1. Journey there-02.04.13

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2013 > 15. Trip to Edinburgh-02-04.04.13 > 1. Journey there-02.04.13

I like travelling on the ECML and this trip from Peterborough to Edinburgh was no exception. Now nationalised, (or Directly Operated in Government parlance) the line is operated under the banner of East Coast which has run the route since 2009. An uneventful and comfortable journey found us arriving into Waverley on time and ready for our short break.

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Images 1-27 of 27 displayed.

180101, GC 06.51 Bradford Exchange-London King's Cross, Peterborough station
180101 passes Peterborough at speed working Grand Central's 06.51 Bradford (Exchange) to London King's Cross. The black livery of the Class 180s, and their HST sets for that matter, is tricky to photograph well in bright light even more so when standing on the wrong side for the sun as is the case here!
Keywords: 180101 06.51 Bradford Exchange-London King's Cross Peterborough station Grand Central

170103, XC 07.22 Birmingham New Street-Stansted Airport, Peterborough station
The reconstruction of Peterborough station continues with more platforms being added to the western side and an extension to the footbridge as seen here. 170103 leaves the station in some welcome spring sunshine working the 07.22 Birmingham New Street to Stansted Airport service.
Keywords: 170103 07.22 Birmingham New Street-Stansted Airport Peterborough station CrossCountry

91110, EC 09.35 London King's Cross-Leeds, Peterborough station
With the 1913 built Crescent Bridge to the south of Peterborough station dominating the scene 91110 'Battle of Britain Memorial Flight' passes at line speed working the 09.35 King's Cross to Leeds service. Notice the track worker safely in the designated walking route created as part of the station redevelopment programme.
Keywords: 91110 09.35 London King's Cross-Leeds Peterborough station IC225 BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT

158813, EM 07.57 Norwich-Liverpool Lime Street, Peterborough station
158813 negotiates its entry into Peterborough station from the south working East Midlands Trains' 07.57 Norwich to Liverpool Lime Street service. This image amply illustrates the rather cluttered scene at this end of the station some of which is associated with its extensive remodelling and extension.
Keywords: 158813 07.57 Norwich-Liverpool Lime Street Peterborough station EMT East Midlands Trains

180105, GC 06.45 Sunderland-London King's Cross, Peterborough station
A second 'wrong side' image Adelante 180105 passing Peterborough at full speed. It was working Grand Central's 06.45 Sunderland to King's Cross service. It would be nice if this fledgling TOC, even if it is a subsidiary of Arriva UK Trains, could lease some nice new dedicated trains to operate its services rather than old and rather unreliable hand-me-downs such as these and some HST sets.
Keywords: 180105 06.45 Sunderland-London King's Cross Peterborough station GRand Central

158773, EM 08.34 Nottingham-Norwich, Peterborough Station
158773 drifts into Peterborough station working the 08.34 Nottingham to Norwich. I have to question if a two-car DMU is adequate for this inter-regional working? In the not-too-distant past, this would have been composed of a rake of Mk. 1 or 2 stock hauled by a Class 31....progress; I'll let you decide!
Keywords: 158773 08.34 Nottingham-Norwich Peterborough Station East Midlands Trains

43302, GR 07.34 Harrogate-London King's Cross, Peterborough station
For me, the jury is out on East Coast's livery applied to their trains. I am aware that cost is an issue particularly as 'we', the taxpayers own the TOC as it is effectively a state-owned nationalised company. Perhaps it's better that money should be saved on fancy rebranding and painting with it spent more effectively on the quality of service. 43302 leads the 07.34 Harrogate to King's Cross HST service through Peterborough.
Keywords: 43302 07.34 Harrogate-London King's Cross Peterborough station HST

170206, GA 08.03 Ipswich-Peterborough, Peterborough station
This is about as far west as Greater Anglia gets! The 08.03 service from Ipswich, worked by 170206, has just terminated at Peterborough with the crew exchanging a few words prior to its departure back to Suffolk. Its dwell time is kept pretty short as platform five is a busy one that sees trains every few minutes; something that the extension of the station with the creation of two new platforms should take car of.
Keywords: 170206 08.03 Ipswich-Peterborough Peterborough station Greater Anglia

91121, GR 09.00 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley (1S09), Peterborough station
A very bust scene at Peterborough station as the 1S09 09.00 King's Cross to Edinburgh service arrives at the station. My wife, son (seen centre right) and I travelled on this train all the way to Scotland enjoying the luxury and comfort of a Mk.IV coach. Incidentally, it may be the beginning of April but notice how people are dressed; it was extremely cold with a keen easterly wind blowing!
Keywords: 91121 09.00 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley 1S09 Peterborough station EC East Coast IC225

