Gatwick Express

November 26-28 1999

Christine was after a new bike while Rowan and I wanted to ride the Gatwick Express before the class 73s disappear. We used the Virgin train line for the first time to take advantage of the discount for booking online. Our Virgin Value 3-day Advance tickets arrived three days later, a full two weeks before we were due to travel. The cost for the three of us, using a family railcard, was £39.60, astonishingly good value especially compared with the £88.80 our last weekend in York had cost us - and London is a lot further! OK, so we had to specify our trains but we knew when we wanted to travel so that was no hardship. Plus we travelled on proper trains rather than manky class 158 units.

Our train arrives, the 13:38 Holyhead to Euston which we board at the first stop, Bangor.
43 155 City of Aberdeen is the leading power car.
After a very comfortable trip, we arrive in London at 18:04, just four minutes late.

Saturday morning, 27th November, and after a quick look at Hampstead Heath we take the tube in to the centre and head straight for Victoria. While Christine goes Connex to Croydon to shop for a new bike, Rowan and I buy our day returns for the Gatwick Express and walk to the end of the platform to see what's on the front of the two waiting trains.

On our right we have 73 206, ready to depart with the 10:15

We board 73 210, which leaves at 10:30.
We were at Victoria last winter when the electro-diesels still sported nameplates. Loss of them is a sure sign that the end is near, just as it was with their steam predecessors.
72 206 was formerly named Gatwick Express while 73 210 carried the plate Selhurst

This is the works plate from 73 210

 Off we go!