37. Azuma launch day on the ECML-15.05.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 37. Azuma launch day on the ECML-15.05.19

A superb trip out on the ECML that was the final day before the introduction into revenue earning service of the Azumas. Despite this, there was, in fact, a press and invited celebrity return working from King's Cross to Leeds as well as a number of staff training and mileage accumulation runs. I was accompanied by fellow enthusiast Mike with us traveling in my Combo van. The weather can only be described as stunning!

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Images 1-44 of 44 displayed.

92010, CS 19.50 Fort William, 21.43 Aberdeen, 20.45 Inverness-London Euston (1M16, RT), Milton crossing
Doing its best to camouflage itself, 92010 leads the up 'Highland' sleeper past Milton crossing between Blisworth and Roade on the southern WCML. By this stage, Caledonian Sleeper had introduced the new Mk. V sleeper stock to its 'Lowland' service that passes this spot about an earlier before this one. Within a month the plan is to withdraw the thirty-year-old Mk. III stock as seen here with the transformation to the new stock then complete.
Keywords: 92010 19.50 Fort William 21.43 Aberdeen 20.45 Inverness-London Euston 1M16 Milton crossing

Ketton signal box (Mid, 1900)
I have a number of photographs of Ketton signal box over the years and very little has changed since the first one was taken in 1981. The 1900 Midland structure still retains many of its original features from its windows, the finials and the balcony now in use to hold plant pots! Unfortunately, the wooden steps have been replaced by a horrible galvanized carbuncle and the gates superseded by barriers way back in 1974. The box and associated semaphores are scheduled for replacement very soon.
Keywords: Ketton signal box

170115, XC 07.21 Stansted Airport-Birmingham New Street (1N45, 4L), Stamford station
It's good to see that Stamford station still retains its original wrought iron and timber footbridge with so many having been swept away to be replaced by ghastly modern and over-engineered structures. Under clear blue skies but, unfortunately, in the shade, Cross Country's 170115 arrives with the 07.21 Stansted Airport to Birmingham New Street service. This train was busy and it begs the question as to whether a two-car DMU is an appropriate formation for a service such as this?
Keywords: 170115 07.21 Stansted Airport-Birmingham New Street 1N45 Stamford station

Stamford station
Designed by the renowned architect Sancton Wood and built to a mock-Gothic style, Stamford station building was opened in 1848. The style of the building emulates the nearby Burghley House, home to the famous horse trials. The station has undergone some considerable restoration and improvements, indeed, during our visit the CCTV cameras were being replaced. The former Midland signal box can be seen at the end of the far platform.
Keywords: Stamford station

43311, GR 07.34 Harrogate-London King`s Cross (1A15, 10L), Essendine TF043129
A scene that was typical of much of the southern ECML at Essendine between Peterborough and Grantham. Looking north up Stoke Bank HST power car 43311 leads the 07.34 Harrogate to London King's Cross. When I first visited this spot in August 1979, I was photographing Deltics from this bridge probably cursing the HSTs, see.....https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29682537404/x2-40-101-up-parcels-working-essendine. Forty years later, this day is the final one before the introduction of the Azumas that will precipitate the withdrawal of the HSTs on this route.
Keywords: 43311 07.34 Harrogate-London King`s Cross 1A15 Essendine TF043129

82204 & 91102, 05.48 Edinburgh-London King`s Cross (1E02, 8L), Essendine TF043129
DVT 82204 leads the 1E02 05.48 Edinburgh to King's Cross past Essendine at the southern end of Stoke Bank. 91102 'City of York' was providing the power to the train at the rear of the set of Mk. IV stock. Despite the elevated viewpoint atop of a farm occupation bridge, the wires still interfere with the image, a problem all too common on our electrified lines.
Keywords: 82204 91102 05.48 Edinburgh-London King`s Cross 1E02 Essendine TF043129

