19. MML HST hunt-22.04.21

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2021 > 19. MML HST hunt-22.04.21

Unbelievable! I happened to choose the only dull morning in between a run of stunning, but very cold, spring mornings to head to the MML in order to capture some images of HSTs in their final few weeks of operation. I was also trying to get a photograph of celebrity power car 43102 in its reproduction Swallow livery. Things, like the horrible cold weather, did not go quite to plan getting just one of two HSTs but at least a coffee on the way home with Mike made up for that!

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Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.

222014, EM 06.52 Nottingham-London St. Pancras (1B14, 6E), Wymington SP956634
Taken from the relatively new footbridge that was installed prior to the first phase of electrification near the village of Wymington EMR Merdian 222014 is seen. Along with much of EMR's stock, it is now wearing the rather garish purple 'house' livery and is seen heading south on the climb towards Sharnbrook summit near the village of Souldrop working the 1B14 06.52 Nottingham to St. Pancras train.
Keywords: 222014 06.52 Nottingham-London St. Pancras 1B14 Wymington SP956634 EMR East Midlands Railway Meridian

222008, EM 07.04 London St. Pancras-Nottingham (1D07, 1L), Wymington SP956634
222008 descends from Sharnbrook summit at a rate of knots working the 07.04 St. Pancras to Nottingham EMR service. The train is seen passing near the village of Wymington in Bedfordshire at a point where the slow and fast lines are separated by a field rather than running side by side as they do for the rest of the route from London to Kettering's Glendon Junction.
Keywords: 222008 07.04 London St. Pancras-Nottingham 1D07 Wymington SP956634 EMR Meridian East Midland Railway

43274, EM 05.19 Leeds-London St. Pancras (1C15, 3E), Wymington SP956634
The 1C15 05.19 Leeds to St. Pancras service is restored to be an HST and has proved to be a regular producer. On this day it is being led by recently repainted power car 43274 and is seen climbing towards Sharnbrook summit near Wymington. Unfortunately, celebrity power car 43102 was tucked in on the rear and a going-away photograph was not possible at this location. With just a few weeks to go in service (if all plans come to fruition!), the stock will remain in its former Virgin paint scheme until withdrawal and probable scrapping.
Keywords: 43274 05.19 Leeds-London St. Pancras 1C15 Wymington SP956634 EMR HST East Midlands Railway

Class 180, EM 07.49 London St. Pancras-Corby (1M04, 1E), Wymington SP955638
Taken across the fields at Wymington one of EMR's recently acquired Class 180s heads north. It is working the 07.49 St. Pancras to Corby 1M04 service. After what seemed to be days of glorious weather with frosty but bright mornings this day being the one I chose to visit the MML was incredibly dull with a biting north-easterly wind blowing. The following day of course the fantastic spring weather returned as I did to work!
Keywords: Class 180 07.49 London St. Pancras-Corby 1M04 Wymington SP955638 EMR East Midlands Railway

222022, EM 07.30 Derby-London St. Pancras (1C98, 2E), Wymington SP955638
Making extremely sedate progress along the up slow line at Wymington (Bedfordshire) 222022 'Invest In Nottingham' works the 07.30 Derby to St. Pancras service. I am not sure what precipitated this train being moved to the slow line at Harrowden Junction as RTT showed that it should have been stopping at Wellingborough's platform two with platform four shown in red (meaning a platform alteration). Either way, this is my first photograph of a passenger train on the up slow at this location.
Keywords: 222022 07.30 Derby-London St. Pancras 1C98 Wymington SP955638 Invest In Nottingham EMR East Midlands Railway

66621, 23.50 East Usk Yard-Radlett Redland Roadstone (6Z39, 5E), Wymington SP955638
66621 working hard on the climb towards Sharnbrook tunnel near the village of Wymington leads the 23.50 East Usk Yard (Newport) to Radlett stone train running as 6Z39 (Thanks to Mike for identifying the reporting number). This train follows an extraordinary route from South Wales to Hertfordshire via the Marches line to Shrewsbury then through the heart of the West Midlands to Burton-on-Trent thence south on the MML to Syston junction where it heads east again to Manton Junction then to Corby. Finally, it dashes south on the MML again arriving at its destination. I am not at all sure why it takes this nocturnal and convoluted route that does seem rather wasteful of resources with many more seemingly direct routes available?
Keywords: 66621 23.50 East Usk Yard-Radlett Redland Roadstone 6Z39 Wymington SP955638 Freightliner

222015, EM 08.47 London St. Pancras-Corby (1M08, RT), Irthlingborough Road bridge
222015 '175 Years of Derby's Railways 1839 - 2014' slows for its stop at Wellingborough station forming the 1M08 08.47 St. Pancras to Corby train. The photograph is taken from the approach to the Irthlingborough Road overbridge. However, do not be fooled into thinking that looks to be a good spot as without a ladder or a flip-out camera screen it is difficult to get a decent image. In addition, the spot is a little dangerous as there is no pavement and the road is busy with trucks, van and cars exiting and entering the large Leyland industrial park that can be seen in the background.
Keywords: 222015 08.47 London St. Pancras-Corby 1M08 Irthlingborough Road bridge EMR East Midlands Railway Meridian 175 Years of Derby's Railways 1839 - 2014

360110, 08.26 Kentish Town-Kettering stabling sidings (3Y51, 11L), Irthlingborough Road bridge
Soon to enter service on the MML between St. Pancras and Corby the former Greater Anglia Class 360 Desrios have been undergoing extensive test runs and driver training turns. Unfortunately, I did not manage the details of the leading unit but 360110 is bringing up the rear of the 08.26 Kentish Town to Kettering 3Y51. It is seen approaching Wellingborough from the IrthlingboroughRoad bridge travelling on the down slow line.
Keywords: 360110 08.26 Kentish Town-Kettering stabling sidings 3Y51 Irthlingborough Road bridge Desiro

66093, 08.58 Elstow Redland Sidings-Mountsorrel Sidings (6D32, 21E), Irthlingborough Road bridge
This looks to be a terrible photograph and, it is! However, I took it to remind myself of what a superb spot this used to be from Wellingborough's Irthlingborough Road bridge. For years it was the 'go to' spot for many local photographers due to its wide open and sweeping vistas, in both directions. However, the ridiculously over-engineered bridge, the palisade fencing, the electrification paraphernalia and now lineside growth (in this case buddleia) have conspired to make it worse than useless! 66093 approaches on the down slow line with the 08.58 Elsow Redland Sidings to Mountsorrel empty stone train running as 6D32.
Keywords: 66093 08.58 Elstow Redland Sidings-Mountsorrel Sidings 6D32 Irthlingborough Road bridge EWS

Class 222, 09.32 Corby-London St. Pancras (1P05, 1L), Driver Way roundabout
Taken through my Vauxhall Combo van window the 'new and improved' Wellingborough station is seen with a Class 222 leaving from the recently reopened platform four working the 09.32 Corby to St. Pancras service. Work to re-build this eastern side of the station has halted now with the new access road leading to a car park and bus stopping area in the foreground blocked off. One wonders if Covid has put a halt to any further developments and, if so, if this is a permanent move or if the work to complete the project will commence again?
Keywords: Class 222 09.32 Corby-London St. Pancras 1P05 Driver Way roundabout

Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.