i got hauled from runcorn to lime st behind severn valley railway in '93 - even at the time it was like going back to my childhood! also, has anyone noticed how they suit every single livery they've been given?
i can see why they were called gargoyles, however in some liveries, the class 31's were actually nice looking, especially with the yellow ends and black window band, with the large BR logo.
in reply to sandletters39 they lasted so long due to there longevity of their components which were english electric down rated components in a non english electric loco because the original engines only lasted a few years
@40022laconia the original Mirrlees engines lasted longer in 1250hp form hence the Toffee Apples were the final to be converted. Furthermore the EE engine was derated to match the capacity of the existing generator and lower running costs were reason for their long term survival just the Class 47 from the same Brush stable.
Good stuff but, man, I wish you'd pan with the train as it passes instead of cutting abruptly from the train coming towards the camera to the train going away.
I have to smile when I read some of the comments listed here, I worked on these loco's at KX in 1964-65 and they were excellent loco's at that time, compared to a type 2 Sulzer (class24) they were a joy to work with, type 2 Sulzers were noisy draughty and always stank of diesel fuel!
@40022laconia Might have been underpowered but the reason for their long term survival was due to lower running costs and longevity of their components.
31s are one of my old time favourites saw D5583 rushing through sawbridgeworth on a royalmail working back in the early nineties what a great livery to, they have a distinctive sound to them to i think very similar to 37s
You are correct, they have the same engine design but they could have had more power at say 1600 hp instead of 1470. I remember having an blue Airfix Class 31 back in 1979 and I like their severe style. Amazingly, they lasted longer the newer Class 25s in view of their lower running costs.
These diesels were originally based with some technical features of the Ceylonese M1s that were constructed in 1952-5 under the name of Brush-Bagnall but their original Mirrlees engines were replaced by EE ones despite some uprating experiments of the Mirrlees units that could have made them more powerful and their replacements could have had slightly more power.
Ah the memories, being a girl i was never into trains. However my brother was and still is and these are his favs, Goyals or something he calls them. Both my dad and brother used to trip around all over the place while dragging me along for the ride or making me stand on bridge at wath yard while they took the numbers of the coal trains. I have to say it's put a little smile on my face and took me back to a time when life was free and easy.
Another great vid, thankyou for posting. I heard theres been some 31's back on a Derby-Crewe, Crewe-Derby service this week and for the foreseeable future!?
brings back soooo many meories of club trains from manchester to southport and blackpool.. wish i could pop back to those days for a bash... thankyou for sharing these great videos.
wow, nice video 5/5. Best i've seen in a long time.
P.S Do you know when class 31s were withdrawn from regular mainline passenger service? (apart from on Silverlink because they sometimes use them when 121s are unavaliable apparantly)
i got hauled from runcorn to lime st behind severn valley railway in '93 - even at the time it was like going back to my childhood! also, has anyone noticed how they suit every single livery they've been given?
thehoff1982 8 months ago
i got hauled from runcorn to lime st behind severn valley railway in '93 - even at the time it was like going back to my childhood!
thehoff1982 8 months ago
Brilliant vid, what can I say?? A fitting tribute to an interesting class! This isn't just a you tube video this is a panarail you tube video!
heartbeat1965 1 year ago
One ticket to the past please! (single,of course)
blaster2012 1 year ago
i can see why they were called gargoyles, however in some liveries, the class 31's were actually nice looking, especially with the yellow ends and black window band, with the large BR logo.
Xantec 1 year ago
@Xantec They're horrible looking. I like them though.
N330AA 4 months ago
in reply to sandletters39 they lasted so long due to there longevity of their components which were english electric down rated components in a non english electric loco because the original engines only lasted a few years
40022laconia 1 year ago
@40022laconia the original Mirrlees engines lasted longer in 1250hp form hence the Toffee Apples were the final to be converted. Furthermore the EE engine was derated to match the capacity of the existing generator and lower running costs were reason for their long term survival just the Class 47 from the same Brush stable.
sandletters39 1 year ago
Good stuff but, man, I wish you'd pan with the train as it passes instead of cutting abruptly from the train coming towards the camera to the train going away.
beeble2003 1 year ago
I have to smile when I read some of the comments listed here, I worked on these loco's at KX in 1964-65 and they were excellent loco's at that time, compared to a type 2 Sulzer (class24) they were a joy to work with, type 2 Sulzers were noisy draughty and always stank of diesel fuel!
tileajb1 2 years ago
i agree they were useless locos and i cant understand how they lasted as long as they did
40022laconia 2 years ago
people felt bad for them so they probably kept em in service so long i mean really, look at the front of them they look depressed :(
WhyAyeMann 2 years ago
@40022laconia Might have been underpowered but the reason for their long term survival was due to lower running costs and longevity of their components.
sandletters39 2 years ago
A class 31 could take 720 tons over the S and K from Wath back to Healey Mills. This was 28 HTV coal trucks.