158852, EM 07.57 Norwich-Liverpool Lime Street (1R70, 3L), Essendine TF043129
East Midland's two-car 158852 takes the down slow past Essendine at the southern end of Stoke Bank working the 07.57 Norwich to Liverpool service. Much as I quite like the class 158s and their class 159 cousins that are both based on the Mk. III coach, making a 237-mile journey from Norwich to Lime Street is not at all appealing!
Keywords: 158852 07.57 Norwich-Liverpool Lime Street 1R70 Essendine TF043129

91107, GR 08.33 London King`s Cross-Leeds (1D06, 34L), Essendine TF043129
91107 'Skyfall' leads the 08.33 King's Cross to Leeds service past Essendine as it commences the climb of Stoke Bank, a steady 1:200 for about twelve miles. This service, along with most on this day was running late due to issues in the Stevenage area, this train arrived at Leeds thirty-four minutes down. I have visited this spot a number of times over the years, not least when the Deltics were in operation The scene was somewhat different back in 1980, see...... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29682538204/x3-55-011-08-05-london-king-s-cross
Keywords: 91107 08.33 London King`s Cross-Leeds 1D06 Essendine TF043129

801201, 09.41 Peterborough-Doncaster (5Q61), Essendine TF043129
The future is here and on-test at Essendine! 800201 is presently un-branded and operating a test run as the 09.41 Peterborough to Doncaster. This day marked the press launch of the class 800 Azumas with a return King's Cross to Leeds service carrying invited guests and dignitaries to experience the new train. Unlike the majority of other services that were operating late due to issues in the Stevenage area, this 'special' arrived on-time; strange!
Keywords: 801201 09.41 Peterborough-Doncaster 5Q61 Essendine TF043129

158012, EM 06.47 Liverpool Lime Street-Norwich (1L05, 3L), Swayfield SK994231
The village of Swayfiled is approximately two-thirds of the way up Stoke Bank from the south in a very quiet area of east Lincolnshire. The bucolic peace and quiet are periodically broken by passing trains on the ECML such as 158012 working the 06.47 Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich. It is seen in the glorious spring sunshine on the up slow line, however, I was not so lucky with the sun in August 1978 but the subject matter was a whole lot more exciting, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/26818862604/x55015-09-35-hull-london-king-s-cross
Keywords: 158012, EM 06.47 Liverpool Lime Street-Norwich (1L05, 3L), Swayfield SK994231

91110, GR 09.30 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh (1S10, 1E), Swayfield SK994231
In its unmistakeable unique livery, 91110 'Battle of Britain Memorial Flight' leads the 1S10 09.30 King's Cross to Edinburgh up Stoke Bank. This service was running fairly late at this point, time that it largely made up by the time it reached Scotland. The train is seen, somewhat compromised by the catenary, passing Swayfiled between Peterborough and Grantham.
Keywords: 91110 09.30 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh 1S10 Swayfield SK994231

158862, EM 08.57 Norwich-Liverpool Lime Street (1R74, 3L), High brigde, Westby SK962271
Taken rather into the sun from the lofty heights of the appropriately named High bridge 158862 works the 08.57 Norwich to Liverpool Lime Street. This is a bridge that I first visited back in August 1978, then, the view was much more open with the virtual absence of trees on the embankments and obviously with no electrification hardware. However, the high tension transmission wires and pylons are still there, see https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/25410359604/x55017-15-00-london-kings-cross-aberdeen The other difference worth noting is the difference in what is seen running then and now!
Keywords: 158862 08.57 Norwich-Liverpool Lime Street 1R74 High brigde, Westby SK962271

