South of Crewe we pass a Class 56 scrap metals train before overtking a 47 working ECS to Stafford Mail with stock to form the evening portion to Shieldmuir...
Braking hard for the 75mph Queens Road curve we pass another HST bound for Edinburgh from Plymouth with a Centro 150 awaiting Monday's rush hour just visible on the right...
The Trent Valley near Armitage Junction...
As we await departure from Tamworth a Freighliner Class 66 rolls by with a train of VTG hoppers...
Slowing for a signal check at Rugby we are passed by 90022 on hire from EWS with a the 15:50 Euston - Manchester Piccadilly...
Following a slightly late departure from Rugby we soon pick up speed passing a Class 86 bound for Wolverhampton at a closing speed of around 210mph!
The 16:50 Manchester train pauses alongside us at Bletchley with 87010 in charge. Despite a few TSRs around Roade and Hanslope we are only 2 minutes down on schedule.
Things start to go wrong near Pitstone, we are checked behind a delayed Silverlink all stations to Euston. this is about 4 miles from where I grew up!
We pass through Tring cutting at 20mph with the reason for Silverlink train being on the fast lines apparent...
Were now on the slow lines as we arrive at Watford Junction. In the foreground a Class 313 is stabled in between duties on the St Albans Abbey branch, a Class 377 awaits departure with a train to Brighton and in the distance a Class 508 can be seen in the Suburban platforms...
Another 20mph restriction, this time allowing for point replacement work on the fast lines. I remember on of the VWC HSTs surviving with Intercity Power Cars and Mk3 Buffet long after most WC loco hauled stock had been repainted - the Mk3 Buffet went on for ever in those colours I remember...
We gather some speed again as we pass a Willesden TMD home of the Class 87s...
We arrive at Euston 5 minutes late behind schedule despite some recovery time built into the schedule between Watford and Euston. A brace of DVTs wait to bring up the rear of services returning to the North this evening. Our train will now form the evening departure to Holyhead in an hour or so...
