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On the 16th June 2006 FM Rail class 31s were the chosen motive power for this Serco Test Train which is seen here crossing the River Thames into one on London's smaller terminus stations Blackfriars. On the right 31452 is leading with 'Intercity' livered 31454 bringing up the rear. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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FM Rail's 31452 approaches London Blackfriars with the Serco Test Train on the 16th June 2006. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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In contrast to other charters off to the races at Ascot which were headed by modern class 67s this one has a pair of class 31s dating from the 1950's providing the motive power! Not only that but they are hauling the most unusual charter stock on the network today...the 'Queen of Scots Set'... which includes some really old coaches. 31452 is seen on the back in this picture with 31454 on the front as the train runs through SW London on the 22nd June 2006. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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Fragonset Class 31/4. Fragonset liveried 31452 is seen on display at the EWS Toton depot open weekend on Sat 29th Aug 1998. Photo and scan: Ross Aitken (aos@cableinet.co.uk)

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Seen top and tailing the Queen of Scots units at Clapham Junction. Copyright belongs to Andrew Ducker who can be contacted at ecml@yahoo.co.uk. All photographs taken on Nikon M5000 at maximum and files converted from TIFF files to JPEG using Photo Shop Paint V7. All photographs taken on 22 February 2003.

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Detail shot of Class 31 at Clapham Junction. Copyright belongs to Andrew Ducker who can be contacted at ecml@yahoo.co.uk. All photographs taken on Nikon M5000 at maximum and files converted from TIFF files to JPEG using Photo Shop Paint V7. All photographs taken on 22 February 2003.

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Wide angel shot of 31 459 at Clapham Junction. Copyright belongs to Andrew Ducker who can be contacted at ecml@yahoo.co.uk. All photographs taken on Nikon M5000 at maximum and files converted from TIFF files to JPEG using Photo Shop Paint V7. All photographs taken on 22 February 2003.

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Class 31 seen at Clapham Junction. On the 'other end' was 31 459. The set, I believe, is the Queen of Scots set, which is normally stabled in the depot at Clapham. Copyright belongs to Andrew Ducker who can be contacted at ecml@yahoo.co.uk. All photographs taken on Nikon M5000 at maximum and files converted from TIFF files to JPEG using Photo Shop Paint V7. All photographs taken on 22 February 2003.

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Fragonsets 31452 'Minotaur' brings the train into Kings Cross almost 1 hour late as a section of track required on the way could not be used. Its Saturday 11th October 2003. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com

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Now what looks older...the 1957 built class 31 or the 1930s designed A4? Fragonsets 31452 might be around 45 years old but it is still very much a working loco. Seen here at Norwich on the back of 'The Cathedrals Express' to Norwich on the 11th October 2003. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com

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Permission was kindly given for a look at the cab of the class 31 and this was the resulting picture taken of 31452 at Norwich in the Autumn of 2003. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com

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Fragonsets 31452 was on the back of the train hauled by A4 60009 to make shunting at Norwich and later at Kings Cross easier. Although the engine was running this was only for braking reasons on the class 31 and the steamer or 'kettle' on the front was doing all the work...we would hope so to! Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com

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Kings Cross line-up Saturday 11th October 2003. WAGN class 317 EMU...Res 47749 'Atlantic College'... and Fragonsets 31452 'Minotaur' Class 31s have a long association with Kings Cross operating local services and a number of longer runs in the late 50s and 60s particularly. The class 47 also has hauled many trains out of 'The Cross'...today its there having brought in the coaching stock for a charter. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com

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Spring has arrived at last.....its raining! I cannot reacall the last time it rained so hard we dare not venture out from our shelter in the drought gripped SE but it was still good to see this Fragonset pair of Intercity 31454 and 31452 heading north some two hours late on this charter ECS move. Class 31s number only about 10 in traffic with Fragonset, Network Rail and most recently the West Coast Rail Company but are more often seen singularly or in top-n-tail mode...a genuine double header like this is quite a rarity. Pictured running through Bushey on the 20th April 2006. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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Fragonsets 31468 'Hydra' is seen at Westbury about to depart for the East Somerset Railway Diesel Gala in early April 2003. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com

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On the back but under power increasing acceleration and speed is Fragonsets 31452 seen departing Salisbury on the a Wessex train to Brighton. The date is the 22nd October 2004. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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A rather distant view of class 31 diesel locomotive 31452 "Minotaur" in Fragonset livery standing at platform 2 of Bristol Temple Meads on the evening of 1st August 2004. Its rake of coaches appear to be in Wessex Trains livery. Photographed by Chris McKenna

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A closer view of class 31 diesel locomotive 31452 "Minotaur" in Fragonset livery standing at platform 2 of Bristol Temple Meads on the evening of 1st August 2004. Photographed by Chris McKenna

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Fragonset 31468 Hydra at Derby, July 2005 Kostas Katsanakis [kostaskatsanakis@yahoo.com]