Caledonian Sleeper + 87002 Diverted via Manchester!

This video is property of Train_PlaneHub, "RachaelMatt" please do not re-upload this video or any on my channel!
1080p HD!
Onboard the highland sleeper bound for Aberdeen, Inverness & Fort William from London Euston on Sunday 3rd April 2015. Due to bank holiday engineering work a number of sections on the WCML were closed meaning services were taking some unusual but quite interesting diversions. Hauled by a classic class 87 loco were leave Euston and travel down the slow lines as far as Rugby, which meant passing through Northampton station itself which is usually avoided. From Rugby we travelled up the Trent Valley line like normal as far as Colwich Junction where we leave the WCML and head towards Stoke-On-Trent, Macclesfield, Stockport and pass through Platform 14 at Manchester Piccadilly! We continue along the recently electrified route through Manchester Oxford Road, Deansgate & Eccles before rejoining the WCML at Wigan South Junction. I then included the arrival & departure from Preston onto this video too just because its 87002!
I'm told this is the first time a class 87 has been between Manchester & the WCML via Oxford Road & Deansgate "Chat Moss" as the route only electrified 2 years ago! So that's quite something.
Thanks for watching!
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[@oldbritishmovies4794]

Classic Mate, thanks for bringing back many memories, done the sleeper many times from IInverness to Crew, to change at 4am in a freezing morning, was 2 86s and 18 coaches, icicles hanging off locos and stock, wish I had a camera !!, :)

[@AndreiTupolev]

Lovely to hear that vacuum cleaner sound again, particularly at Watford Junction, which at one time was my local station in the days of 86s and 87s.

[@chadharrison1554]

I was on that train to Fort William

[@soundseeker63]

When was the last time an 87 worked into/through Piccadilly?
Must be a while ago now! Good to have some loco haulage back there even if its only the occasional divert!

[@danielmartin4516]

I'm guessing line was close somewhere for a sleeper to divert via Manchester Piccadilly and Northampton

[@anthfax]

very good

[@fatwalletboy2]

This diversionary route would be good to feature in a new charter excursion some day with 87002. Be good also to take in the new 25kv Blackpool terminus the Alsager line, the new Chasetown line and Lime Street back out to Newton le Willows etc..... 👍

[@henrypope1089]

Interesting to see Theenthusiast101 on someone else's video. How often does that happen, two prolific rail film makers passing in the night and videoing the same journey.

[@bobtudbury8505]

can you do it again....with light!

[@stephendines1936]

Northampton is not much of a divert, it basically went slow line Rugby instead of Fast.

[@TheFlatCapFromWN5]

30:15 Home where the heart is. :D

[@danielmartin7371]

The Sons of Epsilon yep it was back on its normal mainline after reaching wigan north western and Preston

[@andyhopkinson3092]

and whirring happily

[@davidsaxon8660]

To euston station