34. Trip to London-10.05.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 34. Trip to London-10.05.19

For my birthday, my wife treated me to an afternoon and evening in London the main purpose was to see the superb play The Last Temptation of Boris Johnson by the playwright Jonathan Maitland. Once again, we made the journey out to Finsbury Park to one of our favourite theatres.

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Images 1-14 of 14 displayed.

66773, 11.55 London Gateway-Hams Hall (4M45), Wembley Yard
On passing Wembley Yard, GBRF's 66773 is seen waiting to continue its journey north with the 11.55 London Gateway to Hams Hall Freightliner.
Keywords: 66773 11.55 London Gateway-Hams Hall 4M45 Wembley Yard

350111, LN 11.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (2Y08, 1E), London Euston station
Having arrived at Euston, our train formed by 350111, stands at the blocks. On this occasion, we took a slightly later train from Northampton, the 11.54 from Birmingham New Street that got us into Euston just after lunchtime.
Keywords: 350111 11.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 2Y08 London Euston station

350255, LN 13.26 Tring-London Euston (2T30, 1E), London Euston station
When the sun shines, Euston station is an acceptable place to be as the light permeates through to the platforms making it less dingey that it normally is! Sitting at platform eleven, 350255 waits to leave with the 13.26 local 'stopper' to Tring.
Keywords: 350255 13.26 Tring-London Euston 2T30 London Euston station

Pub sign, Euston Road
I must have passed this pub on the Euston Road between Euston and St. Pancras many times but have never noticed it or its sign. The heritage of pub signs is a whole subject in itself but this sign seemed seemed familiar to me. The slightly out of proportion Deltic in green wearing a Euston Flyer headboard was very similar to the cover of a BR booklet from the 1980s that was produced to commemorate the ending of the Deltics in service.
Keywords: Pub sign Euston Road

Cover, BR Deltic; the end of an era booklet (BR(E), 1981)
On getting back home with the image in my head of the pub sign from the Euston Road's Euston Flyer I riffled through my extensive book collection. Indeed, here is the image used to create the pub sign that came from an original British Railways poster from 1962 the copyright that is held by the National Railway Museum. The booklet was produced by BR (E) in December 1981 to mark the end of the Deltics on the ECML. Yes, the image has been reversed and altered very slightly but it is unmistakenly the same one.
Keywords: Cover, BR Deltic the end of an era booklet

91108, GN 16.30 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh (1S25, 9L), London King`s Cross station
Even though it only has fifteen minutes to its departure from Kings' Cross, the 16.30 to Edinburgh still has its tail lights illuminated from when it arrived in from the north earlier. 91108 is now un-named, but since its introduction in June 1988, has carried 'City of Leeds' and 'Thomas Cook' nameplates.
Keywords: 91108 16.30 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh 1S25 London King`s Cross station

43312, GR 17.00 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh (1S26, 10L) & 387117, GN 16.36 London King`s Cross-Peterborough (1P46, RT), London King`s Cross station
There is no doubting where this photograph is taken! A set of Mk. IV stock lead by a Class 91 will work a northbound express in platform zero. HST power car 43312 is leading the 17.00 to Edinburgh whilst just putting in an appearance to the right, 387117 will soon depart with the 1P46 16.36 to Peterborough.
Keywords: 43312 17.00 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh 1S26 387117 16.36 London King`s Cross-Peterborough 1P46 London King`s Cross station

Interior, 700052, GN 16.01 London King`s-Cross-Cambridge (2C40, 1L), London King`s Cross station
This is my first time inside a Desiro City class 700 that my wife and I took from here at King's Cross the short distance to Finsbury Park using our Oyster cards. The interiors are light and airy with an excellent two plus two seating arrangement. However, the seats are too upright and, in common with most modern trains, far too hard to be comfortable for any distance. The information screens are large and very clear. I am sure that these very 'functional' trains will do great service for many years wherever they are asked to do their work.
Keywords: Interior 700052 16.01 London King`s-Cross-Cambridge 2C40 London King`s Cross station

700052, GN 16.21 London King`s Cross-Cambridge, Finsbury Park station
My wife and I have just alighted from 700052 here at Finsbury Park having made the short journey from King's Cross. Traveling on the Great Northern 16.21 King's Cross to Cambridge marked my first experience of a class 700 unit. They struck me as very functional and practical trains that had particularly airy interiors.
Keywords: 700052, GN 16.21 London King`s Cross-Cambridge, Finsbury Park station

313056, 16.15 Moorgate-Welwyn Garden City (2V09, RT), Finsbury Park station
The 16.15 Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City stopper service has recently emerged from the depths of London to continue its journey to Welwyn. The 2V09 is formed of veteran units 313056 and out of sight at the back is 313041. There appeared to be a problem as the unit sat for some time in Finsbury Park station with a lot of standing about. However, it made up any delays as it arrived in Welwyn on-time.
Keywords: 313056 16.15 Moorgate-Welwyn Garden City 2V09 Finsbury Park station

313041, 16.15 Moorgate-Welwyn Garden City (2V09, RT), Finsbury Park station
Since my last visit to Finsbury Park station huge development has taken place to the western side of the station as can be seen here. Two large tower blocks are under construction that has necessitated the temporary closure of the entrance from Wells Terrace. This meant a walk all the way around from the main entrance to get to our destination, the superb Park Theatre. Before we left, 313041 waits to leave with the 16.15 Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City 2V09 service.
Keywords: 313041 16.15 Moorgate-Welwyn Garden City 2V09 Finsbury Park station

87002, stabled, London Euston station
87002 'Royal Sovereign' sits on the blocks at London Euston having brought in the empty coaching stock for the 'Highland' Caledonian Sleeper earlier in the evening from Wembley. The train had already left by the time we arrived back at Euston and we left just too early for the 'Lowland' so I missed both of them! Time is about to be called on this June 1973 AC electric as its work with CS will come to end when the 'Highland' sleeper goes over to the Mk. IV stock by the end of next month as this loco. is not compatible with the new stock.
Keywords: 87002 stabled London Euston station

350369 & 350258, LN 22.24 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (2N31, 1L), London Euston station
Our train back from London to Northampton waits at Euston's platform ten formed of 350369 and 350258. The 22.24 Euston to Birmingham New Street was busy when we left but there were spare seats, by the time we reached Northampton, it had quietened down well with most passengers sleeping! This photograph again clearly illustrates the problems of photographing London Northwestern's new front end livery in poor lighting; it looks awful!
Keywords: 350369 350258 22.24 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 2N31 London Euston station

Tickets, Northampton-London Euston-Northampton
Due to us not knowing what time the play we went to London for would finish, my wife opted for open super off-peak return tickets. Not bad value this time for the two of us.
Keywords: Tickets, Northampton-London Euston-Northampton

Images 1-14 of 14 displayed.