82201 & 91112, 09.45 Leeds-London King`s Cross (1A20, RT), High bridge, Westby SK962271
Having surmounted Stoke summit and passed through the tunnel, DVT 82201 is leading the 09.45 Leeds to London King's Cross with 91112 pushing at the rear. The train is about to pass under High bridge near the village of Westby between Grantham and Peterborough. It is interesting to compare this scene with a photograph taken at the same location in August 1978 that illustrates the result of unmanaged embankments and is the reason why the team of NR staff is seen in the distance starting on what will prove to be a pretty mammoth task of tree clearance! See.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/25410357404/x55009-14-13-york-london-king-s-cross
Keywords: 82201 91112 09.45 Leeds-London King`s Cross 1A20 High bridge, Westby SK962271

43251, GR 07.30 Edinburgh-London King`s Cross (1E05, 11L), High bridge, Westby SK962271
The 07.30 Edinburgh to King's Cross HST service thunders down Stoke bank with 43251 leading the train. It is seen from the top of High bridge that lies at the end of a long and very rutted track west of the small Lincolnshire village of Westby. Unfortunately, the bridge parapets have had huge 'anti-suicide' tops added thus a ladder is needed to gain a vantage point such as this one. Whenever I go out, I take one of two ladders with me that usually are used sometime during the trip!
Keywords: 4325 07.30 Edinburgh-London King`s Cross 1E05 High bridge, Westby SK962271

43238, GR 10.00 London King`s Cross-Aberdeen (1S11, 2E), High bridge Westby SK962271
43238 'National Railway Museum 40 Years 1975-2015' leads the 10.00 King's Cross to Aberdeen as it approaches the top of the climb of Stoke bank taken from High bridge near the village of Westby. 43238 was an early 1977 power car that first saw use on the Western Region as part of set 253019. The name carried by the power car is the third it has carried, indeed in 1985, it also was named 'National Railway Museum First Ten Years 1975-1985' carrying 'City of Dundee' between 2003 and 2007.
Keywords: 43238 10.00 London King`s Cross-Aberdeen 1S11 High bridge Westby SK962271

158788, EM 07.42 Liverpool Lime Street-Norwich (1L06, 6L), High Dyke SK942289
There is a reason for taking this picture that is totally the wrong side for the sun, and it's this..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/25410350604/x55018-10-55-leeds-london-kings-cross The Deltic is seen in August 1978 passing the same spot even though the angle is slightly different due to the modern day restrictions imposed by palisade fencing. East Midlands 158788 is working the 07.42 Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich past High Dyke on the northern approach to Stoke tunnel. The flat area in the background that is now covered by trees used to be the location of the High Dyke sidings that handled wagons from the nearby ironstone workings towards Colsterworth.
Keywords: 158788 07.42 Liverpool Lime Street-Norwich 1L06 High Dyke SK942289

91106, GR 10.33 London King`s Cross-Leeds (1D10, RT), Grantham station
Mike and I took a break at Grantham station buying a much-needed coffee from the platform located Costa (other baristas are available!). Whilst we sat and enjoyed our coffee, 91106 arrived with the 10.33 King's Cross to Leeds. I was pleased to see that common sense has prevailed at Grantham since my last visit and that the gate lines have been removed allowing access to the platforms without having to explain the purpose of our visit to staff. We were also surprised and pleased to see that there were a number of free one-hour wait parking spaces just outside of the station entrance.
Keywords: 91106 10.33 London King`s Cross-Leeds 1D10 Grantham station

Poster, Grantham station
Grantham station was adorned with a number of large posters, such as this one, heralding the launch of the Azumas. As can be seen on this poster, the launch into public service was the day after our visit even though there was a press launch return service from King's Cross to Leeds on the day of our visit. It's interesting to note that the trains have adopted the Virgin East Coast livery as originally produced by the redundant private TOC. This despite that fact that the actual launch is by the state-owned and managed LNER.
Keywords: Poster Grantham station

Poster, Grantham station
A poster displayed on Grantham station helping passengers find their way about the Azuma trains that were introduced to public service the following day. As somebody who regularly carries a bicycle on trains, I am concerned about the retrograde step on east coast services that means that there is a limited number of pre-travel reservations for bikes. This is in common with some other TOCs and is a reflection of the reduction in space compared to the HSTs and class 92 DVTs that are being replaced. I am not sure that this move is going to encourage a more environmentally friendly and joined-up approach to integrated travel that is something that we should all be conscious of.
Keywords: Poster Grantham station

