2. Journey back-13.12.15

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2015 > 68. Trip to London-12 & 13.12.15 > 2. Journey back-13.12.15
The journey home was direct to Milton Keynes from Kensington Olympia with a change to a London Midland there back to Northampton.
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378214, LO 11.35 Stratford-Clapham Junction (2Y49), Kensington Olympia station London Overground's 378214 leaves Kensington Olympia station working the 2Y49 11.35 Stratford to Clapham Junction. This train has just over three miles to go until reaching its destination with stops at West Brompton and Imperial Wharf. Keywords: 378214 11.35 Stratford-Clapham Junction 2Y49 Kensington Olympia station Capitalstar
378226, LO 11.15 Clapham Junction-Stratford (2L02), Kensington Olympia station 378226 works the 11.15 Clapham Junction to Stratford service seen pausing at Kensington Olympia station. The Capitalstar units were introduced from 2009 onwards and have transformed the cross-London journeys for passengers. However, it has to be said that the functionality of the trains is their overriding feature being simply a continuous long box from end to end with to lines of side-facing seats. However, they are light and airy and have airconditioning. Keywords: 378226 11.15 Clapham Junction-Stratford 2L02 Kensington Olympia station London Overground LO Capitalstar
378211, LO 12.11 Willesden Junction-Clapham Junction (2Y51), Kensington Olympia station London Overground's Capitalstars operate all across North London. This particular one has started at Willesden Junction making the relatively short journey to Clapham Junction running as 2Y51. It is seen waiting for the right away at Kensington Olympia station. Keywords: 378211 12.11 Willesden Junction-Clapham Junction 2Y51 Kensington Olympia station capitalstar London Overground
378228, LO 12.31 Clapham Junction-Willesden Junction (2Y04), Kensington Olympia station The fleet of fifty-seven Capitalstars is split into two subgroups, twenty 378/1s that are DC (third rail) only with the remaining thirty-seven being classified as 378/2s being dual DC and AC (pantograph fitted). When they were introduced in 2007 as four-car sets it was already clear that this was not going to provide enough capacity so an additional one car per set was procured. These have been steadily added to the sets over the last few years with a few still to be modified. As can be seen, London Overground makes great play of the fact that they have undertaken this task! 378228 arrives at Kensington Olympia station with the 12.31 Clapham Junction to Willesden Junction service. Keywords: 378228 12.31 Clapham Junction-Willesden Junction 2Y04 Kensington Olympia station London Overground Capitalstar
59203, 12.34 Acton TC-Crawley (7069), Kensington Olympia station Looking for all intents and purposes like a Class 66 59203 brings the 12.34 Acton to Crawley loaded stone train through Kensington Olympia station. 59203 was one of a second batch of the class that arrived on the UK shores during the summer of 1995. The first batch of the class, that arrived some ten years prior to this, really broke the mould of UK locomotive design and production being entirely produced from beginning to end in North America and were a clear sign of things to come. Keywords: 59203 12.34 Acton TC-Crawley 7069 Kensington Olympia station stone train
377708, SN 12.10 East Croydon-Milton Keynes (2M31), Kensington Olympia station Southern's 377708 arrives at Kensington Olympia station working the 12.10 East Croydon to Milton Keynes service that my wife and I took to its destination. The dual voltage Electrostars ride well and are comfortable with good acceleration be they operating on DC or AC voltage. My wife always prefers a trip to London when we use Southern rather than London Midland where she sights the condition of the former's stock as the main problem often commenting that the interiors of the Class 350 smell unpleasant, I must admit that I do agree with her on occasions! Keywords: 377708 SN 12.10 East Croydon-Milton Keynes 2M31 Kensington Olympia station Southern Electrostar
90042, 09.12 Felixstowe North-Ditton (4M63), Willesden yard Technically not a great photograph and showing poor levels of composure but I have included it for its unusual location! When taking a Southern service back from the West London line to the WCML the trains pass under the latter before remerging on the east in order to access the down slow line. In doing so they pass the northern end of Willesden yard and if one is lucky a northbound freight can be seen held at a red signal waiting for the train you are on to pass. On this day, 90042 is held leading the 4M63 09.12 Felixstowe to Ditton Freightliner seen as we climb back to mainline track level and slot in front of it. Without being on a passing train there is no chance whatsoever of getting a photograph at this location hence its inclusion! Keywords: 90042 09.12 Felixstowe North-Ditton 4M63 Willesden yard Freightliner
