Well, in 2020, we have missed out on a number of events and rail tours, but what has been great to see is the immaculate Blue Pullman from Locomotive Services Ltd.

Saturday 12 December saw the inaugural run of Locomotive Services Blue Pullman HST from London St Pancras International to Crewe.

Locomotive Services Ltd (LSL) have resurrected the Blue Pullman using a HST set repainting and refurbishing ex EMR Class 43 VP185 engined HST power cars 43055 & 43046 and 9 ex EMR & GWR Mk3 coaches.

The Midland Pullman on 12th December would be the first LSL Blue Pullman HST charter running from London St Pancras International to Crewe via the Hope Valley and return via WCML & Melton Mowbray.

This tour was originally meant to run on Saturday 14th November from London St Pancras to Manchester Piccadilly and return, however, due to the 2nd national lockdown and covid-19 restrictions in Greater Manchester, the tours destination was changed to Crewe. 

The Midland Pullman would see the HST travel through places on the outward leg it’s such as St Albans City, Luton, Bedford, Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester, Loughborough, East Midlands Parkway, Ilkeston, Langley Mill, Alfreton, Chesterfield, Grindleford, Hathersage, Hope, Chinley, Guide Bridge, Denton, Stockport, Wilmslow & Sandbach. 

On the return leg, the HST would travel through places such as Stafford, Rugeley Trent Valley, Lichfield Trent Valley, Tamworth, Nuneaton, Hinckley, Leicester, Melton Mowbray, Oakham, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, Bedford, Luton, & St Albans City.

Class 43 Locomotive info:

• Power type Diesel-electric
• Built by British Rail Engineering Limited at Crewe Works
• Built date, 1976-1982
• Total Produced, 197
• Wheel configuration, Bo-Bo
• Engine, Paxman Valenta, Paxman VP185 & MTU
• Power output ,2,250 HP
• Max Speed, 125MPH
• Nickname, HST

Thanks to Jamie Duggan from Oakham for sending this video to RailAdvent and for allowing us to upload it to the RailAdvent YouTube Channel. Additional thanks to Dan Sutcliffe for sending RailAdvent the photos of the Blue Pullman HST at Crewe.

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