The Chiltern Mark 3 Farewell(s) - #train #railway #class68

What was due to be the last Chiltern Railways ‘normal’ operational passenger service using Mark 3 3 coaches & Mark 3 DVT ran on 22/2/26 with DVT 82304 leading 6 mark 3 coaches with 68015 ‘Kev Helmer’ providing the power on the rear. This working was the 1042 Stourbridge Junction to Marylebone, which is seen at Dorridge. The coaches were set AL01 and in formation were: 82304 + 10272 + 12609 + 12606 + 12610 + 12621 + 12602 + 68015 ‘Kev Helmer’.

After arrival into London Marylebone the set moved out ECS to Wembley.

Whilst 68015 & 82304 were on the last operational service working southbound, heading north at the same time was the ‘official’ charter - The Chiltern Mark 3 Farewell railtour - organised by The Branch Line Society, which started at Banbury and worked up to Stourbridge Junction via a number of loops and unusual (for a class 68 passenger train) track. The two workings will have past each other somewhere between Lapworth and Hatton.

The BLS tour was headed by 68013 ‘Peter Wreford-Bush’ with 6 mark 3 coaches and mark 3 DVT 82309 on the rear. The coaches were set AL04 made up of 68013 ‘Peter Wreford-Bush’ + 12619 + 12603 + 12618 + 12614 + 12607 + 10271 + 82309.

The tour is seen arriving into Dorridge and heading through Dorridge UDG loop, to come out the other end near Bentley Heath Crossing to regain the mainline.

Later in the afternoon DVT 82309 lead the southbound working from Stourbridge to Marylebone, which was 1H68 the 1316 Stourbridge Junction to London Marylebone - in this instance the set came off the main line at Dorridge North and worked through platform 3 and over the cross over at Dorridge South to regain the mainline and head south - bringing the curtain down on circa 16 years of Mark 3 coaches usage on the Chiltern Mainline. #train #railway #class68