MML-12.08.79

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1979 > 16. Summer Tour-07-12.08.79 > MML-12.08.79

The final day of our summer tour found Graham and I on the MML south of Luton. As it was a Sunday, things were a little quiet and there were engineering works due to the electrification programme being underway. After a morning on the Midland, we headed west for home.

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Images 1-12 of 12 displayed.

Leagrave signal box (Midland, date not known)
After the lovely weather the previous day, it has returned to type with dull and overcast conditions! With a new electrification mast emerging from behind its hipped roof, Leagrave signal box is seen. Being of timber construction and of this design it can only be a Midland box but, unfortunately, I do not have the date of its construction.
Keywords: Leagrave signal box

Luton South signal box (Midland, date not known)
Looking extremely dirty, Luton South signal box stands with a newly installed electrification mast just adjacent. I am not at all sure how I secured this photograph as I must have taken an expedition into the extensive yard where I am standing that today is a Network Rail compound. It was a Sunday morning so I suspect there were few people around to challenge me. but it would be something that I would or could not do today.
Keywords: Luton South signal box

Harpenden Junction signal box (BR, 1957)
Harpenden Junction signal box is viewed from Hollybush Lane bridge. This 1957 built box was a standard British railways design with its flat roof complete with a pool of water! Behind the box is the remains of the track leading to Hemel Hempstead referred to as the Nickey Line. The line was in the throes of complete closure as its remaining use to carry flyash to the Hemelite Company at Cupid Green had ceased. Soon the track was removed and the trackbed was acquired by St. Albans District Council and Dacorum Borough Council. It was turned into a cycle and footpath and is now an extremely popular local resource, see.... http://www.nickeyline.org/home/ I visited this spot again in 2023 and took a very similar photograph, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30041562429/x3-site-harpenden-junction
Keywords: Harpenden Junction signal box

45144, 09.30 London St. Pancras-Sheffield, Harpenden Junction
45144 'Royal Signals' accelerates past Harpenden Junction leading the 09.30 London St. Pancras to Sheffield service. Notice that the Peak still has its nameplate attached, on this side at least, but close examination reveals that the crest is missing. This is one of my compansion's photographs rescued from the reject box in part due to the darkness and the slight motion blur of the train. 45144 was a Crewe built example that survived late in service until December 1987 being cut up by Vic Berry's in August 1988.
Keywords: 45144 09.30 London St. Pancras-Sheffield Harpenden Junction

Harpenden Station signal box (LMS, date not known)
Harpenden Station signal box was an LMS built structure but I have no date of construction or other information about the box. If anybody can furnish me with further information please get in contact. In this view, just three months prior to its closure, the roof looks to be in a parlous state. Notice the telegraph post to the left of the box, something else that has disappeared from the railway scene.
Keywords: Harpenden Station signal box

Harpenden Central station
On a quiet Sunday morning, a few people wait on the down fast platform at Harpenden Central station. These station buildings are all that remains of the station today and, in a way, it is surprising that they survived when the station has been so extensively developed over the years. Notice the trio of British Railways (LM) enamels adorning the front of the station and the rather unkempt nature of the platforms.
Keywords: Harpenden Central station

Class 127 DMU, 11.10 Bedford-London St. Pancras, Harpenden Central station
The class 127 DMUs were synonymous with the route between St. Pancras to Bedford and were fast accelerating and intensively used sets that provided good service until eventual withdrawal in 1983. A set arrives at Hardenden Central station with an unidentified up service on a Sunday lunchtime. I really have messed this picture up, note the glorious British Railways (LM) running in enamel sign that I have managed to cut in half and the two posts perfectly dissecting the front of the DMU. However, I think that I was aiming to get the magnificent down fast repeater signal post in the frame to the left. Notice the red flag thrust into the ballast indicating, as a final warning, the line is closed and occupied by track workers.
Keywords: Class 127 11.10 Bedford-London St. Pancras Harpenden Central station

45131, 09.40 Sheffield-London St. Pancras, St
45131 strikes a pose as it takes the camber of the track in its stride arriving at St. Albans station leading the 09.40 Sheffield to St. Pancras service. The electric heat Peaks (451XX) soldiered on for a number of years working hard on the MML even after the HSTs had been introduced in 1982. 43131 was withdrawn in September 1986 ending its days at Vic Berry's yard during August 1988.
Keywords: 45131 09.40 Sheffield-London St. Pancras St. Albans station

0009.-0045-0131,-0009.0040-Sheffield-London-St.-Pancras,-St.-Albans-Station
A picture taken by my travelling companion Graham shows 45131 leaving St. Albans with the 09.40 Sheffield to St. Pancras service. It is just passing in front of the signal box. Notice the large Heath and Heather warehouse beyond the station. This building was set up in 1920 by the company, that later was to become Holland and Barrett, to distribute their products by rail around the UK. And finally, yes that person in the distinctive red strippy shirt standing in front of the brute trolley to the left is a fifteen-year-old me!
Keywords: 45131 09.40 Sheffield-London St. Pancras St. Albans station

St. Albans South signal box (Midland, 1892)
The Midland pre-built their boxes in knocked down form at Derby and installed them on-site. St. Albans South box is a type 2A box was opened in 1892 closing as a signal box in December 1979 but soldiering on for two months as the home for the station announcer! It was a grade two listed structure so was not demolished but got into a dreadful state of dereliction. This was until a trust was formed in 2003 and a lease agreement was set up Network Rail. After a complete renovation, it opened to the public in October 2008. I have yet to pay a visit but it is on my list of things to do in the near future during one of their open days, see..... http://www.tlr.ltd.uk/sigbox/home.eb
Keywords: St. Albans South signal box

Radlett signal box (Midland, 1890)
Radlett signal box was situated just north of the station adjacent to the fast lines. Here, the box is seen in a little bit of weak sunshine approximately four months before its closure as the MML MAS scheme was switched on. The box was a Midland structure dating from 1890. Notice the two fire buckets on hooks below the wooden steps and the signaman's two-door red Ford Cortina parked behind the box.
Keywords: Radlett signal box

Class 127 DMU, unidentified up working, Radlett
A class 127 'Bed-Pan' DMU approaches Radlett station with an unidentified up working. It is about to pass two home signals, the one pulled off is the remaining arm on a bracket where the other signal permitted access to the old goods yard and shed. These Rolls-Royce engined DMUs were high density and fast accelerating sets that plied their trade their entire lives on this route until the electrification and the introduction of the 317 EMUs precipitated their withdrawal. The EMU's introduction was heavily delayed by a dispute with the unions over, you've guessed it, driver-only operation!
Keywords: Class 127 DMU Radlett

Images 1-12 of 12 displayed.