180113, HT 10.33 Hull-London King`s Cross (1A93, 2L), Grantham station
One of Hull Trains' notoriously unreliable class 180s enters Grantham station. 180113 is working the 10.33 Hull to King's Cross and is taken at an identical spot to a class 47 that I photographed during my 1978 Eastern Region railrover, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/25366323004/x47498-york-london-kings-cross-working .
Keywords: 180113 10.33 Hull-London King`s Cross 1A93 Grantham station

Class 180, GC 11.27 London King`s Cross-Sunderland (1N92, 1E), Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436
I have visited Frinkley lane crossing, that is located between Barkston Junction and Claypole on the ECML, a number of times and it remains one of my favourite spots for a number of reasons, largely because the surroundings are pretty remote and quiet. However, as the line is running north-south lighting can be tricky at certain times in the day as illustrated in this image. One of Grand Central's ten class 180s heads north with the 11.27 King's Cross to Sunderland. Until 2017, Grand Central operated a mixed fleet combining 180s and HSTs. However, after GWR dispensed with its remaining class 180 units, Grand Central acquired them and disposed of its HSTs that themselves moved East Midlands Trains; I think that this is euphemistically referred to as 'cascading'!
Keywords: Class 180 11.27 London King`s Cross-Sunderland 1N92 Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436

800108, 12.08 Retford-Peterborough (5Q42, 1E), Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436
With a cheery wave from the driver, 800108 passes Frinkley Lane crossing north of Grantham working the 12.08 Retford to Peterborough staff training and mileage accumulation run. In their LNER branding, the Azumas look very smart and so much better than their GWR counterparts that wear their awful drab green livery so badly. However, the depot teams will need to work hard to keep the white paintwork looking smart; not the most practical colour!
Keywords: 800108 12.08 Retford-Peterborough 5Q42 Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436

91102, GR 11.30 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh (1S15, 2L), Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436
91102 'City of York' leads the 11.30 King's Cross Edinburgh 1S15 past Frinkley Lane crossing between Grantham and Newark. This service, along with most of the other Anglo-Scottish workings, will be the last to go over to Azuma traction. This process is likely to be complete by the start of 2020 when staff training and testing will be completed north from Newcastle.
Keywords: 91102 11.30 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh 1S15 Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436

43075, GR 11.33 London King`s Cross-Leeds (1D12, 1L), Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436
On hire from East Midlands Trains, 43075 leads the 11.33 King's Cross to Leeds past Frinkley Lane crossing in remote west Lincolnshire just north of Barkston Junction. Close examination of the picture reveals that the toilet in the third coach is being flushed as witnessed by the trail of water and other 'material' emanating from it. The few 'classic' HSTs remaining on the network and sets of heritage stock are the only ones with open emission systems that deposit their waste trackside, a practice that workers really should not have exposure to in 2019.
Keywords: 43075 11.33 London King`s Cross-Leeds 1D12 Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436

66775, 08.30 Middleton Towers-Monk Bretton (6E84), Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436
66775 'HMS Argyll' leads the relatively lightly loaded 08.30 6E84 Middleton Towers to Monks Bretton sand train. It is seen, taken in tricky lighting, about to cross Frinkley Lane crossing, previously a level crossing now closed to all but pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. We had been waiting for this train for some time as it was held over at the top of Stoke bank in the loop waiting for a slot to enter the two-track section so as to avoid holding up down passenger express workings.
Keywords: 66775 08.30 Middleton Towers-Monk Bretton 6E84 Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436

