9. Trip to London-25.02.15

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2015 > 9. Trip to London-25.02.15

A day trip to London with my wife to see the musical Made in Dagenham at the Adelphi Theatre. We travelled down from Northampton to Euston and back.

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Images 1-14 of 14 displayed.

Main entrance, Northampton station
This was my first visit to Northampton's new station that had been opened just two weeks earlier replacing the 1966 built structure. This is the new entrance from Westbridge with step-free access from the car park on the other side of the building. Facilities are reasonable with a small WH Smiths and two coffee chains, one on the ground floor and one just at the top of the steps seen here.
Keywords: Main entrance Northampton station

Demolition of old Northampton station
With the new station at Northampton having opened two weeks previously, demolition has begun of the old station. Seen from the elevated concourse of the new structure, the 1966 built station below looks as though it will not have long to stand. Note the extremely high temporary footbridge in the background built during the construction phase of the new station.
Keywords: Demolition of old Northampton station

Demolition of old Northampton station
The old entrance to Northampton station seen from the concourse of the new structure. This entrance was the only one and had proved, in recent years, to be totally inadequate as was the whole station. This station was opened in 1966 itself replacing a lovely Victorian building. The station was designed by architect Ray Moorcroft, as part of the electrification of the West Coast Main but won few accolades with it being variously described as 'three cowsheds bolted together' and as being of 'questionable architectural merit'.
Keywords: Demolition of old Northampton station

Demolition of old Northampton station
With the station having been closed for just three weeks, the former platform facing of the old Northampton station is boarded up and awaiting the demolition ball! This was the former platform one and its main entrance and exit, a pair of double doors that had to handle all of the three million passengers (2013/14)
Keywords: Demolition of old Northampton station

66177, 09.15 Trafford Park-Southampton Western Docks, Northampton station
66177 brings the 09.15 Trafford Park to Southampton Western Docks Freightliner slowly through Northampton's centre road. This particular service is rarely seen on the WCML usually going via the GW route through Banbury. However, the latter route is currently closed dues to the huge landslide in Harbury cutting severing the route. It is difficult to see in this image, this particular Class 66 retains white painted cab roofs. This was applied to a small number of the class as an experiment to try to improve conditions inside the cab for drivers during hot weather with these locomotives having no air conditioning fitted. As can be seen in this image, this was a typically dull February day.
Keywords: 66177 09.15 Trafford Park-Southampton Western Docks, Northampton station

350129, LM 11.33 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1W12), Northampton station
As we were seeing the evening production of Made in Dagenham we took a later train than normal from Northampton to Euston. 350129 leads another set into Northampton station with the 11.33 Birmingham New Street to London service that we took all the way.
Keywords: 350129 11.33 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1W12 Northampton station

350129, LM 11.33 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1W12) & 57313, 47746, 10.32 Southall WCR-Carnforth Steamtown (0M43), Northampton station
I had been observing the progress of a strange working heading northwards along the WCML for some time on Opentraintimes and figured that it would pass through Northampton station just as our train south would arrive. I was spot on with my estimate as here it is being led by 57513 and 47746 passing the 11.33 Birmingham New Street to Euston formed by 350129. The 57 and 47 combo with 57001 and 33029 along for the ride on the rear, were forming the 10.32 Southall WCR to Carnforth Steamtown
Keywords: 350129 11.33 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1W12 57313 47746 10.32 Southall WCR-Carnforth Steamtown 0M43 Northampton station

33029, 57001, 47746 & 57313, 10.32 Southall WCR-Carnforth Steamtown (0M43), Northampton station
The 0M43 light engines move passes northwards through Northampton station. It is good to see some vintage motive power on the mainline, even though it is in WCR's dreadful drab livery that hardly stands out on a dull February day. The 10.32 Southall WCR to Carnforth Steamtown is formed by 33029, 57001, 47746 and, leading up at the front, 57513.
Keywords: 33029,57001 47746 57313 10.32 Southall WCR-Carnforth Steamtown 0M43 Northampton station

90019, SR 19.34 Wembley-London Euston ECS (5S95), London Euston station
Having arrived back at Euston late in the evening, 90019 is seen on the blocks having brought the 19.34 ECS working in from Wembley.
Keywords: 90019, SR 19.34 Wembley-London Euston ECS (5S95), London Euston station

390043, VT 20.07 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street (1F27) & 90019, SR 19.34 Wembley-London Euston ECS (5S95), London Euston station
A Virgin Trains Pendolino waits at Euston to leave with the 20.07 to Liverpool Lime Street. To the right of 390043 is ScotRail branded 90019 that has brought the 5S95 ECS sleeper stock in from Wembley. I have adopted this low camera angle as I was using my newly bought mini tripod that lives in a small pocket of the camera pouch. This enabled me to use a long shutter speed thus meaning I could reduce the ISO to minimise digital noise.
Keywords: 390043 20.07 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street 1F27 90019 19.34 Wembley-London Euston ECS 5S95 London Euston station

90019, SR 19.34 Wembley-London Euston ECS (5S95), London Euston station
A reverse angle view of 90109 taking a rest on the blocks at Euston after the short journey down from Wembley. It had brought the empty coaching stock in that will later form the Lowland sleeper service to Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley. I have yet to travel on one of the Scottish sleeper services but this is something that Andy and I hope to rectify soon.
Keywords: 90019 19.34 Wembley-London Euston ECS 5S95 London Euston station

350261, LM 20.46 London Euston-Crewe (1Y85), London Euston station
Our train home from London waits at Euston. With my wife on-board, I have gone to the front of the train and set my mini-tripod up on the platform. 350261 will take us back to Northampton as the 1Y85 20.46 to Crewe.
Keywords: 350261 20.46 London Euston-Crewe 1Y85 London Euston station

Tickets, Northampton-London Euston
Our outward tickets form Northampton to Euston, at under £10 this is good value and probably the cheapest way that we could make the journey.
Keywords: Tickets Northampton-London Euston

Tickets, London Euston-Northampton
The return tickets from Euston to Northampton. With the same fare for the return journey, it meant that my wife and I did the entire trip for under £20; great value!
Keywords: Tickets London Euston-Northampton

Images 1-14 of 14 displayed.