Despite being owned by Arriva, Grand Central has a very

distinctive corporate image and one nothing like any other train operating company with a philosophy to match. At one time during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, it was looking likely that its future operating trains may have come to an end with a complete shutdown of its services on the ECML and all staff furloughed. All this was just as it was about to launch its WCML operations in and out of Euston to great fanfare. This launch has now been put back to 2021 with driver training still to start as Grand Central attempts to resurrect its services and build its business again. In preparation for training and for services, two cut down sets of former LNER Mk.IVs, two DVTs and a second Class 90 were sent to Alstom’s Technology Centre in Widnes to be outshopped in GC's smart black and gold livery. Here the two sets pass Milton Crossing on the Weedon loop just north of Roade cutting as the 5Z90 09.37 Widnes to Wembley Yard. There were an awful lot of photographers at this location, in fact, the most I have seen here since the end of the Class 87 Virgin evening commuter train but we were all denied a decent photograph as the sun went in just ten seconds before it arrived - the rear of the train is still in full sun! This particular image took me a considerable amount of time in Photoshop to resurrect it from a hopelessly dark subject and overexposed background but even so it is still very disappointing but, given the subject matter, it has made the cut! The train is being led by 90029 with the full list of stock as follows: 82200, 11320, 10321, 12326, 12477, 12224, 82227, 11321, 10330, 12323, 12461, 12222 and on the rear is 90026.