1. Trip to London-04.02.78

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1978 > 1. Trip to London-04.02.78
My first trip of 1978 when I actually took any photographs was a bit of an epic. I went to London with my friends Simon, Guy and Jo. It was a pretty dismal February day but this did not stop us getting in some Deltic action at King's Cross. We also visited St. Pancras, Euston and Liverpool Street. I remember being somewhat disappointed by the latter due to the excessive number of units that, at the time did very little for me! Still using the Exa camera created one or two issues in terms of the dullness and the slow lens prevented many ‘action’ pictures. However, all the shots are now of historic interest.
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Images 1-12 of 12 displayed.

40057 & 47447, London Kings Cross stabling point 
 On arrival at King's Cross, the depot was disappointingly empty with just 40057 and 47447 on view with a total absence of Deltics. In the centre of this image, notice the railwayman calmly walking across the track work with no hi-viz; how things have changed! In preparation for in the inner suburban electrification, the electric masts and centenary have been installed and the platform extension work have been completed since my last visit. 
 Keywords: 40057 47447 London Kings Cross stabling point
55022, moving on to 11.00 London Kings Cross-Edinburgh (1S21), London Kings Cross station 
 A photograph full of interest and one that is instantly recognisable for its location. 55022 'Royal Scots Grey' comes off-shed by making a number of movements over the complicated network of track in the foreground to then attach to the front of the 1S21 11.00 to Edinburgh. In the background is Scot and Barlow's instantly recognisable train shed and one of the gasometers that were a familiar site as you entered St. Pancras station on the Midland. One of King's Cross' station pilot class 31s can be seen awaiting its next turn of duty. 
 Keywords: 55022 11.00 London Kings Cross-Edinburgh 1S21 London Kings Cross station
31408, station pilot working & 55004, unidentified up working, London Kings Cross Station 
 Our first Deltic of the day. I have this down in my notebook as 55004 'Queen's Own Highlander' sitting on the blocks at King's Cross on our arrival at about 09.00. However, the Chronicles of Napier website has this locomotive leading the 09.00 to Newcastle (1N08) at this time. So, unless it was rapidly able to be released from the stops, run round, attach and depart for Newcastle in a matter of minutes then something is wrong. It is probably my error but if anybody can help clear this inconsistency up I would be grateful. This picture clearly illustrates how dismal the interior of the King's Cross trainshed could be on a dull day before it was restored with years steam and diesel grime that was coating the glass cleaned off! Next to the Deltic is one of the station pilots, 31408 that brought a set of freshly serviced stock in from Finsbury Park. 
 Keywords: 31408 station pilot working 55004, unidentified up working London Kings Cross Station
40057, down football special, London Kings Cross station 
 40057 leaves King's Cross with a footex. I have it down as carrying Arsenal supporters, however, as they were playing Aston Villa at Highbury on this particular Saturday this information must be wrong. If anybody can help with where this football special was going I would be grateful for the information. It was spotted further up at Huntingdon so it went up the ECML at least as far as this! The glowing florescent lights give an indication as to how gloomy this day was. 
 Keywords: 40057 down football special London Kings Cross station
40057, down football special, London Kings Cross station 
 My friend Simon Petrameredies holds my ITT 1001 radio cassette recorder to capture the sounds of 40057's classic English Electric 16SVT Mk. II engine as it leaves King's Cross with an unidentified down footex. Its steam heating boiler is working well as it eases out of the station towards Gasworks Tunnel. 40057 succumbed to the scrapman very late in July 1984 because of a common fault that afflicted many members of the class, namely bogie fractures. 
 Keywords: 40057 down football special London Kings Cross station
55010, going on-shed, London Kings Cross station 
 55010 'The King's Own Scottish Borderer' backs out of King's Cross station to then go on-shed for fuelling. In the afternoon it then headed the 1S32 12.15 to Aberdeen. 
 Keywords: 55010 going on-shed London Kings Cross station
55021, 1000 London Kings Cross-Edinburgh The Flying Scotsman (1S17), London Kings Cross station 
