43. GP special-03.07.22

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2022 > 43. GP special-03.07.22

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone has usually brought a charter or two to Northamptonshire and 2022 was no exception. There was just one this year but it made so many logistical passes through my home village of Roade that it felt like more than one operated! Off course, the Grand Prix produced its own excitement, not least being red-flagged at the first turn after the start putting it back an hour meaning that the return train ran too late for me to get out and photograph it.
Click here to search The Archive Files


Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

57314, 09.02 London Euston-Milton Keynes Central (1Z60, 4L), between Roade & Ashton 57314 'Conway Castle' leads the outward leg of the Grand Prix special that started out from Euston at 09.02 running as 1Z60. Passengers would disembark at Milton Keynes but as the journey from London to there was not long enough to enable a relaxing breakfast experience the train continued to Northampton to then return south to Milton Keynes thus adding an hour to its journey time! The train is seen passing the fields between Roade and Ashton with the barley in the foreground ripening nicely! Keywords: 57314 09.02 London Euston-Milton Keynes Central 1Z60 between Roade & Ashton Conway Castle
47804, 09.02 London Euston-Milton Keynes Central (1Z60, 4L), between Roade & Ashton 47804 brings up the rear of the 1Z60 Euston to Milton Keynes GP special via a reversal at Northampton past the fields between Roade and Ashton. Within an hour the train would return south with 47804 leading to drop off its passengers at Milton Keynes for onward travel (via coaches) to Silverstone. The racegoers would enjoy a scintillating and action-packed British Grand Prix that would see Carlos Sainz win his first F1 race with Lewis Hamilton coming in third. Keywords: 47804 09.02 London Euston-Milton Keynes Central 1Z60 between Roade & Ashton WCR West Coast Railways
47804, 09.02 London Euston-Milton Keynes (1Z60, 4L), Victoria bridge With the driving crew having changed ends at Northampton station the 09.02 Euston to Milton Keynes GP special heads south past Victoria bridge near Roade. The extra thirty two miles to and from Northampton would give the premium fare paying passengers extra time to enjoy their sumptuous breakfast aboard the fine rake of restored Pullman cars. Keywords: 47804 09.02 London Euston-Milton Keynes 1Z60 Victoria bridge
165134, 07.58 St. Philips Marsh-Wolverton Centre Sidings (7E), Hyde Road bridge Whilst unit moves to and from Wolverton Works are a common event one arriving on a Sunday and one from Bristol arriving from the north is not so common! GWR's 165134 is seen passing Roade from Hyde Road bridge as the 07.58 St. Philips Marsh to Wolverton Centre Sidings move that, unfortunately, I do not have the reporting number for unless anybody can advise? This two-car unit took the unusual route via the GWML to Didcot and then north via Oxford and Banbury to Coventry where it reversed to run south as seen here on the WCML. Keywords: 165134 07.58 St. Philips Marsh-Wolverton Centre Sidings 7E Hyde Road bridge GWR Great Western Railway
57314, 11.18 Central Milton Keynes-Northampton (5Z60, 1E), Hyde Road bridge Having deposited its passengers at Milton Keynes who themselves then joined a fleet of coaches for onward travel to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix the empty train is seen heading north towards Northampton as the 5Z60 11.18 from Milton Keynes. Here it would then return south again for stabling and servicing in Wolverton Works' Centre sidings. The train is seen passing Roade's Hyde Road bridge with 57314 'Conway Castle'. Keywords: 57314 11.18 Central Milton Keynes-Northampton 5Z60 Hyde Road bridge Conway Castle
47804, 11.51 Northampton-Wolverton Centre Sidings (5Z63, 1L), Roade cutting I am not at all sure as to why the empty coaching stock from the 1Z60 Grand Prix charter had to head north after depositing its passengers at Milton Keynes to then return to Wolverton Work's Centre Sidings for stabling? Why did the train not simply stay at Northampton or even reverse into Milton Keynes' rarely used south-facing platform 2A? However, this did give an extra opportunity to photograph the train passing through Roade seen here deep in the cutting as the 5Z63 11.51 ex Northampton with 47804 leading. Keywords: 47804 11.51 Northampton-Wolverton Centre Sidings 5Z63 Roade cutting

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.