of EuroPhoenix's recently repainted class 86 locomotives stands on display at Long Marston. This example will soon see service in Europe. |
Rides around the Long Marston site were provided by a steam loco and a diesel shunter, topping and tailing three Mk1 coaches. Here, WPR 0-6-0 saddle tank Earl David, glistens under the sunshine, having brought in another shuttle. |
The train rides went from one end of the Long Marston site, to the car park at the other end. Here, BR 04 diesel shunter 11230 awaits more passengers. |
The train rides at Long Marston provided some views of locos not designated as accessible to the public. This is ex BR (Rail Express Systems) 47746. |
Viewed from the Long Marston shuttle, ex BR Railfreight 20215 contemplates the end of it's days, with a fellow classmate. |
Ex Virgin 87021 stands sandwiched between a pair of it's classmates at Long Marston. |