66119 & 66138, stabled, Wembley yard Having not moved a wheel since we passed heading in the other direction yesterday, 66119 and 66138 are seen stabled in Wembley yard. It is clear that 66138 has not been through the washer since undertaking RHT work in the last few months! Notice that both locomotives have their cab doors open. Is this really a good idea I have to ask myself allowing any inclement winter weather to do its worst? Keywords: 66119 66138 stabled Wembley yard
86401 & 96371 (Nightstar generator coach), Wembley TMD Somewhat in the distance but an interesting subject in Wembley yard nonetheless. Firstly in its Caledonian Sleeper livery 86401 'Mons Meg' is seen stabled in between the movement of sleeper stock to and from here and Euston. Behind it is a former Nightstar generator coach number 96371. This generator coach was converted from former MK3 Sleeper 10545 in the early 1990s. These were to provide an electric supply for the rakes of Nightstar sleepers that were to operate from the UK through the Channel Tunnel and to various destinations across northern Europe. The generators were needed when the trains were being hauled by diesel power, planned to be Class 37s. The highly expensive Nightstar programme never came to fruition with the sleeper stock sold and exported to Canada with the various generators coaches finding a variety of uses throughout the UK. Keywords: 86401 96371 Nightstar generator coach Wembley TMD Mons Meg AC Locomotive Group Caledonian Sleeper
57310 & 47790, 08.59 Norwich Crown Point-Wolverton Centre Sidings (5Z55), Milton Keynes station Superpower for three Mk. III coaches! 57310 'Pride of Cumbria' and 47790 'Galway Princess' haul three coaches as the 08.59 Norwich Crown Point to Wolverton centre sidings through Milton Keynes. Despite that the train only has about two miles to the end of its journey it was still going at a fair pace not enabling me to get to a better vantage point for a photograph! Keywords: 57310 47790 08.59 Norwich Crown Point-Wolverton Centre Sidings 5Z55 Milton Keynes station DRS Direct Rail Services Pride of Cumbria Northern Belle Galway Princess
350241, LM 12.02 Crewe-London Euston (1U30), Milton Keynes station On a dismal December afternoon at Milton Keynes, 350241 pauses with the 12.02 Crewe to London Euston London Midland service. This train has worked fast from Rugby missing out the Northampton loop but will now run on the up slow to London with one stop at Watford Junction. Keywords: 350241 LM 12.02 Crewe-London Euston 1U30 Milton Keynes station London Midland Desiro
350368, LM 13.46 London Euston-Crewe (1U37), Milton Keynes station It appears that many passengers heading north at Milton Keynes are waiting for a Virgin service rather than taking a London Midland Desiro. 350368 gets away from platform six (the down fast line) working the 13.46 Euston to Crewe service. Keywords: 350368 13.46 London Euston-Crewe 1U37 Milton Keynes station London Midland Desiro
221142, VT 08.52 Glasgow Central-London Euston (9M52), Milton Keynes station 221142 'Bombardier Voyager' (previously 'Matthew Flinders' >10.10) stops at Milton Keynes station working the 08.52 Glasgow Central to Euston. Who would ever have thought, even twenty years ago, that an express service of this nature would have been worked by a five-car DMU? Keywords: 221142 08.52 Glasgow Central-London Euston 9M52 Milton Keynes station Virgin Trains Voyager Bombardier Voyager
350115, LM 13.49 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1W15), MiIlton Keynes station 350115 arrives at Milton Keynes station working the 13.49 Euston to Birmingham New Street 1W15 service. My wife and I took this train as the second and final part of of our journey home from London to Northampton. Keywords: 350115 LM 13.49 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1W15 Milton Keynes station London Midland Desiro
Tickets, Kensington Olympia-Northampton Our return tickets from Kensington Olympia to Northampton. With our two-together discount loaded they were were not bad value at just over £20 each. Keywords: Tickets Kensington Olympia-Northampton

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