1. Journey there via ECML & Hull to Scarborough & York-15.04.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 29. A Yorkshire Ramble-15 & 16.04.19 > 1. Journey there via ECML & Hull to Scarborough & York-15.04.19

We stopped off at a number of spots on the ECML to get some class 91 and HST shots on a glorious spring morning. By the time we reached the East Yorkshire coast, it was cold and cloudy being just eight degrees! Our overnight stay was in York at a Travelodge on the Hull Road. After a superb curry, we had an hour at York station.

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Images 1-47 of 47 displayed.

91113, GR 08.03 London King`s Cross-Leeds (1D05, 1L), Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436
91103 leads the 08.03 King's Cross to Leeds past Frinkley lane crossing just north of Barkston Junction. This is a delightfully remote spot that I have visited before being one that offers wide and open views of the line offering many different photographic opportunities. However, the pothole ridden track to the spot did nothing for the suspension of Andy's ageing Nissan Micra!
Keywords: 91113 08.03 London King`s Cross-Leeds 1D05 Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436

43296, GR 07.34 Harrogate-London King`s Cross (1A15, 3L), Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436
43296 (ex set 254021) storms past Frinkley Lane crossing leading the 07.34 Harrogate to King's Cross service. Frinkley Lane is between Grantham and Newark and is a great spot to appreciate the passing express train in full cry, something that this HST has done tens of thousands of times since its debut on the ECML in 1978.
Keywords: 43296 07.34 Harrogate-London King`s Cross 1A15 Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436

180102, GC 08.06 London King`s-Cross-Sunderland (1N90, RT), Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436
In glorious spring sunshine, 180102 works the 08.06 King's Cross to Sunderland 1N90. It is seen approaching Frinkley Lane crossing about five miles north of Grantham. Whilst the crossing is now just for pedestrians it is shown on my 1980 Ordnance Survey Landranger map as being a proper level crossing for a minor (white) road running between the villages of Hougham and Honnington.
Keywords: 180102 08.06 London King`s-Cross-Sunderland 1N90 Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436

180108, GC 06.42 Sunderland-London King`s Cross (1A60, 28L), Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436
Evoking the style of many of my early photographs sees 180108 from a very low angle passing Frinkley Lane crossing just north of Grantham. The Grand Central class 180 is working the 1A60 06.42 Sunderland to King's Cross that was running rather late, eventually arriving at its destination twenty eight minutes down.
Keywords: 180108 06.42 Sunderland-London King`s Cross 1A60 Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436

82227 & 91132, GR 08.45 Leeds-London King`s Cross (1A18, 5L), Claypole Barnby Lane crossing
82227 leads with 91132 'City of Durham' at the rear passes Claypole with the 08.45 Leeds to King's Cross. Claypole loop can be seen to the left of the picture as can the level crossing on Barnby Lane, one of three in the village.
Keywords: 82227 91132 08.45 Leeds-London King`s Cross 1A18 Claypole Barnby Lane crossing

91127, GR 08.33 London King`s Cross-Leeds (1D06, 1L), Claypole Barnby Lane crossing
When the Azumas enter service in about a month's time, it will be the workings to Leeds, such as this one, the 08.33 from King's Cross that will be their first. The train is seen passing the Lincolnshire village of Claypole from the Barnby Lane level crossing. 91127, introduced in December 1990, and the superb Mk. IV stock has an uncertain future, surely being too good to simply send to the scrap man....or are they?
Keywords: 91127 08.33 London King`s Cross-Leeds 1D06 Claypole Barnby Lane crossing LNER

180109, HT 08.23 Hull-London King`s Cross (1A92, 1E), Claypole Barnby Lane crossing
One of Hull Train's notoriously unreliable class 180s pass Claypole's Barnby Lane level crossing with the 08.23 Hull to King's Cross. Hull Trains has been struggling with availability of these technically advanced units for a while now to the point here they have had to hire in redundant HST sets to cover whilst repairs and modifications take place. How ironic that forty year old trains are proving to be more reliable than units less than half their age!
Keywords: 180109 08.23 Hull-London King`s Cross 1A92 Claypole Barnby Lane crossing

