2. The London to Chester-11.05.24

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2024 > 41. Trip to London-10-13.05.24 > 2. The London to Chester-11.05.24

I took an early morning trip from our hotel in Hammersmith to capture the steam-hauled London to Chester charter. Unfortunately, at the crucial moment, things did not go quite to plan.

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Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.

66789, 04.35 Felixstowe North-Birch Coppice (4M08, 13E), South Kenton TfL station
The forecast was for a bright and sunny spring day but it dawned very grey and misty as seen here at South Kenton station. This actually worked in my favour because if the sun had been out at this time this view would have been straight into it! 66789 'British Rail 1948-1997' heads northwards leading the 04.35 Felixstowe North to Birch Coppice service. The heritage-painted Class 66 looks a little dirty and unkempt which is in marked contrast to the condition that this example is usually kept in.
Keywords: 66789 04.35 Felixstowe North-Birch Coppice 4M08 South Kenton TfL station British Rail 1948 - 1997

710376, LO 07.30 Watford Junction-London Euston (2C09, RT), South Kenton TfL station
TfL's 07.30 Watford Junction to Euston service arrives at South Kenton station worked by 710376. The Class 710s are now in squadron service throughout north and east London having suffered from the inevitable delays to their introduction that eventually began in 2019.
Keywords: 710376 07.30 Watford Junction-London Euston 2C09 South Kenton station

60007, outward leg of The London to Chester, 08.00 London Euston-Chester (1Z92, 1L), South Kenton station
'Oh. bugger'! Being bowled by another train is allways risky on busy lines such as this five-track section past South Kenton. During the quieter period on this early Saturday morning, the chances were much reduced of a clash but as 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' passes at speed a TfL Class 710 arrives blocking the view. A better image would have been captured if I had headed to the extreme southern end of the platform but I had no time to do this. The A4 Pacific was leading the 08.00 Euston to Chester charter running as 1Z92.
Keywords: 60007 The London to Chester, 08.00 London Euston-Chester 1Z92 South Kenton station Sir Nigel Gresley

3266, Harrow & Wealdstone-Elephant & Castle working, South Kenton TfL station
1972 stock number 3266 leads a Harrow and Wealdstone to Elephant and Castle TfL service into South Kenton station. I took this train back into London as far as Baker Street where I changed for a Hammersmith and City Line train. The 1972 is currently the oldest non-heritage trains running in the United Kingdom but, despite this, there are no plans for their replacement yet until at least the 2030s by which time they will be sixty to seventy years old!
Keywords: 3266 Harrow & Wealdstone-Elephant & Castle working South Kenton-Baker Street South Kenton TfL station

Willesden Carriage South Shed signal box (LMS, c. 1953)
Visible from the North Circular A406 I have never managed a photograph of Willesden Carriage South Shed signal box. I managed this rather disappointing record shot from a passing Bakerloo Line rain as we left Stonebridge Park station. The box was constructed to a standard LMS design by the company in 1947 but not actually opened until 1953 by which time the LMS had been subsumed into British Railways.
Keywords: Willesden Carriage South Shed signal box LMS

Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.