25. Steam Dreams Excursion with Mayflower-30.03.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 25. Steam Dreams Excursion with Mayflower-30.03.19

After meeting Andy in Tesco's car park of all places, we drove to a spot that I had reconnoitred in order to capture ex LNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' out on the mainline soon after the completion of its overhaul. In the evening, I went out again back to Northampton station to capture it in the dark.

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Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.

350248 & 350244, LN 06.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (2Y52, 1E), Milton Malsor SP738560
Thanks to Network Rail's controversial scheme to clear the lineside of excess vegetation and uncontrolled tree growth areas of trackside that were previously off-limits for photography have now been opened up. Here is a great example at Milton Malsor just south of Northampton. 350248 and 350244 pass the wonderfully open spot with the 06.54 Birmingham New Street to Euston. Notice in the background the large sign on the nearby M1 for Junction 15A and Northampton services.
Keywords: 350248 350244 06.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 2Y52 Milton Malsor SP738560

350104 & 350121, LN 07.05 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (2Y07, 2L), Milton Malsor SP738560
Another view now on offer to the photographer is this one looking south at Milton Malsor on the Northampton loop line. Thanks to Network Rail's efforts to clear the lineside of years of uncontrolled vegetation growth, 350104 and 350121 can be clearly seen working the 07.05 Euston to Birmingham New Street.
Keywords: 350104 350121 07.05 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 2Y07 Milton Malsor SP738560

350239, LN 08.14 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1Y16, 1L), Milton Malsor SP740562
This is a shot that I have been meaning to try out for years! It is one that I will have to try again as I have not got the position of 350239 quite right! It is seen passing over the M1 motorway between Northampton and Roade. The other problem with this bridge is that the parapet is a little deep meaning that the wheels and bogies of the train are covered up. However, it's and interesting location and will be one that I'll visit again
Keywords: 350239 08.14 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1Y16 Milton Malsor SP740562

61306, outward leg of Steam Dreams Excursion, 07.10 London Euston-Worcester Shrub Hill (1Z60), Milton Malsor SP739562
On a beautiful spring morning, 61306 'Mayflower' leads the Steam Dreams Excursion from Euston to Worcester Shrub Hill running as 1Z60. It is seen passing near Milton Malsor just south of Northampton. Unfortunately, due to the warm morning and that it was not working very hard here, there is absolutely no exhaust. However, the recently restored LNER B1 looks magnificent in its apple green livery with contrasting maroon coaching stock.
Keywords: 61306 Steam Dreams Excursion 07.10 London Euston-Worcester Shrub Hill 1Z60 Milton Malsor SP739562

33025, outward leg of Steam Dreams Excursion, 07.10 London Euston-Worcester Shrub Hill (1Z60), Milton Malsor SP739562
Veteran type 3 33025 (ex D6543) brings up the rear of the Steam Dreams Excursion that started out from Euston at 07.10 with LNER B1 61306 'Mayflower' leading. The Class 33 looks about as good as it can get in its rather drab West Coast Railway's livery having recently undergone a complete overhaul and considerably better than when I photographed it back in 1980 at a drab and wet bath Spa, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/26118464804/x33025-steam-dreams-excursion-07 The train, that ended up at Worcester Shrub Hill, is seen passing Milton Malsor just south of Northampton.
Keywords: 33025 Steam Dreams Excursion 07.10 London Euston-Worcester Shrub Hill 1Z60 Milton Malsor SP739562

350252, LN 19.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (2Y54, 4L), Northampton station
350252 waits at Northampton station to be joined by another unit on its way down from Birmingham New Street. The complete train will then work forward as the 21.02 to Euston. A very reasonable picture taken at 1/20 second, hand-held and at 3200 ISO. There was a little digital noise but this was easily taken care of using Neat Image.
Keywords: 350252 19.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 2Y54 Northampton station

350374, LN 20.50 KIngsheath-Northampton ECS (5N44), Northampton station
350374 has been stabled at Northampton's platform three having been brought down the short distance from the Kingsheath depot as 5N44. With the reduction in area of the hi-viz yellow front end on the front of these units, they do not photograph particularly well at night with these huge areas of green darkness!
Keywords: 350374 20.50 KIngsheath-Northampton ECS 5N44 Northampton station

61306, return leg of Steam Dreams Excursion, 17.37 Worcester Shrub Hill-London Euston (1Z62), Northampton station
61306 'Mayflower' arrives at Northampton station with the return 17.37 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Euston return Steam Dreams Excursion. Unfortunately, the view is spoilt by 350121 sitting at platform two. This had arrived on the rear of a London train to then be moved to the Kingsheath depot but promptly failed! Initially, 61306 faired better, leaving on-time and followed its booked path until it ran into problems at Watford Junction where it departed 97 minutes late! It then ran to Willesden presumably after the remaining beleaguered passengers had been de-trained.
Keywords: 61036 Steam Dreams Excursion 17.37 Worcester Shrub Hill-London Euston 1Z62 Northampton station

Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.