44. My late birthday trip with Andy-24.05.24

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2024 > 44. My late birthday trip with Andy-24.05.24

It may well have been nearly two weeks late but Andy and I succeeded in our quest to get out for a day on our respective birthdays. For mine, we took a few hours east just north of Peterborough. A rather uninspiring day in terms of the weather but it was good to get out and have a catch-up with Andy over some breakfast as well as to see and photograph some trains!

Click here to search The Archive Files

Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.

170619, XC 07.22 Birmingham New Street-Cambridge (1L30, RT), Ketton level crossing
Taking full advantage of the camera's 'burst' mode I managed this broadside image of 170619 passing Ketton's superb 1900 Midland Railway signal box working the 07.22 Birmingham to Cambridge service. I have visited Ketton a number of times over the years and am always delighted to see the box still in operation complete with the sounds of its bells and the crash as the levers are thrown; one wonders for how much longer these sounds will be heard.
Keywords: 170619 07.22 Birmingham New Street-Cambridge (1L30, RT), Ketton level crossing CrossCountry Turbo

Uffington signal box (Midland, 1909)
I have several photographs of Uffington signal box over the years from when I first visited this spot with Graham during our grand summer trip in August 1981, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30044135645/uffington-signal-box Some forty-three years later it is still going strong but beginning to look a little tatty again. I wonder if it will be in receipt of any further maintenance or if it will be nursed through until the inevitable closure comes sooner rather than later.
Keywords: Uffington signal box Midland

158862, EM 09.41 Nottingham-Norwich (1L06, RT), Tallington
From the lofty heights of Tallington's concrete and rather utilitarian footbridge EMR's 09.41 Nottingham to Norwich service is seen worked by 158862. This service was supposed to have originated from Liverpool Lime Street but this leg of its journey was cancelled, as was a later service, indicating that EMR has still yet to sort out these cross-country services that have been in a constant state of flux for some time now.; not good enough is it really?
Keywords: 158862 09.41 Nottingham-Norwich 1L06 Tallington EMR East Midlands Railway

801106, GR 08.43 Bradford Forster Square-London King's Cross (1A19, 1E), Tallington
Azuma 801106 races through Tallington working the 08.43 Bradford Forster Square to King's Cross service. Once the preserve of the A4s, then the Deltics, the HSTs and more recently the IC225s the ECML traction continues to evolve.
Keywords: 801106 08.43 Bradford Forster Square-London King's Cross 1A19 Tallington LNER Azuma

Andy & 801026, GR 09.30 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley (1S10, 5L), Tallington
Andy captures his image of the 09.30 King's Cross to Edinburgh LNER Azuma service at Tallington worked by 801026. This four-track section of the ECML is busy with the barriers staying down for prolonged periods causing lengthy delays to road users much to the chagrin of the locals. Diversions via other routes don't help much as these also cross the line via level crossings!
Keywords: Andy 801026 09.30 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley 1S10 Tallington LNER Azuma

800108, GR 10.00 London King's Cross-Aberdeen (1W11, RT), Tallington Dowmac
Just north of Tallington's busy level crossing there is a little used and somewhat overgrown footpath that follows the line and that crosses the rarely used access lines into the Dowmac concrete plant. The footpath does allow some photographic opportunities but only if it is cloudy like on the day of our visit as the view would be straight into the sun. 800108 passes the spot working the 10.00 King's Cross to Aberdeen 1W11 Azuma sevice.
Keywords: 800108 10.00 London King's Cross-Aberdeen 1W11 Tallington Dowmac LNER Azuma

91124, GR 10.03 London King's Cross-Leeds (1D09, 1L), Tallington Dowmac
Still looking very smart in its cleverly done InterCity Executive/LNER cross-livery 91124 passes the Dowmac concrete factory just north of Tallington. The Class 91 is working the 10.03 King's Cross to Leeds service continuing on its thirty-four years of service on this route.
Keywords: 91124 10.03 London King's Cross-Leeds 1D09 Tallington Dowmac IC225

800203, GR 09.36 Harrogate-London King's Cross (1A22, 1L) & 158785, EM 10.40 Nottingham-Norwich (1L07, 2E), Lolham level crossing
The speed differential between the Azuma and the Express Sprinter was clear to see here at Lolham level crossing located between Tallington and Helpston. 800203 working the 09.36 Harrogate to King's Cross has just shot past 158785 forming the 10.40 Nottingham to Norwich service.
Keywords: 800203 09.36 Harrogate-London King's Cross 1A22 158785 10.40 Nottingham-Norwich 1L07 Lolham level crossing LNER Azuma EMR

