4. ECML drags-13.01.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 4. ECML drags-13.01.19
A second and final weekend of drags on the Great Eastern line due to the ECML being closed south of Peterborough, persuaded me out early on a Sunday morning. I was hoping for better weather but it was the middle of January! I visited various locations between Peterborough and March until the rain forced me home in my trusty Combo van. There were a fair number of folks out and about doing the same as me but, away from the stations, I saw nobody!
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Images 1-18 of 18 displayed.

43277, GR 07.54 Newcastle-London King’s-Cross (1Y16, 4E), Whittlesea level crossing Just as I arrived at Whittlesea (or Whittlesey depending on how you feel) the crossing keeper was closing the gates and an up service was pegged. After a few minutes, the 07.54 Newcastle to London King's Cross passed with 43277 leading. Keywords: 43277 07.54 Newcastle-London King’s-Cross 1Y16 Whittlesea level crossing
Opening the crossing gates, Whittlesea level crossing After the passage of the 07.54 Newcastle to King's Cross, the crossing keeper opens the gates for road users. Notice his small portacabin to the left that is interlinked to the signal box at the other end of the slewed station platforms. This signal box controls the semaphores. Keywords: Opening the crossing gates Whittlesea level crossing
43306, GR 08.48 London King’sCross-Aberdeen (1S11, 4L), Whittlesea level crossing At the front end of a down HST, power car 43306 looks a little tatty as it passes Whittlesea level crossing just east of Peterborough. 43306 has been an Eastern Region power car since it was introduced in 1979, initially as part of set 254027 so I suppose, now it's in the twilight of its working life, it can be expected to look a little worn around the edges! The HST is forming the 08.48 King's Cross to Aberdeen that has been diverted off the ECML due to engineering works. Keywords: 43306 08.48 London King’s Cross-Aberdeen 1S11 Whittlesea level crossing
67021 & 82203, GN, 08.43 Leeds-London King’s Cross (1A18, RT), Whittlesea station 67021 looks resplendent in its Belmond British Pullman livery as it tows the 08.43 Leeds to London King's Cross through Whittlesea just east of Peterborough. As it's an up service, the DVT is attached to the locomotive; in this particular case, it's 82203. Whittlesea's down home signal can be seen protecting the level crossing over which the train is crossing. Notice the arm's jaunty angle. This is not me having taken the picture at an angle but was how it was. In fact, the signal had to pulled off a couple of times before it satisfied the equipment in the signal box. I think that the S&T team need to visit and do some maintenance! Keywords: 67021 82203 08.43 Leeds-London King’s Cross 1A18 Whittlesea station
180111, HT 08.58 Hull-London King’s Cross (1A92, RT), Whittlesea station Another ECML diversion passes through Whittlesea station. Hull Trains' 180111 works the 1A82 08.58 Hull to King's Cross through the Cambridgeshire station. I wonder how many of the passengers took any notice of where they were actually going or even recognising that they were 'off-route'? Notice again, the strange angle that the signal arm is sitting at on the top of the post. Keywords: 180111 08.58 Hull-London King’s Cross 1A92 Whittlesea station
66757, 10.49 Peterborough Maintenance Shed-Ferme Park LE, Whittlesea level crossing 66757 'West Somerset Railway' passes Whittlesea as the 10.49 Peterborough Maintenance shed to Ferme Park light engine move. This would normally have nipped down the ECML but was diverted across to the Great Eastern due to engineering works. Ironically, as I was digitally processing this actual image the evening after I took this picture, 66757 worked past my house in Roade on the WCML with a Ferme Park to Hams Hall empty Freightliner flats train that it had been sent south to collect. Keywords: 66757 10.49 Peterborough Maintenance Shed-Ferme Park Whittlesea level crossing
180109, HT 09.49 London King’s Cross-Hull (1H02, 2E), Three Horse Shoes Not the greatest of compositions but it shows off Three Horse Shoes signal box better that the class 180! 180109 passes the remote Fenland 1846 signal box with the 09.49 London King's Cross to Hull. It's an odd name for this particular signal box as it's located in the village of Turves. Studying the OS map reveals no reference to anything relating to the name of the actual box. Keywords: 180109 09.49 London King’s Cross-Hull 1H02 Three Horse Shoes
67004 & 91124, GR 09.18 London King’s Cross-Edinburgh (1S13, 20L), Three Horse Shoes no.3 level crossing With the dragging locomotive matching the dragged train, 67004 tows 91124 across the Fens. The 09.18 King's Cross to Edinburgh is seen passing Three Horse Shoes no.3 level crossing between Whittlesea and March. There are three AHB level crossings within three quarters a mile of each other, numbered, unsurprisingly, numbers 1, 2 and 3. Keywords: 67004 91124 09.18 London King’s Cross-Edinburgh 1S13 Three Horse Shoes no.3 level crossing
170104, XC 10.25 Stansted Airport-Birmingham New Street (1N51, 1L), Three Horse Shoes no.3 level crossing More usual fare for this straight and flat bit of Fenland railway are CrossCountry services such as this one. 170104 passes Three Horse Shoes no.3 level crossing forming the 1N51 10.25 Stansted Airport to Birmingham New Street. Just in the background behind the train can be seen Three Horse Shoes no.2 level crossing and just beyond that, out of sight is no.1! Keywords: 170104 10.25 Stansted Airport-Birmingham New Street 1N51 Three Horse Shoes no.3 level crossing
