North Berwick 90's - a couple of pics

anamorph · Post by **anamorph** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 8:18 pm

Despite Lousy conditions I got some reasonable pics of two of
the 90's on North Berwick services last week.
Here they are:
http://gallery40090.fotopic.net/p5173216.html
http://gallery40090.fotopic.net/p5173298.html

Backfoot2002 · Post by **Backfoot2002** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 12:02 pm

Some very nice pics there mate

jonathanmlewis · Post by **jonathanmlewis** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 7:13 pm

Nice pics

Its stupid to see Britain's best coach's and electrics locos ending up on a branch line in Scotland.

allypally · Post by **allypally** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 7:14 pm

Mk4s dont exist then

jonathanmlewis · Post by **jonathanmlewis** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:18 pm

allypally wrote:Mk4s don't exist then

Ok then, Britain's second best

I have been in a Mark 4 for years so I don't really know what their like.

simont · Post by **simont** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:47 pm

Mk4s are generally not considered to be an improvement on Mk3s. They're very nice, but the ride quality on a Mk3 is slightly better.

Jonathan Lewis is right, though, this is completely ridiculous.

Post by **martinhodgson** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 9:07 pm

Better than seeing them in a yard near Crewe or Carnforth with graffiti and smasked windows!

jonathanmlewis · Post by **jonathanmlewis** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 9:15 pm

martinhodgson wrote:Better than seeing them in a yard near Crewe or Carnforth with graffiti and smasked windows!

True but, it better to see them in use on a main line such as the west coast where they belong and where they were built for.

anamorph · Post by **anamorph** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 1:30 pm

The problem with the North Berwick Branch is that it commences at a
junction 18 miles from Edinburgh Waverley. The Branch itself is 4 and a half miles long, with a 50MPH speed limit. But, the ECML is very busy at that point with 125MPH services heading into and out of Edinburgh, sometimes with only 5 minutes or less between them. None stop before Drem Junction, but the North Berwicks stop 5 times including Drem, so it is essential that high speed stock is used. Diesels are used at the weekend along with the odd class 318 EMU, and the problems with the cascade of old SPT stock caused by the Juniper fiasco meant the net had to be cast for replacements for teh 322's which the SRA said had to go
south. Although the branch is electrified, that is not the primary reason
electric traction is used: it's because of the far superior power/weight ratio electric has over diesel, meaning IC225's and 220/221 services don;t get delayed behind a slow DMU. Even then it is frequently necessary to loop North Berwick services at Prestonpans to allow southbound expresses past, or to hold them on the branch while trains pass either way. So for the most part, the 90's and Mk3's are actually hammering along at high speed on the ECML, it's only the last 5 minutes of the journey (or the first 5) that they use the branch itself!

(I will post to my site some pics of 322's on the branch later, and put a
post up to let you know the links). When I have time I'll go and get some 90's on the branch....

Oh, and the Mark threes are a lot comfier than the Mark fours. If only the solid armrests were removed from them to stop having to do a sideways
limbo dance to sit down!)

anamorph · Post by **anamorph** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 1:51 pm

Links for the 322's (322481 and 322483)
One sitting in platform, the other approaching from the south down the
gradient.
http://gallery40090.fotopic.net/p5251269.html
http://gallery40090.fotopic.net/p5251268.html

nwallace · Post by **nwallace** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 3:14 pm

A Bit different from when i was last on that line

Old Network South East EMUs and before that it was DMUs (probably 101s)

Didn't know there was highspeed services stopping at Drem these days though, allways remember them going through seconds after the recorded message telling you to get behind the yellow line.

anamorph · Post by **anamorph** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 4:18 pm

Intercity services don't stop at Drem. I meant, of course, none stop before Dunbar! (Although not before Drem either!!)

TractorBasher · Post by **TractorBasher** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 8:05 pm

Very nice shots, anamorph. Will have to get up there and have a ride.

anamorph · Post by **anamorph** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 8:39 pm

Thanks for the comments

I don't know how long the 90's will remain on the route, so anyone
thinking about a visit, don't hang about too long!!!
Then again, who knows?