Despite two Britannia pacifics operating mainline tours in the north last Saturday (70000 from York to Carlisle and 70013 from Kings Cross to Cleethorpes) I decided that I would head south to London instead!
The reason being that as King Class No. 6024 King Edward I's already extended boiler certificate expires on 19th March I was determined to get a photograph of her under Brunel's magnificent trainshed at Paddington. Also, this would probably be the last opportunity to photograph a double-chimney King in this London Terminus and in fact one of the last opportunities to photograph steam before the overhead wires are installed (only platforms 1 and 2 are without wires - currently only used for electric services to Heathrow).
I made use of the excellent Grand Central service from Brighouse to London Kings Cross, passing 70013 on Stoke bank heading north on the Cleethorpes charter) which allowed ample time to check out the various possibilities for photography (thanks to Tim Stephens and Richard Lewis for advice) as my last visit to the station had been to photograph Class 50s in the early 80s! I quickly ascertained from station staff that the steam charter from Bristol was due at 12.10 into platform 1 but unfortunately the view from the adjacent platform 2 was blocked by a HST. Despite my best efforts to persuade the First Great Western staff to move the HST it didn't happen and it was booked to work the 12.30 to Bristol.....
The King came to a halt at the buffer stop on platform 1 bang on time but not before its strong exhaust had blasted lots of dirt from the station roof onto the platform (see pic IMG_1305)! The steam train was booked to stand in the platform until 12.33 and then be hauled out to Old Oak Common for servicing - in other words if the HST left to time there would just be a 3 minute 'window of opportunity' in which to get a clear photograph of the train. Fortunately this was just sufficient to get a final view of steam at this terminus.
The were 2 other steam trains in London on Saturday. Britannia No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell had run north from Kings Cross heading for South Yorkshire and Cleethorpes (which I passed on the train to London) and Rebuilt Merchant Navy pacific No. 35028 Clan Line working one of the regular up-market dining trains from Victoria using the iconic VSOE Orient Express Pullman coaches. I was planning to get a photo of the King's arrival at 12.10 and then take the tube to Waterloo and then train to get out to Clapham Jct or Wandsworth Road but being delayed at Paddington by the need to wait until the HST left meant that this plan was no longer possible as the Pullman train departed Victoria at 12.28.
Two friends from Wakefield who I met on the platform at Paddington did have an alternative plan however and they would go to Waterloo and then take a train to Guildford to photograph the Pullman. Unfortunately I was unable to join them as I had to be back on the 15.48 train from Kings Cross as we were going out for dinner and going to Guildford left too little margin to get back. However, although it was now 12.40 I decided that I would make an effort and go to Woking where the Pullman was due at 14.03. The District Line of the Underground was packed and then the trains were seriously delayed due to a fire so we abandoned ship and changed to the Jubilee Line finally arriving at Waterloo at 13.10. Fortunately there are fast trains to Woking every few minutes and having bought a ticket managed to catch the 13.20 to Salisbury getting into Woking about 10 minutes before the steam. It was however rather disconcerting to observe No. 35028 already standing at Byfleet Junction (it had been routed the long way round via Staines) as we passed. I had not been to Woking station since Bulleid pacifics ruled the rails in 1967 and had little idea which track it would be on so took up position at the London end of the platform (as it is hardly an interesting location it was no surprise that there were no other photographers)! Even in the 10 minutes or so before the steam came there were several trains either stopping or running through non-stop. I could see No. 35028 coming along the line even with a train standing in the platform and the Pullman was brought to a stand (or crawled to the signal) before the platform was cleared and the signal changed to yellow for the Portsmouth Direct line. The advantage was that No. 35028 briefly had to work with some decent exhaust before taking the curve round towards Guildford by which time the exhaust was very thin.
I took the first train back to Waterloo and then had time to take the bus to Kings Cross and home!
Dave
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