82216 & 91112, GR 06.57 Edinburgh-London King`s Cross (1E04 2L), Cromwell Lane crossing SK792616
DVT 82216 leads the 06.57 Edinburgh to King's Cross with 91112 at the rear. The train is seen about to pass over Cromwell Lane level crossing a short distance north of Newark. In this final incarnation before removal from the ECML these trains look very smart in their former Virgin East Coast livery with the LNER branding. Notice the milepost to the extreme left of the picture indicating that this service has one hundred and twenty five miles to go in order to reach its destination.
Keywords: 82216 91112 06.57 Edinburgh-London King`s Cross 1E04 Cromwell Lane crossing SK792616

91111, GR 09.00 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh (1S09, 2L), Cromwell Lane crossing SK792616
In its one-off and very distinctive livery, 91111 'For the fallen' passes Cromwell level crossing with the 09.00 King's Cross to Edinburgh express. I am standing on some large piles of spoil that had been in-filled by the landowner that had give some height at this spot that improved the perspective considerably.
Keywords: 91111 09.00 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh 1S09 Cromwell Lane crossing SK792616

Carlton signal box (BR, 1976)
Carlton signal box is a BR structure dating from 1976 and is not a particularly attractive building! It is actually designated as a crossing box linked to Doncaster PSB. In the event of a systems failure it can take full control of the local interlocking over this section of line. It is is also used for staff training due to the fact that it can work independently if so needed. In fact, at the time we were here, there were a number of staff in the box so perhaps some sort of training was taking place.
Keywords: Carlton signal box (BR, 1976)

800XXX, 09.41 York-Peterborough (5Q03), Great Northern Inn car park, Carlton
The 09.41 York to Peterborough 5Q03 staff training run passes Carlton between Retford and Newark. Unfortunately, I was able to catch the number of this class 800 Azuma as it raced past me heading south. Unlike the HSTs and class 91s that they are to replace in the coming months, their numbers are on the lower bodyside just behind the cab door making them difficult to decipher when passing at speed.
Keywords: 800XXX 09.41 York-Peterborough 5Q03 Great Northern Inn car park Carlton

43312, GR 09.06 London King`s Cross-York (1N81, 1L), Great Northern Inn car park, Carlton
The 09.06 King's Cross to York passes Carlton between Retford and Newark. HST power car 43312 is leading the train, a semi-fast working in it's final few weeks of operation prior to the Azumas entering service. Ironic that these were exactly the sort of services that the Deltics operated in their twilight months. The picture is taken leaning over the fence of the appropriately named Great Northern Inn car park.
Keywords: 43312 09.06 London King`s Cross-York 1N81 Great Northern Inn car park, Carlton

43305, GR 07.30 Edinburgh-London King`s Cross (1E05, 13L), Great Northern Inn car park, Carlton
43305 leads the 1E05 07.30 Edinburgh to King's Cross service past Carlton in Nottinghamshire with about one hundred and thirty miles to go. Very much in the twilight of its operation, this power car has been an Eastern Region one for all of its life. It was part of the second batch of HSTs delivered in early 1979 as part of set 254027.
Keywords: 43305 07.30 Edinburgh-London King`s Cross 1E05 Great Northern Inn car park, Carlton

Class 82, GR 10.02 York-London King`s Cross (1Y82, 10L), Carlton level crossing
An unidentified class 82 DVT leads the 10.02 York to King's Cross semi-fast past Carlton level crossing between Retford and Newark. Carlton crossing signal box can just be seen emerging behind the roof of the train. I was lucky with this image not to have a vehicle blocking the view in the foreground. A foreign registered and obviously lost HGV was attempting a pretty impressive turn round just off to the right having inadvertently come off the A1 at the nearby junction. This manoeuvre, whilst very impressive, did block the traffic from waiting right in front of the gates ruining the shot!
Keywords: Class 82 10.02 York-London King`s Cross 1Y82 Carlton level crossing

82208, GR 10.15 Leeds-London King`s Cross (1A22, 6L), Eaton Wood SK723774
Not a great shot but one that I wanted in order to replicate a couple that I took at this location many years earlier prior to the ruinous installation of the overhead wiring. The location is Eaton Wood just south of Retford that, if the trees had not grown so much to the left, would be visible in the distance. DVT 82208 is leading the 10.15 Leeds to King's Cross a service that is likely to be one of the first to go over to an Azumu in about three weeks time.
Keywords: 82208 10.15 Leeds-London King`s Cross 1A22 Eaton Wood SK723774

