3. The Shakespearean Sonnet & journey home-22.02.25

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2025 > 14. Trip to London-19-22.02.25 > 3. The Shakespearean Sonnet & journey home-22.02.25

Another case of railway madness! I got up at 'silly o'clock' and took the Elizabeth line from Tottenham Court Road to Paddington to see The Shakespearean Sonnet charter ECS arrive and then the charter depart. Despite the antisocial timings again, there were a number of enthusiasts about, including a fair amount of young lads.

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Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.

57603, GW 21.45 Penzance-London Paddington (1A50, 2L), London Paddington station
With the recent woes of GWR's sleeper service hopefully behind them, which has seen late services and even cancellations with a Class 800 substituted, tonight's up service arrived with no drama. 57603 'Tintagel Castle' rests on the blocks at Paddington having arrived with the 1A50 21.45 service from Penzance just two minutes adrift.
Keywords: 57603 21.45 Penzance-London Paddington 1A50 London Paddington station Tintagel Castle

20142, 05.46 Wembley Yard-London Paddington ECS (5Z58, RT), London Paddington station
In the early morning grey gloom at Paddington, the 05.46 Wembley Yard to Paddington ECS move arrives led in by 20142 'Sir John Bejtamin'. The stock would then work west on a tour of the south Midlands as the 1Z58 Shakespearean Sonnet charter with 20205 and 20007 doing the honours at the leading end. It appears that I have used a flash to take this photograph, thus infringing Network Rail's enthusiasts guidelines but it is a reflection of the lights of the station behind me. Notice one of the Wright hybrid London buses crossing the re-built Bishop's bridge spanning the station.
Keywords: 20142 05.46 Wembley Yard-London Paddington ECS 5Z58 London Paddington station Sir John Bejtamin The Shakespearean Sonnet

20205 & 20007, outward leg of The Shakespearean Sonnet, 07.01 London Paddington-Long Marston (1Z58, RT), London Paddington station
A scene not often witnessed at London Paddington! 20205 and 20007 stand at the country end of the station waiting to leave with the 1Z58 07.01 Shakespearean Sonnet charter that would, ultimately, end up at Stratford-on-Avon via runs along the freight only spurs to Long Marston and Fenny Compton M.O.D. The bright light reflected on the side of the generator coach is from a Heathrow Express class 387 that almost spoiled the party by departing almost at the same time as the charter!
Keywords: 20205 20007 outward leg of The Shakespearean Sonnet 07.01 London Paddington-Long Marston 1Z58 London Paddington station Chopper

800311, GW 07.00 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads (1C03, RT) & 57312, 07.34 London Paddington-Reading Traincare Depot (5A50, 5L), London Paddington station
A dismal early morning scene at Paddington sees 800311 preparing to leave with the 07.00 GWR service to Bristol Temple Meads. Behind the IET on platform one, 57312 waits to depart half an hour or so later at 07.34 with the sleeper empty coaching stock. With the closure of Old Oak Common due to HS2 developments, the 5A50 runs much further west to Rading Train Care Depot where it is serviced and stabled before returning in the evening for the next down service to Penzance.
Keywords: 800311 07.00 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads 1C03 57312 07.34 London Paddington-Reading Traincare Depot 5A50 London Paddington station GWR Great Western Railway sleeper

57312, 07.34 London Paddington-Reading Traincare Depot (5A50, 5L), London Paddington station
57312 departs from Paddington with the 5A50 07.34 empty sleeper stock to Reading Traincare Depot. With a forced seventy-mile return trip to Reading for servicing and stabling, this must surely affect the viability of the Great Western sleeper service. Also, I do not know if the loss of specialist facilities at the now closed Old Oak Common facility has contributed to recent severe unreliability issues forcing all sorts of emergency measures to keep the sleeper service in operation.
Keywords: 57312 07.34 London Paddington-Reading Traincare Depot 5A50 London Paddington station GWR Great Western Sleeper

350371 & 350241, LN 13.23 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1Y39, 3E), London Euston station
Desiros 350371 and 350241 stand in the gloom of Euston station. They will soon work the 1Y39 13.23 service to Birmingham New Street that my wife and I would travel on as far as Northampton.
Keywords: 350371 350241 13.23 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1Y39 London Euston station London North Western Desiro

390121, VT 13.16 London Euston-Glasgow Central (9S77, RT), 390152, VT 13.40 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (9G24, RT) & 390137, VT 13.53 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly (1H24, 4L), London Euston station
Three Pendolinos are seen in the daylight outside of the dark and oppressive interior of Euston station. To the extreme left, 390121 'Opportunity' is instantly recognisable by its unique livery with 390152 in the middle and 390137 nearest the camera. The three services are the 13.16 to Glasgow central (9S77), the 13.40 to Birmingham (9G24) and finally the 13.53 to Manchester (1H24).
Keywords: 390121 13.16 London Euston-Glasgow Central 9S77 390152 13.40 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 9G24 390137 13.53 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly 1H24 London Euston station Avanti West Coast Pendolino Opportunity

66622, stabled, Wembley Yard
Taken at speed from the passing 13.23 Euston to Birmingham New Street 66622 is seen in Wembley Yard stabled and ready for its next turn of duty for Freightliner.
Keywords: 66622 stabled, Wembley Yard Freightliner

66506, unidentified up Freightliner, Wembley Yard
Despite searching various sources and with all the internet tech. at my disposal, I have not been able to identify this Freightliner service stabled in Wembley Yard! 66506 'Crewe Regeneration' sits at the head of the up service with a crew member on the steps of the rear cab. If anybody out there can assist with my quest to identify the train, please do get in contact.
Keywords: 66506 up Freightliner Wembley Yard Crewe Regeneration

Tickets, London Euston-Northampton
Our tickets for the return trip from Euston to Northampton. Once again, despite two public address announcements during the journey, there was no sign of the train guard with no ticket check taking place. However, on arrival at Northampton the barriers were closed and the member of staff manning the gateline, to her credit, asked to see our Railcard, something that rarely happens.
Keywords: Tickets London Euston-Northampton

Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.