8. 'The Wolf Hall Thunderer' & Tallington-11.02.23

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2023 > 8. 'The Wolf Hall Thunderer' & Tallington-11.02.23

Charter time again got me out but in the dark on a damp and miserable morning! As 'The Wolf Hall Thunderer' did not stop at Wellingborough I had to head further to Kettering as the train had to be seen stationary due to the time of the morning. Following capturing some images I headed across to Tallington and Peterborough in order to view a couple of cars with the prospect of a purchase but, alas, not this time!

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Images 1-19 of 19 displayed.

360119, EM 05.32 London St. Pancras-Corby (1Y01, 2L), Kettering station
The rear end of 360119 as it pauses at Kettering station working the 05.32 St. Pancras to Corby service. It is astonishing that camera technology permits hand-held photographs to be taken in conditions such as this and that they are of such remarkable quality. Remember the times when a camera needed to be mounted on a sturdy tripod and a bit of a guestimate was required to get a decent image; I would have thought that in these sorts of conditions and exposure of some fifteen seconds would have been required at about f8. Whilst it's easy today I must admit to missing a bit of the old-school tech. and skills!
Keywords: 360119 05.32 London St. Pancras-Corby 1Y01 Kettering station EMR Desiro

Nameplate, 37403, outward leg of 'The Wolf Hall Thunderer', 05.25 Derby-London St. Pancras (1Z40, 10L), Kettering station
The nameplate and large vinyl number of 37403 'Isle of Mull' is really struggling for illumination in this view as The Wolf Hall Thunderer charter it was hauling pauses at Kettering station. As D6607 37403 was delivered new to Landore. It was renumbered 37307 in 1974, and was selected in 1984 as one of twenty-five locomotives which were converted to work passenger trains in Scotland. Refurbishment for this role required the replacement of the main generator with an alternator and the provision of electric train heating. Thus modified as a class 37/4, the locomotive was renumbered 37403, and transferred to Glasgow Eastfield depot. From Eastfield, 37403 worked the West Highland and Oban lines, and was appropriately named 'Isle of Mull' in January 1986. In November 1988, the name was changed to 'Glendarroch', the fictional setting of the STV series Take the High Road.
Keywords: Nameplate 37403 The Wolf Hall Thunderer 05.25 Derby-London St. Pancras 1Z40 Kettering station Isle of Mull

Enthusiasts, 37403, outward leg of 'The Wolf Hall Thunderer', 05.25 Derby-London St. Pancras (1Z40, 10L), Kettering station
Generous dwell times on railtours, when they are running to time, permits enthusiasts on board to alight and take their photographs of their train. Even in the dark at Kettering station, the hardy souls are seen doing this having alighted from their warm coaches! They are recording 37403 'Isle of Mull' as it waits at the head of The Wolf Hall Thunderer charter running as 1Z40, the 05.52 Derby to St. Pancras with 50008 'Thunderer' on the rear. On arrival in the capital, the train would take a circuitous route around south London with a number of reversals something that the track bashers aboard would really appreciate.
Keywords: Enthusiasts 37403 The Wolf Hall Thunderer 05.25 Derby-London St. Pancras 1Z40 Kettering station Isle of Mull Glendarroch Ben Cruachan

50008, outward leg of 'The Wolf Hall Thunderer', 05.25 Derby-London St. Pancras (1Z40, 10L), Kettering station
Attracting very little attention at the rear of The Wolf Hall Thunderer charter 50008 'Thunderer' sits waiting to get its turn to haul the train. This would happen on arrival at St. Pancras' platform three where it would then lead the 1Z41 leg of the tour to Shepperton via the fabled North London Dudding Hill Line.
Keywords: 50008 The Wolf Hall Thunderer', 05.25 Derby-London St. Pancras 1Z40 Kettering station

180103, GC 06.55 Bradford Exchange-London King's Cross (1A59, 1L), Tallington
I like Tallington on the ECML a few miles north of Peterborough as the railway photographer gets plenty of warning of the passage of a train and it offers a variety of views of the line. Taken through the footbridge that permits pedestrians to cross the line when the level crossing barriers are lowered 180103 is seen working the 06.55 Bradford Exchange to King's Cross Grand Central service. As is usual with these units it could be heard in the distance well before it was actually in view and was identifiable!
Keywords: 180103 06.55 Bradford Exchange-London King's Cross 1A59 Tallington Grand Central

800125, GR 08.30 London King's Cross-Darlington (1F08, 1E), Tallington Dowmac
Darlington is not usually a destination for LNER services from King's Cross. However, as engineering works had closed the route north from there to Newcastle the dreaded bustitution was in operation! Taken from a long bank adjacent to the Dowmac concrete plant at Tallington 800125 heads north with the 08.30 King's Cross to Darlington service.
Keywords: 800125 08.30 London King's Cross-Darlington 1F08 Tallington Dowmac LNER Azuma

180114, GC 06.44 Sunderland-London King's Cross (1A60, 8L), Tallington Dowmac
180114 'Kirkgate Calling' passes Tallington's Dowmac concrete plant working the 06.44 Sunderland to King's Cross Grand Central service. The name was appointed to the unit during the summer of 2018 to celebrate the rejuvenation of Wakefield Kirkgate station following major improvements made to the local station that features on Grand central's named West Riding route.
Keywords: 180114 06.44 Sunderland-London King's Cross 1A60 Tallington Dowmac Grand Central Kirkgate Calling

