11. Trip to Apsley -16.02.23

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2023 > 11. Trip to Apsley -16.02.23

A morning trip to Apsley to collect my latest car purchase. With one full EV in the family and now a plug-in hybrid, how green are we?

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Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.

350407, LN 08.30 Milton Keynes Central-London Euston, (2K08, 13L), Apsley station
With chaos ensuing in the railway in the Rugby area caused by 'trespassing on the line' all southbound trains were either cancelled or running very late. This meant that I was forced to take the next available train from Milton Keynes to Apsley as and when it departed. This meant that I could not wait for the first off-peak train so I was forced to pay the full price, it doesn't seem fair does it really? Having travelled from Milton Keynes on the delayed 08.30 to Euston 350407 leaves Apsley station. At least I was able to travel in the relative luxury of one of TPE's former units that seem to be quieter and roomier than the 350/1/2/ and 3 London Midland subsets.
Keywords: 350407 08.30 Milton Keynes Central-London Euston, 2K08 Apsley station London Northwestern Desiro

66591, 04.59 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North (4L41, 51L), Apsley station
Having arrived a little earlier than planned at Apsley I had a little time on my hands. Following my train up from Milton Keynes was the heavily delayed 4L41 Trafford Park to Felixstowe Freightliner led by 66591. This train was held up by the same trespassing incident in the Rugby area that delayed my train and caused the cancellation of a number of other passenger services operated by both London Northwestern and Avanti West Coast.
Keywords: 66591 04.59 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North 4L41 Apsley station Freightliner

350242, LN 07.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1Y20, 11L) & 390127, VT 09.16 London Euston-Glasgow Central (9S55, RT), Apsley
Just north of Apsley station is a small overbridge that carries a footpath leading across towards Shendish Manor golf course. Whilst a little confined by trees, the footbridge offers some reasonable photographic opportunities. The 07.36 Birmingham to Euston London MIdland service, worked by 350242 at the rear, passes 390127 working the 09.16 Euston to Glasgow Avanti service. Whilst the Desrio arrived over ten minutes late the Pendolino was right time into Glasgow.
Keywords: 350242 07.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1Y20 390127 09.16 London Euston-Glasgow Central 9S55 Apsley London Northwestern Desiro Avanti West Coast Pendolino

350116, LN 09.09 London Euston-Milton Keynes Central (2K15, 1L), Apsley
Having stopped at Apsley station, seen in the background, 350116 and another unidentified unit accelerate away working the 2K15 09.09 Euston to Milton Keynes 'stopper' service. Apsley station was opened much later than many others in September 1938. The station building is a small but functional affair designed by the LMS' favoured architect William Henry Hamlyn. Passenger numbers were hit very hard during the 2020/2021 pandemic year but they have recently begun to bounc back but are still running at half of the pre-COVID figure.
Keywords: 350116 09.09 London Euston-Milton Keynes Central 2K15 Apsley London Northwestern Desiro

390121, VT 09.43 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street (1F16, 6L), Apsley
The one-off livery applied to 390121 'Opportunity' certainly brightens up the otherwise dull and damp winter scene at Apsley. The Pendolino is working the 09.43 Euston to Liverpool Street Avanti West Coast service. I was quite impressed with the photographic opportunities at this location with the bridge suitably free of restricting anti-suicide extensions but the light is tricky. Even on a bright day, a huge line of tall trees to the right in this view would prevent any trains from being in the sun.
Keywords: Opportunity 390121 09.43 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street 1F16 Apsley AVWC Avanti West Coast

56091, 09.15 Wembley Reception Sidings-Chaddesden Sidings (6Z46, 27E), Apsley
I had been tracking the slow and painful progress of the 6Z46 09.15 Wembley to Chaddesden spoil train thinking that I would have to miss it due to my appointment to collect my new car. However, it made up some time so I waited and was rewarded with it passing Apsley just a little late with 56091 'Driver Wayne Gaskell The Godfather' leading. This particular Class 56 is now over forty years old but is still in frontline service now with DC Railfreight, one of three members of the class that they operate.
Keywords: 56091 09.15 Wembley Reception Sidings-Chaddesden Sidings 6Z46 Apsley 'Driver Wayne Gaskell The Godfather'

Ticket, Milton Keynes Central-Apsley
My peak-time walk-on ticket from Milton Keynes to Apsley is shown along with my equally expensive coffee! At 67p per mile, the journey was a proportionally pricy affair, revealing how expensive rail travel can be if not planned ahead. The irony is, of course, that the concept of off-peak and peak travelling times has been considerably eroded since the pandemic as commuter train travel has become far less and looks like not returning to as it was pre-COVID
Keywords: Ticket, Milton Keynes Central-Apsley

Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.