49. ECML-02.08.17

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2017 > 49. ECML-02.08.17

Another few hours on the ECML with Andy. This time, we visited the interesting section of the line near to the Offords between St. Neots and Huntingdon.

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Images 1-23 of 23 displayed.

82207 & 91111, GR 06.30 Newcastle-London Kings Cross (1Y11, 2L), Gills Crossing
DVT 82207 leads with 91111 'For the Fallen' pushing at the rear of the 06.30 Newcastle to London King's Cross. The train is catching a little morning brightness as it passes Offord Cluny between Huntingdon and St. Neots.
Keywords: 82207 91111 1Y11 Gills Crossing

91104, GR 08.30 London Kings Cross-Newcastle (1N08, 1E), Gills Crossing
The village of Offord Cluny has two crossings of the ECML. The level crossing is a busy one that causes considerable congestion in the village at certain times. The second is a foot crossing referred to as Gill's Crossing. It's gate controlled with mini colour lights for users to observe. I am sure that it is a crossing that Network Rail have desires to shut along with all the others. Here, the 08.30 King's Cross to Newcastle races past the foot crossing with 91104 leading.
Keywords: 91104 1N08 Gills Crossing

82204 & 91120, GR 05.50 Edinburgh Waverley-London Kings Cross (1E01, 1L), Gills Crossing
Catching a welcome patch of sunshine, 82204 with 91120 pushing at the rear pass Offord Cuny's Gill's Crossing with the 1E01 05.50 Newcastle to London King's Cross. It's a shame that the sun did not last with the rest of the morning being dull and overcast.
Keywords: 82204 91120 1E01 Gills Crossing

91112, GR 08.35 London Kings Cross-Leeds (1D06, 1E), Gills Crossing
Taken from Gill's Crossing in Offord Cluny 91112 heads north through the reverse curves that follow the River Great Ouse with the 08.35 King's Cross to Leeds. In the background can be seen the spire of the Grade I listed Norman church of St. Peter in Offord D'Arcy.
Keywords: 91112 1D06 Gills Crossing

365541, GN 08.46 Peterborough-London Kings Cross (1P53, 8L), Gills Crossing
Taken from the refuge of a fence at a public crossing 365541 passes Offord Cluny with the 08.46 Peterborough to London King's Cross. Even though I am safe and perfectly legal taking this shot, I often wonder how it might look to a driver as he appears around the corner?
Keywords: 365541 1P53 Gills Crossing

43061 & 43059, GR 07.00 Hull-London Kings Cross (1A12, RT), Gills Crossing
The power cars are on-hire from EMT, the stock is pure VTEC. The mixed coloured combo heads south past Gill's Crossing at Offord Cluny with the 07.00 Hull to King's Cross powered by 43061 and 43059.
Keywords: 43061 43059 1A12 Gills Crossing

365519 & 365525, GN 08.22 London Kings Cross-Peterborough (1P44, RT), Gills Crossing
Great Northern's 365519 and 365525 head north on the down slow line past Offord Cluny between St. Neots and Huntingdon. These reliable units now have a limited time left on this line, or any line for that matter as their future is far from assured. The best case scenario is that they enter storage until a new operator is found; too good to scrap surely?
Keywords: 365519 365525 1P44 Gills Crossing

82206 & 91116, GR 06.55 Skipton-London Kings Cross (1A13, RT), Gills Crossing
With 82206 on the front and 91116 pushing at the rear working the 06.55 Skipton to London King's Cross. This would be a very nice way to travel from the Aire Valley to London, the comfort of the Mk.IVs is superb and there is a general air of quality about them. Surely, loco hauled stock on fast crack express' such as these has to be the way to go?
Keywords: 82206 91116 1A13 Gills Crossing

82203, GR 06.00 Berwick-upon-Tweed-London Kings Cross (1Y14, 2E), Gills Crossing
DVT 82203 leads the 06.00 Berwick to London King's Cross train through Offord Cluny. The picture is taken from the security of Gill's Crossing in the village that allows access for pedestrians and dog walkers down to the riverside just behind me. Unfortunately, I suspect that Network Rail will close this crossing soon deeming it unsafe. This despite that it's equipped with secure gates and fencing complete with colour lights indicating when it's safe to cross.
Keywords: 82203 1Y1 Gills Crossing

Class 180, GC 06.55 Bradford Interchange-London Kings Cross (1A59, 2E), Gills Crossing
An unidentified Grand Central class 180 races past Gill's Crossing at Offord Cluny with the 06.55 Bradford Interchange to London King's Cross. These class 180s have lead a varied life and one that has not always been successful. They were plagued with reliability issues and they have not always met with universal approval. However, their 125mph performance and acceleration have meant that they have been competent performers out on the mainlines on which they have operated.
Keywords: Class 180 1A59 Gills Crossing

91012, GR 09.00 London Kings Cross-Edinburgh (1S09, RT), Gills Crossing
The 09.00 King's Cross to Edinburgh is some 55 miles into its 392 miles journey as it passes Offord Cluny just south of Huntingdon. It is lead by 91102 that looks smart in it VTEC livery, one that suits these train sets very well.
Keywords: 91012 1S09 Gills Crossing

