Old Virgin West Coast Routes

[mfindon]

Hi,

I remember reading a while ago about some routes operated by Virgin West Coast from london which no longer exist. I believe that these were along the lines of Euston to Blackpool & Telford but I may have this wrong. I wondered if anyone had any information about these routes-what stock was used, the stopping patterns, how many trains a day etc and if anyone knows when they were stopped.

I have googled the subject but can only find information about the Virgin Cross Country routes to blackpool...as I said I may have this wrong but I do remember reading something about these older routes no longer used.

Any information would be great.

[allypally]

Euston to Shrewsbury was one up train in a morning and one down train in an evening. It was an extension of a Euston to Wolverhampton with a class 47 hauling the train from Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury.

They also ran Euston to Blackpool North with HSTs the details of which I am slightly more sketchy on.

[alexnick]

I thought I saw pictures of 47s + Mk2s working to Blackpool as well. If it was Euston to Blackpool, there might have been a loco change involved though.

AN

[JasVick]

You were correct on above - sparkie to part way (Crewe????) then 47 to blackpool at one time. Later became t+t 47s then HST. Can't remember without checking me diagram listings if they went to 158s for a time either.

[96tommy]

I think they also travelled to Poole Cross Country and West Coast

[energize]

I remember getting on a Virgin HST at Preston in May 2000 which had originated from Blackpool. Unfortunately the air con wasn't working so the temperature was about 30+ celcius in the coaches

[mfindon]

Thanks for the responses-does anyone have any idea of the frequency of these services to blackpool? I guess they were never hourly if the service was stopped-and also if anyone has any rough ideas of the stopping patterns? Did they run fast to preston or call at stafford/crewe etc?

Thanks again!

[salopiangrowler]

1A23 Shrewsbury-Euston 06:53 (07:23 SO) Loco+DVT+FO+FO+TRUB+TSO+TSO+TSO+TSO TRUB and DVT MK3 the rest MK2 86, 87 or 90 pushed from woverhampton
Calling at;
Telford Central
Wolverhampton
Sandwell & Dudley
Birmingham New Street
Birmingham International
Coventry
Milton Keynes Central
London Euston
1J39 Euston-Shrewsbury 19:13 (19:23 SO) as aove in reverse order.

the Blackpool one was the same stopping pattern as per Holyhead HST then Warrington, Wigan, Preston, and Blackpool.

[mfindon]

Hi-thanks for all the info, that's great-exactly what I was looking for.

[bigvern]

ISTR in BR days, the Blackpools ran about every 3 hours. They alternated as part of the WCML hourly "semi - express" (!) service with the Holyheads and Carlisle terminators. Generally they called Euston, watford Jn (PU), Rugby, Nuneaton, Stafford, Crewe, Warrington, Wigan and Preston. Then Kirkham an Poulton on the run out to Blackpool.