1. Kettering & the Stoke Summit area-04.08.78

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1978 > 17. ECML & The York Circular steam-04-06.08.78 > 1. Kettering & the Stoke Summit area-04.08.78
Having camped near Wellingborough, we headed for the ECML near to Stoke Summit.
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45121, unidentified down working, Kettering station 45121 takes the down fast line through Kettering station with an unidentified service from St. Pancras. The train is passing Kettering Station signal box and its associated signalling. This essentially rural scene is completely transformed now. The southern expansion of the town dominates the background and has covered the fields. Whilst there are still a pair of up and down lines, the rest of the railway infrastructure is much simplified. Keywords: 45121 unidentified down working Kettering station
47337, up freight, Kettering station 47337 eases through the up slow platform at Kettering station with some wooden bodied 2-axle wagons and followed by a number of dogfish hoppers. On the right a parcels carriage can be seen sitting in the up facing bay platform surrounded by a number BRUTEs. This scene is still similar today apart from a massive new footbridge and the recent arrival of the electrification infrastructure that is extended, for the moment, as far as Corby. Keywords: 47337 up freight Kettering station
55005, 10.55 London Kings Cross-Edingburgh (1S21), High Dyke SK942289 Standing above the north portal of Stoke Tunnel give a clear view of the recent engineering work that has been undertaken. It also shows the simplified track layout of the ECML as it passes High Dyke. 55005 'The Prince of Wales' Own Regiment of Yorkshire' has just burst out of the 880 yard long Stoke Tunnel with the 1S21 10.55 King's Cross to Edinburgh. Keywords: 55005 10.55 London Kings Cross-Edingburgh 1S21 High Dyke SK942289
55018, 10.55-Leeds-London Kings Cross (1A14), High Dyke SK942289 55018 'Ballymoss' is about to complte its climb of Stoke Bank as it enters the tunnel a short distance behind the camera. It is working the 1A14 10.55 Leeds to King's Cross. In the background can be seen the bare area of ballast and clinker that used to be home to the extensive sidings at High Dyke. These concentration sidings were used to marshall wagons that carried ironstone from a number of open cast mines alongs the line built to the south towards Colsterworth. Keywords: 55018 10.55-Leeds-London Kings Cross 1A14 High Dyke SK942289
55022, 09.00 Edingburgh-London Kings Cross (1E05), High Dyke SK942289 At last the sun has come out, but not for long! It shines down on 55022 'Royal Scots Grey' about to crest Stoke summit as it enters the tunnel of the same name. It has 101 miles left to run into King's Cross with the 1E05 09.00 from Edinburgh. The yellow earth mover to the left indicates that the work to clear the sidings at High Dyke and the improvements to the area in the cutting in the foreground has not been completed. The removal of the concentration sidings that were used to marshall ironstone wagons from the nearby mines towards Colsterworth has recently been completed. Virtually all of this area today is totally overgrown and, off course, completely inaccessible to the young photographer (as I was in 1978!) Keywords: 55022 09.00 Edingburgh-London Kings Cross 1E05 High Dyke SK942289
55021, 13.25 London Kings Cross-Newcastle (1N04), High Dyke SK942289 Yes, I know that it's blurred but I was so proud that I managed to get a Deltic bursting out of Stoke Tunnel that it has made the final cut! 55021 'Argyll and Sutherland Highlander' is going to be picking up speed as it descends Stoke Bank towards Grantham with the 1N04 13.25 King's Cross to Newcastle. The recent work undertaken to improve drainage so as to prevent erosion and land slippage is clear in the is image that shows the north portal of Stoke Tunnel. Keywords: 55021 13.25 London Kings Cross-Newcastle 1N04 High Dyke SK942289
55009, 14.13 York-London Kings Cross (1A22), Westby SK962271 55009 'Alycidon' is picking up speed having now entered the quadruple section of the ECML from Stoke Junction as far as Peterborough. It is heading the 14.13 1A22 York to King's Cross. This is very remote spot down a long un-made track near the village of Westby. Today, apart from being spoilt by the electrification paraphernalia, the embankments are a lot more overgrown thus the wide open view is somewhat compromised, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/26500886004/x82201-91112-09-45-leeds-london-king Keywords: 55009 14.13 York-London King's Cross 1A22 Westby SK962271
55017, 15.00 London Kings Cross-Aberdeen (1S31), Westby SK962271 Just look at the straightness of the ECML stretching off into the distance down Stoke Bank. The picture is taken from the lofty heights of a large bridge that spans the line about two miles from the village of Westby, a superbly quiet and open spot. By 2019, the vista has become much more enclosed due to un-managed growth on the embankments, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/26500884804/x158862-08-57-norwich-liverpool-lime This is the section of line that in July 1938 was where 4468 'Mallard' completed its record-breaking 126mph run using this initial straight drop from Stoke to build up the speed. The record speed was actually attained just north of Essendine some six miles up the line from this spot. On this day, in August 1978, there is no classic steam action so a Deltic had to suffice! 55017 'The Durham Light Infantry' races up Stoke with the 1S31 15.00 King's Cross to Aberdeen. Keywords: 55017 15.00 London Kings Cross-Aberdeen 1S31 Westby SK962271
40131, down parcels, Westby SK962271 A photograph that could have been taken some years earlier than August 1978. 40135 climbs Stoke Bank past Westby with a down parcels working. Note that it is carrying a reporting number of 3S55. The displaying of the alpha numeric identifiers had been abandoned from the start of 1976 so to see the class 40 proudly wearing this one was unusual. I am not absolutely sure if the driver had set it for this particular train but a class 3 (parcels) is correct and S for Scotland is quite possible. Keywords: 40131, down parcels, Westby SK962271
Class 55, unidentified up working, Westby SK962271 An unidentified class 55 storms down Stoke Bank with a King's Cross working near to the village of Westby. Quite why I have not got a record of this locomotive I am not at all sure but, looking at the nameplate, it is going to be a regiment example. Studying the Chronicles of Napier database identifies that it could be 55006 'The Fife and Forfar Yeomanry' as the nameplate looks right, it had a plated over headcode panel and it was working an Edinburgh to King's Cross train at about this time. Keywords: Class 55 up working Westby SK962271
55013, 16.16 Newcastle-London Kings Cross (1A29), Westby SK962271 Standing on the ivy covered bridge supports deep down in Stoke cutting near to Westby sees 55013 'The Black Watch' lead the 16.16 Newcastle to King's Cross. Yes, the picture is a bit blurred but remember the technology that I was working with was my hand-me-down Exa camera that was already old when I acquired it. Its maximum 1/150 sec. shutter speed did create some issues with motion blur as can be seen here. Keywords: 55013 16.16 Newcastle-London Kings Cross 1A29 Westby SK962271
55003, 17.35 London Kings Cross-Newcastle (1N06), Westby SK962271 55003 'Meld' hauls the 1N06 17.35 London King's Cross to Newcastle up Stoke Bank. It is seen near to the top of the long climb that started just north of Peterborough passing near to the village of Westby in a very remote spot of Lincolnshire. Apologies for the motion blur, 1/125th. sec. simply did not 'cut it' when it came to a fast moving train! Keywords: 55003 17.35 London Kings Cross-Newcastle 1N06 Westby SK962271

Images 1-12 of 12 displayed.