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Once again in 2003, weekend services on the West Coast Main
Line were diverted via Settle for a few weeks early in the year.
This year, Virgin Class 57 locos (rebuilt Class 47s) made their
debut on these services. This picture shows 57304 "Gordon
Tracy" near Birkett Tunnel, south of Kirkby Stephen, with
the 12.16 Glasgow Central to London Euston on 23 March. |
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66554 approaching Whitley Bridge, Yorkshire, with a train of
bogie coal hoppers bound for Eggborough Power Station on
5 February 2003. |
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The new 'Voyager' trains took over all Virgin
CrossCountry services during 2003. Waiting to depart from
Liverpool Lime Street on 12 July is set 220027 on the 10.04
to Reading. Liverpool ceased to be served by Virgin CrossCountry
from September 2003, a victim of service reductions designed to
improve reliability. |
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During the early 2000s the Stansted Express service was
operated by West Anglia Great Northern using Class 317/7 units.
This is 317729 passing through Roydon station with the 11.00
London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport on
17 February. |
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Virgin West Coast ended their regular use of Class 86
electric locomotives during the year. Just a few weeks before
withdrawal, 86247 "Abraham Darby" stands at Euston at
the head of the 15.40 to Liverpool, on 6 September. |