9. Wellingborough-07.02.20

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2020 > 9. Wellingborough-07.02.20
As per yesterday, again between coats of paint being applied, I took a couple of hours out as it was such a lovely winter's day. I popped over to Wellingborough after picking up Mike. We were able to observe the advanced work expanding the station, reinstating the fourth relief line and installing the electrification equipment.
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Images 1-11 of 11 displayed.

43054, EM 11.33 London St. Pancras-Nottingham (1D28, 1E), Wellingborough station Taken somewhat into the light but an HST is an HST and this particular example (and all of the EMR examples for that matter) is operating on borrowed time about to be replaced by ex LNER sets. 43054 leads the 11.33 St. Pancras to Nottingham through Wellingborough station with lots more evidence behind it of the electrification programme and the extending of the existing platforms with the reinstatement of the old platform five to become the new platform four. Keywords: 43054 11.33 London St. Pancras-Nottingham 1D28 Wellingborough station HST East Midlands Railway EMR
Platform 1, Wellingborough station Wellingborough station is grade two listed as a superb example of a delightful ex Midland Railway structure. So, I am extremely concerned and somewhat surprised at the brutal approach taken by Network Rail to cut back the canopies in exactly the same way that Kettering station was butchered in the 1970s. I sincerely hope that the canopies are to be refurbished and the extensions that have been removed will be reinstated as, in this state, they look woefully imbalanced and out of proportion with the building. I am pleased to say that by the winter of 2021 that the canopies have been reinstated and now just require the glazing to be reinstalled, see...... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30022597122/x4-reinstated-canopy-wellingborough Keywords: Platform 1 Wellingborough station
DR75405, unidentified track working, Wellingborough station Unfortunately, I have been unable to identify this particular working as there was nothing showing on RTT. DR75405 has an amber and the feather meaning that it is being sent into a loop just north of Mill Road bridge at Wellingborough. Mill Road bridge is out of site behind the recently opened Driver Way bridge that leads to a huge new housing development, named Stanton Cross, to the east of the town. Keywords: DR75405 unidentified track working Wellingborough station
Former platform 5, Wellingborough station Since my last visit to Wellingborough station progress has been made on the rebuilding of the old platform five to be renumbered platform four when it opens. Work commenced just under a year ago when I took a photograph from a virtually identical location, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/26083240604/former-platform-five-wellingborough Whilst there is still much work to do, I notice that, rather incongruously, a shelter has been installed amongst all the construction activity! Keywords: Former platform 5 Wellingborough station
Former platform 5 & new footbridge, Wellingborough station The extension to Wellingborough's footbridge is now fairly advanced with the steps now in place. Last time I visited, the lift tower framework had just been constructed, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/28348129804/x222023-14-12-nottingham-london-st Not only will there be access to the new platform four from the new bridge but also from beyond the platform where a huge new car park is planned. Keywords: Former platform 5 new footbridge Wellingborough station
66703, 09.47 Neasden Charrington-Bardon Hill (6M32, 3E), Wellingborough station Whilst I really like photographing in the winter months, when it is actually sunny, it does create issues as outlined in this particular image. With the sun being so low in the sky the shadows are deep and very dark. Photoshop needs to be put to good use in order to take control of the extreme contrast to lighten the shadows and yet still maintain nice tones in the highlights, particularly in the all-important skyscape. 66703 'Doncaster PSB 1981-2002' leads the 6M32 09.47 Neasden to Bardon Hill empty stone train through a transitional Wellingborough station. This particular train caught me unawares as up until its passage the slow lines had been out of use. The first that I was aware that it was imminent was the automated announcement stating that 'the next train at platform three is not scheduled to stop' and warning me to 'stand back from the platform edge'! Keywords: 66703 09.47 Neasden Charrington-Bardon Hill 6M32 Wellingborough station Doncaster PSB 1981-2002 empty stone train
Signage, Class 222, Wellingborough station Who says our trains are privatised? East Midlands Railway is state-owned if not by our government but that of the Netherlands! Abelio, who operate the TOC, is wholly owned by Nederlandse Spoorwegen, the state-owned Dutch railway, that is the third busiest in the world behind Japan and Switzerland. Notice that the outline of the previous operator's graphics can be seen under the hastily applied EMR vinyls. East Midlands Trains relinquished the franchise on 17.08.19 with slow progress being made re-painting its class 222 Meridians. Keywords: Signage Class 222 Wellingborough station EMR East Midlands Railway East Midlands Trains
43058, EM 11.45 Nottingham-London St. Pancras (1B38, 11L), Wellingborough station HST power car 43058 leads the 11.45 Nottingham to St. Pancras service through Wellingborough station on this crisp winter's day. This power car is now in its final weeks of operation having been introduced during 1977 on the Eastern Region as part of set 254002. It is about to be withdrawn as the stock is operating under special dispensation since 01.01.20 due to it not meeting the persons with reduced mobility legislation. Some of the former ECML LNER HSTs are currently being modified in order to comply with the legislation and are to be introduced soon but the process is running late - of course! Keywords: 43058 11.45 Nottingham-London St. Pancras 1B38 Wellingborough station HST East Midlands Railway EMR
222104, EM 12.12 Nottingham-London St. Pancras (1B41, 10L), Mill Road bridge Taken from the well-known spot at Mill Road bridge just north of Wellingborough station 222104 slows for its stop at the station forming the 12.12 Nottingham to St. Pancras. This is my first sight of a Meridian in its new East Midlands Railway livery. I am not sure about the purple paint scheme, thinking that it looks a little dour; I'll let you decide! Notice the former Wellingborough steam shed in the background. This is currently being converted into an Aldi supermarket but work has slowed recently due to issues with asbestos. Keywords: 222104 12.12 Nottingham-London St. Pancras 1B41 Mill Road bridge Wellinbgborough Meridian EMR East Midlands Railway
222010, EM 12.31 London St. Pancras-Sheffield (1F32, 4L), Mill Road bridge This view from Wellingborough's Mill Road bridge used to be so much better! Firstly, prior to the construction of the Driver Way bridge, this angle showed the station and its environs. Secondly, huge and unsightly anti-suicide panels have been fixed to the top of the brick parapets of the Mill Road bridge thus making photography very tricky without the use of a step ladder. To take this photograph, I have held the camera at fully stretched arm's length above my head, utilising the flip-out screen to sight the train. 222010 heads north with the 1F32 12.31 St. Pancras to Sheffield service. Keywords: 222010 12.31 London St. Pancras-Sheffield 1F32 Mill Road bridge EMR East Midlands Railway Meridian
66783, 11.06 Churchyard-Ketton (6F93, 2L), Driver Way bridge This is my first photograph taken from the recently opened Driver Way bridge just north of Wellingborough station. It affords impressive and more intimate views of Wellingborough station rather than from Mill Road bridge that is located a short distance behind me. In this view, the works to install the electrification equipment, the new platform four and the second relief line can be clearly seen. GB Railfreight, operated by Biffa branded 66783 'The Flying Dustman' (formerly EWS 66058), leads the 11.06 Churchyard (St. Pancras) to Ketton empty cement wagons working. The return working takes large volumes of cement right into central London to satisfy its insatiable building requirement needs including projects such as Crossrail and HS2 of course! Keywords: 66783 11.06 Churchyard-Ketton 6F93 Driver Way bridge The Flying Dustman cement train Biffa GB Railfreight

Images 1-11 of 11 displayed.