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The Advanced Passenger Train (APT) was British Rail's
attempt to improve services on the London to Glasgow West Coast
Main Line, using tilting trains to allow faster speeds around
curves. Sadly, unreliability and technical problems resulted in
the abandonment of the project. For a period in 1984, regular
trial runs were made carrying railway staff, and units 370007 and
370006 are seen here arriving at London Euston on the 09.00 from
Glasgow, on 23 March. |
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After the Trans-Pennine multiple units were withdrawn,
locomotive haulage returned to the Leeds to Lancaster route for a
couple of years. Most loco-hauled trains terminated at Lancaster,
but on Sundays the 13.56 from Leeds ran through to Morecambe, and
is seen here at Bare Lane on 26 August 1984. The locomotive
is 31442. |
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The Class 26 locomotives spent almost all their lives based
in Scotland, and were particularly associated with the Far North
and Kyle lines. They sometimes ventured over the border to
Carlisle, where 26037 was seen on 28 April 1984, after
arriving on a train from Glasgow via Dumfries. |
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The Class 87 locomotives were introduced in 1973 in readiness
for the extension of electrification from Crewe to Glasgow. 87022
"Cock o' the North" heads through Hest Bank, north
of Lancaster, with the 14.05 Birmingham New Street to Glasgow and
Aberdeen, on 12 May 1984. |
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The first production class of the cheap, lightweight Pacer
trains was the Class 141, based on the Leyland National bus body
and introduced in 1984. Nearly new 141003 stands at Castleford on
24 May with the 16.25 to Leeds. Although the Class 141
trains were withdrawn in 1997, the similar Class 142 Pacers
remained in service until 2020. |