9. Car buying trip to London-13.02.23

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2023 > 9. Car buying trip to London-13.02.23

I took a trip to London in order to view three prospective car purchases. With one in Bushey, the second in Finchley and the final one in King's Langley I made good use of the railways!

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350263, LN 08.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston, (1Y24, 4L), Northampton station
The first train of my busy day travelling with London Northwestern arrives at Northampton station. I took the 08.36 Birmingham New Street to Euston as far as Watford Junction worked by 350263 and another unidentified unit at the rear. I attempted to undertake some work on this website whilst travelling south but, as usual, the train's wifi, promoted as 'LOOP On Train Entertainment' was absolutely useless so I had to resort to hotspotting from my 'phone.
Keywords: 350263 08.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1Y24 Northampton station London Northwestern Desiro

720608, 10.18 DB Cargo Sidings-Crewe (5Q91, 8E), Watford Junction station
Mileage accumulation runs and driver training continue apace on the southern section of the WCM as C2C's new fleet of Class 720 Aventras prepares to enter service in Essex. Just as I alighted from my tired London Northwestern Desiro at Watford Junction a bright and sparkling 720608 was just pulling out heading north. I managed this going-away image of it as the 5Q91 10.18 Wembley Cargo Sidings to Crewe. Notice how the weather has improved in under an hour and a little further south from the previous photograph.
Keywords: 720608 10.18 DB Cargo Sidings-Crewe 5Q91 Watford Junction station Aventra C2C

350122, LN 09.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston, (1Y28, 1L), Watford Junction station
Having viewed the first prospective purchase of the day and rejected it due to it being an utter shambles and misdescribed, I headed back to Watford Junction station to continue my quest. My second train of the day arrives that I took to Euston, the 09.36 ex Birmingham New Street. On arrival in the capital I took a staright run along the Northern Line to Finchley Central.
Keywords: 350122 09.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1Y28 Watford Junction station London Northwestern Desiro

66545, 07.00 Crewe Basford Hall-London Gateway (4L59, RT), Wembley Yard
Having viewed my second prospective purchase in Finchley which was a decidedly better example than the car seen in Watford earlier I head back toward my final stop of the day at Kings Langley. As my train passes Wembley Yard I managed this broadside photograph of 66545. It had arrived a little earlier and was now on a pretty lengthy layover leading the 4L59 07.00 Basford Hall to London Gateway Freightliner service.
Keywords: 66545 07.00 Crewe Basford Hall-London Gateway 4L59 Wembley Yard Freightliner

59205, 14.21 Wembley Yard-Whatley Quarry (6C76, 20E), Wembley Yard
Still wearing its DB livery but with the branding rather crudely half removed from its flanks 59205 stands in Wembley Yard at the head of the afternoon's 6C76 empty stone wagons to Whatley Quarry. This class 59, that entered service in October 1995, is now owned and operated by Freightliner but has yet to receive their version of the rather unusual livery applied to three other members of the 59/2 subset.
Keywords: 59205 14.21 Wembley Yard-Whatley Quarry 6C76 Wembley Yard

350124, LN 13.39 London Euston-Milton Keynes Central (2K33, RT), Kings Langley station
Having alighted from the 13.39 Euston to Milton Keynes service at Kings Langley I turned my camera to the rear of the train to capture it leaving. In full afternoon sunshine 350124 brings up the rear of the train that I had travelled from London on.
Keywords: 350124 13.39 London Euston-Milton Keynes Central 2K33 Kings Langley station London Northwestern Desiro

66571, 12.16 Lawley Street-London Gateway (4L46, 2E), Kings Langley station
Freighliner's 66571 at speed through Kings Langley station leading the 12.16 Lawley Street to London Gateway. The former goods shed, now somewhat ivy-clad, can be seen rising just above the front two boxes of the train.
Keywords: 66571 12.16 Lawley Street-London Gateway 4L46 Kings Langley station

221104 & 221110, VT 15.02 London Euston-Holyhead (1D89, 1E), Kings Langley station
Much as I dislike the Voyagers I make a point of photographing when they pass as they only have a few months left in service on the WCML. Taken the wrong side of the sun 221104 and 221110 passes at speed on the down fast line at Kings Langley with the 1D89 15.02 Euston to Holyhead service.
Keywords: 221104 221110 15.02 London Euston-Holyhead 1D89 Kings Langley station Avanti West Coast Voayger

66536, 11.13 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park (4M87, 14E), Kings Langley station
As an up Desiro service pauses at Kings Langley station the 4M87 Felixstowe North to Trafford Park Freightliner heads north with 66536 leading. Whilst the front of the 'liner is devoid of boxes there were plenty towards the rear of the train. However, it is always a cause for concern when freight trains travel only half-loaded. The large concrete bridge in the background carries the M25 orbital motorway over the railway and then on a viaduct over the valley of the River Gade just near to Junction 20.
Keywords: 66536 11.13 Felixstowe North-Trafford Park 4M87 Kings Langley station Freightliner

350256, LN 15.09 London Euston-Milton Keynes Central (2K39, 18L), Kings Langley station
Having been delayed for getting on for half an hour just south of Wembley central station by what appeared to be a stuck locomotive on the down slow line the 15.09 Euston to Milton Keynes service arrives at Kings Langley. I took this train to its destination hoping to get the bus back home from Keynes. However, with its late arrival, I missed that bus and had to wait an hour for the next one eventually getting home well after dinner! A lack of information and any form of apology from any of the train crew was noticeable; London Northwestern was not at its best!
Keywords: 350256 15.09 London Euston-Milton Keynes Central 2K39 Kings Langley station London Northwestern Desiro

11.Tickets, Northampton-London Euston-Northampton (in reality MKC)
My e-tickets for the return trip to Euston from Northampton. However, due to a heavy delay on my final journey from Kings Langley, I was going to miss a connecting train to Northampton and then a bus home to Roade. I decided to shorten the journey and catch a bus from Milton Keynes instead but this still incurred a wait of just under an hour. All this appeared to be down to a freight blocking the line at Wembley Central blocking the down slow line.
Keywords: Tickets Northampton-London Euston-Northampton in reality MKC

Images 1-11 of 11 displayed.