Crossing the Kinge Edward VII bridge from the 09.00 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley, Newcastle
I have a thing about taking photographs of or from famous bridges! Seen from the 09.00 King's Cross to Edinburgh service as it crosses Newcastle's 1911 King Edward VII bridge the TYne is seen along with some of the other famous seven bridges that span the river. The blue structure in the foreground is the 1981 Queen Elizabeth II Metro bridge complete with a Class 599 crossing it.
Keywords: Crossing the King Edward VII Bridge from the 09.00 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley Newcastle

67028, stabled Thunderbird, Newcastle station
Station Thunderbird 67028 sits stabled to the south of Newcastle station waiting for the call to action! Behind the stabled locomotive is the former NER 1891 water tower. This structure is Grade II listed and at present is disused in the care of Network Rail. I think that it represents a superb opportunity for some sort of office or housing development.
Keywords: 67028 stabled Thunderbird Newcastle station

91121, GR 09.00 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley (1S09) & 91102, Newcastle station
I have popped out of our train at Newcastle station as a crew change takes place. 91121 is working the 09.00 King's Cross to Edinburgh service whilst 91102 'City of York' is seen at the rear of an unidentified southbound service. The contrast between the two liveries is plain to see with 91121 still wearing its GNER paint but rebranded with East Coast vinyls.
Keywords: 91121 09.00 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley 1S09 91102 Newcastle station City of York

91121, GR 09.00 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley (1S09) & 156511, Newcastle station
Taken from the open door of the 09.00 King's Cross to Edinburgh as it waits to depart from Newcastle Central station the leading locomotive, 91121, is seen. To the left ScotRail's 156511 appears to be stabled in one of the bay platforms of which there were once many more on the site now occupied by the inevitable car park!
Keywords: 91121 09.00 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley 1S09 156511, Newcastle station

Carol & Chaz on board 09.00 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley, passing Chathill station
A photograph that means something to us as a family! My wife and son grab a glance at the remote and lightly used Chathill station close to the Northumbrian coast between Berwick and Newcastle. Two years ago in 2011 we stayed at this station for a week's summer holiday as the top floor is set up as a very nice holiday let. As well as enjoying all the delights of the area we were treated to trains racing past exactly as we are doing here on the 09.00 King's Cross to Edniburgh!
Keywords: Carol Chaz on board 09.00 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley Chathill station

Crossing the Royal Border bridge, Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Another of my trademark 'crossing a bridge' photographs! This time, the 09.00 King's Cross to Edinburgh service crosses the Royal Border bridge with the estuary of the River Tweed passing out to the North Sea in the background. The A1197 road bridge is seen with the much older and historic Berwick Bridge behind it. The actual boundary between Scotland and England is still some ten miles north of this spot despite the name given to the bridge.
Keywords: Crossing the Royal Border bridge Berwick-Upon-Tweed

334040, SR 16.37 Edinburgh Waverley-Milngave, Edinburgh Waverley station
The Class 334 Coradia Junipers have been in service on Scottish electrified lines for some ten years now with the first ones being fully refurbished (more of a complete rebuild in fact!) from funding awarded by Transport Scotland. One of the refurbished units wearing its smart ScotRail livery waits to leave Edinburgh Waverley with the 16.37 service to Milngave.
Keywords: 334040 16.37 Edinburgh Waverley-Milngave Edinburgh Waverley station

170458, SR 16.17 Newcraighall-Glenrothes & 91007 (91107), GR 17.00 Edinburgh Waverley-London King's Cross, Edinburgh Waverley station
170458 will soon depart from the depths of Edinburgh Waverley station with the 16.17 service to Glenrothes. Meanwhile, celebrity liveried, numbered and named 91107 'Skyfall' (now 91007) stands at the rear of the 17.00 departure to King's Cross. The Class 91 was named and unveiled a few weeks previously in a tie-up between East Coast and the promoters of the latest Bond film.
Keywords: 170458 16.17 Newcraighall-Glenrothes 91007 91107 17.00 Edinburgh Waverley-London King's Cross Edinburgh Waverley station

Graphics, 82231, GR 17.00 Edinburgh Waverley-London King's Cross, Edinburgh Waverley station
IC225 set BN29 has been entirely re-vinyled in a tie-up between East Coast (under the stewardship of Karen Boswell) and the producers of the twenty-third Bond film Skyfall. In recent years it appears that the railways, and the trains in particular, have become a useful advertising medium for the film industry with exercises such as this becoming more common; it certainly makes for a more interesting scene!
Keywords: Graphics 82231 17.00 Edinburgh Waverley-London King's Cross Edinburgh Waverley station James Bond Skyfall

