Black 5 45212 | Hard at work with 'The Easterling' - Ashwell & Morden and Knebworth - 1st June 2025

Описание: #rail200 #steam #train

Sunday 1st June would see the Railway Touring Company run 'The Easterling' tour from London Kings Cross to Great Yarmouth and return. The route would be via Stevenage, Cambridge and Ely to Norwich, where the tour would reverse and be diesel hauled to Great Yarmouth. The return would be steam hauled throughout. The loco in charge was to be Black 5 no.45212.

We were unable to see the outward leg, having spent the weekend prior at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway for the 'Cotswold Festival of Steam' we then travelled on up to spend the rest of half term with the in-laws in Yorkshire, returning home Sunday afternoon. However the mid-summer light evenings, plus a 13 minute booked passenger set down at Stevenage meant with luck two daylight locations on the return could be done close to home. We start at Ashwell and Morden with two cameras set up on the up platform, the station being the summit of the 1 in 183 climb from Royston, and are treated to a lovely sound as 45212 powers through the station, the late running Thameslink in front having just cleared the section. A swift journey down the A1 brought us to Knebworth, and a check at Real Time Trains showed 45212 was just arriving at Stevenage 6 minutes late. Two cameras are set up on the down fast looking across to the up slow, 45212's booked route. 45212 can be heard and seen for some time climbing the 1 in 200 gradient from Langley Junction towards and through Knebworth, with an Azuma passing on the up fast. After the recent dry spell it was nice to experiance steam on the main line working hard again.

Photos...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts198...