158785, EM 10.40 Nottingham-Norwich (1L07, 2E), Lolham level crossing
Express Sprinter 158785 passes over Lolham level crossing just south of Tallington working EMR's 10.40 Nottingham to Norwich train. This was another EMR service that did not originate from its planned starting point of Liverpool Lime Street, something that EMR has failed to sort out since the new timetable commenced back in December.
Keywords: 158785 10.40 Nottingham-Norwich 1L07 Lolham level crossing EMR Express Sprinter

180107, GC 08.53 Sunderland-London King's Cross (1A61, RT), Lolham level crossing
Now over twenty years old the Class 180 Adelantes have been the ultimate in railway hot potatoes passing between various operators over the years with their various problems and issues creating headaches for train planners and maintenance teams alike. With the first two sets now stood down and stored they are probably in their final few years of operation with Grand Central now being the only TOC operating the units. 180107 passes Lolham level crossing working the 1A61 08.53 Sunderland to King's Cross service.
Keywords: 180107 08.53 Sunderland-London King's Cross 1A61 Lolham level crossing Grand central Adelantes

91110, GR 10.33 London King's Cross-Leeds (1D10, 12L), Lolham level crossing
91110 'Battle of Britain Memorial Flight' roars past Lolham level crossing a short distance north of Helpston Junction working the 1D10 10.33 King's Cross to Leeds service. The use of the IC225 sets on the ECML was thought to be coming to an end but it looks like it will continue for some time yet with some other locomotive and sets, presently stored, perhaps being prepared to re-enter service again as passenger numbers grow again post COVID. If I were making a journey between London and Leeds I would certainly choose to travel on one of the IC225 rostored services enjoying the sumptuous travelling experience of a Mk. IV over an Azuma.
Keywords: 91110 10.33 London King's Cross-Leeds 1D10 Lolham level crossing Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

801226, GR 08.00 Edinburgh Waverley-London King's Cross (1E06, 6L), Lolham level crossing
801226 'Together' was unveiled as part of Pride Week celebrations in June 2023 wearing its distinctive and bright livery singling it out from the rest of the Azuma fleet. LNER have stated that this livery will be a permanent fixture so like its WCML cousin, 390119 'Pride' it will be seen on the network for some years to come. The Azuma is seen passing Lolham level crossing just south of Tallington working the 1E06 08.00 Edinburgh to King's Cross service.
Keywords: 801226 08.00 Edinburgh Waverley-London King's Cross 1E06 Lolham level crossing LNER Azuama Together

803004, LD 10.45 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley (1S93, 2E), Lolham level crossing
One of Lumo's five very distinctive Class 803 AT300 sets passes Lolham a short distance north of Helpston Junction. These five-car sets operate between London and Edinburgh with a limited stop pattern with the train only having second-class accommodation and no fixed catering facilities. The open access operator seems to be doing well reporting healthy passenger numbers and very good customer satisfaction figures. 803004 works the 10.45 King's Cross to Edinburgh service.
Keywords: 803004 10.45 London King's Cross-Edinburgh Waverley 1S93 Lolham level crossing Lumo

170623, XC 10.22 Birmingham New Street-Stansted Airport (1L36, 1E), Bainton Green level crossing
The 10.22 Birmingham New Street to Stansted Airport CrossCountry service approaches Helpston Junction crossing Bainton Green level crossing. The train is being worked by Turbo unit 170623 one of twenty-two three-car sets operated by CrossCountry. Andy and I both commented on how little time there was at this level crossing from when the piezo sounders started, the ahb went down and the train arrived at some speed. This was in stark contrast to the situation at Lolham level crossing just a third of a mile along the lane where the barriers protecting the ECML seemed to go down very early.
Keywords: 170623 10.22 Birmingham New Street-Stansted Airport 1L36 Bainton Green level crossing CrossCountry Turbo

66775, 11.07 Whitemoor Yard-Mountsorrel GBRf (6M60, 1E), Bainton Green level crossing
The only freight seen on our foray to the Peterborough area (there were others but we missed them!) sees 66775 'HMS Argyll' leading the 11.07 Whitemoor Yard to Mountsorrel empty ballast working. Running as 6M60 it is seen picking up speed past Bainton Green level crossing a short distance after diverging from the ECML at Helpston Junction. The train is made up of a rake of Network Rail IOA Bogie Box Wagons.
Keywords: 66775 11.07 Whitemoor Yard-Mountsorrel GBRf 6M60 Bainton Green level crossing GBRf HMS Argyll

Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.