I used to use the trains a lot including this route in the 1980s, during the time of life when everything's new and an adventure, and remember the InterCity 125s; this video's a trip down memory lane :o)
I'd judge it around 1994 as at about 3:21 you can see the new Royal Mail office footings being built up and that office opened in '94. Boy oh boy, does that old 125 power car sound impressively powerful, magic memories of being able to get the 6:25 to London and be there by 9:30, miss that! The lovely turbo whistle!
Reminds me of returning to Cleethorpes at tea time in late 1991, a few weeks before Christmas after a training week in Oakham. Just got into work in time for my wages before shooting off for a night out.
Brilliant video, well done. Time the direct service using an HST reinstated Also, please feel free to read the following poem that my brother has written, thanks The Humber-Lincs Jerk clunk, the signal arms rise up skywards. The muffled background roar of vehicles on the M180 fills the silence amongst the dusky birdsong. In the distance a strained whining sound drifts across the landscape. The porter on the platform turns to hear the familiar sound. Good he thinks, its on time. He watches to the west as the deep orange sunset obscures the horizon. Soon the noise returns and he spots his destiny clattering across the junction. The twin banks of lights start to approach as the engines scream away from the junction. The PA crackles into life to announce the arrival of the train. The porter nods and waves to the driver as the power car sweeps past startling the ravens, who flap away, wheeling around the sky. 'The arrival of the Humber-Lincs from London King's Cross. Calling at Haborough, Grimsby Town and Cleethorpes.' goes the crackly announcement. Door slam and the porter looks up and down the train as the suspension air-bags wheeze and cry. The porter checks his watch and gets ready to blow his trusty Acme Thunderblower whistle and wave his green light. The whistle pierces the dusky peace and the porter waves the green lantern towards the senior conductor at the end of the train. After a pause, the mighty Valenta screams into life and the brakes ease off and the starts to move away. The air bags settle down with yet more sighs as the coaches flash past filled with its weary passengers and executives. The front power car heads off into the dark followed by its twin engine pushing hard at the rear. With a scream and whoosh, the power car roars past and heads to its destination. As the train fades away, the porter retires back over the footbridge to his office to lock up. The signal arms crash back down to danger. The Humber-Lincs Paul Harrison 2008
I don't think a direct service from Cleethorpes to London will ever come back. There is an hourly transpennine service to Doncaster, and from Doncaster there are numerous services to all over the ECML, so its not unreasonable to ask people to make 1 change to get to London. You can of course, also go to Newark North Gate, or to Retford on a Saturday.
Thank you for sharing this. I was born in Cleethorpes and grew up in Grimsby. I’m long gone now, but this brought back good memories.
I used to use the trains a lot including this route in the 1980s, during the time of life when everything's new and an adventure, and remember the InterCity 125s; this video's a trip down memory lane :o)
I used the through trains regularly in the 70s and 80s. I recall them hauled by 40s, 47s, and even Deltics appeared.
I'd judge it around 1994 as at about 3:21 you can see the new Royal Mail office footings being built up and that office opened in '94. Boy oh boy, does that old 125 power car sound impressively powerful, magic memories of being able to get the 6:25 to London and be there by 9:30, miss that! The lovely turbo whistle!
How did you find this interesting footage
Reminds me of returning to Cleethorpes at tea time in late 1991, a few weeks before Christmas after a training week in Oakham. Just got into work in time for my wages before shooting off for a night out.
Those were the days, boss.
by 2020 there should be a grand central train to London from Cleethorpes: calling at: grimsby doncaster and LKX
It's now 2023 and still not a thing
Brilliant video, well done. Time the direct service using an HST reinstated
Also, please feel free to read the following poem that my brother has written, thanks
The Humber-Lincs
Jerk clunk, the signal arms rise up skywards.
The muffled background roar of vehicles on the M180 fills the silence amongst the dusky birdsong. In the distance a strained whining sound drifts across the landscape.
The porter on the platform turns to hear the familiar sound. Good he thinks, its on time. He watches to the west as the deep orange sunset obscures the horizon. Soon the noise returns and he spots his destiny clattering across the junction.
The twin banks of lights start to approach as the engines scream away from the junction. The PA crackles into life to announce the arrival of the train. The porter nods and waves to the driver as the power car sweeps past startling the ravens, who flap away, wheeling around the sky.
'The arrival of the Humber-Lincs from London King's Cross. Calling at Haborough, Grimsby Town and Cleethorpes.' goes the crackly announcement. Door slam and the porter looks up and down the train as the suspension air-bags wheeze and cry.
The porter checks his watch and gets ready to blow his trusty Acme Thunderblower whistle and wave his green light. The whistle pierces the dusky peace and the porter waves the green lantern towards the senior conductor at the end of the train. After a pause, the mighty Valenta screams into life and the brakes ease off and the starts to move away.
The air bags settle down with yet more sighs as the coaches flash past filled with its weary passengers and executives. The front power car heads off into the dark followed by its twin engine pushing hard at the rear. With a scream and whoosh, the power car roars past and heads to its destination. As the train fades away, the porter retires back over the footbridge to his office to lock up. The signal arms crash back down to danger.
The Humber-Lincs
Paul Harrison 2008
I don't think a direct service from Cleethorpes to London will ever come back. There is an hourly transpennine service to Doncaster, and from Doncaster there are numerous services to all over the ECML, so its not unreasonable to ask people to make 1 change to get to London. You can of course, also go to Newark North Gate, or to Retford on a Saturday.
A disabled express train was packed up further back from the station, you don't see them any more.
its not hard to believe