52. ECML-16.08.17

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2017 > 52. ECML-16.08.17

Another morning on the ECML photographing everything that was about as within 18 months the whole scene will be very different with the HSTs and the class 91s disappearing.

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Images 1-36 of 36 displayed.

91118, GR 08.30 London Kings Cross-Newcastle (1N08, 5L), Arlesey footbridge
Just 37 miles into its journey to Newcastle, 91118 leads the 08.30 from King's Cross past Arlesey.
Keywords: 91118 1N08 Arlesey footbridge

43309, 05.40 Sunderland-London Kings Cross (1Y08, 19L), Arlesey footbridge
As 43109 this HST power car was part of set 254027 delivered new to the Eastern Region in 1979. Here, 38 years later, as 43309, it's still going strong and in front-line service powering the 05.40 Sunderland to King's Cross past Arlesey in Bedfordshire.
Keywords: 43309 1Y08 Arlesey footbridge

66522, unidentified down Freightliner, Arlesey Footbridge
Despite all the technology available, Andy and I could not identify this Freightliner working. If anybody can help, it is seen heading north past Arlesey on the ECML at 08.55. On this particular day, it is headed by 66522 wearing its Freightliner - Shanks livery.
Keywords: 66522 unidentified down Freightliner Arlesey Footbridge

365502, GN 08.22 London Kings Cross-Peterborough (1P44, RT), Arlesey Footbridge
365502 takes the down slow line past Arlesey in Bedfordshire working the 08.22 King's Cross to Peterborough. The train is slowing for its stop at Arlesey station that is actually a fair distance north of the village.
Keywords: 365502 1P44 Arlesey Footbridge

43318, 07.15 Leeds-London Kings Cross (1A09, RT), Arlesey footbridge
The 07.15 Leeds to King's Cross is into the final 35 miles of its journey as it passes Arlesey in Bedfordshire. Leading the train is 43318. This was part of the final ECML HST set 254032 originally numbered 43118.
Keywords: 43318 1A09 Arlesey footbridge

365527 & 365516, 08.16 Peterborough-London Kings Cross (1P51, 5L), Arlesey footbridge
Great Northern 365527 and 365516 pass Arlesey working the 08.16 Peterborough to London King's Cross. The life of these class 365s is uncertain now as deliveries of the new class 700s have begun that will work this route.
Keywords: 365527 365516 1P51 Arlesey footbridge

91105, GR 08.35 London Kings Cross-Leeds (1D09, RT), Arlesey footbridge
Taken from the footbridge at Arlesey, 91105 speeds northwards heading the 08.35 King's Cross to Leeds. As can be seen, the sun is making a half-hearted attempt to come out, if it does, this will make a pleasant change as the summer of 2017 has been particularly dull!
Keywords: 91105 1D09 Arlesey footbridge

66109, 05.47 Peterborough West Yard-Bow Depot (6L69), Arlesey footbridge
66109 heads south on the up slow at Arlesey with the 6L49 05.47 Peterborough West Yard to Bow engineers' train. I know that it's a 'going-away' shot but we had been tracking the progress of this working and all of a sudden it disappeared off RTT. So, we started walking away and then off course it arrived ! Nonetheless, a shot taken through the palisade fencing at Arlesey is not too bad
Keywords: 66109 05.47 Peterborough West Yard-Bow Depot 6L69 Arlesey footbridge

91103, GR 09.00 London Kings Cross-Edinburgh Waverley (1S09, RT), Arlesey TL189364
When I last visited this spot at Arlesey there was a foot crossing that afforded no views of the line due to excessive tree and foliage growth. In common with their practice of closing all flat crossings, Network Rail have installed a gargantuan bridge that is referred to locally as the Co-op bridge. Taken from the new bridge (opened in 2009 so it's not that new but it is to me!) 91103 heads north leading the 1S09 09.00 King's Cross to Edinburgh.
Keywords: 91103 1S09 Arlesey TL189364