91125, GR 09.30 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh (1S10, 3E), Eaton Wood SK723774
Another very average shot but one that I have included for posterity. I took a number of pictures at Eaton Wood in the late 1970s and early 1980s and it was interesting to return to see how the spot had changed. I took no pictures from this actual angle but I did take some from the other end of the bridge, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/25410452004/x55003-15-00-london-kings-cross-aberdeen Then there was an up loop, a lot less trackside vegetation and no electrification hardware the latter two that conspire to ruin the modern day image!
Keywords: 91125 09.30 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh 1S10 Eaton Wood SK723774

82205, GR 06.48 Glasgow Central-London King`s Cross (1E08, 6L), Eaton Lane crossing SK723779
Adorned with the Flying Scotsman thistle and a Saltire on the cab side, DVT 82205 leads the 06.48 Glasgow Central to King's Cross. The train is leaning into the sharp right-hand curve just south of Retford. This superb spot is a crossing where a bridleway traverses the line known as Eaton Lane crossing. It affords superb views of the line in both directions but is more impressive for southbound trains due to the curve as seen here.
Keywords: 82205 06.48 Glasgow Central-London King`s Cross 1E08 Eaton Lane crossing SK723779

180113, HT 09.48 London King`s Cross-Hull (1H02, 1L), Eaton Lane crossing SK723779
A little into the light but still a nice picture of Hull Trains' 180113 at full line speed passing Eaton Lane crossing, where a bridleway crosses the ECML about three miles south of Retford. The five-car Adelante was working the 09.48 King's Cross to Hull where it arrived just one minute late. Reliability of these relatively modern hand-me-down units has not been good to the point where Hull Trains are drafting in HST sets to cover for them whilst extensive modifications are undertaken.
Keywords: 180113 09.48 London King`s Cross-Hull 1H02 Eaton Lane crossing SK723779

1589087, NT 11.24 Sheffileld-Bridlington (1W44, 1E), Cottingham station
Cottingham is a large village to the north west of Hull that over the years has grown, as has Hull itself, to the point where it has been subsumed to become a suburb of the city. However, it retains its own character and has a well used railway station with a regular service. Here, 158087 arrives with the 11.24 Sheffield to Bridlington service.
Keywords: 1589087 11.24 Sheffileld-Bridlington 1W44 Cottingham station

158817, NT 13.08 Bridlington-Sheffield (1J48, 4L), Cottingham foot crossing
Just to the north of Cottingham station is a foot crossing. Having passed the level crossing over Northgate, 158817 slows for its stop at the station passing the busy foot crossing with the 13.08 Bridlington to Sheffield. This service requires the train to reverse at Hull, the next station after Cottingham.
Keywords: 158817 13.08 Bridlington-Sheffield 1J48 Cottingham foot crossing

Beverley (Station) signal box (NE, 1911)
Originally named Beverley Station signal box to become just Beverley after the closure of the North signal box, the North Eastern 1911 box is grade II listed. It retains many of its original features such as the slate roof, finials along with the timber window frames and steps. It is described as being a 'good example of the type having group value with the station buildings.' The relatively recently built houses behind the box blot out a once clear view of one of Beverley's other architectural gems, the wonderful gothic minster.
Keywords: Beverley Station signal box

158867, NT 13.30 Hull-Scarborough (1G12, RT), Beverley station
158867 arrives at Beverley station crossing the town's busy level crossing. The train is passing the 1911 North Eastern signal box that no controls a whole host of colour lights as seen in this picture.
Keywords: 158867 13.30 Hull-Scarborough 1G12 Beverley station

158860, NT 12.24 Sheffield-Bridlington (1W45, 1E), Hutton Cranswick station
158860 is about to leave Hutton Cranswick station with the 12.24 Sheffield to Bridlington 1W45 service. The building to the left is described as being the 'old station works' is now converted to flats for rental. Notice the contractors undertaking work to upgrade the station lighting to LED units
Keywords: 158860 12.24 Sheffield-Bridlington 1W45 Hutton Cranswick station

