ECML, Eaton Wood to Swayfield-10.08.79

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1979 > 16. Summer Tour-07-12.08.79 > ECML, Eaton Wood to Swayfield-10.08.79
A day spent exclusively on the ECML working southwards from our camping spot at Eaton Wood to Swafield. In the evening, we camped in a farmer's field, with his permission, just next to the line at Essendine. Before the day's activities began, we dropped David at Retford station as he had to head home back to Wiltshire via London. At least he got some quality Deltic haulage to the capital and I was there to capture it!
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Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.

55006, 08.05 York-London King`s Cross (1A08), Eaton Wood SK723774 Graham drove our travelling companion, David, to Retford station in order for him to catch a train to London to get back home to the West Country. David can be seen leaning out of the droplight of the first coach as the train passes Eaton Wood just South of Retford. 55006, 'The Fife and Forfar Yeomanry' is leading the 08.05 York to King's Cross service. After a run of cloudy days this day had dawned bright and sunny; would it last? Keywords: 55006 08.05 York-London King`s Cross 1A08 Eaton Wood SK723774
37173, up freight, Eaton Wood SK723774 37173 dashes south in between express passenger workings on the ECML at Eaton Wood with a very short up freight. The loss of these grossly uneconomical short mixed freights is something enthusiasts mourn but one that the accountants would applaud! This location is just south of Retford, indeed, the southern edge of the town can be seen in the top left of the photograph. This class 37 was renumbered 37801 in 1985 and eventually moved to the continent as an infrastructure locomotive and was cut up in Spain by the Celsa Group. Keywords: 37173 up freight Eaton Wood SK723774
55010, 10.05 London King`s Cross-York (1L01), Eaton Wood SK723774 55010 'The King's Own Scottish Borderer' leads the 10.05 King's Cross to York 'fast' working past Eaton Wood south of Retford. Since my last visit exactly a year previously, the crossing keeper's house at the former Gamston level crossing has been demolished, see.....https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/25410452004/x55003-15-00-london-kings-cross-aberdeen The up relief loop is also in place, a situation that remained until electrification some ten years after this picture was taken. Keywords: 55010 10.05 London King`s Cross-York 1L01 Eaton Wood SK723774
31409, up bullion working, Eaton Wood SK723774 After the beautiful start to the day, the inevitable cloud has built up but at least the sun is still out as 31409 passes Eaton Wood with a strange up working. According to one of my readers, Ed Harman (https://www.flickr.com/people/robertcwp/) this appears to be one of the bullion trains operated by BR. In the consist are two bogie bullion flats (probably E99500 and E99501) and a converted Mk. I BSK bullion van (probably E99204). Close examination of the latter shows most of its windows plated over. According to contemporary information, these trains, allegedly, ran with armed security guards on board both the van and the cab and had special signalling arrangements. It is likely that this particular working originated from either Leeds or Newcastle and would terminate at King's Cross' Mill Dock adjacent to the suburban platforms. It would have been carrying used banknotes being withdrawn from circulation. Keywords: 31409 up short freight Eaton Wood SK723774
Tuxford West Junction signal box (GC, after 1907) The delightful Tuxford West Junction signal box is seen under cloudy skies, and after such a promising start to the day! With the signalman's vintage bike leaning outside the Great Central 1907 box that is located on the line that ran between Lincoln and Clipstone Junction. At the time this picture was taken this line crossed the ECML a short distance to the right with a spur joining to the ECML. In its latter years, the line remained as a freight only route to the former High Marnham power station until its closure in 2003. Despite this, the line is still in use as the Network Rail's High Marnham test track. However, this signal box has long been demolished with the whole test track unsignalled from its start at Thoresby Colliery Junction. Keywords: Tuxford West Junction signal box
55009, 12.45 Hull-London King`s Cross (1A18), Tuxford SK748711 A nice photograph of 55009 'Alycidon' leading the 12.45 Hull to London King's Cross past Tuxford. The photograph is taken from the bridge of a minor road with the A6075 bridge in the background. Whilst this shot is still possible, tree growth has encroached somewhat with the old trackbed that had the lines that led to the Great Central Lincoln line to the left obliterated. At the time of writing, the Deltic Preservation Society own and run 55009 but it is out of action due to every traction motor being damaged following an 'incident' whilst it was hauling the return Auld Reekie railtour near to Dunbar on 03.03.19. Keywords: 55009 12.45 Hull-London King`s Cross 1A18 Tuxford SK748711