365532 & 365518, GN 08.34 London Kings Cross-Peterborough (2P06, 1E), Arlesey TL189364
An eight-car combination of 365532 and 365518 pass Arlesey working the 08.34 King's Cross to Peterborough. The picture is taken from the 'new' footbridge that affords good views of the line and the environment. In the background can be seen the remains of the clay pits that provided the gault clay used to make Arlesey's famous white bricks. Brickwork production finally came to an end in 1992.
Keywords: 365532 365518 2P06 Arlesey TL189364

43061 & 43059 GR 07.00 Hull-London Kings Cross (1A12, 4E), Arlesey TL189364
On hire from East Midlands Trains is 43061 and 43059, seen heading south past Arlesey in Bedfordshire. The complete EMT set is working the 07.00 Hull to London King's Cross. Up until the early 1980s this working would often have been Deltic hauled. I would have been mightily disappointed to see a dreaded HST substituting for a Deltic; how things have changed!
Keywords: 43061 43059 1A12 Arlesey TL189364

365541 & 365514, GN 08.46 Peterborough-London Kings Cross (1P53, RT), Arlesey TL189364
Great Northern 365541 and 365514 work the 08.46 Peterborough to London King's Cross. The train is about to pass under Arlesey's new Co-op footbridge that replaced a foot crossing closed by Network Rail in 2009.
Keywords: 365541 365514 1P53 Arlesey TL189364

91125, 09.03 London Kings Cross-Leeds (1D07, 7L), Arlesey TL189364
91125 leads the 09.03 London King's Cross to Leeds past Arlesey. It's about to pass under the new (2009) footbridge known locally as the Co-op bridge.
Keywords: 91125 1D07 Arlesey TL189364

82226 & 91103, GR 06.30 Newcastle-London Kings Cross (1Y11, 18L), Arlesey TL189364
82226 leads with 91103 pushing at the rear of the 06.30 Newcastle to King's Cross. It is about to pass under Arlesey's Co-op bridge with the station just visible in the very distance.
Keywords: 82226 91103 1Y11 Arlesey TL189364

180114, GC 06.45 Sunderland-London Kings Cross (1A60, 3L), Langford TL192404
180114 'Kirkgate Calling' races south with the 06.45 Sunderland to London King's Cross. The train is passing a foot crossing near the village of Langford which is on a particularly long straight section of track.
Keywords: 180114 1A60 Langford TL192404

365537 & 365524, GN 09.19 Peterborough-London Kings Cross (1P13, 9L), Langford TL192404
Great Northern 365537 and 365524 pass Langford between Arlesey and Biggleswade working the 09.19 Peterborough to King's Cross. The picture is taken from a foot crossing but did involve me standing on the fence to get myself above the bank and foliage to the right.
Keywords: 365537 365524 1P13 Langford TL192404

91124, GR 09.30 London Kings Cross-Edinburgh (1S10, 4L), Langford TL192404
91124 leads the 09.30 King's Cross to Edinburgh Waverley at some speed past Langford in Bedfordshire. This long section of dead straight track means that these 140mph (225kph) capable class 91s can really get going up to their permitted 125mph.
Keywords: 91124 1S10 Langford TL192404

43311 & 43299, 07.34 Harrogate-London Kings Cross (1A14, 4L), Langford TL192404
The sight of an HST at full chat on the mainline is still and impressive one! Even though the sound is not quite the same as when the Paxman Valenta 12RP200L engines were fitted with their screaming turbo chargers! At Langford just south of Biggleswade 43311 leads with 43299 on the rear working the 07.34 Harrogate to London King's Cross. 43299 was the last of the first batch delivered to the Eastern Region in 1979 as 43099 that was part of set 254022.
Keywords: 43311 43299 1A14 Langford TL192404

