2. London to Newcastle charter & journey home-06.04.24

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2024 > 29. Trip to London-03-06.04.24 > 2. London to Newcastle charter & journey home-06.04.24

Despite the ASLEF strike effectively closing the ECML Statesman Rail (with LSL) still managed to run a charter to Newcastle. Curiously named the London to Castle Howard, Durham, Beamish & Newcastle it was electric hauled from London with steam in the form of 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' from York and for the entire return journey back to King's Cross.

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Frontage, London King's Cross station
I have several photographs of Lewis Cubitt's impressive King's Cross frontage but none as quiet as this one! I walked from our hotel early to see a charter and was struck when crossing Euston Road how little traffic there was and the almost complete absence of pedestrians. I suspect that one of the reasons for the latter was that the station was extremely quiet due to it being an ASLEF strike day with very few trains running on the ECML.
Keywords: Frontage London King's Cross station

D1924, 01.49 Crewe HS-London King's Cross (3Z90, 16E), London King's Cross station
Variously numbered 47247, 47655 and 47810 in its fifty-nine years of operation D1924 'Crewe Diesel Depot' sist on the blocks at King's Cross having arrived with the 01.49 from Crewe HS running as curiously as 3Z90. LSL make an effort with their assets keeping them smart and tidy with D1924 being no exception. Being a strike day King's Cross was eerily quiet with enthusiasts to see the charter probably outnumbering actual travellers (apart from those going on the charter that was!)
Keywords: D1924 01.49 Crewe HS-London King's Cross 3Z90 London King's Cross station Crew Diesel Depot 47247 47655 47810

801228, 10.00 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley (1S11, 4E) & 180104, GC 07.48 London King's Cross-Sunderland (1N90, 2L), London King's Cross station
Despite the ASLEF strike affecting the ECML there were still some trains running. Control managed to get 801228 out and it is seen sitting at King's Cross ready to work the 1S11 10.00 service to Edinburgh. Meanwhile, Grand Central trains were running as usual despite the industrial action. A well-loaded (from what I could see through the windows) 180104 departs with the 07.48 service to Sunderland
Keywords: 801228 10.00 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley 1S11 180104 07.48 London King's Cross-Sunderland 1N90 London King's Cross station Grand central LNER Azuma

90001, outward leg of the London to Castle Howard, Durham, Beamish & Newcastle, 08.15 London King's Cross-Newcastle (1Z90, RT), London King's Cross station
90001 'Royal Scot' makes a fine sight as it stands at King's Cross resplendent in its reproduction InterCity swallow livery. The locomotive may be perceived as 'modern traction' but it's sobering to remember that it dates from 1988 and is getting on for forty years old at the time of writing!
Keywords: 90001 London to Castle Howard, Durham, Beamish & Newcastle 08.15 London King's Cross-Newcastle 1Z90 London King's Cross station Royal Scot

801229, GR 09.06 London King's Cross-York (1N18, 1L) & 90001, outward leg of the London to Castle Howard, Durham, Beamish & Newcastle, 08.15 London King's Cross-Newcastle (1Z90, RT), London King's Cross station
Old and new stand side by side at a very quiet King's Cross. To the left 801229 will work the ASLEF strike-breaking 09.06 service to York whilst to the right 90001 'Royal Scot' will lead a charter north also stopping at York but going on to Newcastle. The curiously titled London to Castle Howard, Durham, Beamish and Newcastle charter would take passengers north where they would enjoy steam haulage from York to Newcastle courtesy of 90007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' and then for it to haul the entire return journey south. Passengers could alight at York for a trip to Castle Howard or at Durham for a few hours at the Living Museum of the North at Beamish. Alternatively, they could spend some time left to their own devices in York, Durham or Newcastle.
Keywords: 801229 09.06 London King's Cross-York 1N18 90001 outward leg of the London to Castle Howard Durham Beamish Newcastle 08.15 London King's Cross-Newcastle 1Z90 London King's Cross station Royal Scot LNER LSL

D1924, outward leg of the London to Castle Howard, Durham, Beamish & Newcastle, 08.15 London King's Cross-Newcastle (1Z90, RT), London King's Cross station
D9124 'Crewe Diesel Depot' brings up the rear of the oddly named London to Castle Howard, Durham, Beamish and Newcastle charter as it leaves an eerily quiet King's Cross station. The cause of the normally busy station being so quiet was yet another day of ASLEF industrial action with the charter being one of four trains that I saw in the station in about half an hour only two of which were actually operating! The condition of the stock and of D1924 itself is another example of the efforts that LSL (Crewe) go to to maintain their assets
Keywords: D1924 London to Castle Howard, Durham, Beamish & Newcastle 08.15 London King's Cross-Newcastle 1Z90 London King's Cross station Crew Diesel Depot LSL Statesman Rail

350376, LN 12.23 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1Y35, RT), London Euston station
Keywords: 350376 12.23 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1Y35 London Euston station London Northwestern Desiro Our train home from London to Northampton stands inside Euston station. 350376 and another desiro will soon whisk us away as the 12.23 Euston to Birmingham New Street service. Unlike the outward journey two days previously there were no dramas on this return run!

66546, stabled, Wembley Yard
Stabled between duties, 66546 is seen as we pass Wembley yard. Having been a fixture for months now, a line of 'warm' stored and debranded former Greater Anglia Class 321s stand in the background facing a very uncertain future.
Keywords: 66546 stabled Wembley Yard Freightliner

66553, unidentified stone train, Wembley Yard
I spent a while on the internet trying to find out what stone train 66553 was working on this Saturday afternoon; shouldn't have been that tricky really should it? However, try as I could no appropriate working in or out of Wembley Yard could be found. However, then I noted postings by serial RailGenner Chris Warman (a driver for London Northwestern) saying he had seen it on the Friday before, seeming switched off and then also on the following Monday so the train will remain a mystery!
Keywords: 66553 unidentified stone train Wembley Yard

Southern connection, Sergo Logistics Park
The southern entrance to the Sego Logistics Park is seen from our train as we pass at speed. Located between Roade and Northampton it is anticipated that it will become a rival to Daventry's DIRFT however, I am not so sure as to whether the rail ambitions are quite so committed to by the developers as they led the planners to believe. I am not sure if the lines seen are actually connected to the mainline yet, the northern end is definitely not at the present time despite two long possessions, the most recent one a week before this image was captured, when this was supposed to have taken place. I am hopeful that the green footbridge seen will carry a footpath across the lines affording some photographic possibilities.
Keywords: Southern connection, Sergo Logistics Park

Tickets, London Euston-Northampton
Our return tickets from Euston to Northampton. There were no dramas, unlike the outward journey that saw us transferring to the MML and travelling down from Wellingborough to St. Pancras!
Keywords: Tickets London Euston-Northampton

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