Former station building, Hutton Cranswick station
The grand former station building at Hutton Cranswick. Now, the station access is to the side of the building that has basic facilities but was undergoing some upgrading to its lighting during our visit.
Keywords: Former station building Hutton Cranswick station

158901, NT 14.30 Hull-Bridlington (1G14, RT), Nafferton station
158901 forms the 14.30 Hull to Bridlington service as it approaches Nafferton station as it passes over the level crossing. Up until November 1989, there was a delightful North Eastern box that was located about where I am standing to take this picture. It closed, along with three others, with all the crossings they controlled becoming automatic half barriers.
Keywords: 158901 14.30 Hull-Bridlington 1G14 Nafferton station

158867, NT 14.58 Scarborough-Sheffield (1J51, 3L), Bridlington station
After such a lovely start to the day in the East Midlands, by the time we reached the east coast, the sun had gone in and it was just seven degrees making it feel more like February than mid-April! Under dismal skies at Bridlington, 158867 passes the semaphores and the signal box as it leaves with the 14.58 Scarborough to Sheffield. Despite appearances, only the track in the foreground that leads to the south facing bay and the two tracks to the extreme right are in use. Despite retaining their semaphores, the sidings to the left have not seen a train over them for some time!
Keywords: 158867 14.58 Scarborough-Sheffield 1J51 Bridlington station

158901, NT 16.04 Bridlington-Hull (1G19, 3E), Bridlington station
On the windswept and desolate platform at Bridlington, yes. it's mid-April, 158901 sits idle waiting to work the 16.04 local stopper service to Hull. Bridlington station is a superb structure complete with restored canopies and lovely wrought ironwork. It has a lively atmosphere and reminds you of times past when many thousands of holidaymakers arrived by train at the station for their week in the sun!
Keywords: 158901 16.04 Bridlington-Hull 1G19 Bridlington station

158908, NT 13.24 Sheffield-Scarborough (1W46,1L), Bridlington station
Northern's 158908 pauses at Bridlington station whilst working the 13.24 Sheffield to Scarborough. This platform and side of the station is not so attractive as the central covered part as seen in the previous picture. The nasty footbridge roof and lift tower is also a blot on the otherwise Victorian station landscape.
Keywords: 158908 13.24 Sheffield-Scarborough 1W46 Bridlington station

Frontage, Bridlington station
The impressive frontage of Bridlington station. The station first opened in October 1846 by the York and North Midland Railway and had a train shed designed by George Townsend Andrews very similar to those found at Filey and Beverley. However, due to the huge success and growth of Bridlington, largely in part due to the railway, the present station was built in 1912 by the North Eastern when six platforms were in use. The covered station concourse is the home to a number of small businesses as well as the ticket office and a café/bar that is heavily railway-themed.
Keywords: Frontage Bridlington station

Former steps, Filey Holiday Camp station
Through the daffodils (Narcissus) can just be seen the iron railings that led down the steps to the former Filey Holiday Camp station. At the bottom of the slope the land flattens out and this was where the purpose-built station building was situated along with a large open area for the holiday makers to wait to be taken into the holiday camp that was a short distance away under the A165 main road.
Keywords: Former steps Filey Holiday Camp station

Former pedestrian entrance, Filey Holiday Camp station
The gated entrance to the former Filey Holiday Camp station. This was a minor entrance for passengers, the main entrance being via a tunnel under the A165 that is just to my right. This tunnel took the passengers straight into the holiday camp complex for their week of fun in the sun - 'Hi-de-Hi!'
Keywords: Former pedestrian entrance Filey Holiday Camp station

Former platform, Filey Holiday Camp station
After descending a steep bank and clawing my way through some dense vegetation, I finally came across the remains of Filey Holiday Camp station. The platforms are very much still in-place that used to accommodate the trains bringing hundreds of holiday makers for their annual week away. The station had a remarkably short life span, reflecting the changing holiday habits of the masses. It was opened in 1947 just after the war during the austerity years when Britains largely stayed in the UK for their holidays. However, with increased affluence and the relative cheapness of the foreign package holiday, it closed in 1977 with the holiday camp eventually succumbing in 1983.
Keywords: Former platform Filey Holiday Camp station

