6. The Capital's Scot-10.01.24

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2025 > 6. The Capital's Scot-10.01.24

An early morning meeting with Andy at Milton Keynes station on a very cold morning to see the first charter of the year, The Capital's Scot. Hauled by 87002 'Royal Sovereign' the charter attracted a lot of attention for such a bitter morning. After we enjoyed a heart breakfast at Morrisons. Later in the day I went out for my customary afternoon walk with camera in hand.
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Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.

807001, VT 06.36 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street (1F11, RT), Milton Keynes Central station In early January it is not light even by nearly 07.15 but for some very blue light in the northwestern sky as seen in this image at Milton Keynes station. 807001 has just arrived with the 06.36 Euston to Liverpool Avanti service on this bitterly cold winter's morning. Keywords: 807001 06.36 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street 1F11 Milton Keynes Central station Avanti West Coast Evero
390050, VT 05.42 Wolverhampton-London Euston (1R05, 20L), Milton Keynes Central station The 05.42 Wolverhampton to Euston train has the green light and the feather and is ready to depart with the guard waiting for the dispatchers to give him the nod. This is the early morning and very cold scene at Milton Keynes with Pendolino 390050 about to depart as a Class 350 Desiro can be seen approaching on the down slow line. Notice the first signs of daylight in the distance with the rising sun just colouring the early morning sky. Keywords: 390050 05.42 Wolverhampton-London Euston 1R05 Milton Keynes Central station Avanti West Coast Pendolino
92018, CS 20.45 Inverness & 19.50 Fort William-London Euston (1M16, 40L), Milton Keynes Central station Things were going wrong for up services into Euston south of Milton Keynes. All trains were being delayed including the up 1M16 Higland Caledonian Sleeper. It was held on platform one for about fifteen minutes giving Andy and me ample opportunity to cross from platform five to capture it. 92018 leads the 20.45 Inverness/19.50 Fort William sleeper during its pause. I suspect that the passengers on board appreciated the half an hour or so in bed granted to them due to its late arrival into Euston. Keywords: 92018 20.45 Inverness 19.50 Fort William-London Euston 1M16 Milton Keynes Central station Caledonian Sleeper
87002, outward leg of The Capital's Scot, 06.56 London Euston-Edinburgh Waverley (1Z86, 1E), Milton Keynes Central station What a difference twenty minutes makes! The sky has really lightened up but the sun has yet to rise at Milton Keynes. Taken at 07.40 87002 'Royal Sovereign' arrives at the station leading The Capital Scot's charter that left Euston at 06.56 and heading for Edinburgh. This would give passengers just over two hours in the city before returning back down the ECML to King's Cross. I am not sure how those who joined at the intermediate pick-up stations (such as here at Milton Keynes) would get home? Taking the reporting number normally awarded to the regular Cumbrian Mountain/Coast Express charters this one is also running as 1Z86; it's a shame that it could not have been changed to 1Z87! Keywords: 87002 The Capital's Scot, 06.56 London Euston-Edinburgh Waverley 1Z86 Milton Keynes Central station InterCity Roayl Sovereign LSL
Nameplate, 87002, outward leg of The Capital's Scot, 06.56 London Euston-Edinburgh Waverley (1Z86, 1E), Milton Keynes Central station LSL of Crewe has done a fine job recreating the InterCity Executive livery on 87002 'Royal Sovereign' including its superb nameplate as seen here whilst it pauses at Milton Keynes. The Class 87 was hauling the first mainline charter of the year (as far as I am aware) leaving Euston at 06.56 and heading for Edinburgh. The LSL charter appeared to be well loaded despite the time of year an it being a weekday especially as it only gave the punters just over two hours in Edinburgh before heading home south but on the ECML this time to King's Cross. Keywords: 87002 The Capital's Scot 06.56 London Euston-Edinburgh Waverley 1Z86 Milton Keynes Central station InterCity Roayl Sovereign LSL
807004, VT 11.43 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston (1A34, 5L), site of Roade station Just catching a little low sunshine on this very cold Friday afternoon 807004 passes Roade working Avanti's 11.43 Liverpool to Euston service. The use of these new trains on Liverpool diagrams since the start of the winter timetable last month is an interesting move and not one that I think will continue in the long term. Keywords: 807004 11.43 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston 1A34 site of Roade station Avanti West Coast Evero.jpg
807001, VT 12.43 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street (1F22, 3L), site of Roade station Passing Roade 807001 is seen working the 12.43 Euston to Liverpool Lime Street Avanti service. It is still in the afternoon sunshine that is now low in the sky on this bitterly cold afternoon with the temperature still below freezing. Noice the large grey brutalist water tower in the background. This was recently featured on an episode of Kevin McCloud's Grand Designs, see... https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/northamptonshire-familys-ambitious-village-water-tower-conversion-features-on-channel-4s-grand-designs-4839191 Keywords: 807001 12.43 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street 1F22 site of Roade station Avanti West Coast Evero
66108, 10.02 Tilbury FLT-DIRFT (4M07, 2E), site of Roade station I last saw DRS' 66108 back in November hauling the same train, the 4M07 10.02 Tilbury to Daventry (DIRFT) Tesco Express but slightly further north than this in the cutting at Roade. Today, it is seen approaching the village from the south in the mid-afternoon winter's sunshine. This does not belie the fact that it was a very cold afternoon with the temperature still below freezing; notice the frost still laying in the foreground. Keywords: 66108 10.02 Tilbury FLT-DIRFT 4M07 site of Roade station Tesco Express DRS Direct Rail Services

Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.