Thunderbirds Gallery
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Description
If a long-distance train broke down half-a-century ago, there would often be a loco depot nearby which could furnish a replacement engine at short notice. Depots and resources are now spread so thinly that it could take an unacceptably long time to obtain a replacement, even without the complication of one TOC sometimes being reluctant to help another. So at busy times it became necessary to provide spare engines at strategic points, and a Class 47 diesel is usually stationed at Colchester or Shenfield to cover the Norwich services. Such locos became known as "Thunderbirds."
Showing 14 items:
01 - Green Class 47
02 - Red Class 47
03 - Class 86 next to the DBSO
04 - RES Class 47 to the rescue
05 - EWS Class 47
06 - RES 47 goes home
07 - Restitution waits for a job
08 - Restitution goes home
09 - Kings Cross Thunderbird
10 - Anglia Class 47
11 - Virgin Class 47
12 - Fragonset Class 47
13 - Porterbrook takes charge
14 - Cotswold Rail Class 47
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- Update on liveries in the Colchester area on
13th August 2008
As predicted, we are now in a period of mixed liveries on the London-Norwich service. At present there appears still to be only one complete passenger set but at least 3 locos in the full NXEA grey/white. All the rest of the stock has acquired the broad white stripe below the windows bearing the branding 'national express' at one end and 'East Anglia' at the other. There still seems to be shortage of NXEA Class 90 locos, as both 90035 and 90036, bearing different versions of EWS livery, were active in mid-August. So far only one 360 unit has the full livery but at least two have been seen with the white stripe etc. A number of 321 units have received the white stripe treatment in place of the former green stripe below the windows. Meanwhile the 170 units continue in 'one' slate grey complete with rainbow end panels. - National Express E.A. replaces 'one' on
13th August 2008
From February 27th 'one' Railway was re-branded as 'National Express East Anglia' (NXEA). Inevitably this heralds yet another change in livery, so soon after slate blue had become universal on the Norwich line rolling stock. For the launch a complete train set was turned out in grey and white, a combination likely to dazzle bystanders in sunny weather and look drearily dull under under leaden skies. A similarly attired 360 unit has been seen at work, but so far the 170 units remain unchanged. As far as the Norwich stock is concerned, an interim measure has been the removal of the rainbow end panels from most locos & vehicles, and the addition of a broad white stripe bearing the NXEA branding. Trains of mixed liveries are once again appearing.