These locos bounced up and down at 40mph, and manys the time I have sanded the rail as the engine was slipping.
I once did this going up Oakenshaw Bank onto the Midland Mainline.
I used a Harvey Nichols Coffee tin to put down the sand.
I normally used this tine for my tea bags.
If you rode in the back cab it was like riding in a boucing ball in a gas chamber. Extreme bad riders at 60mph.
ewsiscrap 2 years ago
Bets bit of footage on YouTube of
Class 31's :)
zombiesonacid 2 years ago
31s are one of my old time favourites saw D5583 rushing through sawbridgeworth on a royalmail working back in the early nineties what a great livery to, they have a distinctive sound to them to i think very similar to 37s
Trainbuff2008 2 years ago
You are correct, they have the same engine design but they could have had more power at say 1600 hp instead of 1470. I remember having an blue Airfix Class 31 back in 1979 and I like their severe style. Amazingly, they lasted longer the newer Class 25s in view of their lower running costs.
sandletters39 2 years ago
6.35- i wish the horn on my scooter sounded like that!
badbob1983 2 years ago
These diesels were originally based with some technical features of the Ceylonese M1s that were constructed in 1952-5 under the name of Brush-Bagnall but their original Mirrlees engines were replaced by EE ones despite some uprating experiments of the Mirrlees units that could have made them more powerful and their replacements could have had slightly more power.
sandletters39 2 years ago
They were overweight and underpowered, had ageing looks and were older than the Class 25s they replaced in these typical areas.
sandletters39 2 years ago
Ah the memories, being a girl i was never into trains. However my brother was and still is and these are his favs, Goyals or something he calls them. Both my dad and brother used to trip around all over the place while dragging me along for the ride or making me stand on bridge at wath yard while they took the numbers of the coal trains. I have to say it's put a little smile on my face and took me back to a time when life was free and easy.
poodle559 2 years ago 5
Amen
looppia 2 years ago
Terrific Video. Wish i had had a Video camera back in the 80s and 90s
oggy1953 2 years ago
Good old 31s 50 years not out (31105). A basic reason for their long term survival is due to lower running costs.
sandletters39 3 years ago 2
Remember the Notts - Blackpool? Loads of 31's
I do! I like so many old bashers remember all this stuf. RIP Loco hauled
gazwold1510 3 years ago 2
Fantastic footage.
Thanks.
887934 3 years ago
Another great vid, thankyou for posting. I heard theres been some 31's back on a Derby-Crewe, Crewe-Derby service this week and for the foreseeable future!?
zombiesonacid 3 years ago
Sounds as good as I remember them. Awesome film there mate. And I saw one tonight in Leeds so thats why I was searching for them. Top marks.
DirtyJohn 3 years ago 3
Excellent Footage !!
mukkaspec 3 years ago
brings back soooo many meories of club trains from manchester to southport and blackpool.. wish i could pop back to those days for a bash... thankyou for sharing these great videos.
davey1121 3 years ago
wow, nice video 5/5. Best i've seen in a long time.
P.S Do you know when class 31s were withdrawn from regular mainline passenger service? (apart from on Silverlink because they sometimes use them when 121s are unavaliable apparantly)
Ransacked92 3 years ago
great movie. Absolutely loved it.
simonthebailey 3 years ago
AWESOME!!! some quality 31 thrash and memory's there...well done!!
pedsrus 3 years ago
Fantastic!!! Awesome!!! The best train journey ever ....... and thats gotta be into the past !!!
delticdriver 3 years ago
Sound like Czech Class 751 (T478.1) Nice!
PetisekT211 3 years ago
Thats because 751's have similar EE (English electric) engines, and so do some other european locos.
dempsey088 3 years ago
Quite possibly the BEST video on YouTube so far?! Damn... this is fantastic. Gargoyles - 50 years of LOUD.
jim40135 4 years ago
Thanks for the awesome feedback Jim.
Panarail 4 years ago