Picture of the Day 13 October 2024

Today’s picture is of Virgin Voyager 221101 in France, which I reported on as part of a group of journalists who were invited by Virgin Trains to photograph and travel on it as it underwent testing over two days. Picture link here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/190687851@N02/53606012590/in/photolist-2pEYPWo-2pEYPKm-2pHxGFj-2pEXwTF To be able to photograph a gleaming Virgin Voyager next to a French electric locomotive was an opportunity not to be missed.

The trip coincided with beautiful, sunny weather and also enabled many pictures to be made of the French rail network – pictures that have come in very useful over the years.

As well as photographing 221101 at Brive station, a road coach was provided for the press to chase it through the French countryside. At one point we thought we were going to miss it due to the driver getting lost. In the distance we could see our chosen location and, frustratingly, a freight crossing the viaduct. Had we not got lost, we would have been in position to photograph it.

European rail press trips are always great fun and over the years I’ve been to Italy, Belgium, France, Austria and Germany as a result of such adventures.

For those interested in such things, the picture was made just prior to switching to digital and was shot using Fujichrome 100 slide film.

Chime Whistle Publishing railway books, including the best selling ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Train to the Midlands’ and ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Train to London’. https://www.chimewhistle.co.uk/shop