43307 & 43311, GR 12.00 London King`s Cross-Inverness (1S16, 4L), Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436
The 12.00 London King`s Cross to Inverness passes the quiet and remote Frinkley Lane crossing between Grantham and Newark. The HSTs will remain working these services to Scotland for some time yet until the staff training and testing of their replacements, the Azumas, is complete north from Newcastle.
Keywords: 43307 43311 12.00 London King`s Cross-Inverness 1S16 Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436

43296 & 43313, GR 13.08 York-London King`s Cross (1Y84, 8L), Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436
Power car 43296 leads the 13.08 York to King's Cross past Frinkley Lane crossing just south of Claypole. It is services such as this one that will be the first to go over to Azumas in the coming few weeks making the HSTs and class 91/Mk. IV combos redundant as they do so. The future for these aging and, it has to be said, a little tired HSTs is unclear as they are returned to their owner, Angel Trains.
Keywords: 43296 43313 13.08 York-London King`s Cross 1Y84 Frinkley Lane crossing SK906436

43277 & 43320, GR 07.52 Aberdeen-London King`s Cross (1E11, RT), Hough Lane SK860485
43277 leads with 43320 at the rear working the 07.52 Aberdeen to King's Cross. The train has one hundred and fifteen miles to go in order to complete its journey from Scotland, something it has been doing for many years but one that is due to end soon as the bi-mode Azumas begin to operate these services. The HST is seen passing Hough Lane level foot crossing just south of the village of Claypole.
Keywords: 43277 43320 07.52 Aberdeen-London King`s Cross 1E11 Hough Lane SK860485

43314 & 43315 GR 12.45 Leeds-London King`s Cross (1A30, RT), Hough Lane SK860485
I make no apologies for presenting a virtually identical picture to the previous one but this could well be the last day of HST operation of this service, the 12.45 Leeds to King's Cross. 43314 consecutively numbered 43315 pass Hough Lane just south of Claypole. Whether it was a deliberate move by depot staff or whether it was just chance, but this formation would have been the same as when it was released into traffic as 254030 in April 1979.
Keywords: 43314 43315 12.45 Leeds-London King`s Cross 1A30 Hough Lane SK860485

91109, GR 12.33 London King`s Cross-Leeds (1A30, RT), Hough Lane SK860485
91109 'Sir Bobby Robson' is at full line speed passing Hough Lane crossing south of Claypole. The powerful and soon to be replaced class 91 is leading the 1A30 12.33 King's Cross to Leeds. This was the first class 91 to be re-named when the last but one operator, East Coast, resumed a naming policy following its predecessor's, National Express East Coast, decision to de-name all their stock.
Keywords: 91109 12.33 London King`s Cross-Leeds 1A30 Hough Lane SK860485

90036, GR 13.54 Newark Northagte-London King`s Cross (1B85, 1L), Hough Lane SK860485
Some five miles into its journey, with one hundred and fifteen to go (according to the milepost) 90036 'Driver Jack Mills' powers the rear of the 13.54 Newark Northgate to King's Cross. It is purely coincidental that this Class 90's DB livery is such a close match to the former Virgin East Coast paint scheme as applied to the superb Mk. IV stock. This location is down a green lane just south of the village of Claypole at a foot crossing known as Hough Lane. Notice the up Claypole loop to the left of the train.
Keywords: 90036 13.54 Newark Northagte-London King`s Cross 1B85 Hough Lane SK860485

91112, GR 13.00 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh (1S18, 1L), Barnby Lane SK850495
91112 leads the 13.00 King's Cross to Edinburgh express past Barnby Lane to the north of Claypole. The relatively short Claypole down loop can be seen in the foreground. I have said it before but make no apologies for repeating it, I think that this former Virgin East Coast livery with subtle state-owned LNER branding is the best of the varied ones carried by this stock on this route.
Keywords: 91112 13.00 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh 1S18 Barnby Lane SK850495

