Having covered the northern half of the West Coast Main Line from
Glasgow to Crewe with a pair of Class 50s in our ‘Vac Attack’
programme in 2000, GB Railfreight’s ‘Absent Shunter’ charity train
in August 2017 provided the opportunity of filming the rest of this
fascinating route. Appropriately, from a traction point of view, the
journey from Crewe to Euston was filmed on board 86101. Now 52 years
old and owned by the AC Loco Group, the loco was on hire to GB Railfreight
for use on the empty stock workings of the Caledonian night
sleepers. This outing was therefore a rare opportunity for the
veteran loco to stretch its legs over its former stamping ground.
The WCML has undergone significant changes since it was electrified
in the 1960s and is a particularly fascinating route when viewed
from the driving cab.
The Class 86 sets off from Crewe on the Fast
Line, passing Basford Hall Junction signal box. After heading
through Norton Bridge there’s a non-stop run through Stafford. From
there our journey continues along the Trent Valley line where
there’s some fine running through Rugeley, Tamworth and Nuneaton.
Progress is checked at Rugby, where the train takes full advantage
of the complex but versatile track layout by undertaking an unusual
manoeuvre through the station. At Hillmorton Junction we take the
Northampton Loop, past Daventry freight terminal and then through
Long Buckby. After Northampton station the journey south continues
through Hunsbury tunnel and the famous ‘birdcage’ at Roade before
re-joining the WCML at Hanslope Junction. Running along the Slow
Lines, we then head through Wolverton and Bletchley before passing
the site of the Great Train Robbery between Leighton Buzzard and
Cheddington. The London suburbs are reached at Watford Junction,
from where the Watford DC Lines run parallel to the WCML. South of
Wembley Central the junctions come thick and fast while at Willesden
Junction the trackwork becomes more complex. After passing through
Primrose Hill tunnel, the Regents Canal is crossed before descending
Camden Bank. Arrival into Euston’s platform 15 wraps up a journey
that 86101 first made more than fifty years ago.
