85. ECML HST farewell, Let's go Round Again-21.12.19

I cannot believe that some forty-two years after their introduction on the ECML in 1977 that I have gone out, along with thousands of other enthusiasts, many of whom were not even born in Silver Jubilee Year, to see the final run of this iconic train. Full credit to the team at Craigentinny depot who painted the power cars and those at Doncaster who painted the stock into its BR 'as launched' livery for the final four-day railtour that covered all the routes that the East Coast sets worked on. There is talk that this set will be retained and maintained for railtour use; I'm sure that it will prove to be a hit. Who would have thought that the flying banana would have taken on this cult status back in the 1970s when us more seasoned spotters never even gave them a second look resenting their arrival as they ousted other classic locomotives!