43272, GR 13.06 London King`s Cross-York (1N85, RT), Barnby Lane SK850495
Doing what it has done for many years and having amassed hundreds of thousands of miles in doing so, 43272 leads the 13.06 King's Cross to York HST, seen passing Claypole's Barnby Lane level crossing. This iconic train, one that has become so familiar to enthusiasts and the traveling public alike, is in the final few months of operation as withdrawal beckons with Azumas entering revenue earning service the day after this photograph was taken, as a train announcer would put it, 'all change please, all change'!
Keywords: 43272 13.06 London King`s Cross-York 1N85 Barnby Lane SK850495

800113, 13.45 Leeds-London King`s Cross press & celebrity special (1A33, 1E), Barnby Lane SK850495
Looking absolutely superb in its new LNER livery, 800113 passes Barnby Lane level crossing in the village of Claypole on the up fast line. This train was the return press launch service that worked as the 13.45 Leeds to King`s Cross, interestingly as 1A33 even though it was, in fact, an additional service that should have had a 1Z** designation. Either way, videos and reports of the experience from those dignitaries and the press on-board were favourable; let's hope that the general fare-paying public feel the same once the trains enter service the following day.
Keywords: 800113 13.45 Leeds-London King`s Cross press & celebrity special 1A33 Barnby Lane SK850495

91128, GR 13.30 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh (1S19, 5L), Barnby Lane SK850495
91128 'InterCity 50' passes Barnby Lane level crossing, one of three in the village of Claypole, with the 13.30 King's Cross to Edinburgh. It's a feature of the electrification system used on the ECML constructed to a tight budget by BR in the late 1980s, that how high the pantographs extend, this one is not far off the vertical position. Notice the class 800 Azuma heading south in the distance working a press-launch train returning from Leeds to King's Cross.
Keywords: 91128 13.30 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh 1S19 Barnby Lane SK850495

43257 & 43312, GR 07.55 Inverness-London King`s Cross (1E13, 15L), Barnby Lane SK850495
Under glorious spring skies, 43257 'Bounds Green' leads 43312 forming the 07.55 Inverness to King's Cross. The train is about to pass over Barnby Lane level crossing, the most northerly of the three in the village of Claypole. The leading power car was one of the two that made up the Eastern Region pioneer set, 254001, that was launched on the ECML in July 1977. I believe that this power car has been earning its keep on this route ever since clocking up millions of miles in the process; I wonder if anybody has any figures?
Keywords: 43257 43312 07.55 Inverness-London King`s Cross 1E13 Barnby Lane SK850495

91130, GR 13.33 London King`s Cross-Leeds (1D16, 2L), Barnby Lane SK850495
A very smart looking 91130 'Lord Mayor of Newcastle' leads the 13.33 King's Cross to Leeds 1D16 service past Barnby Lane level crossing in the village of Claypole. When these very capable class 91s are withdrawn from this route by the early spring of next year, there will be an almost complete dearth of locomotive-hauled trains on the UK network as the class 90s will also be on the way out from the Great Eastern mainline. Ironic that TransPennine Express are actually introducing a few class 68 services with the new CAF built Mk. V stock; it's strange how things come around!
Keywords: 91130 13.33 London King`s Cross-Leeds 1D16 Barnby Lane SK850495

91105, GR 14.03 London King`s Cross-Leeds (1D17, RT), Newark Northgate station
91915 passes at speed through Newark Northgate station leading the 14.03 London King's Cross to Leeds 1D17 service. I am not sure what the line speed through the station is but I was using 1/2000th of a second on the camera that managed to keep everything sharp.
Keywords: 91105 14.03 London King`s Cross-Leeds 1D17 Newark Northgate station

91126 & 91122, GR 12.00 Edinburgh-London King`s Cross (1E14, 8L), Newark Northgate station
I have never witnessed the relatively rare event of a class 91 running blunt end first on the ECML. Whilst 91122 is running with its blunt end exposed it is at the back of this train with 91126 'Darlington Hippodrome' tucked in with its pantograph down. I am not sure what event caused this unusual occurrence but the 12.00 Edinburgh to King's Cross was running to-time and had done so since it left Waverley at lunchtime. It is seen here leaving Newark Northgate station.
Keywords: 91126 91122 12.00 Edinburgh-London King`s Cross 1E14 Newark Northgate station

