The story of the post-BR era's first new trains, in their initial ten years.
At Tyseley station on 28th April 1999, 168003 models the original Class 168/0 livery with non-contrasting doors.
It appeared that, had they not made history as the first post-British Rail motive power to enter service, the Class 168 'Clubman' units would have received no more than a pictureless footnote in the late '90s magazines...
The updated, post-2003 version of the Chiltern white/blue Class 168/0 livery, with contrasting doors, seen on 168005 at Bentley Heath, 12th July 2006.
BACKGROUND
The 168s' grand entrance came at a time when the magazines were overwhelmed with demand for coverage of the huge but imminently endangered stocks of ex-BR freight diesels. And even in their moment of historical achievement, the 168s were wildly overshadowed by the EWS Class 66s.