180109, HT 09.48 London Kings Cross-Hull (1H02, 12L), East Road level crossing TL192415
180109 heads north past East Road level crossing in the village of Langford. It is working the 09.48 London King's Cross to Hull Hull Trains service. This level crossing is at the end of a small road and is a private crossing for access to the farm and a house at the other side of the line.
Keywords: 180109 1H02 East Road level crossing TL192415

82102 & 91129, GR 05.48 Edinburgh Waverley-London Kings Cross (1E02, 1L),-East Road Crossing TL192415
DVT 82102 leads with 91129 providing the power at the rear as the 05.48 Edinburgh Waverley to London King's Cross. The 1E02 is seen racing past East Road level crossing, just south of Biggleswade, with just 38 miles of its 392 mile journey left to cover.
Keywords: 82102 91129 1E02 East Road Crossing TL192415

43277 & 43238, GR 10.00 London Kings Cross-Aberdeen (1S11, 1E), Holme Green Crossing TL192426
The 1S11 10.00 Ling's Cross to Aberdeen passes a small farm crossing at Holme Green just south of Biggleswade. The leading power car is 43277 with 43238 pushing at the rear. I have used a shutter speed of 1/2 500 sec to freeze the train, close examination of the front reveals that this shutter speed has succeeded in doing this.
Keywords: 43277 43238 1S11 Holme Green Crossing TL192426

365535 & 365513, GN 09.34 London Kings Cross-Peterborough (2P08, RT), Holme Green Crossing TL192426
The 09.34 King's Cross to Peterborough local stopper takes the down slow line past Holmes Green farm crossing as it prepares to slow for its next stop at Biggleswade. This train is composed of 365535 and 365513, that will come off-lease next year when new units are introduced on this line. The future of these Newtworkers is uncertain.
Keywords: 365535 365513 2P08 Holme Green Crossing TL192426

43307 & 43318, GR 10.03 London Kings Cross-Leeds (1D09, 2L), Holme Green Crossing TL192426
This picture illustrates the intensive use that these elderly HSTs are put to. An hour or so earlier, Andy and I saw this HST working south from Leeds. 43307 and 43318 work north again back to Leeds with the 10.03 from King's Cross. The train is seen at full line speed tearing past Holme Green farm crossing just south of Biggleswade.
Keywords: 43307 43318 1D09 Holme Green Crossing TL192426

82231 & 91130, GR 08.45 Leeds-London Kings Cross (1A18, 3L), Holme Green Crossing TL192426
DVT 82231 leads the 08.45 Leeds to King's Cross with 91130 'Lord Mayor of Newcastle' providing the power at the rear. The train is seen passing Holme Green farm crossing just south of Biggleswade, indeed in this picture taken with my Sigma 80-200 zoom, the A1 road bridge to the south of the town can be seen.
Keywords: 82231 91130 1A18 Holme Green Crossing TL192426

180111, HT 08.23 Hull-London Kings Cross (1A92, RT), Holme Green Crossing TL192426
Hull Trains is an open access operator that is owned by First Group, who themselves have their fingers in many TOC pies! Hull Trains has an access agreement for another eleven years until 2029 so it will be interesting to see how heir operations progress. For the moment, they use these Coradia family class 180s that utilise hydraulic transmission. 180111 passes Holme Green farm crossing with the 08.23 Hull to King's Cross.
Keywords: 180111 1A92 Holme Green Crossing TL192426

91131, GR 10.08 London Kings Cross-Newcastle (1B92. RT), Holme Green Crossing TL192426
The four mile section of the ECML between Arlesey and Biggleswade is virtually dead straight. This means a line speed of 125mph can be adopted by trains capable of it. Here, 91131 passes Holme Green farm crossing leading the 10.08 King;s Cross to Newcastle that should be dong line speed.
Keywords: 91131 1B92 Holme Green Crossing TL192426

