I have fond memories of spotting Deltics at KX during the late 1970s. On Saturday afternoons a gaggle of enthusiasts would gather on the platform adjacent to York Way where there was an excellent model/bookshop. The widened lines were before my time and remain a bit of an enigma to me. I think the Deltics were only working as far as York by that time. Liked the new 313 units and had no idea that I would be commuting on them into Liverpool Street 30 years later!
This was my era and I remember it well. The noise, smoke, the overheads being installed 77?. The coming of the 254’s after the introduction of the 253’s on the western in 76. Glad I was there then.
Never knew the 313s had a 4-character headcode box until today. Must've been used in service for all of fifteen minutes before headcode boxes were taken out of use!
If it was a DMU it would have been a craven unit with two windows as the other units that were in use at that time were rolls Royce with 3 windows and couldn't go to moorgate as they were to wide for the tunnel on the York road side of Kings cross
I used to spend summers with my aunty who lived not far from Dundee, I would go up from London on the Clansman to Perth, come down on the train from Dundee and what amazing trips. Has to be said that engines were swapped out from electric to diesel and the run to Perth was punctuated with many engine and crew changes because depots guarded their assets like dragons eggs lol. I always preferred the WCML as much to see and back then Carnforth was in its heydey still, coming down was always a treat at Newcastle, Darlington and Doncaster for engines and unusual stock and sometimes saw the APT test train moving about or the occasional departmental. HST back from Dundee was boring for me.
I don't think their acceleration was quite that good but they were certainly working hard when they passed through northbound and could be heard coming for some time in advance.
Cut the Deltic's a bit short there bud 🤔 they lasted till the end of 81 and were still running when the HST's were introduced in 1978 on the Eastern. The Deltic's were filling in on semi fasts to York and Hull and trips to Liverpool, also in Scotland on some day trains and the nightime sleeper trains from Kings Cross 😁
Great to see old photos of when Kings Cross had a loco depot and a proper signalbox, now it's little more than a dead end halt for glorified electric trams.
@@modelsteamers671 having used the station quite a number of times, mostly for suburban trips admittedly, I havent had any real overly traumatic experiences I find that our modern rail network is more efficient than what most people make out But I have to concede that there are times when things can, and do, go spectacularly and disastrously wrong
@@Keithbarber Parts of the Network are more efficient and I'd agree that Kings Cross is efficient but it is an electrified line with modern signalling and rolling stock. The line out of Kings Cross isn't particularly busy nor is the layout very complex. Go to some of the Southern terminii or places like New Street, Manchester Picc. Leeds etc and the service is a joke.
I have fond memories of spotting Deltics at KX during the late 1970s. On Saturday afternoons a gaggle of enthusiasts would gather on the platform adjacent to York Way where there was an excellent model/bookshop. The widened lines were before my time and remain a bit of an enigma to me. I think the Deltics were only working as far as York by that time. Liked the new 313 units and had no idea that I would be commuting on them into Liverpool Street 30 years later!
This was my era and I remember it well. The noise, smoke, the overheads being installed 77?. The coming of the 254’s after the introduction of the 253’s on the western in 76. Glad I was there then.
Me too.
Never knew the 313s had a 4-character headcode box until today. Must've been used in service for all of fifteen minutes before headcode boxes were taken out of use!
Great video
There's something about wet film which is so captivating in these days of digital everything. Colour cast just adds to the atmosphere.
It reminds you of an era of character, but I think today's railway is much more efficient
I worked in the kings cross area from1973 to 1976 and the line that came up on the left side of your picture was called hotel curve
It was indeed. Only travelled along it once. A 31 on a service from Moorgate if memory serves me correctly but it might have been a DMU.
If it was a DMU it would have been a craven unit with two windows as the other units that were in use at that time were rolls Royce with 3 windows and couldn't go to moorgate as they were to wide for the tunnel on the York road side of Kings cross
I used to spend summers with my aunty who lived not far from Dundee, I would go up from London on the Clansman to Perth, come down on the train from Dundee and what amazing trips. Has to be said that engines were swapped out from electric to diesel and the run to Perth was punctuated with many engine and crew changes because depots guarded their assets like dragons eggs lol. I always preferred the WCML as much to see and back then Carnforth was in its heydey still, coming down was always a treat at Newcastle, Darlington and Doncaster for engines and unusual stock and sometimes saw the APT test train moving about or the occasional departmental. HST back from Dundee was boring for me.
Many thanks for this, much appreciated!
Remember 70,svery much worked at cross till late 80,s
Great old memories hsts bst trains invented still going strong now
Wasn't it at Finsbury Park that the Deltics were running at near to top speed?
I don't think their acceleration was quite that good but they were certainly working hard when they passed through northbound and could be heard coming for some time in advance.
Cut the Deltic's a bit short there bud 🤔 they lasted till the end of 81 and were still running when the HST's were introduced in 1978 on the Eastern. The Deltic's were filling in on semi fasts to York and Hull and trips to Liverpool, also in Scotland on some day trains and the nightime sleeper trains from Kings Cross 😁
Great to see old photos of when Kings Cross had a loco depot and a proper signalbox, now it's little more than a dead end halt for glorified electric trams.
It may not have the character of yesteryear, but it's an efficient railway today
@@Keithbarber I'm not even convinced of that.
@@modelsteamers671 having used the station quite a number of times, mostly for suburban trips admittedly, I havent had any real overly traumatic experiences
I find that our modern rail network is more efficient than what most people make out
But I have to concede that there are times when things can, and do, go spectacularly and disastrously wrong
@@Keithbarber Parts of the Network are more efficient and I'd agree that Kings Cross is efficient but it is an electrified line with modern signalling and rolling stock. The line out of Kings Cross isn't particularly busy nor is the layout very complex. Go to some of the Southern terminii or places like New Street, Manchester Picc. Leeds etc and the service is a joke.
Words all over the photos, no good