Home»All my photos»2010 Railway Photographs»The Princess on the slow train to London 6 March 2010

One component of Vintage Trains' ambitious Spring 2010 main line steam charter programme was the chance to travel behind LMS Pacific power over the West Coast main line from Crewe to London and return. After the train had picked up passengers in the West Midlands, the Stanier 4-6-2 backed onto the train (12 coaches plus a Class 47) at Crewe for the four and a half hour ride to London. The schedule was leisurely by today's Pendolino standards, but there was some lively running between Rugeley and Hademore. After the water stops at Atherstone and Bletchley, there was another spell of over-70 mph running between Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead, before we left the main line at Willesden to terminate at Kensington Olympia.
The stock then proceeded to Clapham Yard after turning at Battersea: then back to Willesden where the diesel led the train into Euston for its historic departure. The climb of Camden bank was lively, regrettably with a degree of diesel assistance. Again we ambled along for much of the journey, but we were in the 70s again between Roade and Northampton. After we left the second water stop at Tamworth eight minutes down, we had the best running of the day - a maximum of 77 mph down Madeley bank saw us early into Crewe at the end of an excellent day.