180112, GC 07.54 Bradford Interchange-London Kings Cross (1A70, 1E), Holme Green TL194426
Grand Central's 180112 'James Herriot' passes Home Green just south of Biggleswade in Bedfordshire working the 07.54 Bradford Interchange to King's Cross. I'm not keen on this black livery but it does help it to stand out in this shot against a largely green and yellow countryside scene.
Keywords: 18011 1A70 Holme Green TL194426

66561, unidentified down Freightliner, Holme Green TL193422
As per earlier in the day, Andy and I were unable to identify this down Freightliner working. Freight was strangely absent from RTT and no amount of searching could find this working hauled by 6656, if anybody can help we would appreciate it! The train is seen passing near to Holmes Green south of Biggleswade.
Keywords: 66561 down Freightliner Holme Green TL193422

91103, GN 10.30 London Kings Cross-Edinburgh Waverley (1S12, 5L), Holme Green TL193422
91103 leads the 10.30 King's Cross to Edinburgh 1S12 past Holmes Green in Bedfordshire. The harvest was in full flow with this field in the foreground having been recently cut.
Keywords: 91103 1S12 Holme Green TL193422

91121, GN 09.16 Leeds-London Kings Cross (1A19, RT), Holme Green TL193422
A photograph that clearly shows the different shape of the ends of a class 91. Running sharp end it will do up to 140mph (125mph service speed) but if running blunt end first (that does occasionally happen) it is limited to 110mph. In this picture, 91121 is pushing the 09.16 Leeds to King's Cross past Holmes Green in south Bedfordshire.
Keywords: 91121 1A19 Holme Green TL193422

66732 & 700132, 03.14 Dollands Moor-Hornsey EMUD (Via Peterborough) (6X71), Holme Green TL192420
66732 'GBRf The First Decade 1999-2009 John Smith MD' leads a number of former Freightliner boxes and flats acting as barrier vehicles and then , just in view, one of the new class 700 EMUs on a gauging run. The unit is 700132 that is being towed as the 08.14 Dollands Moor to Hornesy EMUD via Peterborough. The train is seen heading south at Holmes Green near to Biggleswade.
Keywords: 66732 700132 03.14 Dollands Moor-Hornsey EMUD 6X71 Holme Green TL192420

Andy & 91104, GR 10.35 London Kings Cross-Leeds (1D10, RT), Holme Green TL193422
Looking across a half harvested field at Holme Green just south of Huntingdon, Andy photographs the 10.34 King's Cross to Leeds. Close examination of the image reveals that it is being led by 91104. Notice that just as we were drawing our morning out to a close, the sun decided to put in an appearance!
Keywords: Andy 91104 1D10 Holme Green TL193422

Class 180, GC 10.48 London Kings Cross-Bradford Interchange (1D71, 1E), Holme Green TL194426
A Grand central class 180 in full flight crosses the flat lands of south Bedfordshire working the 10.48 King's Cross to Bradford Interchange. Unfortunately, no amount of magnification was able to identify the class 180 that is about to cross Holme Green farm crossing.
Keywords: Class 180 1D71 Holme Green TL194426

91126, GR 06.55 Edinburgh Waverley-London Kings Cross (1E4, 4L), Holme Green TL194426
91126 propels the 06.55 Edinburgh Waverley to King's Cross past Holme Green just a short distance south of Huntingdon. I like the wavy pattern created by the farm machinery in the field in the foreground and how it leads the eye to the subject in the middle distance.
Keywords: 91126 1E4 Holme Green TL194426

365539 & 365505, GN 10.46 Peterborough-London Kings Cross (1P59, 2L), Holme Green Crossing TL192426
Just as the sun comes out Andy and me head for home! The last train of the day for us is 365539 and 365505 forming the 10.46 Peterborough to King's Cross as it passes Holme Green farm crossing. The picture is taken from a perfectly safe and legal position behind a fence at the crossing; I hope that the driver saw it the same way from his perspective.
Keywords: 365539 365505 1P59 Holme Green Crossing TL192426

Images 1-36 of 36 displayed.