6. A few hours on the ECML-06.02.23

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2023 > 6. A few hours on the ECML-06.02.23

Following an abortive trip to Stevenage to view a car at a dealership where the owner could not even be bothered to turn up and referred to me, the customer, as 'mate' I decided to make better use of the day and take some photographs north of there on the ECML. I was hopeful of capturing some of the remaining IC225 diagrams in operation and had some success in this on what was a cracking winter's day!

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Images 1-21 of 21 displayed.

800210, GR 11.33 London King's Cross-Harrogate (1D12, 1E), Ickleford TL188317
Breaking the photographic rules is a hobby of mine; this includes taking photographs into the sun! On a glorious, if chilly morning 800210 speeds northwards with the 11.33 King's Cross to Harrogate service. The train is seen from a footbridge that spans the ECML near the village of Ickleford just north of Hitchin.
Keywords: 800210 11.33 London King's Cross-Harrogate 1D12 Ickleford TL188317 LNER Azuma.jpg

180105, GC 08.53 Sunderland-London King's Cross (1A61, 3L), Ickleford TL188317
Grand Central still operate a fleet of Class 180 DMUs on all of their services to and from London King's Cross. How long they will maintain this is unclear but surely time must nearly be up for these units that are getting on for twenty-five years old? 180105 passes Ickleford just north of Hitchin working the 1D12 08.53 Sunderland to Ling's Cross service. With their Cummins QSK19-R engines at full chat, this train could be heard some considerable distance away long before it actually became visible down the line!
Keywords: 180105 08.53 Sunderland-London King's Cross 1A61 Ickleford TL188317.jpg Grand Central Aldente

800204 & 800206, GR 09.36 Harrogate-London King's Cross (1A22, 9L), Ickleford TL188317
Despite being outwardly identical to their older IET GWR cousins I cannot help but feel that the LNER Azumas look so much better! Their livery has remained looking very smart from their introduction and they certainly strike. pose racing up and down the ECML. 800204 and 800206 pass Ickleford (just north of Hitchin) working the 1A22 09.36 Harrogate to King's Cross service via Leeds.
Keywords: 800204 800206 09.36 Harrogate-London King's Cross 1A22 Ickleford TL188317 LNER Azuma

801229, GR 06.48 Glasgow Central-London King's Cross (1E06, 2L), Ickleford TL188317
801229 approaches the camera at a considerable speed working the 06.48 Glasgow central to King's Cross service. The train is seen from a footbridge the spans the busy ECML near the village of Ickleford in Hertfordshire.
Keywords: 801229 06.48 Glasgow Central-London King's Cross 1E06 Ickleford TL188317 LNER Azuma

800203, GR 12.30 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley (1S17, 1L), Arlesey station
Taken very much against the light but 800203 strikes quite a pose as it takes the sharp and suitable cambered curve at Arlesey station working the 12.30 King's Cross to Edinburgh express. At thirty-seven miles from King's Cross Arlesey station in its present state was opened on 03.10.88 following its closure nearly thirty years earlier. With its wide-open views of the busy ECML and its curves it offers some splendid photographic opportunities but beware of the lighting!
Keywords: 800203 12.30 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley 1S17 Arlesey station LNER Azuma

700150, TL 10.55 Horsham-Peterborough (9J30, 2E), Arlesey station
the 10.55 Horsham to Peterborough Thameslink service pauses at Arlesey station worked by 700150. Referred to as the Desiro City units the twelve-car Class 700s were introduced to this route in 2017 and have proved to be dependable if a little uninspiring and lacking in on-board facilities. However, what do commuters want from a train?
Keywords: 700150 10.55 Horsham-Peterborough 9J30 Arlesey station Thameslink

82211, GR 11.15 Leeds-London King's Cross (1A26, 3L), Arlesey station
Proper trains still running on the ECML! DVT 82211 repslendent in a retro. InterCity swallow livery leads the 11.15 Leeds to King's Cross service at line speed past Arlesey station. It is unfortunate the sun has not quite come around far enough to illuminate the side of the train as I was hoping it would.
Keywords: 82211 11.15 Leeds-London King's Cross 1A26 Arlesey station LNER IC225 DVT