43290, GR 08.55 Newcastle-London King’s Cross (1Y20, 11L), Three Horse Shoes no.1 level crossing I deliberately chose to frame the train a little earlier than would normally be the case here. I wanted the AHB crossing to be in the image as I suspect that these are an endangered species given the number of incidents that seem to take place on them. This particular one had recently been upgraded. The usual high pitched siren had gone and a much less piercing one installed that is broken up with a digital message stating 'warning, another train is approaching'. The HST is led by power car 43290 working the 08.55 Newcastle to London King's Cross. Note; Three Horse Shoes signal box in the middle distance and a couple of its sole remaining, but out of use, telegraph poles. Keywords: 43290 08.55 Newcastle-London King’s Cross 1Y20 Three Horse Shoes no.3 level crossing
180103, GC 10.18 London King’s Cross-Hartlepool (1N90, RT), Three Horse Shoes no. 2 level crossing 180103 crosses the Fens approaching Three Horse Shoes no.2 level crossing forming the 10.18 King's Cross to Hartlepool. Notice how eleavated the line is as it crosses the flatlands of Cambridgeshire. Keywords: 180103 10.18 London King’s Cross-Hartlepool 1N90 Three Horse Shoes no.2 level crossing.
158770 & 158783, EM 10.47 Norwich-Liverpool Lime Street (1R82, 1L), Three Horse Shoes no.1 level crossing 158770 and 158783 work the East Midlands' 10.47 Norwich to Liverpool service. The train is seen approaching Three Horse Shores no.1 level crossing about two miles west of March. It was a particularly bleak and windy day out on the Fens. Indeed, as I was waiting to take this picture a couple of cyclists were trudging up the road towards me walking their bikes as the north westerly wind had defeated them! I was quite pleased to drive the short distance and get into the relative protection of the town of March! Keywords: 158770 158783 10.47 Norwich-Liverpool Lime Street 1R82 Three Horse Shoes no.3 level crossing
180101, GC 09.23 Sunderland-London King’s Cross (1A60, RT), March station Just some of the many photographers who had gathered on March station are in view here as Grand Central's 180101 passes through the station with the 09.23 Sunderland to King's Cross. I like March station but it's somewhat of a shadow of its former self having only two of its former four platforms in use. However, with continued talk of the reopening of the Wisbech branch in some form or another could they brought back into use again? Keywords: 180101 09.23 Sunderland-London King’s Cross 1A60 March station
43313, GR 10.00 Newcastle-London King`s Cross (1Y24, 4E), March South Junction 43313 leaves March past the South Junction signal box and level crossing leading the 1Y42 10.00 Newcastle to London King's Cross. There was a lot of activity in and around March with all the diverts as well as Sunday freight and normal workings. A Network Rail response team were out and about visiting all the boxes to ensure that everything was in order with the signalmen being kept busy. Keywords: 43313 10.00 Newcastle-London King's Cross 1Y24 March South Junction
170398, XC 11.25 Stansted Airport-Birmingham New Street (1N53, RT), March South Junction 170398 forms the 11.25 Stansted Airport to Birmingham New Street. It is seen going over Creek Road level crossing in March, better known as March South Junction. Keywords: 170398 11.25 Stansted Airport-Birmingham New Street 1N53 March South Junction
March South Junction signal box (LNER, 1927) Built by the LNER in 1927, March South Junction signal box is a Type 11c structure within clear sight of March East Junction which itself is just next to the station. This box is mainly unmolested having not had any UPVC cladding applied or any of its windows replaced. It also still boasts the huge BR (Eastern) blue enamel pointing to the station. This box, along with all the others in the area is due to be wiped away next year when control is moved to a signalling centre in Romford of all places! Keywords: March South Junction signal box
66735, 14.05 Harlow Mill-Whitemoor Yard (6T01), March East Junction level crossing GBRF's 66735 brings the 14.05 Harlow Mill to Whitemoor Yard infrastructure train past March East Junction level crossing. This 66 arrived in the UK in 2003 and, until 2011, it carried a DRS livery. Keywords: 66735 14.05 Harlow Mill-Whitemoor Yard 6T01 March East Junction level crossing
67004 & 82231, GR 10.45 Leeds-London King’s Cross (1A25, 9E), March level crossing With a cheery wave from the driver and the pilot, 67004 leads 82232 working the 1A25 10.45 Leeds to King's Cross. The train is seen passing through March station and is about to cross the Station Road level crossing. I am standing on my stool to gain a little more height thus avoiding various things in the foreground such as relay boxes. As it had started to rain I decided to call it a day and head home. Obviously, as I was driving home the sun came back out in some style, I can only hope that, with the greatest respect, the sun did not shine on March! Keywords: 67004 82231 10.45 Leeds-London King’s Cross 1A25 March level crossing

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