55010, 14.11 York-London King`s Cross (1A22), Norwell Lane crossing A Deltic in a classic pose, haring along the ECML with its Napiers in full cry! 55010 'The King's Own Scottish Borderer' brings the 14.11 York to King's Cross past Norwell Lane level crossing, one of a number between Newark and Retford. Notice the milepost to the left indicating zero miles, even after studying my superb track atlas book, I can see no reference to a change of mileage on this section of track; can anybody advise? Too small to see on the image, but an enlargement of the original scan reveals a northbound HST disappearing into the distance, Graham and I would probably have cursed its passage back in 1979! Keywords: 55010 14.11 York-London King`s Cross 1A22 Norwell Lane crossing
55008, 14.05 London King`s Cross-York (1L43), Norwell Lane crossing 55008 'The Green Howards' heads northwards with the 14.05 King's Cross to York 'fast' service. The train is seen just north of Newark at Norwell Lane level crossing. This view is still available today with the complete absence of trackside growth in the intervening forty years! However, a picture is tricky as there is a hut, some electric boxes, the wiring, and the blessed palisade fencing all to contend with! Keywords: 55008 14.05 London King`s Cross-York 1L43 Norwell Lane crossing
Bathley Lane signal box (GN, 1930) SK791588 The Great Northern 1920 box at Bathley Lane looks to be in reasonable condition despite it being demoted to the status of a crossing box. It still retains its wooden nameboard, something it still had in place when I visited on a wet day in 2010 with very few other changes in evidence. Keywords: Bathley Lane signal box 1930 SK791588
Newark signal box (Midland, 1912) A classic Midland 4a box at Newark Castle. It is situated between the end of the platform to the left and the level crossing over the Great North Road to the right. Just as at Tuxford earlier in the day, the signalman's bike leans against a wall under the signal box steps. However, looking at the bike, could it be a signalwoman? This box is now disused having been closed on 05.11.16, but as of the summer of 2019, it still stands. Keywords: Newark signal box
Newark South signal box (Closed) (GN, not known) I dare not think about how I got this photograph! I suspect that Graham and I chanced our luck and entered the yard complex to the south of Newark station and walked as far as we dared to get this picture of the closed Newark South signal box. The ECML is to its left and the station just visible in the distance. On the extreme right is a class 08 shunter probably struggling to find work in the overgrown and rationalised yard. The box is an impressive Great Northern box of unknown date; can anybody advise. Notice that the door is open but appears bereft of any levers or internals. I do not recall if we climbed the steps and had a look round, I would hope not! Keywords: Newark South signal box
Pre-grouping lower quadrant signal & concrete post, Barkston Junction SK904417 As we were passing near Barkston Junction, just north of Grantham, Graham spotted this pre-grouping lower quadrant signal whilst he was driving; he always has had a nose for historical railway infrastructure! We parked up and then walked along the track to get this image of this historical signal arm and post. It is probably Great Eastern in origin dating from before 1923. We would have been in little danger walking along this section of track as it was little used at this time being the direct link avoiding Grantham with most trains taking a quick dash up and down the ECML before continuing their journies east or west. However, today this is the primary route as Network Rail opened the chord at Allington Junction to prevent conflicting moves on the ECML. Keywords: Pre-grouping lower quadrant signal concrete post Barkston Junction SK904417
55006, 17.05 London King`s Cross-Hull, The Hull Executive (1D04), Barkston Junction SK912417 A train associated with the Deltics in their latter years of operation was the fabled Hull Executive. In pretty awful light, 55006 'The Fife and Forfar Yeomanry' leads the 17.05 King's Cross to Hull as it approaches Barkston Junction. I will have deliberately taken the photograph a little early to avoid motion blur as I suspect I was struggling for light an such a dull evening, witness the marker lights in the front of the Deltic shining brightly! Keywords: 55006 17.05 London King`s Cross-Hull, The Hull Executive 1D04 Barkston Junction SK912417
40148, down ECS, Barkston Junction SK912417 A photograph courtesy of Graham that has been rescued from his rejects bin shows 40148 leading, what we believe was a down ECS working of Mk. I stock. The train is seen heading north past Barkston Junction a short distance north of Grantham. 40148 survived another six years in-service before withdrawal and disposal at Doncaster. Keywords: 40148 ECS Barkston Junction SK912417
55008, 18.11 York-London King`s Cross (1A31), Swayfield SK994231 With the harvest underway in the field behind the train, 55008 'The Green Howards' takes the 18.11 York to King's Cross southwards. The evening scene is on the southern side of Stoke Bank at Swayfield, a location that I have visited a number of times. I do not know what shutter speed I was using but it was pretty slow judging by the motion blur but it's a Deltic after all! Keywords: 55008 18.11 York-London King`s Cross 1A31 Swayfield SK994231

Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.