91111, GR 11.15 Leeds-London King's Cross (1A26, 3L), Arlesey station
I don't normally 'do' going away shots but when the subject is 91111 'For the Fallen' I have made an exception! Bringing up the rear of the 1A26 11.15 Leeds to King's Cross it is seen passing south through Arlesey station at line speed with its massive six thousand three hundred hp motor roaring as they always do; a very impressive locomotive in anybody's book!
Keywords: 91111 11.15 Leeds-London King's Cross 1A26 Arlesey station LNER IC225 For the Fallen

700145, TL 12.24 Peterborough-Horsham (9J33, 7L), Arlesey station
The length of the twelve-car Class 700s is clear to see in this image taken at Arlesey. 700145 arrives at the station working the 12.24 Peterborough to Horsham Thameslink service. Notice the anti-slip treatment on the platform to the left testament to the fact that, despite the sunny appearance, it was a chilly day within a spell of much colder and frosty nights.
Keywords: 700145 12.24 Peterborough-Horsham 9J33 Arlesey station Thameslink

801201, GR 12.33 London King's Cross-Leeds (1D14, 9L), Arlesey station
Taking the cambered and curved track to the south of Arlesey station 801201 passes at speed with the 12.33 King's Cross to Leeds service. The Canon G1X camera used to take this image is a super and compact piece of kit for railway photography but its Achilles heel is its maximum shutter speed of 1/2000 sec. When a fast train is passing and when close to it as seen here there is always going to be a little motion blur. Whilst not always visible on this site close inspection reveals its presence.
Keywords: 801201 12.33 London King's Cross-Leeds 1D14 Arlesey station LNER Azuma

803003, LD 09.24 Edinburgh Waverely-London King's Cross (1E82, 31L), Holme Green crossing TL192426
Lumo's 803003 passes Holme Green crossing just south of Biggleswade with the 09.24 Edinburgh to King's Cross service. Notice the driver waving, not at me but at a couple of lineside workers inspecting the foot crossing at which I am standing. Talking to them revealed Network Rail's plans to abolish Holme Green crossing and the other five within a short distance of this spot with some being replaced with bridges and others shut completely and footpath diversions to be applied for.
Keywords: 803003 09.24 Edinburgh Waverely-London King's Cross 1E82 Holme Green crossing TL192426 LUMO

180106, GC 09.54 Sunderland-London King's Cross (1A64, 31L), Holme Green crossing TL192426
Now looking a little tatty and tired Grand Central's 180106 passes Holme Green foot/farm crossing just south of Biggleswade. The unit is working the 1A64 09.54 Sunderland to King's Cross service that is just forty miles from completing its journey. Being able to get close to trains on flat crossings but still being safe is getting a rare thing now on the network so get these types of photographs whilst you still can!
Keywords: 180106 09.54 Sunderland-London King's Cross 1A64 Holme Green crossing TL192426 GRand central

700140, TL 13.24 Peterborough-Horsham (9J36, 13L), Holme Green crossing TL192426
On a glorious winter's day such as this linesiding is an absolute pleasure! Despite the chilly air I really prefer photographing trains at this time of year with such a clean quality of light and with the sun at a low angle the lack of deep shadows. Thameslink's 13.24 Peterborough to Horsham service is seen picking up speed after its stop at Biggleswade as it passes Holme Green crossing worked by 700140.
Keywords: 700140 13.24 Peterborough-Horsham 9J36 Holme Green crossing TL192426 Thameslink

66564, 10.49 London Gateway-Leeds FLT (4E24, 7L), Holme Green crossing TL192426
Hauling an awful lot of fresh air 66564 makes its way along the down slow line at Holmes Green between Biggleswade and Arlesey. The Class 66 would have been making very easy work of the 10.49 London Gateway to Leeds Freightliner Terminal. I make no apologies for the unusual positioning of the locomotive in this photograph dictated somewhat by the low afternoon sun and the lack of clear access caused by the positioning of electrical masts!
Keywords: 66564 10.49 London Gateway-Leeds FLT 4E24 Holme Green crossing TL192426 Freightliner

802302, HT 13.48 London King's Cross-Hull (1H04, 7E), Holme Green crossing TL192426
There is no doubt that Hull Trains' Class 802 Paragon units look smart and that they have had an impressive livery applied. However, I cannot quite get used to there being no yellow front warning panel! 802302 'Jean Bishop The Bee Lady' passes Holme Green occupation crossing between Arsley and Biggleswadeworking the 1H04 13.48 King's Cross to Hull service. The train is named after the late local (to Hull) celebrity charity fundraiser Jean Bishop who used to wear a bee costume whilst she rattled her collection tin around the city, see.... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-humber-42101275
Keywords: 802302 13.48 London King's Cross-Hull 1H04 Holme Green crossing TL192426 Hull Trains Paragon Jean Bishop The Bee Lady

