82. The York Yuletide Express-20.11.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 82. The York Yuletide Express-20.11.19
On the coldest morning of the new season, I left home early in my Combo van on a very foggy morning to get to the ECML in order to see 60009 'Union of South Africa' hauling The York Yuletide Express. With the temperature now reaching minus four degrees, I was rewarded, after reaching my chosen spot, with the news that the A4 had failed and been substituted. I stayed the short time until its passing consoling myself by getting some class 91 and HST images in the bag!
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Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

91112, VT 05.59 Newcastle-London KIng`s Cross (1Y08, RT), Holme Green Crossing TL192426 On a very foggy and very cold morning, 91112 propels the rear of the 05.59 Newcastle to King's Cross past Holme Green foot crossing that is just south of Biggleswade. Notice the pantograph's pannhead arcing as it collects power from the contact wire, an event that only occurs in sub-zero temperatures. Keywords: 91112 05.59 Newcastle-London KIng`s Cross 1Y08 Holme Green Crossing TL192426 Virgin Trains East Coast
91101, VT 08.30 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh (1S08, 23L), Holme Green Crossing TL192426 There is a procession of minor foot crossings south (and north for that matter) of this location near Langford just south of Biggleswade. Each crossings requires the driver to perform a blast on the horn. In the fog of this very cold Saturday morning trains could be heard performing this operation a long time before they came into view and this one was no exception. 91101 'Flying Scotsman' leads the 08.30 King's Cross to Edinburgh through the cold Bedfordshire countryside looking every piece the part having not yet succumbed to Azuma operation. Unfortunately, this service arrived late into Edingburgh due to a problem just south of Doncaster that plagued all up and down services on this morning. Keywords: 91101 08.30 London King`s Cross-Edinburgh (1S08, 23L), Holme Green Crossing TL192426 Flying Scotsman Virgin trains East Coast
43299, VT 07.30 Lincoln Central-London KIng`s Cross (1B81, 11L), Holme Green Crossing TL192426 HST power car 43299 is one that I have very few photographs of, it has eluded my camera for many years. Therefore, I was delighted to see it on the rear of the 07.30 Lincoln Central to King's Cross, a service that I believed had gone over to Azuma operation. 43299 is also in receipt of a one-off paint job with the base of the nose cone being painted in Virgin Trains East Coast red rather than the more usual black. Keywords: 43299 07.30 Lincoln Central-London KIng`s Cross 1B81 Holme Green Crossing TL192426 HST Virgin Trains East Coast
800110, VT 08.33 London King`s Cross-Leeds (1D06, 6L), Holme Green Crossing TL192426 I have said it before, but the livery applied by LNER to the Azuma fleet is so much better than that applied by GWR to their fleet. Here in the thick fog at Holme Green crossing just south of Biggleswade 800110 heads north working the 1D06 08.33 King's Cross to Leeds. I have visited this spot a number of times, the last time was in mid-summer when the scene was very different, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/24908407404/x91131-1b92-holme-green-crossing and, look those same two lengths of discarded rail are still there two years later! Keywords: 800110 08.33 London King`s Cross-Leeds 1D06 Holme Green Crossing TL192426 Azuma Virgin Trains East Coast
47804, outward leg of The York Yuletide Express, 07.11 Ealing Broadway-York (1Z10), Holme Green Crossing TL192426 This photograph was supposed to have been somewhat different! Rather than a drab West Coast Railways 47804 leading this charter past Holme Green crossing south of Biggleswade, it was supposed to have been A4 Pacific 60009 'Union of South Africa' but this had been declared a failure prior to departure from Ealing Broadway as the 07.11 to York. The passengers aboard The York Yuletide Express would no doubt have been disappointed at the lack of steam haulage on the outward leg of the journey but, hopefully, 6233 'Duchess of Sutherland' hauling the return working would have made up for the disappointment. Keywords: 47804 The York Yuletide Express 07.11 Ealing Broadway-York 1Z10 Holme Green Crossing TL192426 West Coast Railways class 47 Duff 60009 Union of South Africa
Class 43, VT 07.15 Leeds-London King`s Cross (1A09, 18L), Holme Green Crossing TL192426 An unidentified HST passes Holmes Green crossing between Biggleswade and Arlesey with the 07.15 Leeds to London King's Cross. I am not sure why this was service was an HST as the WTT showed it is as an electric and that should have been an Azuma. I have gone for this unusual viewpoint with the frost coated plants lining the path on which I am standing in foreground focus and the subject in the background. Keywords: Class 43 07.15 Leeds-London KIng`s Cross 1A09 Holme Green Crossing TL192426 HST Virgin Trains East Coast

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.