Former platform & trackbed, Filey Holiday Camp station
The concrete platforms as constructed by the LNER in 1947 at Filey Holiday Camp station. They are still very much in place over forty years after the station was closed by BR in 1977. It was situated at the end of a short branch line off the Yorkshire Coast Line. It had four long terminus island platforms to cater for the large number of holiday makers arriving and departing from the holiday camp each Saturday during the holiday season. Initially it hosted long locomotive hauled holiday specials with run round loops, but in the latter years, DMUs that simply operated shuttles to and from Hull and Scarborough to drop off and collect the holiday makers from service trains. In the distance lighting posts can still be seen standing, some at quite jaunty angles as their steel reinforcing pieces corrode away and the concrete looses its strength.
Keywords: Former platform trackbed Filey Holiday Camp station

Former visitor tunnel, Filey Holiday Camp station
This was an eerie spot! The tunnels that ran under the A165 road are still extant if virtually filled in and full of water. These short tunnels allowed the holidaymakers, who arrived and departed from Filey Holiday Camp station, just behind me, to safely access the camp complex without crossing the main road above. They were taken through the tunnels in motorised led trains of brightly covered cars with their baggage following behind on flat-bed cars rather like those seen at airports today. This is all that remains of the holiday camp complex now as it was flattened in various stages between 1988 and 2003 and has now been built on to become the inevitable housing estate. A reminder of a different time in our social history when these 'Hi-de-Hi' styles of holidays were so popular.
Keywords: Former visitor tunnel Filey Holiday Camp station

68032, stabled, Scarborough station
In preparation for the introduction of locomotive hauled services with the newly built Mk. V stock TransPennine Express have been stabling class 68s at various strategic locations along the route the trains will operate on. 68032 'Destroyer' sits at Scarborough station. The class 68s are owned by Beacon Rail which leases fourteen of the class (68019-68032) to TransPennine Express. I still struggle with them not having any yellow hi-viz paint on their front ends, something I will have to get used to as more locos. and units appear looking like this.
Keywords: 68032 Scarborough station

Seamer signal box (NE, 1910)
Looking very smart having had a lick of paint, Seamer signal box is seen from the station platform. This box was built by the North Eastern in 1910 and was constructed within a few feet of the much earlier York and North Midland box. Rather bizarrely, for many years the boxes stood side by side until the earlier structure was demolished in the 1970s.
Keywords: Seamer signal box

Malton signal box (NE, c.1873)
A signal box that I have passed many times but never actually have taken a picture of is here at Malton. It sits a short distance east of the station at a busy level crossing with a road junction at either side of the line. Indeed, getting a picture with no cars in the shot took a minute or two! The box is a lovely example of a North Eastern S1a type design dating from circa 1873 and is in superb and un-molested condition. It controls no semaphores but contains a relatively early 1966 IFS (Individual Function Switch) that was extended in 1993. When it was first installed, two other local boxes, Malton West and Malton Station boxes were abolished. Today, the box still works absolute block east to Weaverthorpe and west to Kirkham Abbey.
Keywords: Malton signal box

Kirkham Abbey signal box (NE, c.1873)
The delightful Kirkham Abbey signal box and its mechanical gates are seen in the gathering evening gloom. The box is a North Eastern Railway structure dating from circa 1873 built signal box was built type S1a design and it contains a McKenzie & Holland sixteen-lever frame. The box is a grade II listed structure and according to Historic England it is built in "red brick with slate roofs. The ground floor has 2 round-headed windows with glazing bars to the northeast front. A first-floor ashlar bond supports an iron bracketed balcony which runs around 3 sides of the building. This is reached up a set of external wooden steps. The north-east front has 2 large sliding sashes with glazing bars, side walls have a single similar window each, that to the south-east with a door as well. Rear front has a projecting central stack, flanked by single round-headed windows with glazing bars." *
* https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1315766
Keywords: Kirkham Abbey signal box