82222, GR 12.02 York-London King's Cross (1Y84, 29L), Holme Green crossing TL192426
With the sun getting lower in the clear winter sky the shadows are lengthening in this view at Holme Green occupation crossing a short distance south of Biggleswade. In these superb afternoon conditions, DVT 82222 leads LNER's 12.02 York to King's Cross stopper. Now very much in their twilight years the few remaining IC225 sets can be found on these services (and those to and from Leeds) very much in the same way that the Deltics spent their final time on the ECML in the early 1980s.
Keywords: 82222 12.02 York-London King's Cross 1Y84 Holme Green crossing TL192426 LNER IC225 DVT

91111, GR 14.03 London King's Cross-Leeds (1D17, RT), Holme Green crossing TL192426
91111 'For The Fallen' makes a dramatic sight as it races at line speed along the ECML at Holme Green crossing between Arlesey and Biggleswade. The IC225 set is one of a small number retained by the state operator LNER to supplement its operations on the ECML between London, Leeds and York. In this case, this is the 1D17 14.03 King's Cross to Leeds service. If I was planning a journey between London and Yorkshire I would try to ensure that I travelled on one of the IC225 services much preferring the sumptuous luxury of a comfortably sprung and generous seat of a Mk. IV coach.
Keywords: 91111 14.03 London King's Cross-Leeds 1D17 Holme Green crossing TL192426 IC225 For the Fallen LNER

82214, GR 12.45 Leeds-London King's Cross (1A30, 6L), Holme Green crossing TL192426
Within a few minutes of the last up IC225 set another one was due to pass so despite really having to head home I decided to wait for 'just one more train'! DVT 82214 leads the 1A30 12.45 Leeds to King's Cross service past Holme Green foot crossing near Biggleswade. There are a number of level crossings within a short distance of this location but Holme Green is one of the easiest ones to photograph from behind the safety and security of fencing and gates. It is likely that they will all be abolished over the coming few years as Network Rail continues with its obsessive actions to remove them.
Keywords: 82214 12.45 Leeds-London King's Cross 1A30 6L Holme Green crossing IC225 DVT LNER

91109, GR 12.02 York-London King's Cross (1Y84, 29L), Holme Green crossing TL192426
As the 1Y94 12.02 Yoek to King's Cross LNER service sped south past me at Holme Green crossing Langford led by the DVT I could not resist swiftly turning my camera around to capture the Class 91 pushing at the rear. 91109 'Sir Bobby Robson' looks superb in its retro. InterCity swallow livery matched to the set of Mk. IV stock as it catches the fast-sinking February afternoon sunshine.
Keywords: 91109 12.02 York-London King's Cross 1Y84 Holme Green crossing TL192426 IC225 Sir Bobby Robson

802304, HT 12.33 Hull-London King's Cross (1A94, 3L), Holme Green crossing TL192426
Using a relatively wide angle on the camera has enabled a slightly different perspective at Holme Green occupation crossing between Arlesey and Biggleswade. Hull Trains' Paragon 802304 'William Wilberforce' heads south with the 12.33 Hull to King's Cross 1A94 service.
Keywords: 802304 12.33 Hull-London King's Cross 1A94 Holme Green crossing TL192426 Hull rains Paragon William Wilberforce

66710, 13.09 Peterborough North Yard-Angerstein Wharf (6O57, 46L), Holme Green crossing TL192426
Just before heading back to the van and for the drive back to Northampton I waited for only the second freight of the day that I observed on the southern ECML. The very late running 13.09 Peterborough North Yard to Angerstein Wharf 6O57 empty spoil wagons passes south at Holme Green crossing led by GBRf's 66710 'Phil Packer'. Glancing down the rake of new JNA-X box wagons finds them devoid of any vandalism for the moment at least but I wonder for how long they will remain this way?
Keywords: 66710 13.09 Peterborough North Yard-Angerstein Wharf 6O57 Holme Green crossing TL192426 GBRf Phil Packer

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