6th October 2020 · ‘North from Euston in the 1960s’

Presenter: David Jackman

On the 6th October we welcomed RCTS Webmaster David Jackman, who went to great lengths at fairly short notice to present the show ‘North from Euston in the 1960s’ taken from our own RCTS Photographic Archive and presented via Zoom.

An attendance of 43 enjoyed it immensely, many questions were asked and perhaps more helpfully corrections given for quite a few inaccurate captions as depicted in the archive material. Some obviously wrong such as the Locomotive Class depicted and some less so such as a location.

We started with a view of the arrivals and local platforms at Euston and 2-6-4T No. 42099 leaving with a Class 24 diesel in the background, then some shots during the 1962-66 rebuild of the station including ‘Princess Royal’ Class 8P 4-6-2 No. 46206 Princess Marie Louise, of which only twelve were built (thirteen if you include the rebuilt ‘Turbomotive’) and Class 40 D231 with ‘The Shamrock’.

We moved down the line to South Kenton and Kenton where we saw up and down goods and passenger trains along with LMS GEC Stock EMUs. Others were spotted on the way north. A Class 501 was at Croxley Green, then we saw Nos. 41233, 42077 and Fairburn 42096 all at Watford Shed shortly before closing. An example of one of the photos can be seen here: https://zenfolio.page.link/2trMc

At Bletchley we saw a 2-car Class 108 DMU to Cambridge, also a ‘Britannia’ 7MT, No. 70045, on an up Parcels Special. Among many others was 3F ‘Jinty’ No. 47500 as station pilot and 46240 City of Coventry on an Up Goods, then along to Wolverton where DP2 was seen, with 41222 at Great Linford on the Newport Pagnell Branch.

Northampton Shed was shown on its closure date, followed with D5027 at Rugby and various diesel and steam locos at Coventry, including a ‘Clan’ working an Earls Court Motor Show special to Euston.

Further north we saw ‘Peak’ No. D2 at Canley, the Blue Pullman at Beechwood Tunnel on a Football Special, Class 103 + Class 100 DMUs and E3050 at Berkswell, followed by a variety of locos at Hampton-in-Arden, Chilvers Coton, Lichfield and Crewe.

Interestingly, at Crewe were a Class 304 EMU No. M75684, and Class 81+84+Boiler Van on an Up Manchester. Stanier 2-6-4T No. 42631 was at Bolton, 2P 4-4-0 No.40684 at Castleton on a Rochdale to Liverpool service, on to Walsden for 6P5F ‘Crab’ 2-6-0 No. 42863 on a Rochdale to Liverpool working.

An unusual sight [nowadays] was a Class 108 + 110 + 105 seven-car DMU set leaving Wigan Wallgate on a Manchester Victoria to Southport. Two Class 76s were seen at Sheffield Victoria and Penistone. ‘Coronation’ No. 46428 City of Leeds was seen at Lancaster and an evocative snap of EMU No. M28221M approaching Lancaster Castle from Green Ayre on the now closed electrified line. Various trains at Hest Bank, Oxenholme, Windermere and Tebay then featured.

Rebuilt ‘Patriot’ No. 45545 Planet was seen at Greenholme and a further few locos on Shap including No. 46203 Princess Margaret Rose. A Class 40 piloting an Ivatt 4MT off the Keswick branch at Penrith Junction was an unusual sight and a 2-car Derby Lightweight seen at Troutbeck. Then over to Settle Junction, Smardale, Kirkby Stephen East, Appleby East and Culgaith for steam in action before seeing a Class 40 crossing Ribblehead Viaduct. We ended the evening with shots of the End of Steam specials in 1968 including some of the 15 guinea specials, 44871+44781 and 70013 Oliver Cromwell both crossing Ribblehead.

Once again, a big thank you to David for volunteering to put this presentation together for us.

Rob Davidson, Branch Secretary