Barton Hill signal box (LNER, 1936)
Barton Hill signal box is an LNER type 13 structure dating from 1936 that contains a 16 lever reconditioned frame. The barriers are very unusual in that they are mechanically worked by the wheel that can be seen silhouetted inside the box. I last visited the box in 1989 and took a virtually identical picture then and the scene was very similar. The only absences in 2019 were a number of cast signs that pre-dated the 'relatively' modern box!
Keywords: Barton Hill signal box

Stensall signal box (NE, 1901)
The North Eastern Strensall signal box dates from 1901. Whilst an impressive structure it has been spoilt somewhat by modernisation such as UPVC replacement windows. However, it still retains its slate roof and finials. This is the final box on the line from Scarborough before York.
Keywords: Stensall signal box NE, 1901

185127, TP 16.56 Liverpool Lime Street-Scarborough (1E45, 11L), Strensall level crossing
185127 passes Strensall with the 16.56 Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough 1E45 service. It is about to pass over the level crossing that divides the village in half and is just passing the former station building that closed on 22.03.1930.
Keywords: 185127 16.56 Liverpool Lime Street-Scarborough 1E45 Strensall level crossing

144008, stabled, York station
A scene soon to disappear as the Pacers are withdrawn from service by the end of the year. 144008 is one of thirteen two-car units operated by Northern and is seen stabled at York station.
Keywords: 144008 York station

185146, unidentified Scarborough working & 1501123, stabled, York station
Something obviously went wrong at York station as 184146 sat empty and switched off at platform five for almost all the time we were at the station. For quite some time, passengers were waiting for the doors to be opened which they eventually did and it left for Scarborough. Unfortunately, I failed to identify on Realtime Trains what this working was. Behind the class 185 is 150123 stabled in the remaining north-facing bay platform.
Keywords: 185146 Scarborough working 1501123 York station

68024 & 170472, stabled, York station
A picture that clearly illustrates how different types of lighting are recorded on modern cameras (and silver halide film for that matter). In this picture, taken at York, there is LED lighting to the left in the main train shed that is recorded as a very clean and white light. However, to the right is more traditional sodium illumination that gives the 'warm' orange and hazy lighting effect. Photoshop can correct the colour hue thrown up by different light sources but I have kept this virtually 'as taken' to show the effects. 68024 'Centaur' stands stabled at platform two whilst 170472 does the same next to it.
Keywords: 68024 170472 York station

185130, TP 19.47 Manchester Airport-Middlesborough (1P89, 9L), York station
Running a little late, TransPennine Express' 185130 pauses at York station's platform eleven with the 19.47 Manchester Airport to Middlesborough. The camera coped well in the low lighting conditions, using 2000 ISO I hand-held the camera for 1/8 second utilising the lens' image stabiliser function. There was a little digital noise to take care of but close examination reveals that the picture is pin-sharp. I am not sure as to whether this is my steady hand or the clever in-camera technology!
Keywords: 185130 19.47 Manchester Airport-Middlesborough 1P89 York station

150112, stabled, York station
Up until the track was extensively remodelled at York at the same time that it was wired in the late 1980s, there were two north facing bay platforms here. One was removed leaving platform eight as the sole remaining north facing bay that was also electrified. I wonder if, as pressure continues to rise with increased numbers of trains and passengers, the old bay platform to the right will be re-instated? 150112 rests stabled, probably over night, ready for its first working next morning.
Keywords: 150112 York station

185146, unidentified Scarborough working & 60039, 18.47 Jarrow-Lindsey oil refinery (6D43), York station
This was a picture that, once again, pushed the camera to the limits of its operation! 60039 'Dove Holes', leading the 6D43 18.47 Jarrow to Lindsey oil train, did not stop at York station but it had slowed to a walking pace meaning a picture was just possible. Using a shutter speed of 1/10 sec. enabled the train to be captured with just a hint of motion blur, there is actually more in the lady walking by the side of 185146! If I had waited until the train had cleared the footbridge and composed a better picture, it would have been hopelessly blurred as it was picking up speed rapidly. I really like the challenges of taking pictures after dark and also like the completely different mood that can be created in an image.
Keywords: 185146 Scarborough working 60039 18.47 Jarrow-Lindsey oil refinery 6D43 York station

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