91122 & 91126, GR 12.00 Edinburgh-London King`s Cross (1E14, 8L), Newark Northgate station
Mike and I were not able to find out what event precipitated this unusual locomotive combination at the rear of the 12.00 Edinburgh to King's Cross. 91122 provides the power whilst 91126 'Darlington Hippodrome' is tucked in having a free ride at the rear of the train as it leaves Newark Northgate station. The train was bang on time, as it was for its whole journey from Scotland apart from a slight delay into King's Cross, so failure en route appears not to be the cause. However, notice that the blunt end of 91122 appears strewn with squashed flies so it is possible that the combination worked north on an earlier train.
Keywords: 91122 91126 12.00 Edinburgh-London King`s Cross 1E14 Newark Northgate station

90039, GR 14.06 London King`s Cross-Newark Northgate (1B86, 4L), Newark Northgate station
90039 comes to a halt at Newark Northgate station leading the 14.06 terminating service from London King's Cross. LNER has been hiring in a couple of class 90s for some time to cover for a shortage of class 91s. Notice that the signs and lower part of the lamp posts, as is much infrastructure on the ECML stations, is still painted in the much lamented GNER blue colour scheme. GNER ceased operations October 2007 with the un-loved and ultimately flawed National Express East Coast taking over operations for just two years. Also, notice that the signs refer to Newark Northgate station as all one word, the national timetable refers to it as North Gate, can anybody local to the town advise as to which is correct?
Keywords: 90039 14.06 London King`s Cross-Newark Northgate 1B86 Newark Northgate station

90039, GR 15.56 Newark Northgate-London King`s Cross (1B87, 2L) & 180109, GC 14.48 London King`s Cross-Bradford Interchange (1D73, RT), Newark Northgate station
This photograph was a close call! Mike and I waited at the southern end of platform one at Newark Northgate to witness the departure of the 15.56 to King's Cross in order to get a picture of 90039 pushing the train at the rear crossing back on to the up fast line. Whilst waiting, I commented to Mike about how ironic it would be if a down service was to pass and spoil the event, and it very nearly did! Grand Central's 180109 works the 14.48 King's Cross to Bradford Interchange at full line speed northwards approaching the station about to block the southbound service. Apart from the class 90 being a little obscured by signage, I wanted it a little further away, it just about worked with split-second timing!
Keywords: 90039, GR 15.56 Newark Northgate-London King`s Cross (1B87, 2L) & 180109, GC 14.48 London King`s Cross-Bradford Interchange (1D73, RT), Newark Northgate station

Azuma commemorative keyring
The following day from our visit, the Azumas entered public service. By pure chance, a friend of mine, who has the misfortune to be a Leeds United supporter, made the journey from Peterborough to Leeds on one of the first Azuma workings. He was given a nice bag with some goodies to commemorate the event including this keyring that he kindly donated to me. Unfortunately, the purpose of his visit to Leeds was to attend their Championship play-off semi-final with Derby when they were knocked out.
Keywords: Azuma commemorative keyring

Azuma commemorative keyring
This reverse side of the commemorative keyring issued to customers on the launch day of the Azumas on the ECML. This one was given to a friend of mine who traveled from Peterborough to Leeds on 16.05.19. I asked him about his traveling experience. He was favorable about the trains but for one thing. Without any quizzing or prompting, he said the seats were too hard and uncomfortable. Coincidentally, I read a letter in issue 879 of Rail magazine ('Safety before comfort') from somebody stating that this issue has arisen for health and safety reasons relating to fire hazard from foam padding. I find this questionable, are we really being told that in the twenty-first century that there is no preparation or material that can be used as padding on seats?
Keywords: Azuma commemorative keyring

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