Farewell Virgin Mk2s and driver Martin Davis celebrates 40 years in the seat.

It will shortly be the 20th anniversary of the final run of a West Coast Virgin service using Mk2 carriages. The 15 June 2004 saw 87001 “Stephenson” haul press special 1Z22 the 14.15 Birmingham International to Wolverhampton – to which I had an invite – driven by Wolverhampton based driver Martin Davis. Pic here: http://surl.li/sfswn

Upon arrival at Wolverhampton station, myself and my fellow journalists were bussed to Oxley depot to photograph the train arrive and burst through a banner, while fireworks were let off. I doubt if Oxley depot had seen such excitement before! The train was formed of (in order) 87001, 5941, 5987, 5946, 5986, 6027, 10237, 3304, 3333 and 82134. Luckily, 87001 was claimed for the National Collection to be displayed at York. Pic of Oxley here: http://surl.li/sfsxq

Driver Davis celebrated 40 years as a driver on 30 March this year, starting his footplate career on 18 September 1978, as a 16 year old secondman at Bescot depot. It was to be 30 March 1984 until he passed out as a driver (on 47503) but Martin had got in plenty of practice before then, as some drivers were happy to let their secondman drive. Driver pay in 1984 was £81.15 a week! Pic of Martin here: http://surl.li/sfsym

Martin is still driving Voyagers and Pendolinos and is still based at Wolverhampton and about to start learning the 805/7s. When asked if he would like to still be driving class 87s, Martin said “I’d love another go occasionally, but now I’m old and wrinkly I do appreciate the comfort and air conditioning of the newer stuff!”.

Lots of tales from the staff front line – definitely not PR department approved! – including many electric shenanigans, such as a driver giving ‘ladies of the night’ a footplate ride to Rugby and the driver overshooting Coventry station because they were engrossed in eating a Jaffa Cake!, in these books:

https://www.chimewhistle.co.uk/shop/p/afunnythinghappenedonthetraintothemidlands and https://www.chimewhistle.co.uk/shop/p/a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-train-to-london Humour, shocks and sauciness in equal measure!