1. Journey there-28.10.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 73. Trip to London-28 & 29.10.19 > 1. Journey there-28.10.19

The journey to Kensington Olympia did not get off to a great start from Northampton. Due to 'staff shortages' a number of trains were either cancelled or shortened meaning delays and overcrowding. Consequently, all restrictions were lifted. Despite all this, we arrived at Kensington Olympia on-time due to a generous connection margin at Watford Junction and the late arrival of our onward Southern service.

Click here to search The Archive Files

Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.

350261, LN 08.33 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1W06, 16L), Watford Junction station
Having arrived at Watford Junction late and in a very crowded 350261 my wife and I were relieved to alight! The 08.33 Birmingham to Euston was very late into Northampton with 'staff shortages' cited as the alleged cause. I am never quite sure if we are being told the whole story when delays are encountered, with somebody in control just picking randomly from a menu of 'excuses' that follow the nice lady saying those words...' we are sorry to announce that....' Perhaps I'm a cynic but I do so want to support the railways but when things go wrong they often do so in spectacular fashion and are then badly handled.
Keywords: 350261 08.33 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1W06 Watford Junction station

377210, SN 10.12 Milton Keynes Central-East Croydon (2O31, 4L), Watford Junction station
My wife and I were relieved to get our connection at Watford Junction having arrived late from Northampton. As we were so late, we did not have to wait long for Southern's 377210 to arrive and were pleased to get a seat around a table. I knew that we would get the connection as we overtook the 10.12 Milton Keynes central to East Croydon working as it made its way along the up slow between Leighton Buzzard and Tring. We took this train as far as Kensington Olympia. My wife commented on how smooth, quiet and clean the Eloctrostar was compared to our own 350 Desros that are looking somewhat tired now.
Keywords: 377210 10.12 Milton Keynes Central-East Croydon 2O31 Watford Junction station

67021 & 67024, stabled, Wembley yard
I think that the retro. Pullman livery applied to the two class 67s dedicated to the Belmond operations looks very smart. I am, however, somewhat suprised that 67021 and 67024 are not named. A niced lined and properly cast nameplate would look very smart on the flanks and could be appropriate to the work that they are dedicated to undertake. Here, they catch some autumn sunshine stabled in Wembley yard.
Keywords: 67021 67024 Wembley yard

Tickets, Northampton-Kensington Olympia
Our tickets from Northampton to Kensington Olympia. An off-peak return at £22.40 is not the cheapest way for us to get to London but as we were staying close to Olympia station on the Hammersmith Road it was more convenient for us.
Keywords: Tickets Northampton-Kensington Olympia

Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.