3. Journey home-20.07.24

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2024 > 64. Trip to Brighton-18-20.07.24 > 3. Journey home-20.07.24

The journey home from Brighton to Northampton was the exact reverse of the outward journey via a short tube trip on the Victoria line.

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Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.

Clapham Junction B signal box, closed (BR, 1952)
Clapham Junction B signal box is an interesting survivor having been closed by BR in 1980 when control of all signalling in this part of London passed over to the Victoria signalling centre. It thus had a relatively short operating life span of just twenty-eight years. In common with much of the Southern Region in this area, it contained a then state-of-the-art Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co. Ltd. style 'L' power lever frame. Whilst the box still stands, I am unsure of its present-day use.
Keywords: Clapham Junction B signal box closed

455711, SW 12.04 Chessington South-London Waterloo (2M32, 3L), Pouparts Junction
An unusual view of 455711 as we run side-by-side on the run into London. Whilst we are aboard a Gatwick Express ex-Brighton service the 12.04 Chessington South to Waterloo is seen worked by a Desiro set that still wears its defunct South West Trains livery. We are just passing Pouparts Junction located between Clapham Junction and Battersea where we will go over the Waterloo route as we head north over the Thames to Victoria.
Keywords: 455711 12.04 Chessington South-London Waterloo 2M32 Pouparts Junction

Victoria Central signal box, closed (SR, 1939)
Built and commissioned on 04.06.39, just two months prior to the outbreak of WWII Victoria Central signal box was the height of modernity both in terms of its design and its operations. It operated a Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co. Ltd. style 'L' power lever frame in common with much of the Southern's operations at the time. I closed on 17.05.80 with control moving to the Victoria signalling centre located at Clapham Junction. It's surprising that the box has not been demolished given the shortage of space around Victoria station but it appears to be in use today by Network Rail. This photograph is taken from our train as it enters Victoria station.
Keywords: Victoria Central signal box

387206, GX 11.39 Brighton-London Victoria (1W25, RT) & 377444, SN 12.50 London Victoria-East Grinstead (1L32, RT), London Victoria station
We travelled from Brighton aboard Gatwick Express' 11.39 Brighton service worked by 387206 seen here at the buffer stops at Victoria. The travelling experience aboard the Class 387 was favourable with ice-cold air conditioning and a good ride but I await to be convinced that they are the right units for inbound and outbound Gatwick air passengers with all their luggage requirements. Southern's 377444 sits at the adjacent platform to work the 12.50 service to East Grinstead.
Keywords: 387206 11.39 Brighton-London Victoria 1W25 377444 12.50 London Victoria-East Grinstead London Victoria station

350409, LN 13.23 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1Y39, 4L) & 350243, LN 13.23 London Euston-Tring (2T33, 1E), London Euston station
A pair of London Northwestern's finest stand side by side at Euston station. To the left, 350243 will work the 2T33 13.23 stopper to Tring whilst 350409 will work the 1Y39 Birmingham New Street train. My wife and I would travel on 2T33 as far as Northampton, about halfway through its journey.
Keywords: 350409 13.23 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1Y39 350243 13.23 London Euston-Tring 2T33 London Euston station London Northwestern Desiro

67024 & 37884, stabled, Wembley Yard
With a backdrop of Wembley Stadium and lines of warm-stored former Greater Anglia Class 321s 67024 and 37884 'Cepheus' are seen stabled in the yard from our passing train. The sight of Class 67s is getting increasingly rare now as they are proving to be less popular with operators with just twenty-one of the original thirty still operating with many of those seeing very little use.
Keywords: 67024 37884, stabled, Wembley Yard

Tickets, Brighton-Northampton
Our return tickets from Brighton to Northampton. Once again our Two-Together railcard offers thirty-three and one-third off. However, I have just read that from next year this discount is being reduced across all railcards to thirty per cent, stealth inflation I call it!
Keywords: Tickets Brighton-Northampton

Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.