2. Run out to Finsbury Park & journey back-09.02.18

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2018 > 6. Trip to London-08 & 09.02.18 > 2. Run out to Finsbury Park & journey back-09.02.18

Whilst my wife undertook some retail therapy (something she knows a lot about!) so I took the opportunity to have a trip on the old GE out to Finsbury Park. I particularly wanted to grab a bit of class 313 action. Later in the afternoon, we headed home again to Northampton from Euston.

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Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.

91115, GR 11.30 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh (1S15, RT), London King`s Cross station
91115 'Blaydon Races' is ready for the RA at King's Cross with the 1S15 to Edinburgh Waverley. The name Blaydon Races is associated forever with Tyneside, the song being regarded as its unofficial anthem. It is also widely sung by Newcastle United fans.
Keywords: 91115 Blaydon Races 1S15 London King's Cross station

91113, GR 13.00 London KIng`s Cross-Edinburgh (1S18, 20L) & 43295, GR 12.00 London Kings Cross-Inverness (1S16, 1E), London King`s Cross station
Two Virgin East Coast workings wait at King's Cross. 91113 has an hour to go before its 13.00 departure to Edinburgh. Meanwhile, 43295 is about ready to start its journey north forming the 12.00 to Inverness, 'The Highland Chieftain'. On this day, having covered the 581 miles, this 40-year-old HST managed to arrive 1 minute early, pretty good in anybody's book I think! I stood in a very similar spot some thirty-seven years earlier and took a photograph but the subject matter back then was a little more interesting, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30022860827/x8-55017-12-34-hull-london-king-s!
Keywords: 91113 1S18 43295 1S16 London King's Cross station

43317, 10.55 Bounds Green-London King`s Cross ECS (3S16), London King`s Cross station
43317 arrives into King's Cross having made the short journey from Bounds Green depot. It was the 10.55 Bounds Green to King's Cross (3S16) ECS working.
Keywords: 43317 ECS 3S16 London King's Cross station

43239, GR 12.00 London King`s Cross-Inverness (1S16, 1E) & 43 317, 10.55 Bounds Green-London King`s Cross ECS (3S16), London King`s Cross station
Two HSTs on the blocks at London King's Cross. 43239 is about to leave at the back of the 1S16, 'The Highland Chieftain', the 12.00 to Inverness. 43317 has just arrived with the 3S16 ECS working from Bounds Green. Both these power cars have had very different histories. 43239 was delivered to the Western Region in 1977 as 43039 and formed part of 253019. Whereas, 43317 has always been an Eastern Region power car being delivered new in 1979 and forming part of set 254032.
Keywords: 43239 1S16 43317 ECS 3S16 London King's Cross station

91113, GR 13.00 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh (1S18, 20L) & 43274, GR 12.35 London King`s Cross-Leeds (1D14, 24L) London King`s Cross station
43274 waits at London King's Cross to work the 1D14 12.35 to Leeds. Next to it, 91113 heads the 13.00 departure to Edinburgh. 43274 was originally numbered 43074 as part of the Eastern Region set 254010 introduced in 1979. 91113 was built at Crewe Works and introduced during 1990 as 91013.
Keywords: 91113 1S18 43274 1D14 London King's Cross station

Cab, 43274, GR 12.35 London King`s Cross-Leeds (1D14, 24L), London King`s Cross station
The driver's desk inside the cab of 43274 standing at King's Cross. As it has done thousands of times, it is abut to head north from London, on this occasion, heading the 1D14 12.35 to Leeds.
Keywords: Cab 43274 1D14 London King's Cross station

365307, GN 11.52 London-King`s Cross-Cambridge (1C52, 4L), Finsbury Park station
Having travelled out the short distance from King's Cross I alighted from 365307 here at Finsbury Park station. It was forming the 11.52 King's Cross to Cambridge (1C52) service. These 'Networker' units were introduced in the early 1990s and have been a successful class. The had a mid-life makeover when extensive work was undertaken including a re-designed front and that created their 'smiler' look.
Keywords: 365307 1C52 Finsbury Park station

313061, GN 11.48 Moorgate-Letchworth (2T58, RT), Finsbury Park station
Vintage EMU 313061 is seen pausing at Finsbury Park station. At the time of writing, the earliest units are 41 years old making them the oldest EMUs on the network. They are due for withdrawal later this year. This unit was working the 11.48 Moorgate to Letchworth service, a journey it will have done countless times as this unit has spent its entire life on this line.
Keywords: 313061 2T58 Finsbury Park station

313036, GN 11.34 Hertford N-Moorgate (2J56, 1E), Finsbury Park station
As it has done for 40 years, 313036 pauses at Finsbury Park station working the 11.34 Hertford North to Moorgate working. At the time or writing, this unit and all of its classmates were on borrowed time and due for withdrawal. They broke many moulds when introduced in 1977 such as having sliding doors, being dual voltage and the first UK trains to incorporate multi-function Tightlock couplers.
Keywords: 313036 2J56 Finsbury Park Station

313053, GN 11.54 Hertford N-Moorgate (2J58, 1E), Finsbury Park station
313053 slows for its Finsbury Park stop forming the 11.54 Hertford North to Moorgate working. I caught this train back to Moorgate and then the the tube back to Holborn where my wife was waiting in our hotel with numerous shopping bags!
Keywords: 313053 2J58 Finsbury Park station

Ticket, London-King`s Cross-Finsbury Park
The outward ticket to Finsbury Park, pricey considering the time and distance travelled I think?

Oyster card, Finsbury Park-Moorgate
For the journey back form Finsbury Park to Moorgate, and from there on to Holborn I used my Oyster card.

350245, LN 14.54 London Euston-Northampton (2N19, RT), London Euston station
Just poking its head out from the gloom of London Euston station, 350245 waits forming the 14.54 to Birmingham New Street. My wife and I took this 2N19 working back to Northampton.
Keywords: 350245 2N19 London Euston station

66538, 12.32 Crewe Basford Hall-Felixstowe (4L90) & 350259, LN 14.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (2Y14, 2L), Northampton station
On arrival back at Northampton station, I was pleased to see 66528 making its way slowly along the centre road preparing to stop for a red light. The heavily loaded Freightliner was the 12.32 Crewe Basford Hall to Felixstowe North working. It was stopping to allow the London Northwestern 14.54 Birmingham New Street to London Euston working, seen on the right, to leave first.
Keywords: 66538 12.32 Crewe Basford Hall-Felixstowe 4L90 350259 2Y14Northampton station

Tickets, London Euston-Northampton
Our return tickets from London Euston to Northampton. Less than £10 for my wife and I is good off-peak value. Again, another example of what value for money train travel can be if you choose your journeys carefully.

Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.