365532, GN 09.19 Peterborough-London Kings Cross (1P13, 2L), Gills Crossing
Great Northern's 365532 takes the up slow past Offord Cluny forming the 09.19 Peterborough to King's Cross. A familiar sight on this route for some years now, things are all set to change next year as the class 700s are introduced.
Keywords: 365532 1P13 Gills Crossing

180112, GC 06.45 Sunderland-London Kings Cross (1A60, RT), Gills Crossing
180112 'James Herriot' heads south working the 06.45 Sunderland to King's Cross service past Offord Cluny just south of Huntingdon. According to their website, Grand Central named this class 180 as it 'builds on the partnership between Grand Central Railway and the World of James Herriot and the Herriot Country Attractions Group, who bring many thousands of visitors into the beautiful parts of Yorkshire around Thirsk.' Shame that this service started from Sunderland then!
Keywords: 180112 1A60 Gills Crossing

43318 & 43307, GR 05.26 Stirling-London Kings Cross (1E03, 1E), Offord DArcy TL213655
43318 leads with 43307 on the rear working the 05.26 1E03 Stirling to London King's Cross. The picture is taken from a little used foot crossing just south of Offord DArcy. Both these power cars have been Eastern Region units all their lives pounding up and down the ECML and still looking good!
Keywords: 43318 43307 1E03 Offord DArcy TL213655

700128, 03.14 Dollands Moor-Hornsey EMUD (Via Peterborough) (6X71) & 82225, GR 08.45 Leeds-LondonKings Cross (1A18, 1E), Offord DArcy TL213655
Smelling a fresh paint, 700128 is towed along the ECML at Offord DArcy as the 03.14 Dollands Moor to Hornsey (via Peterborough) 6X71 gauging run. It is being overtaken by the 08.45 Leeds to King's Cross with 82225 nicely reflected in the side of the class 700.
Keywords: 700128 03.14 Dollands Moor-Hornsey EMUD 6X71 82225 1A18 Offord DArcy TL213655

180110, HT 08.23 Hull-London Kings Cross (1A92, 2L), Offord DArcy TL213655
The foot crossing, from which the picture is taken, is little used and took some finding and is located just south of Offord DArcy. Indeed, the brambles and weeds needed clearing to get to it! However, it is maintained and has crossing lights. It affords good views of the line in both directions but I suspect it's time is limited due to NR's policy of closing all foot crossings on the network. 180110 forms the 08.23 Hull to King's Cross.
Keywords: 180110 1A92 Offord DArcy TL213655

43319, GR 10.00 London Kings Cross-Aberdeen (1S11, 3E), Offord DArcy TL213655
43319 takes the reverse curve as it approaches Offord DArcy working the 10.00 King's Cross to Aberdeen 1S11 service. 43319 was delivered as 43119 as part of the final Eastern Region set 254032 in the summer of 1979. The picture is taken from the security of a foot crossing .
Keywords: 43319 1S11 Offord DArcy TL213655

91110, GR 10.03 London Kings Cross-Leeds (1D09, 2L), Offord DArcy TL213655
91110 in its celebrity 'Battle of Britain Memorial Flight' livery leads the 10.03 London King's Cross to Leeds. The train is seen passing a remote and little used foot crossing just south of Offord DArcy between St. Neots and Huntingdon. I have often though how good it would have looked if there had been a dedicated set of Mk.IV stock matching the livery of 91110 and its cousin 91111 'For the Fallen'.
Keywords: 91110 1D09 Offord DArcy TL213655

Class 180, GC 07.54 Bradford Interchange-London Kings Cross (1A70, 2L), Offord DArcy TL213655
One of Grand Central's class 180s speeds southwards past Offord DArcy with the 07.54 Bradford Interchange to King's Cross. This picture is taken from the security of a caged foot crossing complete with mini colour lights to inform pedestrians if it's safe to cross.
Keywords: Class 180 1A70 Offord DArcy TL213655

365504 & 365508, GN 10.18 Peterborough-London Kings Cross (2P45, RT), Offord DArcy TL213655
365504 leads 365508 as the 10.18 Peterborough to King's Cross Great Northern service. The picture is taken from the cage of a foot crossing just south of Offord DArcey between St. Neots and Huntingdon.
Keywords: 365504 365508 2P45 Offord DArcy TL213655

82227 & 91127, GR 06.55 Edinburgh Waverley-London Kings Cross (1E04, 1L), Huntingdon station
Dwarfed by the A14 over-bridge, 82227 leads with 91127 bringing up the rear of the 06.55 Edinburgh to King's Cross through Huntingdon station.
Keywords: 82227 91127 1E04 Huntingdon station

43251, GR 07.30 Edinburgh Waverley-London Kings Cross (1E05, RT), Huntingdon station
HST power car 43251 leads the 07.30 Edinburgh Waverley to King's Cross through Huntingdon station. 43251 was delivered as 43051 as part of Western region set 253025 in 1977.
Keywords: 43251 1E05 Huntingdon station

Images 1-23 of 23 displayed.