91124, 08.33 London King's Cross-Leeds (1D06, RT), Tallington Dowmac
The old order is still in operation on the ECML. In what was arguably the pinnacle of design and build by British Rail a few of the Mk. IV IC225 sets are still in frontline operation, still providing passengers with a great travelling experience. 91124 leads the 08.33 King's Cross to Leeds service past Tallington taken from the Dowmac concrete plant embankment just north of the infamous level crossing.
Keywords: 91124 08.33 London King's Cross-Leeds 1D06 Tallington Dowmac IC225InterCity Swallow LNER

158889, EM 07.40 Sheffield-Norwich (1L05, 3L), Tallington Dowmac
EMR's 158889 passing Tallington on the up-fast line working the 1L05 07.40 Sheffield to Norwich service. The Express Sprinters are now approaching twenty-five years of age and have proved themselves to be an enduring design in that time. However, EMR has disposed of a number of them in the last two years replacing them with cascaded Class 170s. With their fleet of Class 222 Meridans becoming surplus soon I just wonder if these may be seen on the ECML route operating these EMR Regional services.
Keywords: 158889 07.40 Sheffield-Norwich 1L05 Tallington Dowmac EMR Express Sprinter

82214, GR 08.16 Leeds-London King's Cross (1A15, 16L), Tallington Dowmac
Approaching the lower section of the long and fast descent of Stoke Bank DVT 82214 leads the 08.16 Leeds to King's Cross LNER service. Apart from the discreet LNER vinyls applied to the stock, the locomotive at the rear and this DVT it could almost be an image captured at this spot near Tallington some twenty-five years ago in the heyday of BR's InterCity era.
Keywords: 82214 08.16 Leeds-London King's Cross 1A15 Tallington Dowmac IC225 InterCity DVT

801204, GR 08.30 York-London King's Cross (1G02, 10L), Tallington Dowmac
I make no apology for repeating my assertion that I believe that the LNER Azuma fleet is by far the smartest and most purposeful of the A-Train family of trains. Seeing one at close quarters in full flight on the ECML is an impressive sight in anybody's books - tin hat anybody! This photograph of 801204 working the 08.30 York to King's Cross non-stop service amply illustrates my point. The train is seen passing Tallington adjacent to the Dowmac concrete plant just north of the level crossing.
Keywords: 801204 08.30 York-London King's Cross 1G02 Tallington Dowmac. LNER Azuma

Former rail access, Dowmac, Tallington
Whilst the Dowmac concrete works at Tallington still sees trains enter its site this rail link has not seen any traffic for a number of years! The Tallington plant was opened during world war two to make concrete railway sleepers, the first time this ever took place in the world.
Keywords: Former rail access Dowmac Tallington

Former rail access, Dowmac, Tallington
A second view of the disused rail link into the Dowmac concrete plant adjacent to the ECML at Tallington. With the mainline in the background the Tallington footbridge, located next to the village's level crossing, can also be seen. Preformed concrete items are still taken away from the plant on a regular basis by rail but trains now access via the second track from the left with the ground frame that controls entry and exit to the far right.
Keywords: Former rail access Dowmac Tallington

Rail access, Dowmac, Tallington
The access line into Dowmac's Tallington plant is seen with the ECML to the left of the photograph. Trains are pretty regular visitors to the plant with them presently removing thousands of concrete segments that will be bolted together to make the Thames Tideway Tunnel that should open in 2025. Notice that sleepers in this view are of concrete but I cannot see the Dowmac name in the centre of the casting as is their traditional way of doing things!
Keywords: Rail access Dowmac Tallington

801110 & 800201, GR 08.58 York-London King's Cross (1Y14, 2L), Tallington
LNER's 1Y24 08.58 York to King's Cross service passes Tallington worked by 801110 and 800201. 1Y14 is normally the 06.55 from Newcastle however due to engineering works between Darlington and Newcastle a revised timetable was in operation with it re-cast as a York semi-fast service. I am not at all convinced as to the wisdom of running a twin set of units on a service such as this necessitating twin-manning throughout.
Keywords: 801110 800201 08.58 York-London King's Cross 1Y14 Tallington LNER Azuma

800104, GR 09.00 London King's Cross-Aberdeen (1W11, 7L), Tallington
Tallington level crossing on the ECML a few miles north of Peterborough is believed to be the busiest in the country where the barriers can be lowered for forty minutes out of sixty causing huge delays and congestion to users of the busy A1175. There have been discussions and plans on the table for many years to construct a bridge but as yet, nothing has materialised so the frustration of locals, road users and the various local authorities will continue. 800104 passes the level crossing working the 09.00 King's Cross to Aberdeen LNER service.
Keywords: 800104 09.00 London King's Cross-Aberdeen 1W11 Tallington LNER AZuma

91105, GR 09.06 London King's Cross-York (1N81, 5L), Tallington
Catching a little weak morning sunshine the 09.06 King's Cross to York service passes Tallington level crossing taken from the steps of the footbridge. The train is led by 91105 and its matching set of LNER's version of the InterCity Executive livery.
Keywords: 91105 09.06 London King's Cross-York 1N81 Tallington LNER IC225 InterCity executive

802302 & 802301, HT 08.24 Hull-London King's Cross (1A92, 2E), Tallington
802302 'Jean Bishop-The Bee Lady' and 803301 'Amy Johnson' work the 1A92 08.24 Hull to King's Cross service past Tallington in Lincolnshire. The large building in the background is part of the Dowmac concrete plant discussed a little earlier in this sequence of photographs.
Keywords: 802302 802301 08.24 Hull-London King's Cross 1A92 Tallington Hull Trains Paragon Jean Bishop-The Bee Lady Amy Johnson

Images 1-19 of 19 displayed.