90021, stabled & 43320, GR 12.00 London King's Cross-Inverness, 'The Highland Chieftan', Edinburgh Waverley station
East Coast's 12.00 King's Cross to Edinburgh titled train, 'The Highland Chieftain' arrives at Edinburgh Waverley with power car 43320 leading the set. Sitting in the bay platform to the left is the stabled 90021 that will power this evening's southbound Caledonian Sleeper. Above the roof of the HST is not smoke as it appears but in fact an Easter harr drifting in off the North Sea. Later in the afternoon, it would envelop the whole of the city making for a very eerie atmosphere!
Keywords: 90021 stabled 43320, GR 12.00 London King's Cross-Inverness The Highland Chieftan Edinburgh Waverley station East Coast HST First Group EWS

90021, stabled , Edinburgh Waverley station
90021 is a nocturnal locomotive seeing use on the Caledonian Sleeper services between Scotland and London. It is seen here at Waverley stabled between duties wearing its First Group and EWS liveries with its compressor gently ticking away. I can't help but think that this does not represent the best use of an expensive resource to the railways and probably goes some way to explaining why the sleeper services operate at a loss relying heavily on a considerable subsidy from the Scottish Government.
Keywords: 90021 stabled Edinburgh Waverley station EWS First Group Caledonian Sleeper

221124 XC 17.08 Edinburgh Waverley-Bristol Temple Meads, Edinburgh Waverley station
I could think of better ways to make the journey south to Bristol from Edinburgh than in a glorified DMU! 221124 is being prepared to work 17.08 service that will initially head east from the Scottish capital to then head along the coast to Newcastle; a very attractive stretch of line and one that I have not ever taken photographs of but I intend for that situation to be rectified sooner than later!
Keywords: 221124 17.08 Edinburgh Waverley-Bristol Temple Meads Edinburgh Waverley station Cross Country Voyager

Waverley West signal box (LNER, 1936), now used by park and garden staff
The superb Waverley West signal box stands in a commanding position high above the tracks of the western throat of Waverley station. I have been unable to find when it was taken out of railway use but I suspect it was in the late 1980s before the arrival of electrification. It is now in use as a store and mess room for park and garden staff who look after the superb Princess Street Gardens. There is talk of it becoming a listed building that should certainly be given its 1936 LNER heritage.

NB the celebrated historian, railway enthusiast and TV presenter Tim Dunn has joined the calls for the box to be put to better use, see..... https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/first-look-inside-abandoned-signal-box-with-best-views-of-edinburgh-3506277 (added 2024)
Keywords: Waverley West signal box LNER now used by park and garden staff

158721, unidentified working, Edinburgh Waverley station
ScotRail's 158721 arrives at the western end of Edinburgh Waverley station with an unidentified working. Just behind the leading carriage of the set is the former Waverley West signal box constructed by the LNER in 1936.
Keywords: 158721 unidentified working Edinburgh Waverley station Scot Rail

158730, unidentified working, Edinburgh Waverley station
Another unidentified ScotRail service departs from Edinburgh Waverley station. At such a busy station, over twenty million passengers recorded in the most recent statistics, keeping track of all train movements is a problem hence not being able to check what service 158730 was working on this particular afternoon!
Keywords: 158730 unidentified working Edinburgh Waverley station ScotRail

67007, SR 17.08 Edinburgh Waverley-Edinburgh Waverley (2G13) & 158867, SR 16.47 Newcraighall-Kirkcaldy, Edinburgh Waverley station
The return of locomotive-hauled peak-time services in the Edinburgh area has proved popular if only for enthusiasts! Utilising a set of Mk. II air-conditioned stock the trains are hauled by, for the moment, Class 67s hired in from DB Cargo UK (formally EWS). 67007 leaves Waverley with the 2G13 return 17.08 service that will complete the Fife Circle route returning to Waverley later in the early evening. As the Class 67 hauled service leaves 158867 pauses working the 16.47 Newcraighall to Kirkcaldy service.
Keywords: 67007 16.08 Edinburgh Waverley-Edinburgh Waverley 2G13 158867 16.47 Newcraighall-Kirkcaldy Edinburgh Waverley station ScotRail EWS

334015, unidentified working, Edinburgh Waverley station
Still wearing its Strathclyde Partnership for Transport livery that is being replaced by the Transport Scotland blue Saltaire paint scheme 334015 is seen standing in Waverley station with an unidentified service. These units look good in either livery but there is no doubt that the newer livery revives these decade-old units.
Keywords: 334015 unidentified working Edinburgh Waverley station ScotRail

43314, GR 14.52 Aberdeen-London King's Cross, Edinburgh Waverley station
HST power car 43314 catches some evening sunshine as it pauses at Edinburgh Waverley station. It is at the rear of the 14.52 Aberdeen to King's Cross service that will reach London in about five hours.
Keywords: 43314 14.52 Aberdeen-London King's Cross Edinburgh Waverley station East Coast HST

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