 One of my trademark low angle shots that I seem to remember I took to emphasise speed and poise! Here it has worked well by showing off two of king's Cross' train shed arches towering above 55021 'Argyll and Sutherland Highlander' waiting to leave at the head of the 1S17 'Flying Scotsman', the 10.00 to Edinburgh. This was only the second day of service for 55021 after being released from Doncaster Works having had an engine and bogie change completed. 
 Keywords: 55021 1000 London Kings Cross-Edinburgh The Flying Scotsman 1S17 London Kings Cross station
08531, station pilot, London Liverpool street station 
 During our visit to Liverpool Street I only took one photograph and that was of a shunter of all things! 08531 sits just under the station roof awaiting its next job, but being a Saturday I suspect that there would not be too much work for it. This shunter was and still is a bit of a celebrity. As can be seen, it has been painted green complete with the British Railways lion and wheel emblem as applied to locomotives bodysides. It was painted this colour scheme by Stratford Depot during Silver Jubilee Year, 1977. It also became the basis for a number of models built by various manufacturers. Finally, at the time of writing in 2018, 08531 is still in use at Barton-under-Needwood operated by Freightliner making it nearly sixty years in service! 
 Keywords: 08531 station pilot London Liverpool street station
55005, 16.00 London Kings Cross-Edinburgh, The Talisman (1S42), London Kings Cross station 
 At King's Cross, 55005 'The prince of Wales's own regiment of Yorkshire' is attached to stock in the gathering gloom of a miserable February afternoon. The Deltic is going to lead the 16.00 to Edinburgh titled as 'The Talisman'. Notice the total lack of H&S attire worn by the member of staff attending to the coupling of the Deltic, at least he has his BR issues peeked cap on! 
 Keywords: 55005 15.00 London Kings Cross-Edinburgh The Talisman 1S42 London Kings Cross station
55015, 16.05 London Kings Cross-Leeds & Harrogate (1L26) & 47459, unidentified down working, London Kings Cross station 
 With its characteristic plume if smoke emerging from the exhaust, 55015 'Tulyar' leaves King's Cross with the 1L26 16.05 to Leeds and Harrogate. My school friend and spotting companion, Guy is seen holding his microphone out to capture the 'Napier Magic' of the departure although looking at the smoke emerging from one side only, could it be that 55015 was only running on one engine as was fairly common? Behind Guy's outstretched arm, 47459 waits with an unidentified down working. At the time of writing in 2018, Tulyar is in the final phase of its long and protracted rebuild by the amazing team at the Deltic Preservation Society (of which I am life member) at Barrow Hill. So, could it be that the mighty 55015 could again be seen leaving King's Cross for the north sometime soon? 
 Keywords: 55015 16.05 London King's Cross-Leeds Harrogate 1L26 47459 unidentified down working London Kings Cross station
55018, going on-shed, London Kings Cross station 
 A pretty terrible picture that I have rescued from the reject negatives! However, it was probably about 4.30 in the afternoon by now and the capabilities of both the camera and the film were somewhat limited. The image shows 55018 'Ballymoss' moving around on the eastern side of King's Cross but of particular interest is the closed but still dimly lit King's Cross York Road station. This was separate from the main station with its own entrance off York Road and is the point where the suburban trains plunged into a steeply graded and sharply curved tunnel that led to Moorgate station. The station had closed a year earlier with services diverted via the Northern City line. There is no trace of the station today but the entrance to the tunnel is still extant if bricked up. 
 Keywords: 55018 on-shed London Kings Cross station
55017, 12.30 Leeds-London Kings Cross (1A21) & 31408, station pilot, London Kings Cross station 
 In the absence of a tripod the long exposure required to take this picture would have presented a problem. I am not sure what I used, but a reasonable image has been recorded of 55017 'The Durham Light Infantry' standing at the blocks at King's Cross. It has arrived with the 12.30 1A21 service from Leeds. This is the second phase of turn 6 whereby 55017 had earlier worked the 1L05 08.15 to Leeds. 31408 stands next to it acting as the station pilot. Notice the once familiar BRUTE trolleys parked on the platform with one being used by one of my companions Guy patiently waiting whilst I take my picture. 
 Keywords: 55017 12.30 Leeds-London Kings Cross 1A21 31408, station pilot London Kings Cross station

Images 1-12 of 12 displayed.