Chiltern Railways had two operational units, 121020 in Chiltern blue and 121034 in British Rail green. These saw use during the Monday - Friday peak hour period operating a shuttle between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough as there was not enough available stock to cover the full mainline service and the branch line service. However, faced with ever rising maintenance costs, an influx of new units for the new Oxford services, and clever timetabling, the decision was made to retire these two workhorses without the need for any additional units.
Nearing the end
In the run up to the last day, The Branch Line Society organised a rail tour for the Bubble car which, on Sunday 2nd April 2017, visited a number of places on the Chiltern network which was uncharted territory for the Bubble. The tour visited Marylebone station, the new Bicester chord link, Oxford and the Calvert works near Quainton Road.
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| 121034 at Northolt Park on the Branch Line Society rail tour heading towards London Marylebone © Tommy Cooling |
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| 121034 at London Marylebone © Tommy Cooling |
Last Quaintonian
On Monday 1st May, 121034 provided a shuttle service between Aylesbury and Quainton Road for the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre's May Day bank holiday special event day. Up to twice a year, Chiltern assist the Railway Centre's special events, usually on one May bank holiday and the August bank holiday, the service was not always guaranteed to be the Bubble car, and has in the past been operated by a 2-car 165 DMU. 121034, for the last time, was booked to run on May Day 2017 for the last ever time on the Quaintonian service.
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| 121034 at Quainton Road station © Tommy Cooling |
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| 121034 passes 121020 heading to Quainton Road from Aylesbury. 121020 had been receiving attention at the time in preparation for the last day of the bubbles © Tommy Cooling |
The last day
The last day in service was Friday 19th May 2017, and the Bubble services were withdrawn in the Sunday 21st timetable change. With the recent increase in stock for Chiltern's new Oxford services, enough stock has been made available to cover the Bubble services. That and the huge cost increase to be able to keep the two units up to Mainline passenger condition are no longer viable. During the last week, an empty coach stock working from Aylesbury to Princes Risborough was made into an additional passenger working for those wishing the sample the last of its kind.
On the last day, a special ceremony was held at Princes Risborough for Chiltern's two units, and both were coupled together for the first time. The ceremony included cake and a presentation by Chiltern's Managing Director (MD) with the Mayor of Princes Risborough in attendance. Following this, the two Bubbles formed a series of additional passenger workings to and from Aylesbury within the normal timetable. These trips ran non-stop so not to affect the normal service. A technical failure meant the Bubbles lost one of the special trips during the afternoon, but made this up at the end of the day by replacing a Turbo unit on the last shuttle of the day.
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| Both of Chiltern's "Bubbles" operated together for the first time on the last day. 55020 and 55034 at Princes Risborough prior to the Class 121 ceremony © Tommy Cooling |
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| The other end of the duo with 121034 © Tommy Cooling |
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| The Chinnor Railway also brought their two "Bubbles" up to Princes Risborough, to coincide with Chiltern's event perhaps? Preserved Class 121 units W55023 and W55024 (960010) sit on the Chinnor railway link line © Tommy Cooling |
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| 121020 at Princes Risborough with a special ceremonial cake made just for the occasion © Tommy Cooling |
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| Class 121 poster in the ticket hall at the station © Tommy Cooling |
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| Close up of the cake, modelled on 121034 © Tommy Cooling |
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| Chiltern's MD Dave Penney addresses the audience with the Mayor of Princes Risborough to kick of the ceremony © Tommy Cooling |
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| A slice of the [very tasty] chocolate cake which was handed out to those who wanted it © Tommy Cooling |
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| Chiltern's MD Dave Penney cuts the cake with the enthusiastic crowd and plethora of cameras looking on © Tommy Cooling |
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| The surviving end of the cake after the ceremony showing the detail and precision that went into the bake! © Tommy Cooling |
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| 121034 and 12020 leave Princes Risborough for Aylesbury on the first of the special non-stop trips © Tommy Cooling |
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| 034 (leading) and 020 approaching the Bishopstone/Marsh Lane level crossing heading towards Aylesbury © Tommy Cooling |
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| And the duo heading away from the same crossing towards Aylesbury with 020 at the rear © Tommy Cooling |
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| A selection of free chocolates were brought out in the afternoon with special chocolates for the occasion © Tommy Cooling |
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| 121020 in miniature and full size © Tommy Cooling |
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| Close-up of the special chocolates © Tommy Cooling |
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| A model of 121020 on display in front of the real thing at Princes Risborough © Tommy Cooling |
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| The scene onboard the "Bubble" © Tommy Cooling |
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| The duo leave Princes Risborough on the first of the afternoon timetabled trips © Tommy Cooling |
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| The duo arriving back at Princes Risborough © Tommy Cooling |
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| Interior view of 121020 having run for the final time at Aylesbury © Tommy Cooling |
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| 121020 having finished for the last time © Tommy Cooling |
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| 121034 prepares to run light into the depot at Aylesbury for the last time © Tommy Cooling |
Gone but not forgotten
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| 121034 on display at Old Oak Common depot open day in September 2017 Nearly four months after withdrawal from mainline passenger service, 121034 reappeared as a static "exhibit" at the GWR OOC111 open day © Tommy Cooling |
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| 121020 has been preserved at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, seen here in October 2017 It is planned to be used in service on the heritage railway, but perhaps not one its own! The railway also own a 2-car DMU which this bubble would couple up to. © Tommy Cooling |
Post by Tommy Cooling
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